Thursday, May 1, 2014

After The End Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

http://mundiemomsblogtours.blogspot.com/2014/03/after-end-by-amy-plum-blog-tour.html

I'm so pleased today to have young adult author Amy Plum stopping by the blog as part of the promotional tour for her upcoming May 6th release, After the End. I was a huge fan of Amy's Revenants series and will forever pick up anything and everything she writes, so I can't wait to see where she takes this series. Amy was nice enough to answer some questions for me, so I hope you all enjoy the interview! Be sure and check the bottom of the post for all the details on a giveaway as well as the full list of participating blogs.

If you were suddenly thrust into the Alaskan wilderness today without any survival training, aside from finding food and water, what would be your number one concern or priority?

My number one concern would be getting the hell out of there.

I am like Miles—absolutely no wilderness skills. Even finding food would be a joke. I can’t tell one plant from the other, and would probably be obsessing about those poisonous berries that killed that Into the Wild guy and be too afraid to eat anything. I can’t even build a decent fire in the fireplace of my Paris apartment. They all go out after about five minutes.

So when I was writing Juneau’s character, I kept telling what she would do and then would go back and read it and think, “No way could I ever do that.” The respect Miles has for her is basically what I felt as I watched her.

In a communal survival situation like that of Juneau and her family, everyone has to contribute something in order to help the group succeed. What’s one task the group would never ask you to help with because it’s not something you’d do well?

Although I don’t know much about first aid, I am really good about keeping a cool head when there’s blood all over the place. I’m good in emergencies. So I can imagine being clan doctor.

I’m a historian and know all of these random facts (none terribly useful, unfortunately), so I could help Dennis with the teaching.

However, anything to do with planting stuff...forget it. I have a black thumb. Plants sneer at my feeble attempts to keep them alive and drop all their leaves and wither...just out of spite. So no one would want to let me near the crops.

Also, I could never kill anything. Okay, I flushed a live goldfish once, but I won’t go into that story right now for fear of being labeled fish-killer. It’s totally hypocritical because I eat animals, but could never kill one.

So, thinking about the good of my clan, gardener or hunter would be last on the list of jobs-I-could-do.

If a stranger came to you and told you everything about your life up to this point has been a lie and there’s someone out there who knows more about your past than you do, what’s the first thing you would want to ask that person?

I would want to know just how much my parents knew. What their involvement was. How deep their deceit had been, so I could weigh their motivation for lying to me.

Conspiracy theorists are convinced the government is keeping a variety of secrets from us just as massive secrets have been kept from Juneau. Is there any one particular conspiracy theory you’re inclined to believe?

No—I don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist. I just don’t believe anything the government says. :) People want power. And for many, power comes in hiding the truth, whether on a small scale—hiding something from your spouse—or on a grand scale like spying on your own citizens.

I just don’t believe anything, so I’m never disappointed when some crazy truth appears. It could be because I too had a brainwashed upbringing (but mine was religious), so now I suspect anyone who presents a “truth” as having ulterior motives.

Juneau is forced to come to the realization that the world is not at all what she thought it was. If she could leave her world and travel to another from any piece of YA fiction, which one would she most flourish in?

Katniss would choose Juneau as an ally in the Games. Juneau would be able to sympathize with Aria from Never Sky (and would be a good travel companion). And she would definitely be in Dauntless with Tris.

If you went from living in the wilds of Alaska to a modern city, what’s one aspect of city life you think would be the most difficult for you to wrap your mind around?

The energy. I spent seven years living in a tiny village in the French countryside, and every time I visited Paris, I was overwhelmed (in a good way) by the energy of the city. The people, the cars...everything going top speed. For me it was like being on a roller coaster. I loved it. But, even more than the novelty of electricity and skyscrapers, I think the energy of a city would be a shock to Juneau, who is used to the rhythm of nature.

The cover of After the End features a desolate landscape with the promise of civilization on the horizon. If you were to design your own cover for book two right this second, what piece of imagery might we see on it?

Juneau driving a red pickup truck through the Arizona desert with a dead body wrapped in a sleeping bag in the back.

Well, then. There you go everyone :) Thanks so much for being here today Amy!

• • • • • • • • • • • 

AFTER THE END
(Releases May 6th from HarperTeen)


World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness.

They′e survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact.

Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she′s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.


• • • • • • • • • • •

AMY PLUM


Amy Plum is the author of DIE FOR ME, a YA series set in Paris. The first three books—DIE FOR ME, UNTIL I DIE, and IF I SHOULD DIE—are international bestsellers, and have been translated into eleven different languages. The fourth book is an eNovella, entitled DIE FOR HER. The first book of Amy’s new series, AFTER THE END, releases in May 2014.

Amy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before venturing further afield to Chicago, Paris, London and New York. An art historian by training, she can be found on most days either daydreaming or writing (or both) in a Parisian café.


• • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY


Each stop on the tour is hosting a giveaway! Up for grabs:
  • 13 SIGNED copies of After the End
  • 6 iPhone After the End shells
*This is open internationally*

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Special Bonus Offer: The first 300 people who pre-order After the End and show proof of their pre-order will receive one of these limited edition After The End water bottles.


 *Water bottle offer is for US and Canada, and is being hosted by Harper Teen.
This is NOT part of the blog tour, but something we wanted to let fans know about.

Please be sure to send your mailing address and receipt to katieloumercier@gmail.com

• • • • • • • • • • • 

BLOG TOUR

Be sure to follow the entire After The End blog tour! Trust me, you don't want to miss this Truth or Dare themed tour stops! Authors like Beth Revis, Kimberly Derting, Josephine Angelini & more will be on the tour. As Amy mentioned in her recent newsletter, the truth-or-dare theme is particularly relevant to After the End, since Juneau's oracle has said she has to tell the truth or she won't find her clan.

40 comments:

  1. LOL My first concern would be the same!! Just to get the hell out of there :D Also I totally understand the author. My city is relatively small and I love that about it, so whenever I go to the big cities like Zagreb or Belgrade I feel lost and fascinated at the same time. I can only imagine how it would be if I went to let's say Paris. I'd be lost. Anyhow I haven't read anything by this author but I have heard only amazing things about her books. Great interview, Jenny :)

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  2. Wow, as always a fantastic interview, Jenny! You always have some interesting and not over used questions!
    My favourite Amy Plum book? I think it'd be Until I Die, I so loved when Kate started to come into her own, growing and finally accepting what meant to be with Vicent and learning to live with her grief and not letting it hinder who she really was!
    I'm so damned excited for my preorder of After The End to download to my Kindle already!

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  3. I really enjoyed The Revenant series and I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for sharing the interview.

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  4. I've been excited to check this book out since I loved the Revenant series so much..so sad it's over! Thanks for sharing this fun interview and giveaway!

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  5. thanks for the nice interview, it sounds really interesting but I think I'll wait before reading this one because I have book 1 of her other series die for me but haven't read it yet.

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  6. Great interview....premise sounds intriguing! Confession time - I have Amy Plum on my Kindle but I have not read her work yet so I don't have a favorite .....yet!

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  7. AH, I've been wanting to read this for a while. I love the cover! Thank you for the giveaway!

    Amber @ bookish wonders

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  8. LOL! Yes, my first concern would definitely be to get the hell out of there too. But knowing me, I would be probably injured or dead even before that. I'm such a klutz and a danger in nature, as you know, Jenny! :P

    "Juneau driving a red pickup truck through the Arizona desert with a dead body wrapped in a sleeping bag in the back."

    WHAT?!? OK, that cliffhanger ending was already horrible and now that the author shared this, the wait for the next book is going to be PAINFUL. :(

    I did really enjoy the book though. I didn't read the blurb going in, so I was completely surprised by the turn of events.

    Thanks for sharing, Jenny!

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  9. Thanks for sharing and the great giveaway!!

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  10. Die for me was my fav! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  11. I couldn't help by giggle at this response: My number one concern would be getting the hell out of there.


    I would feel the same way and I have been to Alaska numerous times, but throw me into the wilderness and I would flat out die. I am such a city girl.

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  12. I've been waiting on this one FOREVER. Every time I think I"m over dystopian books, authors like Amy come out with something amazing. Alaska is such an amazing backdrop for a wild novel like this, so I obviously must read it. Fantastic interview, Jenny!

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  13. Great questions Jenny and fabulous answers Amy! I haven't read this one yet, but I love those Revenants so I'm sure this one will be another hit for me! :)

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  14. I wasn't too keen on the Revenants series, mostly because they freaked me out and I didn't anything romantic about them but I'm really intrigued by this premise and will have this one out.

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  15. Yeah, I would struggle. I like my comforts..coffee, internet, warmth..plumbing..lol. This sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing and I loved the interview!

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  16. What a chilling premise, finding out your whole life is a lie and your parents were in on it. The scene with the body and the Arizona desert perked my attention. I have this scheduled soon and looking forward to it.

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  17. I never read an Amy Plum book, so After the End will be the first one !!!! Sound very good !!!

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  18. I haven't read a book by her yet

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  19. LOL. I'd definitely be looking for exit if I were stranded pretty much anywhere in the wilderness. I like to picture myself as a fully capable woman who could handle the wilderness but...bugs and itchy things and I really like being warm and my fluffy pillows. This book sounds good!

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  20. It's interesting that if a stranger approached Amy and told her her whole life was a lie, that she would ask about the involvement of her parents. I'd just laugh at the person and then dismiss them.

    Amy's imaginary cover for book 2 sounds like I'm going to love this series just as much as the Revenants.

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  21. I haven't read any of her books yet but this series look good.

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  22. I just got this today! I'm really excited to read it. I met Amy when her first book came out and she brought delicious French chocolate. She's SO nice!

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  23. I got a copy of this book from edelweiss and I really enjoyed it, I'm very excited for the next book and to start Amy's Revenants series!

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  24. Okay, I have to admit I have the series but haven't read it. But don't feel bad. I can say that about at least two hundred books in my library. However, my 14 yr old son read it and loved it. So there you go. He's asleep or I'd ask which he liked the best!

    Great interview questions! I believe that the government is keeping the fact that an alien ship landed on our planet at Roswell. I had a friend that worked there during that time. I asked her what she knew and she said there was an awful lot of paperwork and activity that was going through there for nothing to be going on there. So, there you go.

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  25. Ha - okay, I wasn't sure if I wanted read After the End until this interview. Now I know for sure I do. ESPECIALLY after reading that last answer. lol

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  26. I haven't read ANY Amy Plum books, but i have the Revenant series on my kindle. Definitely a series i wanna try reading this month! Thanks for the giveaway :D

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  27. I loved the Revenants trilogy. Specially the first and third book.

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  28. I have only read Die For Me and I really liked it. Beautiful post and thank you for the giveaway!

    Raffle name: Demitra Giote

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  29. Well I have just found my love for reading. I have not had the pleasure to read any of her books yet but love reading anything i can get my hand on. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  30. Wow if Juneau would be good company for Aria, Katniss and Tris I definitely need to meet her! Like you I loved the Revenants series, and I am so excited to pick this one up! Fantastic interview as always! :-)

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  31. I shall be honest and say I haven't read any of her books yet, but i hope to get to them soon.

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  32. Definitely the Revenants series. I love it. It is a series that I will be rereading over and over again, through the years. I cannot wait to read After the End, and I have no doubt that it will be WONDERFUL!

    Check out great reviews and posts at...The Best Books Ever

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  33. I can't choose just one book from the Revenants series. I love them all! :D <3

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  34. Thanks for the great interview! My favourate Amy Plum book is Die for Me.

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  35. My favorite novel is Die For Me. It's a great intro to her writing and it takes place in Paris--what could be better?

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  36. My favorite book of Amy Plum is Die for me, it is the only one I read so far and I loved the writing and the world she created. Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  37. I don't think I would survive in one of those situations either! The synopsis sounds great though. The mystery of finding out why she was lied to that whole time sounds amazing!

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  38. I've never read a book by Amy Plum before but her books look so interesting!!! Can't wait to read one of them:)

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