☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN: Rise of Alpha by Lorenz Font.

RISE OF ALPHA - THE PRODIAN JOURNEY

Lorenz Font

Cover Designer: Claudia Trapp of Phantasy Graphic Designs

Official genre of book: Young Adult/Urban Fantasy/Coming-of-age

Release Date: May 3, 2016

All Brian Morrison wants is to be an ordinary teenager with normal teenage problems, but his uncontrollable twitching and phonic tics make that impossible. The butt of jokes in school, he is nothing but a laughing-stock until a visit to a local tarot shop turns his life upside-down.

The psychic’s strange prediction thrusts him into a mysterious world of ghastly creatures and bizarre events, and he must come to terms with the abrupt changes if he is going to survive. One mother’s plea for help presents him with an impossible challenge, but it also brings him closer to the most popular girl in school. Brian must overcome threats from all sides to honor his promise, and he is determined to succeed. His heart won’t let him turn his back on someone in need, especially when he’s fallen in love with her.

Protecting Shannon McKesson soon becomes the greatest purpose of his life. Brian discovers many things on this new journey, but the biggest one might be the truth about who he is. If only he and Shannon can stay alive long enough to unlock the mystery.

We walked toward the building together. The corridor was filled with loitering students, waiting for the bell to ring. When we got to our photography class, we both sat in the back of the room.

“Should we schedule something this weekend?” Shannon asked.

“Schedule what?” I had no clue what she was talking about.

“Our photo session.” She showed a hint of a smile.

I remembered now. She wanted me to pose for her. Eager to please, I nodded, even if I hated the whole idea. “Where do you want to do it?”

She thought for a moment. “I want a nice background.”

How about my bedroom? I wanted to say, but that wouldn’t go over well, so I tried to come up with something else. “Um . . . you want nature as the background?”

“Yeah.”

“What about the Huntington Library? They have pretty flowers and plants there.” I couldn’t believe I was talking about this stuff with a girl. I’d come a long way.

Her eyes lit up. “Oh yes! That’ll be perfect. I want to see the Corpse Flower.”

Great! She’d be taking my picture next to the Amorphophallus titanium, an unattractive plant that smelled like . . . well, it lived up to its name. What a way to boost my ego. I tried to smile anyway.

A professional daydreamer, Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. Since being published in 2013, she has been conspiring, butting heads, and enjoying her spare time with vampires, angels, samurais, and other creatures she has created in her head.

Her perfect day consists of writing and lounging on her garage couch (a.k.a. the office) with a glass of her favorite cabernet while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She finds writing urban fantasy exhilarating and places an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.

Lorenz lives in Southern California with her supportive family and three demanding dogs.