DUDE. You know the awesome Elana Johnson and her uber-popular BLOG. Of course you do. *wink*
I just read her sophomore book, SURRENDER, and super-size loved it. It's a companion novel to POSSESSION. And I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this: I think you can read the second book without having read the first.
Yes, Zenn, Vi and Jag reappear, but as side characters. Sure, you get to know their dystopian version of the world in POSSESSION. But, if you haven't read it yet and feel like reading SURRENDER first, I say go for it. Because it's a different setting this time, and you'll figure out the super cool world they live in as you read.
Also, ZOMG, the tension and longing between Raine and Gunner begins almost immediately and is so intense, you'll just keep flipping pages to find out if they will ever get to be together. YES YOU WILL. I PROMISE YOU. Plus, it's done in dual male/female POV and Elana pulls it off so well.
You'll HAVE to go back and read POSSESSION anyway, to find out more about Vi, Jag, and Zenn.
You'll HAVE to go back and read POSSESSION anyway, to find out more about Vi, Jag, and Zenn.
Just sayin'...
SYNOPSIS: Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn.
Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque….
A FAVORITE LINE: I fought the urge to look behind me, see if any of my buddies saw me talking with this amazing girl.
PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE
Now on to my silly questions.
Elana, WOULD YOU RATHER:
Vacation on a beach or in a busy metropolis?
A busy metropolis. I really don’t like wearing a swimsuit, and sand works its way into everything! I love the big city, with big buildings, and new restaurants.
Go to a great movie or great concert?
Great movie! I can talk during it and I don’t have to feel like I have to jump around to enjoy it.
Have readers admire your lovely prose or become engrossed in your story arc?
Both! I want to write something lyrical and beautiful and still have the story arc be engrossing. Every story lends itself differently to the “lovely prose” part though, so sometimes that’s a challenge.
Splurge on a great pair of jeans or shoes?
Jeans! I know, I’m not a real woman because I don’t care about shoes. Call the fashion police. (*snert*)
Peeta or Gale?
Team Gale! (*shock*)
Wonder Woman or Bionic Woman?
I want to be Bionic Woman. I mean, running at 60 miles per hour (yes, I googled that)? Yes, I’ll do that.
Leave the house with lips or eyes left undone?
Uh, both. I hardly ever wear makeup of any kind. When I do, I always have my eyes done, and hardly ever wear anything on my lips besides chapstick. (Told you I was hardly a woman!)
Last, THE ULTIMATE Elana J. question: Bacon or your first born child?
Well, when you put it that way… I’ll take my first-born to breakfast and we’ll both nosh on bacon! (cop-out?)
THANKS ELANA! XO :-)))))
Elana's work including POSSESSION, REGRET, and SURRENDER is available from Simon & Schuster wherever books are sold. She is the author of From the Query to the Call, an ebook that every writer needs to read before they query, which can be downloaded for free on her website. She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog. She blogs regularly at The League of Extraordinary Writers, co-organizes WriteOnCon, and is a member of SCBWI, ANWA and LDStorymakers.
She wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.
SYNOPSIS: Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn.
Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque….
A FAVORITE LINE: I fought the urge to look behind me, see if any of my buddies saw me talking with this amazing girl.
PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE
*********
Now on to my silly questions.
Elana, WOULD YOU RATHER:
Vacation on a beach or in a busy metropolis?
A busy metropolis. I really don’t like wearing a swimsuit, and sand works its way into everything! I love the big city, with big buildings, and new restaurants.
Go to a great movie or great concert?
Great movie! I can talk during it and I don’t have to feel like I have to jump around to enjoy it.
Have readers admire your lovely prose or become engrossed in your story arc?
Both! I want to write something lyrical and beautiful and still have the story arc be engrossing. Every story lends itself differently to the “lovely prose” part though, so sometimes that’s a challenge.
Splurge on a great pair of jeans or shoes?
Jeans! I know, I’m not a real woman because I don’t care about shoes. Call the fashion police. (*snert*)
Peeta or Gale?
Team Gale! (*shock*)
Wonder Woman or Bionic Woman?
I want to be Bionic Woman. I mean, running at 60 miles per hour (yes, I googled that)? Yes, I’ll do that.
Leave the house with lips or eyes left undone?
Uh, both. I hardly ever wear makeup of any kind. When I do, I always have my eyes done, and hardly ever wear anything on my lips besides chapstick. (Told you I was hardly a woman!)
Last, THE ULTIMATE Elana J. question: Bacon or your first born child?
Well, when you put it that way… I’ll take my first-born to breakfast and we’ll both nosh on bacon! (cop-out?)
THANKS ELANA! XO :-)))))
Elana's work including POSSESSION, REGRET, and SURRENDER is available from Simon & Schuster wherever books are sold. She is the author of From the Query to the Call, an ebook that every writer needs to read before they query, which can be downloaded for free on her website. She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog. She blogs regularly at The League of Extraordinary Writers, co-organizes WriteOnCon, and is a member of SCBWI, ANWA and LDStorymakers.
She wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.
13 comments:
Elana and I have more in common than I realized. I'm totally not a shoe girl. I'm still a Gale girl, even though I am glad things worked out between Peeta and Katniss in the end. I used to pretend I was the Bionic Woman when I was a kid. It was my favorite show. And I rarely put anything on my lips. See? We have tons in common.
I wouldn't be able to see a movie with E. She would drive me nuts with her talking, and I'd always be shushing her. lol
Thanks girls for the great interview!
Great questions! I want a vacation in the mountains, myself.
Elana is so clever! What a great answer on Bacon, and perfect choice on Team Gale.
Stina, I'm a flats kind of girl but I must *MUST* always have something like chapstick (with a hint of color) on my lips. I am an addict. :D
Matt, does this mean YOU are team Gale,too? :D
It's a conspiracy (poor Peeta)!
I have POSSESSION, but I still need to get my hands on SURRENDER. Elana seems like such a great person, and I loved her answers to these questions (though, I'll have to overlook the Team Gale thing...). :)
Oh, yes, Gale. I'm really looking forward to reading SURRENDER. Sounds great!
Jaime, *high five* :D
So agree with your review of Surrender, Christina. I loved it.
And such fun questions. I loved learning more about Elana, like that she picked Gale. Not surprised she kept the bacon and her child with her answer knowing her love of bacon.
Nice! Fantastic interview with a fantastic author! I LOVED Possession, I really need to read Surrender as well. :) And Elana, I don't care about shoes either - so if you're not a real woman, I'm not either. :D (I'm also terrified or going shopping.)
Loved this interview. :D
Think you'll love it, Bethany!
So enjoyed this! That last question wasn't fair, though! ;)
It wasn't Lydia, was it?
Sorry, Elana *pouty lip*
Yeah...but Wonder Woman has a rope to tie you up with! :)
Great interview! :)
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