"Running with Wolves" by Summer Lane

INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Running with Wolves

by Summer Lane

Running with Wolves by Summer Lane has just been released. This book blitz and giveaway is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours.

More books by this author: Collapse Series: 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), State of Destruction (read my blog post), State of Fear (read my blog post), State of Allegiance (read my blog post); 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

Alaska, 1898

"They always come back," she whispers. "Always."

He spilled their blood. Now, she’s out for revenge.

Jenna Renee is a woman wronged. When her adoptive parents are brutally murdered by an outlaw named Conroy Parker and his gang of thugs, they take everything from her: her family, her happiness, and her money.

Determined to bring Conroy and his boys to justice, she hires a gruff but dangerous gun-slinging trapper and guide, Jeremiah Black, to help her hunt Conroy down.

But there is more to Alaska than meets the eye.

The cold touch of the arctic winter is dangerous, and the corruption of Conroy Parker and his comrades runs deep. The tundra is unforgiving, and so are the wolves. Nothing is as at seems.

If the wilderness doesn’t kill Jenna, the pack will. Revenge comes with a price, and so does love. There will be no mercy ... only the hunt.

A romantic adventure from #1 bestselling author Summer Lane, set amidst the gritty and awe-inspiring setting of Alaska during the last great Gold Rush.

Excerpt

Click below to read an excerpt.

Praise for the Book

"This book really does have it all. I love a good love story, and this one does not disappoint. But really, it is a beautiful journey of self-discovery with a healthy dose of mystery, romance, family, friendship, greed, sorrow, joy, and of course, wolves." ~ Amazon Customer

"Reading this book I've felt like I was in this story not reading but witnessing it with realistic dialogues and perfectly described scenery. Despite the love story that would have never happened in real life it's a well researched, well written story. It will make you laugh, shed a little tear and most importantly it will make you curious what's next." ~ Marta

"[...] this is an incredible story! I couldn't stop reading ... the flashbacks, the mystery, the twists, the anticipation, and the romance kept me on edge the whole time. Just when you think the end is near and hope is gone, the story flips. It is definitely not disappointing at all. [...] I highly recommend this book for anyone who appreciates the wilderness, animals, and a good old-fashioned romance novel." ~ Horsenaround92

"Jenna and Jeremiah are amazingly well-developed, and the plot was different and refreshing. I enjoyed the relationship that Jenna and Jeremiah had with the dogs, and the way the wolves were integrated into the story was both believable and natural. I can't help wondering if this will be a series, and finding myself hoping it will be." ~ Janiece Rhodes

"Go on an adventure in the wild, untamed Alaskan wilderness filled with romance and justice. The book feels like it takes you to another place in time." ~ Mona Collier

Interview with the Author

Summer Lane joins us today to talk about her new novel, Running with Wolves.

This is your first historical fiction. How different was the writing process, as opposed to the past 17 novels you’ve written – which have all been post-apocalyptic?

A historical novel is more strictly attached to the time period in which it takes place. The way people talk, dress, act, and even eat are different than how we do all of those things modernly. I had to do a lot of research, of course. I have been slowly working on this book for roughly two years, when the idea originally occurred to me. I have read so many books about Alaska ... toward the end of the writing process, I was devouring whole college textbooks and double fact-checking everything I had until I was entirely sure my eyes were going to fall out of my head.

With my apocalyptic books, the research is tactically-oriented, if that makes sense. With Running with Wolves, I had to make sure the slang and vernacular were correct and that the history was right on target. I took a few artistic liberties with the story, as all writers do, but everything is based in fact. Everything.

Where did the idea for Running with Wolves come from?

I have always loved animals. I have always loved dogs. I first was enraptured by the idea of setting a story in Alaska when I was a little girl, after watching the animated film Balto for the first time. The concept for this particular novel sprung up about two years ago. It took me a long time to cultivate the plot to a point where I liked it enough to go ahead and write the book. I have always wanted to write a western-style novel, and that’s what Running with Wolves is. A western novel set in the snow, with adventure and romance.

Where does the story actually take place?

I have constructed a fictional tale within the boundaries of the boomtowns and mining camps that existed in 1898. The main character, Jenna Renee, lives outside of a town called Dyea. I used prominent and famous historical hotspots, such as the Chilkoot Pass and Dawson City, in the book, too.

Can we look forward to some romance, in addition to adventure?

Yes! One of the central themes of the novel is the romance story between Jenna Renee and the rather callous but handsome United States Marshal Jeremiah Black. I love Jeremiah’s character – he’s got a lot of surprises up his sleeve, and I think readers will love him as much as Jenna does.

What are your upcoming projects?

Well, I have a non-fiction novel coming up in the next several months: Prolific: Writing a Hit Novel. I’m also releasing the first installment of the anticipated Resurrection Series in January 2018. Resurrection will continue the adventures, fights, and romances of Commander Cassidy Hart from the hit Collapse Series.

Thanks for stopping by today, Summer. Best of luck with your upcoming projects.

About the Author

Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling Author of 18 novels, including the smash-hit Collapse Series, Zero Trilogy, Bravo Saga, Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, and the adventure thriller, Unbreakable SEAL.

Summer owns WB Publishing. She is also an experienced journalist and creative writing teacher. Writing Belle is her online magazine, where she has interviewed and featured hundreds of writers from around the globe.

Look for her upcoming books, Prolific: Writing a Hit Novel and Resurrection: Shadows of Omega, the hotly anticipated continuation of Cassidy Hart’s post-apocalyptic adventures.

Summer lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, Scott, and their German Shepherd, Kona.

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"State of Allegiance" by Summer Lane

GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY

State of Allegiance
(Collapse Series Book 9)

by Summer Lane

State of Allegiance, the ninth 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), State of Destruction (read my blog post), and State of Fear (read my blog post).

This book blitz and giveaway is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours.

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

Be brave. Be vigilant. But above all, be loyal.

In the wake of a dangerous but successful mission to Yukon City in Alaska, Cassidy Hart now finds herself back in California, at the naval air station in San Diego. Together, she and Chris now face their most terrifying threat yet: nuclear destruction.

Surviving in a world gone nuclear is easier said than done. Faced with the prospect of being wiped off the face of the earth by Omega’s nuclear arsenal, Cassidy, Chris and their fellow rebel friends stage an incredible, daring journey into the Pacific Rim with the hope that they will be able to seize a weapon that could turn the tide of the war in the militia’s favor.

The clock of the apocalypse is counting down.
Choices must be made. Relationships will be strained. True love will be put to the ultimate test.
It’s militias versus Omega. Hope versus destruction.

Where does your allegiance lie?

Choose carefully.

Excerpt

Click below to read an excerpt.

Praise for the Book

"I absolutely love Summer Lane’s work. I read State of Allegiance in under a day and just could not put it down. Summer does a fantastic job of weaving a story that is engaging and interesting, and keeping you interested. I’m looking forward to the next book." ~ C. Butler

"Summer Lane never fails to deliver. Action packed from beginning to end. I love this whole series but this is one of my favorite favorites . Thanks Summer for keeping me on the edge of my seat." ~ ntracefan..Jaci Baze

"I think this has to be one of my favorite Collapse Series books. Summer Lane does an excellent job fleshing out her characters and giving them added depth which makes the stories she tells even better." ~ Janiece Rhodes

"I'm running out of good things to say about Summer Lane and the Collapse Series! Every time I start one of these books I don't put it down until I am finished, and State of Allegiance was no different. Summer really makes these characters real and that makes reading these books even better." ~ Athea

"Another great read from Summer Lane! I love how characters from the past made reappearances in this book and the introduction of new strong characters." ~ Mindy

Guest Post by the Author

Staying Alive

Cassidy Hart is still alive! After 9 installments in the Collapse Series, she still manages to evade death, and to outsmart her enemies. Some people might say that she is "too lucky", but let’s face it: who wants to read about a character that’s going to die? In fact, the entire premise of the Collapse Series is a group of extraordinarily driven people who will do anything and everything to survive. That’s what makes their story worth telling.

The concept of living off the grid is one that utterly fascinates me. I have an inner "wild woman", so to speak. I feed her by reading books about the wilderness, survival and military adventures. I think that the apocalypse is the perfect setting for my characters because it throws them into an environment that makes everything harder, crazier and more dangerous.

As a post-apocalyptic author, I definitely believe that it’s important to be prepared for any emergency or disaster! I have jugs and jugs of pure water stored away in my closet, along with cans of food, matches, blankets, boots and more. You never know when something is going to shift in your world and force you to take major evasive action. And to answer a question that is frequently asked of me: yes, I have become much more prepared for an emergency over the course of writing this series, and all of the stories contained within its universe (16 books so far!).

Staying alive, at least in Collapse, is entirely dependent on three elements: adaptation, skill, and luck. Cassidy’s ability to adapt to the new world was the first thing that helped her to survive. Second, not only did she adapt, but she forged new, strong skills that put her at the top of the food chain. Lastly, she’s had a good amount of luck – all good heroes do! Yet her luck is primarily made by herself and by her friends. What’s the lesson here? When in doubt, make your own luck!

So what do I think are the main things that we can do, here in our everyday life, to stay alive? Here’s my advice:

1. Always be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.

2. Never underestimate the power of scared people to do stupid things (and avoid those people!).

3. Keep food, water, medicine, clothing and any weapons (your rubber-band gun counts, right? *wink*) easily accessible at all times. You never know when disaster may strike!

4. Never assume that you are safe. Like Cassidy Hart, be aware that every moment is dangerous, and be on your guard!

5. Consider acquiring an animal companion, like a dog. They are great guardians and faithful friends.

Remember, the apocalypse will show you no mercy ... be ready to fight back!

About the Author

Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling Author of the Collapse Series, Zero Trilogy, Bravo Saga, Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, and the adventure thriller, Unbreakable SEAL.

Summer owns WB Publishing. She is an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher. She also owns an online magazine, Writing Belle, where she has interviewed and worked with countless authors from around the globe.

Summer lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, where she enjoys reading, collecting tea, visiting the beach and the mountains, and counting down the days until she has her very own puppy (if you’ve read Bravo: Apocalypse Mission, you’ll understand).

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"State of Fear" by Summer Lane

INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

State of Fear
(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).

This book blitz and giveaway is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours.

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.

Cassidy, Chris and their friends have made it this far.
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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