Love Fear, Fear Love
Brenna, I’m so delighted to make a guest appearance on your blog. Congrats on The Replacement hitting the New York Times bestseller list! You and Mackie deserve much adulation and success!!
I adored The Replacement for a lot of reasons, but one of them was that this book scared the hell out of me in a profound way. There a different types of fear. Being startled or shocked can leave you shivering, but often that sensation devolves into grins and laughter. A more subtle, powerful fear is the kind the slides under your skin and leaves you cold, sad, and full of questions about the way the world works and what your place in it could possibly be.
Fear is a primary motivator in real life and in books. One of Nightshade’s main characters, Ren Laroche a male alpha who is Calla’s rival and intended mate, admits that there is one thing he fears most in life – but he won’t tell Calla what it is. In fact, you won’t discover his single fear until the final book of the trilogy. But that fear remains the catalyst for most of Ren’s decisions throughout the series. The same rule applies to all of Nightshade’s inhabitants – what they love and what they fear shapes and re-shapes their thoughts and deeds.
Fear and love go hand in hand. As I mentioned earlier, giddy, shocking scares derive from an adrenaline rush, but our deep fears exist because they are tied to those things closest to our hearts: our secrets, our hopes, our attachments. When hunting down our hearts’ desires, fear sets traps that slow us down and might even stop us altogether. Giving into to fear is an ultimate form of defeat because it is surrender not to a super villain or dastardly deed, it is giving up on one’s self.
The adage love conquers all wouldn’t mean anything without the presence of fear. It’s only the reality of fear, and its potential to undermine all we hope for in life, that makes love’s ability to conquer this most insidious of enemies so powerful.
*Brenna here—Thanks for the great post, Andrea! (It probably comes as no surprise to anyone that I love talking about fear.)
Once again, I have two signed, finished books to give away! All you have to do is comment (make sure to include an email address if you don’t have an lj account) and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Nightshade. You’ll also have another chance on Friday, when I post my interview with Andrea, so stop by and comment on Friday too, if you want to increase your odds!
ETA: I just checked with my book-source, and the contest is US only. Sorry about that, everyone. I know it’s disappointing, so in the future I’ll have to come up with something international for you guys!
Brenna Yovanoff 
Fabulous post! Definitely sounds like a good book to check out!
Hi I would love to win this book, it seems like I’ve been reading about it everywhere. It sounds awesome.
geckyboz@gmail.com
Fantastic post! :)
I would love to be entered if you are mailing internationally! I really want to read this!
Iffath
lovereadingx[at]gmail[dot]com
I’m so excited for Nightshade to come out AND I’m excited for my copy of The Replacement to arrive :) You guys are great, thanks for sharing this post :D
taratgonzalez@gmail.com
Fabulous!
Nightshade was such a great read! I have the ARC and enjoyed it so much I pre-ordered the “real” thing :) Not gonna lie… I have bit of a crush on Ren. I don’t need to be entered in the contest. I’d rather someone who hasn’t read it get a chance. Just wanted to throw my praise in :)
I LOVE Nightshade and now I’m really curious to know what Ren’s fear is. What a great post!
Thank you!
adminmundiemoms AT gmail.com
The cover of Nightshade is just stunning..Thanks for the giveaway, and the great post
!!!!
kittee_cat@bigpond.com
Thanks katrina ;)
woot! awesome post, Andrea, and thanks for the contest, please enter me! :)
I can’t wait to pick up Nightshade!!
Thanks for the post and giveaway!
Cassandra C
cassandra dot crouser at yahoo dot ca
Would love to win this book, have been trying to win one because cant get it here till December :( Enter me please thanks.
natcleary at gmail dot com
you’re next on my ‘to read’ list on goodreads.com! Can’t wait, and it’s SO much fun to have a local author to read!!
meghanscottmolin @ gmail . com
Love your thoughts on fear!
Can’t wait!
Great post, I really enjoyed reading it. I can’t wait to read either of your books! They both sound great. Thank you for the chance to win! seescootread[at]gmail[dot]com.
CANNOT wait to read ‘Nightshade’! Been ready amazing reviews about it!
jessica_kulendran_602@hotmail.com
Thank you!
Jess
Nightshade contest (my email is janicca77@gmail.com)
Thanks so much for such a beautiful post;
I can’t wait to read Nightshade!
So excited for Nightshade (I want!)! Also, love the point made about the correlation between love and fear. It’s something I am always running into in my own writing and LOVE reading about. At its core love is a scary thing, that’s what makes it such an awesome adventure.
~P~
I’ve REALLY gotta check out this book. Counting the days…
Guest post
It’s interesting to think that the Ren is motivated by what he fears, doesn’t seem to fit the typical alpha male role but does make him more real.
thebookmarkblog (at) yahoo (dot) com
Awesome post! It’s so true that giving into fear can feel like the ultimate defeat because it feels like we’re giving up on one’s self. Can’t wait to read Nightshade, and now I’m very curious about Ren’s fear…
Oooooooooooooo. I hadn’t put my finger on it before, but fears are definately a huge modivator for people. Huh.
I’m running a fever, sorry for the fragmentation of this comment.I just wanted to say good post! And please enter me for the giveaway. :D
I loved this post. So helpful and so true! Thanks so much! :D
ivy AT ivyhawthorn DOT com
Nice to meet you Andrea Cremer! I can’t wait for NIGHTSHADE and I’m excited to hear its part of a trilogy because even though I loath waiting for the continuations, I love books in a series and yours sounds right up my alley. I’ve got a secret love for wolves ;)
Ah, this post is awesome. Can’t wait to check out Nightshade!
*COMMENT*
I might just have to read this so I can figure out what this fear is. Also, amazing post.
Me please!!!
I’ve been hearing so much about this book! I’m so excited to meet
Ren and Shay!
Btw, I never told you CONGRATULATIONS for getting on the NYT
bestseller list.
oreo_93@hotmail.com
Thanks for the contest! Nightshade sounds amazing and I can’t wait
to read it. I recently read The Replacement, and it was wonderful.
I can’t wait to read more!
vampirecrazy510@aol.com
Great post! I couldn’t agree more about fear being motivator. (Then again, I tend to be a panicky person in general, so of course I think that. :P)
i’m so excited about nightshade. great post!
Nightshade
This book sounds great, I’ll be looking forward to reading the series.
Stalking this book
I have been waiting a while for this book and this post just makes me want it and the sequels more.
I am reading The Replacement right now and from the first sentence you had me hooked! =) I am also eagerly awaiting the release of Nightshade, I would love to win a copy! =) Awesome post and I can’t wait to read the interview Friday. My email is tpitstick10@gmail.com. Thanks so much for doing this contest! =)
Giveaway
I have to say this is about the most awesome contest I’ve ever seen.
evin.buckingham@gmail.com
I’m in the middle of The Replacement right now. I am loving it. It;s always enjoyable to read from a male prospective since it’s not too often that I get to read a YA book that is. The inner turmoil in Mackie’s head is just incredible to read. I also already have Nightshade pre-ordered. It looks like it’ll be a book of the year. Plus the picture is pretty. I love signed copies though, so I’d love my own copy :)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Great post!
What an interesting post. Can’t wait to read Nightshade (hope to win a copy here :)) and I loved The Replacement! Can we expect a sequel?
Thanks,
Amanda
e-mail:amandatheaker@gmail.com
i loved the replacement! nightshade sounds interesting :)
jlhsperry624@hotmail.com
The Replacement was great! I would love to win a copy of Nightshade!
Megan
rysmom@gmail.com
I would kill to get a copy of Nightshade! (maybe not so literally… or, maybe.. ? :O) I can’t wait to see what Ren’s fear is!
angelmistress[at]hotmail[dot]com
Great post!
miranda.lyons09@yahoo.com
Miranda
Great post and this book sounds fantastic!
llamakebab@yahoo.com
My name is Erica. And I would love to win a copy of Nightshade.
Pokadots1121@yahoo.com
Great interview. I love learning more about authors.
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom
I just wanted to stop by and say that this is a fantastic post about fear and it really is so true. Fear can be such a driving force in any situation. Thanks for stopping by Andrea!