Level 2 at Book Expo America

There's been a lot of excitement on the LEVEL 2 front, what with the spectacular cover reveal and all.  But maybe the most surreal moment so far was actually holding the LEVEL Advance Reader Copy in my hands at the Simon & Schuster Blogger Preview last week.  Behold the awesome (photo taken by Sarah Pitre of Forever Young Adult):

How much more excited am I going to be to hold the finished copy in my hands come release date in January 2013?

My Favorite Moment at Book Expo America

I had a blast last week at Book Expo America. I fanboyed my favorite authors. (Please, please, please don't follow through on your threat to take out a restraining order against me, Kristin Cashore. I swear I was stalking you in a nice way.) I taught a little taekwondo in the show aisles, making attendees earn an ASHEN WINTER advanced reading copy by breaking a board. Don't believe me? Here's author Jennifer Armentrout learning hammerfist:

And I attended a dizzying series of parties, the best of which was easily the Publisher's Group West bash.

But my favorite moment of the show happened after it was over. Twenty minutes before my train was due to leave Penn Station on Friday (I'm in the Boston area today for a school visit), I rushed into the post office to mail a box of books to myself. Unfortunately, I had no tape. Neither, as it turned out, did the post office. They were out--both in their supplies shop and behind the counter. The oh-so-helpful postal clerk told me to go to the drugstore on the corner. Instead, I accosted a group of young women sitting who were sitting on the floor packing boxes, and asked them if I could buy a strip of tape.

"Are you...Mike Mullin?" one of them asked.

"Yes, any chance I could buy a strip of tape?" I replied.

Instead, she whipped out an advance reading copy of ASHEN WINTER, and I traded an autograph for a strip of tape. WIN!

So, a huge thank you to Marie and her tape for making Book Expo America a week I'll never forget.

Thank You for a Great Launch of SURRENDER!

Wow, this week has been full of amazing stuff. Posts about covers--which blew me away. And food you can make while you read. And amazing reviews, and interviews, and silly stuff with The Hoff and Adam Lambert.

Some heart-wrenching truths about being published, and videos where I talk about books and writing...and blowing big bubbles.

Friends who set up giveaways for me. And the most amazing character art you'll ever see. Thanks to Christine, Dustin, Jamie, and Ali.

What an amazing launch week for SURRENDER. I'm so grateful. Thank you, thank you.

I'm running a Spectacular Seconds contest, where you can win an amazing signed sophomore novel by Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Kristi Cook (Mirage), Kim Harrington (Perception), Ally Condie (Crossed), and Veronica Roth (Insurgent). All the details, including the Rafflecopter entry widget, is HERE. Contest ends Saturday at midnight.

Not only that, but there are more fun things going on next week, Particularly at my blog, where I'm hosting another week of blog tours as well as the NEVER SURRENDER blogfest. You can find all the details and sign up here.

You can enter to win a signed hardcover of SURRENDER right here on the League by tweeting or liking us on Facebook or following our blog. And commenting! This contest ends tonight (Friday) at midnight, and I'll announce winners over the weekend.

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Here's a little video of launch day for you. I got my hair done. Went to breakfast--with BACON. Had fries and frosties. Launch party. It was fabulous!






Have you had a chance to get your copy of SURRENDER? I hope you will!

INTERVIEW WITH ELANA JOHNSON

To continue the celebration of original League member Elana Johnson’s launch week of her new book, SURRENDER, she’s graciously agreed to give us an exclusive interview. ONLY here will you find out what it is that she hates to do. And also discover the most disgusting thing she saw on reality TV.

What did you love the most about writing SURRENDER?

Writing SURRENDER was liking writing a new book. Since it’s a companion and not really a sequel, I got to explore a new city and new characters. And I loved doing that! Plus, the world-building was already done, so it felt like a lot less work with just as many rewards!

Who came up with the title of SURRENDER?

My publisher and I brainstormed a list of titles, and this is the one we both liked. I had originally named the drafts FUGITIVE. Totally different, yeah?

How did you feel when you saw the cover to SURRENDER?

I love the iconic images on my covers. I think I probably should’ve prepared myself a little better for the cover of SURRENDER though. Because POSSESSION is so perfect, I should’ve known nothing could compare to it. So I’ll admit to a bit of wailing, and then I got happy about it. It is still wonderful and beautiful and appropriate, so I can’t complain.

If a fairy granted you a bonus year and said you can write anything, just not another YA dystopian novel, what genre would it be?

I am a huge lover of what I call “light” fantasy (think GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, but not THE WHEEL OF TIME), and I’ve been working on something in that genre. I also love YA contemporary (like Jessi Kirby’s MOONGLASS and Jessica Martinez’s VIRTUOSITY), and I want to write those kinds of novels.

What’s your favorite reality TV show? What’s the worst one you’ve ever watched an episode of?

I love reality TV! Survivor is my favorite, but I also love The Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance, Chopped, and Cupcake Wars. I think the worst episode I’ve watched was in Survivor when they had to drink cow’s blood. I am just so not into that kind of stuff.

You were so generous with your time and advice to me just before my book came out. Do you have any tricks for time management? You have a family and a busy life, but you manage to do so much.

Tricks for time management? Um, don’t sleep? Get a job where you can open gmail in the morning and see every email that comes in when it comes in? Ha!

I try hard to squeeze things in whenever I can. If I have 15 minutes, I’m doing something with it. Sometimes that’s email, or writing, or editing, or playing Words With Friends.

What is something about you or your writing that you’ve never revealed before in an interview?

This is much harder than people might think! I’ve done a lot of interviews, and I tweet my brains out most days. I think most people know I’m a pantser. They know I can vomit up novels in just a few days. They know I love bacon…

So how about: I hate shopping. Everything about it. Shocking for a woman, I know. Not even shoes excite me.

Is there anything else you’d like the readers to know?

Just a big thank you to all who’ve read POSSESSION and are looking forward to SURRENDER! Your emails and tweets always make me smile—and they motivate me to keep writing. So thank you!

CONNECT WITH ELANA:
Blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/possessionthebook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/elanaJ

BIO: 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.

About SURRENDER: 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….

WIN SURRENDER HERE!

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Purchase your copy of SURRENDER here

Review of SURRENDER + giveaway!

Today is day three of our SURRENDER launch week here on the League blog!

Summary “SURRENDER”:

Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

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 few days ago, before I started reading SURRENDER, I couldn’t help but worry that I would be lost because I haven’t read POSSESSION yet, though it’s been on my to-read list forever. But I shouldn’t have worried; Elana does a fantastic job re-establishing the world and its rules and characters. And now that I’ve finished SURRENDER, I’m even more desperate to read POSSESSION. So if you’re hesitating to buy SURRENDER because you haven’t gotten the chance to read the first book yet, I’m telling you: no need to worry.

Though SURRENDER is a companion novel and not a sequel to POSSESSION, the main characters of the first book like Vi, Zenn and Jag play a big role. But the book is told from the perspective of Raine and Gunn. And let me tell you, Raine is a strong heroine and has great chemistry with Gunn, the boy her father wants because of his powerful talent. So if you’re a fan of forbidden love, you’ll be a very happy reader.

But there isn’t only romance, the book is packed with action and yet still doesn’t neglect emotional moments between characters, especially the father-daughter face-offs between Raine and Van Hightower sent shivers down my back. He’s one creepy guy and a fantastic antagonist.

And you know what’s best? The world Elana created. I loved the gadgets, like guard spiders, e-comms, wrist-ports, hovercopters and especially the hoverboards! Who doesn't love hoverboards?

My verdict: SURRENDER is a fantastic second book and you shouldn’t miss it!

 You want to win a signed hardcover? This is your chance!

Just enter here:

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Never Surrender Party

Today is the day that we demand your total SURRENDER!


Wait, no.  Today is the day we celebrate SURRENDER by the talented Elana Johnson.  A few days ago I got a lovely invite to Elana's launch party at the King's English.  Sadly, I'll be in New York, but that doesn't mean I can't celebrate.  And even if you can't be there for her launch you can have your own amazing SURRENDER celebration with these fun decoration and food ideas!




FOOD and DRINK

Jagged Ham

You can get the recipe from Elana's blog, or you can buy the Book Blogger's Cookbook for more literary recipes.

Source: ruffledblog.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Make any drink spectacular with Possession style ice cubes.  I love the roses, but I bet you could find flowers that look like butterflies.


GAMES

Source: birthdayinabox.com via Meghann on Pinterest

Ice cube shuffle.  Click on the picture to get the full rules, but basically two teams push ice cubes with their noses.  Looks like lots of fun and perfect for a summer Surrender party!


DECOR

Source: Uploaded by user via Genn on Pinterest

A simple but magical decoration idea that involves glow sticks and glitter will bring SURRENDER-style to your event.

FAVORS

Can you believe there is no shampoo in existence called Brain Wash?  How are shampoo companies missing the boat on that one?  How about slapping a label like this on some travel-size shampoo bottles for awesome favors?

Launch week for SURRENDER: Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve

I'm going to do something a little different to help kick off the celebratory week of Elana's launch for her second novel, SURRENDER.

I'm going to talk about the covers.

Now, I do this rarely because, a lot of times, a cover doesn't really represent what's in the book. And, also, there's the fact that a book's cover is not something the author has much (if any) influence on. But I love the covers for Elana's work specifically because I think they are perfect symbols for the story inside them.

Take Elana's debut, POSSESSION. While the cover did get a bit of color between the hardback and paperback, the thing I love is the iconic image of a butterfly frozen in ice.

The story itself isn't about frozen butterflies. There's excitement and danger, a quick moving plot as Jag and Vi try to escape an oppressive dystopian society.

My favorite thing about the first book is the tough decisions that Vi faces. She is forced to confront issues (and people!) that seem almost impossible. She is constantly forced into Catch-22 scenarios where there is NO one right choice.

The butterfly-in-ice symbol works perfectly for Vi, therefore. She wants to be free (as would any butterfly), but she's trapped by her society and the people around her.

But I have to admit--while I thought the cover was pretty, I didn't really get the full impact of the butterfly in ice image until I read the last chapter of the book. Very few books leave me with a WTF JUST HAPPENED reaction, but the last chapter of POSSESSION definitely did. And it was the last chapter of the book that made me realize just how perfect the image on the cover is for the story.

Which brings us to SURRENDER which debuts this week! When I first saw this cover, I gasped in joy--I cannot imagine a better companion image to the butterfly in ice.

SURRENDER tells the story of Raine, Vi's roommate (another plus for the trapped hummingbird image here--because it's not another butterfly, it is so apropos to get a different caged creature to represent the story). Raine quickly becomes entangled in the world Elana introduced us to in SURRENDER, and as she discovers more about the dystopian world--and about whatever secrets Vi might be hiding--she realizes she's going to have to make some of those tough decisions Vi faced in the first book.

Here's the thing I love about the books: both Vi and Raine are trapped by their oppressive worlds, but the decisions they are forced to face similarly cage them.

And this is why the images on Elana's covers so perfectly fit with what the books are really about. Strip away the dystopian world, the dynamic characters, the hot romances, and what you're left with is a philosophical commentary on how we all have to break free from the cages not just our world erects around us, but that we put around ourselves.

I think my favorite thing about the SURRENDER cover is the fact that there's no lid on the jar. The hummingbird could, potentially, fly up and away. As long as she finds the courage to do so.

A good book cover exposes the heart of the novel to the reader before they even start the first page. SURRENDER wears its heart on its sleeve.

Discover the world of POSSESSION and SURRENDER yourself! All this week, we're featuring Elana's books--and wrapping it up with a giveaway! So stick around--and make sure you snag a copy of it for yourself!


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