tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53815177042009712242024-03-18T23:31:18.351-04:00Jena LeighAuthor of the VARIANT series, shameless geek, caffeine addict, freckle-faced lover of music and slave to the written word... I live on dreams and coffee.Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-20299634141831117492019-07-09T11:11:00.000-04:002019-07-09T11:32:38.704-04:00Of Audiobooks and Overdue Updates<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The </i>Revival<i> Audiobook!</i></span></b><br />
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After seven years—and a lot of waffling on my part—I finally decided it was time to give my Variant Series novels the audiobook treatment!<br />
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The first book of the series, <i>Revival</i>, is narrated by the lovely and immensely talented Allyson Voller! Out of everyone I auditioned, Allyson's performance was far and away my favorite. She totally knocked it out of the park! Working with her has been a joy and she did a wonderful job bringing the story to life! I'm so excited for you guys to finally experience <i>Revival</i> in audiobook form!<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2XCIeJ0" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-jF4lcBPar4yay4wamjOjdXvmPmJgEsxtZlH1qirPLav7Wu0L2_Yq-Q3W3vwh5Nb5xnFg9oPazwUUpUrLXSR-aiXux5h0TsjGAkBgoJZ0iIkiSCY8iQtwM0lEJSyC3vPIzxBijcVE9A/s320/RevivalABCover6B.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The audiobook is now available on <a href="https://amzn.to/2XCIeJ0" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://adbl.co/2FzPlYE" target="_blank">Audible</a>, <a href="https://apple.co/2FBwNae" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/2NsHG4q" target="_blank">Scribd</a>, and <a href="http://bit.ly/2NsHD8K" target="_blank">Google Play</a>—and more retailers will be adding it to their catalog soon!<br />
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As for the other books in the series, the timeline for their release is a little uncertain for now. Producing an audiobook takes a pretty major upfront investment and, to be honest, I'd like to see how well <i>Revival'</i>s audiobook sells before I dive into the second book, <i>Resistance</i>. That's not to say it won't happen soon! I may still decide to pull the trigger and start production ASAP... but I'm currently weighing my options.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Large Print Editions</span></i></b><br />
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I received a special request for large print, paperback editions of the novels and I'm pleased to announced that they're finally available for purchase from Amazon! Click the images below if you'd like to have your own large print copies!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">As for Book Five...</span></i></b><br />
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I'm afraid I still don't have a release date to offer you.<br />
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<b>To sum up: Life happened, multiple drafts have been written and discarded, I (still) refuse to give up on the book, and it <i>will </i>eventually be published—but I can't estimate a release date yet.</b><br />
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I could go into much more detail, explaining everything that has transpired over the last two years (and how each instance further delayed the release of the fifth book), but a lot of it is very personal and honestly.... Well, none of it really matters right now. The fact is, the book is still a work-in-progress and I'm not yet ready to ballpark a completion date. My life, my health, and my circumstances are still way too unpredictable.<br />
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But it <i>will</i> be finished eventually. And the second Book Five is in edits, I'll be shouting a release date from the rooftops.<br />
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All I can say is <i>thank you all,</i> so very much, for being so patient and understanding while I work to wrap up this series. It's been an amazing adventure and I'm so grateful to all of you for taking this journey with me! <3Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-83307164716970303942018-03-11T15:11:00.000-04:002018-03-30T11:32:43.057-04:00Of Signing Events and Giveaways, 2018 Edition<b>UPDATE: </b><br />
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<b>I'm sad to announce that <span style="background-color: magenta;">I won't be attending this year's Roanoke Author Invasion in Roanoke, VA, as originally scheduled.</span> My sincere apologies to anyone who was hoping to meet me this year!</b><br />
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<b>Each RAI proves to be more amazing than the one before, and I hate that I'll be missing out on the fun this year! Dozens of talented authors will be in attendance and it promises to be another fantastic year—if you're in the area on April 7th, be sure to check it out! </b><br />
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Hello, everyone!<br />
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<strike>I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be signing books at the Roanoke Author Invasion in April this year! The event will take place on April 7th at the Holiday Inn - Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia.</strike><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.6em;">Here's the official announcement for the event:</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.6em;"><br /></span> <em><strong>RAI18</strong> is almost here! Join bestselling authors of contemporary and paranormal YA fiction and more at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia on April 7th, 2018 from 10am-4pm. This is a FREE event for readers!</em><br />
<em><br /></em> <em>Enjoy an afternoon of books, giveaways, and more as you get the latest releases from your favorite authors and discover new voices!</em><br />
<em><br /></em> <em>Don’t miss the RAI </em><em>after</em><em> party! Held at <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/roanoke/roatw/hoteldetail" href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/roanoke/roatw/hoteldetail" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Holiday Inn Tanglewood</a>, in the same location as the day’s signing. This after party is also free and open to our authors and </em><em>readers,</em><em> and will be from 7-10pm on Saturday, April 7. Don’t miss out on our amazing DJ from <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.rspentertainment.com/" href="http://www.rspentertainment.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">RSP Entertainment</a>, the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://clearchoicephotobooth.com/roanoke/" href="https://clearchoicephotobooth.com/roanoke/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Clear Choice Photo Booth</a> to take home memories of the night, and my personal favorite, our dessert bar-yum! No obligation to wear costumes or prom dresses, but hey, if that’s your jam, we’d love to see it!</em><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.6em;"></span> <em>For more information, including how to get your free ticket, a full list of exhibitors, and the chance to volunteer for the event, visit <a data-cke-saved-href="http://roanokeauthorinvasion.com/" href="http://roanokeauthorinvasion.com/">http://roanokeauthorinvasion.com</a>.</em><br />
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<strike>If you plan on attending the event and would like to pre-order <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012XYV4PU/ref=series_rw_dp_sw" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012XYV4PU/ref=series_rw_dp_sw" target="_blank">Variant Series</a> books to ensure that they'll be waiting for you at the booth, <a data-cke-saved-href="http://bit.ly/22yESRR" href="http://bit.ly/22yESRR" target="_blank">please click here</a>. (Keep in mind that I'll only have a limited number of each book with me—and once they're gone, they're gone!)</strike><br />
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<strike>I'm looking forward to the event and hope to see some of you there! :-)</strike><br />
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<b>Now—<i>on to the giveaway!</i></b></h2>
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<span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span> <span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Right now, here at the blog and on the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.jenaleighbooks.com/signed-novels-giveaways" href="https://www.jenaleighbooks.com/signed-novels-giveaways" target="_blank">Jena Leigh website</a>, you can enter to win <strong>one e-book copy of any Variant Series novel, </strong>and a <strong>$10 Amazon gift card</strong>!</span><br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="f43f7c226" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f43f7c226/" id="rcwidget_skmbi5tx" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
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<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">The giveaway will run from March 11 through April 2, 2018, and will be open to everyone, so be sure to enter for your chance to win!</span><br />
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Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-66568921256479887992017-09-28T10:11:00.000-04:002017-09-28T10:11:06.600-04:00Of Check-In's and FAQ'sHello, lovelies!<br />
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Lately my social media accounts and e-mail inboxes have been filling up with the same series of questions over and over and over again—so I figured I should probably start this post off by answering some of your most common FAQ's of the moment...<br />
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<b>Q: Will there be another book in the Variant Series?</b><br />
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<b>A:</b> YES! The fifth and final book of the series is currently in the works.<br />
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<b>Q: When will Book 5 be released?</b><br />
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<b>A:</b> Not sure yet. I won't be able to estimate a release date until the book is a little closer to completion. Once the end is in sight, I'll set a date and make the announcement!<br />
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<b>Q: Will you ever write any <i>other</i> stories that take place inside the world of the Variant Series?</b><br />
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<b>A:</b> Probably, yes. I have a trilogy of prequel novellas planned that will tell the story of John Grayson's original team—but Book 5 will most likely mark the end of Alex Parker's story arc. And after six straight years of writing nothing but Variant Series novels... Well, let's just say I'm looking forward to working on something a little different for a while.<br />
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With that out of the way, I wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU! You guys really rocked the release of <i>Reckoning</i> and I was amazed by your kindness and your support. I've received so much positive feedback over the last few months and I am<i> so glad</i> to know that you guys love these characters just as much as I do! I can't wait for you to read the final installment in Alex's story! <span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">💗</span></span><br />
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That said, I should probably get back to work! I have a book to finish, after all...<br />
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And just in case you missed it in<i> </i>the release day blog post, I'll leave you with the official soundtrack to <i>Reckoning</i>! This Spotify playlist contains a collection of songs that either inspired important scenes or fit with the story so well that I couldn't resist including them. Even now, I still occasionally play it on repeat for inspiration while I'm writing. Hope you enjoy it!<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/jinx6241/playlist/4qwzckr6ztfLgLEL0CoT0i" width="300"></iframe>
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<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-88065087536338871582017-06-20T07:11:00.000-04:002017-06-20T07:11:02.356-04:00Release Day!! - RECKONING (The Variant Series, #4)Hello, everyone!<br />
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Today's the day! <i><b>Reckoning</b></i>, the fourth novel in the Variant Series is now available in ebook on <a href="http://amzn.to/2sLn8Jh" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://apple.co/2rwNNoW" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/2sQdZPk" target="_blank">Nook</a>, and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731099" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> for just $3.99! (For those of you looking for the paperback, it will be available on Amazon early next week!)<br />
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<b>Synopsis</b>:<br />
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alexandra Parker came home from the past only to find herself in the middle of an underground war—one that could affect the fate of Variants everywhere. </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fighting an all-powerful government agency is tough enough, but when a secret from John Grayson’s past comes back to haunt them all, the group’s united front begins to crumble. And when Alex’s own painful memories threaten to push her past her breaking point, the uprising stands to lose its most powerful weapon. </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">With their lives and their freedom on the line, can Declan, Nate, and the rest of the Grayson family hold it together long enough to bring down Director Carter and derail Brian’s apocalyptic visions?</span></i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Alex struggles to master her most volatile ability yet, only one thing is certain: the uprising’s cold war with the Agency is about to turn red hot.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSIl3mUELENw6O2hEt0QSGm9eE0sZaJgGKSAYAyjd9FzaHgfjfa9wk7NJY5VubNr1RB8AYrqs4qnKKLzR-qwAcwSB7G5wk69gj5NhPqrYoOXDMgjtNprcu-2r9X3AGR7RZLtVH76b6fc/s1600/Reck+Teaser.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSIl3mUELENw6O2hEt0QSGm9eE0sZaJgGKSAYAyjd9FzaHgfjfa9wk7NJY5VubNr1RB8AYrqs4qnKKLzR-qwAcwSB7G5wk69gj5NhPqrYoOXDMgjtNprcu-2r9X3AGR7RZLtVH76b6fc/s400/Reck+Teaser.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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There will be plenty of giveaways over the next few weeks, so be sure to keep an eye on the Jena Leigh website, or follow me on Twitter (@jenaleighbooks) for more details!<br />
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Speaking of giveaways—for a couple more days, you can still enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card or one of five eBook copies of <i>Reckoning</i>!<br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="f43f7c224" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f43f7c224/" id="rcwidget_xv3uvrta" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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I also put together a <i>Reckoning</i> Spotify playlist filled with songs that helped to inspire the new novel! Check it out below....<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/jinx6241/playlist/4qwzckr6ztfLgLEL0CoT0i" width="300"></iframe><br /></div>
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Thank you all so very much for your support and I hope you enjoy this new installment in the Variant Series! Happy reading!!<br />
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~Jena<br />
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Where to find Reckoning:</h2>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2sLn8Jh" target="_blank"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img alt="Reckoning by Jena Leigh on Amazon" border="0" data-original-height="53" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH5alpA5v430Omq9FzEW9bRZCKnmO5qa9IdtC2o6QEQ0Hn8_gBwT3GDHghnd-p_bhHCdclNtt0hSG_KyjzS5GUoDXShomf1OgzfGIn0V5HfkQxjzP3fUg5ilbG7RwC_s1WyfvtPGCfdk/s1600/821fc6_2249dcda744e47a4b84746cd702f71d7.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2sQdZPk" target="_blank"><img alt="Reckoning by Jena Leigh on Nook" border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBIzw5e8Syc9lZ9N6GFKnK5LvF7dVCJjNW74L5EXn72Zx21ZRwBq_Higv5lJ8tEzm7bTsN68VcgWrE1IoyokMrrGCaHLyLyJaNvXdFPjKI-m4f3EAj6vjqptOmBhRTJYhCpNPXM_SabI/s1600/821fc6_d177c55a1b234dab93426f8e54f73fa3.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://apple.co/2rwNNoW" target="_blank"><img alt=" Reckoning by Jena Leigh on iTunes" border="0" data-original-height="53" data-original-width="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ-1RN7JgYWQ44REspkfcxDgMvZHZoc3R7q1gLrCBpvCbv8ilG85jPvq1_RXzOEZNoeDrZ4wpxzaFfd7Ig21LuoEfbf5sTZj5yx-opTNbzx6cV3q7_aE8Pr4Q7CSkRO0kQR2et_NK2E/s1600/821fc6_da9d337bcf754c8e84fc81a84d5e4560.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2ssBeML" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" Reckoning by Jena Leigh on Smashwords" border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv5jNrDYu00P3KCusyNTiOW59JUYNxXokzqmgxwhN4ttRV2mGNGMXHTBa9b2Nk8TMXj5Xh1ZG72b47yiV0Gfr9x1EGhkzqllg0m73BVWJuPMw08aT0j56wdOBKertnGF56a5BYJhdWgc/s1600/Smashwords+Buy+Button.jpg" /></a></div>
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P.S. If you're a blogger who is interested in taking part in the <i>Reckoning </i>book blitz, sign ups are still open <a href="http://bit.ly/2s1JGUD" target="_blank">here</a>. Also, if you're interested in reviewing <i>Reckoning </i>(or any of the other novels in the Variant Series) for your blog and would like a digital review copy, please <a href="mailto:jena@jenaleighbooks.com" target="_blank">send me an e-mail</a> with your information!<br />
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<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-88307068293130037592017-06-09T09:11:00.000-04:002017-06-23T08:16:07.907-04:00Cover Reveal: RECKONING (The Variant Series, #4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm excited to announce that on June 20th, less than two weeks from today, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35382639-reckoning" target="_blank"><i>Reckoning</i></a> (The Variant Series, #4) will be released!!</div>
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To celebrate the start of our countdown, today on the blog we're kicking things off with the official reveal of the cover and a giveaway!<br />
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So here it is, guys, the brand new cover for <i>Reckoning</i>!</div>
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<b>Synopsis</b>:</div>
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<i>Alexandra Parker came home from the past only to find herself in the middle of an underground war—one that could affect the fate of Variants everywhere.</i></div>
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<i>Fighting an all-powerful government agency is tough enough, but when a secret from John Grayson's past comes back to haunt them all, the group's united front begins to crumble. And when Alex's own painful memories threaten to push her past her breaking point, the uprising stands to lose its most powerful weapon.</i></div>
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<i>With their lives and their freedom on the line, can Declan, Nate, and the rest of the Grayson family hold it together long enough to bring down Director Carter and derail Brian's apocalyptic visions?</i></div>
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<i>As Alex struggles to master her most volatile ability yet, only one thing is certain: the uprising's cold war with the Agency is about to turn red hot.</i></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">*****</span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">So what do you think? Getting excited for book four yet? Don't forget to mark your calendars, <i>Reckoning</i> will be available beginning on June 20th!</span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">And to celebrate today's cover reveal, we're hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway of FIVE copies of the <i>Reckoning</i> eBook and a $10 Amazon gift card!! To enter, check out the widget below.</span></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="f43f7c224" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f43f7c224/" id="rcwidget_ixllpfuh" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994"><i><b>ETA: And that's a wrap! Thanks for participating, everyone! Kyra was the lucky winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card! Everyone else will be receiving an ebook copy of Reckoning! </b></i></span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994"><i><b> </b></i></span><span id="freeText4832537066792785994"><i><b>If you were one of the winners, you'll be hearing from me via e-mail before the day is out! Thanks!</b></i></span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">Want to add <i>Reckoning</i> on Goodreads? Just click the button!</span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. Time for the standard disclaimer—for those of you searching this post for the cover design credit... *nervously raises hand* Erm. It was me. I designed all of the covers in the Variant series myself. I realize this goes completely against the advice I always give about hiring someone to design your covers, but (in my meager defense) graphic design has been a hobby of mine for over ten years now. So I feel at least <i>slightly</i> qualified to do it myself... But still. This is most definitely a case of <i>do as I say, not as I do</i>! As an author, your book will always be better served by giving it the best cover possible—and if that means hiring a graphic designer instead of putting together a design of your own, then that's exactly what you should do. :)</span></div>
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</style>Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-25152293644767578092017-04-16T12:46:00.001-04:002017-05-09T09:35:22.043-04:00Of Release Dates and Roanoke Signings<span style="font-size: x-large;">Book 4 News</span><br />
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Okay, guys. First things first... An update on book four's upcoming release!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm setting a tentative release date for June 12th.</span></b><br />
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Why not in April or May like we originally planned? Well... As with most things, it's complicated. The short version is that there's been a <i>lot</i> going on behind the scenes over the past two months that's completely upended my original timeline. The reasons why are something I'd rather not discuss publicly.<br />
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As it stands right now, there's a chance that the edits may not be completed until the end of May, but I should know more about the schedule in the next week or two.<br />
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Bottom line: <i>there</i> <i>is a book</i>, and as soon as it's been whipped into shape, I'll be publishing it faster than you can blink.<br />
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...Which is why that release date is "tentative." You guys have been waiting so long for the book at this point that I may just pull a Beyonce and publish it the second it's ready. Bottom line? Keep an eye on social media or make sure you're <a href="http://blog.jenaleighbooks.com/p/mailing-list.html" target="_blank">signed up for my mailing list</a> if you want to know the moment it goes live!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Roanoke Author Invasion '17</span><br />
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Just like last year, I had way, <i>way</i> too much fun at RAI 2017! I met SO MANY wonderful readers and amazing authors. I haven't had that much fun since <i>last year's</i> RAI!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBWl_hxNkWfAV88kQ6unkeesYk2P6gNYA5E36CtUi0TjtoNda8BiMja2Y3sd6ZAuarqJnwFa9q_kuUUWMuwKJ3vDJOXx_pMffqzE34R-JC_D-EHYI0i8fFeekx9DPmOLdDhRNaqdeNcE/s1600/17757438_1620560661304984_6835488046056248098_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBWl_hxNkWfAV88kQ6unkeesYk2P6gNYA5E36CtUi0TjtoNda8BiMja2Y3sd6ZAuarqJnwFa9q_kuUUWMuwKJ3vDJOXx_pMffqzE34R-JC_D-EHYI0i8fFeekx9DPmOLdDhRNaqdeNcE/s400/17757438_1620560661304984_6835488046056248098_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(<i>Left side, front to back: Bo Loftis, Quinn Loftis, Karen Lynch, myself. On the right, front to back: Desni Dantone, Kelly Nagy, and Sara Meadows. Photo credit: April Jackson</i>.)</div>
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I was lucky enough to hang out with the amazing authors <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Desni-Dantone/e/B00D24DRYC/ref=ntt_aut_sim_3_1" target="_blank">Desni Dantone</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Lynch/e/B00HQ631VQ/ref=pd_sim_351_bl_5?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=RZX4TPNAXNVQXD1ZDQZC" target="_blank">Karen Lynch</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quinn-Loftis/e/B005HJPD9C/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1492357956&sr=1-2-ent" target="_blank">Quinn Loftis</a> this year, along with the wonderful PA, blogger, and editor Sara Meadows, and the absolutely lovely April Jackson and Kelly Nagy (blogger from <a href="http://bookcrush.in/">Bookcrush.in</a>)! Getting to know them was a dream come true and I can't begin to tell you just how kind and welcoming (and absolutely hilarious) they all were. Also, I'll never be able to hear "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" again without flashing back to our ill-advised karaoke session. Let's just say there <i>ain't no whiskey strong enough</i> to have made <i>that</i> performance sound good, but I still had an absolute blast. <br />
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(<i>At the signing booth! Keen eyes will notice a sliver of Book 4's cover in the banner beside me... Official cover and title reveal will be coming soon!</i>)</div>
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The signing itself was just as fun and I LOVED meeting so many Variant Series fans in person! You guys are amazing. It nearly killed me not to have the fourth book on sale at the event—and it broke my heart every time I had to tell you the release date had been pushed back. THANK YOU, all of you, for being so incredibly supportive and for making RAI 2017 a weekend I'll never forget!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_hrCul34OW065CM9rM9AURxhwBGdICuvkLDgQofOvPy4Bl788inFV1BoCbz2hDigEr1tDKwXYUCu66PTWq8Tgr8r-cRnVvZdMlVFr6j2EQLnEM7qgz9qqnK3QfiPx75suEjoYsEHGLg/s1600/17883564_741508112684018_7379457423733211481_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_hrCul34OW065CM9rM9AURxhwBGdICuvkLDgQofOvPy4Bl788inFV1BoCbz2hDigEr1tDKwXYUCu66PTWq8Tgr8r-cRnVvZdMlVFr6j2EQLnEM7qgz9qqnK3QfiPx75suEjoYsEHGLg/s400/17883564_741508112684018_7379457423733211481_n-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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(<i>Obligatory photo booth pics wherein I rock a {now traditional} fedora. Like ya do.</i>)</div>
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Between the signing, the endless opportunities to socialize with readers and authors, and the always awesome after party, RAI is far and away my favorite signing event. If you ever get the chance to attend, I can't recommend it enough!</div>
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~ Jena</div>
Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-47678130729700737012017-02-27T11:49:00.001-05:002017-02-27T11:58:32.372-05:00Of Good News and Author Invasions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, uh... Hey guys. It's kind of been a while, huh?</div>
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(<i>Live footage of the author putting together this post.</i>)</div>
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I've been intentionally avoiding the blog these past few months for one (pretty major) reason—I had absolutely no good news to share with you. Truthfully, I was too ashamed to show up here just to offer more excuses about <i>where Book Four was</i> and why I'd mysteriously vanished into the Internet ether.... But that changes today. In fact, right now I have <i><b>two</b></i> <b>pieces of good news to offer you!</b> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">First up: I'll be an attending author at the <a href="https://roanokeauthorinvasion.com/" target="_blank">Roanoke Author Invasion</a> again this year!</span> </b></div>
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Here's the official event description:</div>
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<i>Join nearly 100 bestselling authors of contemporary and paranormal YA fiction and more at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia on <b>April 8, 2017</b> from 10am-4pm. This is a FREE event for readers! </i></div>
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<i>Enjoy an afternoon of books, giveaways, and more as you get the latest releases from your favorite authors and discover new voices!</i></div>
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If you're planning to attend and would like to preorder signed Variant Series novels ahead of the time, just <a href="http://bit.ly/2jrwXXI" target="_blank">click this link</a>, fill out the form, and your order will be waiting for you at the signing booth!</div>
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Last year was a TON of fun and I'm officially counting down the days until this year's event. (We're at 40, in case you were wondering.) Check out the <a href="https://roanokeauthorinvasion.com/" target="_blank">RAI website</a> for more details and to see the full list of the fantastic authors that will be in attendance! Hope to see some of you there!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And second: a Variant Series Book 4 update...</b></span></div>
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If you caught my last post, you'll know that I've been struggling to finish the fourth Variant series novel for almost two years straight. Also that, from the beginning, I was reluctant to post <i>any</i> publication estimates while the project was still so far from completion.</div>
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And, well... While I still can't offer you an <i>exact</i> publication date just yet, I <i>can</i> say that <b>Book Four in the Variant Series should be ready for release in April. </b></div>
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The official date will be announced alongside the title and cover reveal in mid-to-late March. Depending on how far along the edits are at that point, the e-book may go up for preorder on Amazon the same day. </div>
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It's still a bit too early to give an exact date on things. Partly, that's because the first draft is still a few chapters away from completion, and you never know what could go wrong with the edits. <i>Mostly</i>, however, it's because I have a long, <i>long</i> history of jinxing the ever-loving <i>crap</i> out of myself any time I try to make promises where release dates are concerned.</div>
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Either way, the finish line is FINALLY in sight and I could not possibly be happier about it.</div>
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So! Now I'm off to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdCslFcKFU" target="_blank">channel my inner Dave Grohl by mainlining an unhealthy amount of coffee</a>, isolate myself from the world at large for just a <i>little</i> while longer, and freaking <i>finish this draft </i>so that I can finally give you guys the book you've been waiting so patiently for!</div>
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(<i>Bring on the coffee, yo. I think I'm gonna need it.</i>)</div>
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Are you guys excited? Because I'm pretty darn excited right now. This book has been a major challenge to write, but I am SO ready to finally share it with you all! Thanks for sticking with me on this, you guys. If it hadn't been for your encouragement and support, I never would have made it this far!</div>
Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-20772934069528231412016-09-30T12:20:00.001-04:002016-10-31T13:15:39.017-04:00Of Hope, Stubbornness, and Creative Burnout<div class="p1">
<b>(<i>Before I kick this off, anyone who wants to skip the detailed explanation of what's been going on and get to the more important bits regarding book four's release date, just scroll down and look for the bolded sentences.</i>)</b><br />
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Wow. Five months, huh? </div>
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I seem to remember saying something in earlier posts about being more regular with these updates… and I can assure you, I <i>never</i> intended to go this long without posting. After a while, though, I began putting off this update because I wasn’t sure how to explain everything that’s been going on. </div>
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And more than that, I didn’t want to attempt a post until I had actual news to share with you. Preferably <i>happy</i> news, which I'm still waiting on.</div>
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My radio silence had a lot of different causes.</div>
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So many, in fact, that I’m now wondering how I’ll write this post without sounding like I’m just making excuses… Or worse, seeking sympathy. </div>
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Rule number one in this world of ours? Pretty much <i>everyone</i> is struggling with something. </div>
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That said, I do feel as though I owe you guys an explanation. And seeing as it’s far and away the most popular question in my inbox and on social media these days, I really need to address the topic of book four’s release date.</div>
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Back in April I mentioned I’d be relocating to Asheville, NC and that my work on the fourth Variant Series novel would temporarily grind to a halt.</div>
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And oh, man, did it <i>ever</i>.</div>
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I’ve experienced at least one bout of writer’s block with every novel I’ve ever written. For me, at least, writing a book never gets any easier. And in those reoccurring creative droughts, the typing fingers are often willing—but the muse is typically MIA any time I sit down to work.</div>
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Generally speaking, I work my way through it in the end. Whether it takes a couple weeks or a couple months, I always find myself getting back into (and <i>staying </i>in) a productive groove until I complete the project.</div>
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Once I finally found myself settled in North Carolina and ready to work again, something a little different happened—I experienced creative burnout for the first time ever.</div>
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At first I though it was just another round of writer’s block and that I’d eventually muscle my way through it, same as always.</div>
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And believe you me, <i>I tried to</i>.</div>
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I did what I always do when insecurities and the dreaded block arrive.</div>
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I forced the words onto the page.</div>
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At times, I forced entire<i> chapters</i> onto the page.</div>
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…But from the beginning, I could tell that there was something very different about this block.</div>
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For the first time in my life, writing—the activity that had always been my refuge and my favorite escape—was making me downright miserable. And heaven help me, it showed in the story. </div>
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Since starting work on this novel a year ago, I have scrapped major chunks of it no less than three times and started over from scratch twice.</div>
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As of this entry, the word count in my cut file (where I move any and all of the text deleted from my WIP) is just over 47,000 words. </div>
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So… yeah.</div>
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I’ve been struggling.</div>
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After a few months of battling the writer’s block to no avail, I realized I needed to take a step back and finally put my finger on what was causing the problem. The first step was to accept the fact that it wasn’t just a block this time. </div>
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I was officially burnt out. </div>
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Many of the reasons for the burnout were deeply personal… but the bottom line? I was tired. And that exhaustion caused me to question whether or not continuing on as a professional author was the right choice for me at this point in my life. </div>
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My writing wasn’t for <i>me</i> anymore. It was for the world.</div>
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The thing that had always been my go-to method for dealing with (and escaping from) my daily struggles was no longer a pleasant distraction.</div>
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It was a job.</div>
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Now, don’t get me wrong here… It’s an <i>amazing</i> job to have. In fact, it’s been my own idea of a dream job ever since I was old enough to answer the all important question of what I wanted to “be” when I grew up.</div>
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On top of that,<i> I love my readers!</i> And the thought that I might be able to provide even <i>one</i> person out there with a way to temporarily escape from their <i>own</i> troubles, makes me indescribably happy. </div>
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But when you find yourself dealing with a list of personal struggles that would leave even the strongest individuals craving a way to escape—well, losing the one thing in the world that’s always been capable of providing you with one…. </div>
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It sucks.</div>
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A lot.</div>
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I’ve spent the last couple of months trying to decide what to do about it.</div>
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The conclusion I’ve come to is this: I want to keep going. More than anything, I want to finish the Variant Series. And I’d really like to keep sharing my stories with the world.</div>
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<b>So nothing’s going to change. For now, at least, I’l keep writing.</b></div>
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But here’s the thing, guys—there’s absolutely <i>no way</i> I can attempt to give a timeline for when book four (or, for that matter, the currently hypothetical fifth book) will be published.</div>
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I just can’t.</div>
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I’d <i>love to</i>. But I can’t.</div>
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Anything I say… any estimated completion date… runs the risk of being blown out of the water, yet again.</div>
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<b>Book four <i>will</i> be completed. That much I know for certain. My stubborn pride, the obligation I feel to the readers who have stuck with the story this far, and my love for these characters, all ensures that one day it <i>will</i> be finished. </b></div>
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<b>But I can’t tell you how long it will take, because I simply don’t know. Three months? Possibly. Another year? Yeah. I can’t lie—that’s a possibility, too. Until I work my way past the burnout, I just don’t know what will happen.</b></div>
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One thing I do know? I refuse to write the wrong book, simply because I’m desperate to publish something. If I’d stuck to my past deadlines, book four would probably be ready to release by now… but trust me when I say that it wouldn’t have been a book that anybody would want to read. </div>
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So right now, that’s where things stand. I’m struggling, but hopeful, and way too stubborn to give up.</div>
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I’ll keep writing in the hopes that one day soon I’ll sit down to write and rediscover that sense of joy that used to go hand in hand with creating. I’m going to finish book four and I’m going to make it the best that I can. And <b>as soon as it’s ready for release, you guys will absolutely be the first to hear about it! </b></div>
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P.S. And as always, thank you all <i>so stinkin’ much</i> for the kind words and understanding messages you’ve been sending my way these last few months! Your support and love for the Variant Series novels means so much more to me than you could ever know! <3</div>
Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-73567915329551566682016-04-04T19:18:00.001-04:002016-04-04T19:18:43.515-04:00Of Author Invasions, Updates, and Way Too Many AdjectivesHey, guys!<br />
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Wanted to write up a quick blog post since I'm spending the day relaxing at my parent's home in Virginia, trying to rest up before tomorrow's 12 hour drive back to Florida. This past weekend was equal parts amazing and exhausting and I am <i>so glad</i> I decided to accept the invitation to participate in this year's Roanoke Author Invasion in Roanoke, Virginia!<br />
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It was one of the most <i>amazing</i> things I've ever done and I still can't get over how much fun it was! Meeting so many awesome readers and wonderful authors I admire was a dream come true for me and I'm already counting down the days till RAI 2017!<br />
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(<i>Obligatory photo of me at my booth, taken a few moments before the doors opened. If you look closely, you should be able to see at least a smidgen of sheer terror in my expression. I shouldn't have worried so much—everyone in attendance was AWESOME and kind and lovely to meet!</i>)</div>
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(<i>A post-signing photo of the attending authors, courtesy of Brittney Cole—I'm kneeling on the far right of the front row, next to the always lovely S.T. Bende and just in front of total sweethearts Karen Lynch, Desni Dantone, and Ashley Stoyanoff! I'm all about the adjectives in this post. It's probably because everyone was SO AMAZING that I can't seem to say anyone's name without adding some sort of kindly descriptor.</i>)</div>
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The signing itself went by so quickly that I didn't manage to capture any photos while it was taking place, but there seem to be a bunch of pics floating around Facebook and on attendee's blogs. The few that I did manage to take over the weekend didn't turn out so great. (Further reminding me that I <i>really</i> need to invest in a cell phone that has a decent camera...) But I do have a couple more to share from the after-party!<br />
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(<i>I was also lucky enough to meet the delightful {...extraordinary? Incredible? Fantastic? Dangit, I'm running out of worthy adjectives here, people.} authors Maryann Jordan, Kimberly Knight, and Maryann's spectacular PA Barbara Martoncik. Naturally, we had to make use of the after-party's photo booth. In related news, I can straight up rock a straw fedora and a hand fan. Who knew?</i>)</div>
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(<i>The official after-party photo! I'm in there somewhere... Think of it like a Where's Waldo image.</i>)</div>
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Truthfully? I was so, <i>so</i> nervous in the days leading up to the signing. </div>
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I'm an introvert by nature and anxiety-ridden on the best of days, so taking part in an event like this was sort of a Big Deal. In the end, I am so very happy that I was able to take a step outside my comfort zone and be a part of such an amazing event. Everyone—readers, authors, and event staff alike—were kind and welcoming and they immediately put me at ease. </div>
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All that to say... if you ever get the chance to attend the Roanoke Author Invasion in the coming years, take it! I promise you won't regret it! I had an absolute blast and made more new friends in a single weekend than I have in all of the last five years combined. No joke. </div>
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So... yes. <i>RAI is worthy of every awesome adjective in the book</i>, most of which I've probably used twice over in this blog post. </div>
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<b>In other news, my life has been temporarily turned upside-down</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">...</i> and it isn't likely to right itself any time before mid–May. </div>
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In a little less than two weeks, I'll be starting my move from Florida back to North Carolina. There are still a thousand-and-one logistical nightmares to be sorted and dozens of boxes yet to be packed, so any and all writing is likely to ground to a halt for the foreseeable future. </div>
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Also, I'm still a little under the weather where my health is concerned thanks to a mistake made by my former infusion center regarding my treatment dosage. (They, um... Well, they accidentally cut it by more than half... For six months straight.) The mistake was corrected in February, but I've been slow to get back on my feet. </div>
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With all that's been going on with my health, with my upcoming move, and with a few other issues I'd rather not get into here on the blog, it's been difficult—if not impossible—to give my writing the attention it deserves. </div>
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I'm looking toward May like it's the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. With any luck, once I'm settled in Asheville and have had a chance to rest, I'll be in a much better position to focus on finishing up book four in the Variant series!! I'd give anything to provide you with an official release date, but all I can say for now is that it should be ready for publication by early Fall of this year.</div>
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Fingers crossed things get back to normal soon! It's been eight months of absolute chaos and I'm looking forward to finding a little bit of peace once I'm settled in NC again. (And for that matter, so is my muse!) :-)</div>
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That's all for now... I'll try to check in again after the dust settles and book four is once again back on track for a fall release! Take care, everyone!!</div>
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~Jena</div>
Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-75851615021460231752016-02-11T07:11:00.000-05:002016-02-11T07:11:01.486-05:00Of Giveaways and Signing EventsHey, guys!<br />
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Just a quick post to remind everyone that I'll be taking part in the Roanoke Author Invasion this year! The event will take place on April 2nd at the Holiday Inn - Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSjc3ElpW3rI61xn3j4ArFZJvfygFD_NHYokhpJZLJMPCwZCoPc3RZl-OT7FTXV_CYo53ISHHDW_GAuQBd9Riy-d5x9plD6jcYpkX_3n7vWiyNyNpP2CVVq8ZPaSpnGMaXTnLQGBvyZs/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSjc3ElpW3rI61xn3j4ArFZJvfygFD_NHYokhpJZLJMPCwZCoPc3RZl-OT7FTXV_CYo53ISHHDW_GAuQBd9Riy-d5x9plD6jcYpkX_3n7vWiyNyNpP2CVVq8ZPaSpnGMaXTnLQGBvyZs/s400/poster.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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In addition to the signing event, all attendees are invited back to the Holiday Inn for a fundraising afterparty from 7-10PM. The party will be hosted by <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.forgethousework.com/" href="http://www.forgethousework.com/">Forget the Housework, I’m Reading</a>, <a data-cke-saved-href="http://cityandbookpromotions.com/" href="http://cityandbookpromotions.com/">City and Book</a> and <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.brainsbeautybooks.com/" href="http://www.brainsbeautybooks.com/">Brains, Beauty, BOOKS</a>! Tickets will be $20 sent to <a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:bookclubafterdark@gmail.com" href="mailto:bookclubafterdark@gmail.com">bookclubafterdark@gmail.com</a> via Paypal. Price includes light appetizers, goodie bag and dancing. Proceeds benefit <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/" href="http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/">United Through Reading</a>.</div>
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If you plan on attending the event and would like to pre-order <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012XYV4PU/ref=series_rw_dp_sw" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012XYV4PU/ref=series_rw_dp_sw" target="_blank">Variant Series</a> books to ensure that they'll be waiting for you at the booth, <a data-cke-saved-href="http://bit.ly/22yESRR" href="http://bit.ly/22yESRR" target="_blank">please click here</a>. (Keep in mind that I'll only have a limited number of each book with me—and once they're gone, they're gone!)<br />
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I'm looking forward to the event and hope to see some of you there! :-)<br />
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Now—<i>on to the giveaways!</i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Up first is a giveaway where one lucky reader will win <b>signed paperback copies of the first three Variant Series novels</b> and a <b>$10 Barnes & Noble gift card</b>! This</span><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"> giveaway will run from February 11 through March 11, 2016, and will only be </span><b style="line-height: 20.8px;">open to residents of the US and Canada</b><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">.</span><br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="f43f7c222" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f43f7c222/" id="rcwidget_9unay2u5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">But not to fret, <b>international readers</b>! I'm also running a second giveaway for <b>3 eB</b></span><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><b>ook copies of the Variant series novels</b> and a <b>$10 Amazon gift card</b> during the same dates that is open to everyone!</span></div>
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Take care and happy reading, everyone!</div>
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Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-74926725924853702382015-12-12T13:39:00.000-05:002015-12-12T13:39:00.259-05:00Of Updates and GiveawaysHey, guys!<br />
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Just a quick post to check in and assure you that yes, I am still hard at work on Book 4 in the Variant Series! :)<br />
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In fact, I've hidden myself away at my parent's mountain cabin in Virginia for a couple weeks in an attempt to get a few more words on the page. The weather's surprisingly warm and absolutely <i>beautiful</i> and I'm enjoying this getaway more than I can say. Looking forward to next April when I can move back to the mountains for good!<br />
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Also, I'm excited to announce that there's a <b><a href="http://bit.ly/1Ql6d5K" target="_blank">Goodreads giveaway</a></b> going on right now where you can <b>enter to win one of two signed paperback copies</b> of <i>Revival</i> (The Variant Series, #1)!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17408833"><img alt="Revival by Jena Leigh" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361574107l/17408833.jpg" title="Revival by Jena Leigh" width="100" /></a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581096.Jena_Leigh" style="text-decoration: none;">Jena Leigh</a>
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Giveaway ends December 31, 2015.
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See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/165987" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
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The giveaway will run through the end of the year, so be sure to check it out.<br />
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And while the free e-book promotion for <i>Revival</i> has sadly come to an end, it's still available for only $0.99 on <a href="http://amzn.to/1OlAVKH" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/revival-jena-leigh/1114532016?ean=2940016310954" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/283246" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/revival-the-variant-series-1/id844483143?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a>! If you read and enjoyed the novel, please share it with a friend who might enjoy it!<br />
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Also, writing reviews of any of the Variant series novels on the aforementioned sites will earn you my undying gratitude and endless adoration! It's one of the best ways you can support an author (both traditionally published and indie) so be sure to show your love for your favorite books whenever you can!<br />
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I'll leave you with the song I listened to on repeat for most of the morning while I wrote...<br />
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"<b>Way Down We Go" by <a href="http://officialkaleo.com/" target="_blank">Kaleo</a>. </b></div>
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If you love a bluesy, classic-rock sound in your modern rock music, this is totally the band for you. Their songs on YouTube have made up roughly 90% of my writing soundtrack as of late (<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and it doesn't hurt that their lead singer, JJ Juliusson, looks a bit like a slightly older version of the Declan-in-my-head</span>). At this rate, I'm really going to need to thank Kaleo in Book 4's Acknowledgments for all the inspiration. Love their sound!Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-60393528451097482012015-09-24T12:01:00.001-04:002015-09-24T15:48:00.319-04:00Of Author Signings, Free Books, and SequelsHey, guys! Long time, no post <i>again</i>. Sorry about that. One of these days I'll try to get back onto a regular schedule for updating this blog.<br />
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So much has happened in the last few months that I hardly know where to begin! First up, I want to thank each and every one of you for helping to make the release of <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1HIkjHV" target="_blank">Redux</a> </i>a success! I was absolutely blown away by the support and interest you all showed for the third book in the Variant Series! <i>Thank you</i>!!! Y'all totally rock.<br />
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Next up, two big announcements!<br />
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<b>First - I'm excited to announce that I'll be taking part in the 2016 Roanoke Author Invasion in Roanoke, Virginia!!</b> The event is set to take place on <b>April 2, 2016</b> at the Holiday Inn - Tanglewood. You can find out more about the event—and also take a peek at a list of the 60+ <i>amazing</i> authors that will be in attendance—by clicking the image below! <br />
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<i>(Clicking the image will open up the event website in a new window.)</i></div>
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I'll be talking more about the signing as the event gets a little closer. So excited (and honored!) to have been invited to take part next year!<br />
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<b>Second - <a href="http://amzn.to/1nCBOgR" target="_blank"><i>Revival</i></a>, the first novel in the Variant Series, is now perma-free</b> and will be available for FREE download from <a href="http://amzn.to/1nCBOgR" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1LQ1vWb" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1NORa1b" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="http://apple.co/1R2ROIs" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and <a href="http://bit.ly/1VcJiXT" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> for the foreseeable future. Check it out if you haven't already—and if you <i>have</i>, then be sure to tell a friend who might enjoy it!<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1OlAVKH" target="_blank"><img alt="Download Revival for free on Amazon!" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7az17ehyX0UqfyJjvCjQvXtkEMEuctASpK5uoMh0d8zADKJmnLFs9MoxtkPjInDVwYUUg_HVjPjqKVS1BjvLKidLDTHFNqFdvVsM4Y3V4Od9rzQtSF1sPbBO0MQoM9N-ecFXJD22bYDQ/s400/RevivalNew_Cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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That's really all for the announcements right now, other than to say that<i>, <b>"Yes! I am most definitely working on a fourth book in the Variant Series!!!" </b></i>It's been the most popular question in my inbox since the release of <i>Redux</i>, so I wanted to go ahead and address it here on the blog.<br />
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The fourth book is still a work in progress, but it has a tentative release date of Spring, 2016. The goal is to have it ready for release around the same time as the Roanoke event! Fingers crossed the muse is willing and that the coffee keeps flowing...<br />
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There's also a new, <i>official, </i>Jena Leigh website up and running, in addition to my home here on Blogger! To visit, all you need to do is click the "Home" tab on the far left side of the menu bar at the top of the Jena Leigh Blogger page, or <a href="http://bit.ly/1LzBDlE" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
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On a slightly personal note, my health isn't the best right now, and it's getting a little difficult to keep up with my e-mail and social media correspondence. If you write me, but don't hear back right away, I apologize! I absolutely love hearing from you guys (it's one of my favorite things about being an author) and I promise that you'll hear back from me just as soon as I'm able to reply.<br />
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Hope you're all doing well and that you have an absolutely FANTASTIC weekend! I'll leave you this time with a song that's currently on repeat as I work on the opening chapters of Book Four! (<i>And the lyrics should give you a tiny hint at what's to come for Alex and the gang...)</i><br />
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Take care, y'all! :)<br />
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<b>Shinedown - State of My Head</b></div>
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<i>...It’s time to get down, dirty up our knees in the battle<br />
Come on, round up the boys, gonna make the walls rattle<br />
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Oh, our flag is tattered<br />
And our bones are shattered<br />
But it doesn’t matter<br />
‘Cause we’re movin’ forward<br />
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Round ‘em up, round ‘em up, let’s go<br />
Round ‘em up, let’s go<br />
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Oh, my eyes are seein’ red<br />
Double vision from the blood we’ve shed<br />
The only way I’m leavin’ is dead<br />
That’s the state of my, state of my, state of my head...</i></div>
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<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-9563763631962850162015-07-22T07:11:00.000-04:002015-09-08T15:15:34.507-04:00Release Day!! - REDUX (The Variant Series, #3)Hello, everyone!<br />
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It's here! It's here! Today's the day—<i><b>Redux</b></i>, the third novel in the Variant Series is now available in ebook form from<b> <a href="http://amzn.to/1HIkjHV" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://apple.co/1GDvv4l" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1TTdM2n" target="_blank">Nook</a>,</b> and<b> <a href="http://bit.ly/1MHInvE" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></b> for just $2.99! For those of you looking for the paperback, it will be available on Amazon sometime next week.<br />
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <br />
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<a href="tp://amzn.to/1HIkjHV" target="_blank"><img alt="Find Redux on Amazon!" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHaQHaVddBNK9C3J6Sm0ylHaibMtZ52e6nBK5UYtKY7vVu0VwgHyKjI-bSzgM2tgQJ25shvELOxYgPT7hZWx_2NVzlVPl30YOCnd-Ods34OKateWwtPhbpazZ9xWgwlbP4z3mNnmik9k/s640/ReduxCover1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b>Synopsis</b>:<br />
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<i><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">Alex Parker sits at
the crossroads, out of time and out of place. </span><span id="freeText1781991353179072554"></span><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">She went back to fix the
past, not to imperil the future. Rescued from the icy waters of the
Bering Sea by one familiar face, she's helpless to find another. Declan
O'Connell jumped with her, but where did he go?<br /><br />In the middle of
her search, a new threat confronts Alex. A serial killer with a taste
for Variants has Seattle on edge. When she crosses the path of this
vicious murderer, the revelations Alex discovers could change
everything. That outcome is an unknown, but there is a terrible
certainty on the table — an impossible decision with irreversible
consequences. But can Alex make that choice and commit herself and those
she loves to a total </span></i><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">Redux</span><i><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">?</span></i><br />
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<br />
<br />
<br />
There
will be plenty of giveaways over the next few weeks, so be sure to keep
an eye on the Jena Leigh website, or follow me on Twitter
(@jenaleighbooks) for more details!<br />
<br />
Speaking of giveaways—right now, you can <a href="http://bit.ly/1NYMBQy" target="_blank">enter to win a paperback copy</a> of the new book on Goodreads. While you're there, be sure to add<i> Redux</i> to your shelf!<br />
<br />
Thank you all so very much for your support and I hope you enjoy this new installment in the Variant Series! Happy reading!!<br />
<br />
~Jena<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. If you're a blogger who is interested in reviewing <i>Redux </i>(or any of the other novels in the Variant Series) for your blog and would like a digital review copy, please send me an e-mail with your information! Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-856618222456261882015-06-26T07:11:00.000-04:002015-09-08T15:16:27.442-04:00Cover Reveal: REDUX (The Variant Series, #3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On July 22nd, less than one month from today, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25793494-redux" target="_blank"><i>Redux</i></a> (The Variant Series, #3) will be released!! </div>
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To celebrate the start of our countdown, today on the blog we're kicking things off with the official reveal of the cover and an amazing giveaway! <br />
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So here it is, guys, the brand new cover for <i>Redux</i>!</div>
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*****</div>
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<b>Synopsis</b>:</div>
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<i><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">Alex Parker sits at
the crossroads, out of time and out of place. </span><span id="freeText1781991353179072554"></span><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">She went back to fix the
past, not to imperil the future. Rescued from the icy waters of the
Bering Sea by one familiar face, she's helpless to find another. Declan
O'Connell jumped with her, but where did he go?<br /><br />In the middle of
her search, a new threat confronts Alex. A serial killer with a taste
for Variants has Seattle on edge. When she crosses the path of this
vicious murderer, the revelations Alex discovers could change
everything. That outcome is an unknown, but there is a terrible
certainty on the table — an impossible decision with irreversible
consequences. But can Alex make that choice and commit herself and those
she loves to a total </span></i><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">Redux</span><i><span id="freeText1781991353179072554">?</span></i><br />
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">*****</span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">So what do you think? Getting excited for book three yet? Don't forget to mark your calenders, <i>Redux</i> will be available in both paperback and e-book, beginning on July 22nd!</span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">And to celebrate today's cover reveal, we're hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway of FIVE copies of the <i>Redux</i> e-book AND a $10 Amazon gift card!! To enter, check out the widget below.</span></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="f43f7c221" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f43f7c221/" id="rcwidget_736x0z7k" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994"><i><b>ETA: And that's a wrap! Thanks for participating, everyone! Sierra G. was the lucky winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card! Everyone else will be receiving an ebook copy of Redux! </b></i></span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994"><i><b> </b></i></span><span id="freeText4832537066792785994"><i><b>If you were one of the winners, you'll be hearing from me via e-mail before the day is out! (Today, Wednesday, the 22nd.) Thanks!</b></i></span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994">Want to add <i>Redux</i> on Goodreads? Just click the button!</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25793494-redux" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgf7ZrNJTmdBrkGLdavf38jG830hSHC7A3ZaiRbfAPYCydJhsIS77nn-9StjR01jIUXZDA-xAvgIn75uUtwd8FMekjMzPSqOsXhyphenhyphenCTmZidI2_XLiweuRg9liUl2M5SLsggf_dRzunF6Q/s1600/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText4832537066792785994"> </span></span></div>
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<span id="freeText4832537066792785994" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S.
Time for the standard disclaimer—for those of you searching this post for the cover design credit...
*nervously raises hand* Erm. It was me. I designed all of the covers in the
Variant series myself. I realize this goes completely against the advice
I always give about hiring someone to design your covers, but (in my
meager defense) graphic design has been a hobby of mine for over ten
years now. So I feel at least <i>slightly</i> qualified to do it myself... But still. This is most definitely a case of <i>do as I say, not as I do</i>!
As an author, your book will always be better served by giving it the
best cover possible—and if that means hiring a graphic designer instead
of putting together a design of your own, then that's exactly what you
should do. :)</span></div>
Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-31159813750757765422015-06-12T12:27:00.000-04:002015-06-12T12:27:40.513-04:00Variant Series Book Three Release Date<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, guys!<br />
<br />
I am <i>very</i> pleased to announced
that Book Three in the Variant Series is about to start working its way
through the editing process—and that we finally have a release date!<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Three will be available in both eBook and paperback starting <u>July 22nd</u>!</b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
So mark your calendars... And be sure to keep an eye out on June 26th for the official Cover and Title Reveal!! With any luck, the book will be made available for pre-order shortly thereafter, so stay tuned for that announcement as well.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN3ol0nrULKt8hANAdzerDHNe2YxxV-FR7JqB-wLmyVTGOYBRZzAyRFvMvl3Bn0F3HWWnk30vsYqQMZvsk4KyRvMm23Kx3y0jOomeATaHSfbY4u8ueNZ-b4f52Dd64DO_8SoBaE_hHkc/s1600/B3CoverRevealTeaser.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN3ol0nrULKt8hANAdzerDHNe2YxxV-FR7JqB-wLmyVTGOYBRZzAyRFvMvl3Bn0F3HWWnk30vsYqQMZvsk4KyRvMm23Kx3y0jOomeATaHSfbY4u8ueNZ-b4f52Dd64DO_8SoBaE_hHkc/s640/B3CoverRevealTeaser.png" width="440" /> </a></div>
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More details to come—but for now, I want to say a big, BIG thank-you to all of you for your endless encouragement and support! Your patience, understanding, and kindness means the world to me, and I <i>can't wait</i> for you guys to read what comes next for Alex and the gang!<br />
<br />
Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-75139004581985426792015-02-17T11:24:00.000-05:002015-02-17T11:24:29.930-05:00A Quick UpdateFirst off, to everyone who took the time to comment on my last post or send me an email overflowing with support, suggestions, and well-wishes...<b> <i>Thank you!!! </i></b>Your kindness and understanding means more to me than you could ever know, and your words of encouragement helped get me through a really tough time. You guys are amazing. <span class="st">♥</span><br />
<br />
Lately I've received a <i>massive</i> number of emails, comments, and questions on social media that all included the same question: <i>"<b>When is book three coming out??"</b></i><br />
<br />
And I really, <i>really</i> wish I had an exact answer for you.<br />
<br />
Here's the situation—I'm working on the novel every day, but progress is slow going. I'd love to throw out another estimated publication date, but after having the last two predictions come and go without being met, I'd rather not tempt fate again.<br />
<br />
I will say this, though... I am <i>determined</i> to finish this book and to make it the absolute best that it can be. It's been a total nightmare to write (let's just say that I took on a challenge that I wasn't quite prepared for, and that it's slowed my progress immensely), but I love these characters and I'm committed to telling their story. I <i>will</i> finish what I started, but complications and distractions in my personal and professional life have made it difficult to finish the project as quickly as I'd hoped.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, I have an absolutely amazing editor who is helping me whip this novel into shape, and—with any luck—my next update to the blog <i>will</i> include an official announcement about the release.<br />
<br />
In the meantime I want to thank you guys again for your understanding and support! <br />
<br />
<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-45673804841219537242014-12-14T15:44:00.000-05:002014-12-14T15:51:01.797-05:00Of Facing the Facts and Forced VacationsOkay. So. I'm going to preface this by saying that this is a post that I had <i>really</i> hoped to avoid writing.<br />
<br />
Like, <i>ever</i>.<br />
<br />
But I feel it's something that I finally need to explain, if only because I need to take some of the pressure off of myself where this third book in the Variant Series is concerned. (And also, to an extent, because I feel like I owe you an explanation as to why my projected timelines keep getting stretched further and further into the future.)<br />
<br />
Not to worry, <b><i>book three</i></b> <b><i>will still be released in early 2015</i></b>, come hell or high water (or hospital visits, but we'll get to that part in a moment). It's far enough along that—baring some pretty serious extenuating circumstances that I <i>should</i> be able to avoid—it will be ready for publication relatively soon.<br />
<br />
I just need y'all to understand what's happening with me, and I need to finally explain why it takes me <i>so dang long</i> to get my books out to you.<br />
<br />
The self-publishing world is pretty fast-paced. At times, the process of traditional publishing seems to move at a snail's pace in comparison.<br />
<br />
That's part of the beauty of it. Self-published authors are able to speed things up exponentially, just by virtue of being the sole authority on their writing and publishing process. They can provide their readers with new material almost as fast as they can write and polish it. There are indie authors out there who manage to publish multiple books (sometimes an unbelievable number of them) in a single year.<br />
<br />
You guys have probably noticed by now—I am not that kind of indie author.<br />
<br />
I just can't write my novels that quickly. And in a market that often <i>expects</i> two or more new titles a year from self-pubs.... Well, it can put a lot of pressure on a writer to live up to that standard.<br />
<br />
For the past three years, I have tried and failed to live up to that particular expectation. And it's probably time I explained why.<br />
<br />
Like I said at the outset, this is not something I originally wanted to tell you about.<br />
<br />
I'm a relatively private person, and this is a topic that I usually avoid talking about whenever possible. It's an issue I deal with daily, but that I try very hard <i>not</i> to let others know about. Mostly because there's very little to be gained by talking about it. It is what it is, and everyday I do my best to deal with it and live my life like it isn't much of an issue.<br />
<br />
Most days, I succeed. Some days... not so much.<br />
<br />
At times in the past, I've mentioned that my health really isn't the best. If you follow me on Twitter, you've likely noticed a tweet or two referencing this fact.<br />
<br />
For the last two years, I've been receiving an IV treatment once every eight weeks to help control an autoimmune disease. (I actually need to receive this treatment at least once every <i>four-to-six</i> weeks, but the insurance company refuses to pay for it to be administered any more often than every eight—and at roughly $2,500 per dose, I'm kind of at their mercy, here. {Really. You gotta love the American health care system.})<br />
<br />
For the most part, this treatment program has been successful at keeping me feeling pretty good (if not particularly <i>great</i>) and has kept me out of the hospital for nearly two years.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the last two treatments I received haven't worked as well as they usually do and it's resulted in a pretty major relapse and the return of some of my worst symptoms. When you add in a run of bad luck and a few personal losses that have caused my anxiety issues to soar to new heights (lows?), and the fact that this particular disease (like most chronic illnesses) is made exponentially worse by heightened stress-levels....<br />
<br />
Um... Well... Yeah. I'm kind of in a not-so-good way, at the moment. <br />
<br />
I'm currently eight days away from my next treatment and in an attempt to ensure that I make it to that next dose without being admitted to the hospital, I'm going to be taking a short vacation.<br />
<br />
A vacation from basically <i>everything,</i> except for sleep, books, and a nonstop marathon of the best movies and TV shows Netflix has to offer.**<br />
<br />
I need to take it easy for a bit. And I hope you can understand and forgive me, but that means that all things book-three related are going to be placed on the back burner until I can get my health back in working order.<br />
<br />
I could have waited to admit to all this until early next year... And, heck, if everything goes the way I'm hoping it will—and I bounce back from this quickly enough to remain on schedule—I might not have needed to say anything <i>at all</i>.<br />
<br />
But the truth is, I needed to finally come to terms with the fact that my health will <i>always</i> be a factor in the speed at which I'm able to publish my novels. And with all the love and support you guys have shown me over the past few years, I felt like I owed you some sort of explanation as to why I keep making you wait such a long time in between books. (Especially after that rather <i>cruel</i> cliffhanger I left you dangling from at the end of <i>Resistance</i>... Seriously, y'all. It's killing me not to just break down and spill my guts here on the blog about what happens next, just so I can put an end to the suspense!)<br />
<br />
Thanks again for all the love you've shown me lately. You guys totally rock. <span class="st">♥</span><br />
<br />
I'll see you all again in the new year!<br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>**And if you have any recommendations of your own Netflix faves, or of books that I absolutely have to read, send them my way! I'll adore you for them. Okay, I'll probably adore you, anyway, but if you help me find some fun distractions during the next few weeks, you're likely to be upgraded to Hero status. :)</i></span>Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-79299067600701366512014-11-15T06:26:00.000-05:002014-11-15T06:26:11.083-05:00Of Sleep Deprivation and UpdatesI don't mean to alarm anyone... but I woke up at 4:30 this morning.<br />
<br />
Like, <i>on my own</i>. And by that, I mean without the aid of a window-rattling sonic boom or the smell of coffee. One minute I was sleeping soundly and the next it was all... OHDEARGODWHYAREPEOPLEEVENALIVETHISEARLYINTHEMORNING. <br />
<br />
I would have been happy enough to go back to sleep, but the muse had other plans.<br />
<br />
She was all like...<br />
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<br />
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<i>Because apparently my muse is Daria Morgendorffer. No surprise there, really. </i></div>
<br />
<br />
*sigh* I'm happy (if a bit exhausted) to report that I have reached <i>that point</i> in the writing process of this book.<br />
<br />
The #NoSleepTillBOOK-lyn part. (*rereads her absolutely terrible pun* *decides that it's excusable since it was written before the sun was awake*) In other words, the brakes are off and we're officially on a crash course with completion. Woo!<br />
<br />
I'd be much happier about this if my muse kept normal office hours.<br />
<br />
Anyway. Just thought I'd check in real quick and let you guys know we are <i>definitely</i> on track for the mid–February release date. For now, anyway. *knocks on wood* <br />
<br />
How are y'all? You good? I hope you're good.<br />
<br />
I've got a book to write and coffee to acquire, so I'll end this here. Big, BIG thank-you's to all of you for being so patient and supportive up to this point! I would have cried uncle ages ago, if it weren't for all of you! Thanks for all the love you've sent my way lately! <span class="st">♥</span>Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-8755177060431636682014-10-08T11:08:00.001-04:002014-10-08T11:19:33.075-04:00Of Check-In's and Writing Retreats*pokes tentatively at wi-fi connection*<br />
<br />
*realizes link to the outside world has been restored*<br />
<br />
*busts a move*<br />
<br />
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HEY, GUYS! Long time, no check-in. Sorry about that.<br />
<br />
I'm currently on the second leg of my vacation/writing-retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I have every intention of writing the <i>crap</i> out of this stubborn novel.<br />
<br />
To give you an idea of just <i>how stubborn</i> Book 3 has been to write thus far.... I actually began writing it well over a year ago. It's been half-written, then re-written, then remixed, and then sliced and <i>diced </i>until it became the workable, half-finished draft that it is today.<br />
<br />
The good news? I've written almost ten thousand new words in the five days since I arrived in the mountains—and they're all (knock on wood) <i>keepers</i>. I'm making progress. And it feels amazing.<br />
<br />
The bad news? Even at this rate, it's going to take a flippin' miracle to have the book ready to publish before New Year's.<br />
<br />
...Not that I'm giving up on that particular goal. It really just comes down to whether or not I can get the book through edits fast enough to release it on time. And honestly... edits aren't exactly something you want to <i>rush through</i>.<br />
<br />
I want this book to be the best it can be. I want it to be something you guys will <i>enjoy</i> reading. And that can take time...<br />
<br />
So here's the deal. From now on, we'll be aiming for a <b>mid–February release date.</b><br />
<br />
And if the book happens to be ready a little <i>earlier</i>... Well. Who am I to make y'all wait? :-)<br />
<br />
Also, in an effort to keep me on track in the face of my newly reacquired wi-fi connection, I'm bringing back the progress bar. *points to the upper left corner of the blog*<br />
<br />
Don't be too worried by the current percentage—there's actually a bit more than that. I'm not counting the scenes I've written, but haven't added in to the manuscript yet, and there are quite a few of those.<br />
<br />
For the next week, I ought to be updating that bar daily as I write. With any luck, it will be at 75% or higher before I head back home!<br />
<br />
So. Yes. With that in mind, I should probably get back to work, eh?<br />
<br />
Have a wonderful Wednesday, y'all!<br />
<br />
*wanders off in search of words* <br />
<br />
<b>Song of the Week</b>: Arsonist's Lullaby by Hozier (aka the perfect song for the Variant Series' character, Carson Brandt. Fave lyric: "<i>Don't you ever tame your demons, but always keep 'em on a leash."</i> Do you guys have a song that reminds you of a certain character? If so, let me know in the comments!)<br />
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<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-43318110626191470552014-09-05T14:50:00.000-04:002014-09-05T14:50:53.291-04:00Of Book Signings and Grand OpeningsHey, guys!<br />
<br />
If you've been following me on Twitter or here on the blog these last few months, you'll have noticed that I've been a bit... <i>distracted</i> lately.<br />
<br />
Much of the last 90 days has been spent planning, organizing, and setting up a new gift shop and boutique here in my hometown of Tampa, Florida. (Not so great for the writing schedule, but a wonderful, <i>much needed</i> source of new income, nonetheless. One day I'll make enough to cover all of my expenses through my writing—until then, the day job beckons!)<br />
<br />
We finally opened our doors a couple of weeks ago, and now we're gearing up for our official Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, September 13th!<br />
<br />
We've been selling my novels here in the store, and I've already promised a handful of our customers that I will be in attendance on the day of our Grand Opening, and that I'll be available to sign books and chat with readers.<br />
<br />
Once I realized that the book signing would be one of the features of the event (along with some great giveaways, samples of our gourmet food and teas, and discounts throughout the store), I decided to go ahead and advertise it here on the blog.<br />
<br />
<b>SO! For those of you that will be in or around the Tampa Bay area on Saturday, September 13th, I will be at the <a href="http://www.willowveranda.com/" target="_blank">Willow Veranda gift shop and boutique</a> from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., signing books for anyone that might be interested!</b><br />
<br />
Here's a link to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/687844084617646/" target="_blank">Willow Veranda Grand Opening</a> event page on Facebook, in case you'd like more details (our address, event hours, etc.).<br />
<br />
Hope to see a few of you there!<b> </b>:)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-72110913077752496012014-08-27T11:54:00.000-04:002014-08-27T11:54:09.876-04:00Of Missing Emails and Embarrassed AuthorsOkay.<br />
<br />
So.<br />
<br />
After a very confusing hour-long chat with my webhost's tech support yesterday.... I discovered that the settings for my [@]jenaleighbooks.com email addresses hadn't been set up correctly.<br />
<br />
...Which came as something of a surprise to me, considering <i>they haven't been changed in over two years</i>, and I had been sending and receiving emails—I thought—just <i>fine</i> the entire time.<br />
<br />
Except that I wasn't.<br />
<br />
Some emails were being slightly delayed, and some of the emails you guys sent me (not many, but at least a few) <i>never made it to me at all</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4xhCFCu-IFv7bXkBs1CiWko67ioJMD6t9AGH0jp9QLPwmAkiGILUvDnS6auSZ5lnsc7qfVs4Eqll-84EkyrZ8-fOY6rC2-3qTcln8Ei_tdWCuDMRRwz5w4cz8sqtqbtVRfiaPnESX0M/s1600/noooo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4xhCFCu-IFv7bXkBs1CiWko67ioJMD6t9AGH0jp9QLPwmAkiGILUvDnS6auSZ5lnsc7qfVs4Eqll-84EkyrZ8-fOY6rC2-3qTcln8Ei_tdWCuDMRRwz5w4cz8sqtqbtVRfiaPnESX0M/s1600/noooo.gif" height="307" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<i>My initial reaction to the news.</i> </div>
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<i>My reaction once I realized my webhost was responsible for the screw up.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
So this is just a quick note to say: <b><i>If you've ever sent me an e-mail, and you didn't hear back from me, you have my apologies!</i> </b><br />
<br />
I do my absolute best to answer each and every email I receive, and the thought that some of you wrote me and heard nothing back, worries me <i>a lot</i>.<br />
<br />
The settings should be correct now, so if you write me and fail to hear back within 1-2 weeks, <i>please let me know here on the blog!!!</i><br />
<br />
I always love hearing from you guys! :)<i> </i>Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-27816505661448539072014-08-20T13:55:00.000-04:002014-08-20T13:56:59.748-04:00Of Birthdays and Expectations<i><b>Updates and Musings</b></i><br />
<br />
I have nearly an entire week off starting today... And I could not be happier about it.<br />
<br />
I HAVE TIME TO WRITE AGAIN! <br />
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<br />
It's been a busy few weeks.<br />
<br />
My mom and I finished setting up (and subsequently <i>opened</i> up) a new gift shop & boutique, my health took a spin on the roller-coaster ride from Hades, one of my best friends had her <i>beautiful</i> baby boy, I met a ton of amazing people... and I learned that working 50 or more hours a week and trying to keep on a writing schedule (while also battling extreme anxiety and a chronic disease) is not only impossible, but hazardous to my health and seriously damaging to my sense of calm.<br />
<br />
Oh.<br />
<br />
And I turned 30 last weekend.<br />
<br />
So, there's that.<br />
<br />
I can pretty much guarantee that had I actually <i>had time</i> to mourn the loss of my twenties, I would have been way more upset about that particular development. Instead, I only briefly noticed the transition.<br />
<br />
(And anyway, I still struggle to convince people that yes, I <i>am</i> legally old enough to buy that fruity alcoholic beverage at Bahama Breeze, so please stop eyeballing my driver's license like it says "McLovin"...)<br />
<br />
When you have the perpetually chubby cheeks and dimples of a little kid, worrying about growing older has less to do with laugh lines and more to do with your utter lack of accomplishments upon reaching those merciless temporal milestones. Something that I was trying very hard not to think about.<br />
<br />
Publishing two books counts as some sort of accomplishment, right?<br />
<br />
Do I get Grown Up points for that? Because I'm pretty sure the fact that I'm unmarried, am renting an apartment, and have no family of my own is threatening to put me in the negative.<br />
<br />
It's made me think, though...<br />
<br />
I mean, true, I may be the <i>only one</i> of my friends that hasn't gotten married yet.<br />
<br />
And, okay, I'm <i>also</i> probably the only one left without a 401K or a decent retirement plan.<br />
<br />
Fact is, I'll probably never have that white picket fence, 3.2 kids and a dog thing that society keeps telling me I should want...<br />
<br />
But does that really matter?<br />
<br />
For the moment, at least, <i>I'm happy with my choices</i>—which is more than I can say for some of the people I know.<br />
<br />
So my life didn't turn out exactly the way society said it would. So what? It's taken me thirty years, but I'm finally beginning to understand... Those detours I keep taking are what make my life interesting. And what's a good story without a few unexpected twists and turns?<br />
<br />
So to my thirties I say, <i>"Bring it</i>. And be sure to keep it interesting." Because as far as I'm concerned—to quote my girl, Alex—normal is <i>terribly</i> overrated.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Giveaways Galore</i></b><br />
<br />
A few of you have been lamenting the fact that you missed the giveaway here on the blog we did a couple weeks back... Well, to that I say—I've totally got you covered.<br />
<b><i> </i></b><br />
The kind, generous, and ever-so-lovely ladies over at the <a href="http://teamnerdreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">TeamNerd Reviews</a> blog are currently celebrating I HEART YA 2014!! And so in addition to the amazing posts by and about YA authors, they're also hosting five—count 'em, <i><b>FIVE</b></i>—giveaways!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://teamnerdreviews.blogspot.com/2014/08/i-heart-ya-interview-author-jena-leigh.html" target="_blank">Click here to check out the interview I did with them</a> and then scroll on down to the bottom of the post for a link to the I HEART YA giveaways page where a signed copy of <i>Resistance</i> is currently up for grabs!<br />
<br />
And if that's not enough, TeamNerd's amazing reviewer Bridget was kind enough to create this fantastic promo image for <i>Resistance</i>!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAHBg8fVDMygZBawSx41-dqWGRI2P1Zqls2Od9yAkFnxo6OjAUZrQ7axhwljD2Yc-ywv8iBv5blfPmqMwZaRXPl882sw1wX7mngzwfhv9qIZYGm0PEr4aLQ-h9PO1fjTtwk4wsTtFPVQ/s1600/Resistance+Promo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAHBg8fVDMygZBawSx41-dqWGRI2P1Zqls2Od9yAkFnxo6OjAUZrQ7axhwljD2Yc-ywv8iBv5blfPmqMwZaRXPl882sw1wX7mngzwfhv9qIZYGm0PEr4aLQ-h9PO1fjTtwk4wsTtFPVQ/s1600/Resistance+Promo.JPG" height="248" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Perfect promo is perfect. Just sayin'. </i></div>
<br />
Also, be sure to stay tuned, because we'll be doing another giveaway over on the Jena Leigh Facebook page, just as soon as it hits 500 likes!<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<i><b>This Week's Playlist</b></i><br />
<br />
I've been listening to Alt-J a lot lately, so they've earned two spots on this mini-playlist... Can't get enough of them while I'm working. Pandora introduced me to both of the next two songs and now they've been stuck in my head off and on for ages. And last, but not least, the beautiful harmony that is my current writing song—"Storm Comin'" by The Wailin' Jenny's. Hope you find a song or two to enjoy!<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<br />
Alt-J—Breezeblocks<br />
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Alt-J—Left Hand Free<br />
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Aranda—Still in the Dark<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/sY3vlSfpz_Q/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/sY3vlSfpz_Q&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/sY3vlSfpz_Q&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<br />
Eli Young Band—Oklahoma Girl<br />
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The Wailin' Jenny's—Storm Comin'<br />
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Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-12085930885724649932014-07-19T15:25:00.001-04:002014-07-19T15:41:52.375-04:00Of Giveaways and Happy Hearts<b><i>Giveaways!</i></b><br />
<br />
Hey guys! In a recent post I mentioned that the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jenaleighbooks" target="_blank">Jena Leigh page on Facebook</a> was still slowly gaining likes, and that I hoped to do a giveaway once we hit 500. And we will! As soon as that 500th fan clicks "like," I'll put together something special for my Facebook followers...<br />
<br />
<b>In the meantime </b>(to help us get a little closer to that goal of 500 likes)<b>, I'll be running a giveaway here on the blog!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: small;">(And sorry international folks, but this time around it's just for residents of the US and Canada... <i>One day,</i> I'll be able to afford to ship these prizes anywhere in the world! Until then, I just can't swing it. Not to fret, though—I'll be doing another giveaway soon that will be open worldwide! So stay tuned!)</span><br />
<br />
The prize up for grabs this time is a signed paperback copy of <i>Resistance</i> (The Variant Series, #2), along with two Variant Series bookmarks, and a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card! <br />
<br />
Yep. On August 11th, I'll be giving away a whole bunch of goodies to one lucky reader who enters the Rafflecopter giveaway below! So be sure to enter for your chance to win! <br />
<br />
I made sure there are plenty of ways for you to rack up points—and let's face it, since the giveaway will be exclusive to the Jena Leigh blog, in all likelihood there will be roughly five entries all together. Like, total. So if you <i>do</i> enter, the odds will definitely be in your favor. Just sayin'... :)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<center>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bce853541/" id="rc-bce853541" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script></center>
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<b><br /></b>
<b><i> </i></b><br />
<b><i>Updates</i></b><br />
<br />
I've written and rewritten this part of the post roughly four times, now.<br />
<br />
It's
not that I don't have anything to say. I can think of plenty. It's just
that all the things I'm inclined to tell you about are coming across as
either whiny or depressing. Or both. And that's not the sort of post I
wanted to make today. So instead, let's just summarize the bad as
quickly as possible so we can move on to some more enjoyable stuff, shall
we? <br />
<br />
The situation in a nutshell is this: For the next
month or so, I haven't a snowflake's hope in Hades of meeting my
current writing goals without subjecting myself to a mind-numbing stretch of
extreme stress and sleep-deprivation. One that will likely result in my
health taking another nosedive.... and/or a full-on nervous breakdown.
Whichever comes first.<br />
<br />
There are only so many hours in the day and—sadly—I haven't yet figured out how to clone myself. <br />
<br />
As
soon as we get this store up and running (and have hired enough help),
I'll be settling back into my normal writing routine and that shiny purple progress
bar for Book 3 will be back on the blog!<br />
<br />
Until then,
for the sake of my sanity, I'll be writing what I can, when I can, and
trying very hard not to feel guilty about it.*<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Pins and Posts</i></b><br />
<br />
So, in case you hadn't noticed, half of my tweets lately have consisted of pins that caught my eye on Pinterest.... The other half, of course, are the exceedingly random posts I found amusing on Tumblr.<br />
<br />
Lately the Internet has surpassed both books and TV as my chosen method of work-related detox. I've noticed that when I finally make it home in the evenings I'm too tired to even watch a 30-minute-long television show, much less compose a pithy collection of words in 140 characters or less. So recently my online presence has taken on a less direct form... Reblogs.<br />
<br />
Cause, y'see, making an intelligent comment when you're half dead and longing for sleep is <i>hard</i>. Scrolling through a mind-boggling number of pins and posts, however, is as easy as dragging your thumb across a cell phone. And <i>that</i>, I can totally handle.<br />
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
Out of all my pins and posts this week I stumbled across a couple of favorites I thought I'd share with you here on the blog.<br />
<br />
First up is this little gem Wil Wheaton reblogged on Tumblr...<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://jenaleighbooks.tumblr.com/post/92097413998/library-lessons-or-reading-them-either" target="_blank"><img alt="http://jenaleighbooks.tumblr.com/post/92097413998/library-lessons-or-reading-them-either" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4ip20dKLgJBe1moam8yZObc-SqKBaHECzmo8Rn8nZyBmzJu6FOJ64J1EDm9I44VXVxiSdGUWs3AeKfaMBBPHI84078gxK4WlQIZwGOpp-RE0sW89x0T9p-RuFUl6qyhgKfWgtpPmYvs/s1600/tumblr_n8evq9gj1k1r8c181o1_1280.jpg" height="320" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(It's sadly lacking a source, though the name at the
bottom reads "Sweatpants & Coffee". If you know its origin, please
send me a link!)</span> </div>
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There has been so much talk online and in the news lately about whether or not we should be <i>embarrassed</i> by the genres and age classifications of the books we choose to read. About whether or not adults should be <i>ashamed</i> to read YA fiction.</div>
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You know what I say to that? You should feel absolutely no shame at all in reading whatever you like—whatever makes you <i>happy</i>. And if other people don't like it, they can stuff it.**</div>
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I can't tell you how many times I've had adults (most of whom are aged mid-40s and above) approach me and tell me how surprised they were that they enjoyed my book.</div>
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"I saw the Young Adult label and just assumed it was for kids," they'll say. "I wasn't expecting to enjoy it so much, at my age!"</div>
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But that's the thing. </div>
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YA, middle grade, children's stories... It doesn't matter what the age classification is—a good story is <i>a good story</i>. If the story is enjoyable, meaningful, relatable, or clever, it can easily transcend the limitations of its assigned age level.</div>
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So should I, as an almost-30-year-old, be embarrassed to wander the YA aisles at my local bookstore? Should I be ashamed to be seen reading a <i>Harry Potter </i>novel or Maggie Stiefvater's latest book in public?</div>
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<i>Of course not</i>. If someone has a problem with it, then that's <i>their problem</i>, not mine.</div>
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I appreciate a well-told story. Full stop.</div>
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An age classification is a suggestion, not a rule. And thank God for that. I shudder to think what amazing adventures I might never have experienced, and all the extraordinary characters I might never have met, had I followed those so-called "rules."</div>
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Anyway. That's my two cents' worth.</div>
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...I've shared a Tumblr reblog, so let's wrap this section up with my favorite pin from last week:</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/537969117961521427/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/537969117961521427/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5nFOmMipPaYEVgVz5QgKeXz9tjDvn2gOCXf_YmpuMrkJI52Hg-wa96uF3v5i4cCD6HPLbLc8keU0D_uI6_vNJf8JT5P_oa8IGG3j39Oin7WF9CSUP8mWduOedZallJVTCJMh94LHKF8/s1600/dcbf526aab426ea4e0aa8f5d698e2fcc.jpg" height="640" width="289" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>(Love this. Surreal and brimming with possibilities... Oh, the stories I could write...)</i></div>
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<b><i>Stuck in My Head</i></b><br />
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Two songs this week, the first is a song from Swedish DJ Avicii, with vocals provided by my favorite voice in bluegrass music today—Dan Tyminski. (You might recognize his voice from the song "Man of Constant Sorrow" off the <i>Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?</i> soundtrack.) The song's called "Hey Brother" and is from the Avicii album <i>True</i>.<br />
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<i>Avicii - Hey Brother</i> <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3mYhXl3OMQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Next up, it's absolutely the most oddball song I've heard in ages. Over the course of the last few days, it's inspired some glorious off-key shower vocals, as well as some horrendously awkward dancing in my car... And all I can say is, <i>thanks</i>, Pandora. Thank you for always playing the weirdest songs imaginable in my QuickMix. You provide me with so much awesome $#!@. <br />
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<i> Milky Chance - Stolen Dance</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iX-QaNzd-0Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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What's not to love?<br />
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Okay, guys. Time to wrap up this monster of a post!<br />
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I'm working on another post about my writing process that I hope to publish here on the blog in the next week or two, but either way, you'll hear from me again next weekend. Hope you all have a fantastic week! :)<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I haven't stopped writing. Far from it. I wrote another 800 words, just this morning. I merely need to give myself some room to breathe and take a break when I require it. The "accountability" method is wonderful and effective, and I'll be returning to it ASAP... Just as soon as my other responsibilities calm down a bit. In the meantime, I'll continue trudging along, even if I'm not talking much about my progress. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">** Yeeeahhh. What I really wanted to say to that included a lot more cursing and a few obscene gestures. None of which translate well on a blog where the appropriateness rating is traditionally kept at PG-13 or below. But you get the picture. </span>Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-14040994762542589682014-07-12T14:18:00.000-04:002014-07-15T15:33:54.788-04:00A Quick Update and Some Magic<br />
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<b>The Variant Series: Book 3 Progress Bar</b> </div>
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<img src="http://www.critiquecircle.com/wordmeter.asp?col=purple&font=Verdana&curr=30106&goal=75000&" /> </div>
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I picked a terrible week to be held accountable for my writing progress. Really. <i>Epic</i> miscalculation on my part.<br />
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This is the first day off I've had since last Saturday, and I still spent a few hours at work this morning, getting a whole host of things finished so that I could take a day off without worrying too much about being gone. Definitely looking forward to some down time! (And, fingers crossed, some uninterrupted <i>writing</i> <i>time</i>, as well.)<br />
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In the end, I hit my goal of 30,000 words, but only barely—and only because I gave myself a few extra days to hit the mark.<br />
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New goal for next week: 35,000 words.<br />
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If I don't update this progress bar next Friday with a number over 35K, I'll... I'll... I don't know. Subject myself to some form of punishment, I suppose. Going to have to think on that one. Suggestions?<br />
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On a completely random note, I'm beginning to think my laptop wants me to finish Book Three as much as you guys do. My desktop image is programmed to change every minute, shuffling through roughly a <i>thousand</i> images that I have saved in my desktops folder... and yet, for some unknown reason, this guy has been popping up every time I minimize Scrivener.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshoR0IMqHEtf9ocZyDoBP8iP8j1vpSD8rVhYQqsft-386nL3kM0TFOIA-x94NsEBI9S73iwUtexSqD9CyDOY6wI33G_YgMbkoOT1pUag9ARQLIG4wbLHxq0J_MkSqY9WCWR02e9fi1VE/s1600/632014032559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshoR0IMqHEtf9ocZyDoBP8iP8j1vpSD8rVhYQqsft-386nL3kM0TFOIA-x94NsEBI9S73iwUtexSqD9CyDOY6wI33G_YgMbkoOT1pUag9ARQLIG4wbLHxq0J_MkSqY9WCWR02e9fi1VE/s1600/632014032559.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I have to admit. He's flippin' adorable. And a delightful motivator.*</i></div>
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With a tiny potato cheering me on, how could I possibly fail? <br />
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Also, it looks like the Jena Leigh page on Facebook is
still gaining likes, slowly but surely. I'm thinking about doing some sort of
giveaway once we hit 500 (and perhaps a second giveaway, if we ever reach 2,000 followers on Twitter.) Going to have to come up with something fun
for a prize!<br />
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And stuck in my head this weekend, is the band Magic!—a band that you've almost definitely heard, if you've turned your radio to an alt-rock or pop station <i>at all</i> in the last few months. Their hit song Rude sucked me in, and now their album Don't Kill the Magic is my new obsession. Catchy, beachy and fantastic. The healthy dose of reggae in their songs makes Don't Kill the Magic the perfect summer album. I kind of adore these guys. They're like... like the Police meets Sublime, mixed with a little bit of Bruno Mars and some Bob Marley thrown in for good measure.<br />
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Anyway. Enough fangirling. Have a couple songs and a <i>wonderful </i>weekend, my loves! See you next week!<br />
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<b>Magic! - Rude (Acoustic)</b> <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7nVACY8EMEk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b> Magic! - No Evil</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ruubWf1ROGE" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*If you know who created this image, please let me know so I can add the source info! Thanks!<i> </i></span><br />
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Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5381517704200971224.post-1391695591354848422014-07-01T14:02:00.001-04:002014-07-01T15:15:33.404-04:00Of Accountability and NinjasWriting is hard at the best of times.<br />
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At the worst? It's Mission: Impossible, complete with an exploding tape deck and suspenseful theme music. And ninjas.<br />
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Flippin' ninjas whose sole intention is to distract you from your WIPs by assaulting you with the time-consuming distractions of everyday life.<br />
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I could explain my own personal ninjas in some detail, but that's a whole 'nother blog post. Suffice it to say that helping your family open up a new gift shop/boutique when your health isn't exactly at 100% can <i>really</i> put a hitch in your writing schedule.<br />
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But I fully intend to remedy that.<br />
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In spite of all the distractions, there is still one thing that is absolutely guaranteed to keep me writing, even when the ninjas are kicking my butt... <i>Accountability.</i><br />
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Be it writing sprints on Twitter or the updates expected of me by my alpha readers, I write more when someone's holding me accountable for my efforts. So from now until book three in the Variant Series<i> </i>is finished, I'll be posting my progress each week here on the blog as a part of my posts. It will keep me working on book three, and should finally get me blogging again. Win-win!<br />
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Also, for the record, I'll be starting this accountability thing off at 26,279 words.*<br />
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<b>The Variant Series: Book 3 Progress Bar</b> </div>
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If I don't update next week at a number that's over 30,000, feel free to give me grief. I'll totally deserve it.<br />
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A couple things to note here... That 75K goal is a guesstimate. More than likely, if I keep heading on this same track, book three ought to come in at something closer to 90K. Also, when I reach the last 1/4 of the book, I tend to write upwards of 5,000 words a day, so don't be discouraged by that low number you see in the bar! I'm still struggling to get into the groove of writing regularly again, but if this accountability thing goes as planned, I should be making steady progress on the draft again soon!<br />
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Okay, y'all. My infusion is almost over, so I need to wrap this up before the nurse returns to unchain me from this IV and I head home for a much needed nap.**<br />
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I think this week I'll leave you with a few of the tunes that have been stuck in my head lately. Hope you find something here to enjoy!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/42089956&color=571b7e&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe>
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Have a great rest of the week, guys! :)<br />
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~Jena<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*That number could be a bit higher, but I'm not including the scenes I've
written that are out of sequence and haven't been added in yet. Just in case they don't get used.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">**This has to do with that whole <i>my health is not 100%</i> thing I mentioned earlier. The good thing about being chained to an IV for four and a half hours (besides the six weeks of good health it offers me) is that it forces me to work. Hence this blog post. So freaking <i>yay</i> for that.</span><br />
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<br />Jena Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924669055993665576noreply@blogger.com0