Press Pack 2015
END OF DAY
By
Summer Lane
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Book Information
Title: End of Day
Series: Zero Trilogy #3
Release: October 9th, 2015
Author: Summer Lane
Buy Links:
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Synopsis:
The end has come.
Elle Costas and her dog, Bravo, have survived the dangers of Hollywood and escaped the clutches of Slaver Territory. The apocalypse has been cruel, and the wasteland of California has forced them to seek shelter in a civilian refugee camp at a place called Bear Mountain.
Here, they meet Cheng, a mysterious boy with the skills of a samurai, and Luli, a steampunk warrior with a thirst for vengeance. But friends cannot always be trusted. When a horrific tragedy befalls Bear Mountain, Elle and Bravo come face to face with their most dangerous enemy yet.
Betrayal and heartbreak threaten to destroy the bonds of friendship. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Run, or be caught.
Kill, or be killed.
Fight, or be forced to surrender.
The end of the day will change everything.
Will Elle and Bravo survive?
The explosive, thrilling conclusion to the #1 Bestselling Zero Trilogy by Summer Lane.
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About the Author
Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling author of The Collapse Series and the compelling tie-in novella books of The Zero Trilogy, as well as the upcoming Bravo Saga (releasing March 2016). She is also the author of Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, a #1 Bestselling graphic companion to her phenomenal original series.
She is the owner of WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine. Summer is also an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher.
Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her days writing, teaching, and writing some more. When she is not writing, she enjoys leisurely visits with friends at coffee shops, movie dates, reading and spending the day at the beach or mountains.
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Author Links:
Website: summerlaneauthor.com
Twitter: @SummerEllenLane
Facebook: Summer Lane – Int. Bestselling Author
Blog: www.writingbelle.com
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What is it like to end The Zero Trilogy?
By Summer Lane
This is the first time I have ended a published series. Currently I’m writing the seventh installment of The Collapse Series – and I don’t even want to imagine how sad I’ll be when I reach the end of that story.
With the Zero Trilogy, I’ve been on this journey of completing Elle’s story for about two years. It would be difficult to pinpoint the exact moment that Elle’s character jumped into my mind, because I’ve always wanted to write a story about a very young but very strong female character in the apocalypse. The Zero Trilogy seemed to almost write itself at times. Elle’s character development was an organic thing, something that I was able to cultivate like a rose. Poetic, I know. But true.
To finally end a story is a brand new sensation to me. I have ended stories before – but those stories are all unpublished, private works from the mind of a private girl in the wee hours of the night. To finish a story that I have shared with endless readers is almost frightening – I don’t want to say goodbye to Elle! Thankfully, her story intertwines nicely with The Collapse Series, so this isn’t my final farewell. Not yet.
It was supremely refreshing to be able to tie the loose ends of her story together, and to explain the unexplained. I love and adore the new characters of End of Day. Cheng is my favorite male lead of the moment. He’s devilishly handsome and mischievous, the perfect companion for a girl as quick and dangerous as Elle.
In the end, I am thankful for every new opportunity I’ve had because of this trilogy, and I am eternally grateful for the support from the reading and blogging community, who really gave me my start as a writer, and made Elle Costas and Bravo the bomb dog a phenomenal fictional force to be reckoned with.
Girl and Dog Versus the World
By Summer Lane
Interestingly, the most popular character of all of my books and stories has been Bravo, the German Shepherd bomb dog from The Zero Trilogy. His undying love and loyalty to fifteen-year-old Elle Costas is a wonderful example of true friendship. I think everyone loves dogs – or at least, they should! – and Bravo embodies the selfless nature of an animal.
When I was creating the character of Bravo, I knew exactly who he was going to be and what he was going to be like. There was no question. Bravo has been a friend to me just as he has been a friend to Elle.
Many people have commented on the dialogue between hardened Elle and Bravo. Is Elle imagining that the dog is talking? Is the dog actually talking? The answer is that I look into the eyes of dogs and cats all the time, and the more time you spend with them, the more you can read their thoughts – just like people!
The dialogue between girl and dog came about naturally. I wanted to write about the dog as the real presence that he was. I didn’t want the narrative to be childish, because this story is about the raw, gritty battle for day-to-day survival. Bravo’s voice emerged from the story in a truly organic way. His voice is uniquely his own. His bond with Elle is so special. I love that Elle’s best friend and real love is a dog, because what could possibly be more wonderful than that?
The Mysterious Cheng, End of Day’s Male Lead
Before I talk about Cheng, I’d just like to point out that the real male lead in End of Day has always been – and will always be – Bravo the bomb dog. And now that I’ve stated that, let’s talk about Cheng!
Cheng is a handsome, Asian boy with the skills of a samurai warrior. His past is mysterious, and his humor is a bit dry. I originally had planned to have Cheng play a very different role than who he is in the novella today. However, Elle and the story took over. It became apparent to me that Cheng’s role would have to change. I’m glad it did. I think his development, as well as his relationship with Elle, turned out extremely well – and I think it’s very realistic.
My wish was that Elle would never become dependent on anyone for survival. I especially did not want her to fall in love with a boy, and suddenly become infatuated with the idea of romance. Whether or not she has a romantic relationship with Cheng, I can’t say. But I can guarantee that no matter what happens, Elle’s strong nature is never compromised, and neither is Bravo’s.
I’m excited to share Cheng with my readers, especially because this book will tie into the Collapse Series in a very surprising way!
Question and Answer with Post-Apocalyptic Author, Summer Lane
Does writing post-apocalyptic fiction make you want to be more prepared for an emergency or disaster?
Naturally! Because I’m constantly writing about survival situations, I can’t help but think about how I need to be prepared for an emergency. I walk into a store and think, “If something crazy happens right now, how am I going to react? Will I survive?”
So dramatic, I know. But I can’t help it! My head is ALWAYS in the world of the apocalypse, because I’m always working on my series. By extension, I would say that a good ninety percent of my dreams for the last three years have revolved around the end of the world. Staying alive. Hiding in bunkers under the ground, or escaping the zombie apocalypse. I can’t say that I’m sorry, because I really love writing about survival scenarios.
Who is your favorite character in The Zero Trilogy?
Without a doubt, my favorite character is Bravo. I love his selfless nature and his heroic actions. He’s a true role model for me. I didn’t create him – he created himself, and he’s based on the true inspiration of real heroic canines everywhere who work in the military and in law enforcement.
What’s next for you?
Now that I’ve finished this trilogy, I’m working on the seventh installment of The Collapse Series, and beginning a new trilogy starring Bravo. I am so in love with his story, it’s not even funny. I think everyone will love it, because everyone has heard about the apocalypse from the viewpoint of people – but how about the dog? The way he sees the collapse of the world might be so different than how we see it!
What are your favorite post-apocalyptic book, TV show and movie?
You know, I get asked this question a lot. It’s really hard for me to choose just one favorite! The Road, by Cormac McCarthy is definitely in my top five favorite novels, and so is World War Z by Max Brooks. My favorite post-ap show is The Walking Dead. The zombies terrify the heck out of me, but I watch it for the character development and the outstanding post-apocalyptic sets. Robert Kirkman and Scott Gimple are brilliant.
I’m not sure that I have a favorite post-ap movie. I do sincerely enjoy the Resident Evil films and The Book of Eli. Modernly, The Maze Runner and Scorch Trials are excellent looks into that genre. Movies are bringing it to life better than ever these days.
When you have time off, what do you like to do?
I like to read! I adore my Kindle fire. I love to watch movies and television shows, too. Netflix has been a good friend to me. My fiancé and I like to go out to dinner as much as we can and try new food. I love playing with my kitty, crocheting brightly colored afghans and using sharpie markers to spruce up “adult” coloring books.
