Q & A with C.J. Redwine

Title:   Defiance

Author:   C.J. Redwine

Series:  Defiance #1

Genre:   YA Fantasy

Pages:  403

Publication:   August 2012

Available From:   Indie Bound ~ Books a Million ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Amazon

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

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Q & A with C.J. Redwine

Q:  When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
A:  When I was in second grade, I read THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, and it changed my life. I became addicted to fairy tales and fantasy books, and I realized that I could make up stories and write them down, too. I never looked back. :)

Q:  Tell us a little about your main characters, Rachel and Logan.
A:  Rachel is fierce, loyal, impulsive, and stubbornly dedicated to doing what she believes is right. She is unapologetic about who she is even though she's out of step with the rest of her world. Her emotions and beliefs dictate her actions and you usually know exactly where you stand with her. She loves and hates with equal measure. 

Logan is steadfast, courageous, and incredibly smart. If Sherlock Holmes and McGuyver had a love child, it would be Logan. He's a self-taught inventor who plans everything out five steps ahead of everyone else before he acts. He secretly fears that he doesn't measure up, and so he's constantly trying to prove himself worthy of respect and love. It takes a lot for him to show his emotions, but once he does, there's no going back.

Q:  How did you come up with the idea behind Defiance? 
A:  I'd had the idea of a Leviathon-like creature living beneath the surface of the earth for a long time. One day I saw a picture of a fortress, and it reminded me of a city-state. I've always been fascinated with medieval times, so I asked myself "What if we reverted to living in city-states again? Why would we do that?" And the Leviathon dragon creature collided with the city-state, and Defiance was born.

Q:  What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
A:  I have four kids, including a toddler, so I write when I can. I write during her nap time each afternoon, and again once the kids are all in bed (which means I stay up super late almost every night to work!). A couple days a week I go to my local bookstore and write at the corner table in the coffee shop so I can find a longer stretch of uninterrupted time.

Q:  Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would name as influences?
A:  I'm influenced by a lot of authors. I read voraciously, and I'm always looking for things I love so I can study the way an author did something. For example, I'm a huge fan of JK Rowling's world building, Myra McEntire's kissing scenes, Stephen King's ability to zero in on exactly what scares us, Dean Koontz's gorgeous, lyrical prose, Stephanie Perkins' attention to details in fleshing out her characters ... the list goes on and on!

Q:  What do you like to do when you're not writing?
A:  I love watching movies in the theater. I try to go twice a month. More if there are a lot of amazing movies out. I gravitate toward fantasy, comic book, and fairy tale with a healthy dose of spy/thriller thrown in. Basically, as long as it isn't a chick flick, I'll give it a chance. 

Q:  What are you working on now?
A:  I am co-writing a middle grade and getting ready to write the final book in the Defiance trilogy.

Q:  What book are you reading now?
A:  I just finished reading ROOTLESS by Chris Howard, which is a compelling dystopia/post-apoc told from a boy's perspective. I seriously loved that book. Incredible world building, fascinating premise, and a narrator with a refreshingly different voice.

About the Author: 

C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She is the author of Defiance, the first in a post-apocalyptic fantasy trilogy from Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband, four kids, two cats, and one long-suffering dog. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/, Facebook page, or follow on Twitter.