The Post-Ensnared novella has a name and a face!

North Texas Teen Book Festival 2015 was a huge success! Fifty-three authors and several thousand readers/volunteers/librarians were in attendance. WOW. 

I had a great day meeting Splintered fans and being on panels with some amazing authors! Here I am on a horror panel with the incomparable Leigh Bardugo, Carrie Ryan, Nova Ren Suma, and April Genevieve Tucholke:

Picture Attribution: Chara Sullivan

We talked scary movies and books, then discussed our upcoming horror anthology, Slasher Girls & Monster Boys. 

I've read a few of the stories inside, and you're going to want to pick up this little gem. It's filled with all kinds of tantalizing creeptitude.

Anyway, the most exciting time I had all day (other than meeting the fabulous fans--that's always the best part) was revealing the novella's title and cover! My good pal, Jenny Mlodzik, snapped some pictures of the event, so here it is in still shots:

And the title is UNTAMED! Yay! (I know, I was putting on a silly show ... but it was fun ... that's all that matters, right?)

Here's a nice big image, so you can see all the loveliness up close and personal:

Here's a quick rundown of Q&A about the book/cover:

Q: Is it going to be available in hardback or just ebook?
A: Both!

Q: When is it being released?
A: December 2015

Q: Will The Moth in the Mirror be included in this collection?
A: Yes!

Q: Will there be ARCs or gallies?
A: No, I'm sorry. My publisher isn't printing advanced reader copies since it's a companion novel. 

Q: Are Alyssa's eyes two different colors?
A: Yes. To find out why, you'll have to read the stories. ;)

Q: Is it posted on GoodReads yet?
A: Yes! Untamed is on GoodReads now, so add, add, add!

Q: What is the book about?
A: Follow this link for more information on the content. 

Q: Can I preorder it?
A: There are preordering buttons provided here. I'll update as more preorder locations become available.

If you have other questions, you may leave them below and I'll try to answer in a few days. Just please make sure your comments/questions aren't spoilery or I'll have to delete them. Not everyone has read Ensnared yet. ;)

I'm still under a crazy deadline, but I'll get a breather later this week (either Thursday or Friday) and will finally have that giveaway I've been promising. And yes, some of the prizes will be Untamed goodies! 

So, keep a weather eye on the horizon! And happy Monday. :)

Cover and Title Reveal for Post-Ensnared Novella

Just found out I'll be revealing my post-Ensnared novella's cover + title LIVE at the North Texas Teen Book Festival this weekend in Irving, TX! 

I'll also be giving away some goodies to readers there in celebration (extra incentive for anyone who can attend.)

Schedule deets are here. 

But if you can't go, don't despair! I'll have that giveaway I've been promising when I get back and I'll be sure to include some novella-related goodies as prizes!

Craving more Wonderland madness?

Yep, Alyssa's wearing her party hat. Here's why:

A lot of readers have been asking if Ensnared is really the end of the Splintered Series, and there's even been a rumor circulating that there might one day be a follow-up novella in the works (I should know...I'm the one who started it. Hehe).

Now finally I get to let you know officially! 

There IS a post-Ensnared novella on the horizon! Not sure when it will hit shelves yet, but I'm almost done writing it and have been having so much fun revisiting this world/characters! ❤

There are a few more details here. And I'll be back in March with a title and the cover reveal, along with a giveaway to celebrate. (◕‿◕)

Hope to see you then!

LIVE CHAT CORRECTION POST!!!

My apologies!

I've been giving everyone the wrong date for my live chat. *sigh* 

Not sure how I got the date wrong in my brain ... let's just say I don't get along well with numbers. I'm a words and letters girl. :) 

I originally said it would be on the 6th, BUT, the Ensnared live chat will actually be this coming Saturday, February 7th, at 2pm Central (8 pm GMT).

Please join us! We'll chat about Ensnared, the series, and offer up some fun prizes.  Here's a peek at them:

AiW Pocketwatch Necklace

Swag packs

Author signed 8x10 ENSNARED art print

Just follow the hashtag #NetherlingsRead on twitter for more info.

Hope to see you then, and sorry for the confusion! 

My personal thoughts on Ensnared's ending...

This past Sunday, the Splintered Series officially hit the New York Times Best Sellers list:

And I want to thank you! This could've never happened without all of  the awesome reader support. I'm planning a giveaway to celebrate and show my gratitude. It's coming soon! So be sure to stop by in March for details.

But first, not too long ago, I said I would share what went through my mind as I was wrapping up the final book of the Splintered trilogy. Anyone who has followed the series to its end deserves the inside track. 

So, let's get to it... 





Ensnared has been out for almost a month. If you've finished reading it, you’re probably feeling one or more of these emotions:

A) Elated
B) Bittersweet
C) Contented
D) Tangled up in feels
E) Dissatisfied
F) Vexed
G) Angry 

For those of you who are feeling E - G, I empathize. Although I have no control over how the ending might make people feel -- since reading is such a personal experience -- I've been there myself, upset about the final pages of a favorite series because I was left confused, dejected, or unsatisfied. So I do understand. 

I recently saw a fabulous article on Buzzfeed, and found this line pertaining to authors: "Taste is subjective, and you're not running for elected office." More fitting words have never been said.

Now that I'm in the author's seat, I look at those endings that once disappointed me -- or made me feel jumbled up inside -- quite differently. I now realize that it’s impossible for any writer to make everyone happy. Their only job, then, is to be true to their characters, and to tell an intriguing tale. 

One of my favorite quotes is by Gordon Lish: “The secret of good writing is telling the truth.”

I promise never to lie to you. I told the truth through my characters' eyes, down the line. And I'm hoping that Ensnared at least accomplished the following things for you:

• Presented vivid settings, creatures, and scenarios that whisked you into the pages and helped you escape your everyday world. 
• Offered twists and turns that kept you guessing and at the edge of your seat. 
• Inspired swoons and angry outbursts and an occasional smile. 

If so, that's all I can really hope for as an author. I touched your emotions, and allowed you to wear someone else’s skin in a world that you would otherwise never see. Love triangles are subjective, and there is no resolution that everyone will consider perfect. So what I tried to do, from this book's beginning to its end, was entertain and inspire imaginations. And in that, I hope I succeeded.

To meet publishing guidelines, I had to cut 10,000 words from Ensnared's final manuscript, and a big chunk of those words came out of the last few chapters. There are deleted scenes that I wish could've remained in the book because they helped show how deep the sacrifices were running and how many emotions were involved in those decisions at the end.

However, I do get to share them with you (along with some new Splintered tales) in this follow up novella. But aside from that, I wanted to share what went through my mind as things were wrapping up in Ensnared. Believe me, the feelings/questions some of you have experienced, I did as well. 

Part of an author's process (often with the help of their editors or critique partners) is to play Devil's advocate and ask the tough questions they anticipate might run through readers' minds. We do this so that we can satisfy the answers for our own inner-editor enough to look past other people's opinions and find the story's ONE TRUE ending. 

Every book has one. But sometimes authors get talked into writing what the majority wants to happen instead (not always by readers ... sometimes by their publishers or friends). Or, the author decides it's too scary to write the true ending because it's in some way controversial, so they choose one of the easier, more palatable routes. 

When you read a controversial ending, the kind that causes mixed feelings or frustration -- or just a pure, heady emotional rush, whether it be positive or negative -- those are the endings that the author had to soul search to find. And rest assured, that author was terrified at some point to go through with it. 

That's how it was for me. 

Going through with the ending I knew was right for Ensnared was scary, because I had to justify it even during the editing stages. It was difficult and intimidating. But I believed in this ending so strongly, I fought for it. 

Why? Because it's the only ending that was true to my characters. They’re the ones who live in my head, so I was determined to make the choices that they wanted me to make so they wouldn’t haunt me day and night. ;)

Fortunately, I got to keep my ending. I'm so grateful for that! It helped, that for almost every question and concern tossed my way during edits, my own inner-editor had already asked it of me, so I had an answer. 

It's those "inner-editor" moments I'm sharing today, because they're some of the same questions you might be asking, and because the answers give insights into how the story played out, how the character arcs and canon figured in, and why certain plot choices were made, from my point of view as the author. 

Since there are Ensnared spoilers involved, and I wanted to keep the body of my blog spoiler-free, I wrote them into a different post that you can link to below. 

Comment warning: I love chatting with my readers, so I left the comments open. But please be aware there might be spoilers there, so read them at your own risk. 




Now, onto my personal thoughts...

Before you delve into the PDF, BE AWARE . . . it has TONS of spoilers inside. Big fat, hairy-scary, matzah ball spoilers galore. 

Not only do I  talk about the ending, I also reveal some key plot points. So I'm asking that you please DO NOT open it unless you either want to be spoiled (Why? Why would you want to be violated in such a way?! The travesty! The humanity!); or, more preferably, you’ve already read book 3 and want an exclusive glimpse at the inner workings of the author’s mind.

Just be sure before you follow the link…


Click here to read the very spoilery ending post…

I look forward to hearing from you in the comments! 

Thanks for dropping by today, and I hope to see you again soon. :)

The Splintered Series Final Chapter and An Exciting Announcement...

At last, Ensnared is out in the world! I hope you're either reading/have read/will be reading it soon because in a few weeks I'll be writing up a blog post about why it ended like it did. 

Everyone has their opinions whether the ending was amazing or terrible, fair or unfair, or "real-life enough" (that one is baffling; this isn't contemporary fiction, it's fantasy and Wonderland ... of course magic was going to play a pivotal role in the ending since I wrote it organically and stayed true to my enchanted story-world). @.@

But only the author has insight into how the story played out across the page while writing it, how the character arcs and canon figured in, and why certain plot choices were made. Each one had a reason, and you deserve to know them since you've been faithful and have followed the series to its end. :)

<Slightly Spoilery...highlight to read> I'll also be including excerpts from all the books and the novella that alluded to this ending, contradicting any suggestions that I was derivative or mimicked the ending of any other recently closed books series. Unless I'm psychic (I wish!), I had no idea, over a year and a half ago, how any other authors were going to end their books these past few months. ;)

So be watching for that one! 

If you've already read Ensnared or haven't read it and would like to take part in a read along, I'll be doing a live skype show in February to discuss the book. The hosts have arranged a readalong (check out the hashtag #NetherlingsRead on twitter), and there are prizes up for grabs. 


Hope you can join us!

Also, I have another announcement that I'm dying to make, but I have to wait for the green light from my publisher. When it's time to tell everyone, I'll go big and have a fun giveaway, too! The prizes will include some signed Ensnared hardbacks/ Unhinged paperbacks, and Alice goodies.

Right now, I'm in the midst of some looming writing deadlines + book launch activities and am trying to stay focused, so I'll be pretty quiet until then. 

Be back soon! 

Ensnared Virtual Tour Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone who took part in the 

Ensnared virtual book tour!

Without further adieu, here are the winners of the giveaways...

Winners of the INTL prizes:

Gothic Faerie Print & Splintered tote ~ Vanessa Vazquez 

The Art of Winter coffee table book, and “Chessie tail” rearview mirror charm ~ Teracia Loretan

Harlequin / Ragdoll Zippered Bag ~ Tammy Hall

Signed Splintered Series ARC Set ~ Teresa Ptasiuk Salvatore

*****

Winners of the 10 hardbacks (Domestic only):

Lindsay Ann

Morgan Keith

Viki Sloboda

Alicia Medina

Tari Morris

Lauren Monahan

Julia Rain Wellman

Angel Wilde

Mithila Ahmed

Harlee Shelton

*****

I will be contacting the winners via email. Those who didn't win, take heart! I have a couple of exciting announcements to make very soon, and I'll do another giveaway to celebrate. 

So stay tuned!

Also, in only two more weeks, Ensnared hits the shelves! Can't wait to share the final chapter of the Splintered Series with everyone, although it's a little bittersweet closing my first series. *sighs*

Happy Holidays to everyone. Be safe, have fun, and see you in 2015!

Ensnared ARC up for grabs! (INTL giveaways)

There are five INTL giveaways going on right now (through December 19th) to celebrate Ensnared, the final book of the Splintered Trilogy. 

There are also TEN Ensnared Hardbacks being offered at each stop (Domestic only)

To see a list of all the posts / prizes, and some teasers from the book, 

follow this link.

To go directly to the post that is offering up this gorgeous ARC set of the trilogy (INTL), click on the picture below.

Splintered Trilogy -- Signed Set of all 3 ARCs 

<THIS ARC GIVEAWAY LASTS THROUGH DEC 19th>

Good luck to everyone!

Ensnared Virtual Book Tour Schedule

During December, there are some frabjous Ensnared giveaways that will last through December 19th.

Here's a list of the teasers and what's up for grabs:

Fiktshun -- Winter Wonderland song presented by Morpheus and Chessie (+ chance to win a coffee table book, INTL)

Two Chicks on Books -- Cover chat with Jeb and Jenara (+ chance to win a Harlequin zipper bag, INTL)

All the Write Notes -- Official Ensnared Playlist teaser featuring songs from Alyssa, Morpheus, and Jeb (+ giveaway for 10 Ensnared hardbacks, domestic only)

Adventures of a Book Junkie -- Deleted scenes from original Splintered, pre-publication. (+ chance to win a gothic faerie print, INTL)

Dark Faerie Tales -- Entire first chapter of Ensnared, revealed! (+ chance to win a set of ARCs from the series, INTL)

And here's a look at some of the great prizes 

(others aren't pictured here):

Ensnared Virtual Book Tour Sneak Peek

Here's a peek at some of the prizes up for grabs in the Ensnared virtual book tour (coming December 1st-5th). 

(Click to enlarge)

There are a few prizes not pictured here. Everything but the 10-hardbacks will be INTL, so anyone can win (my publisher is donating the hardbacks and they only do domestic prizes).

I'll be posting the blog locations soon, so stay tuned!

Ensnared Book Trailer Reveal Giveaway!

Yay! The ARCs are finally here, and just in time for the October Ensnared teaser reveal!

Aren't they pretteh?

I've been hugging them for hours, so they're broken in and ready to go to good homes... 

Well, three of them anyway. ;) 

But first, here is October's reveal:

Hope you liked it, and are even more excited for book three's launch in January! 

But for now, I promised a giveaway to help tide you over, so here's what's up for grabs (and yes, it's INTL):

3 Signed Ensnared ARCs

1 Vintage Queen of Hearts Print

2 Key Necklace/Book Marks

1 Pair of Alice Key Earrings (from "With Love, From Home")

1 Set of 5 Alice Card Suit Magnets

(Styles will vary)

2 Personalized/signed Splintered Series Swag packs 

That's 10 chances to win a prize! 

Use the rafflecopter below to enter, and I'll see you again in November to announce the winners and the next Ensnared teaser reveal.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ensnared Sample Chapters on Net Galley

For anyone who's been wanting a peek, the first three chapters of Ensnared are now available on NetGalley!

Happy Reading. :)

Update on Netgalley Ensnared ARCs

Today I got to see a mockup of the ARC cover and it's BEAUTIFUL beyond belief. <3 Here's a peek:

Also, when I posted my original ARC update here, I'd been told "we aren’t doing the Google signup but will have it available on NetGalley," and I thought that meant the eARC would be available in its entirety.

I was mistaken. I just got clarification today that Ensnared will be available as a "Sampler" on NetGalley which will encompass a few chapters, meant to whet reader's appetites. 

Sorry! I wasn't trying to mislead anyone and hate to disappoint you. It was an honest miscommunication on both ends. 

But take heart! As promised, I will be giving some of my printed author copies away once they get here. More info on that will be forthcoming. 

Until then, I hope everyone has a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!

Ensnared ARC update

148 days and counting until 

book 3 hits the shelves!

I'm so excited about sharing the "final" installment of the Splintered Trilogy with everyone!

A lot of you have been asking if ARCs will be available. With UNHINGED, I had a Google Doc on my website where people could submit to try to get an ARC, but the official word from my publisher on ENSNARED ARCs is that they aren't printing as many. So they'll be more like collector's items.

This means I don't get to have a Google signup and will be playing no part in who gets ARCs. The e-ARC will be available on NetGalley (no official date yet), although my pub told me they plan to be very selective about who gets a copy.

***UPDATE: 8-28-14***

The Ensnared egalleys (available on NetGalley sometime this fall) will only be sample chapters of the book, not the entire ARC. Sorry! I just found this out today.

On the upside, I will be getting a few author copies which I'll share with you via giveaways! Stay tuned here or on my FB page or twitter and I'll keep you apprised with deets when the giveaways go live. 

Ensnared Excerpt and Happy Fourth of July!

Things have been quiet on my blog because I've been working hard on my Ensnared line edits. I was asked to knock 10,000 words off the original manuscript because my pub hadn't budgeted for a book quite as big as the one I wrote. *sighs*

That's what happens when you're long winded like me. ;)

But, I managed to do it without losing any story or scenes and I'm very happy with the finished product. I sent it off to my editor yesterday and am hoping she loves it as much as me.

To celebrate, I wanted to share an excerpt:

(click to enlarge)

Also, I have a pinterest board dedicated to Ensnared teaser pictures here. So hop over if you'd like more insights into book 3!

Now, I'm going to take a week off of social media to spend time with my poor neglected family. I hope everyone has a safe and fun Fourth of July!

See you soon. (◕‿-)

Splintered & YALC at The London Film and Comic Con!

The UK branch of my publisher is going to YALC this year at The London Film and Comic Con and is hosting FREE makeover sessions inspired by the Splintered Series. Readers can become their favorite characters in 15-min sessions with awesome make up artist Robyn Skinner. 

Fancy yourself an Alyssa rock chick, a Morpheus style netherling or a brooding heart tattooed Jeb? Come down to the shared publisher area on Saturday, July12th. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a signed ARC of Ensnared before it hits stores January 2015!!! 

If you live close to London, or were planning to hit this convention, please stop by the Abram's booth to take part! I wish so hard I could be there to see the makeovers for myself. ;)

Winners Announced!

Thanks to everyone who took part in my cover reveal giveaway! 

Winners, you're listed below and have/will be contacted via email shortly. Please respond within 48 hours. Otherwise, I'll pick a new winner for the prize.

*****

Grand Prize: 

Signed Ensnared ARC

Linda Canniff 

First Prize:

Signed Splintered/Unhinged Flip ARC

Bella Belikov Colella

Second Prize:

Signed Splintered Paperback + Signed Essence

Charley Hrobsky

Third Prize:

Death Head Moth Necklace

Rebecca Green

Fourth Prize:

Signed Splintered Series Swag

Mutmainna Munira 

Prize Pack 1: 

Edible Flower Garden Seed Kit + Edible Flower Cookbook

Addy

Prize Pack 2: 

AiW Magnet + Gothic Bat Cameo

Rhianna Walker

Prize Pack 3: 

Queen of Hearts Bookmark + Queen of Hearts pin

Amanda Machonis

Prize Pack 4: 

Press-on Face Gems + Splintered Series swag and necklace

Larissa Gossner

Prize Pack 5: 

Bleeding Heart Print + Silver-plated Anatomical Heart Charm

Estela Vasquez

*****

Everyone else who entered, I appreciate you! 

Stay tuned because there will be Ensnared teasers, a trailer, a playlist, and excerpts in the coming months.  :)

Day 4 of the ENSNARED cover reveal EVENT!

(Sorry we're late; there was some scheduling confusion today, so we moved the event over here.)

Hope you had a great weekend and are ready to continue our unveiling of the official Ensnared book cover! 

Take a gander at Puzzle Piece #4...

The spotlight character on book 3’s cover has gone through some *changes* (putting it mildly) since the last time we saw them. Not sure what you’re seeing in the sample? The clue is in the prize pack: A set of garnet-red press-on face gems… 

 

And I’m throwing in some personalized Splintered Series swag + a corded necklace, too (FYI, the crown and heart are hugely symbolic in bk3):

Good luck on the giveaway! Also, just one more post left until you get to see it ALL. Join us again tomorrow at Tales of a Ravenous Reader where I’ll share the last puzzle piece and some of the symbolism behind Ensnared’s cover. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Official Ensnared Cover Reveal is here!!!

*** Set your clocks and don't be late! ***

THE ENSNARED COVER REVEAL EVENT 

begins this week!!!

And I am beyond excited to share the beautiful cover art with you!

There will be prize packs at each puzzle post, including Alice in Wonderland goodies. For the final huge giveaway I'll be offering signed books/ARCs and more goodies (including a Splintered paperback, a limited edition Splintered / Unhinged flip ARC, Splintered Series swag, a sekrit TBA prize, and a death head moth necklace). 

And yes, all giveaways are INTL. ❤(◕‿-)❤

It all begins this Wednesday (May 21st). 

Here's the official schedule for your convenience:

• May 21st, Puzzle Piece 1 + teaser / small giveaway - Fiktshun
• May 22nd, Puzzle Piece 2 + excerpt / small giveaway - Adventures of a Book Junkie
• May 23rd, Puzzle Piece 3 + teaser / small giveaway - Dark Faerie Tales
• May 26th, Puzzle Piece 4 + teaser / small giveaway -  right here at my place.
• May 27th, Puzzle Piece 5 + teaser and glimpse of spotlight character / small giveaway -  Tales of a Ravenous Reader
• May 28th, COMPLETE FINAL COVER + HUMONGOUS FRABJOUS giveaway -  Two Chicks on Books

Hope to see you there!

Winners Announced!

Thanks to everyone who helped get the word out about the wrong Ensnared cover!

Here are the three winners (one swag pack each):

1. Michelle Sedeno

2. Emily Ruth

3. Chara Sullivan

If you will email me at anita(at)aghoward(dot)com with your snail mail address, I'll get those sent your way. Be sure and let me know who's name to personalize the bookplates to!

Those of you who didn't win, there's a huge giveaway on the horizon for the OFFICIAL Ensnared cover, and it will be coming sometime later this month! So keep checking here!

BUT, before that, I'll be helping a friend, Eric Devine, reveal his new book cover next week (May 14th) and there will be tons of prizes. Among them, I'll be giving away an Unhinged 18x24" poster, along with some Splintered Series swag:

So check back here on May 14th for deets on Eric's new cover and his FAB giveaway!

Happy weekend, and see you soon!