About

Valerie has a background in property management and an education in food science. She’s also an avid reader and tennis player. While studying chemistry, an idea for a story blossomed in her imagination. She turned that idea into her first novel, The Energy Crusades, a young adult/ sci fi adventure. You can contact Valerie at valerienoble(at)me(dot)com. She is now represented by Stacey Donaghy and The Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Here is a brief synopsis of The Energy Crusades:

In the not too distant future on Planet Earth, an alien race has colonized the planet, creating a society whose only currency is energy. All children must join an Energy Crusade by the time they are eighteen. The higher the level of danger assigned to the Crusade, the higher the energy payout.
Kaia is human, and an Athlete for the Reformation Republic, making her an elite member of society. Her family has been untouched by the mysterious plague that has infected the population in what appears to be a random outbreak. Those families who have been infected are marked as Unviables– a warning to potential mates. As an Athlete, Kaia knows that an Unviable is not a good genetic match for her, but Ajax is her childhood friend, and though he may bear the mark, she can’t help remembering their childhood bond. As they train for their Energy Crusade together, they learn things about each other that cement their bond. Along the way, they will encounter virtual fighters, cave dwellers, and resisters, all while competing with other teams to score a high paying crusade.
When the Resistance attempts to kidnap Kaia in the ruined city, everything she believes about her genetics, her government, and what it means to be an Unviable, will shatter. Why does her potential kidnapper look exactly like Ajax and why does he believe she represents a new branch on the evolutionary tree? Kaia has tried to deny her special capabilities, but now that there are people fighting over her, she must accept her fate and decide where her loyalties lie.
Will Ajax stand by her side, or is he a part of the plot to take her away from all she knows and loves?