Authors at the Decatur Book Festival 2012: Interview with C. J. Redwine and Giveaway!

C. J. Redwine, author of the upcoming book, Defiance, is here today to share a little bit about herself and her book! I have wanted to read Defiance since 2011 when I heard about it and the thrilling plot. I also have a giveaway going on at the end of this post for some SIGNED Defiance bookmarks! This is the second installation of my blog series featuring authors appearing at the Decatur Book Festival in September. Be sure to check it out and come if you live in GA. It is so much fun and lots of popular YA authors will be there! Below is some information about C. J. and Defiance.



Defiance by: C. J. Redwine
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia, Fantasy
Series: Defiance #1
Page Count: 416
Author Website: C. J. Redwine, Blog
Pre-order the book: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Summary from 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, host dinner parties, 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 boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but 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.

Author bio:
C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She 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/
 




Here is my interview with C. J. Enjoy! Share!


Describe Defiance in one sentence.
When Rachel Adams commits treason to escape her cloistered city and search for her missing father in the Wasteland beyond, she discovers romance, heartbreak, and a war two decades in the making.


What inspired you to write Defiance?
I had the idea of a fire-breathing Leviathon-like beast living underground and then saw a picture of a fortress that reminded me of a city-state. I asked myself why people would choose to go back to living in city-states and from there Defiance was born.


Is there a message in Defiance that you want your readers to grasp?
Hope is precious and worth hanging onto even when it seems all is lost.


Who are your top three favorite authors and why?
Oh, man. Only three? Hmm ... definitely J.K. Rowling. I'd crawl inside her head and just live there for a year or two if I could. I re-read the Harry Potter books every couple of years and am just amazed at the world building and the scope of imagination. I also am a huge fan of Stephanie Perkins. Her books are just delicious. The world wraps around you, and I love the way she notices quirky details about her characters. And finally C.S. Lewis because not only did he create incredible fantasy realms, he brought a depth of intellect and passion to his works that few can equal.

What books have you read lately and loved?
Timepiece by Myra McEntire (so funny and fast-paced!), Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (raw and beautiful!), and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (amazing fantasy word!)


What books have most influenced your life?
The Bible, The Chronicles of Narnia, Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Hunger Games, and the entire Harry Potter series.

What do you think makes a good story?
Feeling a strong connection to the characters and the world. If I care about them, I care about the outcome of the plot. My favorite books are both epic and intimate, and I think that's accomplished by having an intimate story of characters we love played out on an epic stage in a world that transcends our own ordinary lives.


As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be Nancy Drew. And also Wonder Woman. The plan was to be Nancy Drew until it was time to spin madly in circles and shed my clothes to display my HOLY AWESOMESAUCE BATGIRL! Wonder Woman underroos. Please don't tell me I'm the only one who did that.

What did you consider most challenging about writing Defiance, or writing in general?
Beginnings are a challenge for me. I almost always (Ok, FINE. Always.) start in the wrong place and have to revise and revise until I nail it. I also think it's a challenge to get the world building right. It's all about knowing your world inside and out and then seeding in little details here and there to create the overall picture.


What did you enjoy most about writing Defiance?
The sense of accomplishment when I finished. This was by far the most ambitious book I'd ever attempted, and when I finished the last scene, I felt proud of myself for seeing it through and telling the kind of story I wanted to read.


Is there something that makes Defiance stand out (except the absolutely gorgeous cover)? 
Well ... it's genre-bendy. (Oh, yes. That's totally a word. I'm a writer. I get to make this stuff up.) It's a fantasy adventure, but it has elements of post-apocalyptic, dystopia, steampunk, romance, and light sci-fi, so ... something for nearly everyone, lol.

Thanks so much for doing this interview! I cannot wait to see C. J.  at the Decatur Book Festival in September!




And now here’s the wonderful giveaway you’ve all been waiting for!
Guidelines:
- There will be two winners (1 bookmark per winner)
- US Only.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway