Rebellion Blog Tour {author interview}

I'm thrilled to have the Rebellion Blog Tour stopping by today with my interview with author Stephanie Diaz...

Rebellion

(Extraction #2)

Stephanie Diaz

2/10/15

St. Martin's Press

The uprising has begun.

It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?

As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.

Continuing with the mesmerizing saga that started with Extraction, Stephanie Diaz blends science fiction, epic romance, and heart-stopping adventure to create a world that no reader will soon forget.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / Indiebound / BAM

What three words best describe Rebellion?

Alliances. Invasions. Secrets.

Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers to give your Extraction Series a try?

Sure! The Extraction series is about a girl named Clementine who wins an escape from a brutal life on a planet where a poisonous moon looms in the sky, only to find herself battling to save the entire planet from destruction—and keep from losing control of herself.

Grab a copy of Rebellion and answer the following:

favorite chapter? 

It’s so hard to pick, but I’m gonna say chapter 22, in which Clementine has to make a really scary choice. (So no, not just because of the Taylor Swift song.)

favorite page? 

The very last page, because I’d been planning Rebellion’s ending for so long and it felt so good to write it. Plus I think the ending’s pretty rad.

favorite place/setting? 

The rebel base.

favorite character? 

Besides Clementine, I’d have to go with Skylar, a kickass fighter pilot among the group of rebels Clementine joins. Skylar is my tribute to Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica. ☺

flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentences teaser: 

From Chapter 10 - “I bet he hopes his kiss will do what his words can’t: convince me to stay alive.”

Fill in the blanks:

I’m really awesome at 

quoting lines from television shows & movies.

I’m really embarrassed to admit 

I can’t do a cartwheel.

The last great book I read was 

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by Rebellion, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?

It would be a chocolate cupcake with a pink moon icing decoration on top and a dark chocolate mousse filling. It would taste delicious but make the eater slightly intoxicated and very easy to manipulate (due to the alcoholic content in the mousse filling). I’d call it “Moon Surprise.”

Thank you so much for stopping by today, Stephanie!

website * goodreads *  twitter *  facebook

Stephanie first knew she wanted to be an author when she was in second grade, sitting in a book club drinking tea and reading books like The Egypt Game. She dreamed someday people might drink tea while devouring books she had written. She wrote her first book soon after, a 30-page fantasy story--complete with a hand-drawn map--stapled together and presented to her younger sister for a birthday present.

Now twenty-two years old, she lives in San Diego with her family. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in film production and a publishing deal for a young adult sci-fi trilogy. She is the author of Extraction and the forthcoming Rebellion and Evolution.

When she isn't lost in other worlds, she can be found singing, marveling at the night sky, or fangirling over TV shows.

Loop Blog Tour {review and giveaway}

I'm thrilled to have the Loop Blog Tour stopping by today with my Review and a Giveaway...

LOOP (#1)

by Karen Akins

10/21/14

St. Martins

At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels…at screwing up.

After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn’t go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn’t think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her. 

Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future. 

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / Indiebound

In the 23rd Century, time-travelers are very real and young travelers attend a school where their skills are honed and used. Sixteen year old Bree is not what you’d call a star pupil. Six months ago Bree’s mom fell into a mysterious coma and now Bree’s future at school and as a traveler are uncertain. A botched trip back to the 21st century sends Bree on a thrilling adventure with a boy from the past. An adventure full of time loops, unexpected enemies and allies, and mysteries.

Karen Akins’ LOOP is a smartly crafted time-travel adventure full of innovative sci-fi elements, captivating twists and turns, likable characters, and great storytelling. Fast-paced, LOOP jumps right into all its time-travel goodness and action, all of which doesn’t stop for a moment. Akins combines sci-fi elements with scientific fact and history to create a thought-provoking and smart premise. Spanning from the 21st century to the 23rd, the world-building is complex, with a fascinating future setting. The 23rd century Bree lives in is intriguing, unexpected, and fun to explore.

With multiple time jumps and timelines, loops, and future and past selves, LOOP’s storyline is intricate and elaborate and enthralling, but also a bit confusing and overwhelming at times. The twists and turn are thrilling and kept me glued to the page, but weren’t always easy to keep straight. For the most part, Akins does a great job of connecting and untangling all the time loopy threads, but, like most time-travel stories, it can get complicated.

Bree is a likable, sympathetic heroine. She can be a bit much and overly cocky at times, but I found her unique and realistically flawed. Finn, the hottie Bree accidentally takes hostage and three years later takes with her to the 23rd century, charmed me completely! Finn is amusing and sweet and totally swoon-worthy. I loved the way he and Bree interacted and how their relationship is definitely NOT insta-love. The other various characters (Bree’s BFF, Finn’s family, the baddies) are interesting enough, but could use more development.

LOOP comes to a thrilling and cliff-hanger-ish ending that has me very excited for book two!

My Final Thoughts: While LOOP suffers a bit in the sometimes confusing and tangled department, overall I found it extremely entertaining, smartly crafted, and a lot of fun!

MY RATING

website * goodreads * twitter * facebook

Karen Akins lives in the MidSouth where she writes humorous, light YA sci-fi. When not writing or reading, she loves lightsaber dueling with her two sons and forcing her husband to watch BBC shows with her. 

Karen has been many things in her life: an archery instructor, drummer for the shortest-lived garage band in history, and a shockingly bad tic-tac-toe player.

Win a copy of LOOP!

St. Martins has generously offered up one brand new copy for one winner.

DETAILS

-US only

-ends 10/31

-must be 13+ to enter

-winner will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours

-Word Spelunking is NOT responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen prizes in the mail

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