State of Pursuit
by Summer Lane
(Collapse Series #4)
Publication date: June 6th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, New Adult
Synopsis:
Cassidy Hart is alone.
Her Commander and the love of her life, Chris Young, has gone missing in action. A horrific battle with Omega has left too many good men and women dead, and Cassidy must bear the burden of leadership in the militia on her own.
But she’s not about to give up.
With the help of her faithful friends – and former enemies – she will stop at nothing to rescue Chris and ensure victory for the militias in their fight against the all-powerful Omega forces.
The game has shifted. This time, Cassidy is one step ahead of the enemy.
This time, Cassidy is in charge.
Collapse Series #4 – YA/NA Romantic Adventure – National Bestselling Series
Purchase:
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barnesandnoble.com/w/state-of- pursuit-summer-lane/ 1119677750?ean=2940149270736 Excerpt 1:
Here’s the thing that nobody tells you about being in love:
It’s hard.
Anything good in life takes work, and lately, a lot of blood, sweat and tears. My relationship with Chris Young has always been defined not just by mutual attraction, but by the fact that we were brought together in the middle of a post-apocalyptic warzone.
Flowers and dinner dates? Never had those.
Firefights and battle fatigue? That’s more like it.
Wartime hardship has always been the dominating factor in our romance. It’s what brought us together, it’s what’s kept us together, and now…it’s what has torn us apart. Being separated from Chris is more difficult for me than being separated from my father. Because through everything, Chris has been the one that has kept my feet on the ground. He’s been the one to protect me, train me, and teach me how to survive. The fact that I’m still alive is a testament to his skillset, not mine.
And not knowing if he’s alive or dead is killing me.
Copyright 2014
Excerpt 2:
In my heart, I know that if we fail, there won’t be another way. Omega will expect a second rescue attempt, and they will be waiting for us to try something. Harry Lydell would kill Chris. It would mean game over.
This is something that everyone knows, but nobody wants to say it.
There’s no reason to.
“We’ll wait until it gets dark,” I continue. “Remember, in and out. Make it quick. Improvise, adapt and overcome. I don’t want any friendly casualties. Understood?”
“Understood,” Uriah echoes.
“Good.”
I look around at the many faces watching me. All of them, good men and women – even the ones I don’t necessarily get along with on a personal level. They’re risking their lives for Chris – and for our cause.
“Vera,” I say. “I want you with me.”
She doesn’t reply. She simply nods, her expression a perfect poker face.Life is short. It’s even shorter when you’re a soldier. Do the right thing, because tomorrow, you might not get the chance.AUTHOR BIO
Summer Lane is the author of the national bestselling Collapse Series, which currently includes State of Emergency, State of Chaos, State of Rebellion and the fourth installment, State of Pursuit - releasing June 6th, 2014. She owns WB Publishing, and is the CEO of The Art of Storytelling, an upcoming creative writing program for children.
Summer is also the founder of Writing Belle, an online magazine dedicated to the art of storytelling. She is a consultant, creative writing teacher and journalist. Check out Writing Belle for interviews with upcoming authors and insights into the world of publishing! http://writingbelle.com/
Author links:
Finding the Inspiration to Write
The best things in life are free. For me, that includes the environment in which we find ourselves living in. I think that the everyday world is the best material for stories, and I often find inspiration for my books from the common occurrences going on around us every day. The entire premise of The Collapse Series was based on the idea that everyday things are no longer common – they are defunct. Society as we know it has suddenly deteriorated, and survival is based on how fast you are, how strong you are – and what you are willing to do to stay alive.
I live in the Central Valley of California. I’ve lived here for most of my life, surrounded by orchards of fruit trees, packinghouses and cold storage sheds. I’ve always been able to see the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains from my house – they’re just a half an hour away. I utilized the awesome setting of this place in Cassidy Hart’s story. I threw the average citizen into an intense situation and watched them struggle to stay afloat. It wasn’t a matter of writing the story – it was showing it. In fact, I found that most of the time, the story told me what to do!
My favorite setting thus far in the series was Camp Freedom in the high mountains in State of Rebellion. I used a variety of different ideas from different campgrounds in the Sierra Nevada Mountains as springboards for the camp, and I hope that I get to return to that setting at some point in the series!
Writing Romance
The romance between Cassidy Hart and Chris Young is one that I have had in my head for a long time. I’m talking years. Chris Young was often present in novels that I wrote as a teenager in high school. Yes, he had a different name then – and even different hair – but the core of his character was intact. I have been able to bring him to life in The Collapse Series, and that has been one of the most exciting experiences of my writing career.
I am not primarily a romance writer. I have read a lot of romance and I love a good romantic story, but I did not set off to write a story that purely centered on the relationship between a man and a woman. State of Emergency has a lot of romance in it, balanced with adventure and survival. As the series progresses, the relationship between Chris and Cassie is continually tested, and their love story within the hectic environment of the battlefield has been something that has strengthened my skills as an author.
I think the key to writing a strong romance story is to give the characters motivation – strong, strong motivation – outside of their partner. For Cassidy, her motivation is finding her father and keeping the people that she cares about safe. She will do anything to make sure that they are kept alive, and that makes her love for Chris richer and more sincere. It’s not just simple attraction – it’s love built on the platform of hardships and heartbreak. It’s my favorite kind of love story.
On the Subject of Killing Characters
When you write a series of books, you might be surprised at how many people will take the time to write to you and ask you questions about the fate of the characters. After book three, a group of readers were a bit distraught over the fate of one character in particular (I won’t spoil it, just in case you haven’t read State of Rebellion yet!). Unfortunately, sometimes a character must be sacrificed for the good of the story.However, I’m not the kind of author to kill off the most beloved characters in my novels, because 1) I’m too attached to them to do that and 2) that doesn’t necessarily add quality to my story, just shock. In the end, I think that quality always beats shock value, and it’s important to only kill off a supporting cast member if it moves the story forward. So I only do that if I think it’s adding to the story, not taking away from it.In State of Pursuit, the likelihood that somebody is going to die is much higher than any of the other books. Cassidy is essentially taking a rescue team on a suicide mission, and casualties are expected. I won’t give anything away, but I’ll just say that Cassidy is faced with some tough choices, and I think she responded in a way that will surprise the readers. Cassidy is growing up!
Taking Control
One of the coolest things about State of Pursuit is that Cassidy must be totally and completely independent. She’s gone from being a naïve teenager to a kick-butt sniper in the National Guard, and this is the first time she answers to no one but herself. She is in control, and that premise was exciting for me as a writer.
Cassidy’s character growth has been a real journey for me – very real. She has grown as the series has grown, and to finally see her step up and take charge has been the critical moment in this story that I’ve been waiting for. For the first time, she is in charge. She’s a reluctant leader – forced into it because Chris has been taken captive by the enemy, Omega. Getting into Cassidy’s head for this transformation was an intense experience. Suddenly, Cassidy has experienced loss on a level that she has never experienced before. She is sad, she is angry, and she is determined. Her sarcastic nature is still intact, but it is overpowered by her will. The battlefield experience and hard times that she has been through has given her a hardened edge and a new perspective on the world. She knows what needs to be done, and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty in the process.
I have had the character of Cassidy Hart in my pocket since I was about fourteen, but she never got a chance to shine until I wrote The Collapse Series. I can hardly believe that I’m on my fourth book. I can’t wait to get started on the fifth!
Los Angeles
In book four, Cassidy travels back into the heart of Los Angeles – the place where she grew up – to attempt to rescue Chris Young, the love of her life. Writing about Los Angeles as a post-apocalyptic graveyard was really fun, although to the outsider it might seem depressing.
I visited Los Angeles many times in high school with my family, and I was always fascinated with the city, particularly Hollywood and Beverly Hills. This book allowed me to use my firsthand knowledge and familiarity with the city to create a different story setting for Cassidy to visit. Until this point, her story has unfolded in the mountains and the central valley. Now she gets to go into the city – the heart of Omega’s operations. It’s a little bit spooky, and perhaps the most dangerous thing she’s done so far in this story.
Because I’m familiar with a lot of the well-known locations in Southern California, I was able to integrate them into the plot. Places like Wilshire Boulevard, the Sunset Strip and even Millions of Milkshakes. Most people would love to visit Hollywood, and it was fun taking readers to that place – even if it is a post-apocalyptic setting!
State of Pursuit Playlist
I have always loved listening to music. During high school, I loved to study the way that an instrumental score affected the drama onscreen during a movie. When you’re writing a book, the screen is playing inside your own head, and I know a lot of people who actually enjoy listening to music while they are reading. By extension, I know a lot of authors who find it helpful to have background music while they are creating their story worlds.
Many people ask me if I work better in silence or with music on. The truth is, I actually work better in silence. I love music, but I often have to separate my music from my writing. I need quiet when I write, and for that reason, I often do the bulk of my creative writing during the silent, early hours of the morning. Editing, however, is an entirely different matter. I almost have to have music while I’m editing.
I find that music heavily influences what I am writing, and that is why I like to write without it. I want the story to grow on its own, without outside influence, if that makes sense. Many readers, however, wonder if I have any set playlist that would work for The Collapse Series. I have a few favorite songs. Radioactive, by Imagine Dragons, Never Let me Go, by Florence and the Machine, Uprising by Muse and even a few songs by select country artists like The Band Perry. Music is another form of storytelling, and when used correctly, I think it can be a valuable asset to a writer.
GIVEAWAY
Prize - Open INTL
except the signed copy prize:
- 1 ecopy of Outage, by Ellisa Barr
- 1 ecopy of Aberrant by Ruth Silver,
- 1 ecopy of The Road by G. Michael Hopf
- 1 ecopy of Land of the Unaltered by Leti Del Mar
- 1 ecopy of Flappers, Flasks and Foul Play by Ellen Mansoor Collier
- 1 Signed Paperback of Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert (U.S. residents only for the paperback)
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