The Christmas Truce via Tor dot Com and a reading from Miss Violet and the Great War

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, dear readers!

Tor.com recently asked me to write about a real historical event that influenced my Strangely Beautiful series finale, Miss Violet and the Great War, so I hope you'll visit my discussion and tell me what you think about this beautiful and tragic piece of history, the World War I Christmas Truce here.

And as always, what I write is what I wish for the world: Peace. So here's my holiday wish for all of you, as embodied in this reading from Miss Violet and the Great War, may art and love carry you through all darkness and into safety and peace. Blessings and happy new year!



If you like what you see here, Miss Violet and the Great War is available from Tor Books in paperback and digital, wherever books are sold.

And A Sanctuary of Spirits, the second Spectral City novel, is delighting readers of mystery, supernatural suspense, history, romance and more so be sure to come along for this delightful adventure starring the family legacy of Darker Still and my Magic Most Foul saga!

Cheers and Happy Haunting!

A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS on NPR, CRIMINAL ELEMENT and more! High Praise for the latest Spectral City novel!

Darlings! It's been a whirlwind release month full of high-praise for A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS! Come join in the celebration!

It's been featured on NPR! Check out what the wonderful and talented

Maya Rodale has to say: 

"For a spookier romance, look no further than A Sanctuary of Spirits by Leanna Renee Hieber. It's 1899 in New York City and Eve Whitby, fearless leader of the NYPD Ghost Precinct — think lady ghostbusters — is confronted with a gruesome case involving the ghosts of children, a missing mortician and an especially creepy mesmerist. Fortunately she has the help of an assortment of spirits, mediums and the dashing Detective Jacob Horowitz who not a ghost and very much a man. He and Eve are courting — is it for the sake of appearances, or are real feelings developing? Eve fears losing her independence and ability to work if she marries, but her feelings for Jacob are becoming too real to ignore.

Readers may want to start with the first book in the series (this is the second), though starting here doesn't get in the way of enjoying this otherworldly mystery, gorgeous writing and slow burn of a romance with a man who truly understands a woman, ghosts and all." - Maya Rodale, Bestselling author, latest release: Some Like it Scandalous, for NPR - Read the full NPR article here!

-A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS has been featured on Criminal Element! I LOVE this personal and heartfelt review from Megan Schuler that celebrates the atmosphere and immersive nature of the book, read her feature here! 

-See what THE GOTHIC LIBRARY has to say, Julia does an amazing job of examining my work and lifting up meaningful aspects that are so important to me. Hear her thoughts on The Good Death and more here!

-Avalinah's Books has SPECTACULAR feature on the Spectral City series, highlighting the diverse representation, especially in regards to disability and various physical aspects the characters deal with as they fight to be taken seriously. Check out the adorable illustrations created to go with this post, my heart melts!

If you haven't gotten your copy of A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS yet, what are you waiting for?! Please support your local independent or brick and mortar bookstore today! 

IndieBound (Just type in your zipcode to find a local treasure near you! Stores always willing to ship!)

Powell's 

Barnes and Noble

WORD Brooklyn (For signed, personalized copies!) For personalization requests, please note who you would like the book signed to in the Limited number of 5x7 art prints by Kelley Hensing illustrating a scene from the novel will be included as a thank-you gift with purchase!

Amazon  

Cheers and Happy Haunting!

Leanna

http://leannareneehieber.com

A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS releases today! Available wherever books are sold!

It's release day, darlings!

Gather 'round your favorite bookseller and indulge in the latest Gothic, Gaslamp Fantasy set in 1899 Manhattan, the next SPECTRAL CITY installment, A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS, out now in digital and trade paperback from Kensington Books! 

Description:

New York, 1899, and the police department's best ally is the secret Ghost Precinct, where spirits and psychics help solve the city's most perplexing crimes . . .

There's more than one way to catch a killer-though the methods employed by the NYPD's Ghost Precinct, an all-female team of psychics and spiritualists led by gifted young medium Eve Whitby, are unconventional to say the least. Eve is concerned by the backlash that threatens the department-and by the discovery of an otherworldly realm, the Ghost Sanctuary, where the dead can provide answers. But is there a price to be paid for Eve and her colleagues venturing beyond the land of the living?

Searching for clues about a mortician's disappearance, Eve encounters a charismatic magician and mesmerist whose abilities are unlike any she's seen. Is he a link to mysterious deaths around the city, or to the Ghost Sanctuary? Torn between the bonds of her team and her growing relationship with the dashing Detective Horowitz, Eve must discern truth from illusion and friend from foe, before another soul vanishes into the ether . . . 

Praise for A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS:

"The New York City police department's secret Ghost Precinct investigates crimes committed against spirits in this engaging sequel to 2018's Spectral City... The diverse, lived-in world will draw readers in to this paranormal mystery." - Publisher's Weekly

Please support your local independent or brick and mortar bookstore today! 

IndieBound (Just type in your zipcode to find a local treasure near you! Stores always willing to ship!)

Powell's 

Barnes & Noble

WORD Brooklyn (For signed, personalized copies!) Limited number of 5x7 art prints by Kelley Hensing illustrating a scene from the novel will be included as a thank-you gift with purchase! 

NYC Launch Party TONIGHT at WORD Brooklyn Featuring Zoraida Córdova!

Amazon

Cheers and Happy Haunting! This is a critical release to ensure the survival of the series, thanks so much for your support! 

THE SPECTRAL CITY is 1.99 across all digital platforms, today only!

Right in time for A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS, releasing in just 2 weeks, THE SPECTRAL CITY is on sale for only 1.99 across all digital platforms thanks to Kensington Books!

About THE SPECTRAL CITY:

“A spooky thrill—lovely and bold, with terrific characters and a glorious gaslamp setting that’s filled to the brim with beauty and peril” (Che

rie Priest, Locus Award–winning author of Boneshaker).
 
In turn-of-the century New York City, the police have an off-the-books spiritual go-to when it comes to solving puzzling corporeal crimes . . .
 
Her name is Eve Whitby, gifted medium and spearhead of the Ghost Precinct. When most women are traveling in a gilded society that promises only well-appointed marriage, the confident nineteen-year-old Eve navigates a social circle that carries a different kind of chill. Working with the diligent but skeptical Detective Horowitz, as well as a group of fellow psychics and wayward ghosts, Eve holds her own against detractors and threats to solve New York’s most disturbing crimes as only a medium of her ability can.
 
But as accustomed as Eve is to ghastly crimes and all matters of the uncanny, even she is unsettled by her department’s latest mystery. Her ghostly conduits are starting to disappear one by one as though snatched away by some evil force determined to upset the balance between two realms, and most important—destroy the Ghost Precinct forever. Now Eve must brave the darkness to find the vanished souls. She has no choice. It’s her job to make sure no one is ever left for dead.
 
“The Spectral City is The Alienist with Ghost Detectives . . . There is texture on every page and it’s a delight to read.” —Jason Henderson, author of the Alex Van Helsing series
 
“[A] personable cast, snappy prose, and intriguing premise.” —Publishers Weekly 

After picking up or continuing to enjoy THE SPECTRAL CITY, please hop over to our fantastic and unique PREORDER CAMPAIGN for A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS , (Spectral City 2) with this amazing free Gothic art by Kelley Hensing included with purchase! If you're in NYC, be sure to join us at WORD, BROOKLYN Nov. 12 at 7pm for our launch party in conversation with Zoraida Córdova! Please RSVP so we know how much wine and snacks to have for you all!

For paperback pre-orders, signed and personalized via WORD: Click here! Or, after pre-ordering from any other retailer, digital or paperback, put in your order confirmation and mailing info here (mailing addresses will be discarded after the campaign) and you'll get this exclusive 5x7 art, signed bookmarks and more! 

Happy Haunting!

Take advantage of THE SPECTRAL CITY sale, today only, thanks to Kensington Books!

A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS Pre-Order Campaign with Original Gothic, Ghostly Art by Kelley Hensing

THE SPECTRAL CITY series continues!

DARLINGS!

Spectral City continues in a fantastic pre-order campaign! Join us for more ghosts, magic, mayhem, mysticism, slow-burn romance and a fierce, psychic girl-gang fighting weird crime in 1899 NYC! Get a signed, personalized copy of A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS and this beautiful Gothic illustration from renowned dark fantasy artist Kelley Hensing, all while supporting WORD, a fantastic independent bookstore! 

Kensington Publishing Corp. and I are partnering with WORD Brooklyn for pre-orders and our launch party in NYC on Nov. 12 at 7pm, co-hosted by the amazing Zoraida Córdova! We'll talk Supernatural NYC, celebrating Spectral City and Brooklyn Brujas! Can’t make the launch in person? Pre-order a personalized SANCTUARY copy now and Kelley's ghostly, beautiful illustration of Maggie Hathorn, a star ghost of the series, will be included in your purchase! 

Click here for details, party RSVPs and more!

Have you already pre-ordered? Are you ordering digitally and still want a print of Kelley’s beautiful, phantasmagorical work? Send an email stating the following: Your mailing address (addresses will be discarded after campaign), Retailer and Sales Confirmation # to this email: preorders at leannareneehieber dot com.

Cheers and Happy Haunting! PLEASE, RSVP for the NYC party and/orPre-Order now! 

Thanks in advance for your support! 
If you want this series to continue, we need your support now!

About the book:
In turn-of-the-century New York City, the police have an off-the-books spiritual go-to when it comes to solving puzzling corporeal crimes... Her name is Eve Whitby, the 19-year-old gifted medium and leader of The Ghost Precinct. Working with the diligent but skeptical Detective Horowitz, as well as a group of fellow psychics and wayward ghosts, Eve solves New York’s most disturbing crimes as only a medium of her ability can. But even Eve is unsettled by the backlash that threatens the department—and the discovery that souls are vanishing into the ether. While searching for clues about a mortician’s disappearance, Eve encounters a charismatic magician and mesmerist whose abilities are unlike any she’s seen. Is he a link to the mysterious deaths around the city, or to the Ghost Sanctuary? Torn between the bonds of her team and her growing relationship with the dashing Horowitz, Eve must discern truth from illusion and friend from foe, before another soul vanishes into the ether . . .

Coming from Kensington, Rebel Base Books, Nov. 12 in trade paperback and digital!

A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS cover reveal at The Booksmugglers!

Darlings!
The fine folks at The Booksmugglers have hosted an incredible cover reveal for my next novel, A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS, releasing Nov 12 from Kensington Books, Rebel Base!

In addition to an exclusive first-look excerpt from the novel, featuring Eve Whitby and Detective Horowitz being adorable, the gothic chamber-metal band Valentine Wolfe created a Spectral City series theme song, Lessons of the Dead, inspired by lines from THE SPECTRAL CITY! Please check it out!

A SANCTUARY OF SPIRITS is available for pre-order in eBook with trade paperback and more pre-order links coming soon! Cheers and Happy Haunting!

After a decade, MISS VIOLET AND THE GREAT WAR, the Strangely Beautiful finale, is here!

Hello dear readers, it's the end of an era.

Goodness has it been one heck of a decade. My debut novel, THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER, now STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL in its freshly revised and resurrected two-book form thanks to Tor Books, finally sees itself through as the finale in the Strangely Beautiful saga commences with MISS VIOLET AND THE GREAT WAR, the never-before-published fourth novel in the quartet.

It's been an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. I'm so glad to share this book with you, finally, in all its pain and difficulty. This is a book about hope in dark times. I hope it will comfort you and lift your spirit, even during the darkest hours.

About the book via Tor Books:

A superb, stand alone adventure in Leanna Renee Hieber's groundbreaking, critically acclaimed Strangely Beautiful series, full of passion and power. From childhood, Violet Rychman has dreamed of a coming war, of death and battle on an unimaginable scale. She has seen and heard ghosts, who have loved and guided her. Now the future she dreamed has come to pass. World War I rages across Europe. Millions of people are dying; entire villages are disappearing. A great and terrible vision sweeps over Violet, offering powers heralded by the Muses of antiquity. The ability to impact people’s memories, even shape their thoughts. To guide their souls. To pass between the world of the living and that of the dead and to bring others through that passage. These and other gifts once belonged to people Violet loved. Now they are hers, and she must use them to attempt to stop death itself.

Praise for Miss Violet:

"If you’re struggling to find meaning in dark times—particularly in today’s climate of seemingly endless bad news—Leanna has some reassuring answers. The book extols the value of things like love, family, and art. Even amidst the very worst of horrors and destruction, forming loving bonds and creating things of beauty are radical acts that kindle a little more light in the darkness." - The Gothic Library

"Hauntingly hopeful, Miss Violet & the Great War explores the tragedy of the first World War with poetic grace. I found this not to be a book to blaze through in one sitting, but one to savor and appreciate in little bites. That's not to say it's a slow read, either. This is a book that felt like immersing myself into a cozily hot bath. Though the book is about the horrific aspects of war, Hieber's main focus is on the goodness and creativity of humanity. I'm rather left in awe by the grace of how she handled that. I highly recommend this to readers interested in the Great War and historical fiction with a fantastical bent." - Beth Cato, acclaimed author of The Clockwork Dagger MISS VIOLET AND THE GREAT WAR is now available wherever books are sold! Barnes and Noble IndieBound  Amazon Kobo


Cheers, blessings and Happy Haunting! Thanks in advance for your support! The Hieberverse would not exist without you and your continued support means I can fulfill my mission and spiritual calling to write more books about the transcendent power of the soul.

For additional insights about my research for Miss Violet, please read this post about my visit to Verdun, France