Now available: The Vessel
Scientists attempt to save humanity by implanting all the world’s evil into one human vessel. Will it work?
The Vessel is the heart-pounding second book in The Devil Particle dystopian YA series. If you like flawed characters and world-shattering stakes, then you’ll love Kristin A. Oakley’s gripping tale.
Book One: The Devil Particle
A skyscraper filled with deception. A troubled teen seeking redemption. Will his race to the top become a fatal dilemma?
Paul Salvage longs to prove himself. So the loyal seventeen-year-old is thrilled when he’s selected to compete in the trials to determine who is worthy enough to save society by accepting all of humanity’s evil. But when his brother is murdered, the gallant young man gives up his dream to comfort his grieving father.
Persuaded not to drop out by a powerful family friend, Paul sets aside his own feelings and joins the group of fifty teens chosen to battle to the top of a tower filled with tests and traps. But as he grapples with one horrible choice after another, the haunted young man fears he isn’t noble enough to be the hero who will rescue everyone on Earth.
Can Paul escape the endless doubts and dangers to climb his way to victory?
The Devil Particle is the explosive first book in the Devil Particle dystopian YA series. If you like flawed characters, deadly competitions, and world-shattering stakes, then you’ll love Kristin A. Oakley’s dark tension.
Award-winning Carpe Diem, Illinois is the first book in the Leo Townsend Series
For decades, the small town of Carpe Diem, Illinois has quietly unschooled its children, eschewing tests and classrooms for real-life experiences. Now, long-smoldering political feuds and deep personal secrets threaten to explode. More
The second book in the Leo Townsend Series
Chicago Examiner reporter Leo Townsend has landed the interview of a lifetime with openly gay, front-running US presidential candidate Griffin Carlisle. But when Leo is forced to abandon the interview to rush to the side of his estranged father, Leo’s personal and professional worlds collide.. More
Latest Newsletters and Posts
The University for the Writing Arts
Last weekend my daughter Jessica and I explored the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Jessica is pursuing a degree in costume design and UNCSA, a university devoted entirely to the performing arts, is one of her top choices.
As we toured the UNCSA facilities, we passed students painting murals, practicing dance moves, sewing garments, and creating wigs. The entire school buzzed with energy. It was contagious. A Disneyland for theatre geeks. The last time I’d seen this much excitement and energy from creative people was at UW-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies’ Writer’s Institute. It got me thinking.
What if there were a university for writing?
What Makes a Great Book – Project Hail Mary
It’s taken me years, but now I finally realize that a lot, if not all of writing, is about sharing human vulnerability. Take this newsletter for example. When I recommend books or movies to watch, I get some feedback. But when I share my struggles with querying agents or rewriting pages, I hear from many more of you. It’s this connection with our struggles, failures, and triumphs that people want more than anything.
And so it is with characters.
Writing a First Draft
On October 11th, I started writing Jaelyn (now titled The Renegade), the fourth book in The Devil Particle Series. Over the last couple of years, I’ve worked on revising the first three books, so it’s been a while since I’ve written something new.
The hardest part about writing something entirely new isn’t coming up with ideas, this book is the fourth in the series so a lot of that hard work is already done, and it isn’t finding the time, I’m good at deadlines. It’s combating my inner critic. Let’s call her Bellatrix.