Riverview Author Publishes Futuristic Thriller for Young Adults

Imagine a world where your every movement is watched, a world in which you could be arrested for reading the wrong books or for staying out after dark.

That's the kind of world Riverview author Kristen Simmons envisioned in her first published novel, "Article 5," a young adult novel about a futuristic "dystopian" society in which moral statutes are the law and violating those statutes could lead to dire consequences.

"Article 5" is the first book in a trilogy with the second novel due out in January 2013. In the meantime, Simmons has been busy traveling on a book tour to promote her first novel, which came out in January.

For the 30-year-old author, publishing her first novel is a dream come true.

Born and raised in Reno, Nev., Simmons said she's been writing her entire life.

"I wrote a lot when I was growing up," she said, "first stories about pets and later some fantasy."

She went on to get a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in social work, and then worked as a clinical social worker with survivors of domestic violence and abuse with military personnel experiencing psychiatric disorders.

But Simmons never gave up her love of writing.

"I finished my first manuscript 10 years ago, but I didn't know anything about getting published. I got all of these rejections, but I just couldn't give up. Less than a year later, I was writing again on lunch breaks and after work."

In all, she submitted four manuscripts to literary agents and received more than 100 rejection letters.

"I wanted to give up. But the field I worked in helped because you often see people struggling, but they're able to recover and realize their potential," she said. "To watch somebody climb back to the top when they had it much worse than me was a life-changing experience."

So Simmons persevered with the encouragement of her husband, Jason, a professor at the University of Tampa.

Then one day, while living in Lousiville, Ky., she was driving to work when she saw a protest over a children's book in front of a local bookstore.

"I thought to myself, what would happen if this went further. What else can you ban? Music? Video games? Anything that interferes with somebody's else's value system? That was the basis for 'Article 5.'"

In "Article 5," there are no more police. Instead, there are soldiers. There aren't fines for bad behavior. Instead, there are arrests, trials and maybe worse. And people who get arrested usually don't come back.

Simmons said the novel follows 17-year-old Ember Miller who lives with her rebellious single mother. When her mother is arrested, the arresting officer is none other than Chase Jennings, the only boy Ember has ever loved.

"The characters in the book struggle with some pretty heavy issues, but they’re resilient. Like with anyone struggling with a hardship, there is hope, as long as they can learn to trust and support each other," she said.

Once she had the premise for the book, things moved quickly, said Simmons.

"I wrote the first draft in less than three months, but revisions took two years," she said. "Then, in 2009, I found my agent. That was the best day in the whole process, getting that acceptance letter. That was even better than the day the book came out."

Getting her book published proved to be a heady experience for the young author.

"I hadn't told anyone that I was writing, except my husband who was a big source of encouragement for me," she said. "Suddenly, I was a published author."

Now, looking back at her first manuscripts, Simmons said she understands why they were rejected by publishers.

"I thought they were so good at the time, but now I realize they weren't ready to be published," she said. "But they were all really great practice. I finally got to the point where I was writing something I'd like to read."

Her book tour in March took Simmons back to Kentucky where "Article 5" is set.

"It was so fun," she said. "I went to all the places featured in 'Article 5,'" she said. "One Knoxville bookstore was located on a street where scenes in 'Article 5' take place."

In addition to bookstores, Simmons visited schools, libraries and writer's groups.

"It was a great turnout," she said. "But seeing my book on the shelves of major bookstores was very surreal."

Currently, Simmons is working on revisions on the second book in the trilogy and is a third of the way into her third book in the trilogy.

In the meantime, Simmons, now a full-time writer, is working on another young adult novel.

"It's about kids in poor working conditions who overcome obstacles," said Simmons. "That's always a great theme for young adult literature."

For more information, visit the author's website.

To read an excerpt of "Article 5," vist MacMillan's website.