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"Coming Out"

8/23/2012

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It is with heavy heart that I share some news I’ve kept to myself for a few years now.  At first, my reasoning stemmed from a fear that being ill might keep me from obtaining an agent or large publisher.  As I went into self-publishing, I decided to remain silent, as it was not having that profound of an effect on my ability to write.  It may have slowed me down, but for me, “slow” was still quite fast when compared to most.  Unfortunately, new issues have arisen that tell me it’s time to “come out” and come clean.

I have systemic lupus, and while most people are able to live reasonably normal lives with proper medication, my life has been a regular struggle for some time despite appropriate medical treatment.  Just recently, I’ve begun to suffer swelling in the nerves and blood vessels behind my eyes, which has resulted in a blind spot in my left eye.  While I can still see, it is very distracting and makes it difficult for me to read.  Because of this, I must slow the number of books I read for review, and I will not be accepting any further works until further notice.

Moreover, I’m having great difficulty viewing the computer screen, which means I will have to reduce my writing until my sight improves.  I will still interact via e-mail and social networking, but it will be at a limited basis.  I have handed over my Twitter and Linked In accounts to my husband, who will ensure I receive all messages—and all responses will be mine, if by proxy.

My condition should improve, but it might take several weeks and could recur at any time.  During that time, I appreciate your patience and support.

Warm regards,
Leigh

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THE HIDDEN VALLEY Goodreads Giveaway!

8/22/2012

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Enter between now and September 15 for your chance to win a free paperback copy of The Hidden Valley: The Whole Story!  Winners are chosen randomly by Goodreads.  Click on the link below for full details:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Hidden Valley by Leigh M. Lane

The Hidden Valley

by Leigh M. Lane

Giveaway ends September 15, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win
Good luck--and happy reading!
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THE HIDDEN VALLEY is Now in Paperback!

8/20/2012

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The Hidden Valley is coming to Amazon in trade paperback!   Check out this lovely cover:
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Happy reading!
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Novella Review: FRACTAL DESPONDENCY by Trent Zelazny

8/17/2012

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Blake has returned to his hometown after surviving profound heartache and loss, only to meet the beautiful and carefree Denise.  He soon realizes he’s in over his head, following a virtual angel from Hell who will leave him once again forever changed.

FRACTAL DESPONDENCY is hands down the best work I’ve read this year.  With brilliant prose that weaves a painful past with an uncertain future, the story is a bittersweet account of a young man trying to find his place in an unforgiving world.  It is an absolute must-read for literary fiction fans.  I rate it an enthusiastic 5 stars.
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Novelette Review: JUGULAR by Lori Lopez

8/17/2012

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Magda’s mid-life crisis is far more complicated than most.  Her husband has long been deceased under the most surreal of circumstances, her only son is a monster, and she seems to be . . . getting younger?  Her experience of the “change of life” is proving far different than she had expected.

The story opens beautifully, with exquisite prose and a unique premise that will draw the reader in from page one.  About halfway through, it falls into a few clichés that are obviously intentional, but not quite fitting with the preceding seriousness of tone.  Still, anyone familiar with Lopez’s work will appreciate the lighthearted feel that prevails throughout most the rest of the work.  JUGULAR is a fun, quirky story that turns the vampire tale on its head in a way only Lopez can.  I give this work 4.5 stars.
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Upcoming Release: MIRAGES!

8/12/2012

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Mirages: Tales from Authors of the Macabre is scheduled for release this coming week!  Edited by Trent Zelazny and featuring some of the best of contemporary horror authors, this anthology is guaranteed to be super creepy!  Just check out the amazing line-up:
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Tom Piccirilli
Jeffrey Thomas
Barb Lien-Cooper & Park Cooper
Lee Allen Howard
Tina Swain
Joseph S. Pulver, Sr.
Gerald Hausman
Billie Sue Mosiman
Scott Bradley & Peter Giglio
Kealan Patrick Burke
Lori R. Lopez
Jason S. Ridler
Leigh M. Lane
Joe R. Lansdale
Curt Jarrell
E. A. Black
Edward Morris

Stay tuned for buy-links!

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Novella Review: KILLING CARLA by Billie Sue Mosiman

8/11/2012

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This is the first work I’ve read of Mosiman’s, and I must say I’m very impressed with her craftsmanship.  She develops the tension skillfully, using beautifully constructed prose and well developed characters.  She is without a doubt a master of her art.  Her use of description is detailed and raw, appealing equally to the senses and the emotions.  I found the ending thoroughly gratifying, although I did hope to see a somewhat more hellish fate for Lansing.

There were only a few character motivations that did not sit well with me, the most substantial being Sully’s refusal to call in Carla as missing until morning—at which time, there is a sudden sense of urgency to get the search for her started.  It also seemed unnatural that any of the characters would even consider the token Lansing leaves in the garden would have come from anyone other than Carla.  Lastly, Lansing’s sudden desire for Carla to be quiet just as soon as Sully and Flap reach the base of the mountain felt far too coincidental; it felt like the characters knew too much in that regard, although I do have to qualify this by adding that it deterred little from the overall quality of the work.

Killing Karla kept me on the edge of my seat throughout most of the story, and I will definitely be reading more of her works.  I rate this story a very enthusiastic 4.5 stars.
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I Love Horror Novellas Blog Hop Finale

8/10/2012

5 Comments

 
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Welcome to the final installment of the “I Love Horror Novellas Blog Hop”!

Over the course of the week, I have offered a small amount of insight into the character behind The Hidden Valley: Carrie’s Story, sharing the grief over her middle-aged fading beauty, the horror she faces over being possessed by the town’s undefined entity, and the role her photography plays in both her back story and the development of her possible insanity.  This week, I also had the opportunity to share at a handful of other authors’ blogs, revealing the motivation behind the darkness of The Hidden Valley, what seems versus what is in horror fiction, and the role my love of Stephen King’s works played in my choice of style and literary elements.

I would like to expand a little on the latter, sharing a handful of King’s stories that helped to inspire the feel and flavor of The Hidden Valley.  While this blog hop focuses on paranormal and horror novellas, I would like to take a holistic approach to the novel today, delving beyond Carrie’s Story and looking at the collective work.

It:  While there are no evil clowns in The Hidden Valley, there is a dark, unnamed force claiming the town of South Bend and terrorizing all who fall into its trap.  It can take whatever form it chooses, possessing the living and owning the dead.  Its strength comes from those who fear it, and its demise will come at the hands of only those able to identify it for what it truly is.

‘Salem’s Lot:  No, there aren’t any vampires either, but I based the feel of the town—a cozy place riddled with dangers that slowly unfold and grow as the story progresses—on this story.  There is a sense of growing urgency to identify and escape the evil that resides, as well as the theme of youthful innocence taken far before its time.

Cat’s Eye:  I loved how this charming film made a cat the unexpected hero, and I set out to do just that in The Hidden Valley.  Readers will find that Maxwell’s chapters are some of the most articulate and thought provoking, offering insights shown nowhere else in the story.  Similarly….

Cujo:  King’s ability to get inside the head of an animal impressed me thoroughly, and I can only hope I did similar justice to Maxwell’s chapters.  While Cujo is a Saint Bernard and Maxwell is a black and white tuxedo cat (named after one of my sister’s childhood pets) I hope readers will see the inspiration the former had on the latter.

The Shining:  Probably my favorite King novel, The Shining portrays a large piece of property that is haunted by its dark past.  The evil created by its continuing need to terrorize and destroy those unfortunate enough to set foot within its reaches was a strong inspiration behind the evil lurking within South Bend.

Much like I worked to emulate Poe’s unique voice in my last novel, Finding Poe, I worked to emulate King’s rich descriptions and subtle nuances in The Hidden Valley.  The novel is my homage to the greatest horror storyteller of our time.  Here’s to you, Mr. King.  While I might only be at the beginning of my writing journey (at thirteen novels and counting), you have taught me much, and while I might never achieve your greatness, you have inspired me more than you’ll likely ever know.



Thanks for stopping by!

5 Comments

I Love Horror Novellas Blog Hop Day 4

8/9/2012

3 Comments

 
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Picture Perfect

In The Hidden Valley: Carrie’s Story, Carrie is a professional photographer who allowed one of her private gigs to get more than a little out of hand.  The fallout is severe, one that leaves her marriage forever changed.

When the family reaches South Bend, she makes a promise to herself that she is only going to work in freelance photography, sending nature photos to magazines and the like.  She finds that everything there seems primed for the lens—and every picture she takes is National Geographic-cover perfect.  As such, it comes as a surprise when she begins to receive one angry rejection letter after the next for her submissions.

Another look at the pictures offers her a shocking reality check: none of the pictures appears even remotely as it had appeared at first glance.  She is then faced with the terrifying question of whether she had perceived them incorrectly when she first took them, whether she saw them from a skewed perspective as she reviewed them again, or whether someone was playing a cruel trick on her and actually replacing her perfect pictures with the horrific images now cluttering her hard drive.

Or has she simply lost her mind?


About The Hidden Valley:

Deep in a hidden valley, there is a ghost town that has experienced a miraculous rebound.  It is separated from the rest of the world by a mountain pass, but it's found a dark and deadly lifeline….  Carrie and her husband Grant are moving wayward teenage twins John and Jane across the country for a fresh start.  South Bend seems like the perfect place for it.  Maybe just a little too perfect.  When they become aware of the trap that has been set for them, will it already be too late for any of them to escape?

In addition to being a ghost story, The Hidden Valley is an experiment in structure.  The reader will find that nearly every chapter is, in itself, a work of flash fiction.  Each main character’s story may be read individually for a surprisingly different effect.  Read The Hidden Valley by character; read The Whole Story in Kindle or paperback (coming soon); or read the weekly flash fiction serial here at The Cerebral Writer.

This post is part of the week-long Horror Novella Blog-Hop, hosted by Precious Monsters.  Make sure to check out the other participating blogs.

Thanks for stopping by!

3 Comments

Guest Spot: Books for Bunnies

8/7/2012

2 Comments

 
Today, I'm taking a short break from the "I Love Horror Novellas Blog Tour" to host the important event, Books for Bunnies.  Stop by tomorrow for my continued participation in the blog tour. --LL

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Books for Bunnies is an event set up by the administrator/blogger for The Bunny’s Review and coordinated with the help of blogger Alchemy of Scrawl. 

These two ladies have worked tirelessly in getting authors to donate eBooks for the event.   Currently there are over 100 eBooks that have been donated, along with over 30 print books.  Some of the print books are even signed by the author’s themselves.
 

The event is to help raise money for the House Rabbit Society.  The House Rabbit Society (or HRS) is a 501 non-profit organization to help raise awareness and to rescue rabbits from animal shelters.  Below is a little about the background of the HRS.

House Rabbit Society Background House Rabbit Society is a national, nonprofit animal welfare organization based in Richmond, California. Our mission has two parts:
  • Through our fostering program, volunteers rescue abandoned rabbits and find permanent adoptive homes for them.
  • Through education, we seek to reduce the number of unwanted rabbits — and to improve bunnies' lives — by helping people better understand these often misunderstood companion animals.
In line with our mission, we are against the exploitation of rabbits.

Since HRS was founded in 1988, over 25,000 rabbits have been rescued through our foster homes across the United States. Many of these bunnies had run out of time at animal shelters and were scheduled for euthanasia; others had been deemed "unadoptable" because of age, health, or disposition. Because there is no time limit on our rescued rabbits, HRS foster parents are able to spend time getting to know each individual bunny and can then match him or her with an appropriate home. We neuter/spay all incoming rabbits, obtain any necessary veterinary care, and attend to their social needs.

In caring for so many diverse bunnies, our all-volunteer organization has learned a tremendous amount about their social, behavioral, and medical requirements. By sharing the collected information these rabbits have taught us, we are able to help other people improve their relationships with their rabbits. HRS provides educational materials to veterinarians and humane societies and helps individual rabbit people solve behavior and health problems, primarily through our web site, www.rabbit.org, and our quarterly publication, House Rabbit Journal.

Over the past 20 years, HRS has grown from 300 to more than 8,000 members, with local chapters and educators in over 30 states plus Canada, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore. Our web site, www.rabbit.org, is accessed over 100,000 times a day by people in dozens of countries around the world.

We are asking people to donate money to the HRS at this link through Network for Good.   The person that makes a donation will receive either an eBook or print book equal to the amount donated.  There are books ranging in price from 99 cents to $27.00.  There are several print copies of the books that have been autographed by the author.   

The person that donates will receive an email thanking them for donating.  That email needs to be forwarded to books4bunnys@bunnysreview.com.  This will show the amount that has been donated.  Please remember there is not any donation that is too small.  Any amount will be greatly appreciated.   The HRS will use the money to either help pay for vet bills or help in finding a forever home for the hundreds of bunnies in their care.  

Please if possible take a moment to donate a couple of dollars to the HRS you never know what bunny’s life you might be saving. 

--Suzie & The Bunnies - CupCake & Coale

Books for Bunnies Website:  http://booksforbunnies.com

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I hope you are able to contribute to this heartfelt cause.  Thanks for stopping by!
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