About the Book

Book: The Nightmare Virus

Author: Nadine Brandes

Genre: YA Science Fantasy

Release date: July 16, 2024

Some viruses go after the body. But the Nightmare Virus goes after the mind.

When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe,trapping people in a universal dreamscape. They call it the Nightmare Virus.Cain Cross is determined to find a cure . . . if he can decipher his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind.

Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare—to change it by mere thought.

Forced to navigate a world of nightbeasts, mistblades, and half-truths, Cain turns his focus to survival. When the Emperor offers him a LifeSuPod—and access to a cure—in exchange for a dangerous favor, Cain thinks he’s found a way out. But Cain’s new power threatens to take him on paths that jeopardize his very soul.

Will he continue searching for a cure, or will he swear allegiance to the Nightmare? And the bigger question might be . . . will he even have a choice?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Nadine Brandes has been known to do wild things (like ride a sleeper train across Russia) in the name of book research. She’s the four-time Carol Award–winning author of seven young adult books and has been a professional fiction editor for over a decade. She is passionate about Jesus, motherhood, and creating with the Creator. When she’s not busy inventing worlds and magic systems, she’s adventuring through Middle Earth with her Auror husband and their four Halfling children.

More from Nadine

“Really, God? Now?” That was my reaction when He told me it was time to sign a contract for The Nightmare Virus less than two years after a global pandemic. “No one wants a book with the word “virus” in its title.”

That was the first of many moments that revealed this book was not my choice to write or publish or even title, but was instead the Lord’s. I’d had the idea for over a decade. And while it had nothing to do with the 2020 pandemic it arose from the concept that this world is not our home. This world is temporary and yet, during our time in it, we—as Believers—know the path to freedom out of darkness.

It was a story I was waiting and waiting to write and share with the world and yet when God said “Go” I argued with Him. I was convinced this was the worst time to try and publish this book. I told Him I’d have no time to write it (as a mama of 3 children in 3 years with another one on the way at the time.) Yet God said, “I’ll make the time.” And He did. He paved the way for this book—both in my imagination and in my practical life—and that’s the best road an author can walk, one where her King has gone before her.

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever written and I know that can be either a very good thing or a very bad thing, haha. But God has made it evident that He has a purpose for this story, not the least of which was to draw me closer to Him while writing it.

As I prepared this blog post I thought I could talk about the characters or themes or plot…but you’ll encounter all of those things when you read it. Instead I chose to share the heart journey behind it. Readers may pick it up because of the title or perhaps they’ll pick it up in spite of the title. No matter how the story finds its way into their hands, I know that it is the Lord who got it there. And I can’t wait to see what sort of sparks come from it.

Author Interview

Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

I used to be a one-project-at-a-time author mostly because of deadlines. And since I have been on deadline for the majority of my writing career I thought that was just how I rolled. But now, for the first time, I’m off of deadline and I find myself chipping away at multiple stories. It’s been quite the surprise, but a lot of fun to bounce from story to story depending on my mood. They’re all around the same length right now and I foresee a day in the future when all my stories get completed around the same time and then I won’t know what to do with them all! Haha!

How has your life experience helped in your writing journey?

The biggest thing is my walk with the Lord! I’ve long said that a writer’s life is the toolbox that grows their writing. So when you’re growing in your faith, emotions, life, thoughts, and experiences…your writing is growing, too! And because the Lord is a part all those things, He is the one who has both directed and grown my writing journey. He’s opened all the doors and helped me see things that turn into stories!

Do you have extensive outlines when writing or do you write a book as you go?

I write a book as I go, but I “outline” in my head. Sort of. I have a general outline in my head of the plot before I start a book. As I start writing then I brainstorm in pieces—usually one chapter at a time. So it’s not completely going in blind, but I’ve found that if I try to write down any sort of outline then the only thing I’ve guaranteed is that I won’t write the book that way, LOL!

Do you remember the first book you read? What sort of impact did it make on you?

What a great question! I’ve never been asked this before and I spent quite some time trying to remember the first book I ever read. While I can’t identify the first one (was it Nancy Drew? American Girl? Magic in the Attic?) one of the first books that greatly impacted me was The Hobbit. I remember my mom handing it to me and I was instantly transported to another world. It awoke a desire for adventure and wonder in me and that desire has never faded.

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

Tea. Always tea. If I have a cup of Yorkshire tea then any space can become a writing space, haha! My cup of tea is like a portal into creativity. But I also won’t complain if I find myself writing in a café in Europe with lattice windows and cobblestone streets. 😉