Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Possession Tour Stop: Interview + Giveaway

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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

 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: 
(click banner for tour schedule)

 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
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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40 Responses to “Possession Tour Stop: Interview + Giveaway”

  4. Amy

    I loved Possession and Surrender. I am really looking forward to Abandon. I only have these on my nook, but the covers are so pretty that I really need physical copies. Great interview. I think Elana does a fabulous job with giving the right amount of info without being overwhelming. I agree with you Giselle, I would be totally lost within my own book if I tried to write. I would spend more time looking making and looking through notes. Lol!!

  5. Jenni @ Alluring Reads

    I can definitely see that the hardest thing would be filling readers in on things that the MC already knows without it feeling info dumpy. It’s crazy how many different creative ways authors come up with to do so. Great interview chickie! And holy mega giveaways!

  7. kwyoke

    Oops I accidentally entered for giveaway 2 but Im not eligible for it. I entered as Penny Poké Arty so you can ignore my entries >< sry!

  9. Christina K.

    This is an awesome interview! Love how she shares her timeline issues with us.

    And Rae Carson is an awesome author too! She’ll love the book:)

  10. Christina

    Wah wah.

    Also, the coolest thing in Possession was the cube which she could use to make food with her mind. I want this. Of course, I would totally use it to just eat more pizza, but STILL.

  12. Kristin @ My ParaHangover

    I think all writers need to be a little on the “control freak” side or else how would they get anything done!! And I never thought about how hard it would be to write from the MC’s POV when the world is all in your head and you need to remember to get it all down on the “pages”.

    And that is why I am NOT a writer!! Thanks for sharing your awesome interview!!!

  14. Lindsay

    To be honest, I’m posting a comment just for the giveaway. But since I’m already here, it’s a great chance to say THANK YOU! for the awesome giveaway!
    Haven’t read the series yet, but I’ve been toying with it for months.

  17. Nick

    I still haven’t read this series but I really like the covers of the books!
    Very few people can write rich world-building in dystopians without boring the reader, so I guess it is the hardest part of writing a dystopian!
    Great interview, Giselle and thanks for the awesome giveaway! 🙂

  20. Anonymous

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  22. Aman

    I’ve been seeing this one around a lot, and still haven’t read it. Thanks for the giveaway, I’ll definitely check this one out.

  27. Shooting Stars Mag

    Sounds like a great book! I would have such a hard time keeping track of an intricate timeline as well. I don’t know how some authors do it. I guess that’s ONE reason (of many)I tend to write only contemporary fiction. ahha