Haunting Joy Blog Tour : The Story Behind the Cover

Today kicks off the Blog Tour for Haunting Joy.

I'm over on DelSheree Gladden's site talking about the cover of Haunting Joy and spilling all sorts of secrets and insider information. ;) Come on over!

You can also check out the schedule for the rest of the tour here (along with a book giveaway and PRIZES)!

Haunting Joy News

Grab the ebook this week for only 99 cents!
(Available on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, and Kobo)

Get a paperback copy!

Print edition now available!

VISION Cover Reveal!

Lisa Amowitz (YA author of BREAKING GLASS) has a new book coming out: VISION (May 2014)! Her book cover is already making waves. Check it out!

VISION

by Lisa Amowitz

YA

The light is darker than you think...

When seventeen-year-old Bobby Pendell begins to have blinding migraines followed by frightening hallucinations, he fears there’s something wrong with him. Then murder rocks his sleepy town and the visions that put him on trail of a killer—also make him the prime suspect.

Sounds creeepy! :)

Lena

New Release: Haunting Joy & 99-Cent Sale!

HAUNTING JOY is now on sale for 99 cents on Kindle, Nook, and iTunes!

Available for pre-order on Kobo (releases October 20, 2013).

Enter to win Goodreads Giveaway of Haunting Joy

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Haunting Joy

by Lena Goldfinch

Giveaway ends October 31, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Cover Reveal Day! Haunting Joy Coming Soon! (October 20)

Where to see the new "special print edition" cover of Haunting Joy today...

I love this little blog button from Amber Stokes!

Seasons of Humility: A Spooky Special-Edition Cover Reveal!: "Happy October, dear readers! This month is a special one for my friend and cover designer, Lena Goldfinch , as it signals the release of her..."

Also, stop by SciFan Blog for an interview with me *blushes*, a look at the new cover, and a chance to win an ebook!

Haunting Joy on What Haunts You -- Songstone $2.99 sale!

My upcoming new release, Haunting Joy: a ghostly little story, (which is really a a novella or short novel), is going to be on What Haunts You! (Oct 30, 2013, 8 - 9 PM). Stay tuned for details!

Stay tuned for blog tour info too & a reveal of the cover for a Special Edition paperback, Oct. 1!
(squee!! cover reveal!!! ooooo, special!)

Haunting Joy : ye olde ebook cover

Also, Songstone is currently on sale for $2.99 (reg. $3.99, ebook), pretty much everywhere.

Book Links:

Amazon | BN.com | Kobo | iTunes

I'm blogging on The Enchanted Inkpot Today: or the Guess the Fantasy Book Cover Game is Back

I'm blogging today with my Inkpot pal Amy Butler Greenfield. We've removed the titles & author names -- so naughty of us :) -- can you Guess these popular Middle Grade & Young Adult Fantasy Book Covers?

Earn points! Impress your friends! Befuddle your teachers! ;)

"It’s September – the month of back-to-school, shiny apples, and changing leaves… and a new round of Guess the Fantasy Book Covers!"

Here's a sneak peek, but be sure to visit us on the Enchanted Inkpot for more and for answers!

 

Haunting Joy Edits & Back to the 80s

Mini Update

ebook cover

I'm going over my editor's notes for Haunting Joy and looking forward to our blog tour at the end of October (I'll be posting details about the tour and the Rafflecopter Giveway -- including a copy of a special edition paperback -- with an equally special cover -- squee!).

We'll also be having a cover reveal for the special print edition of Haunting Joy October 1 (so excited about that!).

So, I'll be working on revisions and final polishing stuff for Haunting Joy for a bit.... I love this phase so much!



And, meanwhile, I'm going Back to the 80s and have been listening to retro tunes on Slacker Radio & YouTube -- best research ever (for Haunting Melody, book 2 in the Haunting series). :-)

EVENT: YA Author Book Signing Today

I'm participating in a group author book signing at Used Book Superstore in Danvers, MA today. I'll have paperback copies of all my books for sale:

SONGSTONE
AIRE
THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS

2:00 - 4:00 pm

Used Book Superstore

139 Endicott Street
Danvers, MA 01923

Endicott Plaza‎

(978) 767-2855
www.usedbooksuperstore.com‎

Hope to see you there! :)



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The Next Big Thing Blog Tour

The Next Big Thing blog tour began in Australia and has wound it's way all around the world to Southern California and now to New England. It's a great way to discover authors and illustrators that you might not be familiar with and what their latest book is about. Each author or illustrator answers ten questions and tags two more authors who will continue the tour. So this week it's my turn to talk about my next big thing...

Thanks to Lisa Gail Green for tagging me!

What is the working title of your next book? 

SONGSTONE -- it just came out in ebook with print to follow shortly.

Where did the idea come from for the book? 

The original spark of an idea came to me when I was on vacation several years ago. We'd rented a cottage on an island on Lake Winnipesaukee (New Hampshire). The island has boat-only access, which seemed liked an exciting idea. It was actually a bit terrifying. I hadn't had much experience with boats, so I was way out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, as a writer, being out of my comfort zone is a pressure cooker for new ideas.

 I daydreamed about a girl who needed to cross a very dangerous lake, and I knew somehow her quest was imperative. She had to go, but she needed the help of a journeyman to get across. (Perhaps my husband, the experienced boater, unwittingly inspired the role of "hero to the rescue"? ;-))

What genre does your book fall under? 
YA Fantasy -- Folklore

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition? 

This is too hard. I'd need the help of some really great director to cast it. ;)

I do have a Pinterest board for Songstone that has some pictures of Pono (sort of Pono--sort of not) so maybe that would be a good starting place.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

Kita, a servant girl, yearns to escape the evil sorcerer who uses drops of her blood for black magic, but she's bound by his spells, so when a young journeyman, Pono, arrives from the other side of the island, Kita sees her one slim chance for escape.

Who is publishing your book? 

I'm self-publishing. I publish under the imprint Indigo Road Teen.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript? 

Forever. LOL Well, it felt like it! Actually, I picked at it over a period of several years, while also working on other things.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

I'm never really good at this kind of question!

Instead, I'll quote a recent review on Goodreads who said:

"It was a beautiful fantasy story that reminded me very much of the magic Shannon Hale and Juliette Marillier create in their stories, using animals, nature, and the special gifts each of us are born with, to make a beautiful, believable fantasy world to escape in." 

--Angie, Goodreads

How nice is that?? I didn;t pay her or anything! ;)

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

Songstone was greatly inspired by the myths and legends of New Zealand's Māori people.

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

Here's an excerpt, an interaction between Kita and Pono:


“Everyone is surprised sometimes.” I thought of all the horrible surprises Matiko had given me in my life and grimaced. “Haven’t you ever been surprised?”

“I suppose.” (Pono speaking)

“When?”

 He shrugged my question away.

“Just one time?” I said, probing.

He hesitated. Now he hesitated. As if the answer was hard to find. He frowned and looked off into the distance.

“One time?” he asked.

“Just one.”

He slowed and just looked at me, his expression thoughtful.

“When you smiled,” he finally said. “Your smile surprised me. And your eyes, at first. I’d never seen eyes like yours. They’re green, like leaves.” His expression was so sincere I couldn’t doubt what he was saying. It did strange things to me, making my heart bump a few unsteady beats.

“I like leaves,” he muttered and picked up his pace.

I couldn’t have spoken then, even if I’d had a hundred more questions. My body felt curiously light, as if I could float into the sky and join the clouds.


Next you'll want to check out Ellen Booream and her NEXT BIG THING: her Middle Grade fantasy novel TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD!

SONGSTONE Summer Blog Tour Day 4 -- and Book News

• Review at My Favorite Pastime
• Interview and review at Tome Tender (18+)
• Also, I was interviewed over on The Enchanted Inkpot yesterday 

With big thanks to Julie, Dianne, and Katie!)

Book News

SONGSTONE is now up on iTunes. (Hurray!)

So, to recap, here are the places where you can get my book*s:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iTunes**
Smashwords

And miscellaneous other sites carry the paperbacks, like Book Depository.

*Note: Songstone will be available in Paperback shortly. Stay tuned.

**Note: The Language of Souls hasn't been uploaded to iTunes yet, but will be available there by the end of August (I hope).

SONGSTONE Summer Blog Tour Day 3

• Review at West of Newbury Street
• Spotlight at The Book Fairy's Haven

SONGSTONE is #2 on Kindle Hot New Releases in Teen Fairy Tales & Folklore!

So much going on. This new release is flying with wings. I'm feeling pretty good, but missing my wonderful F-I-L, knowing he would have liked hearing all this news.

News

• The 99-cent Early-Bird sale is over -- but guess what? Amazon has marked it back down to $.99 again. (??? Go figure.) I'm good with that though. You want a copy? Go grab it now while it's on sale! ;-)
• It's also ranked over on their Kindle Hot New Releases for Teen Fairy Tales & Folklore. Solid. Yep. But that list changes every hour, so I did a screen grab. LOL

• Seriously, please go get a copy, so I can stay on the list and bask in its glory? 99 cents is a steal, right? And it will make me happy. I'm handing out cyber cupcakes and ice cream to the next 5,000 people who get it. ;)
• If you want a paperback too, it's not available yet, but you can enter to win one. Enter the Songstone Blog Tour Raffle or there's also a Giveaway going on over on Goodreads.
  
  
  

  
  

  Goodreads Book Giveaway

  

  Songstone

  by Lena Goldfinch

  Giveaway ends July 29, 2013.
  See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

  Enter to win

SONGSTONE Summer Blog Tour Day 2

Check out Kav's cool Blog Tour Button!
I love it!!

DAY 2:

Interview at A Novel Reality

Review at Best Reads (2010-2013)

New Release! SONGSTONE SUMMER BLOG TOUR Kicks Off (DAY 1)

New Release -- now available!

My new release Songstone (YA fantasy/romance) launches today. Hurray!

(Early birds can get a copy of the ebook today for only 99 cents!)

You can find Songstone on:
~ Amazon (Kindle) ~ Barnes & Noble (Nook)~ Kobo~ Smashwords

Also, the big SONGSTONE Summer Blog Tour kicks off today, with reviews, author interview with me (*blushing*), and....

Prizes!

designed by The Studio of Glass

designed by The Studio of Glass

So pretty! I want one!! :-)

Enter here to win and follow the tour for more interviews, reviews and chances to win.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Big thanks to Amber Stokes, my lovely blog tour coordinator, for all her help setting up the Blog Tour. I couldn't have done it all myself!! Great job!

~xoxo~
Lena

Day One

• Introduction to the tour at Seasons of Humility
• Interview and review at The Other World
• Spotlight at Lisa Amowitz

Songstone Summer Blog Tour Schedule

SONGSTONE Release Month!

I can't believe it's July already! Boy, June sure went by fast!

July is SONGSTONE month. The new release is scheduled for July 22nd. Stay tuned for news of my "Summer Reads" blog tour with fun Giveaway prizes, like a free paperback copy of SONGSTONE  & a gorgeous sea turtle necklace.

(I love that necklace so much, I may have to enter myself! ;))

SNEAK PEAK

SONGSTONE print cover!

Also, the Goodreads Giveaway for a free paperback copy of SONGSTONE is still underway. :)

Enter here:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

SONGSTONE

by Lena Goldfinch

Giveaway ends July 29, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Hope everyone's having a great start to their summer. :)
Lena

Join my newsletter!

Three Things about YA author PJ Hoover and her New Release SOLSTICE (Tor) -- and a Cupcake!

Solstice

I'm in cover-love with PJ Hoover's New Release SOLSTICE (a dystopian teen romance from Tor Teen, Now Available!)

About SOLSTICE
"...a beautiful world of disaster and chaos" —School Library Journal Teen Review
"[Hoover's] confident deployment of myth is impressive..." —Publishers Weekly
"...a debut novel that consistently delivers..." —Booklist

IT'S ON MY TO-READ LIST!!! (Maybe a good one to bring on our summer vacation? I think so! :-))

So I was super-excited when PJ agreed to come by the blog here for an interview. (woot!)

Lena: If you were a dystopian heroine in the world of SOLSTICE, what three key strengths to saving the world would you want to bring to the table?

PJHoover: Let's see...I'd bring goddess powers, a green thumb, and the ability to resist a sunburn. That way I could withstand the heat of the sun, grow new plants, and basically do anything I wanted to.

Lena: Sounds like a smart plan. ;) Where did the idea for SOLSTICE come from?

PJHoover: I was exercising on the elliptical machine when I got the idea to work with a Greek myth. From there, the first chapter flew onto the computer and the global warming twist was created.

Lena: Cool! What's your favorite scene?

PJHoover: I love the scene where Piper and her best friend Chloe go to get a tattoo. So many fun emotions are wrapped together, and I find it a joy to read each and every time!

[For those familiar with my interviews, yes, that was Three Things. (There was even a three things within the three things, tricky, eh?) :)]

Lena: What's your favorite cupcake?

PJHoover: There is a cupcake called a Chocolate Elvis at my favorite cupcake shop here in Austin, Cupprimo. Truthfully I don't know what all it has in it, but it is delicious and only served on Thursdays!

Thank you so much for featuring me!

Lena: It was a pleasure to have you! But now I want a cupcake that's in Austin TX, which is a conundrum... LOL

Speaking of cupcakes...

The Chocolate Elvis from Cupprimo Cupcakery, Austin, TX (used with permission)

Q: What three items would you want on hand for your dystopian adventure?? (the cupcake is understood)

Goodreads Book Giveaway -- New Release SONGSTONE-- enter to win!

I've got a new release coming up in July (woot!). To celebrate & promote the upcoming release of SONGSTONE, my young adult fantasy, I'm hosting a Goodreads Book Giveaway for a chance to win a FREE paperback copy.

Enter here:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

SONGSTONE

by Lena Goldfinch

Giveaway ends July 29, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

About SONGSTONE (Coming Soon--July 2013!)

"Chivalry, complex world building, and poetic prose make Songstone a winning and unforgettable story. My hat’s off to Goldfinch who continues to surprise with romantic wit, and beautiful characters you wish were real.  But perhaps the crowning achievement of this book is the cultural nuances that you’ll find at every turn of the page. Brava!" 
-- Jennifer Cervantes, award-winning young adult author of Tortilla Sun

"Songstone sings with characters who come to life, a story full of magic, heart and adventure, and a world that lets you smell the sea air and feel the tropical sun on your back." 
-- Lisa Gail Green, author of The Binding Stone


Kita can meld song into stone. In a world with no written word, storytelling—the ability to meld (or magically impress) song into stone—is greatly honored. The village honors her master as their medicine man, but Kita knows he's secretly a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it from him. Each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope. His spells blind the villagers, so they can’t see him for what he really is.

Not that anyone would want to help her. She was found in the forest as a baby and would have died if a village girl hadn't brought her home. But the villagers saw Kita's unusual coloring and decided she belonged to the mysterious tribe who lives in the forests of the volcano, a people feared for their mystical powers. So they fear her too. Now seventeen, she can barely admit her deepest longing: to know who she really is and where she belongs.

Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He's come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village--a storyteller who'll be chosen at the great assembly. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom and she'll risk her life to take it.

A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people.

Aire Review and Book Giveaway

Christina at Ensconced in YA reviewed Aire, my historical fantasy for teens,  & is hosting an International Giveaway! Stop on over to enter!

"The setting of this novel is beautiful-- we get the sense of the vastness and gorgeousness of Italian royalty. There is plenty of intrigue and plot twists. Anna is a good protagonist, and we also get to see in the head of the male protagonist, Jovanni. The supporting characters are strong, especially Ilan, one of her favorite servants. The last 20% of the novel moves at a quick pace and at that point, is hard to put down." -- Christina, Ensconced in YA

Follow the link to Ensconced in YA to read the rest & enter the contest for a free book. :)

Also, an interview link:

I was recently interviewed over on USA Today HEA book blog! In which I talk about Aire, my upcoming YA fantasy, Songstone, and my love for TV comedy Psych!

PSYCH is hilarious!

Limited Time: AIRE is Free on Kindle this weekend (5/25-27)!

Free on Kindle this weekend!

Get a free copy of AIRE on your Kindle this weekend! Also, grab Lisa Gail Green's New Release, THE BINDING STONE, which  is on sale for 99 cents!  :)

Happy Memorial Day, with appreciate to all those who have served in the military, including my father, Cmdr. Albert L. Goldfinch, Sr. (Love you, Dad!)

Lena

New Release YA Paranormal by Lisa Gail Green: THE BINDING STONE (aka not your average Genie)

Author Interview

YA author Lisa Gail Green has a new release on Kindle today, her debut young adult fantasy / paranormal novel, THE BINDING STONE, Book 1 in the DJINN series.

The Scrumptious cover for Lisa Gail Green's THE BINDING STONE

I caught up with Lisa to ask her a few probing book questions. ;) And she was kind enough to answer.

What's a Djinn anyway?

LISA: A Djinn is known in today's world as a genie. It is an all powerful creature from another dimension. Some were captured ages ago and tied to objects so that they would serve their masters wishes.

How is your Djinn in THE BINDING STONE and Barbara Eden's genie in the retro TV hit I Dream of Jeannie similar/different? 

LISA:  Love that question! I loved I Dream of Jeannie growing up. She's like Leela in that… well, actually she's kind of the polar opposite. Other than granting unlimited wishes, they couldn't get farther apart. :D Leela is jaded, serving unwillingly, and even a bit dangerous. She *might* just fall for her master though.


(Lena: Squee!!! I hear that and think *romance*. ;))

Where can we find your book?

LISA:  Amazon! Right now it's on Kindle (if you don't have one, remember the Kindle app is free on tablets, phones and computers). It will be available in print eventually, but is only in ebook form right now.

You can also win a copy today if you're on Twitter. Click here for all the details.

LENA: Lisa thanks for being here! Your book cover is one of my favorites from this year. I've been in serious cover love for awhile now. :)

Visit Lisa on her website:  LisaGailGreen.com or on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lisagailgreen.

Inspiration for AIRE

I have a deep abiding love of intricate world-building (LOVE!!) This week I thought I'd share some of the images I gathered that inspired the world of AIRE.

Ironically, this is not Italy. It's actually Debrovnik, Croatia and captures perfectly the feel of a seaside city with its tightly-packed, red rooftops and a surrounding mountainside. (This place is on my Bucket List of places I want to visit someday!)

For more, follow my Pinterest board on AIRE!

$50 Amazon gift card GIVEAWAY!

Hey, all,

Spreading the word about a great book promotion Dorothy Dreyer is hosting right now. She's giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card to celebrate and promote the release of her YA paranormal romance, My Sister's Reaper (Month9Books).

Check out the gorgeous book cover:

My Sister's Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer

It's on my to-read shelf on Goodreads. Can't wait to check it out! It looks soooo good! (And maybe a bit creepy?)

To enter the contest go here!

More about My Sister's Keeper and other Month9Books Young Adult Books.

Good luck! :)

Three Things & a Cupcake: Interview with Leigh Hershkovich, Shattered Illusions

Originally Posted on the Scene 13 Blog on April 25, 2013 

Lena:

I sporadically post author interviews under the theme “Three Things & a Cupcake.” I post everything sort of sporadically, actually. (Sorry, World!  )

Three Things about Leigh and her debut novel, Shattered Illusions

Leigh’s cover reveal happens to be today, so look what I get to share!!!

1. I came up for the idea behind Shattered Illusions while I was in a car traveling with my family from the North of Israel to the South. I had a stomach flu, and between that and in the immense heat, I was a bit delusional. I was reading a fantastic book called The Angel’s Game when the idea suddenly struck me like a bolt of lightening. It took me four months to convince myself that the idea was valid and not based on the other realm I found myself in due to the pain and the heat.
   
2. I started writing Shattered Illusions when I was seventeen and completed it three weeks after my twentieth birthday.
   
3. The characters of Shattered Illusions are loosely based on people that I had met throughout my childhood.

My favorite fantasy cupcake would be a Fountainhead themed cupcake complete with mini-figures of the characters and blue prints of some of their creations.

Lena again:

Wow, the story of your inspiration for Shattered Illusions is amazing. Also, that you started it at as a teen is impressive (but then teens are amazing–a well-known fact). Finishing it proves you’re a professional writer. And finding a great publisher is icing on the…cupcake. (Sorry, it happens.  )

Okay, I rather foolishly bragged to Leigh that I had once found an Edgar-Allan-Poe-themed cupcake for an interview, so I suspect she tried to stump me. Actually, I admit, the vast photo database of the interwebs failed me, just this once. I found a tribute cake to Ayn Rand, but nary a cupcake. (I know, right??) But, not to be deterred, I bring you my own version of Fountainhead Cupcake…

Lena’s Fountainhead Cupcake–get it??
(Photo credits: Book image (Signet), Cupcake (Kristin_A, Meringue Bake Shop, Flickr Creative Commons))

Thanks for playing along, Leigh! I wish you all the best with your new release (squee!!).

Learn more about Leigh & her books at www.leighhershkovich.com or visit her Goodreads page.

AIRE is Now Available in Paperback! (Young Adult Fantasy Romance)

You can find AIRE at these book retailers, among others:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble (available online or order from your local store)
Books A Million

If your corner bookstore doesn't carry it, they can possibly order it for you. You may need to provide them with the following...

ISBN number: 978-1484060216

Or you can make my day and request a copy from your local library. (I love libraries! Maybe they'll order it, and that will give me a weeks' worth of warm fuzzies. ;))

Freebie Alert! The Language of Souls is free on Kindle until 4/19!

To celebrate and promote the release of Aire (Young Adult Fantasy Romance), I'm offering my novella, The Language of Souls for free . (If you enjoy this free read, please consider giving Aire a try!)

  

The Language of Souls

A fast-paced tale of adventure, impossible choices, and a soul-stirring romance that will leave you breathless.

"The perfect tiny romantic escape." -- Tales of Whimsy

No. 11 on Amazon's Bestselling List in Historical Fantasy :)

...and No. 33 on Amazon's Bestselling List in Teen Romance 

WHERE TO GET IT

Get it now on Amazon! (US)

UK | DE | CA | FR | ES | IT | JP | BR 

Update:

No. 4 on Amazon's Bestselling List in Historical Fantasy