The Uncontrolled - Book Tour and Giveaway

The Uncontrolled:
Hiding Can't Save You From Robotic Smiles
by Zachary Astrowsky
Genre: YA Cyberpunk SciFi 

Tracking Devices, Mind Control, and Visions of the Future
An action-packed adventure set against the loss of free will that comes from a mind control serum. 

The robotic way people smile is John's first inclination that things are not quite as they seem in Amber City.

At the age of fourteen, everyone is "vaccinated" with a biological implant that makes people controllable. John is supposed to get his shot the very next day, until he and his parents find out about the mind-controlling chip requiring his family to devise a plan to put a stop to this once and for all, but things don't go exactly as planned.

Along with his friend Chase, and an irrepressible girl named Hazel, the three of them find themselves in the world of the controlled, where they must try to escape the notice of this powerful society and its leader, Crofar. As the trio of teenagers attempt to defeat Crofar on their own, they stumble upon the Renegades, a formidable group of "the uncontrolled," led by Maximus.

Warily forming an alliance with the teenagers, the numbers are not in their favor, and the uncontrolled are barely holding their own. Until that is, they realize they have a secret weapon. John starts to have regular visions of the future, which can change in interesting ways when certain variables are adjusted.

While John has visions they can use to win the war against Crofar, things become complicated because Crofar has visions too. With two adversaries who can see the future, only one can outsmart the other.

The Uncontrolled is an adventurous, sci-fi book written by award-winning teen author Zachary Astrowsky.


● TCK Publishing Readers Choice Awards Winner 2018, MG/YA Category
● Purple Dragonfly Book Award Winner, Honorable Mention, June 2018
● Royal Dragonfly Book Award 2nd Place Winner, November 2018
● Story Monsters Approved


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**Only .99 cents on Sep 16th!!**
Goodreads * Amazon ​

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​When a child turns fourteen, like you are about to, they get the last of their shots. Vaccinations, you know? No big deal. For you, John, that day is tomorrow. What most people do not know is that instead of receiving an immunization this time, the fourteen-year-old gets a Tracker for Globe or “T.F.G.” It’s like a biological chip that makes it possible to track you, even control you, later in life.

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It all began on a trip to NYC when I was five. I couldn't read yet, but I wanted to understand every sign and billboard I saw. I began putting letters together and for my birthday a few months later, I was requesting the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. Reading allowed my mind to explore and create stories, and as a young child I began filling them with colorful characters and sharing them with anyone and everyone who would listen. Since then, I’ve progressed quite a bit to formulating longer and more complex stories and eventually completing my first novel, The Uncontrolled.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads ​

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Where were you born/grew up at?
Born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
There are many things in life I like to do, besides procrastinating. If I knew I was going to die, I would spend my last day visiting a beautiful site with my friends and family creating an everlasting memory.

What are you passionate about these days?
I am passionate about many things such as lacrosse and writing, but lately, I am most passionate about finishing my sequel which is due out this fall!
What do you do to unwind and relax? Hang out with friends, watch tv, play lacrosse, and listen to music.

Do you have a favorite movie?
I definitely have a favorite movie but my top three movies based on their creativity are: #1 Deadpool 2, #2 Inception, and #3 Interstellar

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
The Uncontrolled and the sequel due out this fall.

What can we expect from you in the future?
Writing over the last few years and thinking about my books, I have gathered several book ideas. When I have the time in the future, I hope to have another book or series again, within the science fiction genre.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
All stories are people-stories meaning every story we read is based on real-life experiences no matter how absurd the story line is. Therefore, many of the characters in my book are based on friends or people I have met. The story itself is something I created when I was 10 years old. I was very impressed with The Flash and found some of the topics to be cool and trendy concepts within science fiction adventures.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?
Mainly friends but Hazel’s name was based on a social media contest. I created a post asking all my followers to submit a name for the lead female in the trio of teenagers. I looked at all the names and narrowed them down to my top two favorites and then asked them to re-vote. Hence, Hazel was born!

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
The main character, John, the protagonist, is a difficult casting call. I definitely have ideas for the remaining cast, however. Chase, John’s sidekick, could be played by Jack Dozer or Asher Angel. Hazel can be played by Millie Bobby Brown. Crofar, the antagonist, could be played by Alex Pettyfer.

What did you edit out of this book?
The final chapter, hence the sequel! The edited out chapter which has never been seen by anyone will be available for free by those that read The Uncontrolled and tag me on their social media account.

What book do you think everyone should read?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because while it’s not within the sci-fi genre, it is written amazingly well with creative characters which makes the book unique and something I’ve never read before.

How long have you been writing?
I started writing when I was 10 years old. Then I became focused on my manuscript when I was 12 years old and I have been writing ever since.

Do you see writing as a career?
Possibly. I am interested in many things right now so it’s hard to pick a career path. As of now, I am interested in science, mainly, astrophysics, which sparks my interest in writing science fiction. My hope is to write and be a scientist someday. BUT, I am 16 years old and don’t have everything figured out yet.

Pen or type writer or computer?
I use my laptop with an accompanying monitor which allows me to view several documents at once. This is useful if I need to research a topic for my book.

Advice they would give new authors?
Always plot out your book before writing, but be flexible to change because as you write, the plot could stray away from what it was originally intended. Always write sincerely and be realistic. You are entertaining people of all kind!

Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes, most writers experience writer’s block where they feel unmotivated to write. When this happens to me, I look to other creative projects such as film or tv. This also lends itself to the necessity to read other genres as it will help you with your own.

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