Giveaway: Amulet of Elusion and author interview with Katie Johnson

Amulet of Elusion by Katie Johnson

Alexa Costa has a life-altering secret…only she doesn’t know it yet.
Confined by law to the kingdom of Alvair until the age of eighteen, Alexa Costa has lived a sheltered existence under the watchful eye of her sword-wielding guardian, Ivy. Her love interest, Caleb Whitman, is exactly the opposite. A merchant sailor and seeker of rare artifacts, Caleb has lived a life of adventure in nearby San Lucero, the long-time rival of Alvair.
After her eighteenth birthday, Alexa’s quiet existence becomes tumultuous, and she realizes she does not need to seek to find adventure. Myths become real, legend becomes fact, and Alexa discovers that she possesses rare abilities which make her a target for both sides in a centuries-old struggle for power. She must use every resource available to her—including her talents with the supernatural Amulets— to help her friends, rekindle her romance with Caleb, and save her island home from destruction.

Blog: www.katielynnjohnson.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Katie-Lynn-Johnson/e/B008EOXEPC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1374340684&sr=1-2-ent
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/katielynnjohnson

 

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

Here is the super short, no-frills synopsis: A girl discovers she has supernatural powers and plots to overthrow a tyrannical regime.

--How did you get the idea for the story?

I came up with the concept in 1999, when I was fifteen. I wanted to create a strong female character in a nineteenth-century setting. The way I first envisioned Alexa, she was based on the gypsy Esmeralda from Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As the story progressed, Alexa became her own character. Now she’s almost nothing like Esmeralda.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I would like to have dinner with Novella, Alexa’s best friend. She’s really funny and independent, and is never afraid to speak her mind.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

After I finish the final installment of The Lost Amulet Chronicles trilogy, I have an idea for a four book YA fantasy saga. I’m also working on a chick-lit novel, even though that isn’t my typical genre. It’s called The Cursed Existence of Jessalyn Bell, and I plan to have it finished by late August / early September.

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, set-up or style)

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I’ve only read the first two chapters and I can already see similarities between her writing style and mine.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

As a YA fantasy author, it should come as no surprise that I am a huge fan of J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, and Suzanne Collins. I also really like the Gears of War novels by Karen Traviss, which are based on a popular video game series. I don’t read a lot of sci-fi but I find her books difficult to put down. In response to the second part of the question, I currently have two babies in diapers. So I don’t have a lot of time to read right now, which is unfortunate.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

I can’t help it; I gotta go with Harry Potter. Of all the books I’ve read in my life, Hogwarts was the richest and most believable fictional setting. Of course, I would settle for going to the theme park in Florida.

--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?

I need quiet. That’s why I write at night, after my kids go to sleep. I don’t listen to music while writing, but there are a few songs that inspired me. Among them are Fake Sound of Progress by Lost Prophets and Lie to Me by 12 Stones.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

I think it would be awesome to fly, which is ironic since I’m afraid of heights.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

Graphic design has always been an interest of mine, and in my spare time I design covers for books that I may never write. I also like doing outdoorsy stuff like hiking and riding my bike.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

Don’t worry about it. Life gets much better after high school.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate. Preferably paired with even more chocolate.

Edward or Jacob? Jacob. He’s much more down-to-earth and funnier than Edward. Other than him being easy on the eyes, I never really understood Bella’s attraction to Edward.

Hockey or soccer? Hockey. I live in Idaho and they take ice hockey very seriously here.

Ebook or paper? Paper. I get annoyed when I have to stop reading to let my Kindle charge.

Salty or sweet? I love sweets, and it isn’t unusual for me to eat candy for breakfast.

Beach or mountains? Beach. I’ll always be a southern California girl at heart.

Phone call or email? I’m torn. Phone calls are more personal, but emails are more convenient.

Early bird or night owl? Night owl. I have never been a morning person.

Dog or cat? Dogs. I’m severely allergic to cats.

Messy or neat? Before becoming a mommy, neat. Now my house is always messy.

Ninjas or pirates? Both! I vote for a ninja pirate with a samurai sword.

- signed paperback copy of Amulet of Elusion (US only)
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-Ends on 9/9/2013 11:59 pm EST
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