(I'm including some quote pics from Bleeding Heart throughout the post. The pics are ones I took in Northern California or Oregon and edited via PicMonkey. If you're read Bleeding Heart, do feel free to share a favorite quote in the comments section, if you have one! I'd love to hear what lines stood out to you.)
Winners!
I have 2 winners to announce today!
The first is the winner of the Bleeding Heart "Journey to the West" prize pack, which includes a signed coy of Bleeding Heart when it's available, a copy of Falk's Claim: The Life and Death of a Redwood Lumber Town by Jon Humboldt Gates, a redwood bookmark, Pacific Northwest playing cards, and a wooden train whistle from Virginia City, Nevada. And the winner is...
AMY C!
Congratulations!! Be on the lookout for my e-mail! I hope you enjoy your "Journey to the West" via these items. =)
Now for the winner of the $10 Amazon.com gift card! I included the names of those who guessed the correct title of the sequel to Bleeding Heart (which I'll announce in a moment), as well as the names of those who suggested an actor to portray Zachary Taylor (I'll announce my choice for that in a moment, too!). And the winner is...
MARISSA!
Congratulations!! I appreciate you and all those who participated in the series-extras games. Hope they were fun! I enjoyed reading all of your guesses and suggestions. =)
As for the other book giveaways at other blog tour stops, they'll be announcing their own winners, so be sure to check in with them!
News!
So...anyone curious about that title and actor??
Sequel
There were actually 7 people who guessed the correct title for the sequel to Bleeding Heart (assuming I don't change it between now and when I actually write it, LOL). And that title is Morning Glory! I love what Julie said as an explanation for her guess:
It sounds so spiritual and uplifting after the tragedies that have befallen the characters.
I thought so, too! We've got the first title, Forget Me Not, which connotes feelings of longing, wistfulness, and fear. It's an uncertain thing, but also full of tremulous hope. Then we've got the sequel (the first published book), Bleeding Heart. Very dramatic, sorrowful, and poignant, suggesting tragedy but also hinting that a heart that can bleed is also a heart that can be healed. And finally, there's the third in the series - Morning Glory. I've already heard about a potential "Myghal petition" to make sure he gets an HEA. ;) While I can't guarantee what will happen to the characters in that book (I'm generally a "pantser" who likes to see where the story goes and how I grow during the writing process), I really do hope that a third book will be one that that has a dawning hope - an embracing of joy after trials, and an eye-opening perspective on life and eternity. We'll see what happens!
Short Story
In case you missed the update, my current writing project is Fairy Slippers, a companion short story featuring Zachary Taylor (the cook) from Bleeding Heart. You can learn more in a previous post. In that post I asked for some suggestions to help me give a fact to Taylor - and of those suggestions, I decided to go with Richard Armitage, suggested by Jaguar Hero. (Surprise, surprise, given my love of North & South!) But I had to find just the right picture to kind of suggest darker looks, a fuller face, a piercing gaze, a strength born of experiences and self-confidence, but also a depth - a well of gentleness beneath it all. Take a look at the pic I found:
What do you think?? It might not be a perfect likeness, but I think the "feeling" might be right. Would love to hear your thoughts!
I'm looking forward to finishing this Cinderella-themed story within the next few weeks, hopefully. It's been fun so far! After that, I plan to move on to Forget Me Not...
Prequel
If you haven't already seen the links I've splashed all over Twitter, you can learn more about Forget Me Not on the new site (my cover designer made me a new header, which is so pretty!). You can also check out the Pinterest board and add the book on Goodreads.
And here's a super exciting update: Lena Goldfinch has already started on the cover design! SQUEE!! (Such a FUN part of the process!) Poor Lena... I found a few pins to add to our secret board on Pinterest the other night, mainly for reference, and Lena promptly got sucked into the cover-design process. We were planning on working on the cover design in November, haha! As it is, I'm absolutely in love with where the design is going, and I can tell you that, as far as it looks now, it will be an absolutely beautiful companion and complement to the cover of Bleeding Heart!
So here's a potential schedule for Forget Me Not stuff:
~ Mid-October: cover reveal!
~ Late November/early December: e-ARCs sent out to reviewers
~ January: e-book release and blog tour
~ February: paperback release (oooh, maybe a Valentine's Day release??)
If you're interested in being part of the cover reveal, do let me know!
Bleeding Heart
I still have some news about Bleeding Heart, too!
1. If you haven't yet picked up a Kindle copy of the book, it's on sale for $.99 this weekend! Celebrate Labor Day weekend with an inexpensive trip to the Old West. =)
2. I've ordered my proof copy of Bleeding Heart, which should be arriving this next week or early the following week!!! SQUEE again!! I'm sure I'll share a picture of me and my first paperback! And as soon as I get my copy and approve it, it should hopefully be available for order on Amazon and CreateSpace! Huzzah! Links to come soon...
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Melissa Tagg, Serena Chase, Diane Estrella, MaryLu Tyndall, Rissi, Julie Graves, Miranda Uyeh, Kara, Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Audrey, Ariel Wilson, Rachelle Rea, Jana Grissom, Renee Chaw, Lydia, Casey Herringshaw, Faye, Vince Mooney, Abbi Hart, Melanie, Kate, Michelle, Melanie B., Lena Nelson Dooley, Rebeka B., Sherida Stewart, Meagan Davenport, Rel Mollet, Carissa, Kav, Alyssa, Michelle Griep, Samantha Jo, Grace, Amber M., Rebekah Gyger, and Ganise. You all made my blog tour so epic - there would be no tour without you! Thank you so very much for your support, your posts, your tweets, your reviews, your time, and your encouragement. ♥
As you can hopefully tell from the "news" section above, the fun is far from over! Beyond my writing projects, I also have an "Autumn Bash" coming in late September featuring 6 fabulous authors - as well as some exciting publicity projects throughout the fall. So stay tuned, old followers and new! A new season is upon us. =)
18 comments:
Congrats on a great blog tour!
Loved the tour Amber and yes yes yes to being included in all of the fun for Forget Me Not :) Also looking forward to reading Zachary's story. Congratulations to the winners!! And as always, I'm looking forward to seeing and reading what God has in store for you in THIS season :)
Amber, this was a lovely post! CONGRATS on all the wonderful reviews for Bleeding Heart - all of those were well deserved my friend. You are creating a fabulous niche here and now in fictionland also, and I cannot wait to watch where it takes you. :)
YES! A thousand times, I'd love to be a part of the Forget me Not tour. Consider me signed up. If you'll allow it, that is. ;) Already excited.
Congrats winners! Awesome prizes are coming your way. :)
Wishing you a lovely long weekend, Amber. :)
The fun is indeed far from over! I couldn't stop grinning throughout this beautiful post! So glad the tour was successful, yes, I like the Zachary chosen ( ;) ), I squealed over the title Morning Glory, and ate up the summary of Forget Me Not on the new blog!!! :) :) :)
Can't wait for this Autumn Bash! Sounds amazing!
Bravo, Amber! BRAVO! Kudos to you and everyone else for such a good tour! 'Morning Glory'.. What an evocative title! Count me in among those who are really anticipating it. I say this is the start of a very promising career. :)
When you first mentioned Richard Armitage, I wasn't convinced. After looking at that pin, though, I can definitely see it. Great choice! ;) Plus, I just love John Cusack, so I'm thrilled to see his picture on the Forget Me Not board. :) I can't wait to see the cover for it!
Congratulations on your tour and book! I'm just thrilled for you!
Missy,
Thank you so much! :) I appreciate you stopping by!
~Amber
Julie,
You are so sweet and supportive!! It was wonderful to have you on the Bleeding Heart influencer team, and I'm glad to have you on board for the Forget Me Not publicity!
I'm having a grand time writing more about Zachary...now the problem will be waiting to share that story with you until 2014! *sigh* ;)
Thank you very much for your kindness and encouragement! *Big hugs* God bless!
~Amber
Rissi,
Awww, my friend!! Where to begin?? Thank you so very much for all you've done to help support me and my first published story. *Hugs* ♥
And ummm...of course!! Consider yourself signed up for all the Forget Me Not stuff! ;)
Hope you have a very lovely long weekend, too!
~Amber
Rachelle,
Proofreader and supporter extraordinaire... Thank you so much for sharing my excitement during this time! :D Glad you like Zachary's "face" (*wink*) and the new title - and so glad you like the summary of Forget Me Not! Can't wait to edit it and send it off to you to be proofread!
And I'm excited about this "Autumn Bash," too! I think it will be fun to do a strictly autumn-themed blog party instead of my usual "End of Summer" one - and the authors are all so awesome! I think you'll love their responses to the interview questions, and I hope you'll find the giveaways and posts fun!
~Amber
Ganise,
You are such a great friend! Thank you for the kind words! :D And I'm thrilled you like the title and are eager for Morning Glory - I'm looking forward to working on that project sometime in the not-too-distant future, Lord willing. :)
*Hugs*
~Amber
Bluerose,
Oh, I know, right?? I LOVE Richard Armitage, especially in North & South, but I just wasn't picturing Zachary like how Richard looks in that movie... There was potential, though, in his demeanor and gaze, so after searching around, this pic stood out to me as a good representation. So happy you agree! :)
And I love John Cusack, too, especially in The Journey of Natty Gann and Anastasia! The former shares some similarities with Forget Me Not, and the story was very dear to me when I was younger and still holds a special place in my heart. :) I just had to pick him (and especially how he looks in that pic!) for David!
Can't wait to share the cover for FMN with you all!! I'm loving what Lena's done with it so far, and I think it depicts the setting and the mood very well. :)
Thank you so much for your support and friendship! ♥
~Amber
Hi Amber, I so loved the blog tour and discovering more about the behind the scenes planning for Bleeding Hearts. I'm almost finished and am so loving the story. You have a charming writing style.
I like Morning Glory for a title but haven't found that yet in the book. I was thinking Blue Lupins for the flower but was wondering how that would fit into a title. lol
With your attention to flowers in your titles, I now understand why you focused on the daisy in Love's Miracles. smile
Congrats and have fun with your Autumn bash.
Sandra,
I so appreciate you - your support during the tour, your taking the time to read BH, your friendship and encouragement! *Hugs*
Morning Glory will be the title for the sequel, so it will be a whole different story that will include morning glories in there somewhere. ;) And ah, yes - I so love lupines! Doesn't make quite as compelling a title, but I did have to include them in BH because of the special memories they hold for me. :)
And LOL! Yes, I guess that does help explain why I latched onto the daisy in Love's Miracles. ;) I really did feel like they connected well with the title and theme based on that scene with them, and I hope you felt the same!
Thanks for everything! Getting excited for our upcoming publicity project, too. :D
~Amber
I'd love to be a part of the cover reveal and tour for Forget Me Not. :) Also, I love the title "Morning Glory". :)
Melanie
Melanie,
Awesome - I'd love for you to be a part of them! :) Thank you so much for your interest and help!
So glad you like the title for the sequel! Now I just need to write it... ;)
~Amber
Erm how'd I guess the right title???!!! Ha ha ha! I love Morning Glory and I think it fits well with the rest of the series. I can't wait for both the prequel and sequel. Sign me up for that cover reveal. I was so happy to participate in the tour with all the ladies you mentioned and I can't wait to do it again!
Renee,
LOL - you know me too well, perhaps...? ;) I'm glad you think it fits well!
And yay! Would love to have you on board for the cover reveal and blog tour - thank you so much for your enthusiasm!
~Amber
Post a Comment