We’re thrilled to have bestselling author Leanna Renee Hieber back with us this Thursday, April 29th, on her Haunted London Blog Tour for her second Strangely Beautiful book, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker. Leanna says “Giveaways are associated with each tour date so be sure to comment to enter to win!”
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for her first book, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, before it was released, and I fell in love with the lush writing and the mix of Gothic romance with mythical beings. Most of all, with the great characters she brought to life. I’m not the only one who fell in love with the book. Publishers Weekly said “readers will want to revisit her intriguing world.” (True — I do!) Best selling writer C.L. Wilson called it “”Tender, poignant, exquisitely written.” True-Blood.Net said Leanna is “The brightest new star in literature.”
About Leanna:
Award winning, bestselling author, actress and playwright Leanna grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre from Miami University, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. The Gothic, dramatic, historic, spiritual and paranormal are the primary forces in her lyrical, eerie, atmospheric fiction. While performing in the regional theatre circuit she adapted works of 19th Century literature for the professional stage and her one-act plays such as Favorite Lady garnered national attention and continue to be produced around the country.
She hit the fantasy fiction scene with her novella Dark Nest which won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.
Her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, the first in her Strangely Beautiful series of ghostly, Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels published by Dorchester Publishing and landed on Barnes & Noble’s mass market and overall Bestseller List. The book was named one of the Top Ten Books of 2009 by Beyond Her Book Publishers Weekly Readers Choice, an honour repeated on over 14 other Fantasy and Romance book review blogs. The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Strangely Beautiful #2) and a novella in the series (Strangely Beautiful #2.5) included in A Midwinter Fantasy will continue the series in 2010, the series currently slated for 4 books.
The option rights have been sold to Mt. Clair Entertainment for adaptation of The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker into legit musical theatre production. Development team includes talents that have brought shows like Wicked, Tarzan, Memphis and more to the Broadway stage.
A big SQUEEEE!!!! for Leanna. She’s going to write the script! You can read more about it here.
Here’s the blurb for The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker:
With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.
Leanna has four excerpts that you can read here.
Leanna, congrats on selling the option rights to the book and good luck with the musical adaption! So much exciting news to celebrate!