Housekeeping & TOE cover

First, the housekeeping matters, because I hate housekeeping. So let's get them out of the way first...

#1-One last newsletter signup plug! (I know, all you lovelies who've already signed up are going, "UH-gain?")

But if you're just seeing this for the first time, it's only for new release announcements. And for things like when I change the Rouge cover (see over there  --->)

Leigh's Reader News

#2-The Truth About Letting Go is on Goodreads (link)! If you would, please add it to your "TBR" pile! Click here.

AND if you sign up for my newsletter, you'll get to see the gorgeous cover designed by my great writer-friend Allie Brennan (link) of B Design (link) before everyone else.

So there's that.

Now for TOE cover! (I know, what???)

Magan

Acronyms for book titles can be so hilarious. My great writer-friend Jessica Bell (link) has a wonderful book called Bitter Like Orange Peel.

I absolutely love that title. But that's a lot of letters to type, so when we email about it, it becomes BLOP. (LOL!)

Same with my great writer-friend Magan Vernon (link), who has a hot, fun contemporary romance coming out called The Only Exception. Or TOE.

Here's the description...

Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber-conservative governor son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

And here's the gorgeous cover...

Add me on Goodreads!

I know! Wha-Whaaat?! Isn't that nice? I love it!

The Only Exception will be out April 9, but you can add it to your Goodreads TBR by clicking here (link).

And catch up with Magan on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.

That's it! Have a great weekend, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Me on Publishing and Some Cover Love

[Note: I've got a short post over on the Indelibles blog (link) today. But it's not about me! It's about my good writer-friend Ali Cross and her new Writer's Dojo! Check it out~]

Now for this post... Because lord knows, we all need another opinion on what's happening in publishing.

Get me!

I stumbled into self-publishing with a little book the traditional guys all rejected (The Truth About Faking, link), and had a shockingly good experience.

Then I followed it up with a book the traditional guys wanted (Rouge, link), and had what I think is the typical self-publishing experience.

So I don't consider myself expert on all this. (If you want an expert, see my good writer-friend Susan Quinn, link). But I listen a lot. And I observe a lot. And I tend to be excessively analytical at times.

Some observers have noted that self-publishing seems to be the new query letter. I think there's validity in that argument.

I disagree with observers who think traditional publishing is going away. When I interviewed Tammara Webber here last summer (link), she made a great point: Traditional publishers haven't been doing this for as long as they have to not know what they're doing. (I paraphrased--she said it better. LOL!)

Gigantic bookstores are probably going away, which is a little scary. But if it means smaller bookstores will begin to thrive, I like it. I just hope they'll be open to indies...

When I was offered my traditional ebook only deal Spring 2012, it was identical to a "nice" traditional print deal. Now, advances and royalty rates coming off of indie sales are way more writer-friendly.

You even have successful indies like Hugh Howey or Coleen Hoover keeping their ebook rights altogether and signing traditional print-only deals. (Which I say is brilliant!)

I do know a ton of writer-friends are embracing self-publishing, and it's lost almost all of its former stigma. Even with once-anti-self-publishing curmudgeons like myself.

When I put TTAF out there, I thought of it like a little paper boat floating down this fast-moving stream, rounding curves, hitting rapids, wobbling, and I was just standing on the bank watching it, holding my breath, waiting to see if it would stay afloat.

That's kind of how I feel about what's going on in publishing right now. We're in a hugely transitional time in the business, and I don't think anybody can predict what will happen next. I think it's good to stay flexible, try different things, do what works for you, and hold on!

And good luck to all my writer-friends, traditional, indie, or some weird hybrid mix like me. I'd love to hear what you guys think!

Now, bring on the covers!

First, my great Indelible writer-friend G.P. Ching (link) has a gorgeous new installment coming in her Soulkeepers series (#4). I agreed to share the word on it--and just look at the cover (below)...

Soul Catcher, Soulkeepers #4 description:

Add me!

Dane Michaels has been to Hell and back and isn't interested in repeating the experience. But as a human caught up in the Soulkeeper's world, his life isn't exactly his own. 

No one can explain why Dane was allowed through the gates of Eden, but it's changed everything. Now, the only one who can make him feel safe is Ethan, the telekinetic Soulkeeper with a dark past and a heart of gold.

When Malini asks Dane to be part of a mission to find the last Soulkeeper, Cheveyo, more than one team member thinks she's tempting Fate. But Malini suspects Fate has had a hand in Dane's life for some time and that he could be the key to unraveling Lucifer's latest plan of attack.

Add it on Goodreads (link)!


Finally, the ebook version of Rouge (link) has a new look. You can see it on the sidebar and below.

Get me!

I'm also highlighting the romantic suspense and coming of age elements of the story more to reader-friends.

What do you think?

[Note: The original cover will remain on the print version of Rouge (link), so don't despair fans of that look.]

My brilliant cover-designer and writer-friend Jolene Perry (link) had the idea for this new one, and since she's my covergirl, we're giving it a go, trying something new for fun!

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Updates & The Forgotten Ones

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr., day, friends!

[NOTE: Please check out my interview and giveaway on Literary Rambles (link)! I forgot to post the link before I left... #d'oh!]

I'm in Chicago today (freezing my buns off) meeting with my great writer friend Jolene Perry (link). Jolene writes the best contemporary romances--check out her website for a great read (link)!

Very exciting.

I'm also hitting the revision cave hard for the next two weeks finishing up final edits on The Truth About Letting Go, the companion to The Truth About Faking (link). It's due out mid-February, so I might be a bit absentee until then.

In the meantime, remember to sign up for my newsletter below to get new release announcements when they happen! (I promise no spam.)

Leigh's Reader News

~~~

New bloggy friend Laura Howard (link) is spreading the word about her new book. See at the bottom how you can win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Expected release date: May 15, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney 

Book Description:

Allison O'Malley just graduated from college. Her life's plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn't have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more.

When Allison's long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.

Laura Howard | Facebook | Twitter

Share on Facebook and/or Twitter and you could win a $50 Amazon (or B&N) Gift card!

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Hooray for Laura! And have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Get Your FREE Samples Here...

Love a good love story?

Want to get lost in a great fantasy read or historical romp?

Enjoy mindbending futuristic tales?  

We have a sampler for you...

Four amazing samplers! FREE!

Best-selling books. Best-selling authors.

Contemporary - Science-fiction - Historical - Fantasy

But this isn’t all about us. 

This is about you, the reader, finding books you love to read.

Just click on the pictures for your free download!

Contemporary Sampler

Fantasy Sampler

Historical Sampler

Science Fiction Sampler

                             

Thanks! And enjoy! <3