Celebrating Debutantes: Author C.J Redwine (Interview + Giveaway)

Welcome another new author of a fantastic dystopian novel!

Author C.J Redwine

"Defiance is the story of a post-apocalyptic society that has rebuilt itself into nine city-states spread across the continent. Well, actually, Defiance is the story of Rachel Adams who follows her heart even when it will probably get her killed. And even when it means making an alliance with the one boy she can't stand to be near. There are dragons that tunnel up from the center of the earth, treason, steampunk-y gadgets, cloaks, swords, kissing, betrayal, kickass girls, smart nerds who can also fight, family, assassins, and a very swoony moment that takes place underwater. If you've read it already, yay! *hands you cookies* If you haven't but any of the above sounds like your kind of thing, then I will, of course, give you cookies too. :)"
- C.J REDWINE, debut author of 2012



How was the feeling of being a published author, at last?

It was surreal! I'd spent so long being rejected (it took 2 years and 3 books after I signed with my agent before I sold) that I could hardly believe I hadn't been rejected again. I got the news that editors were going to offer on the trilogy while I was at my day job. I just laid my head down on the desk and cried. By the time my book actually hit the shelves, my emotions had settled quite a bit, but still ... having my book in the hands of readers felt a little bit like I took a dare to play in traffic and then realized I'd left my pants at home.

What is/are the best thing/s that happened after your book was published?

I get mail from readers! It's such an amazing thing to hear from people who've read and loved the book, and who have strong opinions on the characters and the world.

Are you interested in writing with different genre or audience?

I absolutely love writing YA, but yes, I've got my hands in some other genres as well. I'm currently co-writing a middle grade, and next year I plan to release the first in an adult urban fantasy series.

Do you read reviews about your book?
Nope. :) I think reviews are for readers, and the truth is that I function best when I protect my creativity by maintaining a strong sense of oblivion to most of the outside world. I figure if someone feels strongly enough about my book that they HAVE to tell me about it, they'll write to me. :)

What is your (best/fun/unforgettable) moment with a fan?
The very first kid who read my book was an eleven year old girl in Georgia who read it as part of a local indie bookstore's kids review program. The bookstore tweeted a pic of the girl's comment to me, and it said Defiance was her favorite book since Harry Potter. As a TRULY GEEKY Harry Potter fan, I was humbled and thrilled.

Who is the character on your book who has the most response from your readers?

Logan, without a doubt. People seem to adore hot, awkward nerds with swords. :)

Which stresses you more: writing/finishing your book, looking for a publisher/getting your book published, or seeing negative feedback from the readers?

Well, since I don't seek negative feedback from readers, and I decided a long time ago that it was pointless to let things I can't control eat at me (like my agent finding a publisher for me), I'd have to say writing is the most stressful, even though I love it to pieces. I'm a perfectionist, and I often rip my manuscripts apart and rewrite them or perform major surgery ... several times ... before calling them done.

Were there any book/s from other debut author of 2012 that you loved?

Oh, SO MANY. Really. 2012 is like the year of the Holy Awesome Book, Batgirl! Let me think of a few: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf, Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry, Rootless by Chris Howard ... I know there are more, but those are the names that are coming to me right now.

What's your next project?

I'm finishing up the edits on Book 2 (Defiance's sequel) right now. Defiance is a trilogy, so Book 2 comes out August 27th, 2013, and Book 3 will probably come out the following August. I also have a middle grade project and an adult project in the mix. :)


Share us one embarrassing moment you've had. 

Well, there was that one time that I went grocery shopping and didn't realize until after I was already home that my pants had a hole smack dab in the middle of my backside ...

What's the recent thing that made you cry?

Watching Harry Potter 7 & 8 back to back. Ugly crying. UGLY.

Do you read/believe in horoscopes?

Nope

Fave movie?

More than one! Princess Bride, HP - all of them, Sherlock Holmes, LOTR, The Dark Knight

Fave artist/song?

Again, so many! In This Moment, Red, Bebo Norman, Maroon 5, Florence & the Machine, Shinedown ...

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book? :)

I bought myself a really awesome pair of red stilettos w/black corset lacing and black skulls on them.

*****

C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She is the author of Defiance, the first in a post-apocalyptic fantasy trilogy from Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband, four kids, two cats, and one long-suffering dog. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/

Defiance
by C.J Redwine
(Defiance #1)

Published: August 28th 2012 by Balzer + Bray

Summary (Goodreads):


Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.




Praises for Defiance:

“A well-paced, heart-wrenching tale of loyalty, courage, and love.” (Romantic Times )

“Spellbinding, romantic, and impossible to put down.” - Julie Kagawa, New York Times Bestselling author of the Iron Fey series and the Blood of Eden series 

“C.J. Redwine’s DEFIANCE is a gritty, thrilling adventure sprinkled with moments of breathtaking tenderness. I read it in one sitting.” - Rae Carson, Morris Award finalist for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS

“DEFIANCE defies all reader expectations, giving us both a post-apocalyptic setting rife with history and a plot that’s as much about the discovery of one’s own humanity as it is about survival.” - Lisa Mantchev, author of EYES LIKE STARS

Buy Defiance now!

GIVEAWAY!

(Please READ these important details before jumping to the Rafflecopter! :)
- win a 3 bookmarks of Defiance!
- open INTERNATIONALLY!
- one winner will be picked via Rafflecopter entries.
- the winning entry will be CHECKED. So please be honest in entering each one of them--you never know, it might be the winning entry.
- if the winner has not responded within 48 hours, another winner will be picked.
- all personal details will be kept privately and deleted after.
- C.J and I are not responsible for any lost or damaged packages.
- ends January 3rd

* I would like to thank C.J Redwine for entertaining me, my blog and my questions and Julie--her fab assistant--for their time and donation of 3 bookmarks for the giveaway! :)


Have you read Defiance? No?
Me? No. Boo.
But it is one of the books on top on mt wishlist. I hope Santa could give me this one, as well. :D



a Rafflecopter giveaway