Waxing Rhapsodic on Poe, Part 1

When I first found out about the movie The Raven, I was thrilled. I'm not one of those historical purists that fears when Hollywood gets hold of anything. If I were a historical purist, I wouldn’t write historical fantasy and gaslight Gothic works where history is a framework for my own eerie tales, but not a constraint.  

 I was over the moon at the prospect of the film because Poe is my muse and I’ll take any excuse to get more of him in my life. I want him to continue to be popular, to grow in estimation and appreciation, for his historic sites to be preserved. I want interest in Poe to be kindled in a whole new generation. If it takes a somewhat cheesy Hollywood film to do it, sign me up. I enjoyed the heck out of it. And yes, John Cusack was HOT, running around all intense and billowing in black fabric. (Those of you who have read my Strangely Beautiful saga know I like my men in black, billowing fabric.)

When I was in grade school literature class at a small, progressive education program in Ohio, a teacher who I credit as influencing me most, Mrs. Church, introduced me to Edgar Allan Poe and my life would never be the same. Some of my earliest memories are of making up ghost stories to scare my friends, so when I “met” Poe, I met a kindred spirit and his poetry broke open the sky and unlocked my boundless creativity. I always had a fierce inner dark side. This still freaks out my parents a bit, who wonder where it came from. I’m not sure. I had a very happy childhood. But even happy, optimistic, perky people like me can have intense dark sides and can be as equally fascinated with dark and eerie things as we are energetic. I always found strange things to be beautiful (Hence the series title of my first series, the Strangely Beautiful saga) and nothing as romantic or stimulating as a dark and stormy night.

Poe made my world come alive. In his voice I found my own. In his poetry and stories my world-view coalesced. A strangely beautiful world. I adored his poetry, found it deliciously, morbidly romantic, unique and deeply personal. I really couldn’t get enough of it. I’ll never forget my first tattered paperback collection of his stories and poetry- a watercolor raven on the cover- I’ve gone through many editions through the years. This first great literary love affair made me into the Goth girl and Gothic author I am today. I remember hearing about Poe’s sad life, his love for Virginia, and knowing I’d have been his friend (if not his girlfriend) back in the day. (Yes, I know, I’d have gotten fed up with the addiction and drinking, but I wasn’t thinking of that in my pre-teen years.)

My freshman year of high school I was the only freshman cast in the play POE’S MIDNIGHT DREARY, cast as Fortunato the fool who gets bricked up behind a wall. I screamed brilliantly. That childhood love came back full force as I spent rehearsals and performances living in his amazing, twisted work, and I took to writing again. I had been writing stories ever since I could hold a pen or pencil and complete a sentence, so this renewed connection with my muse informed and spurred on my then novel-in-progress, a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. (Don’t ask. It was bad. But it can’t have been any worse than "Love Never Dies”, surely...)

My love affair with Poe kept on burning like a candle in an attic window. Poe lives in the back of everything. I’m still a Goth girl, I’m now a multi-published, award-winning Gothic novelist, and my long term boyfriends have all been black haired with black goatees. Hmm. Just realized that one.

I've a prominent jewelry collection featuring his image as well as a host of ravens on clothes, figures, things in my home. His influence can be seen in small and large ways in my Gothic tales. I’ve a Raven as an important familiar in the Strangely Beautiful saga, elements of Poe crop up all over my work, especially in the Magic Most Foul saga, DARKER STILL and the upcoming THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART. Natalie even feels she's trapped amidst a Poe tale herself. When you credit an author as being your foremost and most formative influence, it’s hard to see all the ways in which that author crops up in your own work. I’m a lot more direct about it in the Magic Most Foul saga than I am in Strangely Beautiful, which is more inspired by classic Fantasy authors than Poe’s more intimate horror and sad romance. I feel his presence like a guiding hand in my upcoming short stories, “Too Fond” for Tor.com and “Charged” for QUEEN VICTORIA’S BOOK OF SPELLS (Tor 2013). 

I'll share more specific thoughts on The Raven film in part 2 of waxing rhapsodic, but I've got to get back to my word count for the day. I've stories of my own to write and new projects that I hope to announce soon. Stay tuned, on May 26^th, New York Times and Stoker Award winning author Nancy Holder and I will be sharing snippets of our mutual thoughts on The Raven as fellow Poe fangirls, and how Poe inspires us, over at Sue Grimshaw’s Romance at Random blog!

Nevermore,

Historic NYC: Talking FIVE POINTS at Criminal Element

Come join me over at The Criminal Element as I discuss New York City's most legendary neighborhood, The Five Points, and reference a fabulous book about the neighborhood (Five Points). I mention Five Points briefly in DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, but as I say in my post, I only scratch at the surface of a place that can't be described in a mere few words.

If you're as curious as I am about the upcoming BBC show COPPER, (or if you saw Gangs of New York and wonder if that's really the true story) you're going to want to know more about historic, 19th century NYC. Which is good for me, because that's what I write books about. Come for a tasty historical bite, stick around Criminal Element for more great thriller and mystery news and features.

Cheers!

Apocalypsies Feature: Kathleen Peacock

Welcome again to my Apocalypsies feature, where I ask my fellow YA and Middle Grade debut crew a little about their book and a few totally random (but important to me) questions. Today, welcome debut author KATHLEEN PEACOCK! *Muppet dance!*


Shop Indie Bookstores

Book Title: HEMLOCK
Release Date: May 8, 2012 - Today!

Synopsis:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered. Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf. Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Your Fave thing about your book:

The way the characters interact with each other.

Your Fave fluffy animal:

A kitten. Or a bunny. Oh! Can I say Bunnicula?

(Leanna says: "Yes, Kathleen, yes you can. See that bunny up top there? That's Persebunny but sometimes I think she's actually Bunnicula. Which rocks.)

If you were a ghost, where would you haunt?:

A huge old used bookstore with a resident cat. Or each of my ex-boyfriends (if they thought I was PitA while I was alive…).
Your Website: http://www.kathleenpeacock.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathleenpeacock

Yay Kathleen! Happy release day! Hemlock looks amazing!

Affordable Musts in New York City

Photo by Greyling Design

Going to Book Expo America? ThrillerFest? Other NYC conventions? There are many book-related conventions in NYC each year and a lot of writers shall soon be descending upon the capitol of the publishing industry. Considering that I live here and spent some time as a NYC tour guide, I was approached last year to write this article for an out of state writing group, so I thought I should share it as many are planning summer trips. Here's a welcome to my fine city and a list of low-cost entertainment ideas to really take in the city that never sleeps.

 

Leanna's top ten affordable musts in NYC: (In no particular order - please note how very few of these adventures cost money!)

1. Best vista from atop the world: Choose the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center over the Empire State Building. - What's the most impressive building on the whole skyline? The Empire State Building. You can't SEE it if you are IN it. Besides there are a lot of unnecessary distractions with the Empire State ticket. Top of the Rock is simple and efficient, tickets are timed entry for crowd control, it's glass versus the steel cage of Empire, Top of the Rock is all around a better view and experience for your money.

2. A trip to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty. You don't have to go to Liberty Island to appreciate Lady Liberty on the waterfront, Battery Park is a lovely park with nice views, places to stroll and street vendors.

3. Ethnic food. Whatever your pleasure, NYC has it, and then some. Don't get stuck eating at chains that you can find everywhere, whether its Little Italy or Little India, there's something unique for everyone. If you are in Time's Square, do yourself a favor and go West to 9th Avenue, (Hell's Kitchen) there are tons of options there. And no, Hell's Kitchen in no way refers to the safety of the area. It's safe. Quite trendy, even. The nickname is a century old.

4. Grand Central Station, 42nd and Lexington Avenue. Just go and take in the interior vista. The Information kiosk alone sports a priceless opal-faced clock. Just walk through, you won't regret it. It's one of the most grand and impressive buildings in the city. Enjoy the beautiful astrological ceiling and incredible arches. Wonderful restaurants there too.

5. Central Park - it's safe, it's beautiful, it's the most important and beloved asset to the city. It's 843 acres of pure man-made natural magic. There's tons of stuff to do inside. The Central Park zoo is adorable and fun, the Conservatory Gardens are gorgeous, be sure to stroll the Bethesda Terrace, perhaps rent a rowboat over the boat pond! You can eat at The Boathouse, it has two restaurants, a pricy nice side and a cheaper other side, perfect options for every mood and budget.

6. The TKTS booth. Want to see a Broadway show? The TKTS booth right in the heart of Times Square is the way to do it if you've time to wait in line, also be sure to check in in person with the theatre box offices of shows you're interested in directly to see if they've any rush ticket or ticket lottery options.

7. A walk around City Hall Park, downtown. NYC's City Hall is a gorgeous building from the early 1800s, and City Hall park is a gas-lit charming space. Gorgeous architecture surrounds City Hall Park, see the unparallelled Woolworth Building (A Gothic styled skyscraper that was the tallest building in the world in 1913) and please visit St. Paul's Chapel, which was the makeshift HQ for rescue workers during 9/11, it has an amazing memorial there and as the chapel is one of the oldest buildings still standing in the city, it has amazing, spectacular history. George Washington prayed there after his inauguration in the city as our first president.

8. South Street Seaport. A fun area of history, museums, shops, cobblestone streets, restaurants with a lovely view of the East River. While you're in the area go up into the financial district just a little bit and try Stone Street for a little downtown glimpse of historic NYC (great bars and restaurants).

9. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. This iconic bridge, the most beautiful in all of New York, (and I think the world) will provide you a stunning, breathtaking view of the Manhattan Skyline as you interact with one of the world's great wonders of engineering, completed in 1883 this massive suspension bridge was the tallest man-made structure in the world when it was completed.

10. Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Saint John the Divine Cathedral. Whether you're in midtown (St. Patrick's) or up by Columbia University campus (St. John) you must at least visit one of these stone wonders of Gothic architecture, they are truly breathtaking buildings and also integral to the history of NYC.

New York City is the safest big city in the country. Be alert, but don't be scared. It's a city to be utterly treasured. See you in my adopted hometown I love so much! P. S. The Subway is the easiest and cheapest way to get around town. Also, not scary. Just remember, trains go uptown or downtown and familiarize yourself with the system like you would any transit.

In town for BEA - Book Expo America? I'll see you on Monday at the Book Bloggers Convention Lunch, on Thursday at the RWA Booth at 11:15 signing DARKER STILL, and TBA at the Sourcebooks booth signing THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART!

If you have stumbled across my blog as a tourist looking for tips, I hope you'll check out my novels, as all of them feature a historical setting with fantastical intrigue!

Short and Sweet: Best Love Story Ever

What's your favorite love story?
Natalie and Denbury from DARKER STILL are mentioned, who tops your list? Visit Short & Sweet Reviews and give a shout-out to your favorite literary couples!

Short and Sweet: Best Book Ever: Best Love Story Ever:

Welcome to Best Book Ever!  Each week a group of authors, bloggers, and readers get together to pick their favorite book...

My schedule for RT 2012 in Chicago!

Hello friends! I'll be returning to the Windy City as part of RT Bookreviews' Annual Booklover's Convention! Before Chicago I'll be stopping off and participating in Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation event in Milwaukee! Very excited. I'll be tweeting @LeannaRenee and hashtag #RT12
Here are my events / panels at RT:

Wednesday, April 11
3:30-4:30pm
LOVE, MONSTERS and MYTHOLOGY Panel
Location: Capital Room, Lower Level

11:45-1am!
YA MIDNIGHT SLUMBER PARTY!
Join an amazing list of YA authors: Ann Aguirre, Josephine Angelini, Brodi Ashton,

Charlotte Bennardo, Anne Greenwood Brown, Zoraida Cordova, Kady Cross, Bree Despain, Debra Driza, Cole Gibsen, Rachel Harris, Leanna Renee Hieber, Nancy Holder, Tara Hudson, Colleen Houck, Sophie Jordan, Suzanne Lazear, Lea Nolan, Jana Oliver, Amy Plum, Jeri Smith-Ready, JA Souders, Natalie Zaman - for prizes, games and fun!

Location: Entry Level, Grand Ballroom A, B and C

Thursday, April 12

10-11am

Publisher Spotlight: Sourcebooks

Location: Lobby Level, Midway

2:45-3:45pm

STEAMPUNK GASLIGHT GATHERING

Join Steampunk and Gaslight Fantasy authors for a fun party of prizes, snacks, visits and fabulous costuming.

Location: International E 

Saturday, April 14

10:45 - 2pm

The MASSIVE BOOK FAIR!

Please note I will be signing DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul only, (No Strangely Beautiful titles due to issues with the publisher) and I'll be signing in TEEN ALLEY!

DARKER STILL is an Indie Next List recommended title by the ABA and is "Highly Recommended" by Scholastic Book Fairs!

3:45 - 4:45pm

UNDERSTANDING STEAM AND OTHER PUNKS

Location: Entry Level, United

5-6pm

ROMANCING BOOKSELLERS & LIBRARIANS

Private Party for Booksellers / Librarians with Sourcebooks authors

Location: Lobby Level, Conference Center Atrium Foyer

6:15-7:30pm

TEEN DAY PARTY

Location: International Ballroom

Cheers!

Apocalypsies Feature: Marissa Burt

Welcome to my next APOCALYPSIES Debut feature starring Marissa Burt!
In this feature I ask a bit about these fabulous debut novels and of course something about fluffy animals and ghosts because this is my blog after all and I'm nothing if not true to my themes...

Welcome Marissa!


Shop Indie Bookstores Book Title: STORYBOUND by Marissa Burt
Release Date: 4/3/12 - Today!

Synopsis:

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story. But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself….

Your Fave thing about your book:

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

Your Fave fluffy animal:

No question. Cats. Someday, I will be that lady with all the cats.

If you were a ghost, where would you haunt?:

My homes with happy memories.

Your Website: http://marissaburt.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marissaburt
FB: https://www.facebook.com/marissaburt

Yay Marissa! Happy release day!