Possession Tour Stop: Interview + Giveaway

I am happy to be a part of the Possession blog tour that is dropping by the blog today. I'll be sharing an interview I did with Elana Johnson, along with some fabulous giveaways!

Possession
Elana Johnson
Series: Possession #1
Publication date: June 7th 2011
by Simon & Schuster

 

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Interview with Elana Johnson

Q. What kind of life would you lead if you were living in the world you created in Possession?

Oh, I’d like to think I would be a Thinker! I’m such a control-freak right now, that it would be a pretty natural transition… LOL!

Q. What's the hardest part in building a dystopian world?

Filling readers in on what the MC already knows, without overwhelming them, or boring them to death. I write a lot of sci fi and fantasy, and this is the main problem every single time.

Q. Do you see a lot of yourself in your MC-Vi?

Sort of. Mostly, Vi gets to say and do things I wish I could say and do. I’m so non-confrontational, that I don’t say anything to anyone about anything. I want everyone to be happy, and I want to treat others kindly. That usually means that you don’t get to speak your mind, you know? And Vi gets to do that. So I sort of live vicariously through her.

Q. What was your biggest challenge while writing Possession?

The timeline, for sure. When everything happens, when that person goes missing, when this and when that. It was really challenging – and I’m still dealing with it, as I try to make the third book in the series (ABANDON, coming on June 4, 2013) match up with everything that’s already in black and white.

So definitely the timeline of events. There’s just so much of the past in us, you know? And I think characters should base their decisions on who they are. And they become who they based on where they’ve been, and what they’ve experienced. So the past events are important.

Q. What's on your reading this this winter?

THE CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson. It’s the sequel to THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, which I really liked. I’m also finishing TEN by Gretchen McNeil and THE LIES THAT BIND by Lisa & Laura Roecker.

Thanks so much for dropping by, Elana! I'm no writer, but I always admire how authors can keep the timelines of their stories straight! My terrible memory would most definitely struggle with that. Xo

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 Elana's Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download, as well as a Possession short story, Resist. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers.

This post is a part of: 

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 Giveaways
Thanks to Elana Johnson and CBB Book Promotions, you have three chances to win some pretty great prizes!

Giveaway 1

Copies of Starcrossed, Witch Eyes, When We Broke Up, and The Liar Society.

Open to US addresses only
Giveaway ends December  9th, 2012
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter
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Giveaway 2

Hardcover of Surrender, a Possession paperback, an ecopy of Regret, bookmarks for both books, stickers for both books, and a Jag-inspired necklace.

Open to US & Canadian addresses
Giveaway ends December  9th, 2012
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter
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Giveaway 3

Ebooks of Possession, Surrender and Regret. 

Open to those INT (outside the US only)
Giveaway ends December  9th, 2012
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter
a Rafflecopter giveaway