Thursday, July 24, 2008

Author Interview and Contest: Shannon Greenland: The Winning Element

First up, last week's winner of Down to the Wire is....

Brenna!

Congrats and send me your mailing address so I can pass it on to Shannon (my e-mail address is in the sidebar).


Now let's talk with Shannon about book 3 in the Specialists Series: The Winning Element.


What's book 3 all about? GiGi learns about a notorious chemical smuggler currently at large. Not only is he a present danger, but he was responsible for the deaths of GiGi's parents. The government has been trying to track him down for years, and with GiGi's fierce determination (and TL's help), the Specialists are hired to capture him. And this time, GiGi's in charge of the mission. Only, she can't do this alone. She needs Beaker's chemistry expertise. But when their cover has to be cheerleaders at a national cheerleading competition, Goth-girl Beaker is not too pleased.


All of your characters are really different. Do you ever incorporate parts of your personality into your characters? Or any traits/quirks of friends/people you know? I get asked this question a lot. I have a notebook that I carry around with me. Every time I see someone do or say something unique, I jot it down. And when I’m building a character, I refer back to that notebook. For example, I once saw a Goth girl sitting in the mall. She was clearly upset about something as she scowled and chomped a piece of gum. I looked at her and thought “Beaker!”


Most of the Specialists lost their parents at an early age, but Beaker's mother is still alive. How does this affect her psychologically? Actually, someone else’s parent is alive, too. But you’ll learn that in Native Tongue. It does affect Beaker, though, in that she’s the only one with crappy memories of her parent. The rest came from loving homes, but various circumstances took their parents at different times.


GiGi and Beaker have to pose as cheerleaders on this latest mission. Did you ever do any cheerleading yourself? I never did cheerleading, but I attended a cheer camp a few summers ago as I was researching to write this book. I’ll tell you something—those girls work hard!

Thanks Shannon!

Now for this week’s giveaway! You have a chance of winning a signed copy of The Winning Element just by commenting on this post.

Extra entries? Sure!

+1 entry for blogging about this contest
+1 entry for commenting on my review tomorrow
+ 1 entry for leaving Shannon a comment over at her blog (may I suggest her summer top 5 post?)

If you do all 4, I will double your entries for a total of 8. And they also count towards the grand prize drawing for all 4 signed books – what a deal!

18 comments:

Chick Lit Teens said...

This so cool. I too have a blog where I interview authors and give away signed books. I was actually going to ask Shannon Greenland for an interview next month. I guess great minds think a like.
The interview is awesome, great job!

Anonymous said...

Enter me! :-)

Mandy Hubbard
www.mandyhubbard.com

books-a-lishious said...

this is such a cool contest!
avni gupta
fieldhockeyluver25@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Great interview, it gives me a real insight into the book and author. Thanks. Also, sign me up for the contest.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to read this :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

ols[dot]moonmaiden[at]gmail[dot]com

Chelsie said...

I'd love to be entered. I'm not sure if a sidebar link counts as an extra entry, but that's what I'm going to do. :D

Anonymous said...

Enter me for the contest! I posted about this in my sidebar, does that still count? And I posted on Shannon's Summer Top 5 and on your review for the book.

Ruth King said...

Another great interview, Lenore!

Lenore Appelhans said...

Sure - sidebar links count! Thanks girls :)

Anonymous said...

Enter me please!

If I do win, can you email me : faked_sugartone@hotmail.com

I can't keep track with all the contests I enter. xD

Dominique said...

count me in, please! :D
thanks!! (& thanks for the cool interview! :))

Anonymous said...

Lenore, thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm a first-time visitor too. And what better way to get to know a new blogger than by signed up for a contest, eh? (In any case, I've added you to my list o' book blogs.)

Liviania said...

Wow, they've almost all lost their parents? That's rough. I suppose it would make it easier to be a teen spy.

Mistwraith said...

Cool, please enter me!
Here's my e-mail just in case: penguinqueen@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a lot of fun.

sommermullins@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I blogged about your contest HERE.

Thanks for the giveaway!

windycindy said...

I would appreciate being entered in your drawing for "The Winning Element!" I did 3 of the four requirements for this drawing. I don't have a blog. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

i'd love to read this book!
i've already read the first and the second book and it ahs all amazing stories and David+GiGi 4eva!
lol
thanks,
your biggest fan

jenyyxox@hotmail.com