Leanna Renee Hieber: Gothic Victorian Fantasy for old souls in a modern world

AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:39:57 +0000

Goodness. I'm so sorry, dear blog, it's been FAR too long since I've updated you! I've new books out and new books on the way!

Our most recent non-fiction, that I again co-authored with Andrea Janes, founder of Boroughs of the Dead, AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION, released last fall via Kensington Books / Penguin Random House, and was an Instant USA Today Bestseller and was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction, just like our first non-fiction examination of ghost lore, A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS!

These two are perfect books for spooky season, available wherever books are sold!

About AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION

An Instant USA Today Bestseller and Bram Stoker Award Finalist!

From the Bram Stoker nominated author team who penned A Haunted History of Invisible Women, the first book of its kind to investigate gothic tropes that define American lore. Here is the hidden, dark history of what frightens us – and why.

The Gothic. Brooding, atmospheric, chilling, and not always the outpouring of a feverish imagination. Reality can be even stranger as borne out in this lush and ghostly look at real people who lived–and died—amidst the trappings of the Gothic.

Fog clinging to an isolated mansion. A dangerous patriarch or an overbearing matron. Locked doors and forbidden rooms. Whispers of murder and madness. And a woman shadowed by omnipresent threats. You’ve guessed it. You’ve stumbled into a Gothic tale, and it will haunt you like a ghost.

We often think of the enduring tropes of the Gothic in terms of fiction and film—breath-catching escapes that tap into our fears, anxieties, forbidden desires, and unsettling dreams. But what if some of these chilly vibes are rooted in the experiences of real and tragic people who danced a macabre waltz with love and death? That’s why we’re here. Take the case of teenage Mercy Brown, victim—or was it predator?—of Rhode Island’s vampire hysteria of the 1890s. Marguerite de la Roque, a French noblewoman condemned for “sexual crimes” to Canada’s long-lost Isle of Demons. What happened to her and the barren landscape itself is the stuff of legend. And “Mad Lucy” Ludwell, the decidedly peculiar eighteenth-century high-society hauteur driven mad in the Virginia estate she prowls to this day. President Helen Peabody’s spirit still stringently watches over her Women’s College, now part of Ohio’s Miami University. Ghosts of workers lost in horrific conditions while building the Hoosac Tunnel warn of imminent danger. Settle in. There are more.

Welcome to the phantom ships, haunted academic halls, menacing landscapes, and family curses of America’s Most Gothic—a tour of true spectral sightings and disordered minds. But beware: it’s sure to get under your skin. The haunted—and haunting—figures herein want it that way.

Order via Kensington / Penguin Random House

New Fiction and Upcoming Appearances!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 02:12:00 +0000

Hello friends,

New fiction and Upcoming Appearances!

Apologies on the delay of this post, I update my social media (Twitter / Instagram / BlueSky) a lot more than the blog. But this year has been crazed, often difficult, with stints of taking care of loved ones in the hospital and more, all while on some of the more intense deadlines of my life.

I also carved out a month to perform in a full, professional theatrical production, the world premiere of Let's Misbehave, where I originated the role of The Countess, a delightfully zany character. It won't be the last you'll see of us. Check out the Let's Misbehave Instagram account to keep updates and check out my Instagram feed for some wonderful pictures and celebration of the show.

New fiction!

BLACKTHORN AND AMBERFIRE is book 1 of a Fantasy Romance novella duology exclusively in digital and audiobook (with me narrating!) via Everand, an amazing new fiction site where I have a host of novellas available, like my sequel to The Spectral City series, called THE SPIRIT SUITOR!

About BLACKTHORN AND AMBERFIRE:

The Three Courts of Allforth have lived peacefully for generations, but they all keep a deadly secret that is about to break free…

Blackthorn, the Silvervale Court executioner, has not questioned his duties, he knows he sends the condemned to The Great Dreaming peacefully. He is an Evergreen; one of the rare people able to wield magic past childhood. But when a young boy on his execution table insists that something terrible is going on in their kingdom, Blackthorn secretly spares the boy’s life, asking for proof.

When a beautiful healer from the land of Amberfire, Roseleigh, is brought in to be executed next, Blackthorn hesitates, drawn to her. His death spell rebounds on him and only her healing light can spare him. He leaves the castle for recuperation and learns more about a world in which he was kept ignorant.

BURNINGWOOD AND DEVILSBANE, novella 2, releases 9/24 via Everand!

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

KENNEBUNK, MAINE: 9/21: 11-4pm

Thrilled to return as a featured guest at the 10th annual Southern Maine Steampunk Fair! - I'll be giving a talk on The Eternal Importance of Ghost Stories in the main lecture-hall area and signing books! Tickets available here.

FAIRHAVEN, MA: 10/5

Saturday, October 5th, I'll be part of Sam Baltrusis' MassParaCon! I'll be part of the Women in the Paranormal panel and also discussing A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts! Tickets available here.

SALEM, MA: 10/6 - 4-5pm

Meet and Greet at Wicked Good Books! - I'll be signing copies of A Haunted History of Invisible Women in-store and answering spectral questions!

KING MANOR FALL FESTIVAL - QUEENS, NEW YORK: 10/26 - 1-3pm - Free event!

At this incredible historic house museum's Fall Festival, I'll be giving a talk on the importance of Victorian Spiritualism as it relates to the fight for Women's rights and suffrage, discussing Victorian Seance culture and the significance of ghost lore as cultural touchstone. More about King Manor, directions and more, visit here. More about the Fall Festival here.

Happy Haunting!

Leanna's Award Eligibility for 2023!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:33:00 +0000

Leanna's Award Season Eligibility Category!

Hello friends! Every year, different genre organizations like Science Fiction / Fantasy Writers Association and the Horror Writers Association put out "eligibility calls" for work published during the year that may qualify, so if you're a voting member of an organization that might find my work of note, I'd be honored by your consideration! A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts by myself and Andrea Janes being a finalist for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction for the Bram Stoker Awards was such an honor and while I've never done one of these posts before, I figured I might as well shoot my shot!

The following 3 things that have been published this year available for consideration on Horror Fiction and Non-Fiction and Speculative Fiction and Non-Fiction ballots are as follows:

1. "The Hatchet Man of Wehr Road" published in LONELY HOLLOWS: FIFTEEN TALES OF FOLK HORROR by Pavane Press, March 2023 - Anthology available here, please contact Leanna for a review copy of the story, thank you!

Category: Short Story

Genre: Horror Fiction / Speculative Fiction

2. "Between the Dreaming and the Dead" published in APEX MAGAZINE, Issue 141, November 2023, now available for purchase, available free on their blog December 14th, 2023.

Category: Non-Fiction Essay

Genre / Topic: Non-Fiction Speculative / Horror / Paranormal

3. "On Paranormal Chaplaincy" published in THE DEADLANDS Magazine, Issue 32, forthcoming, December 2023, via THE DEADLANDS

Category: Non-Fiction Essay

Genre / Topic: Non-Fiction Horror / Paranormal / Speculative

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!

And LASTLY, I'd be remiss in not mentioning another release of mine this year, THE WORLD OF TOMORROW IS SADLY OUTDATED, Available in digital eBook and in Audiobook (with me narrating!!) via Scribd/Everand! While this unique novella is technically a reprint (and thus not able to be considered in award categories) it is a brand new, fully revised edition with lots of changes and expansions from its original conception! I'd love for folks to check it out! It's a dual-narrative Steampunk / Hopepunk / Dystopian tale where a group of 19th Century inventors look into the future to create solutions and survival for an apocalyptic New York City!

Leanna's 2023 DragonCon Schedule!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 22:47:00 +0000

Hello darlings! I'll be as usual, crazed at DragonCon!
When not on panels I'm assisting Kelley Hensing at her art booth in the Hyatt Art Show so come find us! Cheers!

Leanna's DragonCon 2023 Schedule!

THURSDAY:

Title: Sherrilyn Kenyon's Reader (and Fan) Appreciation Party

Time: Thu 07:00 pm Location: Savannah Ballroom B/C Westin (Length:4 Hours)

Leanna will have copies of A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN and other Gaslamp Fantasy titles available for sale and signing along with some of her one-of-a-kind jewelry!

FRIDAY:

Title: From Beyond the Grave: Summoning Compelling Ghost Stories

Time: Fri 11:30 am Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Title: Behind the Curtain: Unmasking the Secrets of Acting Success

Time: Fri 01:00 pm Location: Hanover AB Hyatt (Length:1 Hour)

Title: The Shadows of Folklore: Crafting Folk Horror Stories

Time: Fri 02:30 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Title: Paranormal YA Fiction

Time: Fri 05:30 pm Location: A707 Marriott (Length:1 Hour)

Title: Historical Romance Novels: A Deep Dive Into Our Craving For Love

Time: Fri 07:00 pm Location: Augusta Courtland Grand (Length:1 Hour)

Title: The Fantasy Gather: Welcome Home!

Time: Fri - Leanna will be there 9:45- 11:15pm only! Location: International South Hyatt

Title: Spies & the History They Impacted

Time: Fri 08:30 pm Location: Macon Courtland Grand (Length:1 Hour)

Title: Spooky Tales and Haunting Music

Time: Fri 11:30 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

SATURDAY

Title: Discussion & Workshop: Memento Mori, Victorian Mourning Jewelry

Time: Sat 05:30 pm Location: Augusta Courtland Grand (Length:2.5 Hours)

SUNDAY

Title: Powers of Mind: Psychics in UF

Time: Sun 01:00 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Title: Victorian Spiritualism

Time: Sun 05:30 pm Location: Macon Courtland Grand (Length:1 Hour)

Title: Herstorically Speaking: Women in Song of Rock and Riot

Time: Sun 07:00 pm Location: Macon Courtland Grand (Length:1 Hour)

MONDAY:

Find Leanna at dark fantasy artist Kelley Hensing's booth in the Hyatt Art Show, Lower Level!

Happy Haunting!

Book Deal Announcement: AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION, coming 2025 from Kensington Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:06:00 +0000

Darlings! I'm SO excited! More Ghosts! This time, with GOTHIC feeling!!!! This goth is happy-dancing through haunted houses!

Publisher's Marketplace Deal Report:

AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC by Leanna Renee Hieber, Andrea Janes

Imprint: Kensington Books

Bram Stoker award finalists and authors of A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes's AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION, an examination of America's most Gothic places and hauntings, featuring the weird and wild trappings of Gothic tradition such as hidden passages, wailing women, family curses and more, with an emphasis on female spirits and the cultural narratives surrounding their stories, to Elizabeth May at Kensington Books, in an exclusive submission, for publication in 2025, by Chelsea Hensley at KT Literary (world). Non-fiction: History.

THE GIRL IN THE WOODS - A Ghost Story by Leanna Renee Hieber

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 05:18:00 +0000

Hello friends!

So when I was around 9 years old I invented a ghost story that terrified my girl scout troop. Little did I know then how it would influence the path of my life.

So I wrote about this entirely true and utterly ridiculous scene from my youth over at Kensington's Between the Chapters Book Club. Check out "The Girl in the Woods"...

And if you haven't picked up a copy of A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS, what are you waiting for?

Happy Haunting!

Leanna

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW IS SADLY OUTDATED gets a new revision and audio book!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 05:09:00 +0000

Dear Readers!

Thrilled to share with you that earlier this year, my Steampunk / Dystopian / Hopepunk parallel narrative novella, THE WORLD OF TOMORROW IS SADLY OUTDATED is now available in a new, expanded, revised edition digitally with an audiobook companion, narrated by yours truly, exclusively via Scribd.com! If you're not already a Scribd.com subscriber, you can sign up for a free trial! Go forth and check out this very cool story where the past saves the future!

About the book:

New York City: The Year is 1889.
New York City: The Year is 2089.

In 1889 a group of bold pseudo-scientists discover the "temporal current" and begin to view the distant futures that await the Empire City. In the future, all life as we know it has crumbled, leaving New York City a ghost town with a populous scrabbling to survive underground.
In the past it's up to an unlikely group of Victorians to preserve something of their world to save their future generations. In the future it's up to an unlikely group of survivors to take a leap of faith; discovering what their ancestors left for them with no more guarantees than love and hope.

Now available exclusively via Scribd.com in digital and audio!

And just in case you missed it, A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS, that I co-authored with Boroughs of the Dead founder Andrea Janes, was a Bram Stoker Finalist for "Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction! Check out the amazing final ballot here. Thanks so much to the Horror Writers Association for this extreme honor.

Christmas Ghost Story: A Gothic Duet with Edgar Allan Poe and Leanna Renee Hieber! "Not More Lovely than Full of Glee" a sequel to Poe's "The Oval Portrait"

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 01:58:00 +0000

Darlings... I had JUST posted on Instagram about my Edgar Allan Poe shrine... And not an hour later, what launches?

"Not More Lovely than Full of Glee", set on a cold December 24th in a distant past, my sequel to Poe's "The Oval Portrait", has launched as a back-to-back audio drama with its inspiration, thanks to the amazing folks at PseudoPod!

I mean, look at the log line: "AUTHORS: EDGAR ALLAN POE and LEANNA RENEE HIEBER!" I nearly fainted.

I'm so grateful to the PseudoPod staff for championing my work and creating this beautiful double bill!

"Not More Lovely than Full of Glee" is a Christmas 'ghost' story about what happens after the events of Poe's "The Oval Portrait"...

It's now live, for free, via PseudoPod, in digital + audio! Donations to PseudoPod encouraged!

Darlings, can I just say what a thrill it is, what an honor it is, what a joy it is to see a lifelong dream come true? To be situated next to THE legend, the man who remains my foremost inspiration, it is just the most *incredible* thing. It's impossible to put to words what it feels like to see my name next to his name. He is my everything. I would not be a writer if it were not for him.

I wrote "Not More Lovely than Full of Glee" for A WINTER'S TALE: HORROR STORIES FOR THE YULETIDE in 2020 and I had a dream that someday I'd see my sequel placed side-by-side with what inspired it. "The Oval Portrait" remains one of my favorite Poe stories, short and terribly chilling, and I felt I had something to say about the woman whose life was painted away...

Listen / Read via PseuodPod in the Escape Artists Podcast Network! Happy Holidays! Happy Haunting!

GHOSTS OF THE FORBIDDEN, A Contemporary Gothic Romance in an homage to Dark Shadows, is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 13:30:00 +0000

Friends! I am so excited to share this category-length Gothic Romance with you! Today GHOSTS OF THE FORBIDDEN is officially out in the world! Tonight at 6pm at Goldspot Brewery in Denver we'll be hosting a launch party and sharing a spooky-themed beer brewed just for the occasion! We will be joined by Castle Bridge Media, the publisher of Ghosts of the Forbidden, as we discuss this new book as well as A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts!

I'm so sorry to say that if you pre-ordered the book, Amazon lost your pre-orders so you'll need to order again, the publisher is just heartsick about this but it was out of our control. Thank you for your support! I love this book and hope to be able to continue this as a series, but we can only do so if the book is supported. So glad you're here and I remain so thankful to my amazing readers for keeping me going!

More about this book and it's glorious step-back, the book-within-a-book:

"If you love all things both goth and Gothic and want to see the mid-century-style Gothic romances brought into the modern day, you absolutely do not want to miss this." -- The Gothic Library

"FIVE STARS. I want to move to Glazier's Gap." -- Torie L, Netgalley Reviewer

"This book was right up my alley, Ghosts, creepy mansions, books and writing…sign me up!!!!" -- Beth J, Netgalley Reviewer

"Great gothic fun. Long lost ghostly romance in a spooky town with a tongue-in-cheek wink at the pulpy gothic novels of the 1960-70s." -- Madeleine D, Netgalley Reviewer

The only way I can describe it was rapturous." -- Lauren M, Netgalley Reviewer

She should run. But can she?

When newly unemployed writer Lillian Anders tries to escape her personal demons by running off to Glazier's Gap for a writer's conference hosted by a reviving Gothic romance publisher, she lands right in the middle of her own Gothic novel. Her life begins eerily reflecting one of the early-'70s "women running from houses" books in the publisher’s archive. Striking 19th Century ghosts haunt darkened halls and carriage-house mirrors, startling Lillian with dangerous secrets. As a hungry, violent force lurks in the mountains and the abandoned silver mine, Lillian’s presence rekindles old flames and reopens aching wounds. When charming journalist Nathaniel Lynd arrives in town, he and Lillian forge an immediate bond when intimate memories surface from another century. Evil forces that killed star-crossed lovers in the past seek to destroy Lillian and Nathaniel in the present. It will take fortitude, ingenuity and unexpected help from the strange town itself to make sure the demons of the past don’t destroy a passionate future; destined to set old wrongs right.

ABOUT GLAZIER'S GAP

Welcome to Glazier's Gap, Colorado-- a small, gossip-filled hamlet started by the mysterious owners of a now-abandoned silver mine whose unwitting rivalries set the town on a cursed trajectory. From an enormous luxury resort hotel destroyed years ago in a landslide- whose wreckage remains half-buried today- to unexplained fires in grand mansions, the town isn't known for good luck. It’s a place with a bright side, though: tourists visit its rickety old ski resort, hike shadowed mountain paths and locals attend its small college. There’s even a defunct book publisher starting up again. But underneath it all: Glazier's Gap is full of secrets and ghosts.

Order now via Amazon or in paperback from your favorite local bookstore!

Cheers and Happy Haunting!

Happy Release Day to A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 14:00:00 +0000

The day is finally here!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS, co-authored with Andrea Janes of Boroughs of the Dead is now out in the world! Available in digital, audiobook and trade paperback, wherever books are sold!

"Deliciously eerie.” —Leslie Rule, Bestselling Author

From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America’s female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us—and why they haunt us . . .

Here's a little excerpt from my "Existential Questions" Introduction, explaining why I do what I do!

Please pick up your copy today! We'd love to continue writing about this intersection of women's history and ghost stories and we can only to that with your support! Cheers, thank you and Happy Haunting!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS National Tour!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Join us for A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS National Book Tour!

New York! Denver! St. Louis! Salem! Online!

Sept. 27th Brooklyn 6-9pm

SPIRITED AWAY Launch Party!

Barrows Intense Tasting Room

In-Person Author Talk & Signing!

RSVP: http://Tinyurl.com/spirited927

Oct. 4, Sleepy Hollow, NY 7pm EST

Washington Irving Memorial Chapel

at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

In-person Author Talk and signing!

Oct. 5, 6pm EST

Village Preservation Force

Broadcast of Leanna & Andrea’s

Book Talk at the Salmagundi Club!

https://villagepreservation.force.com

Oct. 6, 6PM EST

Savoy Bookshop, Westerly, RI

Virtual Event with the authors

http://MysticBooksInc.com

Oct. 11, 6PM MT

Goldspot Brewing Company, Denver, CO

Beer Tasting and Book Event

Book Sales by Tattered Cover Books!

http://Goldspotbrewing.com

Oct. 13, 6:30PM CDT

Buder Library, St. Louis, MO

In-Person Author Talk +

Book Signing with Leanna!

Oct. 17, 8PM EST

Swamp Fox Books, Des Moines, IA

Virtual Event with the Authors

http://Swampfoxbookstore.com

Oct. 19, 7PM EST

Bookwoman Books, Austin, TX

Virtual Event with the authors

BookWoman

Oct. 20, 7PM EST

Monmouth County Library, New Jersey

Virtual Author talk

http://Monmouthcountylib.org

Oct. 25, 7PM EST

WORD Bookstore, Brooklyn

In-Person Author Event

In-Person Signing!

RSVP: http://Tinyurl.com/hauntedword

Oct. 26, 7PM EST

92Y Virtual Author Event

https://www.92ny.org

Oct. 28, 1PM EST

East Meadow Public Library, NY

Virtual Author Talk

https://eastmeadow.info

Oct. 28 7PM EST

Mystery to Me Books, Madison, WI

Virtual Event with the Authors

http://Mysterytomebooks.com

Nov. 7, 7PM EST

Morbid Anatomy Museum

Virtual Book Talk

http://Morbidanatomy.org

Nov. 10, 7PM EST

Harvard Bookstore, Boston, MA

In-Person Author Event with Andrea & Leanna

Moderated by Sebastian Crane

http://Harvard.com

Nov. 12-13, Salem MA

Salem ParaConn at Salem State University

Leanna is a Guest of Honor!

Book Talk & Signing

http://TheShamanAndTheShowman.Com

About the book:

From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion, this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America’s female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us—and why they haunt us…

Sorrowful widows, vengeful jezebels, innocent maidens, wronged lovers, even the occasional axe-murderess—America’s female ghosts differ widely in background, class, and circumstance. Yet one thing unites them: their ability to instill fascination and fear, long after their deaths. Here are the full stories behind some of the best-known among them, as well as the lesser-known—though no less powerful.

Tales whispered in darkness often divulge more about the teller than the subject. America’s most famous female ghosts, from from ‘Mrs. Spencer’ who haunted Joan Rivers’ New York apartment to Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem witchcraft trials, mirror each era’s fears and prejudices. Yet through urban legends and campfire stories, even ghosts like the nameless hard-working women lost in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire —achieve a measure of power and agency in death, in ways unavailable to them as living women.

Riveting for skeptics and believers alike, with humor, curiosity, and expertise, A Haunted History of Invisible Women offers a unique lens on the significant role these ghostly legends play both within the spook-seeking corners of our minds and in the consciousness of a nation.

Pre-Order Wherever Books are Sold! http://linktr.ee/AHauntedHistory

Leanna's 2022 DragonCon Schedule! 13 Panels Across 5 Tracks!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 01:52:00 +0000

Darlings! Here's my insane DragonCon 2022 13-panel schedule across 5 tracks!

I'll be talking A LOT about my upcoming non-fiction A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS, coming 9/27 from Kensington Books! Pre-Order here!

Gothic Literature: Ruin and Evil

Time: Thu 07:00 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Homecoming Celebration

Time: Thu 07:00 pm (Leanna will arrive at 8:15)

Location: Savannah Ballroom Westin (Length: 4 Hours)

Masquerade Costume Party!

Foundations of Fear: Building Haunted Houses in Fiction

Time: Fri 01:00 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Same Places, Different Times: Historical Urban Fantasy

Time: Fri 02:30 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Things That Go Bump in the Night (or Day): Ghosts & Spirits in UF

Time: Fri 10:00 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Spooky Tales and Haunting Music

Time: Fri 11:30 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length:1 Hour)

Time Goes By: Pacing! (Writing Track)

Time: Sat 11:30 am Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length:1 Hour)

Herstorically Speaking: Vanishing Women in History

Time: Sat 05:30 pm Location: Macon Sheraton (Length:1 Hour)

International Death Customs

Time: Sat 08:30 pm Location: Macon Sheraton (Length:1 Hour)

Spies & the History They Affected

Time: Sun 01:00 pm Location: Macon Sheraton (Length:1 Hour)

Herstorically Speaking: Women Who Beat The Status Quo

Time: Sun 04:00 pm Location: Augusta Sheraton (Length:1 Hour)

Thrills and Chills in YA

Time: Sun 05:30 pm Location: A707 Marriott (Length:1 Hour)

Victorian Spiritualism: The Movement's Role in Society & Grief

Time: Sun 08:30 pm Location: Macon Sheraton (Length:1 Hour)

When not paneling I’ll be at Kelley Hensing’s Art Booth in the Hyatt Art Show!!

Happy Haunting!

Another New Novella! ENCHANTING THE EXORCIST (The Spirit Suitor # 2) is now available in digital & audio with Leanna narrating!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 20:37:00 +0000

Friends!

Maggie Hathorn the Ghost and Reverend Coronado the Exorcist are back at it, flirting and solving crimes! Available Exclusively via Scrib'd in digital and audio! This was SO much fun to narrate!

About the book:

Fear and hate create a doorway for the demonic to enter. It will take the love between a spirit and an exorcist keep these demons at bay…

Someone is targeting immigrant communities and the churches that serve them in turn-of-the-century Manhattan. After performing an exorcism at a local tenement, Reverend Roberto Coronado learns that the nearby aid society has been plagued with insulting leaflets that use devilish imagery to mock the incoming “immigrant horde.” As the harassment escalates from incendiary literature to arson, Coronado is determined to catch the culprit—whether man or a demon.

Luckily no one knows demons better than Maggie Hathorn, the spirit of a socialite who once courted demonic forces during her life but has spent her afterlife seeking redemption by serving the living as a spectral liaison for New York City’s Ghost Precinct. Maggie isn’t keen on revisiting her own weakest moments, but she can’t resist the chance to help solve another crime by the side of her beloved exorcist. As she fights her demons—both literal
and figurative—Maggie yearns for the kind of fully committed love that she sees all around her between the living, and sometimes even between the dead.

But can a ghost and a living man truly get their own happily-ever-after?

-- (Cover art by Thom Truelove)

Check out THE SPIRIT SUITOR series of novellas exclusively via Scrib'd, if you don't have a membership, sign up for a free 30 day trial! There are so many amazing stories on this site! Happy haunting!

New Novella! THE SPIRIT SUITOR: A SPECTRAL CITY NOVELLA is now available via Scribd!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Hello friends!

Spectral City fans! This new Spirit Suitor series, starring the rambunctious ghost Margaret Hathorn and the charming Exorcist Reverend Coronado, launches today via Scrib'd, in digital and audiobook with me narrating! This was so much fun! If you're not a subscriber to Scrib'd, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial! Check it out:

The Spirit Suitor by Leanna Renee Hieber - Audiobook | Scribd

The Spirit Suitor by Leanna Renee Hieber - Ebook | Scribd

About the book:

A ghost and an exorcist make an unlikely pair. But from the moment Maggie Hathorn tumbled into Reverend Coronado, it was love at first possession…

In 1899 Manhattan, the impending turn of the century has put both the living and the dead on edge. As the spirit of a socialite who has haunted the city streets for longer than she walked them, Maggie now spends her afterlife helping to solve crimes for New York City’s Ghost Precinct. When Coronado gets roped into investigating a murder at a nearby church, Maggie jumps at the opportunity to flex her sleuthing skills and spend more time with the distressingly handsome reverend. But as familiar with death as Maggie is, she is not prepared for the gruesome sight of the crime scene. A beautiful bride lies in a pool of blood beside her beloved, in a scene that reminds Maggie of her own final moments. Maggie can’t even look at the bride’s ghost without being thrust into traumatic memories and losing her grip on the living world. The last thing Maggie wants is to lose this spectral second chance at life that she’s been given. But how can she help this dead bride without endangering her own spirit? Maggie will have to draw on her strongest bonds and connections to keep herself tethered while she confronts her own mortality. It’s a good thing Reverend Coronado is there by her side. No one else has ever made her feel so alive.

Spend more time with some familiar characters from Leanna Renee Hieber’s The Spectral City in this first book in a fresh, new series.

You don't have to have read The Spectral City to enjoy The Spirit Suitor but if you'd like to indulge in a world of psychic mediums and their favorite friendly ghosts solving weird crime in 1899 Manhattan, check out the trilogy of full-length novels!

Cheers and Happy Haunting!

GHOSTS OF THE FORBIDDEN Cover and Stepback Cover Reveal via Fantasy Cafe!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 24 May 2022 15:15:00 +0000

Darlings! Head over to the wonderful FANTASY CAFE for my GHOSTS OF THE FORBIDDEN COVER REVEAL! Not only do I have an amazing modern cover but I have a VINTAGE STEPBACK COVER that replicates the 70s-era Gothic novel my heroine 'falls into' in the book. Designed by the talented In Churl Yo, check out the delicious Gothic pairing here...

I'm SO excited for my debut contemporary Gothic Romance! Releasing Oct. 11th 2022 via Castle Bridge Media in digital and trade paperback!

Cheers and Happy Haunting!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS is available for Pre-Order wherever books are sold!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 21:51:00 +0000

Dear Ghost and History Enthusiasts!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS is available for Pre-Order wherever books are sold! Written by your truly & Andrea Janes (Founder of Boroughs of the Dead), with a powerful Afterword by Linda D. Addison, this book explores haunted house and ghost stories where women's narratives are centered. The book breaks down stereotypes, tropes, power dynamics and more as we examine how we talk about women and their stories, alive or dead.

Click here for a Linktree list of pre-order links from every available bookseller / retailer! The book releases this fall and we really hope it does well as we'd love to follow up with a second edition full of more stories.

Thanks for your support! Happy Haunting!

Announcing DREADFULESQUE, a new site celebrating women and femmes in horror!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:37:00 +0000

I'm so thrilled that a new site celebrating women and femmes in horror launched today! DREADFULESQUE features reviews, commentary, essays, discussion on spooky, folkloric topics and more! AND they've a neat, affordable holiday gift guide for spooky-fun small and women-owned businesses! Two of my TORCH AND ARROW pieces are featured! Check them out at Dreadfulesque.com and follow them on Twitter and Instagram! Happy Haunting!

It's Small Business Saturday and ALL of Torch and Arrow is on sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:23:00 +0000

Hello friends! As you may or may not know, I run an Etsy shop called Torch and Arrow and make Gothic, Neo-Victorian, Steampunk and fandom related accessories! I restore vintage jewelry, accessories, decor and more! This site is ALSO where you can get signed copies of ALL my books! Please visit Torch and Arrow and check out all the nifty items! I've included pictures of just a few of my many new listings! Most items, unless otherwise stated, are entirely one-of-a-kind! Thanks for the support this Small Business Saturday, it keeps my household afloat and we appreciate you so much!

Happy Halloween! Reading: "Not More Lovely Than Full of Glee" is Leanna's Sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Oval Portrait"!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 21:02:00 +0000

"Not More Lovely Than Full of Glee" is Leanna Renee Hieber's sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Oval Portrait" in which an artist paints his young bride- literally- to death... Here's her revenge...

As read by the author! Eerie, beautiful music underscored by the amazing band Valentine Wolfe! You can find this story in the anthology A WINTER'S TALE: HORROR STORIES FOR THE YULETIDE via Pavane Press! If you like this story you'll love Leanna's novels, available wherever books are sold!

Happy Haunting!

Leanna's DragonCon 2021 Schedule!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 01:22:00 +0000

OMG! DRAGONCON! I'm fully Vaccinated, I've got cool new gothy masks for safe fashion statements and I'm ready to Con!

Here's where I'll be! Come say hello! I'll have my latest books available for sale and signing! Come check out my latest novel, A SUMMONING OF SOULS!

Any time I am not paneling I'll be with my bestie Kelley Hensing at the Art Show, we're in the Hyatt, Booth 208!! Stop by and treat yourself to COOL art! I'll have my books on hand everywhere I go and when helping Kelley, I'll have some of my vintage restored and vintage reimagined jewelry available for sale as well!

Here's my SCHEDULE! Check it out:

Title: Writing Historical Fiction for a Modern Audience

Description: So you want to write a tale where Hitler took over, or where JFK was never shot? Or perhaps where Charlemagne never united Europe? But how do you keep your readers interested? Listen to our master authors & learn their tips & tricks.

Time: Fri 11:30 am Location: Macon - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)

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Title: Back in Time: Historical Urban Fantasy
Description: Our panelists explore supernatural beings & magic occurring in historical real-world settings.
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

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Title: Through the Veil: Ghosts & Spirits in UF
Description: Ghosts in Urban Fantasy take many forms & have a variety of goals & purposes. Our panel will discuss those they employ in their work, as well as others they admire.
Time: Fri 10:00 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

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Title: Spooky Tales & Haunting Music, Part II
Description: Our group of authors will each read a scary story & the time in between each presenter will be filled with atmospheric music by Victorian Chamber Metal virtuosos, Valentine Wolfe.
Time: Fri 11:30 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

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Title: Her-Storically Speaking: Women Who Beat the Status Quo
Description: If you loved the Queen's Gambit, join us as we take a look at the real-life women who challenged the boys at their own game. We'll look at what it's like to break glass ceilings & how these women had to fight for their positions in the world.
Time: Sat 02:30 pm Location: Macon - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)

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Title: Thrills & Chills in Young Adult Literature

Description: YA can be suspenseful & even terrify you. Whether knife-wielding killers, pandemics & plagues, or werewolves & vampires, come hear about what gives us chills.

Time: Sat 07:00pm Location: A707 - Marriot (Length 1 Hour)

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Title: Mindbending: Psychics in UF
Description: Psychics serve differing purposes in Urban Fantasy tales. Our panelists will describe how their characters use their abilities & how that impacts the stories they tell.
Time: Sun 11:30 am Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

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Title: Gumshoes, Shadowy Figures, & Meddlesome Kids
Description: There are hundreds of books out there about the sleuths & spies that have changed the course of history, both real & imaginary. Gather with our panelists will discuss some of our favorite sleuths & their wildest cases.
Time: Sun 02:30 pm Location: Augusta - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel

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Title: Scandalous: Unearthing Historical Gossip
Description: Some of our favorite authors share secrets they've uncovered as they researched for their books & stories. Bring the tea, because these authors will spill it as they reveal the hidden side of history.
Time: Sun 07:00 pm Location: Macon - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)

Again, come say hello! Please pick up a signed book! If I'm not paneling I'm helping out at Kelley Hensing's Art Table at the Art Show in the Hyatt, Booth 208!! We both really appreciate your support! Cheers and Happy Haunting!

Live Your Favorite Things! Advice and Insights Designed for Any Artistic Individual!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Check out this really fun interview with Actor, Teacher & all around gifted lady Kate Glasheen! In this interview I talk about a life in the arts and everything that has made me tick as a writer, performer & creative individual. Tips & insights for any and every artistic person!

TIME INDIVISIBLE, the TIME IMMEMORIAL finale, is now available in digital and audio!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:00:00 +0000

TIME INDIVISIBLE is Now Available in digital and audiobook, a Scrib'd exclusive!

The exciting TIME IMMEMORIAL trilogy of timeslip novellas has reached its finale!

Join Captain Marlowe as she makes terrifying decisions to save her life and the lives of those she loves!

If you don't already have a Scrib'd membership, sign up for a free 30 day trial! Check out ALL the Dark Nest Adventures in digital and audio! The TIME IMMEMORIAL trilogy dovetails nicely with my DARK NEST CHRONICLES world!

Captain Elizabeth Marlowe lives in timelines at once and in each one... someone is hell-bent on killing her...

About TIME INDIVISIBLE: (via Scrib'd): "A stunning conclusion to the Time Immemorial trilogy."

Elizabeth Marlowe is being hunted through time and space. She is targeted for her unique power: the ability to experience her past lives as though they are concurrent, easily switching her consciousness from druidic Britain, to aboard Victorian steamships, to war-torn London, and even into the frontiers of space travel. But she’s not the only one with this talent. Donald Silver is like a dark mirror to Elizabeth, a version of himself plaguing her in each lifetime. He believes that by killing her, he can prevent future generations from developing psychic powers.

But Elizabeth is tired of running and hiding. It’s time to take what she’s learned about her enemy, herself, and the psychic community around her and go on the offensive. If she wins this fight, she’ll be able to help carve out a safe haven and a better future for all those with psychic powers. But is she ready to risk her own life for this noble goal? To put it all on the line?

-- TIME INDIVISIBLE - Now Available as a Scrib'd exclusive in digital and audiobook, with ME doing the narrating! As a trained actress, I am always asked if I am an audiobook narrator, now is your chance to see how I bring my worlds to life!

TIME IMMEMORIAL continues TODAY with TIME INESCAPABLE! A New Installment in a Unique Timeslip Adventure!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:32:00 +0000

Out TODAY! TIME INESCAPABLE, Book 2 in the TIME IMMEMORIAL trilogy of timeslip novellas, available exclusively at Scrib'd in digital and audiobook editions

with Leanna doing the narrating!

Check out what it's like to live in 4 timelines all at once!

Scrib'd has a FREE TRIAL for 30 days!

Author Leanna Renee Hieber Takes Readers on a Journey Through Time - Cincinnati Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:14:00 +0000

I'm so proud of this article in Cincinnati Magazine! I discuss my new TIME IMMEMORIAL series and how hometown connections bring me to where I am today! Please check this out!

Author Leanna Renee Hieber Takes Readers on a Journey Through Time - Cincinnati Magazine: Butler County native and Miami University alum Leanna Renee Hieber releases a new series starting this week.

TIME IMMEMORIAL Release Day! A New psychic timeslip series begins via Scrib'd / Bryant Street Publishing!

noreply@blogger.com (Leanna Renee Hieber) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 15:16:00 +0000

It's RELEASE DAY for a whole new series in digital and audio! Leanna narrates the 3-part installment of an exciting and original new novellas!

TIME IMMEMORIAL: A Dark Nest Adventure, follows Captain Liz Marlowe, a woman living her past lives all at once and in each life, someone is trying to kill her...

This series continues my Dark Nest Chronicles in a whole new way. One doesn't have to have read the Dark Nest psychic space opera novellas to jump into TIME IMMEMORIAL, come on board right now! If you don't already have a Scrib'd membership, you can try Scrib'd for 30 days for free!

Check out today's release-day feature with the fine folks at Fantasy Café, where there's cover reveals for the entire series and a special focus on amazing concept photos taken by Sebastian Crane of Captain Liz in several of her timelines.

Time Immemorial, Time Inescapable and Time Indivisible are timeslip novellas that follow the lives of Elizabeth Marlowe through Iron Age Britain, 1882, World War II and the 24^th Century. An insidious force is working to take down not only her, but everyone she’s ever cared about through time.

The concept of Captain Liz Marlowe, co-created by my business partner Thom Truelove, began as a character sketch for a TV pilot, the character intended to be played by yours truly. Most folks know me as a novelist but I trained in theatre and my artistic career began and spanned many years on the professional stage. The original project Liz was created for fell through but the character was too good not to keep and run with. Some of Liz’s iterations had already begun popping up in my novels; Lizzie Marlowe “The Visitor” shapes Clara Templeton’s life in my Eterna Files trilogy. Marlowe’s starship captain self understandably would tie into my existing Dark Nest Chronicles of psychic space opera.

My editor, Julia O'Connell of The Gothic Library, was a critical help in making sure Captain Liz and her fragmented lives didn't leave the reader reeling. She was such a great partner in this venture. We've created something really special with this series.

Narrating these novellas has been a special joy for this performer, that's for certain! I adore this character and how she interacts with other parts of my existing universe and I can't wait for you to meet her!

About Time Immemorial: A Dark Nest Adventure (via Scrib’d):

"A masterful tale of multiple timelines; one woman, split between four lives...

Elizabeth Marlowe has always known she was different—even from others with psychic abilities. She doesn’t merely glimpse past or future lives, she lives multiple lives concurrently. She is L’Bet, a druid priestess holding out against the Roman invasion. She is Lizzie, a headstrong Victorian plumbing the depths of both science and Spiritualism. She is Beth, a Women’s Royal Air Force pilot fighting in World War II. And she is Captain Liz, a starship commander forging a path through the stars.

But being different comes with danger. Liz is determined to make it on her own, hiding her unusual ability from all but one trusted companion in each life. Yet, she is haunted by an ominous warning from her old mentor, Saire: Someday they’ll fear you. People fear what they cannot understand, and it is only a matter of time before those with psychic powers are targeted for their difference. When that happens, Liz will have to choose between her life of independence and saving the community she rejected long ago.

Return to the Prism Award-winning world of Leanna Renee Hieber’s Dark Nest trilogy with the start of a new series that spans eras and galaxies!”

We hope you’ll take us up on that invitation to join Liz and live in the moment, across time and space, taking life one critical choice at a time.

Check out the Fantasy Café feature with cover reveals of the whole series and amazing photographs of Captain Liz in three of her timelines!

Start reading TIME IMMEMORIAL via Scrib'd right now in digital or in audio book!

Cheers and happy reading!

Leanna Renee Hieber

http://leannareneehieber.com

http://twitter.com/leannarenee

http://instagram.com/leannareneehieber

Leanna Renee Hieber: Gothic Victorian Fantasy for old souls in a modern world

AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION

New Fiction and Upcoming Appearances!

Leanna's Award Eligibility for 2023!

Leanna's 2023 DragonCon Schedule!

Hello darlings! I'll be as usual, crazed at DragonCon!When not on panels I'm assisting Kelley Hensing at her art booth in the Hyatt Art Show so come find us! Cheers!

Book Deal Announcement: AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC: HAUNTED HISTORY STRANGER THAN FICTION, coming 2025 from Kensington Books!

THE GIRL IN THE WOODS - A Ghost Story by Leanna Renee Hieber

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW IS SADLY OUTDATED gets a new revision and audio book!

Christmas Ghost Story: A Gothic Duet with Edgar Allan Poe and Leanna Renee Hieber! "Not More Lovely than Full of Glee" a sequel to Poe's "The Oval Portrait"

GHOSTS OF THE FORBIDDEN, A Contemporary Gothic Romance in an homage to Dark Shadows, is here!

Happy Release Day to A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS National Tour!

Leanna's 2022 DragonCon Schedule! 13 Panels Across 5 Tracks!

Another New Novella! ENCHANTING THE EXORCIST (The Spirit Suitor # 2) is now available in digital & audio with Leanna narrating!

New Novella! THE SPIRIT SUITOR: A SPECTRAL CITY NOVELLA is now available via Scribd!

GHOSTS OF THE FORBIDDEN Cover and Stepback Cover Reveal via Fantasy Cafe!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS is available for Pre-Order wherever books are sold!

Announcing DREADFULESQUE, a new site celebrating women and femmes in horror!

It's Small Business Saturday and ALL of Torch and Arrow is on sale!

Happy Halloween! Reading: "Not More Lovely Than Full of Glee" is Leanna's Sequel to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Oval Portrait"!

Leanna's DragonCon 2021 Schedule!

Live Your Favorite Things! Advice and Insights Designed for Any Artistic Individual!

TIME INDIVISIBLE, the TIME IMMEMORIAL finale, is now available in digital and audio!

TIME IMMEMORIAL continues TODAY with TIME INESCAPABLE! A New Installment in a Unique Timeslip Adventure!

Author Leanna Renee Hieber Takes Readers on a Journey Through Time - Cincinnati Magazine

TIME IMMEMORIAL Release Day! A New psychic timeslip series begins via Scrib'd / Bryant Street Publishing!

Hello darlings! I'll be as usual, crazed at DragonCon!
When not on panels I'm assisting Kelley Hensing at her art booth in the Hyatt Art Show so come find us! Cheers!