Review "I normally just read to be entertained for a bit, but I keep thinking about this book well afterward. The storyline was unique and kept me interested all the way through..." - K. Turner "I highly recommend this outstanding novel by D A Hahn. The characters are so well developed they feel like real people. The overall story is suspenseful and thought provoking. I can't wait for the next book from this outstanding author." -Michael Bradley "As Sophia's story unfolds, her decisions become more far-reaching and more urgent. Like all of us, she often has to make those decisions without complete information or any guarantee that they're the right ones. I think this is the most thought-provoking aspect of the book." -Ken Product Description In 2006, eighteen-year-old Sophia Alexander is shocked by the appearance of her time-traveling self, from twenty years in the future. She is even more shocked by the apparition's message – Sophia must become a chef, obtain a job in the White House, and stop a president named Zachary Mirren from starting World War Three. Millions of lives are at stake. Unsure if the vision was real or a hallucination, Sophia struggles to decide how much of her life to devote to this task. Yet, time brings more evidence that her encounter with her future self was indeed real. Sophia resigns herself to her fate, knowing she must be prepared, even if it means sacrificing her own goals, needs, and relationships. But will she have to give up everything, even her humanity, for the sake of a better future? Can the future even be changed... or is it determined? This new-adult contemporary sci-fi novel is the first in the Determined Series, by D. A. Hahn. The stories can be read in any order. From the Author CHAPTER 1 MAY 2006 For a moment, Sophia existed solely as disembodied consciousness in a void of utter darkness. Her body's atoms had been momentarily suspended in space-time, attempting to disassemble and reassemble twenty years in the past. She winced as awareness of her body returned—tingling pins and needles, not painful, but not entirely comfortable either. Her vision slowly returned, a bedroom materializing into view. She tried to raise an arm and move her head but remembered she was tethered down. Dizziness gripped her for a moment before she collected her thoughts. She couldn't afford to waste what little time she had. Her focus fell onto the petite young woman relaxing on a bed a few feet away. Her eyes were closed, blissfully absorbed in the music blaring from her earphones. Sophia's 18-year-old self had long, dark hair that swayed as she bobbed her head, a faint smile playing upon her pale, heart-shaped face. The girl hadn't noticed her yet. Waves of nostalgia hit as she glanced around her childhood room. The layout was imprinted in her memory. An IKEA dresser sat in one corner, the bed in the other. She couldn't stop the wistful smile as she saw the posters of Harry Potter and P!nk on the walls. She glanced back at her younger self. She couldn't get distracted. Phia hadn't noticed the apparition of her older self. Sophia didn't want to scare the girl, but she had to give her the message before time ran out. "Phia," she whispered. The girl was oblivious, lounged on her bunched pillows, eyes closed, foot bobbing. She would be graduating high school in a few weeks. The poor kid had no idea what was in store. "Phia," she repeated, louder. Phia's eyes flew open, her eyes widening as she sat bolt upright in bed, ripping the earphones from her ears. "What—what's this?" she gasped, looking up and down at the woman before her. Sophia glanced down at herself - she was naked and floating above the floor at an angle. She could imagine the young girl's shock and gave her a strained smile. "Listen to me carefully, Phia. I don't have much time. I'm you from the future...." "What the hell? What?" Phia blinked, eyes narrowing in suspicion. She scooted back toward the headboard, snatching up a pillow and clutching it in front of her as though to use it as a shield. "I'm sorry I've scared you, but this is important," said Sophia. She gestured to herself. "Look at me, Phia. I'm you." Her own younger face studied her, frightened eyes wandering from her face to the maroon crescent birthmark on her left breast. She gasped with recognition. Sophia remembered what she was like back then, almost finished with high school, excited for the future, the whole world at her feet. How things had changed. To Sophia's relief, Phia finally gave a slight nod. "Millions of lives are at stake," she said. "Grab that notebook off your nightstand and write down everything I say." Phia continued to stare at her, frozen. "Hurry up, Phia, this is real!" Sophia snapped. "Write this down!" Phia startled, glancing at her nightstand and back to the time traveler. Without taking her eyes off Sophia, she snatched up her Twilight journal and a pen with trembling hands. Breathing hard, she shakily opened the notebook to a new page. "Okay," she finally stammered. "Tell me." As Sophia spoke, her young self furiously scribbled notes. "I am you from the future. I came here from April 15th, 2026. The future president, Zachary Mirren, born in 1985, will eventually start World War Three and be responsible for the deaths of millions. You must kill him." From the Inside Flap Copyright © 2020

From the Author Chapter 1 - Sunday, February 2, 2076 Nina sighed as she scrubbed a plate, wishing she could hide away in her room. Her workbench allowed her to immerse herself in her favorite escape, science. At least in science, everything was logical and an answer—unlike relationships. Her father's words from this morning were like needles to her heart. You only care about yourself. She brushed aside an errant dark curl, nausea bubbling in her stomach. How could he think so poorly of her? The running water from the faucet hid her sniffles, but it didn't hide the breathy groan from the dining room. "You okay, Poppa?" Her grandfather, Malcolm Perry, leaned crooked in his wheelchair. His sunken skin was a sickly yellowish-brown, his short hair almost all white, deep bags beneath his eyes. He straightened as Nina came in, a thin smile spreading across his face. "I'm okay, Nina. I was just thinking about all the things I've done in my life." "Why's that?" she asked, a little worried at his words, though she was glad he recognized her today. He didn't always. "Oh, just ponderings. The good and the bad. Did I tell you about when I traveled back in time?" "Time travel?" An amused grin quirked Nina's lips. Poppa's stories were becoming more outlandish. The other day, he'd gone into way too much detail about his fling with the famous movie star, Greta Stone. The microwave gave a shrill beep, and she yanked it open to take out the meatloaf. Overcooked. Nina grimaced. Other countries had developed so much in the past fifty years, but the US was still behind. Americans didn't yet have flash-cooked synthetic meats, accelerated-growth produce pods in every home, or drone delivery that could bring stuff to your house in minutes. The US hadn't changed much in the past few decades, except for network transportation. "Thank you, sweetie," said Poppa when she laid the meatloaf and peas in front of him at the table. She wondered whether he'd indeed tell her his "time travel" story. Poppa struggled with his spoon, letting out a frustrated grunt as the utensil shook in his hand. Nina averted her gaze, glancing out of the window. He would snap again if she tried to help too much. Watching him waste away over the past few months broke her heart. The liver cancer had moved all over his brain, and she knew he didn't have much time left - the doctors said a month or two. Dusk haloed the house next door in an orange glow. A woodpecker perched on the neighbor's shingles, tap-tap-tapping. She wondered how long the neighbor would hold out before assaulting the bird with BBs. It was a frequent game between them. Poppa's spoon slipped with a clatter onto his plate, and he cursed under his breath. "What was I saying?" "Um. Time travel?" Nina kept her voice level, a gentle tone without being patronizing. She loved her grandfather and understood his outbursts were due to frustration, not malice. It couldn't be easy for him. "Ah, yes." Malcolm abandoned the dropped spoon, leaning back in his wheelchair with a faraway look in his eyes. Product Description In 2076, seventeen-year-old Nina Perry's world is turned upside down by the sudden loss of her father. Several days later, a mysterious event causes millions to die, leaving her afraid and alone. Nina finds the courage to continue and encounters a few other survivors, including her brother, Thomas. She discovers her great-grandfather Albert Perry's journals, which offer a possible solution to this dystopian nightmare—time travel. Before Nina can explore this possibility, she and her companions must escape abduction by a self-proclaimed Messiah and his followers, who are determined to rule. Will Nina be able to overcome her self-doubts and find the courage to risk everything to save the world? This young adult post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel is a sequel to Determined by D. A. Hahn. The stories can be read in any order. From the Inside Flap Copyright © 2022