INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY
State of Fear
(Collapse Series Book 8)
(Collapse Series Book 8)
by Summer Lane
State of Fear, the eighth book in Summer Lane's Collapse Series, has just been released. Also available: State of Emergency, State of Chaos, State of Rebellion (read my blog post), State of Pursuit (read my blog post), State of Alliance (read my blog post), State of Vengeance (read my blog post), and State of Destruction (read my blog post).
More books by this author: the Zero Trilogy, which complements the Collapse Series - Day Zero (read my blog post), Day One (read my blog post), and End of Day (read my blog post); Bravo: Apocalypse Mission, the first book in the Bravo Saga (read my blog post).
Description
The world has gone nuclear, and the militias have met their first major defeat.
Torn and desperate, Cassidy Hart and her team make a difficult decision to relocate their forces to the cold, barren wilderness of Alaska. In the snowy mountains of the Gates of the Arctic, Yukon City has become a stronghold for survivors of the apocalypse.
Or has it?
Commander Chris Young remains in California to combat the shadowy forces of Omega, while Cassidy attempts to rebuild the militia’s strength at Yukon City. Uriah True has ideas of his own when it comes to surviving, and the militias are splitting apart.
Veronica Klaus is unleashing hell upon the west coast. The true, terrifying nature of Omega is revealed at last. A dangerous, desperate move is made to find reinforcements and seize a weapon that could give the militias an upper hand.
The downside?
It just might kill everyone on planet earth.
The downside?
It just might kill everyone on planet earth.
Cassidy, Chris and their friends have made it this far.
How much longer can they survive?
How much longer can the world survive?
How much longer can they survive?
How much longer can the world survive?
Excerpt
Click below to read an excerpt.
Praise for the Book
"This series just keeps getting better. This book is full of action and I found myself in suspense throughout most of the story. I appreciate that this is a series that my son can enjoy as much as I do." ~ Amazon Customer
"State of Fear is full of action, suspense, and had me rooting for our beloved couples once again. State of Fear is a page turner I just couldn't put down, I had to know what was going to happen next! Bravo (pun intended) Summer Lane!" ~ alicia
"Each book demonstrates her progression and growth as an author. This book is well-written, flows well, and is a great read. This is a worthy volume in the series. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it." ~ J. W. Cejka III
"I absolutely love every book in this series and this is another great cliff hanger! This is another that does not have Chris active but that does not mean there is no action which is what I love! Great book, great plot, can't wait for the next!" ~ Valerie Guevara
"I have to say that turned out to be one of my favorite books in the Collapse Series. I love Summer's writing and she doesn't fall short on this book. I like that there is a little romance in it but it takes a backseat to the action. State of Fear will not disappoint you if you are a fan of the series." ~ Lisa
Interview with the Author
This is the eighth book in the Collapse Series. How do you keep the storyline and world going this far into the series?
The issue with Cassidy Hart is not running out of stories – it’s containing them! Cassidy’s world is monstrously huge and the options for story pathways are endless, so I really had to zero in on what I wanted the eighth book to be. In terms of technicality and research, this was a challenging book – but it was also exciting to write. I was able to utilize some elements that I have wanted to use for a long time, like submarines and ice ... trust me, it’ll make sense when you read the book!
Do you find it difficult to write about one set of characters for ten books?
No, I don’t. The longer you’re with your characters, the better you get to know them. In this case, I have had the opportunity to get familiar with my characters to such a level that their development and characteristics are incredibly organic. It’s a real blast!
Are you Team Uriah or Team Chris?
A lot of people like to think that Uriah is the perfect guy for Cassidy – while some much prefer Chris, since he is the original male lead (and he’s pretty awesome, in all honesty!). I have my own secret thoughts on this subject, and I don’t like to project my opinions on such an emotional element of the series. I leave that to my readers. But I will say that, in the end, Cassidy is a strong woman who doesn’t need anybody. She’s one of those kickass characters that can survive no matter what – and anyone she falls in love with is just a bonus. I don’t say to belittle the importance of the male leads, but to stress that Cassidy is just that kind of character at this point in the series.
What’s with the title? Why "fear"? What’s there to fear in this book?
The title is really a projection of the underlying theme of this book. My characters are thrust into a type of warfare that’s really unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. They go to the barren wilds of Alaska, where the icy glaciers surround them and the dark winter solstice blots out the sun. Omega could kill them all – so many terrible things have happened, and could continue to happen. Cassidy is doubting herself and her relationships. This book is about exploring all of those fears, and then figuring out if our heroes are going to succumb to the darkness or stand up and kick its butt. It’s gritty, it’s dark and it’s intense. It’s my kind of story, and that’s why I wrote it.
Speaking of State of Fear, what is your favorite thing about this particular novel?
The ending. I love the way the book ends. I won’t confirm whether it’s happy or shocking or sad, but it’s something that I have envisioned for a while and I can’t wait for readers to get to it. I think they’re going to be very, very surprised. Let the theories begin! **wink**
The Collapse Series will cap at 10 installments. What’s it going to be like writing the final two books?
Probably fairly emotional. **grabs tissues to dab at eyes** By the time the series caps, I will have spent 5 years working on it. That’s a lot of emotional energy and devotion. Saying goodbye is always tough, but it’s a part of the writing process. I keep telling people that State of Fear is like a prologue to the final two chapters of the series. The final installments will be more intense, grittier and more shocking (no spoilers!). I am putting all of my energy and time into writing them this fall and winter, so look out!
What are you going to do when Collapse finishes?
I have addressed this question a couple of times already, but I’ll just put it out there again: I have more ideas and more stories within the world of Collapse, and even outside of it. I will be working on a project as soon as Collapse is finished, and I think my readers will enjoy it immensely. Meanwhile, the final installment to the Bravo Saga releases this fall.
What inspires you to continue writing these rapid-fire apocalypse novels?
The world around me. The "what if". The possibilities, the imagined scenarios, the technology of the modern world, the gritty man-to-man struggles of the old west, the tactical prowess of a soldier. Everything around me is a story, and I love to tell those stories to whoever will read them.
About the Author
Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling Author of the Collapse Series, the Zero Trilogy, and the Bravo Saga. She is also the author of Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, a #1 bestselling graphic companion to her phenomenal original series.
She is the owner of WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine where she has worked with countless authors from around the globe. Summer is also an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher.
Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her days writing, collecting tea, and writing some more.
Giveaway
Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win a Collapse Gift Pack (including a $40 Amazon gift card, an autographed surprise book, and an exclusive piece of artwork featuring Cassidy Hart, from artist Oskari Niittymaki, the artist behind Collapse:The Illustrated Guide) OR a $15 Barnes & Noble gift card (open internationally).
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