Q&A with Leanna Renee Heiber & Contest for THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER

"Richly imagined and constructed, with fascinating characters and an engrossing storyline."

The Discriminating Fangirl

"A delightfully lush and richly imagined tale."

Fresh Fiction

"A unique and fascinating story arc...a fantastic book to start a new series!"

Romance Book Wyrm

I'm delighted to have Leanna Renee Hieber here at Vampire Wire to talk about her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. The very first time I spotted the evocative cover and title, I wanted to know more about the book and I was really intrigued by the Gothic theme.

Leanna's publisher, Dorchester, is donating TWO COPIES of her book for a contest! To enter the contest, just leave a comment for Leanna Renee, or mention something you like about Gothic or historical novels or movies: the settings, creepy ambiance, naive heroines, etc. The contest runs through next Sunday night, September 13, and winners will be drawn at random.

---------------------------------------------

MARTA: Congratulations on the publication of your novel! Would you tell readers a little about your book?

LEANNA RENEE: Marta, thank you so much and thank you for the opportunity to be here. This has been my greatest dream come true, a labour of love for nearly nine years. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is a ghostly, Gothic Victorian fantasy novel, first in my Strangely Beautiful series published by Dorchester.

From the back cover: “What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…”

MARTA: I love the claustrophobic, cluttered, superstitious Victorian era as a setting for a novel. Did you come up with the story first and then find a time and place for it, or were you moved by the time/location and then develop a story? How did Victorians view albinos, like your heroine, Percy Parker?

LEANNA RENEE: I’ve always loved Victorian England, for those reasons you mention and infinitely more. I started my first novel around the age of 12, and that novel, like this one, was set in 1888. The era calls to me and always has, and so I’m not sure I can explain my obsession with the time period other than perhaps a past life calling me home. It’s true that Percy Parker sort of "appeared" to me, but she appeared to me instantly in the late 19th century, my muse.

As for how the Victorians would have viewed Miss Percy, anyone like her would have been thought an “unfortunate” to say it kindly. A freak, to say it truly. If she hadn’t gone from convent to Academy, she’d likely have been whisked into a sideshow and toured around, abused, derided and gawked over, her options would have been slim to none.

MARTA: What were your challenges writing a historical gothic? How did you research your story and the Jack the Ripper element?

LEANNA RENEE: The Gothic novel is my favorite kind, so that, like the 19th century, felt absolutely innate and comfortable to me. The greatest challenge was in establishing the pacing, for while I didn’t struggle to affect a Victorian-tinged voice, I did struggle with the pacing of the novel and both my agent and my editor went rounds with me to make the novel more smoothly paced and suspenseful.

As for research, reading books from the era helped with the voice, but really getting London in my heart meant I had to breathe the air. Traveling to London was a must. It’s my favorite place on earth. In college, while I was a theatre major, I focused my other studies towards the Victorian era, classes I continue to think about and value highly, course-work that set a real tone for the world-view I would present. I went on scholarship to London and, while there, took the Jack the Ripper walking tour. I was fascinated by Alan Moore’s From Hell and so having been eerily compelled by walking the paths that Jack and his victims really walked, I knew if I set a novel in the late 19th Century that the Ripper murders would have to be a part of it. My favorite resources are Richard Jones and his work as an author, tour guide and all around awesome man: and Haunted BritainCasebook, a really comprehensive Jack the Ripper site.

MARTA: How do you think your careers as an actor and a playwright influenced your fiction writing? Do you approach dialogue or laying out action differently?

LEANNA RENEE: The more I write, the more I realize how intensely my theatre background influences me. I think about my books as if they’re movies in my head, very atmospheric movies that put me in the seat of the cinematographer. Reviewers have mentioned me as very atmospheric and lyrical, and I think it comes from that desire to really "set a stage" visually and emotionally. Dialogue is one of my favorite parts of the process and I’m sure that comes from examining dialogue in really great plays.

I know that character development is directly tied to my theatre training when I attempt to discover and elucidate character motivations. A reviewer mentioned that I never “forgot my characters” in regards to Miss Percy Parker as I’m attentive to where and when she dons or removes all her shrouds and accoutrements, I try and use those details to dramatic advantage. That sensibility comes from thinking about how to use costumes and props in a show and make that relative to character. I’m also a bit overdramatic. So, at times, is this book. (grin)

MARTA: This is the first book in series. What can we expect next?

LEANNA RENEE: Book II picks up exactly where Book I leaves off, keeping Percy and Alexi in the main focus but giving us more insight into The Guard too. Book II (title TBA) will come out in May 2010. Book III is a prequel, Book IV continues with the Rychman familial legacy up until World War I.

MARTA: I’m utterly enamored of your cover and skewed title. Who did your book design, and did you have any say in the way the book was packaged?

LEANNA RENEE: It’s all the Dorchester marketing department. They’re great. I gave them a rundown of characters, setting and some research. My main thought was that it needed to be very blue. And that it is. I love the cover. I think it’s exactly representative of what you get in the book. The title is all my agent’s doing. In addition to what we might get as a cover, he wanted a title that could really bridge the cross-genre aspects of the book as well, and I owe him a lot for a title that’s really sparked people’s interest! And the little crooked skew is such a cool touch, I think.

MARTA: Quick, tell me five of your favorite things that more people should know about – and they can be animal, mineral, vegetable, theoretical, whatever.

LEANNA RENEE: 1) My favorite movie is a tie between "The Muppet Christmas Carol," "Sense and Sensibility," and "Die Hard." 2) Stained glass and historic architecture. 3) Animal rights (I’m vegetarian for humane reasons and I’m the proud momma of a rescued lab rabbit named Persebunny). 4) Goth clubbing in full regalia. 5) Birds. Had a childhood period of wanting to be an ornithologist. Can still identify a healthy number of North American species.

MARTA: Quick, tell me what play changed your life and why.

LEANNA RENEE: Tie: One: A supporting role in "Oliver!" at my grade school, age 9. This is when I first discovered that being on stage compelled me, perfected a cockney accent, and fell in love with Charles Dickens.

Two: Tom Stoppard’s "Arcadia." Stoppard, being a genius, weaves English gardening, history, mathematics, poetry, art, romance, loss, triumph, manners, despair and comedy all into one play with prose so exquisite it makes me physically ache for the beauty of it. I was an understudy for this play while interning at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the year I began Miss Percy Parker. This play was hugely inspirational, in its sweeping, cross-genre, wordy, poignant way.

MARTA: Obligatory inane question. Hollywood calls and wants to buy your book. However, Quentin Tarantino wants to write it as a crime-thriller musical. The money is so good, you say yes. Tell me the title and a few of the lyrics of the lead song?

LEANNA RENEE: "Her Majesty’s Ghostbusters," surely.

There is something very odd about town.
Who shall you call upon?
Why, Her Majesty’s Ghostbusters.
If there’s something strange and it’s beautiful
Who shall you call upon?
Why, Her Majesty’s Ghostbusters.
… I shan’t be afraid of a ghost.

MARTA: Where can readers learn more about you and your books? [I’ll insert the links in here for your site and whatever social sites you’d like to include]

LEANNA RENEE: Thank you so much for this opportunity, Marta! Vampire Wire is awesome. Thrilled to be here.

-----------------

Thanks, Leanna Renee, for taking the time to answer my questions!

You can find out more about Leanna Renee and her exciting new novel at her online sites:

Leanna Renee's Website
Facebook Page and MySpace Page
Twitter
Mailing List
BookTour

To enter the contest for one of two copies of The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, just leave a comment for Leanna Renee, or tell us what you like about gothic or historical novels.

Winner of WICKED TO THE BONE by Jeri Smith-Ready

Thanks for all your shifter suggestions! The winner of the contest is:

DAWN M,

who mentioned horse shifters, bear shifters and bird shifters.

Congratulations, Dawn, and I'll email you to get your mailing address. Hope you enjoy your prize!

As always, check the right sidebar here to learn about my current contests. Thanks for participating!

The "Supernatural" Countdown Cont.; "Supernatural" Goes French

Less than a week until the new season of "Supernatural"! I caught about ten minutes of the end of "Supernatural," season four, the last episode. The tension couldn't have been ratcheted up more as Sam Winchester learns that Ruby has betrayed him, as Castiel disobeys his heavenly masters to get Dean Winchester out of his prison, and as Dean desperately tries to stop Sam from opening the final seal. "He's coming!"

Don't trust me? Here's a review of the conclusion of the last season. "In the second half of the season two finale, Supernatural pulls out all the stops, literally unleashing hell, and closing the book on the biggest storyline of the first two seasons. Dean and Sam, as well as the audience, get a lot of closure but at the same time new and exciting storylines are opened up for future seasons." (IGN)

Here are some clips from "Supernatural: Season Five." You can find more over at the Chicago Tribune article about the series. "Finally, here's the CW's summary of the episode: 'Has Hell been unleashed? Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) discover the consequences of breaking the final seal as the series’ fifth season opener picks up right where we left off – with Lucifer walking free and the first signs of the apocalypse beginning to be evident.'"






THE BRIDE OF CASA DRACULA: I was delighted to see a new review of my third novel, The Bride of Casa Dracula, this morning. "The very cool Bride of Casa Dracula was a great departure from Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and Stephanie Meyers' Twilight Saga. Complete with a little bit of romance, some blood (though in a very different way from the others mentioned above) and shapeshifters, the Bride was a fun and very cute read." (The Realist Latina) It's nice to know that this book holds up well as a stand-alone -- now that I'm working on Casa Dracula Book Four, it's a real challenge to make it interesting to new readers as well fans of the series.

SciFi Guy spotlights Susan Kearney's Pendragon Legacy series. "An interesting release for September is Lucan by Susan Kearney which hits stores tomorrow. It is an unusual blend of science fiction, fantasy and romance."


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

One minute of Jensen Ackles and Britney Spears for a Friday appetizer.



Here's the main course.



And the meal wouldn't be complete without dessert. Yeah, he's even hawter in French.

Contests, Hearting "Supernatural" and Quibbling About "The Vampire Diaries"

Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos has a contest for Michelle Rowen's upcoming novel, Tall, Dark, and Fangsome. The contest ends today, so enter now.

Speaking of contests, I've got one for Jeri Smith-Ready's Bad to the Bone.

You can also enter Vampire Genre's contest for SIX COPIES of Max Turner's Night Runner. "“For Zack Thomson, living in the Nicholls Ward isn’t so bad. After his parents died, he developed strange and severe allergies, and the mental institution was the only place where he could be properly looked after. As strange as it was, it was home."

Please note the cover model's "broody" eyebrows. Clearly the new fashion trend for hero-dudes is to have zero space between eyebrow and eyeball. And I had hoped that the new fashion trend would be guyliner. Not to worry! I include guyliner in the next Casa Dracula novel.

Now this is interesting! Catherine Karp has links and video of director Tim Burton talking about his upcoming film, the big screen adaptation of "Dark Shadows," starring Johnny Depp. (Suburban Vampire)

Read a review of the CW's new series, "The Vampire Diaries." "Nina Dobrev from Degrassi: The Next Generation is emotionally open as Elena, who pours her soul into diary entries that we hear in voice-over. Paul Wesley (Everwood, Army Wives) is Stefan, the vampire every TV review is required to describe as 'brooding.'" (Entertainment Weekly)

Uhm, he's described as "brooding" because his eyebrows start directly over his eyes. There's no lid. At least on "Buffy," characters made fun of Angel's Cro-Magnan forehead. This show sounds enormously pervy. Angel didn't enroll in high school and pretend to be a teenager to target a lonely teenage girl.

Oh, here's an article and info about the second special webseries that accompanies "The Vampire Diaries." It shows such terrifying things as garlic traps! Holy Water! Crosses! and people reading your very private Hello, Kitty! diaries that you wrote because you're a sensitive vampire. "'A Darker Truth Part 2' is the continuation of the first one where Jason documents a tragedy that happened in his hometown. It turned out that his sister Joanne had been a neighbor to Stefan for sometime before she was found dead in a nasty way." Please tell me why only Catholic iconography (except the garlic, go figure) is dangerous to vampires.

I post this only because it's required by my blogger code of ethics, right below the "Use kwazy and kewl spelling!" rule.



Cheryl at Cheryl's Mewsings (I told you about the blogger code of ethics re: spelling) has an interesting post about awards for science fiction and fantasy books and why women authors aren't being represented. "To start with Locus doesn’t list everything. I did not see any books from Juno in the list, for example. Not did I see Seanan McGuire’s Rosemary and Rue, which is a DAW book by someone well known in fandom on both sides of the Atlantic that has been getting a lot of good press. So Locus may have a bias against 'urban fantasy' and 'paranormal romance', or the publishers of such books may not submit data to Locus."


"SUPERNATURAL" COUNTDOWN

Only a week until the premiere of Season Five of "Supernatural," where the guys have normal eyebrows and could probably be convinced to wear a little guyliner. Well, Sam maybe, but probably not Dean or Bobby. Castiel fer sure.

Creator Eric Kripke says that the season will end dramatically...but does that mean the season will conclude the series? Fans are panicking. "“Quite frankly, I never expected [the show] to make it to five years. But now that we’re in our fifth year, I have every intention of ending the story with a bang and not drawing it out or watering it down.” (Entertainment Weekly)

Screen Rant has some story points that will appear in "Supernatural" Season Five. "Castiel (Misha Collins) will be a hunted fugitive, as far as Heaven is concerned and as time goes on, his powers begin to fade. This in turn, is where he’ll learn how to be human."

You can watch a ten-minute gag real from "Supernatural," but it may disillusion some of the more idealistic and romantic fans. "No, the 621st reason to go out right now (if you haven't already) and buy Supernatural season 4 on DVD is the epic-sized gag reel. It features more than 10 minutes of hilarious awesomeness, and will rock you like a hurricane." (BuddyTV)


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Of course, they're going to be for "Supernatural," duh! These are new videos.

MADHOUSE, Green Covers, & Britney understands "Supernatural"

Great news! Regular readers know that I've been fascinated by Leanna Renee Hieber's new novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. Leanna will be my guest on Vampire Wire on Monday and we'll have a contest for two copies of her ghostly Victorian-era novel! Be sure to subscribe to Vampire Wire so you don't miss this interview.

Speaking of ghostly things, Cindy Miles is guest blogging about her obsession with them and how they inspire her fiction. There's also a contest for TWO COPIES of her latest novel, Thirteen Chances. "My latest ghostly romance, Thirteen Chances involves two lovers from the twelfth century who, because of a bumbled magic spell, spend more than 800 years meeting one another--he as a spirit, she as a mortal." (Yankee Romance Reviews)

Read a review of Rob Thurman's Madhouse at LoveVampires. "Cal is the story’s main protagonist. He’s 20 years old and he is half human and half Auphe (or elf.) The Auphe are not dreamy, nature-loving elves though, they are pure evil..."

Just wanted to mention that Amanda at LoveVampires (one of my fave sites) has recently revamped (sorry) her site and welcomed two more reviewers, Katherine and Ania. I hope we'll see bylines on each review, because I think it helps readers get a sense of each reviewer and her tastes. Sometimes you're lucky enough to find that one reviewer who can always guide you to books you'll love.

Read a guest blog by Kimberly Frost and enter her contest to win a copy of Barely Bewitched at Fang-tastic Books. "Some fans of my Southern Witch series have told me that the ocelot Mercutio is their favorite character."


UPCOMING RELEASES

Cursed to Death by L.A. Banks
Crimson Moon, Book 4
To be released September 29, 2009

Publisher's Summary:

Secret government operative Sasha Trudeau arrives at the scene of a murder, only to discover that a Fae creature has been killed—in a whole new kind of way. What is the meaning behind this mysterious ritualistic killing? What did the victim do to deserve it? Sasha fears that the Vampires and Unseelies have formed an unholy alliance…and they’re ready to unleash their darkest arsenal of magick yet.

Teaming up with her mate and fellow Shadow Wolf, Max Hunter, Sasha tries to penetrate the paranormal community for clues. Meanwhile, members of the Wolf Clan are turning against one another as they race to uncover the meaning behind an ancient Unseelie curse. Even Sasha is not immune to this powerful magick, and soon finds herself drawn to a sensual, dangerous dance—one that could cost her own life…

Hmm, is green the new red? I've been seeing some covers this shade, which seems very Christmasy, but maybe that's just me. SciFi Guy could probably pull together several other covers to show if this is a trend or not.

Dawnbreaker by Jocelynn Drake
To be released September 29, 2009

Publisher's Summary:

Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will -- a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift ... and a curse.

The naturi despise Mira for what she is -- as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.

Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide.

Jocelynn Drake's website.


Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2
To be released October 6, 2009.

Publisher's Summary:
You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet. But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family. So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

Read Chapter One.


GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

It's all about the countdown the the season opener of "Supernatural." Who knew that Britney Spears would eventually develop into someone who made songs that work so well with tribute videos?

Things to Amuse Yourself, Including "Supernatural"

Please print out and pin to your inspiration board for your own "Supernatural" collage attempts.

I'm too busy to blog. Amuse yourselves by:

1. Checking out the great blogs on my sidebar.
2. Reading Christine Feehan's blog about her Drake sisters, vampires, and alpha males.
3. Visiting Scooper Speaks to see covers and summaries of 2010 releases, including Shadow Blade by Serresia Glass.
4. Reading Kimberly Swan's review of Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. I love that title.
5. Entering SciFi Guy's Catching Fire contest. Doug is giving away three prize packages!
6. Joining the Warner Bros. Rewards program for a chance to win "Supernatural" prizes, like DVDs.
7. Taking the "Are you compatible with the Winchester brothers?" quiz. It's a badly written quiz, written by some apathetic lackey, so don't say I didn't warn you.
8. Counting down the days to the "Supernatural" premiere. Today's task: buy a posterboard, glitter pens, colored construction paper, and gold stars and make a giant collage dedicated to your favorite "Supernatural" star.
9. Writing haikus (5 syllables, 7 syllables, and 5 syllables) to "Supernatural." Here's mine:
   Evil Sammy is
   Hawter now with demon blood
   Angels fear to tread
10. Making a Vampire Wire tribute video that we can all enjoy. Yeah, I know you won't do that despite all I do for you, but I'm not bitter. Well, maybe a little disappointed.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

In honor of the upcoming "Supernatural" season premiere, I'm posting some of my favorite videos, some new and some classics. Today's theme: heroes.