Today it is my pleasure to have mega talented author Leanna Renee Hieber at my blog. Leanna is the author of the must-read book (and I sincerely mean that, I LOVE this story), THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER.  One lucky commenter will win a copy of this fabulous book. (So lucky!)  Leanna, welcome!  Thanks for making my blog part of your haunted tour!

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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….

The Strangely Beautiful Haunted London Blog Tour Day 6!

Thank you Cynthia for hosting me, not only do I love your books, but you’re just a wonderful person and I so appreciate this opportunity to be here!

For those of you just joining us, the purpose of this Haunted tour is to celebrate the release of my Gothic Victorian fantasy debut, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, this Tour will introduce you to some of the real, documented London haunts who “ghost-star” in my book.  When Professor Alexi Rychman and his Guard of spectral police make their rounds, it is to any number of London phantasms.  Since these characters are familiar to The Guard, I don’t get to tell their full story in the book, here I can give them their due.  Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of the novel, first in the Strangely Beautiful series!

Day 6. Today we meet a most tragic ghost, that of Catherine Eddowes, who died in Mitre Square EC3 – September 30th 1888, a victim of “Jack the Ripper”

The original Victorian square known as Mitre Square no longer exists save for the stones.  But those stones have a tale to tell.  A tale of one of the most infamous and terrible sprees of crime ever reported.  At 1:45 in the morning on September 30th, 1888, Catherine Eddowes was the fourth canonical victim of Jack the Ripper.  Even though the square is today surrounded my modern buildings and a school, local folklore insists that on the anniversary of her murder, Catherine’s ghostly corpse is seen lying on the very spot where she came to such a terrible death.  Not only these real ghosts, but the Ripper crimes continue to haunt us to this day.

Here is how Mitre Square and Ms. Eddowes grim demise factor into The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker:

Alexi loosed a string of curses and spurred his horse down another dark street.

As he rounded the corner of Mitre Square, an incantation died on his lips at the same moment the beast’s next victim did. Surrounded by brick, the small square was now her open, bloody mausoleum. A wispy ghost, a weary young woman confused and wide-eyed peeled upward and into the night sky. There was no sign of her killer.

Alexi murmured a benediction in the spirit’s direction, watching her ascend. He prayed that she would continue upward into what was now a calm haze of silver moonlight, rather than return and be tethered to the unspeakable reality of her mortal remains below. Ruffled skirts and pooling blood from a torn abdomen and something that was now hardly a face remained turned toward him on the ground, and Alexi wondered if the sight would ever leave his mind. He choked back a wail and darted back out the walled block, well aware that there were officers on patrol who would soon find her. Everyone was vigilant these nights, but no one was of any use. Not even him.

But Alexi no longer doubted that he had found the source of Whitechapel’s recent woe.

— (End of Excerpt)

I’m indebted to Richard Jones, founder of the fabulous Discovery Walks of London and author of the fantastic compendium “Haunted London” and “Walking Haunted London” published by Barnes & Noble Books, a main resource for my research. Visit him at www.haunted-london.com. Come visit me at www.leannareneehieber.com to find out more about The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and follow along on the rest of the Haunted London Blog tour!  While you’re at my website, if you’ve bought a copy of Miss Percy Parker already you can answer the pop quiz and enter my CONTEST!  If not I sincerely hope you’ll pick up the book and love it as much as I loved writing it! Be sure to comment here to be entered to win a signed copy!

Blessings!

Leanna Renee Hieber

www.leannareneehieber.com

www.twitter.com/leannarenee

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Thanks, Leanna!!!  Want to win a copy of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER?  Leave Leanna a comment.  One commenter (the lucky winner) will be picked after 6 p.m. EST on Sunday. Good luck!!

It’s release day!!!

BELONG TO THE NIGHT is available now!  That means you can buy this book at your favorite bookstore or online book retailer.  Yay!

Here is the back cover blurb for this anthology:

“The Wolf, The Witch, and Her Lack of Wardrobe” by Shelly Laurenston:

Jamie Meacham has enough trouble controlling her supernatural abilities. There’s no time for lust, or for Tully Smith, even with his smoldering amber eyes. But Tully’s grappling with his own animal instincts as a powerful shifter-wolf, trying to protect all his territory-including a certain sassy witch-from vicious rivals.

“In the Dark” by Cynthia Eden:

FBI agent and leopard shifter Sadie James’ undead ex, Liam, still arouses her deepest desires, distracting her from tracking the brutal rogue shifter who is terrorizing Miami. By teaming up with Liam, Sadie has a better chance of solving the case, but as passion consumes them, she stands to lose more than just her heart.

“City of the Dead” by Sherrill Quinn:

Dori Falcon is a witch with a plan: get to New Orleans, locate her missing brother, and recover the Eye of Bastet, a mysterious and powerful amulet. Her plan never included falling for sexy Cajun copy Jake Boudreau; but without his help, she may never find the demon who has her brother, and the key to her family’s survival.

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Want to read an excerpt?  Check one out here.

I had a great time writing this novella.  My hero was a vamp, the heroine was his very pissed off (and extremely powerful) ex-lover. Oh, just fun.  I sure hope readers enjoy the story, too! I hope readers enjoy all of the stories in this anthology. Shelly and Sherrill are fabulous authors, and I was thrilled to be included in the anthology with them.

Leanna Renee Hieber is kicking off her Haunted Blog Tour over at The Bradford Bunch today–you don’t want to miss this! And be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win her amazing book, THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER.

Just wanted to share this movie preview with everyone–it’s for the new Gerard Butler flick, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN. I think the film looks great (yeah, Gerard helps), even though it features one of my least favorite plot motivations for heroes.  The motivation technique I don’t like? Killing the hero’s wife and child to make him “tortured”–for a while there, it seemed like every action movie featured this particular motivation method.  Just not one I like.  🙂

Are there any particular plot types that rub you the wrong way, too?

Oh, and here’s the preview.  Because despite the bumpy start, it develops into a plot that I think will be dark and gripping:

Want to see my TBR pile?  It’s up at Dusted By Whimsy (Thanks to Michele!).   And let me just go ahead and confess–I am in love with Gena Showalter‘s stories now.  I have finished HEART OF THE DRAGON, and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

What does your TBR pile look like?  Which book is sitting at the top?

And, hey, while I”m talking about TBR, one of my Bradford sisters has a new release (you might want to add it to your pile):

Okay, yeah, I think that cover is hot!!  You can read all about this sexy title here. Congrats on your new release, Denise!!! I love those sexy firefighters!! Hot!