Neliem
Author: Clare DiLiscia
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Publisher: Month9Books
Description:
Half
the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an
unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her
life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who
remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to
find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient
tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to
warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her
by a kind and dying boy.
Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her
as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer.
Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister
secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with
whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.
Why
would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she
feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not
only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the
dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now,
with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength
she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect
herself and save her people.
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The story begins on the small island of Madera, known for its vast
apple orchards. With Madera’s population cut in half due to a recent
plague, its rather insignificant in the Hugganoff Empire economical
infrastructure. Only one of many islands surrounding the mainland Perla
Del Mar, the most beautiful city and highly profitable harbor in the
entire world. Other more affluent islands such as Odessa, Phillma, and
Cortos surround Playa Del Sol, the capital of the southern region.
The
Hugganoffs’s are direct descendants of the Embrian Dynasty, having now
conquered over 80% of the world. Intermingling the vast population’s
religious beliefs, Hugganoff’s have made countless pagan practices their
own. They’re a polytheist people, viewing ancestral ghost worship and
dark magic as common day occurrences.
The only people not
to assimilate are the Outcast population. The most discriminated race,
who’ve faced unending hardships, including starvation. They are the only
monotheistic people in the entire Empire, a stubborn people who against
all odds has managed to not only survive, but thrive. Their refusal to
adhere to any pagan practices has but them on the wrong side of the law
as they are targeted as easy scapegoats, accused of dual loyalties,
crimes against them going unnoticed. The most profound injustice is that
all Outcasts are banned from entering the mainland, thus forced to
remain on neighboring islands in perpetual servitude.
Born in Queens, New York, Clare Di Liscia
moved to California as a small child and grew up in the hills by Dodger
Stadium. Constantly roaming the woods, she took to embellishing on the
stories of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck to fill her imagination.
To her horror she soon realized there was no way to fit a miniature
tuxedo on a frog. Fortunately
in sixth grade, Clare won a short story contest with the grand prize of
fifteen happy meals. She would like to point out that two of those meal
tickets were missing by the time her mother handed over her prize.
After traveling extensively throughout South America and the Caribbean,
Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium for University where she studied
Dutch and French. Clare graduated from Cal State Northridge Film School,
earning Dean’s List recognition with a BA in TV/Film. In 2006 she
placed in the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting beating out 4700 other applicants.
After joining SCBWI, Clare won 1st place HM in the Sue Alexander for her
YA novel, now entitled NELIEM.
One (1) winner will win a Starbucks gift card
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