Giving Back and Paying It Forward-- Guest Post by David Estes

This is my stop during the book blitz for Slip (Slip #1) and Grip (Slip #2) by David Estes. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 1 till 5 December, you can view the complete blitz schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

Slip (Slip #1)
By David Estes
Genre: Dystopia
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 1 December, 2014

Blurb:
Someone must die before another can be born...

As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.

But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone?

And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?

In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.

You can find Slip on Goodreads

You can buy Slip here:
- Amazon


Grip (Slip #2)
By David Estes
Genre: Dystopia
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 1 December, 2014

Blurb:
In a tumultuous world of population control, one illegal child has slipped through the cracks. Now, as a teenager, Benson Kelly has escaped certain deaths at the hands of the Department of Population Control, only to find himself the symbol of a rebellion, something he never intended.

While trying to survive one day at a time, Benson seeks to unravel the tangled knot of secrets left behind when his father died, the key to which has something to do with his mother, Janice Kelly, recently escaped from the insane asylum.

As the rebel group known as the Lifers continue to use brute force to send a message to the government, Benson's twin, Harrison Kelly, seeks to exploit a loophole that could be the key to freedom for his brother. All that's required is a simple act of murder.

Meanwhile, Population Control's attack dog, a sadistic cyborg known as The Destroyer, closes in on Benson and his family. His directive: Kill them all.

Faith, family and love will be pushed to the limits in the GRIPping sequel to Slip.

You can find Grip on Goodreads

You can buy Grip here:
- Amazon

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Giving Back and Paying it Forward by David Estes

Thanks so much for having me on your awesome blog, Jenny! And thanks for this extremely important topic for my guest post. Giving back is something that’s near and dear to my heart, as is paying it forward. I know that many of my readers feel the exact same way.

As an author with a growing platform that allows me to reach thousands of readers, I feel a powerful responsibility to give back, both to my readers and to those in need. I’ve noticed many other authors donating a portion of their royalties to charities, as well as publicly supporting causes they feel are important. Those authors inspire me to do more, too.

One thing I want to point out for anyone who’s hesitant to get involved with local charities because of how much time it might take, is that it’s usually a lot less time than you think. For example, I recently participated as a Shavee for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for kids’ cancer research. At first, I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to squeeze this responsibility in with all my professional deadlines, but I quickly realized I was able to do it. Now that everything’s online, I could raise money via the internet quickly and easily. And the actual head-shaving part of it? All I had to do was show up and they shaved my head for me, that easy! I’m not saying you’ve got to shave your head, but pick a charitable event that fits your style 

Another thing I want to share is how much you’ll get out of whatever event you choose. This is something I didn’t expect at all. I was thinking I would feel good about myself because I raised money for a good cause, and I did, but it was SO MUCH MORE than that. The event included people who were getting their heads shaved while holding up pictures of kids with cancer that they had some sort of connection with. The kids were laughing and enjoying their lives, like kids should. A band was playing music in the background, creating the perfect atmosphere of hope for the event. I felt like together we could change the world. That’s what giving back is all about: making this world a better place, one act and person at a time.

The second topic I wanted to focus on is paying it forward. Ever since I became an author, this is something I’ve really begun to embrace. Everyone needs help sometimes, right? Of course. We’re not invincible, we don’t have super powers, we’re not perfect. We need help, support, and advice. I know I’ve needed plenty of all of that over the last four years as I’ve gone from being an accountant to writing full time. I’ve been lucky. Blessed even. The right people have come into my life at the exact right times, almost like they were meant to be. Like fate. They’ve helped me in ways I can never fully pay back. Nor would they expect me to. People supported me because they wanted to, because they’re good people, because they were paying forward the same support that they’d received. So I vowed to do the exact same thing. That’s why when I get a question from an aspiring author, I never ignore it. I answer it to the best of my ability and I try to help them. I’ve had plenty of authors far more capable than me answer my questions and give me a few minutes of their scarce time. The least I can do is pay a little of that time forward to someone else in need.

I feel we can all do more of this. Paying it forward can come in so many forms, from something as simple as giving someone who’s had a hard day a smile (remember that smile someone gave you when you needed it most?), to something more complex, like helping someone repair their broken-down vehicle when they’re desperate on the highway. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. It’s almost like Jim Carrey in Yes Man although probably not quite that extreme. Just say yes more, and to people you know deserve a break. You’ll make someone’s day and it won’t cost you a thing, except your time.

Thanks so much for listening, everyone, and a special thanks to Jenny for having me on her blog and suggesting this incredibly important topic! I hope you all enjoy my latest YA dystopian novel, SLIP! Happy reading!

David Estes

About the Author:
Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.

Join 2,400+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.

You can find and contact David here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Slip. These are the prizes you can win:
- Winners choice of book to the value of $15.00 U.S. from The Book Depository
- A signed copy of SLIP plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only
- A signed copy of BREW plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only
- 3 ebook packs with three David Estes ebooks of your choice
- 4 signed packs of bookmarks

You can enter the blitz wide giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway