State of Emergency by Summer Lane

Hey gang! It's my week for new book releases. :-) Today I'm bringing you an interview with author Summer Lane, who's latest, State of Emergency, just hit shelves. It sounds like a fabulous read, and Summer is a real sweetheart of a person, so I hope you'll join me in welcoming her to the blog.

Also, there's a giveaway with the release, so be sure to check the bottom of the post for details on how you can maybe win stuff.

EJ (Me): I've seen from your bio that you teach writing. What ages have you taught, and what led you to teaching? (I've an education background and am always fascinated by what draws people there ... definitely a calling. :) 

Summer Lane (SL): I work with 2nd and 3rd graders. I’ve always wanted to share the concept of storytelling with the little ones, so when I get an opportunity to do so, I jump right in! I always used to “teach” my little brother about writing and history (my favorite subjects growing up), so maybe that’s where the interest in working with children came from: Making my brother sit and listen to my lectures.

Me: State of Emergency is all about the dystopian-Armageddon-survival. But you've weaved some romance in there. Any particular motivation for writing a story about finding love in chaos? 

SL: I think it’s the best kind! J I love reading books that have romantic elements, so it was only natural that my novel have a little bit of it, too. I wanted something outside the normal romance story – not just two beautiful people falling in love at first sight. I wanted two strong, independent people to find each other and fall in love progressively. I wanted them to be together not only because they need each other, but because they want to be together, and their love for each other isn’t just based on physical attraction (although that helps!). It’s based on respect and trust gained over time.

Me: Random Question Time: BOOM! You wake up tomorrow and the world has gone to hell. You get to pick three things to take with you from your home, then it's get out of Dodge time. What are they?

SL: My Go-Bag (yes, I really have an emergency bug-out bag!), canned food and a pack of bottled water. My Go-Bag would have all the necessary items for bugging out in the case of an emergency; matches, a jacket, socks, first aid kit, radio, tools, etc. Maybe something sentimental you want to save from being left behind (I’m the type of person to toss the waterproof matches in favor of a childhood stuffed animal…really.) 

Me: Most of my followers are writers, so they'll be interested in the book you published in 2012, Snappy Social Networking. Tell us a little about it, and can you offer a couple (or more) 'must do' tips for being better at being social? 

SL: Snappy Social Networking is basically a book that’s meant to help people jump right into the world of social media without getting stressed out. I was definitely stressed out at first, so after I learned the basics, I wrote a book about it and divided it into three sections for the “newbie:” Twitter, Facebook and Blogging. It’s less than 30 pages long. If I had any one tip to offer about being successful on social media, it would be to keep up a consistent presence online. People have short memories when it comes to the online world, and constantly being out there is your key to success.

Me: You've a passion for New Adult (NA) literature. (As do I!) Why do you support the category, and where do you see it going in 2013? Also, where do your writing ambitions fit in?

SL: Yes, I totally have a passion for NA! I support the category because it fills the gap that no other categories of books do: the age between full adulthood and the High School years. I think NA is really taking off in 2013 – I’ve seen so many NYT bestsellers begin to be classified as “New Adult” on publisher’s websites, to that’s definitely encouraging. As a writer, I love New Adult just as much as I love Young Adult, but I identify with NA more only because I actually am a “New Adult,” fitting into the age range of under 30 but way past High School.

State of Emergency is New Adult. My main protagonist, Cassidy, is 19 years old. She’s an adult, but she’s still got quite a bit of naivety going on. The supporting character/love interest, Chris, is in his late twenties and considerably more mature than she is. The themes in the book – surviving independently, being separated from family, etc. – are all New Adult themes. But I also recommend the book to YA readers, as well, because I wanted a novel that both age ranges could enjoy equally. 

Me: Now for the good stuff, where and when can we get State of Emergency! 

SL: Well, you can purchase State of Emergency on Amazon & Barnes & Noble!

Cassidy Hart is your typical High School graduate: A little shy, a little sarcastic, and a little naive. But when an electromagnetic pulse takes down the United States, she's forced to kick into full survival mode when she gets separated from her father.

Yeah. Things suck.

But with the help of a handsome soldier named Chris, she just might find her dad without getting into serious trouble.

Emphasis on might.

Oh. And there's the matter of avoiding getting killed in a world that's quickly turned into an active war zone.

It's going to change Cassidy's life. It's going to be a major pain in the butt.

Summer Lane is the author of the YA/NA Dystopian Romance, State of Emergency. She is a freelance writer, editor and lover of all things feline. Summer is also the author of Snappy Social Networking: How to Dominate the Blogosphere & Everything in Between. In her spare time, Summer is the creator of the online magazine/blog, Writing Belle, in addition to being a frequent contributor at NA Alley, a website dedicated to all things New Adult. 

Summer began writing when she was 13 years old, due to the fact that the long afternoons after school were somewhat boring, and writing stories seemed to make the time pass a little quicker. Since then she has written many books about jungle cats, secret agents, princesses and spaceships. She is also a non-fiction writer, but her debut novel, State of Emergency, is her favorite book yet. You can find Summer hopping around on the Internet by following her on her blog, Twitter @SummerEllenLane, or on Facebook: Writing Belle.

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