Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Giveaway of Forsaken and Interview with author Lisa Stasse


The Forsaken (The Forsaken, #1)

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.
As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
interview with Blkosiner's Book Blog


Interview with Lisa M. Stasse
Author of The Forsaken
(coming July 10, 2012 from Simon & Schuster)

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
In a dystopian future, a teenage girl fails a personality test and is banished to a prison island—she must fight back and escape.

--How did you get the idea for the story?
I was imagining a nightmare version of the SAT (or any of those standardized tests that everyone has to take in high school) that if you failed, you'd get exiled from your friends and family. In The Forsaken, when Alenna Shawcross fails her government personality test, her whole life is ripped away from her.  She's banished to Prison Island Alpha (aka "The Wheel"). When she gets there, she has to chose a tribe, forge alliances, fight the machines that control the island, and try to escape. Along the way she learns some secrets about her own identity, and she also falls in love.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
It would be awesome to have dinner with Harry Potter! J

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I have a massive stack of books to read (seriously, it's several feet high). I'm also a librarian at UCLA, which means I'm surrounded by books all the time. I wish I had more time to read! My favorite books include The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Sula by Toni Morrison, and anything by Joan Didion or John Green.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
I'm just finishing the second novel in The Forsaken trilogy. The working title is The Uprising.

--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
Pride & Prejudice, because I love the world of that book so much and all the characters too.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
Coffee is a must, and so is music. I listen to music all the time when I'm writing (all different styles and genres). I listened to a lot of Cat Power when I wrote The Forsaken. I also listened to a lot of Arcade Fire, Salem, Feist, Belle & Sebastian, Bon Iver, Taylor Swift, Skrillex, Neil Young, and Tim Buckley.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
To be able to travel through time.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I love traveling—especially camping and hiking. Most of my free time is spent hanging out with my husband and three-year-old daughter.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
"Don't stress out so much about everything! (And yes, you will get a boyfriend one day)."
Lightning round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate
Edward or Jacob? Edward
Hockey or soccer? Soccer
Ebook or paper? Paper
Salty or sweet?  Sweet
Beach or mountains?  Beach
Phone call or email? Phone/text
Early bird or night owl? Early bird
Dog or cat? Cat
Messy or neat? Messy (but I wish I wasn't)
Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas unless the pirate is Johnny Depp

Lisa's links:
Twitter: @LisaMStasse

Blkosiner's Book Blog Giveaway


Ends 7/24
Fill out rafflecopter to enter
US Only please


Also make sure to enter
Never Enough Never Enough by Denise Jaden (US/Can) ends 7/20



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23 comments:

  1. I loved watching the Forsaken trailer. I enjoyed the music used in the trailer.

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  2. Great trailer! I couldn't agree more, who can refuse Johnny Depp pirate style!? I really enjoyed the interview.

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  3. Great interview! Good advice there too. :p

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  4. Loved your advice to your 15yr self! I would tell myself the same thing too.

    Coffee and music are definitely a must when writing. I can't without either too but I just rotate songs, I don't have any specific playlists. Maybe I should try that.

    --Markella

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  5. I enjoyed reading this interview, especially the question about superpower. I would love to be able to travel through time too.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  6. A librarian at UCLA, I would love to be surrounded by books all day. Of course, it wouldn't be that great if you could just look and not read!

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  7. What a great idea for a book, but can you imagine the SATs being any more stressful? Yikes. (Although I guess you can now, thanks to the book!)

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  8. Love this question If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
    rierie11booger (@) yahoo.com

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  9. This sounds like such an amazing read! Loved the trailer too. Loved the advice to your 15 old self, mine would be along the same lines too

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  10. This book sounds so good, and I love Lisa's twitter synopsis! And I like how she got the idea of a "nightmare version of the SAT". It's so cool to hear the little things that spark an author into such awesome book plots! And I'd totally want to have dinner with Harry Potter! ;)

    Great interview, Brandi, and thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  11. Great interview. I love to see what the personality of authors are like. Especially authors of the books that I read, or hope to read. If I have a book on my TBR and I get the chance to read an author interview, it makes me either want the book more or not quite so much. This interview definitely makes me want to get my hands on this book even more. Especially after hearing she would love to have lunch with Harry Potter. Can I join? Again, thanks for this post and for the giveaway! It is much appreciated!

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  12. How can she like Edward!?! Noooo!!! I guess liking cats makes up for it... :D Thanks for the giveaway!

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  13. This book looks REALLY good! Fabulous interview! Thanks for the giveaway! I've been excited to read this one!

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  14. This was a VERY creative interview which made it enjoyable! This Interview ranks up with some of the best I've read. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Laurie Carlson

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  15. I love her playlist, I also listen to a lot of Belle and Sebastian when I write. I am so addicted to dystopian right now I cannot wait to get my hands on this book.

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  16. This is the first time I saw the book trailer it's so beautiful! the book cover is amazing! OMG! I can't wait to read this XD

    what a very informative interview good job!

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  17. I love how the author got the idea for the book. I guess nightmares are much easier to remember than dreams:)

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  18. I totally agree. Having dinner with Harry Potter would be pretty awesome. Love the cover of this book, and the premise. Very excited about it!

    :).

    Lisa

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  19. Id love to be able to travel through time too! :-D This book sounds pretty amazing! I've heard great things and cant wait to read it! Thanks for the chance!

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I would love to hear from you! (I always try to visit your blog back) I love links, so feel free to link to your blog or a post you like.
Sorry, but I am award and tag free zone, I do not have the time to return. Comments are reward enough :)