January 22nd to be exact - (Happy Birthday Lisa! <--- my sister)
13 months later Across The Galaxy has sold hundreds of copies and has allowed me to become part of the BEST online community of writers and bloggers I can imagine exists.
I am so grateful to this story in my head and the One who gave me the passion to get it out onto paper (or comp screen). I'm also grateful to my mentor and sensei: Warren Murphy. (Author of The Forever King, one of my top 5 fav books ever!) Without him, I would've never heard of JA Konrath or the e-publishing revolution that was already underway when I came into the picture.
And mostly - thanks to everyone who has bought and read this book. I wouldn't be here without readers. Its still sort of surreal to get 'fan mail' and letters from people who just want to thank me for writing and providing them with a way to escape their every day 'stuff'. Surreal but awesome!
Now, even though this reads like a sappy acknowledgement page in a book, I'm not usually the mushy type so let's move on...
Marking a year as a self-published author is pretty exciting when not only has that much time passed already, but I'm now making the kind of money writing that I would've made off an advance from NY for these titles. Woot Woot!! And I am sooo happy doing it myself because that means I can do something fun and crazy like change a cover anytime I want.
And since I can, I did. Here's the background on that decision.
Across the Galaxy's original cover was made by a professional photographer. He used a stock background and snapped a really cool pose of my cousin Krystle (Twitter name: @KrystylePole if you want to tell her how awesome she looks!) - who, by the way, is in Vegas this weekend competing in a Pole fitness competition. Go Krystle!!!!
Okay, back to the point. Anyway so my love for ths cover is deep and completely biased because of the story behind the cover. That being said, the marketer in me knew this cover needed... something. The cover competition out there is hard, and even though I love this one, its not necessarily competing to get your attention like so many other YA fantasy covers.
Enter Char Adlesberger. College student from Colorado and GENIUS cover artist! She took my book description and my request for something "edgy" and gave me this!!!
A-MA-zing!!!!!!!!!
So, now that I've caught your eye, on to the details of the HOP. Because I can't do something as cool as a new cover and NOT give stuff away!!!
The schedule is listed below. Each blogger will feature the book and brand new synopsis along with a giveaway of an e-book version of the book. Some will also host a review, interview, or fun facts about yours truly. On the last day, head over to Accendo Press' site (my publishing group) to enter to win a Kindle cover with signed bookmarks!!
2/26/12 - Cambria Hebert, A Diary of a Book Addict
2/27/12 - Nightly Reading
2/28/12 - AwesomeSauce Books
2/29/12- Magnet 4 Books
3/1/12- Fiktshun
3/3/12- The Readiacs
3/4/12- Sassy Book Lovers
3/5/12- Talk Supe, A Book Vacation
3/6/12 - Accendo Press - giveaway of a Kindle cover and e-book of your choice!
And now for the BEST part of this post - You can enter here to win a prize pack from me that includes signed bookmark swag for Dirty Blood (pictured above) and Descended By Blood by Angeline Kace - and a signed paperback of Across The Galaxy with the brand new cover!!
check it:
Here's how to enter:
Leave a comment with your email address below. For an extra entry you can 1- become a follower of the blog and 2- tweet about the giveaway and new cover. Mention me: @HeatherHildenbr in the tweet so I can track your entries.
The contest ends 3/12 and the winner will be announced 3/13. Good luck!
And now for the BEST part of this post - You can enter here to win a prize pack from me that includes signed bookmark swag for Dirty Blood (pictured above) and Descended By Blood by Angeline Kace - and a signed paperback of Across The Galaxy with the brand new cover!!
check it:
Here's how to enter:
Leave a comment with your email address below. For an extra entry you can 1- become a follower of the blog and 2- tweet about the giveaway and new cover. Mention me: @HeatherHildenbr in the tweet so I can track your entries.
The contest ends 3/12 and the winner will be announced 3/13. Good luck!
Ooohhhh I want to join the giveaway! I got the dirty blood series, I want across the galaxy too!
ReplyDeleteTalksupe@rocketmail.com
Braine
Congratulations on your anniversary and relaunch. I wish you all the best and joy in your success. The color effects on the new cover are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower and have tweeted about the fun.
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
thanks Denise!
Deleteoo, awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeletee-mail: meganmhilbert@gmail.com
i am a follower and have tweeted about the giveaway!
https://twitter.com/#!/caffandbooks/status/175016401306791936
Super cool giveaway. Thanks for chance to win. I followed you and tweeted. Congratulations on relaunch & new cover.
ReplyDeletelaurathomas61@att.net
YA Paranormal Author: "ReLaunch Across The Galaxy" Blog Hop http://heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com/2012/02/relaunch-across-galaxy-blog-hop.html?spref=tw #@heatherhildenbr
Congratulations on the relaunch, it's looking good!!! I'm a follower & I tweeted the giveaway even though I really don't want to give more people a chance to win.
ReplyDeleteHahaha Dynie! Thanks for the tweet, even if it was grudgingly given. =)
DeleteThanks for an awesome giveaway!
ReplyDelete~Peggy
bethsflutterby@aol.com
Tweet https://twitter.com/#!/bethsflutterby/status/176040009382641666
I'm a follower too :)
This looks like an amazing read.
ReplyDelete~Steph
soklad82@hotmail.com
I love the new cover!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
GFC: BookAttict
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/BookAttict/status/176089808068804608
I like the cover :D I'm glad that you changed the cover now~
ReplyDeleteEmail: puieread at yahoo dot com
GFC Follower: Herp
ReplyDeleteEmail: puieread at yahoo dot com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/HerpPerp/status/176099548140277760
ReplyDeleteEmail: puieread at yahoo dot com
I hope that Tyler is happy in Heaven.
Puie - Aww thank you. What a sweet thought. I know he is. I think of what he must be doing right now and I know he's happy - and waiting on me. =)
DeleteThanks Heidi. Some days are better than others. Mostly, I focus on the blessings. =) And I am beyond appreciative of those that still think of me...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the relaunch!! I really like the new cover and what an awesome giveaway : )
ReplyDeleteemail: ame1184@gmail.com
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/bamayankee/status/176358022896041984
I've just navigated through your blog, and am pretty much overwhelmed by all that you have been through. You're an amazing strong woman, who has some how found the time for a relaunch amongst the craziness of the world. Bravo. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI would love the opportunity to own a signed paper back of Across the Galaxy.
I'm now a follower on Twitter, so will be able to keep an eye on your continued success!
Thank you.
beckyhjohnson79@yahoo.com.au
thanks Bex! Your support and concern mean a lot. And thanks for entering the giveaway! Good luck ;)
DeleteCongratulations on relaunch - book cover is awesome! Thanks for having this giveaway! joellaelbert@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteGFC: Joella
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/JoellaElbert/status/176673221838508032
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!! and the relaunch looks so cool!!! I love the new book cover!!! I love your Dirty Blood Series so I just know this book will be extra cool!!
ReplyDeleteGFC: red_tigergirl2
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/red_tigergirl2/status/176701409595621376
Congratulations! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete