1. I turned in the draft of MISS VIOLET AND THE GREAT WAR
(Strangely Beautiful # 4) to my editor at Tor Books in February, its
publication date isn’t yet set, but drawing Strangely Beautiful to a close was
a heartbreaking and soulful process. I simply cannot wait to share this spirit-filled family
legacy with you.
2. As many of you know, the publication journey of the
Strangely Beautiful saga has been long and fraught, so the return of The
Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess, reissued this spring by Tor Books as
PERILOUS PROPHECY was pure joy. To have it again available in print is such a
blessing. This book, a prequel to the also freshly revised and reissued Strangely
Beautiful, delves deeper into the myth, the magic, the tragedy and the
passionate, redemptive love that I want to wrap my readers up in; bundling them
with lyrical, lush prose.
3. One of the most wonderful reviews of my work I’ve yet received, written by Shana DuBois for Barnes and Noble’s Blog, really captures what I hope readers will take from this book, penned with every ounce of my heart and soul. "There is something truly magical about Leanna Renee Hieber’s writing. Every page of Perilous Prophecy is infused with it, and it will seep into you, changing you as you read."
4. The wonderful Fantasy Café, after graciously hosting my Penny Dreadful rant last year in which I excoriated the show for its character
failings and for its senselessly regressive endings, had me back for their Women in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Feature to discuss The Gothic as a sort of Canary in Fear’s Coal Mine; a discussion of psychological aspects that make the genre so important.
5. Tor.Com had me on to discuss the one book that, if I were to
pick one, most changed my life. The Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe. A writer and historical figure that most profoundly made me who I am today, Poe remains an inspiration that has always helped me navigate my own rough waters…
6. In July I guest starred on The Travel Channel's Mysteries at the Museum! I was in what was called the "Kennedy Wedding Disaster" episode (I speak about the Eddy Brothers and 19th Century Spiritualism, one of my favorite subjects). The episode is available via YouTube or on Hulu. This was so exciting! It was such a treat to speak, for a TV audience, on a subject I know and love so well!
7. In celebration of my ETERNA FILES finale, I
stopped by Terrible Minds, Chuck Wendig’s fabulous site, to talk about the Five things I learned (and relearned) writing THE ETERNA SOLUTION.8. I stopped by the inimitable and generous John Scalzi's domain. For his WHATEVER blog I talked about The Big Idea behind the Eterna Files series as a whole.
9. This November saw the close of my Eterna Files series with
THE ETERNA SOLUTION, an exciting conclusion to this Gaslamp Fantasy trilogy,
showcasing the importance of localized magic and personal power to fight the
last stand of a horrific, violent cabal.
I had wonderful launch parties for this book, just like I did for PERILOUS PROPHECY at Barnes and Noble West Chester, OH and the incredible Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York. Writing this book my inclusive cast of quirky characters endeared themselves to me so deeply, I was sorry to see them draw this part of their narrative to its close but I know I will see many of these fine folks again in future novels, as many of the cast will appear in upcoming books, my extant series all dovetailing in parallel worlds.
I had wonderful launch parties for this book, just like I did for PERILOUS PROPHECY at Barnes and Noble West Chester, OH and the incredible Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York. Writing this book my inclusive cast of quirky characters endeared themselves to me so deeply, I was sorry to see them draw this part of their narrative to its close but I know I will see many of these fine folks again in future novels, as many of the cast will appear in upcoming books, my extant series all dovetailing in parallel worlds.
Meghan Harker wrote the loveliest review of THE ETERNA SOLUTION for Criminal Element and she put into sharp focus why I do what I do, helping fill my well to continue. "The sheer joy of reading Hieber’s work reminded me of what I strive for as an artist and the power that love and friendship have in fighting against the darkness—which, incidentally, is the culmination of her Eterna Files series."
10. I signed on for a new trilogy with Kensington Books! THE
SPECTRAL CITY will release late 2018 from the new Rebel Base imprint. THE
SPECTRAL CITY is a bit like if the show Medium were to meet The Alienist. The
year is 1899. Eve Whitby, a talented nineteen year old Medium, daughter of Lord
Denbury and Natalie Stewart of my Magic Most Foul saga, leads The Ghost
Precinct; a small team of Mediums and Ghosts who help solve crimes and in some
cases prevent them as Gilded Age New York City, and all its dark undercurrents,
are about to tumble into a new century. Spiritualists, Escape Artists,
Charlatans, Spectres and High Society all mix in heady, deadly brew. The Ghost
Precinct loses its most vital spectral assets and the hunt is on for what in
the world could have killed the already dead...
As always I do many conventions and events throughout the
year, check in with my Appearances page on my website and follow my Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram for regular updates! Feel free to ask any questions on any of my platforms and I'll try to respond as soon as I can to any reasonable query.
Cheers, Happy Haunting and Happy New Year! May the spirits
guide you beautifully into 2018!
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