Project Renovatio (15 page)
Authors: Allison Maruska
September 7
Today marks the beginning of our sixth week at the camp, and I decided to document our time here. A journal seems the best way to do that. If we end up surviving a global disaster and rebuilding society, this could be in a history book.
Rana stopped writing and laughed at the idea.
Levin’s been a giant grump, which I guess I understand. He misses Maggie like crazy, and there’s nothing computer related here for him to do, so I think he feels a little useless. Our brothers fill the days with their own skills: Brent fixes anything mechanical, Daniel’s become our camp doctor, and Jeremy’s formed exercise groups. Levin practices Taekwondo in one of the groups, and he’s happier afterwards, but I hope we can go home soon so he’ll go back to normal. One of Dr. Craig’s guys arrived in Levin’s car a week after we did, and I’ve wondered if Levin will decide to take off one day. I’m a little surprised he hasn’t.
Dayla worried she’d fall behind in school, so I asked one of the workers to buy some books for her to study, and I’ve tried to remember what I learned in fifth grade to help her. The other kids her age caught on to what we were doing, and now I’m running a little school for them. I can’t believe how smart they are. I love every second I’m with them, and whenever we do get out of here, I plan to earn my teaching certificate.
She smiled when she imagined the possibility.
We might leave soon, though. Last night, Dr. Craig told us a man named Uriah has taken charge of the people Scott led, and they’re back to trying to form an army with the PRs. Dr. Craig wants those of us who are sixteen or older to face Uriah’s group. We’ll train for ten days, in case we need to fight. I’m not sure ten days are enough for us to do anything, but Dr. Craig said the size of our group will make Uriah’s followers see us as an opposing force.
Levin pointed out that Dr. Craig wants to turn us into an army to fight the guys who want to turn us into an army. Dr. Craig told him this is our best chance to go home. Even if we do go home, I wonder if our lives will ever be like they were before we learned about Project Renovatio.
I guess there’s only one way to find out.
The End
Continued in Project Liberatio
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This book would not have been possible without the support of some important people.
First, thanks to my friend and fellow author Carol Bellhouse, whose immeasurable patience, guidance, and encouragement saw me through those rough early drafts. Carol, you will never understand how vital you’ve been in my growth as a writer.
Second, special thanks to my biggest cheerleaders: my mom and fellow author, Virginia Finnie, and my dear friend Rebecca Mast. If you didn’t love everything I write, it would be hard to continue some days. All writers need people like you in their lives.
Also, to my friend and fellow author Dan Alatorre, I can’t thank you enough for helping me put the final polish on the story. It’s better because of your expertise.
And finally, to my husband, Joe and our sons, Nathan and Silas, thanks for letting me park at my laptop for countless hours while you played, watched movies, and generally fended for yourselves. Your belief in me and in this new path means everything.
Other Books by Allison Maruska
"Brilliantly written, you are a part of it all, right from the start. The author’s powers of description put you right in the heart of the action with Drake and his friends."
- Amazon Reviewer 
Sixteen-year-old Drake can’t understand why the virus spared him. The only survivors he’s seen vandalized his makeshift dwelling, and despite his sister’s dying wish that he connect with others, he spends his days alone – that is, until he shapeshifts into a dragon.
While exploring his new abilities, Drake nearly flies into Preston, another shifter. Their chances of survival increase if they team up with others like them, but when their search leads to a group in Las Vegas, they find not everyone is welcoming.
As Drake develops new relationships, Preston endures daily confrontation and eventually takes off on his own. Concerned for his friend’s safety, Drake launches a search and stumbles into a situation stranger than anything he could imagine. Now he must embrace his animalism if he wants to save his humanity.
“Maruska does a stellar job of creating believable characters that are flawed and relatable but also admirable in their determination.” – Allison Gammons, author and blogger for Eclectic Alli
“Allison Maruska has taken me on an amazing historical adventure in The Fourth Descendant.”
-Michelle Stanley, reviewer for Readers’ Favorite
When Michelle receives a call from a Richmond historian, she sees the chance for a much-needed adventure. All she has to do is find a century-old key.
Three others – a guitarist, an engineer, and a retiree – receive similar calls. Each family possesses a key to a four-lock safe found buried in a Virginia courthouse, though their connection is as mysterious as the safe itself. Their ancestors should not have interacted, had no apparent reason to bury the safe, and should not have disappeared thereafter.
Bearing their keys, Michelle and the other descendants converge in the courthouse basement and open the safe, revealing the truth about their ancestors - a truth stranger, more deadly, and potentially more world-changing than any of them could have imagined. Now it’s up to them to keep their discovery out of the wrong hands.
“I rarely read a story that I can’t wait to get back to, and this was one. It’s full of drama and suspense. It’s fresh and new, something very much needed, and it’s totally unpredictable."
- John Darryl Winston, author of IA: Initiate
Allison Maruska started her writing adventure in 2012 as a humor blogger. Her first published book, an adult historical mystery novel called The Fourth Descendant, was released in February, 2015. Drake and the Fliers followed in November, 2015 and Project Renovatio in April, 2016. She expects her next books, the sequels to Project Renovatio, to be released in 2016, followed by the standalone sequel to The Fourth Descendant.
Allison recently transitioned to a full-time writing career after working for thirteen years in elementary education. She’s also a wife, mom, coffee and wine consumer, and owl enthusiast.
Connect with Allison on the interwebs!
Blog:
http://www.allisonmaruska.com
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Amazon Author Page:
http://amazon.com/author/allisonmaruska