Spies Like Me
The Gems, #1
by Doug
Solter
Publication
date: October 4th 2016
Genres:
Adventure, Young Adult
BLURB
Can she bring these girls
together?
When she discovers her father’s
plane crash wasn’t an accident, sixteen year old Emma wants to punish those
responsible. Even if it means becoming a spy. The mysterious organization known
simply as The Authority wants Emma to join the Gems. This team of all-girl spies
knows how to handle themselves on dangerous missions…like stopping an evil plan
to incinerate the world’s food supply.
Meet the Gems…
Olivia,
code-named Emerald, is seventeen years old. Half English and half Jamaican.
Specializes in leadership, marksmanship, and is a rated pilot.
Miyuki,
code-named Ruby, is sixteen and from Okinawa, Japan. She specializes in
gymnastics and martial arts. Trained in jungle survival and deep sea diving.
Once blew up her boyfriend’s motorcycle using a rocket launcher.
Nadia,
code-named Sapphire, is sixteen and from Saudi Arabia. She’s a science and
computer nerd. Nadia’s zero-gravity school agriculture project created interest
from NASA and the European Space Agency.
Emma,
code-named Black Opal, specializes in high school theater and shopping.
Each girl comes from a different
background. Each girl comes with different skills. Each girl comes with their
own drama.
The Authority thinks Emma is the
missing link to make this team work.
Emma thinks The Authority is her
only chance for revenge.
Emma led Ruby up the metal ladder
inside the gigantic empty wine barrel. Both girls passed through the winery’s
gift shop and went outside to the parking lot. Emma unlocked the doors of her
car and the two girls climbed inside it.
“Mercedes AMG,” Rudy said. “How fast does it go?”
Emma pushed the start button. “I don’t know. I just got it a few
months ago.”
“No speed?”
“I don’t like to drive like that.”
Ruby nodded. “Safety conscious.”
Emma rolled out of the parking lot and took California Highway 29
south out of Napa Valley towards Vallejo. As the car settled on a speed, Emma
flipped on the cruise control. She gripped the leather-stitched steering wheel
and exchanged a few glances at Ruby, who grinned. Normally Emma welcomed
uncomfortable quiet over uncomfortable conversation, but Mrs. B was quite
insistent that Emma should get to know this girl, so…
“Can you tell me your real name?”
Ruby shook her head. “Top secret.”
“Oh. Sorry. I’m new to all this spy stuff, so—”
Ruby covered her mouth as she laughed. “Only kidding. Messing with
you. My real name is Miyuki.”
“Miyuki?”
“Mi-yu-ki. Yes, it’s Japanese for awesome girl from Okinawa.” She
laughed again. “What is your name, Black Opal?”
“Emma.”
“What does Emma mean in English?”
“I have no idea.” Emma thought about it. “It’s English for normal
girl who loves books and puppies, I guess. I’m boring.”
“You forgot to add pulls hair like a mother-trucker.” Miyuki
laughed again. Her laugh was so rich and genuine. Something a person could get
addicted to.
Miyuki talked all the way from Vallejo, through Berkeley, and over
the bridge to San Francisco. She told Emma about the Gems and how they moved
here from London, where they were stationed previously. About how much she
looked forward to seeing America. About how Emma’s habit of not looking before
changing lanes was a tad dangerous.
“I know. I keep forgetting there might be a car over there.” Emma
checked her side mirror as they reached the end of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Miyuki’s eyes lit up like a little girl. “So beautiful. San
Francisco is so beautiful.”
Emma focused on the traffic, which could get tricky heading into
the city. Miyuki continued to point out every fascinating thing she saw out the
window. There was no desperate need to be loved in Miyuki’s voice. No
compromising herself in some attempt to get Emma to like her more. Miyuki said
whatever she was thinking at the top of her head, and Emma found it refreshing.
Emma led Miyuki into the San Francisco Centre Mall and the girl’s
eyes were dazzled by the five indoor floors of shopping.
Hi, Everyone!
My name is Doug and I'm the author of the new young adult spy thriller Spies
Like Me, the first book in The Gems series. Today, I'll be
interviewing all four main characters from the new book. But first, a little
background on The Gems themselves...
Olivia is
from the UK and is a rated pilot. Nadia is the computer and science expert of
the group. She's from Saudi Arabia. Miyuki has training in deep-sea diving and
gymnastics. She's from Japan. And
Emma...well, you're the new one to this group. What skill training have you
had?
Emma: Just
some self-defense stuff. I don't get my full spy training until...
Olivia: (interrupting)
Wait a moment. What clearance do you have, Doug? We can't do this interview
without the proper clearances.
Me: Well,
they wouldn't allow me inside your group's secret headquarters without having--
Olivia:
C'mon, love. Hand it over. (She holds her hand out, expecting me to comply.
I give Olivia my guest pass and show her my letter from Mrs. B, their boss.)
Emma: (to
Olivia) Do you believe him now?
Olivia: Yes.
I was only checking. It's protocol.
Miyuki:
Please continue with your questions, Mr. Solter.
Me: Thank
you. What's it like to be a spy?
Emma: I think
it's fun. I love acting and being a spy is like acting without an audience.
It's such a rush to pretend you're someone else.
Olivia:
You're good at acting fake. No doubts about that.
Emma
shoots her a look.
Miyuki: Emma
is an excellent actor. Having the ability to fully commit to your cover
identity is very important in our job. Her acting skills fit well inside our
group.
Me: What
about you, Miyuki?
Miyuki: I
like taking the bad guys down. They're so surprised when they realize they've
been captured by four girls.
Olivia: I
enjoy gathering intelligence on subjects. The cloak and dagger moments of our
job I really love.
Me: Are you
girls licensed to kill?
(The girls
all look at each other.)
Emma: We're
taught in training how to immobilize our opponents. Not kill them.
Miyuki: (nodding)
We're not assassins. But if you try to hurt us--
Olivia: (interrupting)
We'll knock your lights out, love.
Me: How do
you girls balance school with being a spy?
Emma: I'm
new, so I have no idea.
Olivia: When
Miyuki, Nadia, and I were based in London, we had tutors supplied by our
organization. They were the best in Europe.
Miyuki: Our
tutors would instruct us in-between missions. We didn't go to school with the
other kids.
Me: I've
heard there's a possibility you girls will soon be attending public school in
America. What do you think about that?
Miyuki:
(Claps her hands together) I would love that!
(Nadia and
Olivia both look concerned.)
Emma: I hope
it's at my school. I don't have a lot of friends their yet.
Me: Why is
that?
Emma: I've
been in San Francisco for like three months. You see, I'm a New York City girl.
The lights. The noise. The attitude. The weather. I had a lot friends back
there. And here...let's just say that the kids here don't get me.
Miyuki:
(Holds Emma's hand.) We get you! Right, girls?
(Nadia
flashes a polite smile. Olivia is quiet.)
Me: What's
the most dangerous thing you've ever had to do on a mission?
Olivia: In
Canada we had to jump a snowmobile over an ice crevasse with a five-hundred
foot drop off.
Miyuki: I
remember! That was so fun.
Olivia: Fun?
I had to change my ski pants after that one.
Nadia: Me
too.
Me: Nadia,
you've been quiet so far. What do you like about being a spy?
Nadia: (Her
eyes fall to the ground) I—I don't know. I enjoy figuring out things and
gathering information that we need for our missions. I enjoy solving complex
problems and puzzles. Forensic science is something I would like to learn more
about. I would also like to take a psychology class if our new school offered something
like that.
Me: I heard
that you have a waiting college scholarship to MIT. (Massachusetts Institute
of Technology) That's very impressive.
Nadia: (she
turns red) It's an honor to be blessed with any college scholarship. My
family is very pleased.
Olivia: (to
Nadia) You're too modest, love. Nadia is like this beautiful Arabian
Einstein. She's the smartest girl on the flipping planet.
Nadia: You're
too kind. However, I'm not that smart.
Miyuki:
Whatever. You should own that, girl. You are amazing!
Emma: You're
like crazy smart. I don't see why you should hide it under that headscarf.
Olivia: (to
Emma) Oy! What's that supposed to mean?
Emma: Don't
get hot with me. I'm just saying Nadia should be proud of who she is.
Olivia: Maybe
she's proud to wear a headscarf. Where do you get off telling her she's not
being honest?
Nadia: I'm
not offended.
Miyuki:
Girls, we shouldn't be arguing in front of the author like this.
Me: After
writing 65,000 words and ten revisions I'm used to it.
Miyuki: Oh,
okay.
(At this
point Olivia and Emma continue to argue. Nadia and Miyuki attempt to calm the
two girls down. This finally works, but now Olivia and Emma face their chairs
away from each other.)
Me: Final
question. This is for each of you. What's the one thing you want our audience
to know about you?
Emma: That
sometimes I come off as a little cold when I first meet people. It's not like
I'm judging them. I just like to get to know them first before I warm up to
them. Oh, and I love animals.
Olivia: (to
Emma) That's two things, love.
(Emma
rolls her eyes.)
Miyuki: That
I love the outdoors and I'm always down for an adventure. I also want the boys
at my new school to know that I'm single. So don't be shy. Come talk to me.
(The other
three girls flash a surprised look at Miyuki.)
Miyuki: What?
Olivia: I'd
like people to know that I feel proud to be in this group. Everyone can talk
about doing something good in the world, but if you just sit there on your butt
and don't do a flipping thing, then you're part of the problem. Everyone should
stand up and do what's right.
(Olivia,
Miyuki, and Emma turn towards Nadia who feels their eyes.)
Nadia:
Something about me, yes? Well...I am not ashamed of where I come from. I try
every day to follow a path in my life that is positive and peaceful. Hurting
the innocent violates everything that I believe in. I wouldn't be here if my
family and I didn't believe in the core ideals of this organization. People
need our help when governments fail to protect them.
Me: What else
does The Authority do? Can you elaborate on who exactly runs the organization?
(The
moment I ask this Mrs. B, who gave me my credentials, enters the room with a
tall man trailing her. The man has the chest the size of a semi-truck grill and
is armed. They “ask” me to leave the room. A clear signal my interview with the
girls is officially over.)
Author Info
Doug Solter lives in Oklahoma
where he writes young adult novels full of escapism. He's also a member of the
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Doug respects cats, loves
the mountains, and one time walked the streets of Barcelona with a smile on his
face.
Author Links:
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