Feature Friday: Leanna Renee Hieber

As some of you know, I've already had Leanna Renee Hieber as a Featured Friday author in the past.  She's back because, well, she's a close friend and her new book, THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART, has just recently been released...So why wouldn't I have her again?  LOL.

That said, I didn't want to be boring and have a repeat of her last FF visit, so today's FF is a little different: longer bio, shorter interview questions, and...a podcast?  Yup.  Not only am I featuring Leanna, but I'm also plugging another one of my author friends today!  We'll get to that part further in the post.

Author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre and a focus in the Victorian Era from Miami University. She began her theatrical career with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and began adapting works of 19th Century literature for the stage. Her one-act plays such as Favorite Lady have been published, awarded and produced around the country. Her novella Dark Nest won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in the genre of Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance.

Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes & Noble's bestseller lists, was named a favourite of 2009 by 14 book blogs, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book), the 2010 Orange County Book Buyer's Best Award (Young Adult category) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production with Broadway talent on board. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages and was selected for hardcover editions via Rhapsody and SciFi Book Clubs. The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess, the prequel in the series, won the 2012 Prism Award (Best Fantasy).

DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna's Gothic Historical Paranormal saga for teens (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid's/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. Seventeen Magazine said of DARKER STILL: "This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page!" The book has been praised by Shelf Awareness, The Chicago Tribune, Pixie Magazine and more. DARKER STILL will also be translated into several languages and has been selected for a SCHOLASTIC edition as a "highly recommended" title.

Leanna's short fiction has been featured in anthologies Candle In the Attic Window and the upcoming Willful Impropriety: Tales of Society and Scandal, "Too Fond";  a forthcoming short for Tor.com and Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: Tales of Gaslight Fantasy (March 2013, Tor).

Podcast:
So, it's not always easy coming up with happy fun time questions for FF authors...Especially if you've already interviewed them...So, I thought it might be interesting to try something a little different.  You readers know that I try to do some more "personal" questions for FF authors.  Much as that sometimes offers incite into an author's personality, it's not as encompassing as a video or a recording could be, so...I've decided to let you "hear" Leanna and get a peek at her personality...Probably cause I like her so much and want everyone else to like her too, LOL.

 Leanna recently did a podcast interview with another author friend, PJ Schnyder, and PJ's boyfriend, Matt.  Matt and PJ podcast about writerly/gamerly things and their podcast is called Mangos and White Rice.  If you click the link below you'll be able to listen to the podcast containing the interview with Leanna...There's also stuff about a "Women in Steampunk" panel at New York ComicCon, Steampunk Weddings, and of course the gamer bit at the end.  Enjoy!

http://mangorice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Episode-3-MangoRice-Leanna-Renee-Hieber-Final-Version.mp3

Interview:
Since PJ and Matt asked Leanna about the most important details, I thought I'd still do some of my my own supplemental questions.

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your new series with TOR?

Leanna:
Indeed! Here’s what I’ve whipped up to describe this insane adventure:

THE ETERNA FILES, coming from TOR Books / Macmillan; a new quirky, character-driven Gaslamp Fantasy saga set in 1882 following a paranormal arms race for immortality between New York City and London. A huge cast of larger-than-life characters fight for hearth, home and the cure for death. Including but not limited to: mediums, chemists, healers, spies, uncanny detectives, royalty, magicians, sword-fighters, robber barons, mutants, psychic vampires, visionaries, prophets, excellent book-keepers, fearsome civil servants, covert operatives, unorthodox espionage, one poor skeptic and a circus. And that's just book one.

A.L.:
You recently went to England to do some research for your new series.  Can you tell us some of the places you went to and why?

Leanna:
A few of my favourite places: 1. Kensington Palace, where Queen Victoria grew up. (Because she makes a few cameo appearances in The Eterna Files) 2. Parliament (Because several scenes will take place in Westminster Palace) 3. The Tate Britain to see the Pre-Raphaelite Exhibit (Because they were very influential Victorian artists and happen to be my favourites) 4. Wandering Knightsbridge, Temple/Aldwych, Whitehall and other areas as characters and offices within the story are set in those locations. 5. The BBC (Because my friend is awesome and gave me a tour and I hugged a TARDIS. Oh, yes, yes, I did.) 6. The Harry Potter Studio Tour (SO I COULD FREAK OUT WITH JOY… segue into next question…)

A.L.:
Since you’re channeling Narcissa Malfoy these days, we have to ask, if you (as her) were to get into a magical battle this very moment, what spell/curse would you use?

Leanna:
*Smiles a sly, prim smile* If Lucius or Draco were not present in said battle, I would simply apparate out and avoid it entirely. If they were engaged in the battle, I would have no problem using any/all of the Unforgivable curses in order to keep my family safe.

A.L.:
The cover and title for the second book in the Magic Most Foul series are very different than that of Darker Still.  While I know why, would you explain to *possible confused/disgruntled* readers why there was a change in the look of the series?

Leanna:
Darker Still is a beautiful cover but it sort of falls into the wash of “pretty girl in pretty dress” covers. Sourcebooks wanted to go with something darker and more Gothic for the sequel, as I do write Gothic historical novels and the tone of this second book cover really suits my work. Also, do keep in mind that at any of the big publishing houses, authors have no say over their book covers or titles. In this case, both the title of The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart and the cover were given to me and that was sort of that, thankfully I like them. This cover is actually my favourite of all my covers. Maybe I’m biased since I own several corsets that look like the one in the picture…

A.L.:
What can fans of Darker Still look forward to in the sequel, Twisted Tragedy?

Leanna:
In The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart you will find more action, more drama, a continuation of Natalie and Jonathon’s relationship as they grow into an absolutely wonderful and compelling team together. We’ve new characters, new nightmares, a new mystery, and what approximates to a Goth club in 1880 NYC. My editor says it’s the best book I’ve written and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Cheers and Happy Haunting!
Please keep in touch via Twitter: http://twitter.com/leannarenee and FB: http://facebook.com/lrhieber and check out news and exclusive content via my site: http://leannareneehieber.com

The Giveaway:
Leanna is providing one lucky winner with a copy of DARKER STILL and signed book plates for THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART.

Darker Still: I was obsessed.

It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen--everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable...utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.

There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.

I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked--bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan. Unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still.

Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy it at Barnes and Noble.
Buy it at Amazon.

How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the green "Do It" buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the green enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner via email. This contest is open to national entrants only.

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YA Giveaway Blog Hop: Featuring Leanna Renee Hieber

For this giveaway I'm featuring the work of Leanna Renee Heiber!  Leanna is an author, an actress and a playwrite who grew up in Ohio and has her BFA in Theater.  Besides being super talented, she's a snappy dresser, a diehard Slytherin, she's one of the kindest New Yorkers you'll ever meet, and her Goth shuffle is to die for.

THE GIVEAWAY!

Leanna has graciously sent me TWO of her works to give away.  They are AUTOGRAPHED, mind you. 

What I'm giving away:

Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes & Noble's bestseller lists, was named a favorite of 2009 by 14 genre  blogs, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book), the 2010 Orange County Book Buyer's Best Award (Young Adult category) and is currently in development as a musical theater production with a team that includes Broadway talent. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages.

Read reviews on Goodreads.  Can't wait to buy it?  Go get it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

 

DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna's Gothic Historical Paranormal trilogy for teens (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid's/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. Seventeen Magazine said of DARKER STILL: "This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page!" The book has been praised by Shelf Awareness, The Chicago Tribune, Pixie Magazine and more. DARKER STILL will also be translated into several languages.

Read reviews on Goodreads.  Can't wait to buy it?  Go get it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: 
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter.  This hop runs from 1/27/12 to 1/31/12.  Hit the green "Do It" buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the green enter buttons when you're done.  (You may have to log in using facebook to do this).  There will be two winners for this giveaway, the first entrant will be able to choose which of the two books they would like and the second will get the remaining book.  Should the second winner decide they do not want the remaining book, they can bow out and allow another winner to be selected.  This contest is open to international entrants.


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DON'T FORGET:
There are a ton of other blogs and websites giving awesome YA related things away!  Make sure you stop by each of these and check out their giveaways:  http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2011/11/young-adult-giveaway-hop-jan-27th-to.html

Feature Friday: Leanna Renee Hieber

To kick of my very first Feature Friday post, I have the marvelously talented Leanna Renee Hieber!  Leanna is an author, an actress and a playwrite who grew up in Ohio and has her BFA in Theater.  Besides being super talented, she's a snappy dresser, a diehard Slytherin, she's one of the kindest New Yorkers you'll ever meet, and her Goth shuffle is to die for.

INTERVIEW: 

A.L.: 

Where did you get the inspiration for Darker Still? 

Leanna:
Ever since I was a kid I wanted to write a haunted painting story. Probably all that time spent with my art-teacher father in art museums. There was a Sesame Street movie called "Don't Eat The Pictures" where the Sesame Street gang are locked inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art overnight. I know some inspiration came from that! :) When I read The Picture of Dorian Gray and fell so in love with the story, it would forever become an influential work. 

A.L.: 

 Most of Darker Still is written through journal entries.  Did you find writing in that format difficult? 

Leanna:  

I loved it. I don't usually like writing in first person, so approaching Natalie and her story though the diary entries made it more palatable when I started writing. 

A.L.: 

What made you decide to make Natalie mute?  How difficult was it writing a mute character?  

Leanna:  

I wanted her experience in the 'real' world and the world inside the painting to be profoundly different, and for the shift between those two worlds to be a struggle. I think a girl fighting to find her voice in the world both literally and figuratively is something we can all relate to. A girl who struggles with a disability and can be as brave as Natalie proves to be is someone we can all rally around. A girl who saves the guy for a change? Yes, please. 

A.L.: 

I think that my favorite character in Darker Still is Mrs. Northe, so I have to ask, is there someone or something that inspired her character?  

Leanna:  

I was always a "teacher's pet" in school. Mrs. Northe is in some part a combination of all my favourite teachers, mentors and elder friends in my life and a healthy dose of my Lutheran pastor, she has profoundly influenced the spirituality of my work. 

A.L.: 

Who is your favorite character in Darker Still?  Why?  

Leanna:  

One cannot pick a favorite character, it's like choosing a favorite child. But I will say I'm most invested in Natalie. She came at me like a ton of bricks as I began writing her tale and I adore getting to know her better as I continue her series. I'm a bit in love with Lord Denbury (an author has to love her hero) and I'd want Mrs. Northe on my side in ANY crisis situation.

A.L.:

Are you a character or plot driven writer?  

Leanna:  

Depends on the story, but usually characters take the lead and plot is secondary. However I have a high-concept project in development that's more plot driven and I'm just now discovering the characters, so each story has it's own unique circumstances and process. But I think due to my many years as a professional actress, I'll always lean on the side of character-driven stories. 

A.L.: 

Plotter or Pantser?  

Leanna:  

CERTIFIED PANTSER FOR LIFE. There may come a time when I'm going to have to be a plotter for a specific project (Probably this high-concept one I'm working on as we speak) but until then I go blissfully and blindly into the creative void and see what comes out. 

A.L.: 

If Percy Parker from your Strangely Beautiful series were to meet Natalie Stewart from your Magic Most Foul series what would she say to her?  Alternately, if these two Victorian ladies were to be guest fighters on American Gladiator: Victorian Edition, who would pwn the other?  Why?  

Leanna:  

They would be best friends, have a lot in common and teach each other a lot. Miss Percy would tell Natalie to believe in herself, to not be afraid of her nightmares and would encourage her to speak. Natalie would tell Percy to take her shrouds off and stop hiding, and she would agree that there's a very important purpose for her. They would commiserate about paranormal goings on and problem-solve together. If they were fighting? Natalie would at first utterly pwn Percy until Percy got exasperated and exploded with Goddess power and then it would be over, Percy victorious, but then she'd apologize for any offense. 

A.L.: 

Are you planning another series?  If so, what?  

Leanna:  

Why yes I am! It's another paranormal historical, set in 1880s NYC as well, but it might have a modern parallel story running through it. I'm not sure yet. It's very early on. What you can do is check out my short story set in the same world, called "Charged" which will be featured in QUEEN VICTORIA'S BOOK OF SPELLS: A Gaslight Fantasy Anthology published by TOR Books (release date TBA). 

A.L.:  

As you may know, this blog is mostly followed by readers and authors.  To satisfy both parties:  If you could impart your own piece of wisdom to aspiring authors, what would it be?   

Leanna:  

The most important word is persistence. Persistence and an unrelenting desire to continue to hone your craft. Never rest on laurels. Just keep chugging away. Always seek to better your craft, and steel your heart. This business can be brutal in every way. You have to let your love of writing trump your fear of rejection.

Thanks for the opportunity to be here!!
 Leanna Renee Hieber
Web: http://leannareneehieber.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/leannarenee
FB: http://facebook.com/lrhieber

THE GIVEAWAY!

Leanna has graciously sent me TWO of her works to give away.  They are AUTOGRAPHED, mind you.  The contest will be featured in the YA giveaway hop running from January 27 to January 31, so please make sure you stop back here and enter yourself in a chance to win something dark and beautiful.

What I'm giving away:

Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes & Noble's bestseller lists, was named a favorite of 2009 by 14 genre  blogs, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book), the 2010 Orange County Book Buyer's Best Award (Young Adult category) and is currently in development as a musical theater production with a team that includes Broadway talent. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages.

Read reviews on Goodreads.  Can't wait to buy it?  Go get it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna's Gothic Historical Paranormal trilogy for teens (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid's/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. Seventeen Magazine said of DARKER STILL: "This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page!" The book has been praised by Shelf Awareness, The Chicago Tribune, Pixie Magazine and more. DARKER STILL will also be translated into several languages.

Read reviews on Goodreads.  Can't wait to buy it?  Go get it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.