Monday, September 25, 2017

Nick Wilford, Black and White

Hi Susan. Thanks for offering to host me as part of my tour. Today I’d like to share some thoughts about the world I’ve created and engage your readers in a debate, if that’s not too heavy for a Monday!

How likely is it that we will end up living in a society like Harmonia?


I don’t often get political, but with Donald Trump in power, I don’t think we can really predict anything and we can’t rule anything out either. The world I’ve built might look very attractive to a lot of people. No dirt or disease, no need to worry about dying at an untimely age or – at a more everyday level – scrubbing your floor or keeping the dust under control.


On the surface, this is a utopia, the opposite of a dystopia. But that’s it – the surface is just about as far as things go. It’s the very definition of an insular society, cut off and without any contact with the outside world. Indeed, its near neighbour is painted by the government as a netherworld-type region populated by demons. In the current world, large swathes seem to be going backwards and becoming more distrustful of other cultures instead of more open. What if someone came along who promised to close the doors completely – the ultimate expression of looking after number one?


There are other ways in which Harmonia might be seen as an extension of the society we’ve got today. With the all-consuming rise of social media, families seem to spend less time just being together and we’ve got the problem of phones at the dinner table. In Harmonia, only one child is allowed per family and each member of the group basically operates as a self-contained unit. It’s a cold society in which people simply go through the motions. Apparently fair on the surface, with passes in school exams being guaranteed, the type of job you get after leaving school is determined by how many extra study hours you log. This is another thing that leaves children to spend long hours on their pads.


Divorce rates are very low, but at the same time there is very little affection between married couples. They are simply units that ensure the propagation of the species. The sex act itself has been genetically phased out – far too messy and too many diseases at play – but of course, this removes a level of closeness.


Where do you think we’re heading as a society? Is a world like Harmonia something that you could foresee in our future?









Title: Black & White

Author: Nick Wilford

Genre: YA dystopian
Series #: 1 of 3

Release date: 18th September 2017

Publisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing

Blurb:


What is the price paid for the creation of a perfect society?


In Whitopolis, a gleamingly white city of the future where illness has been eradicated, shock waves run through the populace when a bedraggled, dirt-stricken boy materialises in the main street. Led by government propaganda, most citizens shun him as a demon, except for Wellesbury Noon – a high school student the same age as the boy.

Upon befriending the boy, Wellesbury feels a connection that he can’t explain – as well as discovering that his new friend comes from a land that is stricken by disease and only has two weeks to live. Why do he and a girl named Ezmerelda Dontible appear to be the only ones who want to help?

As they dig deeper, everything they know is turned on its head – and a race to save one boy becomes a struggle to redeem humanity.


Purchase Links:
Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks


Add it on Goodreads


Meet the author:




Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those early morning times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew. Visit him at his blog or connect with him on Twitter, GoodreadsFacebook, or Amazon.


Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of my collection A Change of Mind and Other Stories or a $10 giftcard!

20 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

This appears to be a great book, thanks to You and Nick for sharing this with us. Good review.

Yvonne.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on your book, Nick. I hope we're not heading in the direction of the world you created. Sounds like a great world for a story but too cold of a world in real life.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sounds like a really sad society. No sex? Horrifying...

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Those people aren't living. They are merely existing.

The Cynical Sailor said...

Sadly, it's isn't too hard to imagine our society turning into a sort of dystopian horror show at some point.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks for the great post, Nick. Your book blurb is giving us a lot to think about.

Pat Hatt said...

I sure hope I'm dead before that comes due. No sex would be awful lol

Meradeth Houston said...

The world you've created feels very allegorical--what would happen if everything were whitewashed. A very intriguing idea! :)

messymimi said...

If someone created the perfect society, would they judge any of us fit to live there? This book brings up a lot of questions, and i like that.

A Beer for the Shower said...

A world without sex might actually be the most horrifying dystopia yet.

Nick Wilford said...

Yvonne - Thanks, it's nice to be here!

Natalie - Yeah, I hope we don't end up there.

Alex - They don't want people to have any fun!

Diane - Very true.

Ellen - Hopefully we can all work to avoid that.

Susan - Thanks!

Pat - Me too!

Meradeth - That's an interesting way to look at it. Thanks!

Mimi - Well, people learn to fit in, or there are consequences...

A Beer For The Shower - You could be right there.

Sarah Foster said...

Congrats to Nick! Can I just have the no dust part? That sounds pretty appealing.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick and Susan - your book certainly makes us think ... I definitely wouldn't want to live in that sort of society. But I'd rather we weren't in the state of flux we're in now ... still the thing is we have to keep ourselves together and get on with things ... cheers Hilary

Darla M Sands said...

I can't really see this happening in any society. People are too messy. ~grin~ At least I hope that's true. As for the US Presidency, I feel more hopeful than many. There are many layers to the man, I believe, and a method to his seeming madness. I cling to the hopeful messages offered by YouTube contributor Styxhexenhammer666. While I don't agree with everything he says, his words have a calm wisdom to them. And his rants can be a hoot. Be well, all!

Patricia Stoltey said...

Could not even imagine such a thing happening to the humans on this planet. We're all too contrary!

However, I do love reading dystopian novels and already have Black and White on my Kindle. Now, in an ideal world, I'd have plenty of time to read...but my TBR list is long and so is my To Do List. I need to strike a better balance between the two.

mshatch said...

I can totally imagine a world like! This sounds like an awesome book. A big congratulations to Nick :)

Christine Rains said...

I can see society becoming closed off, especially with how fast technology is rising. Humans are social creatures, though. I can't imagine life without affection or the freedom to what I want.

Melissa Sugar said...

Congratulations Nick on your book. It sounds amazing and just like the kind of book I would devour in one sitting. I'm already hooked. I can't wait to begin reading. I'm off to buy it as soon as I finish this comment. No, I can't imagine ever living in a world like you described and I hope we never do during my lifetime. I know I belong to the very very minorty when it comes to Trump, but I just don't buy into all the hype that he's to blame for everything that's wrong in the world. I actually believe he's done some good things for our country since taking office. Unfortunately, the main stream media will never report anything good that he does. Putting that aside, one man cannot single handedly do anything in America... that's why we have the checks and balances in play. What bothers me more than anything is how I've taught my kids to be tolerant of all people, good and kind to all people, regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity, color, creed, handicap, religion, sexual choice or preference and/or many other things. Not to judge a person based on any of the above and to never like of dislike a person simply because they are black or white or gay or straight. My kids don't see color. They have friends of all color and aren't ashamed or embarrassed to invite their homosexual friends over for sleepovers. They're comfortable enough with themselves and the way they were raised to know that a gay friend isn't going fo try and be with them simply because the friend is gay. We don't all try to hook up with every heterosexual friend do we? No! We are not attracted to every person. So I'm proud of my kids. I'm ashamed of the adults I see who are banishing conservatives from giving speeches on college campuses. What happened to their right to free speech ?
The left wing has gone so far it frightens me. College kids neeed counseling if they disagree with a conservative speaker. (Puh-leaze). That's what speakers are for ... healthy debate. And why are we allowing all this destruction of property by students who don't want Trump supporters to speak? And why is everyone who likes an idea that our president has all of a sudden a racist?
Hello, I'm a white, middle class, educated female who voted democat most of my life. But I could not vote for Hilary. Why can't people give the president a chance . Why can't People realize that when someone refuses to stand for the flag and the National Anthem that they are being disrespectful to our great country.
And lastly, why can't we move on. The election is over. Come together. Unify. You don't like the president??? Do something about it. Vote for a different one in 3 years. Don't whine a protest now. Get behind a better candidate. The tine will be here a lot quicker than you think. Whew! Sorry .
Again, many congratulations, 🎊 Nick on your 📚 Book. Thanks Susan for showcasing Nick's book on your blog. I haven't been around and I may have missed it- so glad I didn't. I'm Chomping at the bit to read it. You deserve all the success in the world. You've worked hard.

Tamara Narayan said...

The point in the blurb when you got me wanting to read the book:

"everything they know is turned on its head"

This interview also made me think of North Korea. What things are we taught about them that aren't true? What things do they think about us that aren't true? A bit off topic, but The Girl With Seven Names is an excellent memoir of a North Korean girl who escapes and the challenges she faced afterward.

Nick Wilford said...

Sarah - It does!

Hilary - I don't think it's a society any of us want to end up with.

Darla - I'm glad you've got a positive attitude to the presidency. I can't say the method in the madness is clear to me yet, but let's see...

Patricia - You never know where we could end up, but hopefully not with that. Hope you enjoy the book!

MS - Thanks!

Christine - I think the government panders to the self-serving side of people in the society in the book.

Melissa - Thanks for your kind words on my book. Well, whatever his merits might be, I think we can say this - he might be the most polarising president that's ever been seen.

Tamara - Thanks! An interesting point too. It's really hard to gauge the extent to which people are indoctrinated to think a certain way unless we're in that system.