So ABANDON comes out in just one week! ONE WEEK. I'm not hyperventilating with this release. I'm not on the edge of my seat with all my fingernails bitten to the quick. In fact, I've been pretty zen (see what I did there?) about the whole thing.
Sure, I have to prepare a speech for the launch party (at The King's English -- everyone is invited!) next week, and I have no idea what to do/say. Yes, there is a scavenger hunt devoted to the series that runs for 10 days, and I've prepared over 60 posts for that.
But today, it begins. On twitter, I'm putting up #POSSESSIONcatchup and #SURRENDERcatchup reminders of what happened in the first two books so you can be ready for the release of ABANDON next week.
So come join the party! I'll be posting pictures, reveals, trailers, and everything you need to be ready for ABANDON -- all in 140 characters or less.
I swear SURRENDER has been out for ten years. This past year feels really long, doesn't it? At the same time I can hardly believe that there's only three weeks of school left. It feels like it's gone so fast!
So yeah. Time is warped.
And the SURRENDER paperback is out today! Not only that, but the third and final book in the Possession series is out in under a month, so now would be a great time to read or re-read the books to be ready for that conclusion... There are a coupe of giveaways on Goodreads to help you with this. Possession is here, and Surrender is embedded below. Go forth and enter!
Dude, you guys, this is the first of a five week she-bang (hey, it's my blog. I can use that word if I want to...) where I'll be giving away two SURRENDER ARCs each Wednesday. Each week I'll be featuring something different about my books, and each week you'll have the opportunity to participate as entries to win one of two ARCs.
Gunner Jameson: Gunn is the current Flight Trials winner, which means he killed it in last year's flying competition. The guy can navigate a hoverboard. Ladies, get ready to swoon over that. I mean, who doesn't love a guy who can handle his business in the air? Seriously.
He's also a bit conflicted about many things. He has to leave home at the beginning of the book, and he worries about his mom. He's been crushing on someone other than his match for over a year. And now he's been thrown in the lion's den--literally. He's assigned to train with Thane Myers, none other than Violet Schoenfeld's extremely controlling father.
Oh yeah. Gunn's in for some real fun in SURRENDER.
Raine Hightower: Raine is the Director's daughter, and she hates that more than anything. With a real chip on her shoulder and gloves always on her hands, Raine does everything her father--and Thane--tell her to... during the day. But at night... well, Raine likes to sneak out at night.
Raine leads a complicated life trying to keep protocol during the day so she can have as much freedom as she craves at night. It's a tricksy balance, one she's not sure she can keep up for very long.
And with her father circling, it's no small feat for her to do as much as she does. So yeah. Raine's definitely got some frightening things in store for her in SURRENDER.
And, my friends, you can receive an exclusive character art booklet, with character bios of ten characters you'll see in SURRENDER by entering The Insider's Case Files contest. All the details and how to enter are here.
This booklet includes Vi, Jag, Zenn, and Thane from POSSESSION. And you'll get "insider" information on Gunn, Raine, Trek, Starr, Cannon, and Director Hightower--new characters to love in SURRENDER--as well.
The contest is open until May 8, and there are many and varied ways to enter, from tweeting to pre-ordering to liking books on Amazon.
And now, as part of this character profile--and The Insider's Case Files spotlight--you can enter to win an ARC of SURRENDER by doing any or all of the following:
Have you already done these things? You've already entered then! BUT please fill out the Rafflecopter Giveaway for your entries to count. This contest will run from today, Wednesday, to next Tuesday night. Winners will be emailed for their mailing address, and a new SURRENDER ARC giveaway will start the next morning (Wednesday), so check back each week to see what new item will be revealed, and to enter to win an ARC of SURRENDER!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Since we're talking characters, who are some of your favorites? Any book, any genre. Go!
Dude, there are no words for this, and I think it fits nicely with the Insecure Writer's Support Group going on today (and every first Wednesday of the month).
Covers can be controversial. Putting your writing out there for others to read can be enough to make you curl into the corner and rock yourself into a coma.
But there is a coverand a story, so I'll just lay it out for you.
About REGRET: Set in the world of Possession and Surrender, this riveting, original eBook reveals pieces of Jag’s mysterious past and the inner workings of the Resistance.
When Jag, the leader of the Resistance, goes missing during a mission, Indy feels like her heart might break. But as Jag’s second in command, she must put her feelings for him aside and take charge. With Jag in the Thinkers’ hands, the Resistance needs Indy’s smart strategy and calm leadership now more than ever. Indy knows that wherever Jag is, he’s counting on her to continue the fight.
But then Jag returns . . . with a girl named Vi.
Indy doesn’t know who this new girl is, or what she has to do with Jag’s disappearance, but she can see the way Jag looks at Vi, and it makes Indy’s heart stop cold. Now that Jag has returned with a new girl at his side, does Indy even have a place in the Resistance?
This eBook-exclusive story includes special excerpts from both Possession and Surrender.
That's right! I wrote that story, and you can read it on April 24! It's only available in digital format, and you can pre-order for your Kindle here and for your Nook here. (You don't have to buy a Kindle or Nook. You can download free apps for your phone, computer, or tablet. Kindle here and Nook here.)
Order today... I promise you won't REGRET it!
Also, because I can't help myself, I have to do an amazing giveaway to go along with this announcement. I have two of these, and you could win one...
I'm using Rafflecopter to collect entries, so you can do any of the following:
1. Pre-order REGRET (10 entries) Link here and here.
2. Like REGRET on Amazon (1 entry) Link here.
3. Like POSSESSION on Amazon (1 entry) Link here.
4. Like SURRENDER on Amazon (1 entry) Link here.
5. Tweet this blog post (1 entry) Click here. 6. Like the Possession by Elana Johnson fanpage on Facebook (1 entry)
7. Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Enter for the next 48 hours only; contest closes at midnight Thursday.
Now, seriously. I didn't think I could ever love a cover as much as the butterfly in ice. But this? THIS? Yeah, I love this. (Insecure writer begone!)What do you think?
Dude, so I'm participating in the Spring YA Scavenger Hunt, coming up on Thursday of this week. It's an amazing opportunity to meet new authors, find new books, AND win amazing prize packages of books!
I'm on the Red Team, and you will have an opportunity to win 20 books if you follow our loop. There is also a Blue Team and a Yellow Team. Go here for full details.
I'm giving away TWO copies of POSSESSION -- one as part of the 20-book main prize, and one if you can find my secret content on the Red Loop... so see if you can find it beginning Thursday, March 29 at Noon Pacific Time.*
And my secret content? It has to do with SURRENDER and The Insider's Case Files, a fantastic prize you can enter to win by following the instructions on this post, and reading the Official Rules on this page...
Hope you'll join us for the hunt!
*I will be blogging on Thursday this week, at Noon Pacific Time, and then revealing the winner of the Red Loop POSSESSION copy on Monday, April 2.
More marketing tips -- including joining together with groups like the YA Scavenger Hunt -- coming on Wednesday.
Okay, people! Today is wonderful and exciting for many reasons.
1. The Hunger Games comes out in theaters today. I am so excited to go! Now, I just need to find a free weekend...
2. Today begins the great pre-order giveaway for SURRENDER -- which comes out on June 5! I've never done anything like this before, so it's going to be a grand adventure, on which I hope you'll join me! It should be very simple, really.
I've been working behind the scenes to put together "The Insider's Case Files" which is a booklet of 10 characters you'll see in SURRENDER -- including some of your favorites from POSSESSION.
The Prize: 50 people will get this exclusive file, with never-to-be-released-online character content and some of the most amazing exclusive character artwork (by the genius that is Dustin Hansen), and a SURRENDER swag package in their mailbox in May.
One spectacular character illustration will be released during next week's YA Scavenger Hunt (on March 29) and will give you an example of the type of amazing prize this is! And I can't help myself... These are Vi's eyes, and only the smallest taste of the beautiful art you'll get in The Insider's Case Files.
The What: Pre-order SURRENDER from your favorite retailer, or spread the word about this contest.
Order SURRENDER here: (*No purchase necessary. See Official Rules.)
The When: From now until May 8, when the paperback of POSSESSION hits shelves. (Previous pre-orders will be accepted. Just email the confirmation email/screen shot. See below.)
The How: Four Ways to Enter!
1. Pre-order Surrender.
Email possessionbook(at)gmail(dot)com with a forward of your order confirmation. (If this includes confidential financial information, please take a screen shot of your order confirmation. Screen shot instructions for Mac and PC are here.)
2. Tweet or Facebook about your purchase. (If you need additional help knowing how to do this, click here.)
3. Like SURRENDER on Amazon. Two clicks: Click this link and then click the "LIKE" button on the Surrender page.
4. Tweet about this giveaway. It only takes two clicks: CLICK HERE and then click TWEET.
You must send an email to enter. Please say which items (1-4 above) you've done in the entry email you send to possessionbook(at)gmail(dot)com.
And that's it! I hope you'll take a few minutes today to pre-order SURRENDER or help spread the word -- and if you're super-excited to read the book, you don't have to wait much longer. The first two chapters have been released into the wild!Go here to read them!
I mean, seriously. March, where did you come from? I feel like time is moving simultaneously warpish and sluggish. It makes no sense, and my brain is getting all swirled up.
Anyway, SURRENDER will be in out in exactly three months. THREE MONTHS. Can you believe that? It feels like POSSESSION just hit shelves. {{{Just one example of the warp-speed movement of time.
I had some goals last month to finish some books, and it didn't happen. So I'm going to go public here and say that I will finish the two books this month. I'm (almost) sure I can do it. I have about 20K to go in one, and about 20K in another. That's less than NaNo wordcounts, so yeah. I *think* I can.
March is always a good month for X-Men. Yesterday, I watched the first three. When I type that, I feel sort of nauseous, but it's true. Gotta love downtime on the weekend.
So, can you believe it's March? What are your writing goals this month? Seen any good movies lately?
This is like when your in-laws come to the hospital to see your new baby. And you have no makeup on and that thin hospital gown? Not a whole lot of coverage there. But you're just so happy to see them and show off the new addition to your family!
Well, here's my new baby...
And it's twins!
Up first, the paperback cover of POSSESSION got a redesign. WITH COLOR. And a new (uber-fantastic) font. AND an extra line on the tagline!
And for twin #2, SURRENDER received a matching design, just in time for the hardcover release, which is coming on June 5, 2012.
Okay, so prepare yourself for me to talk about my books again. I swear I'm not trying to spam you here on the blog. But if you don't want to read about my promotional stuff for POSSESSION, you can stop reading now.
No one will blame you.
So last year, about this time, I had bookmarks made for POSSESSION. And stickers. And jewelry. I was planning countdown giveaways each month from March - May. I had forms made for ARC requests and for people who wanted to host me on their blog for the release.
This year, I have nothing. None of that. Not one thing. (Okay, I do have an ARC request form. But that's it!)
Is this what happens to the second book? Is it "second child syndrome"?
I don't know, but I do know one thing. With POSSESSION, I didn't want to look back and go "I could've done more."
I can do that. I can look back and go, "I did everything I could've possibly done to ensure the success of my book."
With SURRENDER, I almost want to do the exact opposite. That's right. DO NOTHING. I want to see if it makes a difference. Does the blog tour really matter? Do people really care about stickers and bookmarks and jewelry? Will my sales be affected because I didn't answer five thousand interview questions?
I have a theory about what makes books sell, and I want to do this experiment to see if I'm right. But I am a huge chicken (which is ironic, because I'm terrified of all feathered animals. Especially ducks and chickens).
I'm not sure I can do it. I'm not sure I can just sit back and DO NOTHING. I keep putting it off, but I know that unless I make a commitment, eventually I'll DO SOMETHING.
So...should I commit to doing nothing? What do you think about promotion these days? Blog tours? Swag? All that jazz?
You can click on that and listen while you read. You'll like it. (I KILL on this song on Guitar Hero. K-I-L-L.)
Second this:
It's hard to believe that my second book is coming out soon. Don't they look pretty next to each other?
Third, if you are a book blogger/reviewer, teacher, librarian, Simon & Schuster has SURRENDER on their Galley Grab now. This will be an e-galley.
If you're not any of those things (or if you are and don't want an e-galley), you can sign up to be considered for an ARC of SURRENDER by filling out this form.
Fourth, the POSSESSION paperback comes out on May 8. You can preorder here!
Fifth, this has all be promotional, so I'll just throw in that I dyed my hair a week or so ago and almost died when I saw that the dye was this funky blue/purple color. Upon closer inspection, I realized I'd bought the "blue black reflective" dye. My hair has a slight blue shimmer when viewed in the sun. I wish it was like this:
But I teach kindergarten, so...
Maybe in June. Maybe around JUNE 5. Maybe for the LAUNCH PARTY of SURRENDER on/near JUNE 5.
I'm looking forward to having SURRENDER out in the wild! I really loved writing this book, and I can't wait to share it with everyone.
Dude, okay, I may or may not have been waiting for this day for, oh, forever. I saw this cover a while ago--before I even had edits!--and it's been eating at me, and eating at me.
We revealed the title of the companion novel to POSSESSION a while ago, but not the whole cover.
I seriously thought nothing could hold a candle to the enthusiasm and excitement I had for my first book.
Okay, so today was the Scavenger Hunt of all scavenger hunts. Thus the capital letters. The content was up for only one day, but I was thrilled to host Sophie Jordan, author of VANISH. Be sure to check out her books.
And I revealed the title for the second book in the POSSESSION saga!
In case you missed it...
Ahhh! What do you think of the title? And yes...that is part of the cover... That's coming soon!
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