I've been doing a little writing (not enough, but I like my new prologue of Strangely Beautiful #3, I think I'm starting to figure out this prequel thing) and a lot of planning.
Like scheduling a trip to London! With stops in France and Germany! *happy swoon* I have to research several locations for Strangely Beautiful #4, broaching World War I, and my family graciously has decided to take me along for their own academic research journey, bless them. I'm beside myself with excitement. It's been years since I've gone "home" to London and I'm beyond heartsick for it. I can't wait to meet up with the man who is my foremost resource for great ghost stories; Richard Jones for one of his London Ghost Tours.
Darkly Luminous will be out before we know it! I've been writing up interviews for Borders, for Rhapsody Book Club, all the posts for the Darkly Luminous Haunted London Blog Tour (The schedule is now posted!) and many more, so Miss Percy and The Guard will be galavanting all over cyber-space before we know it. They're quite savvy considering they're upstanding (albeit odd) 19th Century ladies and gentlemen.
I'm planning for my April Ohio tour, where I'll be talking to schools, doing several signings such as a RELASE DAY SIGNING, April 27th at West Chester Ohio Barnes & Noble, attending the RT Booklovers Convention in Columbus and whisking back to the New York area for a whirwind May with readings at Lady Jane's Salon (May 3) KGB Fantastic Fiction (May 19th) and all over the Eastern Seaboard! (All Event listings and locations available at Book Tour).
I'm also gearing up for my online "Direct Your Book!" Workshop for RWA Women's Fiction this week.
Saw (and loved) Alice in Wonderland. Tim Burton (who is of course one of my all-time favourite filmmakers) took great liberties with both the Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass aspects of the Alice tale but I thought it was beautiful and engaging. I found myself particularly fond of the Cheshire Cat and (of course) The Caterpillar, whose voice was created by the inimitable Alan Rickman. And I think this new Alice has some great Percy Parker qualities, what do you think? (Photo from IMDB.com)Good Stuff:
Strangely Beautiful makes charity rounds:
I was approached by a brave teen participant who is helping to fund research for Childhood Cancer. I was only too happy to donate a signed book for a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, and here's Renee's site to donate to her directly. She's shaving her head in support of the cause. Bold and brave, I commend her.
Also I sent along some book goodies to Support Our Soldiers (SOS) America Inc. No matter where you stand on the subject of the wars, our soldiers should feel loved and valued.
I'm also donating a "Strangely Beautiful" goody-bag to bestselling author Brenda Novak's incredible Auction for Diabetes research, this is an amazing way to get cool stuff and support a great cause. Stay tuned as product pages will be going up in a bit - every year the items available for auction get better and better.
STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL Honours 'round the Interwebz and such:
1. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker was picked by Smart Bitches and Dear Author, two of the leading Romance blogs, as a contender in DA BWAHA (Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors)! A big, unexpected honour! Strangely Beautiful, thanks to many of you, made it to the next round, which will go up Sunday. (Voting happens lightning fast in 12 hour rounds).
2. Also, Rhapsody Book Club and Science Fiction Book Club, who took on Strangely Beautiful into their subscription-based hardcover book clubs also have picked up The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker! It's slated to release to their subscription base around the same time as the paperback release.
3. Some advanced feedback about Darkly Luminous has already begun trickling in and it's been very good! I'm thrilled. Because while I love the first in the series, it frankly isn't complete without this sequel. Reviews will be coming in shortly.
It's starting to feel like spring! What are your plans now that the weather is turning?
Blessings!
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