February 4, 2016

Blog Tour: In the After by Elisa Dane – Interview and Giveaway

 

Hello readers!  Welcome to our Tour Stop for

In the After by Elisa Dane

presented by Swoon Romance.

We are so excited to have Elisa on the blog today for a quick Q&A!

Follow the rest of the tour by clicking the banner above.

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

Sadie Reynolds is a liar with secrets. At school, she’s part of the popular crowd known as AE, despite being broken inside. She hides it well. She has to. The slightest bit of imperfection will land her in the same shoes as her Geeky neighbor named Ian.

Ian and his only friend are the object of Sadie’s friends’ ridicule, ire, and entertainment. The AE rule the school with intimidation and retribution against anyone who would dare question their supremacy.

Sadie steers clear of most of it, terrified someone will find out her secret. She isn’t the least bit perfect. In fact, she suffers from PTSD stemming from the murder of her mother right before her eyes when she was a child. She can barely cope from day-to-day, hiding her truth and trying to fit in. But she knows it’s only a matter of time.

Hayden is a “Waverly,” a kid with the misfortune of living in the small farming town of Waverly that borders the very affluent Lexington Parrish. The AE doesn’t mix with “Waverlies.” Ever.

Desperate to get away from her oppressive friends, Sadie crashes into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between them is nothing short of electric. But Hayden’s an outsider and when things heat up, Sadie will be forced to choose between her friends and her new boyfriend.

Only Queen Bee Britt isn’t having it. She will not allow Sadie to cross her. Sadie can either do what Britt wants her to do or she will reveal Sadie for the PTSD freak that she is.

Sadie does some soul searching about who she is and who she wants to be. She can’t live her life like this. Not any more. One fateful night will help her see how much things have to change.

She’s determined to no longer allow the AE to rule her life. She will be strong, stand up for Ian and love who she wants in Hayden. Determined and invigorated, Sadie goes to school feeling hopeful for the first time in forever.

But, the unthinkable happens.

Shooters attack dozens of students before the two eventually take their own lives, leaving the school a decimated shadow of what it once was.

Suddenly who lives where, wears what or loves whom seems like the least of Lexington Parish’s problems as everyone and everything changes forever in the after.

IN THE AFTER by Elisa Dane is a hard-hitting and heart-warming story of tragedy, love, loss and redemption. It is recommended for readers 14+.

In the After by Elisa Dane
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Swoon Romance

 

Thanks so much for taking the time and spending time with us here at Chapter by Chapter!

Thank you so much for having me! I’m super excited to hang with you and your readers today!

Describe your book in 140 characters or less (like a Tweet)

Popular girl falls 4 forbidden bad boy during events leading up to school shooting.

 

What was your inspiration for writing this book?  Was it in a dream? A thought while taking a walk?

I’ve been wanting to write this story for quite some time. My hubby is a police officer, and he specializes in school safety. He trains schools/staff on what to do in the event of an active shooter situation. I’ve got a lot of information to draw from, an unfortunately, it’s a growing problem that’s all too real.

 

Tell us about the main character(s).

Sadie Reynolds hangs with the Atwood Elite (AE), which is the popular crowd at Atwood High. She moved to Lexington Parrish the summer before her freshman year after her mother was brutally murdered. Sadie quickly learned that the small town and its inhabitants lived by a strict code of conduct: the elite don’t socialize with anyone deemed “less” than them.  Eager to make friends, Sadie fell in with the snobby upper crust at Atwood High, too afraid of what might happen to her if she stood on her own.  She suffers extreme PTSD from the night her mother was murdered and does everything she can to hide it from her friends.

Hayden Pope is a Waverly. Waverly is a small farming town that borders the affluent Lexington Parrish. AE kids don’t mix with Waverlies. Ever. Unless, of course, it’s to sample the goods with a one night stand. Sadie literally runs into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between them is instant. AE rules are clear: Sadie can’t have start a relationship with Hayden. And Hayden won’t live as Sadie’s “dirty little secret.” To make matters worse, Hayden’s cousin is Ian Daniels, the school’s biggest geek and constant target of the AE bully squad.

 

Do you have a favorite quote or specific part in the book that you really love?

Hayden quickly becomes Sadie’s safe place. I love their time spent together, starting with the first time he climbs through her bedroom window.

 

Was there a specific part in the book that you had an especially difficult time writing?  If so, why?

The shooting. Like I said earlier, my husband is a police officer. I hear stories about violence all the time. I see the horrific aftermath of school shootings on television. That said, writing something so awful is an entirely different experience. It was tough, and disturbing, and while it was powerful to write, it was not fun.

 

What sort of projects do you have going on right now.  Any new books coming out?

I’m just starting the third and final book in the Fighting Chance series. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to Sadie, Hayden, and their friends. I’ve become very attached to them! I’ve also got the first book in what I hope will be a new series coming out February 15^th. The story centers around a high school senior names Tierra Owens whose mother abandons her.

 

It was great having you on the blog today!  We hope you’ll decide to stop by again someday, and we wish you much success!!

Thank you again, for having me! And thank you so much for taking part in my blog tour. Mwah!!!

 

 

 

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