Looking for a summer book with love, intrigue, and super powers? Look no further than SURRENDER by GCC member Elana Johnson, which just debuted through Simon and Schuster.
As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: 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….
Here’s what Elana had to say:
Q: In ADIOS TO ALL THE DRAMA, Mariana is a bridesmaid in her cousin’s wedding. How many times have you been a bridesmaid and what’s the worst dress you ever wore?
Elana: I have never been a bridesmaid. I got married at 19, so maybe that had something to do with it…
Q: I’ve used some of my personal background in each of my novels. Did you take any snippets from your real life when writing your latest book? Base any characters on real people?
Elana: Absolutely! A lot of the relationships my characters have with each other is based on experiences in my own life, or things I’ve witnessed in life around me. I can’t say that I’ve based entire people on someone I know, but little snippets of their personality, sure.
Q: Let’s talk publishing. What was harder for you, finding an agent or an editor? Why?
Elana: Finding an agent. I queried two books. For the second one—POSSESSION, which was published—I sent 189 letters to agents. I had a phone call with 3 different agents before someone actually offered representation. It took 8 months and was a very hard time, what with so many rejections.
Q: Where did the idea for you latest novel come from?
Elana: I just started a new contemporary novel, and the idea came from a conversation I had with my husband about one of his students. I can’t wait to write it!
Q: Where were you when you found out that your latest novel was going to be published? Tell us the story.
Elana: I was at home, sitting in the writing cave, when the email came in. A few minutes later, I called my agent, and rejoiced that Simon & Schuster was going to publish SURRENDER.
Thank you, Elana! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!
