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
Discovering Blurbs and Dark Factors
While marketing Carpe Diem, Illinois and revising The Devil Particle manuscript last week, I made two discoveries: there’s an art to writing book blurbs and evil can be measured.
That Time of Year Again – the Oscars
This Sunday marks the 92nd Academy Awards. My younger daughter and I are heading to Milwaukee for my niece’s Oscar party and we can’t wait! In preparation for the party, we’ve watched as many award-nominated films as possible. This year there have been some great ones (click on the movie titles below to link to view the official movie trailers). My favorite movie of 2019 is . . .
Understanding Dystopians
Knowing that reading is crucial to good writing, I thought I’d read enough dystopian novels to write a good dystopian myself. For instance, I’ve read The Hunger Games trilogy, The Divergent Series, The City of Ember, The Giver, and Wool. I’ve also read Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Fahrenheit 451 led me to write Carpe Diem, Illinois and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched The Matrix.
Then I stumbled upon Professor Pamela Bedore’s “Great Utopian and Dystopian Works of Literature” Great Courses lecture and realized I haven’t even scratched the surface.