Fellow Amarillo-dwellers, please join me for a book talk next Monday!

Come chat with me about my newest Gothic fairy tale, Stain! There won't be books for sale, but if you happen to own some of my titles, bring them along and I'll sign them for you after the event. <3

Meet the Characters of Stain...

Stain's characters have been called kaleidoscopic, unique, spiritually deep, and elaborately drawn by reviewers. If you've yet to read my fairytale / fantasy hybrid, here's an insider's look at the seven most important players in my gritty and Gothic retelling inspired by The Princess and the Pea, with quotes from the book to pique your interest:

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Stain audiobooks are here!

My author copies of Stain’s audiobooks by Blackstone Publishing have arrived and are gorgeous. There will be a giveaway for some very soon! 

This time, the narrator is quite different from the one we used in all my other titles. It's fitting, considering this book is different from anything I've ever written. We chose a male narrator with a beautiful British accent to really spotlight the old world fairytale atmosphere. 

To listen to a sample and/or for ordering options, follow any of the links provided below.

• Blackstone Audiobooks
• Audible
• Downpour
• Barnes & Noble

Stain's Pinterest Board Reveal + INTL Giveaway!

***GIVEAWAY ENDED*** 

I'm on tour this week for #Stain's launch so will announce the winners after January 21st. Thanks to all who took part!

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Only a week to go until Stain finally hits the shelves on January 15th, so it's time for an international giveaway to celebrate!

First, for some insight into the story itself, here's a trade review from School Library Journal:

Although that gives you some small idea, a picture is worth a thousand words -- so today I'm revealing the secret pinterest board filled with characters, creatures, moods, songs, and settings that helped inspire my gothic fairytale. 

Click here to visit the board where you can find all the images along with Stain's official playlist.

Want to sample the story? You can read the entire first chapter here.

And remember, for readers in the U.S., there's an awesome preorder incentive going right now that will guarantee you an enamel rose pin, a signed bookplate, and the Morpheus prequel story, Alice the Absent. 

You can find the details for that swag pack here.

Now, let's get to the international goodies that everyone has a shot at winning!

Prizes are as listed:

#1- Signed Stain hardback

#2 - Signed Alice the Absent short story

#3 - Silvered maple leaf ornament representing Prince Vesper's frozen kingdom of Nerezeth

#4 - Moths and music 8x11 print (frame not included) representing Lyra, her moth friends, and her birdsong voice

#5 - Sun, moon, and stars brooch representing both the day and night kingdoms

#6 - Hand-painted fox postcard, representing Elusion, the shape-shifting sylph

#7 - Secret gift packet (filled with a handful of fairytale freebies)

That's a chance for seven people to win a prize. So go forth and enter, and may the rafflecopter odds be ever in your favor!

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Stain's Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition

More exciting Stain news! Barnes & Noble is offering an exclusive edition with extra pages full of amazing content! A preorder will earn you an incentive package, just as any Stain preorder. 

Follow this link to the B&N website for ordering info.

Stain's first trade review...

So thrilled with this glowing Kirkus review for my upcoming gothic fairy tale!

Don't forget the preorder incentive going on now through 1/14/19:

For details and order options, follow this link.

The White Rabbit is out of the Hat...

At last! The frabjous gift I've been teasing for weeks has been revealed...

As part of my publisher's preorder incentive for Stain, I've written a brand new prequel "origin story" about our favorite moth-man, Morpheus! 

These print copies (with gorgeous original cover art) will ONLY be available via this campaign. It's not for sale anywhere, and it's not available online. So if you want to see how Morpheus became the master of mischief who stole the show in the Splintered Series (or if you've never read Splintered and want to meet him before starting the books--the story's spoiler free!) be sure to preorder Stain and follow the instructions you'll find at the link I provided below.

Also included in this gift pack is a signed bookplate for your copy of Stain, and a beautiful customized gold and purple enamel rose pin. Exclusive only to this campaign, it pays homage to some very unique roses from my gothic fairy tale.

Offer good until 1/14/19 or while supplies last. Allow 8 to 10 weeks for delivery.
Offer limited to residents of the 50 U.S. (and D.C.), aged 13 or older. 

For instructions on how to get your preorder gift pack, follow this link. 

So excited to finally share this short story; I had a blast hanging out with Morpheus and some of the Splintered crew once more in my warped Wonderland, and I hope you'll leap at this opportunity to go there again, too!

An excerpt from Stain + a preview of the beautiful book jacket!

Next Tuesday-Sunday, October 2-7, this year's fall YA Scavenger Hunt goes live!

One of the books up for grabs will be a hardback copy of Stain, my gothic fairytale (hitting shelves January 2019). To celebrate, I wanted to reveal the gorgeous artwork and excerpt on the book jacket: 

Click to enlarge image

Beautiful colors, right? It's only fitting that I’m on the Purple Team.

Here's a peek at the other amazing titles my team is giving away (INTL!):

Also, I’ll have a bonus personal INTL "fairytale" giveaway offering these enchanting prizes:

Click image to enlarge

So, be sure to join us on Tuesday so you don't miss out on all the free books and swag! :)

Peek inside my upcoming fairy tale fantasy...

Here's a glimpse of the prologue + gritty gothic fairy tale interior of Stain, as showcased in the limited-edition sampler. 

Click to enlarge

***BONUS*** 

For anyone living in the Lubbock area who missed Hub City Con 2018 last weekend, head over to B&N (Slide Rd location), buy any of my young adult autographed books, and receive a signed sampler (there are only 10 samplers left, so first come first served!).

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Why The Glass Butterfly's book birthday is a CATastrophe (aka: why I've been quiet as a dormouse the past few days)...

Today is The Glass Butterfly's official book birthday! HURRAH!

(gif by Heather Love King)

However, there's been a glitch. Since I've chosen to publish these books as indie titles (see story behind that decision here), I myself am responsible for uploading every version individually, paperbacks, ebooks, etc... on each and every online site available to indie authors.

Unfortunately, there's a processing timeline that has to be adhered to. It takes most versions at least 72 hours to go through and appear on all the venues for purchase.

Normally, I'm on the ball and can get things done three days ahead. In fact, I had last Friday set on my calendar as upload day, but then something unexpected dropped into my path...this little love, right here:

Friday afternoon while running errands, my daughter and I spotted this teensy 6-week-old baby scrambling around on busy a four-lane street in the middle of town (gif is a representation, not actual location). 

She was so terrified, she finally rolled up in a trembling ball in the middle lane as seven or more cars (and even a semi!) passed over her at full 40 mph speed without slowing down. The tires barely missed her each time because--by some miracle--she was centered between the lines just perfectly. 

My heart stopped with every car's passage. I was praying she'd survive, but had tears in my eyes and averted my gaze each time...the thought of her getting crushed was harrowing. I was trembling myself as I pulled into the closest parking lot to find a way to get her. Fortunately, at the same time, an anonymous, heroic man (who I will forever believe was this kitten's guardian angel) stopped his car mid-traffic and put the hazards on to pick her up out of the street. 

After he rescued her, he pulled into the parking lot where we waited. He stepped out of his truck, wincing, because the poor little love was wound around his ankle like a teensy, furry python and had her claws embedded in his skin. As I helped him get free, he asked if I could take over from there. I said of course, because I knew she was meant to be ours. 

We were only two minutes away from my veterinarian's office. The kitten was inconsolable and yowling so we wrapped her in a towel to protect her sharp little claws (and ourselves, haha) while I drove over.

After keeping her overnight, our vet gave her a good bill of health (another miracle that she had only road burn on her nose and paws from nuzzling into a tight ball on the asphalt to barricade herself against the velocity of the cars passing over), so we brought her home to be part of our family on Saturday. Here she is, happy and healthy in her safe place on the little fleece blanket I made for her.

She's a sweet, resilient tiny kitten. We named her Jujube (like the miniature gummy candies that I loved as a teen).

We call her Juju for short which is fitting, because in the urban dictionary, Juju means luck (bad and good both). Also, if you add a “b” at the end of each “u” it becomes jubjub (like the bird from Alice in Wonderland). 

How fitting is that for the pet of an author who's written an AiW spinoff?

All that to say, due to our newest addition, I didn’t have time to do any work until Monday because we were helping Juju adjust to her home and recuperate from her traumatic experience. 

So, as of now, the only places where The Glass Butterfly is live are Nook, Amazon, and iTunes (apple). Perfect for anyone who'd like to order the ebook versions and start reading today! 

However, if you're wanting a paperback, there is only one venue available from which to order, and it's B&N. Others should be processed by this weekend. I will update The Glass Butterfly page with more buttons as soon as other versions become available, so keep checking there!

Also, in the spirit of her new and bright future, Jujube thanks you for your patience and hopes you'll take part in the festivities while you wait! There's still a fantastic INTL giveaway going on for the prizes below through August 18th, so be sure to enter the rafflecopter before you leave today. And as always, thanks so much for the book support!

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The Glass Butterfly Tour and Giveaway!

In just a little over a week, THE GLASS BUTTERFLY will be available for purchase! You can preorder on kindle today, and all other formats, including Nook and paperback will be available in other stores and venues on August 15th.

To celebrate, we're having a two week review tour from August 6th-10th & 13th-17th (weekdays only).

There's also an INTL giveaway for the amazing prizes pictured here! 

Click image for a closer look!

Giveaway info: To check out some early reviews and enter the giveaway, visit any or all of the tour stops listed below over the next 2 weeks, and look for the rafflecopter provided at the end of each post!

Week One

8/6/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Review

8/7/2018- Smada's Book Smack- Review

8/8/2018- YA SH3LF- Review

8/9/2018- Book-Keeping- Review

8/10/2018- Omg Books and More Books- Review

Week Two

8/13/2018- Literary Dust- Review

8/14/2018- History from a Woman’s Perspective- Review

8/15/2018- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

8/16/2018- Pandora's Books- Review

8/17/2018- BookHounds YA- Review

Stain galley pages have arrived!

I always find the evolution of a manuscript so fascinating ... all the stages it takes before actually being born as a "real" book. 

I wanted to share a peek at Stain's galley. This is the production phase where the word doc is being formatted to take on the form of a book. 

In answer to the question, "What color will Stain's ink be?" I offer this up-close image of the interior artwork:

My phone's flash gave the image a sepia tone, but my publisher actually chose a black/white/grayscale antiquated interior to represent the fairy tale / medieval theme—a starkly beautiful effect that also honors the book’s unpolished and flawed Gothic princess. I’m hoping fellow lovers of dark fairy tales will adore this book aesthetic as much as I do!

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The Glass Butterfly Pinterest & Playlist Reveal + Giveaway!

In less than 2 months, The Glass Butterfly will break free of its cocoon and fly. So it's time for a couple of reveals and a giveaway!

Below is a peek at my secret pinterest board. I've now made it public, so by clicking on the image, you'll be taken to pinterest where you can see all my visual inspirations for the story.

Click to go to board

And anyone who knows me knows I'm inspired auditorily as well as visually, so here are the songs that I used to set moods, emotions, and scenes.

Don't have spotify? Check out a list of the songs linked up to youtube by visiting this page on my Haunted Hearts Legacy website.

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Now for the international giveaway. Below are the five prize packs up for grabs. Just enter the rafflecopter for your chance at one!

The Architect of Song prize pack 

(signed swag, 

8x11 vintage musical sheet and flower print)

The Hummingbird Heart prize pack 

(signed swag, Papyrus jeweled 

hummingbird greeting card)

The Glass Butterfly prize pack 

(signed swag, set of 6 butterfly/dragonfly magnets)

Journal and Quill prize pack 

(vintage brocade journal, 

quill and ink set)

Haunted Hearts Legacy prize pack 

(three book set, signed and personalized)

Good luck to all who take part, and I look forward to sharing this romantic, mysterious, and ghostly tale with you on August 15, 2018!

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The Glass Butterfly Cover Reveal + Giveaway!

***Giveaway Ended***

Welcome to the cover reveal for The Glass Butterfly, book 3 in the Haunted Hearts Legacy series! If you haven't yet seen the beautiful cover by Nathalia Suellen, here's a sneak peek. 

To see the whole image and read an exclusive excerpt from the book, follow this link. 

And here's the book description:

 For a decade, twenty-seven-year-old Felicity Lonsdale has masqueraded as a dowager almost twice her age—selling caterpillars to butterfly consortiums—enabling her to hide her courtesan past while raising her late brother’s daughters. Together, the three live on an isolated Irish estate bequeathed by a dying earl. When the earl’s estranged son arrives to claim his inheritance by threatening to expose Felicity’s true identity, she longs to pack up her nieces and run. But a ghostly secret within the castle’s turret holds her captive. 

Nick Thornton—a Roma viscount’s heir—is also captive. After a tryst with an investor’s wife nearly destroyed his family’s holiday resort, Nick forsook everything to elope with her. However, a tragic mistake at his hand led to her and his baby’s deaths. Refusing to turn to the family he shamed, Nick travels to seek the countess who once co-wrote a romance with his sister. There’s rumor of a special butterfly in her keep—a transparent-winged species with ties to the afterlife. Nick hopes to contact his dead wife and child, convinced only their forgiveness can free him. 

Upon his arrival to Felicity’s estate, Nick offers to help her defeat the earl’s son, on the condition she allow Nick to investigate her glass butterflies. Felicity agrees, though fears the closer he gets to the ghosts of his past, the closer he’ll come to uncovering her own. As Nick spends time with Felicity and her nieces, he realizes the mystery enshrouding this fragile countess and her castle is more intriguing than the ghosts he originally came to find. And perhaps putting his dead to rest and helping her do the same will be his true path to redemption. 

Now onto the international giveaway for a chance at these pretty prizes!

• Signed 3-book Haunted Hearts Legacy set
• Hand-painted Vintage Butterfly Wooden Case
• 6 Vintage Glass Magnets: journal page, butterfy, birdcage
• Set of 5 Vintage Herbarium Diaries
• Aspen Leaf Copper-dipped Ornament: carousel horse

The Glass Butterfly is due to launch August 15, 2018! I'll have more reveals and giveaways along the way, but until then, be sure to enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of these five prizes, and thanks for partaking in the cover reveal festivities!

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STAIN cover reveal giveaway!

***GIVEAWAY ENDED***

Welcome to the Stain cover reveal! If you haven't yet seen the beautiful cover by Nathalia Suellen, here's a sneak peek. 

To see the whole image in all its magical fairytale glory, follow this link. 

And here's the updated book description:

A gothic fairytale inspired by The Princess and the Pea. 

After Lyra—a princess incapable of speech or sound—is cast out of her kingdom of daylight by her wicked aunt, a witch saves her life, steals her memories, and raises her in an enchanted forest . . . disguised as a boy known only as Stain. Meanwhile, in Lyra's rival kingdom, the prince of thorns and night is dying, and the only way for him to break his curse is to wed the princess of daylight, for she is his true equal. As Lyra finds her way back to her identity, an impostor princess prepares to steal her betrothed prince and her crown. To win back her kingdom, save the prince, and make peace with the land of the night, Lyra must be loud enough to be heard without a voice, and strong enough to pass a series of tests—ultimately proving she’s everything a traditional princess is not.

Now onto the international giveaway for a chance at these pretty prizes!

Each prize has something to do with the story. As for the arc, those will be available later this year, so this is your first chance to win one! I'm also offering a signed Splintered collector's set. What does that have to do with the story? Much like Splintered, this book is filled with magic, mystical characters, fantastical creatures (some creepy, some cute and funny, and some beautiful), and intricate world building. So if you liked all those things in my Alice in Wonderland tales, you'll like it in Stain. What about the other prizes? Here's a hint as to what they represent:

The sun and moon bookmark signify our prince and princess and their destiny to reunite a world that's been split in two by a curse. The moon has been torn from the sky and banished to a wintry night kingdom deep beneath the earth, leaving the sun and kinder seasons to the day kingdom above ground:

You can find the rafflecopter for the prizes at the end of this post. If you want to know more about Stain and the symbolism behind the cover art, read on!

By looking at the cover, you can see Lyra (aka Stain) isn't a typical princess. She's in fact an anti-princess. She's tinged blue with moonlight, causing her aunt to dub her a "stain upon the family name" in their kingdom of perpetual sun. The night prince, on the other hand, is copper-complected in a realm of moonlit people. Each is foretold to balance the other, and together, they're to unite their broken world.

 What's up with the princess's crazy-long eyelashes? Here's an excerpt from the book, when the wicked aunt first sees her niece, the crown heir:

"It is startling.” Griselda observed the babe around her brother’s sturdy shoulder; the tiny princess wriggled within her ivory-lace blanket, a faint, bluish-tinged creature that resembled a curdled shadow on a saucer of cream. “Her lashes . . . they’re bone-white. And longer and more numerous than a centipede’s legs. There’s no denying she’s been touched by moonlight. She’ll have no shield from the sun.  It must be the illness from the queen’s blood. A contagion from the cursed land of eternal gloom and ice.”

On the cover, my princess wears a crown of barbed wire, representative of the thorns and nails that contribute to her scars. Scars are something she shares with the prince. Here's an excerpt from the book highlighting their flaws:

“I wonder how many that is now?” Vesper patted the raised welt. “Perhaps enough I can double as a patchwork quilt.” The edges of his mouth twitched in a teasing smirk. “Let’s play a trick on the castle’s seamstresses . . . hang me on the wall naked beside their finest creations. See how long it takes them to notice.”

Stain stifled a surprised laugh at his attempt at levity. Her own scars stared back at her, providing an intimate awareness of how desecrated he must feel. Though some of her wounds had been made through experiences and adventures she chose, there were others inflicted upon her, robbing her of any choice. 

As for the colors of the cover, gold and purple both play pivotal roles in the story. 

And of course there are the spiderwebs and moths surrounding the princess. Nighttime creepers are her attendants in this tale, as are shadows. 

Stain is due to launch January 2019! I'll have more reveals and giveaways along the way, but until then, be sure to enter the rafflecopter below, and thanks for partaking in the cover reveal festivities!

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My visit to Prague and the Humbook Festival!

Sorry I’ve been so quiet! My generous Czech publisher, CooBoo, flew me into Prague for the fabulous #Humbook festival last week. Here are highlights, scrapbook style (click images to enlarge).

To see more pictures of the architecture, shops, and food I sampled, follow this link to my Prague pinterest board.

Now, I’m going dark a while longer. I've less than 2 months to finish Stain, my gothic Princess and the Pea fairytale retelling. Have an awesome Halloween, and I’ll see you when I come up for air!