CJ Zahner Author of Project Dream
Give a warm welcome to CJ Zahner, author of Project Dream, just released August 1st, 2019. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about CJ and her Project Dream!
The first chapter of a book can make or break a story. Even if I know what my entire novel entails, I always labor over where to begin. So for Project Dream, I decided to base the beginning of a real-life event that had stunned me.
I have had my share of paranormal experiences. They always leave me with an oh-I-must-be-crazy feeling. Chapter one of Project Dream is based on one of those experiences. Many years ago, a new friend asked if I would like to visit a little side chapel of a Catholic church in my hometown with her. In Project Dream, that chapel is in San Diego, but in real life, that little sanctuary is in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The chapel struck me as lovely. I knelt down beside my friend and immediately began praying. I don’t recall who I prayed for, more than likely it was for one or all three of my kids. Regardless, there I was—I like to say I was minding my own business praying—when I had this swooshing feeling like an angel came down out of the ceiling. I’ve had these experiences before and often ignored what I was feeling, blaming it on my wild imagination. This time, however, the woman, white spirit, ghost, whatever you would like to call her, was relentless. She wouldn’t leave.
I heard her say, quite clearly, “My daughter doesn’t believe in this sort of thing.” She chuckled mildly. Made some other comments about loving her daughter and then just before she left, she opened her arms and showed me the roses.
The dream seemed so real that I was quite shook up. When we were leaving, my friend asked what was wrong.
I said, “You are going to think I’m crazy, but I think the mother of one of those women in that chapel appeared to me.”
Of course, she looked at me like I was nuts. But still shook, I described the things I heard the woman express, and my friend became quiet. Finally, I said, “I know. I’m crazy.”
She asked, “What was the woman’s name?”
I told her I’d seen lots of spirits but I never seemed to get their names right. They usually only gave me feelings or showed me signs. Then I remembered, and said, “oh wait, the woman’s name might have been Rose.”
My friend was quiet for a long time. I was sure she thought I’d lost my mind. The silence was piercing, then she finally spoke. “My mother’s name was Rose.”
And from that true-life experience, I conjured up the entire first chapter of Project Dream.
Now for the dreaded but fun Speed Round, this time two words are allowed:
1.What is your favorite book of all time? Gone with the Wind
- Where do you relax to read? backyard swing
- What sound drives you right up a wall? lawn mowers
- What sound relaxes you? babbling brook
- Favorite drink? coffee
- Walking in the sand, shoes or barefoot? shoes
- Favorite pet? dog
- Snow? Love or hate? neither
- Doing marketing is like nailing jello to the wall.
- Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz or Classical? country
- What can’t you leave the house without? my kindle
- Calendar or not; Paper or electronic? electronic
- Favorite place to write. Presque Isle
- What is your decadent indulgent? eating chocolate
- You’ve just won $1,000.00, you have only 24 hours to spend it, so what will you buy? Books, chocolate, a bottle of wine, and something for my granddaughter
- Plotter or panster? pantser
- Introvert or extrovert? extrovert
- Flight or fight? flight
- Favorite Monster? Bumble
- Magic or Not? magic
Tell us a little about Project Dream:
What happened to the kids in Area-51?
In 2002, the CIA removed teens from detention centers and placed them in a National Security Test Program called Project Dream. Children selected had two characteristics: physical superiority and a sixth sense.
When the awkward, destitute Izzy Jimenez is caught stealing clothes, authorities enroll her for two reasons: Izzy swims like a fish—and she sees angels.
Terrified and alone for the first time in her life, Izzy finds herself in a military school set deep in the belly of a desolate Nevada desert within Area 51. There, she attends classes and learns to perfect her clairvoyance, hoping authorities will allow her to go home. But when she and other students master remote viewing and produce results that stun White House officials, additional children are recruited, and Izzy’s hope of going home dwindles.
Not until the beautiful and popular 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?
A Sneak Peek between the pages of Project Dream
Izzy slid back onto the pew, wondering how she would approach the sad woman.
Revealing the messages the white people relayed always perplexed her. How did she tell someone a ghost followed them around? And more importantly, how did she do that without alarming Mama? She wished her Belo Jimenez had given his gift—curse—of seeing angels to Enrique, not her.
“The gift skipped a generation and fell to you, Izzy,” he once said.
“But Belo, I don’t want your darn-blasted gift.”
Her grandfather had set one long finger against her lips to quiet her. “Listen to the angels, but be careful who you tell. They’ll come for you.”
“Who will come for me?”
Belo had scared the daylights out of her.
“Who?” she asked over and over, but Belo would never respond, which made her worry until hives forced their way out of her skin. Every time she asked, he set a finger against his lips, closed his eyes, and shook his head. So Izzy was darn careful who she told.
She gazed toward the sad woman wearing the simple clothes. The lady had no jewelry and wore no makeup. She looked harmless. Was it safe to tell her?
The woman made the sign of the cross, kissed her rosary beads, and slid back onto the pew to gather her things. The spirit above her clasped her hands and begged.
Izzy sprung onto the kneeler again.
“Mama, may I get a drink of water?”
Her mother leaned toward her, whispering, “Yes, but quickly.”
Izzy darted toward the door; the woman was coming. She stepped into the hall and rushed to the drinking fountain. She sipped water, listening for footsteps.
When the woman neared, Izzy turned. “Hello.”
“Hello.” The woman nodded and walked by.
Izzy closed her eyes and scratched her forehead. If only she had been born with a flowing tongue like Belo said of Enrique.
“Ma’am.” She couldn’t open her eyes when she heard the lady turn. “Did your mother die?”
Oh, that sounded horrible. Why had she asked such a thing? She wasn’t even sure the white spirit was her mother.
“Of lung cancer?” Izzy opened her eyes. “She smoked, right?”
The lady stared but didn’t say a word.
“She says you shouldn’t go to New York City.”
The lady’s face wrinkled. “What?” She sounded cross.
“I’m sorry. It’s—well.” Izzy scratched her nose. She might be breaking into hives. “I saw this lady by you and she kept slashing the letters NYC like you shouldn’t go there and she wouldn’t stop, so I thought I better tell you. She kept doing it over and over and, well, I know she doesn’t want you to go to New York City.”
The woman took a step toward Izzy. The wrinkles melted from her face. “I do have a trip scheduled to New York. Next week. For a conference.”
Goosebumps crawled over Izzy’s skin. Whenever people, real human beings, confirmed what the white people told her, chills spread through her.
The lady stood still, waiting for Izzy to say more.
Izzy scratched and the lady stared.
“What was her name?”
“What?”
“My mother. What was my mother’s name?”
The woman appeared hopeful. She held her breath, waiting. But Izzy didn’t know the woman’s name. She had difficulty hearing the white people. Usually, they simply gave signs.
Yes, signs.
“Oh.” Izzy held a finger up. She remembered the sign. “Rose? Is your mother’s name Rose?”
The chapel door opened behind Izzy, and she heard her mother’s voice. “Izzy, what are you doing?”
“Nothing, Mama.” Izzy sidled down the hall toward her mother.
“I hope she wasn’t bothering you.”
The woman said nothing. She stared at the two of them, a perplexed expression tainting her face. After a time, she left the building without saying more.
“Izzy,” Mama barked. “What were you talking to that woman about?”
“I only said hello to her, Mama.”
Her mother gazed at her skeptically. “Remember what Belo said. Don’t talk to anyone.”
“I didn’t, Mama. I promise.”
“Go collect your things. Your brother called. It’s time to pick him up.”
Izzy hurried back into the chapel and grabbed her coat, missal, and satchel. She smiled and waved goodbye to Jean as she exited.
Eight days later, the World Trade Centers collapsed. Izzy prayed the woman from the chapel had not been inside. She watched for her in church on Sunday and at the chapel during the week when she and Mama went to pray for the people who had died, but Izzy didn’t see the woman.
Three weeks after September 11th, Izzy and her mother visited the chapel on a Sunday evening once again. The lady was sitting in the pew next to the woman named Jean. When Izzy walked in, she heard the lady say, “That’s her. That’s the girl.”
“That’s Isabelle Jimenez,” Jean said.
The woman stood and rushed toward Izzy. Jean followed.
“Mrs. Jimenez?” The lady glanced at Izzy’s mother.
“Yes?”
“Mrs. Jimenez, your daughter saved my life.”
Izzy’s mother made her spend the next two Saturday afternoons praying in church. But it was too late. Saving that woman’s life would prove Belo right.
They would come for her.
Links:
Buy Links:
Amazon http://bit.ly/AMProjectDream
Kobo http://bit.ly/KoboProjectDream
Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/BandNProjectDream
About the Author:
Addicted to can’t-put-down books, coffee, chocolate & wine. I love my family, friends, and while I’m not a TV-buff, I enjoy news shows and am hopelessly addicted to the Bachelor & Vanderpump Rules. What’s wrong with me? (For Pump fans: one character in Project Dream resembles Tom Sandoval. You’ll have to guess who!)
Website/blog: www.cjzahner.com
Interview Link:
Book Circle Online interview: http://bit.ly/CJZinterview
Social Media links:
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
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Project Dream!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged CJ Zahner, Coming of Age, fantasy, Project Dream, Teen & Young Adult by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
