Meet Jessica Therrien author of Oppression

Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Therrien. I've been hearing great things about this book and I can't wait to read it myself. Mr. Postman, did you hear that? Hurry up with my book!!

Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)
by Jessica Therrien
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning - and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

Cherie: Tell us about your novel, Oppression, in your own words.

Jessica: Oppression is about a young woman, named Elyse, who has the ability to heal and ages five times slower than the average human. As far as she knows, there are no others like her, and only one person in the world knows about her secret.

Or so she thinks.

Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her. Many of them. And they have been waiting for her for a long time.

(Oh, and did I mention there’s a love story, page-turning action, heartbreaking conflict, and that last shred of hope…)

Cherie: I'm very excited to be posting your interview on Oppression's Book birthday. Where will readers be able to purchase it?

Jessica: Oppression is available on  Amazon.com  and  Barnes & Noble.com, as well as any other major book retailer. 

Cherie: What is your writing process like?

Jessica: My writing process has no rhyme or reason. My characters dictate most of what happens in my stories. I try to outline, but I’m always taken off course. My characters truly have minds of their own. I try to listen to them, because often times they take me to more interesting places than I originally plan. 

Cherie: I'm always fascinated to find out if a writer outlines or lets the characters drive the story. What was the most difficult chapter to write?

Jessica: When I got my first editorial comments on content I had to do some re-writes. Those were the hardest chapters to write (emotionally). How do you begin to re-craft something you’ve worked over two years to make perfect? Well, turns out the re-writes were worth it, because of course they’re my favorite chapters.

Cherie: What are you working on now?

Jessica: I am currently writing the sequel to Oppression, which will be out in 2013 through ZOVA Books.

Cherie: Ooh! I love finding new books and knowing I'll be able to come back and read more about the characters I've grown to love. Now for some fun questions…

Any secret crushes? (He can be anyone real or fictional.) 

Jessica: Damon from The Vampire Diaries (even though I really want to love Stephan more). 

AND James Franco.

Cherie: I love having an excuse to include Damon's picture (you know, for those who may not know how incredibly yummy he is). And James Franco is a cutie too. I really liked him in Spiderman. 

What’s the first thing you notice about a guy?

Jessica: His teeth. I know it’s weird. (Needless to say, my husband’s teeth are PERFECT).

Cherie: That is interesting. Are you a morning person or an evening person?

Jessica: Morning all the way. I love writing in the morning. It’s ME time, and sometimes I wish it would stay morning all day. Also, morning means breakfast, and if I could eat breakfast for every meal I would (and sometimes do).

Cherie: Favorite movie or television show?

Jessica: My very most superist favorite is The Vampire Diaries. I know. I know. Don’t judge. I’m not over Vampires yet, okay.

My favorite movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. No question. It’s brilliant.

Cherie: I'm a Vampire Diaries fan too, so I understand. Do you have any guilty pleasures that get you through the writing/revising process?

Jessica: Sigh…I’m ridiculous. Vampire Diaries.

Cherie: I'm seeing a pattern here. ;) What book are you the most excited to read?

Jessica: I’m really looking forward to Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I loved the first book, Divergent.

Cherie: Are there any types of books you don’t read?

Jessica: Depressing books. I rarely make it through a novel if it’s depressing. I know I’m probably missing out on a lot of great writing, but my heart likes to be happy.

Cherie: I can understand not wanting to read depressing books. I personally think they should come with a box of tissues. 

Thanks for stopping by today, Jessica! It's been a pleasure to learn more about you and your novel.


Hop over to Jessica's  blog  to see the tour schedule and learn about the giveaways she's offering!

Get Oppression today 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

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