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

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.

*****

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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Happy Book Birthday to The Hummingbird Heart!

Today, Book 2 of the Haunted Hearts Legacy is officially available in both paperback and e-versions! If you like ghost stories, historical romance, sea-faring adventure, mysteries, and circus themes, this is the book for you! 

You can find ordering & more book info on this page of my website. 

And, as you probably know by now, one of the nicest things about book birthdays is that YOU get the gifts. :)

One gift I'd like to share is the book's official ♪♫  playlist ♪♫. You can listen to it here on spotify, or go to this page of my website for links to the songs on youtube.

As a second gift, I'm having an INTL giveaway consisting of the following prizes: 

1 - Signed PB set of The Architect of Song
& The Hummingbird Heart

1 - Signed PB of The Hummingbird Heart

1 - Signed The Hummingbird Heart poster

3 - Signed The Architect of Song
& The Hummingbird Heart swag packs

To enter for your chance to win, help me get the word out about The Hummingbird Heart by following the instructions on the rafflecopter below. 

Good luck to everyone, and thanks for sharing in the festivities as I bring another one of my heart's stories into the world!

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Just because I love looking at it...

Launches 8-15-17

For anyone who missed my latest book cover by Nathalia Suellen, I'm going to set it right here so we can admire it together. 😍

The Architect of Song in audio book!

Click image to enlarge

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.

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 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 

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Lit-Cube September Selection!

Lit-Cube’s September theme is “Haunted Hearts,” and The Architect of Song is their book selection inside a box filled with story-related treasures! For box details, follow this link.

Sneak Peek at The Architect of Song

Here's a sneak peek at part of the back cover and spine for my upcoming gothic love story, The Architect of Song. 

Click image for closeup 

The beautiful artwork is by Nathalia Suellen. I'm going to have a book trailer + full cover reveal on April 28th during the New Adult Scavenger Hunt. And, there will be INTL giveaways! 

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!