Links to Things Discussed in this Episode

The Nightmare Virus (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3zwJDoZ 

Nadine’s Instagram: @Nadinebrandes

Nadine Brandes’s Website: https://nadinebrandes.com

CJ’s Upcoming Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cjmilacci/enemy-of-talionis-a-young-adult-sci-fi-dystopian-novel 

Welcome to Read Clean YA with CJ, the podcast for teens and young adults who want to explore exciting worlds, deep themes, and epic stories without the objectionable content. In today's episode, award-winning young adult author CJ Milacci welcomes back her friend and fellow young adult author, Nadine Brandes, to discuss her latest novel, "The Nightmare Virus".

Nadine Brandes’ new novel, "The Nightmare Virus", delves into the harrowing concept of a virus that targets the mind, creating a parallel universe within dreams. The protagonist, Cain, embarks on a quest to find a cure for this nightmarish affliction.

"When people fall asleep, they enter an alternate universe of sorts in their mind called the nightmare virus. And so everyone who falls asleep wakes up in there and it's a different world."

At its core, "The Nightmare Virus" is a profound exploration of spiritual themes, drawing a parallel between our earthly existence and the eternal kingdom. This concept is deeply rooted in Nadine’s personal experiences and her faith.

"The parallel world aspect is what really got me excited about this story. Looking at, you know, from a spiritual standpoint, that this world is not our home and we're meant for a kingdom above."

CJ and Nadine reflect on the transient nature of our world and the eternal desires that point us towards a higher purpose. This theme resonates with one of C.S. Lewis’s famous quotes:

"If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy, I can only conclude that I was not made for this world."

Nadine shares how her own struggles with nightmares during college influenced the story. These personal battles provided a unique perspective on the spiritual warfare that occurs within our minds.

"I had horrible, horrible nightmares all the time, multiple times a night. I tried all of the things to get rid of them... and just, I tried so much to make them stop and they wouldn't stop."

This theme of overcoming internal darkness through faith and trust in God’s purpose is central to the narrative.

The novel also explores the idea of finding purpose in a seemingly chaotic world. As Cain navigates the nightmare universe, he grapples with the reality of his existence and the ultimate fulfillment of his desires.

"The deepest longings in our heart are all connected to our creator, right? And so we can't have them completely fulfilled until we have perfect union with him in heaven one day."

Nadine’s character development is closely tied to the themes of the story. Cain’s journey reflects the struggle of remembering our higher purpose amid life's distractions and challenges.

"Cain really felt like he took on a personality of his own as I was writing him... He was very snarky. And he definitely had his own voice."

One of the most powerful aspects of "The Nightmare Virus" is its message of hope and redemption. Nadine emphasizes how God can transform our darkest moments into opportunities for growth and revelation. CJ comments:

"Isn't it fascinating how sometimes God takes the darkest things in our life and He's like, 'I'm going to actually use that to show my light and my truth in a new way.'"

"The Nightmare Virus" is a compelling narrative that intertwines adventure with deep spiritual insights. Nadine Brandes masterfully uses her personal experiences and faith to create a story that not only entertains but also inspires readers to reflect on their own spiritual journey and purpose.

Wrapping things Up: from CJ

I absolutely loved having Nadine on the podcast again, and I hope you enjoyed this episode. It always does my heart so much good to talk about Jesus, Creating with the Creator, and the importance of remembering that this world is not our home.

And I am thrilled that we were able to share with you about The Nightmare Virus! This book was such a great read, and I was honored to be able to read an early copy for an endorsement, and I wanted to share that endorsement with you today:

A sci-fi story with an incredible and unique twist, The Nightmare Virus immediately draws you in and won’t let you go until you finish the last page. 

Enter a world that delves into the eternal struggle between good and evil, illuminates the strength found in truth and hope, and where faith shines even in the darkest of shadows. A world where what you create—and how you create it—has a far deeper meaning than you first realized. 

Brandes skillfully weaves a tale that spikes your adrenaline with nightbeasts, captures your imagination with twists and turns in a dream world that feels real, and asks questions that echo in your heart as you join Cain in search of answers. 

This pulse-pounding adventure will touch your heart and speak to your soul. 

I highly encourage you to grab a copy of this book!

After recording this episode, Nadine and I decided to have it air before the book officially releases. So if you are listening to this before July 16th, the book is not officially out yet. But if you preorder the book, you can still snag some awesome preorder goodies, so be sure to order your copy today.

Note for Sensitive Readers

This book does have life and death situations, some scary creatures, and deals with some heavy moments, so if you have a young or sensitive reader, I recommend that a trusted parent or guardian read the story first.

A Quick Personal Note

I wanted to let you, my amazing listeners, know that I will be launching the Kickstarter for the third book in my award-winning Talionis Series, Enemy of Talionis, this Friday, July 12th. If you want to get your hands on a copy of this book before it officially releases in December, then this is the way to do it! Plus, I have some fun and exciting extras in store for this campaign that you don’t want to miss. I’ll include a link to the Kickstarter in the show notes so you can check it out—but this campaign will only run for two weeks, so I would recommend checking it out sooner than later.  

Thank you so much for listening to Read Clean YA with CJ. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend so they can discover exciting, clean young adult books too.