PLUS enter the Invaded Swag Pack Giveaway!
I am so excited I am literally, jumping on my couch right now! Okay, maybe not LITERALLY, but you get the idea. Today’s featured author is one I’ve been itching to get on the blog ever since I finished reading Alienated, an out-of-this-world YA sci-fi romance.
Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati and writes adult contemporary romance as Macy Beckett.
Connect with Melissa Landers by visiting her website at melissa-landers.com, by liking her Facebook page at Author Melissa Landers, or by following her on Twitter @Melissa_Landers.
The Alienated
In Alienated, interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life-not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
In Invaded
Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life. The Way clearly needs humans’ help but with what? And what will they ask for in return?
I’m anxiously awaiting my SIGNED copy of Invaded in the mail (Yay!). I’m sure after reading the blurbs you’re dying to get your hands on this series (if you haven’t already). In the meantime, check out my video review of Alienated (it was one of my top ten fave reads of 2014)! You can also grab Until Midnight
Author Q&A…
Natalie M. asks, “How long does it take you to write a book, start to finish, including drafting, revising, editing, critiquing, until you have it where you want it?”
It usually takes 5 or 6 months to create a clean, polished draft. Then, because my edits with Disney are deep and require several rounds, I spend at least another three months revising. So all in all, I’d say about 9 months per book…much like making a baby.
Laura P. asks, “Do you have any new year’s resolutions? If so, what are they?”
My resolution this year is to be more protective of my time, which means cutting back on signing events to stay home and write or hang out with my family. I said “yes” to too many signings last year, and I really underestimated how much time that took away from other things.
Rachel L. asks, “What is your inspiration?”
That’s a really broad question, so there’s not a single answer. I draw inspiration from everywhere–music, art, movies, people-watching, etc.
Gabrial J. asks, “By the time your first book was published, did you already have a second book ready for your publisher?”
Oh, yes. Publishing moves at a glacial pace, which means a book is often finished and in production more than a year before its release day. So when ALIENATED launched, ARCs of the sequel (INVADED) had already gone to print. Now INVADED is about to launch, and I’m wrapping up STARFLIGHT, which releases in 2016.
Jenelle R. asks, “What would be your fantasy job- aside from being an author, of course ;)?”
If I couldn’t be an author, my fantasy job would be the role of Claire Randall Fraser in the Starz television show, OUTLANDER. I’m guessing I’m not alone in this. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing with us on the blog today, Melissa! It was a treat to feature you!
Thanks to Melissa Landers, I have the opportunity to offer you the supernova of giveaways. Leave a question or comment for Melissa below, and you’ll be entered to win an autographed Invaded swag pack with a singed locker poster, bookmarks, a personalized bookplate, and stickers. If that isn’t the coolest prize ever, I don’t know what is.
Be sure to record you entry via the Rafflecopter, and earn extra entries there too by following and sharing on social media. Enter through Saturday, February 28th. One random winner will be chosen and announced in my March newsletter, so be sure to sign up via this form:
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Have you read Alienated? What did you like about it? If you haven’t read it, why do you want to? I love hearing from you! Connect with me in the comments below or tweet to me@SaraEllaWrites. Until then, happy reading!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more, please read my full policy.
I can’t say that I say to too many book signings, but I do say yes too much to reading! Haha! I have to constantly remind myself that my family is first. Thanks for asking my question and great interview! 🙂
I have to do the same thing, Laura! Thanks for always asking such great author questions!
Wow this is amazing
Thanks for commenting, Maddie! Good luck in the giveaway!
I absolutley loved it. You’re crazy adorable.
Thanks, Daniela! Good luck in the giveaway!