Realm Explorers Part XCXIV: Visit Defier Nation with Mandy Fender

Welcome to Realm Explorers!  In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors.  Enjoy your travels!  And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book. 

Author’s name:

Mandy Fender

Title of book and/or series:

Sparrow: Defier Series Book Two

Brief summary of the story:

The fight has only just begun...

Lennox Winters is guilty. She stood in defiance against the Regime when no one else would. Now, she must train to become a Sparrow and fight for what she believes.

When the war breaks out in her hometown, she is forced to decide whether she will obey orders or rebel against the authority she respects. Either way, she must protect those she loves most, no matter the dangers.

As she navigates new territory with her loyal best friend, she’ll risk her life, and even her soul, for victory.

In war, sacrifice is inevitable.

Is her faith enough to get her through the fire?

Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:

I like to refer to my world as ‘Defier Nation’. It is a dystopian setting in the not-so-distant future America. The land is no longer the land that we know. In the book, a weapon called the Global Weather Simulator has changed the game and Defiers must fight to stand for their faith against all odds.

If we were to visit Defier Nation as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?

I would recommend getting to a Sparrow City safe zone as fast as you could and look out for patrolling drones – they’re everywhere.

What dangers should we avoid in Defier Nation?

The weather is unpredictable. There is no more forecasting it; the enemy is controlling it, setting off cataclysmic shifts in the atmosphere to further his rule. There are also drones, Prowlers (genetically altered humans), and Regime soldiers to watch out for.

Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Defier Nation?

MREs are the most practical source of sustenance for the Defiers now that the landscape is unpredictable.

What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Defier Nation?

There are some pretty cool technological weapons in the Defier Series. The Sparrow scientists have concocted a blue serum that can drop the enemy to their knees, while the Regime has Venom VI that can turn a human, well, let’s just say, not so human anymore. Science and technology play a big role in this series and progresses slowly to allow the reader in the world as the MC, Lennox, discovers it herself.

What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Defier Nation?

There are incredible motorcycles called Vanishers that the Sparrow scientists have created to be silent and invisible, along with the rider for a short period of time. Plus, military Humvees are always good way to transport soldiers.

Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Defier Nation?  If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.

There are a few things I have not mentioned yet and one is the Sparrow suit which is covered in nanotubes that literally act as a bulletproof shield. Sparrows also have Sapphire Shields that take the spherical shape when needed and provide a clear protective barrier so that you can hide behind it and still see the enemy. And my favorite little device would have to be the adaptor blade that the scientists tweaked the molecular structure to shape-shift to the tool you need when you need it. I sure wish I had one! J

Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Defier Nation.

These days are pretty somber, but Sparrows have a good time in CTT – Critical Thinking Tactics, where they compete against each other in virtual worlds. The virtual worlds can be anything their imagination can think up.

Is there a particular religion practiced in Defier Nation?  Please describe what it involves.

The Defiers and Sparrows are those who have chosen to stand and serve Jesus Christ and they try desperately to practice what they believe even when it’s hard or seems impossible.

What is the political or government structure in Defier Nation?  Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?

Well, while the rest of the world is under the rule of Ahab, who is a dictator and plans to destroy everyone who stands in his way of being the new world leader, the Sparrows live by the Word of one King, and His name is Jesus.

Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?

While the location is America, the culture is inspired by the bravery I have seen and heard about from fellow Christians. I take the true stories I read from the Bible and let them inspire me to create worlds that deep and true.

What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?

It is the classic tale of good vs. evil, light vs. dark, yet doesn’t push off to the supernatural only. This series takes the challenges of hot-button issues and causes the reader to think and question what they would do should the challenge ever arise in their life.

Author Autobiography:

Mandy Fender is a wife, mother, women's pastor, and writer. She is a blogger for Broken, Beautiful, and Bold, and has a monthy inspirational article in the Westside Sol. Her work has received the Readers' Favorite Five Star Seal and the Redemptive Fiction Award of Excellence by Radiqx Press, and her short story, Samara of Shalocke, is published with Epifiction.

She wants to love like Christ and follow Him in all that she does. Through her writing she hopes to inspire, uplift, and encourage.

Her books are always written with Christ in mind.

Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your books? 

To purchase books from the Defiers Series click HERE.

Where can readers connect with you online? 

I would love to connect with readers! They can find me at:

Website: http://mandyfender.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandyfender11/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandyfender11

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandy.fender/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13455621.Mandy_Fender

I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Defier Nation.  Questions about the world or the book?  Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!  

Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.

Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world, in Realm Explorers Part XCXV!

-Annie Douglass Lima