RESURGENCE Blog Tour - Interview with KA Emmons

  I'm a bit late to the party, but I didn't want to miss out on helping promote Resurgence! The final book in the lovely KA Emmons The Blood Race trilogy. What an exciting milestone for Kate, and I'm so glad to get the chance to talk to her about her book, her series, and her writing process. First, let's get to know the author herself...

When she’s not hermiting away in her colorfully-painted home office writing her next science fiction, passionate story-teller and adventurer Kate Emmons is probably on the road for a surf or hiking trip, listening to vinyls, or going for a power run.

Emmons’ debut novel The Blood Race is the first book in her YA science fiction/fantasy thriller series.

The novel follows main character Ion, a troubled teen with unusual powers which he struggles to keep concealed. Through a series of strange occurrences, and a run-in with Hawk, the beautiful, mysterious, yet savage girl next door, Ion involuntarily stumbles headlong into an extra dimension—a secret reality that’s been hidden since the beginning of time; one that was made especially to protect and train teenagers with the abilities he possesses—”anomalies”. A secret place of intense training, hidden from humanity and created to defeat a rising darkness which a prophecy declares could swallow future earth.

Emmons lives in the often-snowy hills of rugged Vermont with her husband and dog named Rocket.


  Let's get into the interview! 

  EMILY: Good morning! Thanks so much for including me on your blog tour, Kate! I’m so excited to learn more about your book and the series behind it. First of all, I haven’t actually read any of the books in The Blood Race trilogy *hangs head in shame* but I’ve definitely been eyeing them for a long time. What do new readers of your series need to know about these books?

KATE: Thanks so much for having me, Emily - stoked to be here! Totally okay - I know first hand how tricky it can be to find the time to settle down to read a book. I’m definitely more of an audiobook type because I can listen as I do other things, haha. But yes, so new readers should know that The Blood Race series follows Ion Jacobs, a superpower-wielding college student who has been running from his past and living in fear of being discovered. Ion knows he will never be an average college student. But when Hawk, the beautiful, mysterious girl next door unearths his darkest secret, Ion’s life is flipped upside-down. He’s shocked to discover a whole world of people just like him -- a world in another dimension, where things like levitation, shape-shifting, and immortality are not only possible… they’re normal.

  EMILY: Can you describe some of the things, places, or people that inspired this series? Was there a particular “aha!” moment or did it all come together slowly? 

KATE: It came together slowly and yet all at once. The idea unceremoniously dropped into my head one day and I just kind of saw the whole story in my mind like a panoramic vision. And then I wrote what I saw. I am also constantly inspired by this beautiful, immense concept that we are powerful beings and that anything is possible, and that fueled the series more than I can say.  

  EMILY: What have you found to be your biggest struggle in crafting a story arc through three books? Do you like the trilogy method or has it been more of a struggle?

KATE: The trilogy structure was actually scarily easy and fun for this particular story. It really needed the space, and looking back it hurts my brain to think what it would have been like to write all of it into one book, haha. Writing a trilogy is definitely different from writing a single book, but it’s a ton of fun and I think it can be a cool challenge/change up for anyone used to writing stand-alone novels.

  EMILY: I understand you’re an avid outdoorswoman (we should be best friends, haha)! From your own perspective, how does physical activity and enjoying the beauty of nature affect your creative process?

KATE: Heck yeah we should! I’ve seen the AWESOME shots you’ve posted on instagram from your hikes (*insert all the heart-eyed emojis). It affects my creativity HUGELY. I love being outside, hiking, surfing, and being in the woods. I get so much energy and inspiration from just being out in creation and soaking in the beauty that surrounds us. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been on a hike or out in the waves and I just get so many good ideas out of nowhere. It’s truly spiritual. And I’m actually writing this from Capitol Reef, Utah! 100% get out in nature and get inspired...there’s nothing else like it!

  EMILY: What are some of your tried and true tips for keeping focused through projects?

KATE: Get lots of sleep (a good ol’ favorite of mine, and one I cannot stress enough!), take breaks and take care of yourself. And my one weird tip...quit before you want to. In writing this has helped me soooo so much. When I would write until I was burned out and end the day on a meh note, it would typically leave me deflated and not super eager to get back into it. But when I stop on a super high point, before I even want to stop? I can hardly WAIT to get back into it. The stoke is immeasurable.

  EMILY: And finally, how excited are you to be wrapping up a whole trilogy!? :DD

KATE: I AM SO EXCITED! It’s a great feeling, it’s been a long and wonder-filled journey. I’m also just DANG excited for people to be able to just read straight through the whole series without having to wait for the next book to come out because let’s face it, nobody wants to do that, haha. Hyper pumped!

Thanks for taking the time to talk, Kate! Now that you know the author, check out the book below!

200 years into Earth’s future, the Anomalies return… 

When Icarus and the other Anomalies of the Dimension reemerge into a war-torn world, they have no idea how to take down the Reformed Global Militia — a military superpower which now rules by force and mind-control. Without Hawk or Sensei by his side, Icarus is haunted by his own self-doubt and questions his ability to lead the sliders into battle. But when he’s captured and inducted into the RGM, Icarus must face his biggest challenge yet: keep his true identity a secret from the power that wants to kill him. 

While Fin roams the Irish countryside searching for Hawk, tensions rise between students in the Dimension. Desperate to escape the clutches of the RGM, Icarus makes a run for it — only to be captured again by a mysterious young corporal who’s been hiding a secret of her own…for the past 200 years. As the Anomalies prepare for war, the Dimension spirals out of control, creating more division than ever. Icarus is forced to make an impossible choice between life or death when he realizes that in order to defeat the darkness, he may have to become it.

Resurgence is the thrilling conclusion to The Blood Race series by K.A. Emmons.

I'm so excited to order and get into this series in the future! Doesn't it sound amazing! 

  (psst, click on the cover to be directed to the Goodreads page!)

Have you read any books in The Blood Race trilogy? Maybe all of them? If not, are you going to add them to your TBR right now? I know I am! Let me know in the comments below!