Rakuten Kobo Invited Emerging Writer Finalist, Susan Cullen, to Share About Her Book
CHP author, Susan Cullen, the mastermind behind the compelling universe of The World Collective (November, 2022) was invited to share a little about her book, a finalist for the $10K Kobo Emerging Writer prize.
the interview
Congratulations on being shortlisted for the 2023 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize! Please tell us a little more about The World Collective.
The World Collective is a YA dystopian novel set in the far future where humanity has conquered the problems that plague us today. Everything has been made perfect: the environment is in balance, no one wants for anything, and all have an equal place within society, all possible because of The Code, a computer program that monitors every aspect of life.
But what happens when The Code is hacked?
The last terrorist attack happened eight years ago. Ry was the only survivor. Now fourteen, she can’t help but notice everything is happening too fast, especially when she is activated for her adult life four years early. A terrorist has tamper with the coding that control vital roles and Ry has been assigned to the very team tasked with his capture. She soon learns that more is at stake than a couple of kids being forced to grow up too fast. Because The Code controls every aspect of life… and death.
The World Collective is perfect for young readers looking to get into dystopian fiction for the first time and long-time fans of the genre.
How does it feel to be on the shortlist for the prize?
Amazing! I am honoured to share space with so many other outstanding Canadian authors and their wonderful stories. The fact that my novel is featured with Genki Ferguson’s Satellite Love, a Canada Reads longlist, blows me away.
BOOK ONE IN THE WORLD COLLECTIVE SERIES BY SUSAN CULLEN
WINNER OF THE 2023 WORD AWARD FOR BEST YA FICTION, SHORTLISTED FOR THE KOBO EMERGING WRITER AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT SPECULATIVE FICTION
When environmental disaster threatened to end all life on earth, humanity came together and created the World Collective. Using The Code, a computer program that tracks every detail, citizens live in harmony, each ensured a full life story with access to food, medicine, education, and meaningful work as part of the collective.
But what happens when The Code is hacked?
The last terrorist attack happened eight years ago. Ry was the only survivor. Now fourteen, she can’t help but notice everything is happening too fast, especially when she is activated for her vital role four years early.
A terrorist has tampered with the coding that controls vital roles and Ry has been assigned to the very team tasked with his capture. As Ry adapts to life as an adult in a new city and working to make new friends, she begins to see that more is at stake than a couple kids being forced to grow up too fast.
Because The Code controls every aspect of life…
And death.
