Stray dog Sonata Blurb and images

Luke Brix

4/17/17

Extra credit: Stray Dog Sonata Pitch

Back: Skin Walkers roam what is left of the United States after Yellowstone erupted and devastated the country many years ago. Artemis and Marcus Reyes are two brothers lost in the ash-cloud covered wastelands. They’ve been surviving nomadically for a while, but little does Marcus know that Artemis has been a Skin Walker for nearly the whole time.

Now on their journey they will come across a new challenge. A Lone Skin Walker who only refers to himself as Omega offers them the chance to head to a place called the citadel, a city built around one of the last working water treatment plants in the land. Along the way, the meet Meliza and Shyreen, two sisters planning to make the same journey to the citadel. As a group of 5 they manage the wastelands well, but as such a large group, they become targeted by a madman and his cult of sycophants.

“Dystopia in the post-apocalyptic sense. Here the land is not led and any scrap of order and power has to be made by the characters, a cult compound, and the failing remains of the US government. it’s a dark read, especially when thinking about the world, but made appealing by the characters who inhabit it.” –Suzanne Collins author of the Hunger Games.

“A story both externally and internally motivated. The character’s psychologies matter just as much as the destroyed landscape they inhabit. This is the YA adventure that will gear kids up to read writers like Cormac McCarthy.” –Steven King

Publisher Pitch: Stray Dog Sonata is a Young adult book aimed at fans of the dystopian audience with a bit of science fantasy woven in. 3 of the characters have the ability to change into wolves, a trait that always seems to be marketable. It will appeal to romantic interests as well; the main relationship is between Artemis and Omega. Such representation is needed in today’s YA market, and the idea of Artemis Hiding his wolf-form from his brother Marcus is meant to stand in relation to people staying in the closet.the main cast is also multi-ethnic, Artemis and Marcus are Hispanic and Meliza and Shyreen are African American. Hopefully this novel can take part ing positive representation of ethic as well as sexual minorities. This book appeals to the Adolescent desire to understand how power works, The main characters when not in compound of tents are often able to do as they please. Roving bands of Gangs and law enforcement are put at the same power level, and the cast will need to overcome both of them to complete their journey.

This Book is an inheritor of the Dystopian and Post-apocalyptic tradition. Cormac McCarthy’s The Road Heavily inspired the creation of this book. In the Realm of YA, it is in a similar Vein to the Hunger Games and The Knife of Never Letting Go. Hopefully this book will be new and interesting enough to appeal and create a new audience of readers that will view novels just as appealing and interesting as TV or Film.

(Artemis Reyes: Planned to enter the military before the eruption. Now watches over his younger brother marcus: one of the few times he wilfully shows emotion
Marcus Reyes: 7 year old who barely remembers life before the eruption. carries his mother's ashes in the bottom of a lantern.
Omega: the Jack Sparrow of the group and likes to pretend he's good at leadership.
Meliza: Lost her leg from a landmine. Adoptive sister of Shyreen. the one most capable of leadership.
Shyreen: 7 year old who clings to Marcus as a "romantic" interest. often lets her wolf side get the better of her.)