Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Double Helix: Perfection Unleashed by Jade Kerrion. Interview and Review








Interview Questions:
1.       Where did the idea come from for the book?
Genetic manipulation and bio engineering is the least discussed scientific revolution that is taking place today. Scientists are creating clones of animals, hybrid creatures that have never existed before, enhancing animal genes (including glow-in-the-dark puppies) and bionic robots. My novel propels readers into the “next step” and into a world that has been transformed by the Genetic Revolution, a world where clones, in-vitros, and mutants exist. It explores the societal implications when the definition of “humanity” comes under assault.
2.       What genre does your book fall under?
Technically, it fits under science fiction. However, the story takes place in a fairly contemporary setting, and people who enjoy urban fantasy or action/adventures are likely to enjoy Perfection Unleashed too.
3.       Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Oh, I love this question!
Galahad is the perfect human being who was raised in a laboratory for twenty five years. He becomes the catalyst of social turmoil in a world uneasily populated by humans, in vitros, clones, and mutants. His escape is especially devastating for Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath who survived a traumatic childhood and struggled to make something of his life, only to learn that his genetic code was used as Galahad’s physical template.
To play both Galahad and Danyael, we need an actor who can depict both Galahad’s wide-eyed innocence as well as Danyael’s world-weariness. Physical beauty is a prerequisite, of course. My pick for Galahad and Danyael is Orlando Bloom.
Zara Itani is a sensual Lebanese-Venezuelan assassin with very few scruples and a compassionate streak that she works very hard to conceal beneath exquisitely cultivated indifference. She’s a joy to watch in hand-to-hand combat, and you really don’t want her to pull a gun or dagger on you.
In Perfect Weapon, I wrote of Zara, “On a normal day, Zara could wreak more havoc with love than most people could with hate.” Yes, that’s her–trouble incarnate. No one else would have freed the perfect human being from his laboratory prison on little more than a whim. She is the daughter you would not wish on yourself, your best friends, and most especially not on your worst enemies.
More important than physical beauty (although Zara is beautiful) is attitude. My pick for Zara is Kate Beckinsale.
Mu Xin is the clone of Fu Hao, a 1,200 BC Chinese queen, military warlord, and high priestess. Her desert tomb was unearthed by archaeologists in 1976 and Xin was cloned from the remnants of Fu Hao’s DNA. Xin is among the first of the historic clones, and is considered a national treasure. She works for the US government as an analyst in the National Security Agency, but moonlights on the side as a hacker extraordinaire. She is brilliant but low-key, and appears content to play the role of Zara’s reliable sidekick.
Still, Xin’s genes were derived from a powerful and charismatic woman who rose from the lowly role of a concubine to become a queen, military warlord, and high priestess. What lurks behind Xin’s unflappable calm, and when will the real Xin show up to claim her genetic birthright?
The one absolute requirement for Mu Xin is that she’s Chinese (for obvious reasons.) Beyond that, I wanted an actress who looks like she could have been a superwoman from ancient China. My pick for Xin is Zhang Ziyi.
Miriya Templeton is an alpha telepath and an enforcer with the Mutant Affairs Council, the preeminent mutant rights organization in the US. In contrast to her petite stature, she is confident to the point of arrogance. She learns quickly that no amount of arrogance or confidence will get her through the kind of chaos Galahad’s escape unleashes upon society.
The biggest issue I have with casting an actress for Miriya is that I wrote her as a petite person. Do you know any petite, short actresses? No, me neither. No worries. I’m good at compromise. My pick for Miriya is Dakota Fanning.
And finally, Lucien Winter is a wealthy philanthropist who saved Danyael, the alpha empath, from the ruins of his childhood. Danyael has since come into his own strength, but habits are hard to break. Lucien’s unshakeable friendship still anchors Danyael’s emotional stability.
For Lucien, I wanted an actor who could look like he was born not just with the silver spoon, but with the whole place setting in his mouth. My pick for Lucien Winter is Armie Hammer.
4.       What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Perfection meets his imperfect origins and all hell breaks loose.
5.       Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I did send my manuscript to a few agents, but in the end, I decided against going down that route. It’s important for me to retain creative control over my series. I recruited beta readers, and hired an exceptional editor and cover artist. Writing is occasionally a solitary path, but publishing is very much a team effort.
6.       How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It took about three months to get to a solid first draft. That included a major overhaul of the ending after a beta reader (who is also an author) told me frankly that the ending sucked. After I sulked over it for half a day, I realized she was right and ripped out 40,000 words and rewrote the ending.
7.       What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
The Double Helix series is most frequently compared to X-Men, in part because it deals with genetic manipulation and mutants. It’s also occasionally compared to the Heroes and Alpha TV series.
8.       Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I hold my husband wholly responsible. For years prior, I’d been writing fan fiction and had built quite a large fan base. Fan fiction, as I’m sure you know, isn’t publishable for copyright reasons. My husband, who remains my biggest fan, finally pushed me into writing my “own” story. I took the plunge with NaNoWriMo 2010, and haven’t looked back since.
9.       What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Well, Perfection Unleashed has won up several awards, including a Royal Palm Literary Award and a Next Generation Indie Award. Reviewers have enjoyed its in-depth character development, its page-turning action, and the originality of its vision. For the duration of my blog tour (through March 1st), Perfection Unleashed is on sale for $0.99, so now would be a good time to check out the book that launched the Double Helix series. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 Author Bio:

Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in her award-winning Double Helix series. Perfection Unleashed and its sequels, Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, have been described as “a breakout piece of science fiction” and drawn rave reviews for their originality and vision. Her latest novel, When the Silence Ends, is a Young Adult spinoff the Double Helix series.



About The Double Helix series: 

His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his humanity.

Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.

An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude—both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template.

Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.



The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution.

Social media and buy links:

Connect with Jade Kerrion: 
Perfection Unleashed:
Perfect Betrayal: 
Perfect Weapon: 
When the Silence Ends: 

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BACKUP LINKS (if, for some reason, the links above do not transfer through a simple cut and paste)

Social Media Links

Perfection Unleashed
Apple iTunes: http://bit.ly/XyYiGt
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Vrmz0Q

Perfect Betrayal
Apple iTunes: http://bit.ly/UcfbEt
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/V60wWZ

Perfect Weapon
Apple iTunes: http://bit.ly/U8avyA
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/UQyYqE

When the Silence Ends

My Review of the First Book
Perfection Unleashed
5 Stars

The best Sci- Fi I have read for the year thus far. Its interesting and intriguing story twisted with the ever changing line keeping you well entertained and guessing till the very end.
The cliff hanger at the end, did not leave you breathless wondering, but it did give you the sense of more to come. Wanting to read the next book in the Double Helix series, Perfect Betrayal.
The story unfolds as you learn about Galahad, the perfect human being. Breathless in beauty. Perfect human. But when his template enters, Danyael Sabre then the story line gets a whole lot of meaning. The mutant alpha empath the center of the book. So wrapped in his struggle to survive, to live for another day that I really felt sorry for him on so many levels. His keen sense of protecting those he love, his failures just to stand up again and do what is necessary to save the day. Compassion and empathy drained him to the point of exhaustion to be betrayed by the most brutal villain I have ever seen. Shielding emotions, using them as weapons. The most basic things that makes us human or not. Interesting plot to this good read.
I could strangle Roland Rakehell with my bare hands. But I will stop there and not disclose to much of the story that I enjoyed. And can recommend to all Sci-Fi readers. You will not be dissapointed.
We are introduced to Lucien his best friend and Xin, an computer whiz. Zara a warrior scared of nothing but really at times hard to like. But it enhanced the story line greatly, giving it much depth. Miriya that was truly understanding the layers of Danyael's character. Helping and supporting him in silence.
The abominations that killed and destroyed everything in its path and at the end surprised you with their care.
Each person developed with their own unique qualities enhancing the plot as it unfolds into the sinister world of DNA enhancements, creating new human beings as it goes along.
I can see why the author choose the actors on my question and I have to agree they would be a perfect fit.
Thank you for a great read.

2 comments:

  1. Dear Lynelle,

    Thank yo so much for taking the time to read and review Perfection Unleashed. I hope you enjoy the sequels too!

    Love, Jade

    ReplyDelete
  2. It was a pleasure. Can not wait to read the next book in the series. Best Wishes

    ReplyDelete

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