It's December already? How about some contests?

I cannot believe it is December already. I was told by other writer friends that a debut year would fly by. They weren't kidding. The fact that I haven't really slept much since, oh... I dunno, 2008, that might be part of it too. :) But I love this time of year, Halloween-into-Christmas tends to be a giddy time that always flys by too quickly, but it's also when I tend to get a lot of writing done, inspired by Autumn and sustained by the deep, spiritual meaning of the Holiday Season.

In the realm of books, fluffy animals, the undead and such, here goes the latest:

As always, a wonderful time was had at Lady Jane's Salon, where my fellow co-founder Hope Tarr beautifully led us in a celebration of Harlequin Enterprises' 60th Birthday and read from her charming Twelve Nights. Stacey Agdern shared her Hannukah novel Rededication with us, and Madame X was, as always, a gracious hostess of a venue! Check out Kwana Writes for a lovely rundown, thanks Kwana!

CONTEST NEWS:
I've contest news galore!
Firstly:
1.
Congratulations to Sharla who won the Dark Nest goody box via my website's Dark Nest contest! (Pictured here: Leanna's random selection process via fluffy animal named Persebunny. After winner has been selected, Leanna rushes to read name before consumption - very scientific randomization method)

2. And now, I've got a NEW CONTEST!

In celebration of the very wonderful news that my bestselling debut, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is now in audio format, I'm giving away a copy, it's an 8 CD set! Along with some Mt. Meru Coffee, this is a great holiday gift for yourself or others. :) It's easy to enter, just tell me your favourite holiday song via the Contact Form of my website and you're entered to win! Winner drawn December 20th. Visit the Contest page and check it out!

3. I'm thrilled to be a part of The SFR Holiday Blitz! My 2009 Prism Award winning novella Dark Nest (a futuristic fantasy novella) is only one of the many Sci-Fi-Romance books you can win by participating! You can enter to win a copy of Dark Nest, given to Take it to the Stars to run the giveaway - You have until December 11th - and visit The Galaxy Express (this is definately a blog to follow) to get the rundown on the many blogs and authors participating in this great SFR event!!

4. I'm close to 500 followers on Twitter, once I hit that magic 500, I'll be giving away 2 signed copies of The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker to two of my loyal tweeps. So join me there to participate. If you already have a signed Miss Percy, well, here's your chance to win one for a gift and help spread Strangely Beautiful cheer!

-- While we're in the holiday spirit, take a Facebook moment and see if your favourite Not For Profits are in the Chase Community Giving program. You can vote for 20 organizations, for several chances to win funds, might I suggest you vote for my beloved friend Danny's exciting new theatre company in Chicago, The New Colony? It's a new and up-and-coming theatre devoted to new work and new talent! (Listed as New Colony nfp when you type it into the search bar).
IN STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL NEWS:

1. I turned in the revisions to the Strangely Beautiful sequel, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, (April 27, 2010). I'm really, really excited about it. I can't wait to share it with all of you. Now I'm hard at work on a novella which continues the Strangely Beautiful series, to be published in a Fantasy Christmas anthology headlined by one of my idols, NYT Bestseller C. L. Wilson! (October 2010) Fans of Headmistress Thompson and Vicar Carroll will be pleased.

2. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker made Waiting For Fairies' Holiday Gift Guide! Thanks Melissa, and Waiting For Fairies!

Do stay tuned, The Darkly Luminous Fight For Persephone Parker will have its book trailer going live in January, along with some first peek excerpts!

Be sure to enter the contest and have a BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS, BLESSED DECEMBER with your family, friends and loved ones! I'll be back to announce the winner of the contest and to wish everyone happy holidays.

Blessings!

A Strangely Beautiful Week - Thanks Publishers Weekly and RNTV!

Indeed! What a week! It's flown by with stock signings all over this great city, outer boroughs included. I've been delighted to find my books on towers and other visible places. The week also saw me rolling on with the Haunted London Blog Tour, radio interviews and more!

Guess What?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HAS LOVELY WORDS FOR MISS PERCY!!

"Six young men and women are called to protect the living world from the dead in Hieber’s Gothic romance debut. Mysterious powers give Alexi and his peers the mission of keeping the restless dead in line and seeking a prophesied seventh guardian. Miss Percy Parker, an albino orphan with a talent for languages, fills none of their expectations, but Alexi is drawn to her all the same. Hieber draws Victorian London as beautiful and grim, with depictions of Jack the Ripper as a nightmarish many-headed hound alongside charming descriptions of the Athens Academy, Percy’s boarding school, and Greek mythology that smartly draws together various elements of the story. The supporting characters are nuanced and appealing but given short shrift by the narrow focus on Percy and Alexi, though future sequels may give them more room to play. Hieber’s debut shows great potential, and readers will want to revisit her intriguing world." - Thanks PW! (See the web exclusive grouping upon which it appeared)
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Come see why Stacey at RomanceNovel.tv named Miss Percy Parker as one of her favourite heroines during heroines week!
Thank you, Stacey!

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New developments: RNTV / Lady Jane's Salon Book Club!
I'm so honoured that The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker has been selected as the launch book for RomanceNovel.TV's Lady Jane's Salon Book Club! You can be a part of it too! The Details.
RNTV has been releasing their lovely video interviews with me! Here's my take on Strangely Beautiful research!

(The rest of my videos with RNTV can be found here)

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In other news/reviews:

ParaNormalRomance kindly reflects upon Miss Percy!

Silver says:

"... I enjoyed the story, especially Alexi's and Percy's romance, which is rather poignant and sweet. Gripping and with an on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, I found myself scrolling down (I read the ebook) as fast as I could to see what's going to happen next, especially toward the end of the book. This book is perfect for fans of the paranormal who enjoy a Gothic setting."

Thanks Silver! (The full review)

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The Tome Traveller has lovely words for Miss Percy too! (I was immediately enchanted by the look of this blog!)
Carey says:
"This story weaves together the threads and echos of many beloved aspects of English Literature. It is steeped in Shakespeare and Greek Mythology, there are flashes of Poe, Dickens, Stevenson, shades of Gothic ghost stories and Victorian romance. Alexi himself reminded me of Edward Rochester from Jane Eyre, dark and brooding. Very well done, indeed, and filled with eloquent writing, too. This was a very enjoyable novel for me. ... Like ghost stories? Paranormal? Historical Fiction? Fantasy? English Literature? Then you will enjoy The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, I certainly did!"
(Read the full review)
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Out and about:

Kwana of Kwana Writes took me all about her lovely, truly lovely, neck of the woods to help me sign stock out beyond the city limits - thanks Kwana! It was so good to see her, and Stacey and her awesome Dad even came out to support me as they don't hail from far away - it's so good to have people with you in these sweet moments like this who know how long and hard this journey has been to this all-the-sweeter-for-the-struggle point.

Here's a photo of me and Biz of Biz Urban Photography on release day at the Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center signing, please note that poster behind us - Garrison Keillor will also be reading at said Barnes & Noble... Biz and I LOVE Prairie Home Companion and this made me feel like an utter rock star. You can bet I'll be there at his signing!

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There are other reviews that have come down river as well and I'm a bit behind - I'm trying to keep up with the full list as it grows, ongoing and compiled at the book page of my website.

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Don't forget, if you have a copy of Strangely Beautiful on hand- you can answer the Pop Quiz questions and enter my Contest for cool prizes!

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Back to the whirlwind! See you on the Haunted London Blog Tour!

"Behind the Scenes" #4 - My First Blog Interview!

My first blog interview!

Please check out my first blog interview at Kwana Minatee-Jackson's fabulous blog!

I talk about my brand new and best-selling release, DARK NEST, the writing process, eBooks and more!

Thanks Kwana!