Guest Post: Elana Johnson and The Making of a Character (also MORE giveaways!)

Ahhh! Still excited. Last night's launch party was amazing and exciting and I can't wait to tell you all about it. But today I have a special guest. Author Elana Johnson is here to talk about my favorite character in Surrender. Also, she's giving MORE stuff away. (And it's not too late to enter to win one of the awesome prizes from the Never Surrender giveaway.)

The Making of a Character: Gunner Jameson

A guest post by Elana Johnson

Okay, so SURRENDER is one day old today, and usually you’re still in the hospital with your new babies. But not me. I did have my launch party last night, but I’m here today to talk about one of the MC’s in the novel, Gunner Jameson.

I wanted to take a couple of tour spots to introduce readers to the characters, because SURRENDER is not a traditional sequel to POSSESSION. It’s more of a companion, where the storyworld is the same, but the narrating characters are different. (You can find out all about Raine Hightower on Shannon’s blog today. Go check it out!)

So Gunner Jameson. Let’s start with his name. It is a requirement of mine that my MC has a name that can be shortened. I adore nicknames, and I’ve been trying to use the name “Gunn” for a while now. I actually started a different book with this name, and when it died, I took the name and transplanted it into this novel.

And it worked perfectly. Gunn is reluctant recruit for the Insiders, the underground rebel group in the Association’s capital city of Freedom. He’s never known his father, and he has no siblings, so it’s just been him and his mom for as long as he can remember. He doesn’t need to move into a student flat, and while he doesn’t really agree with the controlling government, he’s more than happy to fly under the radar.

Because the alternatives have always meant separation from his mom. But when he finds a hidden microchip with Director Hightower summoning him to Rise One, Gunn gets in touch with Raine, and joins the Insiders.

Gunner has voice talent—remind you of anyone? (Did you say Jag? You should have.) His voice is the reason he’s been summoned to Rise One. He doesn’t speak much, but when he does, it’s to say something important. He’s got that whole, strong silent thing going on. He’s fiercely loyal to his family and friends, and he’ll do whatever it takes to fight for what he believes in.

I wanted Gunner to be sort of like this skater-dude, except with a hoverboard, of course. I wanted him to be cool and confident on the outside, even when he was freaking out inside. Writing Gunn was harder than I thought, mostly because he’s a guy and I’m not. I liked writing his chapters, but I wasn’t sure if he was coming off too sensitive or too emotional.

You’ll have to tell me when you read the book! You can read the first two chapters of SURRENDER for free on my Facebook page.

And it’s giveaway time! You can win one of five SPECTACULAR SECOND books this week! It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy.All you have to do is fill out this rafflecopter widget with what you’ve done, and you can win a signed copy of either INSURGENT (by Veronia Roth), A MILLION SUNS (by Beth Revis), CROSSED (by Ally Condie), PERCEPTION (by Kim Harrington), and IN HONOR (by Jessi Kirby)—all spectacular second novels by some of today’s hottest YA authors.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Also today for one day only, you can enter to win a swag package of exclusive character art—including Gunner Jameson—and stickers and bookmarks. No rafflecopter widget necessary – just leave a comment!