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Monday, July 9, 2012

Interview & Giveaway! Evan Angler ~ Author of Swipe!!!


Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Evan!! Will you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks for having me! Where to begin?

Like anyone my age, my childhood was cut short by the Total War. When eventually the fighting stopped, I fled to the shadows of Beacon City, where I’ve spent the last fifteen years living without the Mark and hiding from the Department of Marked Emergencies (DOME).

Recent events have forced me to speak up, so I began writing the Swipe series, and here we are today.

My name is Evan Angler. But if anyone asks, you know nothing about me. I was never here, and Christian Bookshelf Reviews never interviewed me. I’m in enough trouble already.

So are you, if you read my books.

Will you tell us about Swipe and what inspired it?

Swipe is the first volume in the chronicles of Logan Langly, Erin Arbitor, and the Dust. It takes place soon after the end of the Total War, in the newly formed American Union. Here, basic rights are only acquired beginning at age 13, once people are mature enough to Pledge allegiance to Chancellor Cylis in exchange for his Mark of citizenship.

A few years ago, while I was still living as part of the undergound Markless community in Beacon, I spent a lot of my time helping Unmarked refugees sneak in and out of the city. It was through these interactions that I began hearing whispers of Logan Langly and what he was getting involved with out west in Spokie, outside New Chicago.

It wasn’t long before these whispers caught the attention of DOME. They began rounding us Markless up, taking my friends away, never to be seen again, and I realized that these were events I simply couldn’t leave untold.

Swipe tells a story of what happens when a country ignores its biggest problems for too long. Environmental destruction, political inaction and polarization, severe cultural divisions, constant fear—these are the things that have led to the state of the American Union, and as a writer, I felt I needed to respond to that.

But at its heart, Swipe is, most simply, a story about friendship against the odds. It’s a story about a group of boys and girls who come together to do the unthinkable: to stand up for what they believe in.

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you? 

I’ve been hiding from DOME for so long, by now I’d be more curious to hear what the average reader does know about me...But here’s a fun factoid: I wrote the first draft of Swipe in winter, and it was freezing inside the building where I was staying. Consequently, I wrote a good bit of Swipe while wearing the warmest clothes I could find: outer space print pajamas and a sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. How’s that for work attire?

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

There was never really a question of me being anything else. Even before I was good with words, I would spend my free time “writing” stories by drawing them in pictures. Eventually I graduated to putting things in sentences, but the storytelling process never really changed. It’s the thing that makes me happiest, and that’s the way it’s always been.

How many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite?

Swipe is my first published book, and it’s definitely my favorite Evan Angler novel so far.

The second book in the Swipe series—Sneak—comes out in September, and that will probably become my favorite Evan Angler novel once it launches.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

What, you mean besides the outer space pajama uniform?

Honestly, when I am really writing, my mind is so far away in the world of my fiction that I have very little awareness of where I am or what I’m doing outside of it, and that makes it hard to pinpoint any one quirk that I may have during the process. It’s a lot like asking me what my sleeping quirks are. I’m sure there are many, but I’m not fully there to find out!  

Where do you like to write?

I love to write in motion. I do a lot of my writing on trains and on electrobuses. Something about the physical progress feels inspiring to me (or maybe that’s just the motion sickness).

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I’m not writing I like to be outside. I’m a long distance runner (as so many writers are), and when I can make it out of Beacon, I love to hike and camp. I also love playing pre-Unity musical instruments, especially the piano, acoustic guitar, and banjo.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of travelling in the time I’ve spent running from DOME. I’ve been all over the American Union and the European Union, so these days, anywhere not under direct DOME surveillance would be fine by me!

Someday, I suppose I’d like to visit the area that used to be called Japan.

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?

It’s so hard to pick. I like songs and movies that teach me something, that transform me in one way or another. Favorite songs include hits by pre-Unity musicians like The Beatles, Sufjan Stephens, Mumford & Sons, and Joanna Newsom. My favorite movie is probably the pre-Unity animated classic, WALL-E.

What is your favorite dessert?

Ice cream. Mint chocolate chip.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 

Current favorite: Matthew 25:40. Whatever you have done for the least of my brothers, that is what you have done to me.

Here are a few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms?

I’ve been hit by lightning (true story), so I’m going to have to go with snowstorms on this one.

Tea or Coffee?

Neither, usually. When it’s really necessary, I turn to tea. (And when it’s really necessary, I turn to coffee. Black—no milk, no cream, no sugar.)

Print or eBook? 

I prefer print (it’s harder for DOME to trace). That said, I do about half of my reading on eBook at this point.

Early-bird or Night-owl?

Both. It’s 2:45am right now, but I work just as well at 5am. Usually I end up spending my afternoons avoiding DOME, so I like to be creative in the hours when no one else is awake.

Cats or Dogs?

Iguanas. No, I’m kidding—cats. I did have an iguana as a kid though.

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint?

I am! Right now I’m working on the third novel in the Swipe series, and it’s a doozy. The second novel, Sneak, is finished, and it’ll launch this September. Needless to say, DOME is not pleased.

Thanks so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?

Thank you for having me! I’d just like to remind everyone that the Swipe series is officially banned throughout the American Union, so please do be careful about just leaving these books lying around—especially if you’re Markless.

If DOME does give you any trouble, let me know, and I’ll see if I can pull any strings within my network. Best places to find me online are www.facebook.com/swipeseries, www.evanangler.com, and www.twitter.com/evanangler.   


Giveaway!




Enter to win a copy of Evan's book, Swipe! This giveaway is only open to the US and Canada.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

48 comments:

  1. That's a really interesting interview! It made me want to read the book(:

    ^_^

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  2. Cool interview! I discovered this book on Goodreads & was immediately intrigued. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Beth

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  3. Looks like an interesting book. The theme of the plot could take it a lot of different directions.

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  4. Evan - you sound totally immersed in your storyline. I think this would be a good book for the kids in our Christian school to have available in the library. Perhaps I'll be able to win a copy to give to the library. :)

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  5. Great interview! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  6. This book sounds really interesting; great interview as well! Thanks for the giveaway! =)

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  7. what a great interview book sounds like something I'd love to read!

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  8. Fun interview! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  9. I'd love to be entered! Sounds like a very interesting book. :)

    ~Kristin

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  10. Seen this book talked about before. Would love a chance to win! Thanks!

    andrea2russia@hotmail.com

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  11. Very fun interview, thanks for sharing with us!

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  12. Enter me this book looks great!!

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  13. Matthew is my favorite. I remember my mother reading that exact scripture from Matthew to me. The covers to your books are amazing. Thank you for the giveaway.

    kassandralopez32@yahoo.com

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  14. The book looks amazing and I love the cover! Brian McBride

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  15. I love the detail about the lightning but seriously Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream! I protest since ice cream should not be green on principle. Thank you for a lovely giveaway.

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  16. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
    marypopmom@yahoo.com

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  17. This book sounds awesome. I'm dying to my hands on it!
    Great scripture by the way. Very convicting.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  18. This book is on my wish list, thanks for the chance to win it!

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  19. Sounds great! Nice humorous interview.

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  20. Cool book, thanks for the giveaway !

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  21. I'd love to read the first Evan Angler novel.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  22. Enter me!
    Sarah Richmond
    Blanch,N.C.
    sarahrichmond.12@gmail.com

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  23. This book keeps popping up everywhere, I'd love the chance to read it.

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  24. This looks like a super interesting book. Thanks for featuring it.

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  25. I have read reviews on this book before and it sounds like a great book. Thanks for the contest. Gale Nelson pgan427@yahoo.com

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  26. This book sounds amazing! I would love to win. julierupert@gmail.com

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  27. Looks like a neat book!
    Bethany

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  28. Great interview! Another book added to my TBR - Jennifer Pittman

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  29. This looks awesome! Thanks for the giveaway! I hope I'm lucky :P

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  30. Sounds interesting to me...conspiracy theories away...I just hope the author isn't really living his book, like the people in "Inception" were...

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  31. Great post! Thanks for the giveaway

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  32. I love the bible verse he choose. Thanks for hosting another great giveaway!

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  33. Sounds like an interesting read!

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  34. great interview, thanks for the book giveaway

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  35. This books sounds like it would be a great one to read! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  36. This book sounds like it would be a super book to read. Thanks for the chance to win.
    awhartness@yahoo.com

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  37. Forgot to leave my name on my post.
    Angela Hartness

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  38. Sounds like an awesome book. I like the interview too! Pretty neat idea!

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  39. Looks like a good book!

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  40. I just found your blog but like your review selections. This sounds right up my alley as I have been reading dystopia/post apocalyptic stories lately.
    Thanks for the author interview and chance to win.

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  41. Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book sounds great and I would love to win it!

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  42. This book sounds really great! Thanks for the excellent interview as well! I love reading author interviews :D

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  43. Loved reading this interview. Maybe I should try writing on a train sometime...never thought about it. Ha!

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