Conflict. War. Friendships Torn Apart.

Katharine E Wibell
17 minutes ago
2 min read

1) Hey! I know you wanted a quick book feature but before I get to that, why don’t you introduce yourself.

John Calia

2) What is your book’s genre?

YA Dystopian Thriller

3) In a sentence or two, how would you pitch your book?

A dystopian thriller set in the very near future.

Which side are YOU on?

4) Great! Now let me know a little more about you book. You can use your book’s blurb if you wish.

Protopia

In a world ravaged by ideological war, can two lifelong friends, torn apart, find their way back to each other, or will conflicting visions of a perfect society destroy their relationship or, worse yet, prove fatal?

Olivia and Alexandra, inseparable since childhood, stumble into the brutal conflict between Cygnus, a bastion of ultra-libertarian ideals, and Elyria, a socialist commune that promises equality and justice. As tensions escalate, the women are forced to make a choice: which community to join.

Olivia, haunted by anxiety and self-doubt, is drawn to the promise of security and equality in Elyria. Alexandra, ever the adventurer, chooses the independence and freedom of Cygnus. As they settle into their respective communities, Olivia and Alexandra encounter rigid ideologies and corruption at the highest levels of government. They challenge the leaders of their respective communities and realize their lives are under threat.

Olivia must confront her own demons and the limitations they've imposed on her life. Growing in confidence and self-awareness, she starts to envision a different future—one that balances individual freedom with collective well-being. As the conflict between Cygnus and Elyria reaches a boiling point, Olivia and Alexandra must navigate the treacherous landscape of their own divided loyalties. Can they turn the obstacles into opportunities, or will the divide between them prove insurmountable—even deadly?

Protopia is a heart-pumping, thought-provoking tale of politics, adventure, and loyalty set in a dystopian world that eerily echoes our own.

Fans of Emily St. John Mandel and Matt Haig will love this new adventure from the author of Parallel Lies and the best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.

5) Where can people find your book?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Protopia-dystopian-thriller-future-Which-ebook/dp/B0F24XNZWG

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/protopia-a-dystopian-thriller-set-in-the-very-near-future-which-side-are-you-on-by-john-calia

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230151008-protopia

6) You have a book trailer. Where can people watch it?

https://youtu.be/HrQ6n0ilwFQ

7) Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

John Calia is a multifaceted author, born in Brooklyn and formerly a naval officer, banker, entrepreneur, and consultant. His debut business fable, The Reluctant CEO: Succeeding Without Losing Your Soul, earned a five-star rating and sparked a passion for writing. Calia's fascination with artificial intelligence and its societal implications led him to craft The Awakening of Artemis, a near-future speculative fiction novel that soared to #6 on the Amazon Science Fiction Adventure bestseller list. His latest release, Parallel Lies (2023), is the highly anticipated sequel to his bestseller.

8) Do you have an author’s website? If so, what is it?

Website: https://www.johncalia.com/

9) Where else can we find and follow you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAwakeningofArtemis/

X: https://x.com/johncalia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johncalia/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncalia.bsky.social

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-calia

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Calia/author/B01FE5DZQG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15247984.John_Calia

Giveaway

End May 29, 2025