Project Dream by CJ Zahner

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Project Dream, a YA paranormal written by author CJ Zahner.

Project Dream laces a trace of the paranormal into the lives of teenagers taken from their families in this prequel to CJ Zahner's Gripping thriller, Dream Wide Awake.

What happened to the kids in the desert?
In 2002, the CIA forced several teenagers out of detention centers and into a National Security Test Program called Project Dream. Teens selected had two characteristics: physical superiority and a sixth sense. 

When the awkward, unpopular, and destitute Izzy Jimenez is caught stealing clothes, authorities enroll her in the program for two reasons: Izzy swims like a fish—and she sees angels.

There she studies and works hard to perfect her clairvoyance hoping authorities will allow her to go home. But when she and the other students master remote viewing and produce results that stun White House officials, additional children—good kids from normal American families—are recruited. Izzy’s hope of going home dwindles.

Not until the striking, charismatic Rachel Callahan arrives and befriends Izzy does her life become bearable.

Project Dream is a coming-of-age story of teenagers thrown into the most unusual circumstances. Each struggle to survive their time in the desert with the goal of getting out and going home, but—

Can any of them really go home? 

We recently had time to chat with CJ about her latest book and her life in general. Here's what she had to say:

Tell us a bit about Project Dream.

I wrote the draft of Project Dream during the 2018 November NANO (National Novel) challenge. I published two books in September of 2018 and had begun editing a third (a historical romance I wrote long ago) and writing a fourth—the prequel to my published novel, Dream Wide Awake. However, a few readers emailed me and asked what happened to the kids in the desert before Dream Wide Awake. Because of those readers, I changed direction and wrote a prequel rather than a sequel.

What made you choose business/accounting for a profession/career?

I worked in retail the summer before my freshman year of college. There, I worked alongside four women who held English degrees. Determined not to go through four years of schooling to work in retail, I changed my major to accounting.

Knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being an accountant or do something different? Tough question. Complicated answer. Should I have stuck with English? Would I have become an author earlier in life? I see so many young writers struggling that I’m beginning to second guess my once-thought “wrong choice” for two reasons.

First, finances. Readers don’t realize how little authors earn. I made much more money writing grants and freelance articles. This is my third book, and I am still operating in the red. Most authors must have dozens of books published before they earn anything substantial. Of course, there are those who make a good living right off the bat, too. For most of us, we have a small platform and are a mere drop in a hard-working bucket of authors.

Second, my experiences have given me an entirely different perspective on life. My writing has changed dramatically since my twenty-something years. I am currently editing a historical romance, Within the Setting Sun, that I wrote years ago. Sometimes I find myself asking, “What was I thinking?’

What is your biggest fear? Hurting people’s feelings. I sometimes base fictional characters after real people. I pray they are pleased with how I see them. In general, people are good. No one is perfect, of course, but most people are just like me: trying to make their way through life, providing some good to others. And that’s one of the reasons I want to write novels. A good book takes my mind off my worries and carries me away from my own troubles. I hope I do that for my readers.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? Scarlet O’Hara, because she is so different from me.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Don’t wait until you find a publisher for your first book before beginning your second.

Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on your writing? Writers Margaret Mitchell, Gillian Flynn, and Sydney Sheldon influenced me the most. I also love Garth Stein’s novel The Art of Racing in the Rain. For characters, I based Giff, the protagonist in The Suicide Gene, after my son Zak; Izzy Jimenez in Project Dream after actress Anna Kendrick; and I crafted the looks of the character Todd Kennedy in Project Dream after—ready for this?—reality TV-star Tom Sandoval of Vanderpump Rules. Lisa in Dream Wide Awake remarkably resembles Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval’s girlfriend, too!

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? I have had visions myself. One was of 9/11 (see my interview at http://bit.ly/DWABookClubs). In learning to deal with these visions, I took classes from a medium in my hometown. She helped me learn to deal with them. Those classes answered many of my paranormal questions.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them; what influenced you to submit to them? I am publishing Project Dream on my own. However, the publisher for my novel, The Suicide Gene, is The Wild Rose Press (TWRP). I pitched my story to them at a hometown conference they came to, and they accepted it. I couldn’t be an indie author if not for the experience I gained through TWRP. I hope to pitch my historical romance to them soon. I cannot give them enough praise. They have supported me relentlessly.

What are you reading right now? I am reading Big, Little Lies—and loving it—and The Hypnotist’s Love Story, both by Liane Moriarty; Ghost Coach by an author from my hometown, James DeHaven; and Memory Man by David Baldacci.

What's next for you? I will edit that historical romance, Within the Setting Sun, and finish writing Dream Wide Awake’s sequel, The Dream Snatchers.

In November I may also power through a new book I have an idea for in the NANO writing challenge, but then every once in a while, I fantasize about taking a few months off and relaxing. Who knew this novel-writing thing could be so addicting!!!

To learn more about CJ Zahner and the stories she creates go to: https://cyndiezahner.com/

Other Novels by CJ Zahner:

The Suicide Gene (Wild Rose Press) http://bit.ly/AMSGene

Dream Wide Awake (Kindle Direct) http://bit.ly/AMDWACZ

Buy Links:

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Barnes and Noble

Social Media links:

Instagram ~ Twitter ~ LinkedIn ~ Book Circle Online interview

Goodreads ~ BookBub ~ Book Gorilla ~ Facebook

or

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cjzahner/

Twitter https://twitter.com/TweetyZ

Facebook http://bit.ly/FBcjzahner

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndiezahner/

Goodreads http://bit.ly/gProjectDream

BookBub http://bit.ly/BBProjectDream

Book Gorilla http://bit.ly/CJZahnerBookGorilla

Interviews:

Book Circle Online http://bit.ly/CJZinterview