Gregg Rosenblum is the amazing author of Revolution 19. Gregg Rosenblum works at Harvard, where he wages epic battles against technology as an editor/webmaster/communications/quasi-IT guy. He graduated from UC San Diego and has an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. He lives in Boston with his wife and daughter.

Favorite superhero?

I’ll have to say The Tick. “Spooooon!”

Coolest trait?

Telekinesis—the ability to move things with your mind. No doubt. I’d clean up at Roulette. And I’d be able to fly. (I could just lift myself, right? Or is that a paradox?)

Favorite name?

Cadence

If you could take 3 things to a deserted island, what would you take?

A guitar & music theory book, so I can finally learn to play properly; my Nook preloaded with a LOT of books (we’ll pretend the battery is solar powered, okay?); and a dog (a hypoallergenic breed, like a labradoodle).

Can you tell us about your newest book, REVOLUTION 19?

I’m very excited about Revolution 19! It’s book 1 of a planned trilogy, and my debut. Here’s the semi-official summary:

Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Headstrong seventeen-year-old Nick has spent his whole life in a community in the wilderness, hiding out from the robots that have enslaved mankind. But when the bots discover the community’s location, he, his tech-geek younger brother, Kevin, and adoptedsister, Cass, barely make it out alive—only to discover that their home has been destroyed and everyone they love is missing.

All survivors were captured and taken to one of the robots’ Cities. The siblings have been hearing tales about the Cities all their lives—humans are treated like animals, living in outdoor pens and forced to build new bots until they drop dead from exhaustion. Determined to find out if their parents are among the survivors, Nick, Kevin, and Cass venture into the heart of the City, but it is nothing like they’vebeen told.

As they live among the bots for the first time, they realize they’re fighting for more than just their family. The robots have ruled for too long, and now it’s time for a revolution.

 

You work at Harvard as an “editor/webmaster/communications/quasi-IT guy.” Did you always see yourself writing and publishing a book?

I’ve always thought of myself as a writer first and foremost. I fell in love with fantasy and sci fi as soon as I learned to read, and I’ve been writing since I was a kid—going all the way back to my third grade short story project, “Erwin, Mervin, and the Aliens.” Erwin had telekinesis.

 

What made you want to write about robots?

Asimov’s I, Robot; the Terminator; and Blade Runner. All those fancy ideas of intelligence andself-awareness and sentience and what it means to be alive and human vs. artificial—imagining scary futuristic robots lets me play with some of these big ideas at least a bit, but still have fun.

I’m curious, are all the robots bad or are there some who see the damage that they are doing to the world?

No, I don’t think all the robots are “bad.” This is going to sound strange, but actually, I’m not sure any of them are “bad.” I think they truly believe in their “Great Intervention”…the idea that they had to save mankind from itself. And I think some of them, at least, are struggling with the idea of whether they’re “alive.” If they didn’t feel “alive,” then why would they bother with the revolution? Of course that’s cold comfort for the millions of people who were killed when they took over. As for whether any of them are able to see their actions from the human perspective, as horrible…well, that sounds too much like you’re fishing for future plot reveals!

The ending of REVOLUTION 19 obviously set us up for more. Can readers expect Cass, Nick and Kevin to find other people in the forest? Can we expect them to continue to fight the robots?

Yes, and yes!

 

Have you started working on a sequel to REVOLUTION 19? If so, do you have a name or a brief synopsis?

I just finished draft 1 of book 2, although I have to admit, the last 10 chapters are 1-page summaries. It picks up right where Revolution 19 ends…I can’t really say much more right now, because so much changes from draft to draft! Even the working title might change.

 

What was your favorite part of the book to write and why?

Nick in reeducation. I think those were some of the creepiest/most action-packed scenes, and I had a blast writing them.

 

Cass and Farryn were my favorite characters/couple in the book. Are we going to see a lot more of them in book two?

Yes! I’m glad to hear you liked them! They have it kind of rough for a while in book 2—they go through some difficult stuff.

 

What about Lexi and Nick?

Yup. Although maybe there’s a love triangle of sorts in their future?! Drama!

 

Now I feel bad for leaving out Kevin. Will we see him with a love interest in book two?

I scared my editor once by telling her that I was going to have Kevin fall in love with a female sphere bot. But, to answer your question honestly (and lamely)…I don’t know. There’s still a lot I’m deciding on!

 

If you could cast anyone to play any of the characters in the book (you don’t have to pick someone for everyone!) who would you cast?

Okay, here’s an admission I probably shouldn’t make…I have this daydream that the book becomes a movie, and the director decides to cast me, the author, as Tech Tom. Even though the last time I acted was in fifth grade. My wife does have Uta Hagen’s “Respect for Acting” in our bedroom, though, and I’ve looked at the spine a million times. I could do it!

This is going to be odd, but honestly, the only actor I envisioned while writing was Bob Hoskins as Doc.

 

What is currently in your To-Be-Read pile?

I’ll try to keep this short…I’m currently rereading Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising books, a YA/middle-grade series that first set me on fire as a kid. I’m reading Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, because he’s the closest I can get to Douglas Adams in tone & wit…a few others I have lined up are Reamde by Neal Stephenson, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, the Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey, Railsea by China Mieville…I think I’ll probably reread The Hobbit, since it’s been years, and Peter Jackson’s reminded me…I could go on and on, but I’ll stop…

Favorite television show? So You Think You Can Dance

 

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

 

Cats or dogs? Cats

 

Favorite superhero? Rogue

 

Can you tell us about your book, Priscilla the Great?

 

Priscilla is a quirky 12 year old tomboy who is still in touch with her feminine side. One day she discovers that she can shoot fire out of her fingers along with a few other enhancements. She knows this isn’t normal so she and her genius best friend have to discover why she suddenly has these powers.

There are currently 6 books in the series. Do the books follow a storyline throughout the series or could they be read individually?

 

Books one through five definitely follow a storyline. There are also a few short stories that can be read out of order like Priscilla the Great Versus the World, Priscilla the Great Vampire Slayer, and Twin Shorts. I’ve also released a prequel to the series that is from the point of view of Marco. Book two of that series will be out shortly.

How did you come up with the series?

It’s a funny story actually. Priscilla the Great was originally going to be called The Adventures of PMS Girl about a girl who got superpowers along with her first period. I just thought it would be cool for your period to being you something besides cramps and cravings. But then a major publishing company sent me through three edits and convinced me to take out the whole period angle.

Why did you want to write a middle grade series?

I never thought I would write for middle grade. Let’s just say middle school was not the best time of my life. But the character of Priscilla just popped in my head and wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote the story.

Can we assume you love superheroes?

Oh, definitely. I was obsessed with everything sci-fi when I was growing up. My favorite was XMen. I think my first crush might have been Gambit.

What has been the best compliment you’ve received about the series?

I used to think the best compliment was having Priscilla the Great called a cross between Percy Jackson and iCarly. But I have gotten a lot more heartfelt compliments since then. For example, this is part of a review for Vampire Slayer:

 

” For an author to get an 11-year old reader (who also has an interest in computergames, iPOD’s and online chatting with her friends) so engaged is an achievement in itself. It is because of books like these that we can instill a love for reading in our children and I commend the author for this.”

Two of your students inspired you to write about Priscilla. How on earth did they make you think of a 12-year-old girl who could shoot fire from her hands?

They inspired her personality and her look. Helen would come in to class every day with some ridiculous story about something that happened to her. One of her stories about armpits became the basis for Vampire Slayer. It’s pretty funny.

What’s next for you? Is there more in store for Priscilla and friends or will you be moving on to a different project?

I’m currently working on the next saga in the Priscilla the Great series. It’s an episodic adventure called The Alien Chronicles.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

Just that I have the best fans in the world and I love them all!

 

Character Interview

Priscilla

 

Priscilla, how are you warming up to your new found powers?

I’m pretty much getting used to all of them, except the hearing thing. The super strength comes in handy when I have to defend myself against my evil little brothers. And the shooting fire out of my fingers, well, let’s face it, that’s just pretty awesome. But the super hearing can be downright annoying when you’re trying to sleep and all you hear is your older brother humming Christina Aguilera songs in the next room.

 

Is it difficult to have friends when you have to hide such major secrets from them? Totally! I really can’t tell anyone, well, except Tai. But she’s more of a sister than a friend. I think if any of my other friends in River’s Bend knew what I could do they’d make me join the circus. And not the cool circus with elephants and acrobats. One of those scary freak show circuses with bearded chipmunks and broken ride operators with one eye.

 

How has your relationship changed with your mother? I have definitely started to understand her more. I understand that she went away so much because she was saving lives. I actually kind of look up to her. Now if I could just do something about her pitiful fashion sense our relationship would be perfect!

 

What about with your brother, Josh? Okay, don’t tell anyone, but I happen to think my older brother Josh is kind of amazing. I always have. He’s so thoughtful and responsible and caring. He’s the best brother in the world. But if you tell him that I will totally deny it. Anyway, while I’ve always thought that about him, I would never dare show it. Going through this whole super powered mutant thing with him has made us a lot closer, though. In fact, lately, I might even be caught giving him a hug…in public!

 

I’m sorry you had to leave your school and move away to the middle of nowhere. How are you adjusting to that? Okay, I might be able to handle the moving away thing a bit better if I could at least have a Facebook page and keep up with my friends back in the Bend. But, no, Dad thinks it’s too dangerous. So let’s just say I am a super bored super hero at the moment.

Marco is the only thing keeping sane while I’m banished to Misery, I mean, Missouri. Since he’s my age, he’s the only one I really hang out with anymore. But Kyle has been my bud since we were two. There’s no way Marco could ever get in the way of that…could he?

 

What has it been like being surrounded by other kids who have powers? Oh, it is crazy. You try playing Capture the Flag when your competition can read minds and fly. It’s like I have to create a whole new set of games to play where our powers don’t give us an advantage. That pretty much limits us to like Guitar Hero. Now if I can just figure out how to keep from melting that little plastic guitar every time I go into the solo from “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses.

 

If you could have any other power what would you choose? I hate to admit that I admire anything about Specimen Xi, but her ability to heal is pretty stinkin awesome. I’d love to be able to kick some bad guy butt and never have a scratch on me.

Oh, oh, that is such a great question! How about Fire Girl, no, no, Fire Woman like that song from the Cult. Or, the Red Warrior. Or Darth Priss, though that kind of makes me sound like a villain. I guess Jedi Priss could work. Or Dancing Queen. Yeah, I know that has nothing to do with fighting bad guys, but have you seen me dance? I really should add dancing to my list of powers cause I am dancing machine!