Roseblood's Less-Than-A-Month-Away-INTL Giveaway!

There's less than a month (24 days!) until RoseBlood hits shelves, so it's time for a giveaway. 

And I'm not the only one who's pulling out all the stops to celebrate. My publisher's YA website, Pique, is offering a beautiful limited edition Thorn postcard (crafted by Nathalia Suellen and signed by me!) to anyone who preorders the book (domestic). Follow this link for details.

Now, onto my personal INTL giveaway. To celebrate RoseBlood's imminent birthday, I'm offering up the following prizes:

1 Signed RoseBlood hardback and collector's mask

1- signed German Unhinged w/unique foreign cover

(in celebration of RoseBlood's recent foreign sales)

1- Phantom/music themed mask

1 - signed RoseBlood tote

1 skeleton key necklace

(representing the skeleton dorm keys in RoseBlood)

1 - RoseBlood themed charm bracelet

(representing details from the book)

 I still have so much to do to get ready for the launch, but I can't wait for readers to meet Thorn and Rune, and to become reacquainted with Erik! If you missed the virtual tour, you can go back and find all the character / music / book posts and reveals here.

Use the rafflecopter below to enter, and good luck to everyone. 

Happy Holidays, and don't forget to look for RoseBlood on shelves January 10, 2017!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RoseBlood virtual tour GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Thanks to everyone who took part in the tour! Here are our winners...

5 Domestic hardback and mask winners:

• AIMEE ANN
• MARIA CRUZ
• MEGAN JOHNSON
• SHELBY SCOTT
• MICHELLE LISBON

5 INTL Giveaway winners:

• Masquerade Pendant, Eiffel Tower Key Chain, Emoticon Key Chains- KM
• Metallic "Dream" Bookmark, Phantom of the Opera Tote- FIZA HALLIWELL
• Modern-gothic Angel of Music Print- DANIELLE HAMMELEF
• Signed Panoramic RoseBlood Poster- ALICIA GUERRERO
• Signed & Personalized Arc + Mask Set & Super Secret Phantom-themed Prize- CALI W.

Congrats! Winners should've already received emails from the tour coordinator. If you haven't, please contact Jaime on twitter: @arnoldjaime13. I'll be back soon with more giveaways and announcements!

Exclusive Excerpt Reveal with USA Today!

Today, there's an exclusive peek at RoseBlood on USA Today's HEA! Here's a sneak peek. To read the entire excerpt, follow this link.

RoseBlood Virtual Tour Schedule

Here are the official dates and hosts for the #RoseBlood virtual tour presented by Amulet Books and RockStar Book Tours. 

10/24/2016

• Spotlight Post: Mundie Moms 
• Review: Adventures of a Book Junkie
• Author Guest Post: Stories & Sweeties - Meet the characters behind the masks 

10/25/2016 

• Spotlight Post: Once Upon a Twilight
• Reveal Post: Two Chicks on Books - Official RoseBlood playlist 

10/26/2016

• Spotlight Post: Tales of the Ravenous Reader
• Author Guest Post: Seeing Double In Neverland - Explore the maniacal history of the Phantom: Little known facts about the original novel and characters 

10/27/2016

• Review: BookHounds YA
• Reveal Post: Dark Faerie Tales - Cover evolution and final book jacket reveal 

10/28/2016 

• Review: Fiktshun
• Reveal Post: Bookemoji - First Chapter reveal 

Live RoseBlood Chat + Giveaway!

This Friday (Oct 21) at 7pm central, we're having a RoseBlood Live Chat to kickoff RoseBlood's virtual tour the following Monday (Oct 24). Please join us if you can. I'll be answering all kinds of questions about the characters, setting, story, and writing in general. 

Type in the hashtag: #RoseBloodChat for more info online.

And yes, there will be prizes! A RoseBlood mask + arc set and signed swag will be up for grabs. Hope to see you there!

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The Architect of Song in audio book!

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The Architect of Song is now available as an audio book through Audible! 

The narrator, Gemma Dawson, does an amazing job bringing Juliet's voice to life. Here's her bio:

"Gemma Dawson is a classically trained actress born and raised in London, England. Now working in NYC, she is thrilled to bring stories to life as an Audible Studios Narrator. With a range of accents and voices and a love of all genres, Gemma has recorded a wide variety of over 25 titles since beginning her career last Spring. So far, she has relished in everything from the grandeur of Historical Romance to the more relatable struggles of Contemporary Fiction and Nonfiction. Gemma's objective is to breathe life into every character, giving them not just a voice but an emotional life, lifting the story off the page and transporting the listener into another world."

I’ll have a giveaway for a few copies soon!

Until then, you can follow this link to listen to a sample.

10 ARC Giveaway!

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RoseBlood's blog tour is on the horizon along with lots of INTL prizes, but if you don't like waiting, my publisher has 10 arcs up for grabs for some lucky domestic winners right now! 

Deets are here. Good luck to all who enter!

Winners Announced + RoseBlood Virtual Tour Sneak Peek!

The winners for the YA Scavenger hunt grand prizes will be announced on their website Tuesday this week. 

As for my personal giveaway that included these prizes...

The winners are listed below. 

Signed RoseBlood ARC:

• Nicole Lynam

Black Rose Necklace:

• Alyssa Champagne

Signed RoseBlood swag pack:

• Karen Chappell
• Saba Hussain
• Morgan-reader-of-romance  

Congrats to the winners and thanks everyone for taking part! For those who didn't win, take heart. The official RoseBlood virtual tour, presented by RockStar Book Tours and Abrams/Amulet Books is on the horizon!

Thanks to Natalia Godik for contributing beautiful artwork to the banner!

Be sure to join us on October 24th-28th for more insights into the book along with giveaways including an INTL chance to win the prizes pictured below along with a RoseBlood ARC + collector's mask set. 

Click to enlarge

Every prize I'll be giving away plays a unique role in the story, and I'll give out hints about them during the tour.  I hope to see you there for all of the reveals and some Phantastic fun!

Winners Announced + RoseBlood Virtual Tour Sneak Peek!

The winners for the YA Scavenger hunt grand prizes will be announced on their website on Tuesday this week. 

As for my personal giveaway that included these prizes...

The winners are listed below. 

Signed RoseBlood ARC:

• Nicole Lynam

Black Rose Necklace:

• Alyssa Champagne

Signed RoseBlood swag pack:

• Karen Chappell
• Saba Hussain
• Morgan-reader-of-romance  

Congrats to the winners and thanks everyone for taking part! For those who didn't win, take heart. The official RoseBlood virtual tour, presented by RockStar Book Tours and Abrams/Amulet Books is on the horizon!

Thanks to Natalia Godik for contributing beautiful artwork to the banner!

Be sure to join us on October 24th-28th for more insights into the book along with giveaways including an INTL chance to win the prizes pictured below along with a RoseBlood ARC + collector's mask set. 

Click to enlarge

Every prize I'll be giving away plays a unique role in the story, and I'll give out hints about them during the tour.  I hope to see you there for all of the reveals and some Phantastic fun!

YA Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the fall YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 5 days! 



I'm A.G. Howard, author of the Splintered Series, an Alice in Wonderland retelling, and the upcoming RoseBlood, a modern-day Phantom of the Opera spinoff.


Below you'll meet another YA author who I'm hosting today, and hear all about her debut contemporary novel!

I'm a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there are also Red, Green, Purple, Gold, and Orange teams for a chance to win a whole different set of books! If you get off track, you can visit the Unstuck page where a list of all the authors are linked up by team for your convenience.Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are six contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all!

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

MEET MY GUEST AUTHOR

Today, I'm hosting Lilliam Rivera for the YA Scavenger Hunt! 

Lilliam Rivera is the author of the young adult novel THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ, forthcoming from Simon & Schuster on February 21, 2017. She is a 2016 Pushcart Prize winner and freelance writer with work in Tin House, Los Angeles Times, Latina, among others. Originally from the Bronx, New York, Lilliam now lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Find out more information by checking out her website or find ordering info for her book here!

ABOUT LILLIAM'S BOOK

Pretty in Pink comes to the South Bronx in this bold and romantic coming-of-age novel about dysfunctional families, good and bad choices, and finding the courage to question everything you ever thought you wanted—from debut author Lilliam Rivera.

Things/People Margot Hates:

• Mami, for destroying her social life
• Papi, for allowing Junior to become a Neanderthal
• Junior, for becoming a Neanderthal
• The supermarket
• Everyone else

After “borrowing” her father’s credit card to finance a more stylish wardrobe, Margot Sanchez suddenly finds herself grounded. And by grounded, she means working as an indentured servant in her family’s struggling grocery store to pay off her debts.

With each order of deli meat she slices, Margot can feel her carefully cultivated prep school reputation slipping through her fingers, and she’s willing to do anything to get out of this punishment. Lie, cheat, and maybe even steal…

Margot’s invitation to the ultimate beach party is within reach and she has no intention of letting her family’s drama or Moises—the admittedly good looking but outspoken boy from the neighborhood—keep her from her goal.

You can preorder The Education of Margot Sanchez here.

Here's the author on twitter.

GIVEAWAY DEETS

GIVEAWAY #1 (INTL):  Enter the official hunt contest for a chance to win books by myself, Lilliam Rivera, and a ton of other authors on the blue team, pictured below:

To enter the above giveaway, you need to know that my favorite number is 7. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue team and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize! Remember to fill out the form here. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.


GIVEAWAY #2 (INTL): My own bonus giveaway includes these RoseBlood / Phantom-themed prizes:

Click image to enlarge

To enter this giveaway, just follow the instructions on the rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author on the blue team, Pintip Dunn!

Also, thanks to Heather Young Nichols for hosting me. Check out my post on her blog for an exclusive first peek at 5 songs from the official RoseBlood playlist, and the scenes they helped inspire! 

118 books up for grabs during YASH!

I'm so excited to be taking part in the fall YA Scavenger Hunt, October 4th - 9th!

I even get to be on the Blue Team (blue just happens to be my favorite color). Check out the 20 fantastic books being given away (INTL!) by the 20 generous authors on my team:

And there are 5 other teams giving away books, too. So that's 118 authors and 118 books up for grabs! If you'd like to check out what the other teams have to offer, follow this link.

FYI, I'll also be having my own INTL giveaway alongside the hunt, with a second RoseBlood arc up for grabs + one or two Phantom-themed goodies, so I hope to see you all back here on October 4th!

10 RoseBlood arcs up for grabs!

There's a giveaway for 10 RoseBlood arcs over on Maximum Pop! Easy entry if you have a twitter account. Go here for deets. Good luck to all who enter!

Glowing Kirkus Review For RoseBlood!

Okay, anyone who reads this blog knows I don't ever post reviews, but the fact that I received such a positive review from Kirkus, who weren't too fond of any of my Splintered books, deserves to be recorded here for posterity. 

Here's the review (click on image to enlarge):

I'm so happy my story resonated with them! If you'd like to see the review on the Kirkus website, follow this link. 

Also, heads up, the RoseBlood virtual tour is coming in October, with lots of sneak peeks, reveals, and giveaways. Stay tuned for deets!

My Japanese author copies of Splintered arrived today and they’re gorgeous little 4X6 mini books! The cover art is a vibrant, fun, manga design that makes me want a comic series even more than I already did. ;)

Coolest of all, they're in complementary sets. I was told that they split the Splintered story in half and made it into two books. 

There are enough of these little beauties to give away a few sets down the road. But for now, I'm holding them hostage to cuddle with for a while. <3

My personal RoseBlood ARCs are going out next week!

Today I’m personalizing my RoseBlood ARC packs with Phantastical cards and musical note necklace/bookmarks so they'll be ready to mail next week. Can’t wait to send these beauties off to their new owners! 💕

Please note: All of my author copy arcs are already spoken for and my publisher is not taking any more requests at this time. My publicist will be mailing review copies to her chosen bloggers sometime in September. 

Don't worry if you haven't received an email from her. It doesn't necessarily mean you're not getting one. She's not letting anyone know ahead of time. She's simply mailing them off, so those readers will get a happy surprise!

INTL LitCube Giveaway!

There's an international giveaway on Instagram for September's @lit_cube box containing The Architect of Song with story-themed goodies curated by me!

Follow this link for deets.

The Preciousssss - part two...

Yesterday, in part one of this post, I shared my author copy for The Architect of Song. Today, I wanted to showcase my beautiful RoseBlood arcs, and share a sneak peek into how the hardback's interior will be different. 

I'm so thrilled with the dramatic effect of the vivid covers juxtaposed against the stark B&W interior! And the thorny, brambly vines? Eerie perfection. Check it out:

Now, should you be one of the lucky recipients who ends up with an arc, be sure to get yourself a hardback, too. Because not only is there colored ink in the HB, but there's also a completely different design for the end papers. Here's an example:

So stunning! <3 Of course, the color might not be exactly this shade (computer monitors may vary), but it's close.

I'm getting so excited to send off the arcs! Any bloggers who put their bid in for one via my publisher should be getting theirs within the next few weeks (if you were chosen). My publicist informed me that she didn't send anyone emails if they were going to get one, she's simply going to put them in the mail. So be watching your mailbox to find out if you scored one! And as for the past winners of my arc giveaways, I'll be sending those off sometime within the next few weeks, too. 

One last thing, if anyone would like to plaster this little animated beauty on your blog's sidebar, or share it via twitter, FB, tumblr, pinterest, etc... to get the word out about RoseBlood, I'd appreciate it so much! Just follow this link for HTML or other posting options. 

Have a great weekend, and I'll see you again soon with more bookish updates!

The Preciousssss - part one...

I've received my first author copy of The Architect of Song, and behold the beauty! 

I love all my story babies when they're born into the world as real books, but this one has a special place in my heart because every design aspect--the cover, the interior, the font style--was personally overseen (and in the case of the chapter headings, made) by me. And I learned some things, too! Like next time, I'm making the font .5 smaller, and I'm going to find some pretty end papers to complete the interior art. It's been a fun learning experience, and I look forward to getting started on edits and designs for book 2 of this series sometime in the next few months. :)

If you haven't heard the story behind this book (how the premise idea came to me, my journey to find it a publishing home, and why I ultimately chose to indie-pub), you can go check out the FAQ here on my new adult website.

Also, stay tuned because tomorrow I'm sharing pictures of my RoseBlood arcs (they're finally here!) in the second part of this post: The Preciousssss - part two. I'll also have some insider sneak peeks into the 2017 hard cover's interior design and ink color. 

Hope to see you then!

Launch Day INTL Giveaway!

Welcome! Today, my and Wendy Higgins’ NA novels are in the spotlight!

And in the tradition of book birthdays, that means a celebration and prizes for you!

As part of our festivities, I’ve invited the lovely Wendy to my blog (and she's invited me over to hers) for some interactive fun. First, here’s a quick look at her book, Unknown:

Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.

When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technology and communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have. 

In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut New Adult series, a frighteningly realistic apocalyptic America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more. 


(BTW, I’ve read Unknown and it was great! You can find my thoughts on GoodReads.)

And now a peek at my book, The Architect of Song:

A lady imprisoned by deafness, an architect imprisoned by his past, and a ghost imprisoned within the petals of a flower - intertwine in this love story that transcends life and death. 

For most of her life, Juliet Emerline has subsisted - isolated by deafness - making hats in the solitude of her home. Now, she's at risk to lose her sanctuary to Lord Nicolas Thornton, a mysterious and eccentric architect with designs on her humble estate. When she secretly witnesses him raging beside a grave, Juliet investigates, finding the name "Hawk" on the headstone and an unusual flower at the base. The moment Juliet touches the petals, a young English nobleman appears in ghostly form, singing a song only her deaf ears can hear. The ghost remembers nothing of his identity or death, other than the one name that haunts his afterlife: Thornton. 

To avenge her ghostly companion and save her estate, Juliet pushes aside her fear of society and travels to Lord Thornton's secluded holiday resort, posing as a hat maker in one of his boutiques. There, she finds herself questioning who to trust: the architect of flesh and bones who can relate to her through romantic gestures, heartfelt notes, and sensual touches ... or the specter who serenades her with beautiful songs and ardent words, touching her mind and soul like no other man ever can. As sinister truths behind Lord Thornton's interest in her estate and his tie to Hawk come to light, Juliet is lured into a web of secrets. But it's too late for escape, and the tragic love taking seed in her heart will alter her silent world forever.  


Okay, let's get to the interviews. The heroine from my NA—a gothic literary romance—is Juliet Emerline from the Victorian era. She’s fascinated by how far women have come in Amber’s twenty-first century setting, and insisted we invite Amber over for a quick Q&A.

So here are our leading ladies, chatting about the differences in their technology and cultures.

*****

Juliet: *motions to the chaise lounge* Please have a seat, Miss Tate. So lovely of you to join us today. My first question isn’t so much a curiosity as it is an observation and a point of envy. I understand women of your time no longer have to hide in the shadows should they have particular talents for withstanding blood and gore. That they can be on the battlefield as soldiers, or even doctors, if they so choose. Could you tell me what a typical day of your job might entail? 

Amber: Hi Juliet! I mean…Miss Emerline, hehe. I love how you’re so proper. Yes, things are very different now, but in a lot of ways women still have to work extra hard to prove themselves. For me, I had to constantly prove my worth to my big brother and his best friend as I was growing up. But I was very lucky to be able to go to nursing school, based solely on my desire and merits, and nobody questioned it. My job as an emergency paramedic is fast-paced, busy, and often heart-wrenching. I’m there to help people at their lowest, and most frightening moments. I’ve watched people die, and I’ve helped people live. It often takes an emotional toll on me, but I wouldn’t change jobs for anything!

Juliet: *smiles and nods* Yours is a noble calling. Much as I like to help others, I wouldn't be comfortable in your shoes. I prefer peace and solitude while crafting my hats. Socializing poses a unique challenge for me. Speaking of hobnobbing, I'm unsure if there’s any stock in this rumor, but there are tales of the undead walking the earth in apocalyptic times. Have you met any zombies yourself?

Amber: Hahahahaha, oh my God, you are awesome. And no, thank all that’s holy, but we have not encountered any zombies in our insane apocalyptic time. There are strange, unexplainable things happening, and we’re working to get to the bottom of those events, but no walking dead.

Juliet: *lets out a relieved sigh* Oh, that's very good to know. I can't imagine filling out dance cards for galas or seating charts for dinner parties when half the guests are decomposing. Let's discuss modern amenities, shall we? It is said you have hot running water and motorized vehicles. I’ve experienced the luxury of warm baths—living in a Manor that sits atop a hot spring—but I must admit to being very intrigued by the horseless carriage. Do you feel that in your society, such conveniences are taken for granted?

Amber: Before this apocalypse hit—World War III—whatever people want to call it, I absolutely took every technological advance for granted. Our cars still work, and we can cover a ton of ground very quickly, but we need gasoline to fuel the engines. Gas (I think you guys would call it petrol?) is hard to find these days. So is running water. But I used to stand under a shower and feel the hot spray for as long as I wanted. *sigh* It was glorious. Frankly, we’d gotten lazy as a society. Now we’re forced to do things for ourselves that we’ve never had to do, and it’s hard.

Juliet: And to think, we use petrol for lamp oil. How brilliant, that it can one day power an entire carriage! I hope in time, you can return to the comforts you've lost. I've one final curiosity, if you'd allow me a whim of fancy …being a hat maker, fashion plays an important role in my life. However, unlike many cultured ladies of my time, I prefer stylish comfort and mobility over societal expectations and guidelines. What elements are important to you in your daily outfittings?

Amber: I am all about comfort. In my job I pull  my hair back in a simple band, and wear something called scrubs. They’re 100% cotton, soft, loose, with a drawstring at the waist. You would die of comfort, Juliet. They are the bomb dot com. Uh, sorry, that means they’re really great. Although not very stylish or flattering. I suppose us nurses have to get by on our personalities, ha.

Juliet: *laughs* If that's the case, you must get on quite well with your charm and wit! Thank you again for stopping by, and Godspeed to you and yours. I hope you win the war, for our future's sake.

*****

Thank you ladies! Now, Wendy and I will both answer a few quick questions to shed some authorial light onto our books.

Add to GoodReads
PB edition on Amazon
Kindle edition on Amazon

Add to GoodReads

PB edition on Amazon

Kindle edition on Amazon

Q: Did any specific songs inspire you while writing your book?

Wendy/Unknown: I wish I could say yes, but I honestly don’t listen to any music while I’m writing. I want to be one of those cool authors who listens to badass playlists to pump them up, but I need complete quiet.

AG/Architect of Song: It's always fun to see how each writer has their own unique routine! I'm the opposite of Wendy. I need music to spark my muse and moods. As for the songs that inspired parts of Architect, they're mainly somber piano accompaniments, romantic ballads, lullabies, instrumentals, and vocals with poignant lyrics and gentle melodies. Here are two, as an example: 

1. Everyone’s Memory is Snow by Phildel: An instrumental with dreamy, melancholy piano-work reminiscent of snow or petals falling, that inspired me as I wrote many of the bittersweet and heartbreaking moments of the book.


2. This Voice by Ane Brun: Ane’s gritty and earthy vocals juxtaposed with the upbeat melody perfectly represent Juliet’s unease yet elation to have discovered a way to hear a voice again—a wondrous secret she can’t share with anyone.

To see all 43 of the songs, follow this link.



Q: Could you share a few images of your characters to give readers an idea of what they look like?

Wendy/Unknown: This has been tough for me, especially a Rylen, and even this is not exactly how I imagine. But the others are pretty much on point. 

Bianca Santos as Amber Tate. 



Drew Van Acker as Rylen Fite. 



Brenton Thwaites as Jacob “Tater” Tate. 



And Hayden Panettiere for Remy Haines.



AG/Architect of Song: I don't know the models' names, but you can find character and Victorian inspired images on my Architect of Song pinterest board. 


Q: What gave you the idea for this story?

Wendy/Unknown: For many years of my adulthood I had recurring apocalyptic nightmares: flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes, going underground, having the land overrun by enemies and having to hide. It was like the movie Red Dawn. I would wake up terrified and wondering what the heck was wrong with me. Years passed and I began reading a lot of dystopian books, starting with Orwell’s 1984, and moving on to YA. Most of what I read were stories that started in the middle of the action, after the dystopian societies were already set up. I was fascinated by HOW the societies fell, and decided I wanted to write about how a normal girl in the United States would handle losing everything, and how it could be possible for the world to fall.


AG/Architect of Song: I actually wrote a whole blog post about the story's origins once. Short version: I was in a 19th century graveyard and saw a tiny fenced-in plot with a lone headstone and a flower growing beside it. It struck me odd that the grave was isolated, and my muse started dancing around, coming up with all sorts of scenarios as to why it might be. Then I asked myself: "What if the person buried there was somehow tied to that lonely flower? What if their life forces had intertwined?" 

All my contemplating birthed a story of a young woman in the Victorian era who touches the flower and awakens a nobleman's spirit. To bond her with the ghost immediately, she would be deaf due to a childhood illness, and his is the first voice she's heard in eleven years. I based Juliet's communication off of a deaf librarian assistant who worked at my elementary school years ago. She read lips so adeptly it was amazing (she'd been reading them/ practicing her whole life). I was so impressed by that ability that it left an indelible impression, so I wanted my character to be a tribute to her. 

However, since Juliet lives in a more discriminatory era, she would be judged on her deafness by ignorant members of society, and have to learn to embrace as a strength what other people saw as a weakness to overcome their prejudices and show herself for the strong, intelligent woman she is. So that became her character arc which played out through her solving a tragic and dangerous mystery. Sadly, I don't know where that librarian is now, or even if she's still alive (she was in her early fifties way back then), but hopefully I did her justice through Juliet. ;) 



Q: Could you describe one of your favorite scenes in your book, and/or share an excerpt? 

Wendy/Unknown: One of my favorite scenes is when Rylen comes back on a visit from his military deployment, and Amber is seventeen-years-old, looking much more grown than the last time he saw her. I love seeing him take her all in with his eyes, and to feel the tension between them. I have a teaser image with a quote from that scene for you. Enjoy!

AG/Architect of Song: Having a paranormal element offered some creative tools for Juliet to use while sleuthing.  From my experience with the librarian in my childhood, I knew Juliet's communication would be tricky. Good lighting and face-to-face proximity were the only ways she'd be able to read lips. For any scenes from afar or in the dark, or were anyone's heads turned, she would have to miss out on what was said. But that's where having a ghost as an accomplice comes in handy. She could rely on Hawk to relay the words being spoken. 

One of my favorite (and one of the most pivotal) scenes in my book takes place on a rooftop where Juliet is watching an interaction between the viscount and another man through a telescope. Hawk is standing next to them, translating what they're saying to her mind as she's watching through the lens. 

Here's a quick unspoilery peek at the setup:

*****

That concludes my interviews! Thanks again for dropping by, Wendy. :) And thank all of you for joining us for our celebration. Be sure to drop over by Wendy's place for a whole different character interview.

Below are pictures of the prizes being offered for the INTL giveaway. Enter the rafflecopter before you leave, and good luck!

Prizes:

Grand Prize (1 winner): 
Signed paperback copies of The Architect of Song and Unknown + swag packs and posters 

2nd Place (1 winner): 
Signed posters and swag from both authors 

3rd Place (2 winners): 
Signed swag from both authors 

a Rafflecopter giveaway