The Traveler is a brand-new novel from fellow indie author E.B. Dawson, and it comes out tomorrow! [cue fireworks and confetti] I'm super excited for you guys to read it, (hint: it's awesome), but since we have to wait another whole day for that, here's a profile of the main character, and afterwards my non-spoilery review of the book to get you ready. (Also, as an author, I of all people know that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but I have to say, the one sitting just to the left of this paragraph is lovely).

But first, a synopsis, so you know what it's all about.
​
Anissa Robson is becoming an adult in a society she never really identified with. Forced to choose a career path, she becomes an apprentice to a young, headstrong politician who seems to stand for everything she disagrees with. The dreams she has refused to report grow more alluring to her as she becomes disillusioned with her job. But the lines between reality and her dreamland begin to blur and cross over, launching her onto a path she would never have chosen for herself. Is the government medicating dreamers to protect them? Or to hide something from them?

So without any further ado, I give you Anissa.

How old is Anissa when we meet her?
Anissa is 22 years old at the beginning of the book. In her society, young adults choose an apprenticeship after grade school (so around age 18), but Anissa is just starting hers for reasons that will be disclosed in the first chapter. 

Is she at all like your protagonist from your sci-fi series, Logan Bailey?
They are both stubborn, but I think they are quite different. I would say Logan's a bit more of an internal processor, while Anissa processes things externally. Naturally, Logan likes to think before she responds. Anissa tends to say what she thinks, even when it isn't a good idea, and she tends to be a bit more impulsive. 

If she were an animal what would she be and why?
I have decided that Anissa would be a fox. For reasons that will become clear, she's a bit of an outsider in her society. She's very clever and observant, but can be a bit prickly on the outside. 
​
What do you like about her? What don't you like about her? 
I love her boldness. She's honest when she disagrees with something. She stands up for what she believes, even if she is a little misguided now and then. Also, she is tough as nails. 
​
She can be a bit blunt and argumentative. Also, she has her blind spots (but don't we all?). 

What's Anissa's favorite thing to eat?
She loves any type of fruit.

Is she more introverted or extroverted?
Good question! I think I might classify her as an ambivert (balanced between introvert and extrovert). She definitely needs her space sometimes, but there is also part of her that doesn't want to be alone. 

What does Anissa like to do in her free time?
Her life has been disrupted the last few years and so honestly she doesn't have a lot of hobbies. When we meet her she is starting a new chapter of her life and kind of trying to figure out who she is. 

Does she have a pet? If not, what would she have?
She does not have a pet. She isn't super sentimental so I think she'd need a pet that can kind of take care of itself and be semi-independent (no fish! They'd die). Maybe a cat? Honestly, I'm not sure I'd trust her with a pet. (lol) She might forget about it...

What is her favorite article of clothing?
This sort of changes throughout the story. But I would say...khaki pants? Comfortable, flexible, multi-purpose. 

Who is the most influential person in her life?
Her father.

My Review for The Traveler
Now that we've learned all about Anissa, here is my review of The Traveler. E.B. Dawson was awesome enough to send me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so here it is! (Naturally, the following opinions are my own).

Today marks the date of my two-year blog anniversary, and I wanted to do something special to celebrate. (The fact that I've kept this up for two years is a big deal to me, because my first attempt at a blog back in 2014 only lasted one month). *cough cough*

So what am I doing to celebrate this momentous occasion? Well, as you've probably noticed from the title, I'm doing a giveaway of Branwen's Quest! This is the first book in the Warriors of Aralan series, and if you've ever thought about trying it, but weren't sure you wanted to fork over the usual $2.99 to get it, then here's your chance!

Update
And the winners are... *drum roll*
​
• Hannah Heath
• Maddy Crone​
Congratulations, and thank you for entering!

The Rules
First of all, I want to make it clear that this giveaway is for an eBook, not a paperback, but if you don't have a Kindle, it's not a problem! Just download the Kindle app for your smartphone, tablet, or computer, and you're all set.

As for time, the giveaway starts today (9/1/17) and will continue through next Friday (9/8/17). At the end of that time, I'll pick two winners (one for each year of this blog), and email them the good news that they won! I'll also publicly announce the winners right here, as well as on Twitter and Goodreads. All you have to do to enter is put the email associated with your Amazon account in the widget below, but if you really want to increase your chances, you can follow me on Twitter, or tweet a message about the giveaway.

And That's It!
Pretty simple, right? But if you still aren't sure about entering, here's a synopsis:
​When the royal herald came announcing a mandatory Tournament of Warriors, Branwen was the last one to get excited. Sure, she was a good enough archer, but why should she be forced to go to the tournament just because the king said so? She had nothing to prove! Yet when she got there her competitive spirit took over and she succeeded—enough so that she was singled out by the king to take a difficult journey with three others who were as different as night and day from each other. Why? To recover the king and queen's missing crowns. Will they ever be able to overcome their differences and get along to complete their mission, or will they fall prey to an unexpected danger posed from within?

And if you'd like to try a sample of the book itself, here's an excerpt.

All right, now that we're past all that, we're to the part where you can actually enter the giveaway. (I may be more excited than you guys about this whole thing, but just bear with me). ;) If you do end up being one of the lucky winners of Branwen's Quest, firstly, congratulations! Secondly, don't forget to leave a review once you've read it. Reviews are so important to independent authors like myself, so please take a minute and help a writer out.

Finally, thank you for joining me in the celebration of two years of Katelyn Buxton Books! Your readership and support has meant so much to me, so this one's for you.