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Grit and Perseverance
Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash follows a starving young woman who discovers maps to secret seed bunkers that, if found, would take power away from the corporatocracy and give people a fighting chance at survival. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration of the story came from thinking about all the trash today. Many things aren’t made to last and few things are repaired. Things are thrown out and replaced. The second piece of inspiration was about the train itself. My grandfather rode the rails during the Great Depression. His family lost their farm in Kansas and loaded up their car, Grapes of Wrath style, and moved to Utah to live with cousins. He was a young man and couldn’t stand living on charity and being reminded of it constantly. He and one of his brothers hopped a train to California, looking for work so they could send money home. He made the trip several times, back and forth, including one harrowing ride over the Sierra Nevadas trip in freezing weather with one jacket and two young men. His stories stuck with me.
Elsa just wants to survive, until she discovers the maps to the seed bunkers; now, she sees a chance to change things not just for herself but all of humanity. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Her character development is meant to be like most of us. Most people are just ordinary and trying to get by until they are thrust into a position to do more.
The seed bunkers exist. I didn’t make them up. They are there to hedge our bets against a disaster and crop failure, especially if we lose genetic diversity for our seeds and crops as is the trend. If we ever need these seeds, I hope they would be available to everyone, not just the richest corporations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It’s a story of grit and perseverance, as well as loyalty, altruism, love, and found family.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes, this is the first book of three (they are all written and in various stages with my publisher). The series is called Train Hoppers. The second book, The Long Haul: Pursuit of Hope will be published June 6th, 2024 and the final book, Rebels and Saints: Catching Freedom is scheduled for publication April 24th, 2025.
In The Long Haul: Pursuit of Hope, the main characters have been recuperating on a farm in Utah but are found by GreenCorps and have to leave. One step ahead of their pursuers, they head for Canada to make contact with someone with resources to help distribute the bunker seeds. They are joined by two new characters, a pampered daughter of the GreenCorps elite and a long-time rebel.
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Elsa scavenges twenty-first-century trash, living on the edge of starvation in this ruthless world through her grit and instincts.
When she unearths a metal tube containing maps to six Doomsday seed bunkers and a silver key, she dreams of renewable sources of food and a life based on more than subsistence, but GreenCorps will stop at nothing to acquire her find. Accused of theft and beaten half to death, she escapes with a handsome train hopper. They seek the long-lost bunkers, hoping to break GreenCorps’ monopoly on food.
Along the way, they receive help from a teenage pickpocket, a solitary widow, and a rebel leader. If this rag-tag group of lonely misfits cannot reclaim the tube and find a way to distribute the seeds, GreenCorps will continue to choke out any chance of a better life.
Hop aboard this thrilling dystopian train-hopping adventure with Switching Tracks.
Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash
In Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash, the first installment of Lena Gibson’s Train Hoppers series, readers are transported to a dystopian 2195 America. Here, young Elsa navigates a post-apocalyptic landscape where the remnants of a bygone era have become the currency for the impoverished. Amidst the desolation, Elsa’s routine scavenging in Southern California takes an unexpected turn when she uncovers a mysterious tube, setting off a chain of events that intertwine hope and peril.
Gibson’s narrative is set against a backdrop where GreenCorps, a domineering corporation, controls essential resources, creating a stark divide between the powerful and the powerless. This tube discovery presents a glimmer of hope for breaking the corporation’s stranglehold, yet it also makes Elsa the target of a relentless GreenCorps soldier with a personal vendetta.
The novel deftly explores themes of corporate tyranny, environmental degradation, and the human spirit’s resilience. Gibson’s skillful world-building paints a vivid picture of a society in decay, yet her characters’ experiences inject a palpable sense of humanity into the story. Her descriptive prowess is evident, rendering the squalor and emotional intensity of the narrative with remarkable clarity. The characters are meticulously crafted, with Gibson highlighting their defining traits, making them not only relatable but deeply engaging. The novel also excels in developing its supporting cast, each embarking on distinct journeys that add layers to the story and build anticipation for their roles in the unfolding drama. An element of romance weaves through the narrative, adding depth and complexity to the story. The novel also includes include explicit scenes, presented with the same rich detail and narrative care that defines Gibson’s style, adding another layer of depth to the story.
Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash is a compelling read that captures the essence of a dystopian reality while highlighting the enduring qualities of heroism and resilience. Gibson’s narrative is a poignant reminder of the human capacity to seek change in the face of overwhelming odds.
Pages: 364 | ASIN : B0CM4ZMDZC
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