Named one of the best teen books of 2015 by the New York Public Library and Kirkus
A collaborative novel edited by Shaun David Hutchinson
The author with his Wonder Woman doll.
about tim
Tim Floreen writes young adult fiction. The New York Public Library named his first novel, Willful Machines, one of the best teen books of 2015, and in a starred review, Kirkus called it "gothic, gadgety, and gay," which is an accurate assessment. Booklist called his second novel, Tattoo Atlas, "incisive, startling, and intense."
One of Tim's very earliest memories involves sitting on the floor in front of the television and staring in awe at a raven-haired, star-spangled Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman. He went on to spend much of his childhood running around in a paper tiara and bracelets and tying up his grandma with his “magic lasso.” When not doing that, he was developing crushes on his Masters of the Universe action figures and memorizing the entire libretto of Les Misérables (including all the talky parts between the songs). Also, he read a lot and wrote a lot.
After majoring in English at Yale, Tim moved to California and had some Life Experiences, including working as an assistant accountant on the crew of the film Titanic (long story), becoming a yoga teacher (which is actually required by law in the state of California), getting punched in the face while a contestant on The Price Is Right (again, long story), and ONCE ACTUALLY SHAKING LYNDA CARTER'S HAND.
Having filled his Life Experience quota, he went back to school, earning a master’s degree in creative writing at Boston University. He now lives in San Francisco with his partner, their two cat-obsessed daughters, and their two very patient cats. His recollection of the words to Les Miz and his adoration of Wonder Woman remain fully intact.
For Tim's press kit, click here.
willful machines
OUT NOW FROM SIMON PULSE
In the near future, scientists create what may be a new form of life: an artificial human named Charlotte. All goes well until Charlotte escapes, transfers her consciousness to the Internet, and begins terrorizing the American public.
Charlotte's attacks have everyone on high alert—everyone except Lee Fisher, the closeted son of the US president. Lee has other things to worry about, like keeping his Secret Service detail from finding out about his crush on Nico, the eccentric, Shakespeare-obsessed new boy at school. And keeping Nico from finding out about his recent suicide attempt. And keeping himself from freaking out about all his secrets.
But when the attacks start happening at his school, Lee realizes he's Charlotte’s next target. Even worse, Nico may be part of Charlotte’s plan too.
As Lee races to save himself, uncover Charlotte’s plan, and figure out if he can trust Nico, he comes to a whole new understanding of what it means to be alive ... and what makes life worth living.
PRAISE FOR WILLFUL MACHINES
Named one of the best teen books of 2015 by the New York Public Library! And made the American Library Association's 2016 Rainbow List! And was a finalist for the 2016 Northern California Book Awards in the Young Adult category! And was a featured Scholastic Reading Club book!
"A socially conscious sci-fi thriller to shelve between The Terminator and Romeo and Juliet." Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)
"A tightly knit thriller that will delight both its targeted teen audience and adults who enjoy a wonderfully created futuristic world." Lambda Literary
"Told in a witty, self-deprecating, and endearingly honest first-person narration, this twist-turning novel blends fast-paced action, heartfelt romance, and personal discovery while wrestling with big questions about free will and what it means to be human." School Library Journal
"Smart, brave and utterly original, Willful Machines asks questions that matter. Tim Floreen's unforgettable debut will stay with you long after you finish reading it." Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae and These Broken Stars
"Willful Machines is as exciting as it is heartbreaking. A deft mixture of science fiction, gritty action, and sweet first love, Tim Floreen's debut is everything I want from a book." Shaun Hutchinson, author of We Are the Ants and The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley
"Willful Machines is a thought-provoking thriller wrapped around a fascinating concept--skillfully mixed in with basic human dilemmas. Tim Floreen's tale convincingly depicts a world where machines can pass as human, but humans still struggle with age-old questions: 'How much control do I have over my own life? Who can I dare to trust? Who can I dare to love?'" Margaret Peterson Haddix, New York Times bestselling author of the Shadow Children series
tattoo atlas
OUT NOW FROM SIMON PULSE
A year ago, Rem Braithwaite watched his classmate Franklin Kettle commit a horrific crime.
Now, apart from the nightmares, life has gone back to normal for Rem. Franklin was caught, convicted, and put away in juvenile detention for what he did. The ordeal seems to be over.
Until Rem’s mother selects Franklin as a test subject for an experimental brain procedure intended to “cure” him of his cruel and violent impulses. Suddenly Rem’s memories of that day start coming back to the surface. His nightmares become worse than ever. Plus he has serious doubts about whether his mother’s procedure will even work. Can evil really just be turned off?
Then, as part of Franklin’s follow-up testing, he and Rem are brought face to face, and Rem discovers…Franklin does seem different. Despite everything, Rem finds himself becoming friends with Franklin. Maybe even something more than friends.
But when another of their classmates turns up dead, Rem’s world turns upside-down yet again. Franklin insists that he’s innocent, that he’s cured, but Rem doesn’t know what to believe. Is someone else responsible for this new murder, or is Franklin fated to stay a monster forever? And can Rem find out the answer to this question before the killer, whoever it is, comes after him too?
PRAISE FOR TATTOO ATLAS
Made the American Library Association's 2018 Rainbow List!
"A sci-fi thriller that combines the best of Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon with Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs and will leave readers on the edge of their seats right up to the unexpected, touching conclusion." School Library Journal
"A troubled boy-boy romance (times two!), brewing tragedy, nods to Gothic greats (Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), and pointed commentary are here, orchestrated deftly in a successful sophomore outing for Floreen. Chords of Frankenstein and Carrie harmonize in this emboldened critique of guns, bullying, and violence." Kirkus Reviews
"Floreen explores an unsettling moral question about the role of free will in determining good and evil in this gripping homage to Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange. ... Incisive, startling, and intense, this sf-thriller-tragedy hybrid has no easy answers about weighing the good and bad in all of us." Booklist
"A heart-wrenching, soul-probing thriller that asks deep questions about love and psychology ... while keeping you up at night, terrified of that creak in the hallway." Delilah S. Dawson, author of Hit, Strike, and Servants of the Storm
"A smart, surprising sci-fi thriller that redefines the boundary between good and evil. A modern-day Jekyll and Hyde." Jay Kristoff, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae and Nevernight
"Tattoo Atlas is an intelligent, creepy thriller with deeper meditations on the nature of evil, accountability, and the pervasive effects of our culture of violence. The murder and mystery make this the kind of book you’ll stay up all night reading, but the larger ideas will keep you thinking about the story for a long time after you’ve finished. Don’t read this one alone." Shaun Hutchinson, author of We Are the Ants and The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley
"A visceral exploration of the nature of evil, and a terrifying look at the complexity of humanity and love." Suzanne Young, New York Times bestselling author of The Program
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DROP TIM A LINE
Notice the beatific expression on the author's face as he holds his newly unwrapped Wonder Woman doll.
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If you look closely, you'll see the author is reading a Wonder Woman comic.
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