The Hummingbird Heart Six-Weeks-Away Giveaway!

August 15th is right around the corner, which means we're close to six weeks away from the release of book two in my Haunted Hearts Legacy series! 

To celebrate, I'm having an international giveaway with lots of prizes, including a chance for a few readers to read The Hummingbird Heart early.

Before we get to the deets, here's a quick intro to my new adult series for anyone who hasn't started it yet. 

The Haunted Hearts Legacy is a set of sensual, gothic historical romances with paranormal elements. Being a generational / familial series, each story is tied to the main characters from book one. You get glimpses of the original couple throughout the series, and find out how they're faring over time, all while being taken on new ghostly journeys by their grown children.

So, if you haven't read book one, it's a bit spoilery to jump into the second, but each story can still stand alone. If I did my job right, reading book two will make you curious enough to go back and read how everything played out in the first one. ;)

Here's a peek at the first book in the series, The Architect of Song: 

Click to enlarge and read description

To read a sample, follow this link. Also, check out the visual and musical inspirations for the book on my pinterest board:

Click to visit pinterest board

The Architect of Song is available for purchase now. Follow this link for ordering options. Also, the kindle version is available for a limited time at the discounted price of $2.99 to help ring in book two's imminent arrival. Follow this link for deets. 

Here's a look at book two, The Hummingbird Heart:

Click to enlarge and read description

If you'd like to read a sample, follow this link. And, you can check out my visual inspirations and a few samples from my playlist on the pinterest board:

Click to visit board

The Hummingbird Heart is now available for kindle preorder at a discounted price of $5.95 (regular kindle price post-launch will be $7.95). Follow this link for deets. 

Nook, book depository, iBook, and print versions will be available on the official launch date, August 15, 2017. 

******

Now, lets get down to business. Here are the prizes up for grabs (each one has significance to the story line):

3 - Grand Prize winners will receive an e-ARC for early reading!

Medusa Masquerade Mask

8x11 - "Not all those who wander are lost" Nautical Print

8x11 - Circus Nightmare Print

Hummingbird/Ladybug Jeweled Bookmark

Faux Antique Watch Pin

Set of 3: Hummingbird Magnets

Set of 5 - Nautical Magnets

Hummingbird Temporary Tattoo

 And two special bonus grand prizes:

2 - The Architect of Song paperbacks, signed and personalized

That's thirteen winners! The giveaway ends in two weeks. To enter, follow the rafflecopter instructions below, and good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RoseBlood Launch Event!

RoseBlood's Phantastic launch party will be a week from today (Saturday, January 14th, 2 pm) at my local B&N!

I'll be giving away collectible masks and phantomly/RoseBlood swag as long as supplies last. :)

Hope some of you can take part in the festivities!

Out of city/state? Books can be reserved to be autographed and mailed your way. Click the image below for full details.

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 Architect of Song 20-stop Blog Tour + Prizes Galore!

Today, The Architect of Song blog tour begins! Here's a quick look at the (INTL) prizes:

2 - signed The Architect of Song paperbacks

3 - The Architect of Song e-books

1 - heart locket necklace

1 - Architect of Song poster

1 - faux leather journal

1 - 5X7 musical print

3 - The Architect of Song swag packs

1 - LitCube surprise box 

Below is the blog schedule. My guest posts, reveals, and excerpts are highlighted in purple. Just follow the links to learn more about the book and enter the rafflecopter for the giveaways. Hope you'll join us for exclusive first looks and insiders info, along with opinions from early readers!

Tour Schedule

Week One:

7/25/2016- Dark Faerie Tales– Guest Post-Hybrid Author

7/25/2016- a GREAT read– Review

7/26/2016- Lisa Loves Literature– Review

7/26/2016- Bookfever– Review

7/27/2016- Fiktshun– Character Interview

7/28/2016- The Reading Café– Review

7/28/2016- Adventures of a Book Junkie– Review

7/29/2016- Please Feed the Bookworm– Review

7/29/2016- 21st Century Once Upon A Times– Review



Week Two:

8/1/2016- Once Upon a Twilight – Exclusive Excerpt

8/1/2016- Ramblings of a Daydreamer– Review

8/2/2016- My Friends Are Fiction– Guest Post- Fashion

8/2/2016- Sarcasm & Lemons– Review

8/3/2016- Cornerfolds– Review

8/3/2016- BookHounds YA– Review

8/4/2016- Bookiemoji– Exclusive Excerpt

8/4/2016- Owl Always Be Reading– Review

8/5/2016- The Cover Contessa– Review

8/5/2016- Mundie Moms– Review

8/5/2016- Two Chicks on Books– Guest Post- Playlist

RoseBlood Artwork and Excerpt Reveal!

****GIVEAWAY ENDED****

Winners have been announced here.

Back in March, we had the official RoseBlood cover reveal. If you saw that post, you know there was a story behind the artwork. For those who missed it, here's a recap:

RoseBlood’s cover had an interesting journey. At first, I had my heart set on a panoramic view of my heroine, Rune, singing in front of the stage. There’s a scene in the book when she first embraces her voice without pain that is so powerful, it gives the reader that feeling of being swept away upon swells of living music. That’s what I had hoped to capture. So Nathalia Suellen worked up an amazing, evocative, and dark rendition of said scene, and I fell in love.

However, the panoramic view was harder to spot from a distance . . . not as eye-catching. And eye-catching is one of the first rules of a good cover. Also, it was a busier cover, which can be distracting, especially in thumbnail images. And, were we instead to go with a close-up image, similar in ways to the Splintered books, readers would automatically know it was written by the same author, just from one quick glance.

So, the panoramic was pushed aside, and a close-up cover took center stage for marketing reasons.

BUT, I didn’t want to say goodbye to that first mockup. So I bought the original image from Nathalia to use in posters and postcards. This way, you all get to share in the cover journey and have a visual of that pivotal scene from the book.

Without further adieu, here is the panoramic image, and the excerpt it represents -- the first time Rune manages to sing without pain with the help of her masked "maestro":

Excerpt:

The finale stretches, silken and luxurious, before falling in an audible drizzle that coats every wall, rafter, and seat with tremulous emotion.

The room stops spinning, and I’m left standing—strong, powerful … victorious. For the first time in ten years, I conquered the music. I did it.

“I did it!” I shout, spinning in place on the stage, my wet dress opening like a parasol and sprinkling water everywhere. I haven’t felt like this for so long … elated, like when Dad would accompany me, when together we carried the songs.

The unanswered guilt at his absence flutters through my heart again, but can’t find a place to perch. My chest is too full of happiness; it feels effulgent, as if it’s glowing from within. I look down to find it is, and can’t help but wonder if somewhere above me, the Phantom’s chest is glowing, too.

I glance up at the box seats and project my voice, smiling. “Thank you...”

The soft wail of that familiar violin answers, not in my mind, not from the balcony, but from the orchestra pit. One murmuring, sensual note that winds around me like a caress. 

My cheeks tingle and I press my palms to them, only to realize the black glove is gone from my hand, as if he took it back during our fantasy dance. As if he really held me in his arms…

*****

Yes, those thorny, black vines actually play a part in the story, but not in this particular scene. And yes, they're every bit as creepy and dangerous as they appear. ;)

Now, onto the giveaway!

(1) One personalized and signed RoseBlood ARC.

(2) One signed poster of the panoramic image revealed today. 

(3) Three panoramic postcards + RoseBlood swag packs:

 

 

 That's 5 chances to win something, INTL! Enter the rafflecopter below, and good luck to everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcing: The Architect of Song + RoseBlood ARC/poster winner!

Okay, first, the winner of the RoseBlood cover reveal ARC + poster giveaway has just been announced via the rafflecopter. 

Congrats to Alice Wu, and thanks to everyone who took part! If you didn't win, don't despair! There a lot more giveaways on the horizon... ;)

Which leads me to the next point of this post: A while back, I hinted at my literary gothic romance in the blog post at this link. 

Today I'm announcing the title officially via my GoodReads book bio:

"NYT bestselling author, A.G. Howard, brings her darkly magical and visual/visceral storytelling to Victorian England. THE ARCHITECT OF SONG is the first installment in her lush and romantic "Haunted Hearts Legacy" series, a four book gothic saga following the generations of one family as -- haunted by both literal and figurative ghosts -- they search for self-acceptance, love, and happiness.

New Adult: Recommended for ages 17+. Slated to launch August 2016."

Here's the short & sweet description for book one:

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.

If you'd like the longer version, head over here to the GoodReads book page.

There's also a pinterest board for those of you who like eye candy as much as me. ;)

Stay tuned... book trailer reveal, cover reveal, and giveaways are coming soon!