INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY
State of Destruction
(Collapse Series Book 7)
(Collapse Series Book 7)
by Summer Lane
State of Destruction, the seventh 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), and State of Vengeance (read my blog post).
For more books by this author, please check out 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).
Description
The destruction of California is at hand.
Cassidy Hart and Chris Young have survived a dangerous mission into the heart of Sky City, a secret Omega base hidden deep in the mountains, but their vengeance has come with a price. The dark, ominous cloud of nuclear war threatens to destroy everything they love, and they are forced to make one final stand against Omega’s western invasion force.
San Francisco.
Cassidy and her friends retreat to Alcatraz Island, regrouping with their lethal strike team, the Angels of Death. Their mission: infiltrate the most important Omega base on the west coast, and assassinate everyone they find there, including a new and dangerous enemy, the ruthless Omega leader Veronica Klaus.
Cassidy and her friends retreat to Alcatraz Island, regrouping with their lethal strike team, the Angels of Death. Their mission: infiltrate the most important Omega base on the west coast, and assassinate everyone they find there, including a new and dangerous enemy, the ruthless Omega leader Veronica Klaus.
The clock is ticking.
Ashes rain from the sky. Cassidy Hart must make a choice.
What is more important? Victory, love or revenge?
Ashes rain from the sky. Cassidy Hart must make a choice.
What is more important? Victory, love or revenge?
Omega is the enemy’s name.
Survival of the fittest is their game.
Survival of the fittest is their game.
Cassidy Hart will not stop until she has saved California … but will she be too late?
Excerpt
The dark, dank smell of the cave seeps into my bones and chills my soul. Dim, flickering firelight crawls up the walls, throwing a shadow across my face. I hug my blanket tightly around my shoulders, shivering. It is painfully silent.
There are people everywhere—about thirty of us—but there is no talking. No whispering, no laughing. We are too tired to talk. Too cold. Small fires have been lit here in the cave, but it is hardly enough to remedy the cloying chill of the winter storm.
It is all sharp angles and rocky slopes in here. There is no soft surface, no privacy. Most people are asleep right now. It has become the only way to make the time pass quicker. Waiting, as we are, for the storms to end. For this harsh winter to be over.
But it is not getting better.
It is getting worse.
I cough and shudder. We have been trapped here for weeks. I feel as if the walls are falling down around me, devouring me. I close my eyes tightly, brushing my calloused fingers over the familiar, worn grip of my rifle.
Soon, this will all be over.
Soon, we will all be dead.
Praise for the Book
"Lane is surely worth picking up and reading, whoever you may be." ~ Daniel M. Harrison, #1 Bestselling Author of Butterflies and Editor of MarxRand
"Usually by book #7 of a series I am just skimming through to get to the end because by this time I am super bored of the characters and the same ol' thing happening over and over. BUT!!!!! not this time. These characters are constantly evolving and growing and there is not a boring sentence in this book. I am chomping at the bit for book #8." ~ Amazon Customer
"This seventh installment is darker than the others are. Omega is always a few steps ahead... Hope is dream difficult to hold but the team keeps battling on even if the odds are not on their favor... And that's what differentiates them from the Omega! Keep on Summer Lane cannot wait for the next one...." ~ Amazon Customer
"Love this series!! Can't wait for the next book. I read a lot and often get bored with a series because it becomes predictable, never the case here. I can't wait to read more. I may have to reread the whole series it will be hard to find a book to read after this." ~ Amazon Customer
"Another great addition to Summer Lane's arsenal. In the seventh book of the Cassidy Hart series, I feel we see her evolving once again. She has gone from a frightened child to warrior to command. Although the love story of Cassidy and Chris takes a backseat in this book, it remains a constant between them. It seems to me that Cassidy also has found her humanity again when confronted by the glut of destruction around her. I am so looking forward to what the next book reveals. Great read." ~ D. A. Bettin
Interview with the Author
Surreal! I released the first installment three years ago, and it’s been a whirlwind of books and apocalyptic plot points ever since. Every book is a little trickier to write than the previous one. I like it that way, because I am continually challenging myself as a storyteller, and as a writer.
This one is definitely darker, more intense. The novel previous to Destruction – Vengeance – was all about anger and revenge. It was about Cassidy finally reaching a tipping point in this apocalyptic war. This one is about the aftermath – the effects of nuclear destruction, the toll that war takes on your relationships, and the reality of death. It’s got lots of adventure and a little mystery, of course, but I really love the darker tones of this book.
You have two male protagonists who are central to Cassidy’s life: Chris Young and Uriah True. Who is your favorite?
Chris Young was the original male hero of my novels, and he will always remain my number one guy! What I love about bringing Uriah True into the books as a more central character is that it creates tension – and a little jealousy, maybe – between Chris and Cassidy. Relationships are hard enough to maintain in a normal, civilized society. Imagine keeping one solid in the apocalypse, in a warzone!
Uriah brings out Cassidy’s darker side – her vengeful nature, her capacity to become a ruthless warrior. Chris harbors the side of Cassidy that shows compassion and reason. Both of them contribute to Cassidy’s character development quite nicely, and that will continue to show as the series progresses toward its conclusion.
Who is your favorite supporting character?
It’s a draw between Uriah and Manny. I love Uriah’s dark, brooding nature, and by contrast, I enjoy the comedic relief and oftentimes much-needed common sense that Manny brings to the table.
The Collapse Series has used California’s settings all throughout the books. This time you’re using San Francisco. Why?
I have always had this vision (as I’m sure many other post-apocalyptic writers have) of using the majestic city by the sea as a backdrop for some dramatic story. I had a blast using the Golden Gate Bridge and the Muir Woods, as well as the baseball stadium right on the water and the signature trolleys of Market Street. I felt like San Francisco gave Destruction some fresh flavor.
How far does this novel take us into the "destruction" of the apocalypse?
Pretty far. This one brings a whole new level of reality to the gritty environment of a post-nuclear world. Things could get worse; things could get better. You just don’t know until you read the book!
This is your seventh installment in the Collapse Series! When is the series ending?
The Collapse Series will end at the tenth installment, but that does not mean that the characters are going away forever. The Collapse Series does exactly what it’s name suggests: it follows the collapse of society and civilization. After I’m done with that, I can move to what happens after.
When is Book 8 releasing?
Summer 2016. The next book will take Cassidy somewhere she has never been before – far away, to a place full of surprises. I can’t say too much, because I don’t want to spoil State of Destruction! Let’s just say it will be pretty cold where she’s going.
Any other books?
I announced that I’m working on releasing another series this year, the Bravo Saga. This series follows the adventures of the fierce and loyal Bravo, the German Shepherd companion of Elle Costas in the Zero Trilogy. He’s one of the most popular characters – if not THE most popular – that I have ever created for readers, so I’m excited to share his story next.
How do you write so many books a year?
Hmm. I’m not really sure. I’ve been so incredibly busy for three years – I haven’t stopped to think or breathe. It’s definitely a positive thing, but I will probably start to roll back to 2-3 book releases a year after the Collapse Series has finished. Just so I can have a little downtime between books. It’s important to rest your brain when you’ve been creating non-stop for such a long period of time.
About the Author
Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling Author of the Collapse Series and the compelling tie-in novella books of the Zero Trilogy, as well as the upcoming Bravo Saga (releasing Spring 2016). 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. Summer is also an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher.
Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her days writing, teaching, and writing some more. When she is not writing, she enjoys leisurely visits with friends at coffee shops, movie dates, reading and spending the day at the beach or mountains.
Giveaway
Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win a 7” Kindle Fire Tablet, an autographed copy of a special edition piece of concept work from the Collapse world, or an autographed special edition Chris Young print (US/Canada only).
Links
