Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Interview and Giveaway: Elsie Chapman + Divided


Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Elsie Chapman to the blog to answer a few questions about Divided, the sequel to last year's young adult dystopian novel Dualed. The team at Random House has also generously offered up a giveaway to accompany today's interview, so be sure and check the bottom of the post for those details. Thanks so much for stopping by Elsie!

If West was going to train others as assassins as she herself has trained, what would be the first and most important lesson she would teach them?

To distance themselves from their kills and think of them solely as targets and not people. Emotional baggage would make being an assassin that much more difficult.

The Board is keeping secrets from West; secrets she obviously wants to uncover. What’s one book that, in your opinion, has an absolutely spectacular twist or secret reveal?

I just read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. That one definitely caught me by surprise. I had to flip back after I was done and see how I missed it.

If those who know you best found themselves looking at both you and your Alt, what’s one quirk or habit you have that might tip them off as to which was the “real” you?

Maybe the fact that I pretty much live with headphones on. Or earbuds. Silence is hard for me. It makes me antsy.

Let’s say you find yourself in West’s world training to eventually kill your Alt. What aspect of training (endurance, hand to hand combat, weapons, etc) do you think you would excel at? Struggle with?

Oh, I’d excel at none and struggle with all. I’m definitely lacking in the physical coordination department. Though if I could pick a skill I'd like to excel at, it’d probably be something long-range, like being a sniper. The farther away from my Alt the better.

What’s one aspect of West’s character or personality that you wish you yourself possessed?

I like how she’s a bit hotheaded. Sure, she doesn't always think things through (and considering she’s fifteen, I’m letting her roll with it), but there’s something to be said about just diving in sometimes.

There are a number of young adult fictional worlds that would be absolutely terrifying to live in and will hopefully never come to pass. What’s one YA world you would be happy to spend time in if right this minute a portal opened up to take you there?

I (also) just finished reading Gayle Forman’s Where She Went, and I love how she filled Mia and Adam’s world with music. I’d love to attend a Shooting Star rock concert and see Adam rock out.

Is there something the process of writing a sequel has taught you about yourself as an author that writing the first book in a series didn’t?

I wrote Dualed as a standalone, so when it came to coming up with a plot for Divided, I really had no clue where to start. So I’m really happy that I was able to reach into Dualed and flesh out a whole other book from aspects of one I considered done.

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DIVIDED


The hunter becomes the hunted. . . .

West Grayer is done killing. She defeated her Alternate, a twin raised by another family, and proved she’s worthy of a future. She’s ready to move on with her life.

The Board has other plans. They want her to kill one last time, and offer her a deal worth killing for. But when West recognizes her target as a ghost from her past, she realizes she’s in over her head. The Board is lying, and West will have to uncover the truth of the past to secure her future.

How far will the Board go to keep their secrets safe? And how far will West go to save those she loves? With nonstop action and surprising twists, Elsie Chapman’s intoxicating sequel to Dualed reveals everything.



• • • • • • • • • • •

ELSIE CHAPMAN

Photo Credit: Michael Meskin

I grew up in Prince George, BC, before graduating from the University of British Columbia with a BA in English Literature. I currently live in Tokyo, Japan with my husband and two kids, where I write to either movies on a loop or music turned up way too loud (and sometimes both at the same time).

I’m repped by The Chudney Agency. My debut novel, DUALED and its sequel, DIVIDED are both available now. Published by Random House Children’s Books.


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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the awesome folks at Random House, I have one copy of Divided to give away on the blog today! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

24 comments:

  1. Such a great Interview! I didn't know it Dualed was first a standalone. I remember I was so in love with the cover that I wanted to read it badly, but then, I have no idea what happened but I somehow ended up not reading it.
    It sounds pretty fantastic and thrilling and right up my alley even if it's a Dystopian, but as long as there is also SciFi I'm pretty good!

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  2. How interesting that Dualed started as a stand-alone. I wonder how often that happens - that bloggers intend just one book and then have to come up with a second one.

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  3. Oh I didn't realize the main character was 15 but it sounds like a great book and I confess that I'm in love with the cover. thanks for the interview!

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  4. I would want to live in The Selection series, after they have had a son and he was going to participate in the selection or Vampire Academy/Bloodlines.

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  5. Now I need to check the first one again

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  6. I am sooo excited I got approved for this one. I can't wait to read it!

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  7. I would want to live in the world of the Percy Jackson series. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  8. OH, who wouldn't kill for a chance to see Adam rock out? *swoony sigh*

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  9. Dualed was such a crazy-wild book, I'm curious to see what happens in Divided. I definitely prefer the long-range skills. That's what I do when I play games -- I'm the archer who peers around corners and takes creatures out before they even see me. No up-front fighting for me, if I can help it!

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  10. I found the last part of the interview really interesting how originally she wrote this series as a stand alone and then had to go back and really dig in to make the sequel.

    Great interview!!

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  11. Oh cool! So glad you wrote a sequel. I have Dualed sitting on my TBR bookshelf. (yes, it's that large).

    Anyway. If a wormhole opened what world would I go to? Hmmm...Star Wars...because lightsabers. Hey, I'm a dork.

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  12. I have Dualed in my TBR list and still have to read it, hopefully I'll get to it soon! I had no idea it was planned originally as a standalone!
    Fantastic interview as always, Jenny!

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  13. Always and forever the Harry Potter world!!!

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  14. Great interview, Jenny! I love an MC who's a bit hot-headed myself, and I want to go to that Shooting Star concert too ;)

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  15. Wonderful interview! I enjoyed Dualed, and I'm glad to see the story continues on because the ending left me still excited and curious about the world (with all the alternated & gov) and West's character :)

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  16. I really need to get this one. I enjoyed the first book and I thought the premise and world were fascinating. I also really need to read We Were Liars!

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  17. What portal... hm... well, I have the same kind of coordination she talks about, so I guess one where I'm actually graceful? LOL

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  18. That's really interesting that this the first book started as a stand alone and she created something else out of later, after it was done. I have the first book and need to somehow get it read!

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  19. The Mortal Instruments! Take me to the Institute's library!

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  20. Interesting. I would've been perfectly fine with the first book as a stand-alone.

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  21. Hogwarts! LOL.. as long as I can do magic too. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. It's more of a children's book than YA but the first one that immediately jumped into my mind is Never-Neverland. I'll make that my choice anyway. Thanks.

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  23. Kate Damiels world from the series by Iloan Andrews as long as Kate and crew protected me.

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