Tag Archives: pankuch

A Happy Birthday Giveaway to Celebrate Dragon’s Truth!

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Enter to win a copy of my award-winning debut YA Fantasy! Full Details at the end of this post.

It’s a strange, strange world for all of us right now.

I’m not on the front lines in a hospital, grocery store, emergency service, or government crisis center, etc. But I so appreciate and care about all of those who are doing their best to help us through this time and provide accurate information and much-needed resources, and those who are often risking their lives to aid and protect our neighbors and loved ones. God bless.

Like many of you, I’m doing my part by staying home and flattening the curve. I’m writing to you from the mid-Hudson Valley of New York State. I’m safe and well. I have my hubby and best friend here with me. I have a full pantry. I have a dog. I have my computer, pen and paper, and I have about three thousand books.

Still, I feel a bit isolated and I miss–and am worried about–my family and friends — we’re strung across the U.S. and Canada from coast to coast and live across oceans in other countries that are also facing this hardship. But we’re staying in touch through video and phone calls, social media, and shouts from driveway to driveway.

I know many of you are doing okay, but struggling, too. And some of you are facing daily dangers and anxiety. Please take care of yourselves. Try to stay connected in whatever way you can. We’re going to make it through this.

March 30 is the one-year anniversary of the publication of Dragon’s Truth. I’d hoped to celebrate with some special in-person events and an appearance at a local bookfair, but those plans are no longer viable.

Instead, I’d like to send some book love out to the universe.

I’ll be giving away 5 signed copies of Dragon’s Truth (purchased through my favorite indie bookstore, Oblong Books, in preparation for a now-canceled event). To enter, simply click the entry link at the bottom or top of this post, provide your full name and email address (I will only use your address to contact you about this contest and will not share your information with any other entity or person). If you choose to follow me on Twitter, or already do, you’ll be given a second entry.

Since there may be a delay in shipping/receiving physical copies of Dragon’s Truth, I’ll also be sending winners an e-copy for Nook or Kindle (I’ll purchase and send the copies myself – please wait to see if you are a winner before providing a Nook or Kindle address )

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my writing journey!

Click to enter the Dragon’s Truth Birthday Giveaway – a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENDS at 12am EST, APRIL 3, 2020.

More Awards!

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As you may have heard, Dragon’s Truth recently received a Bronze Medal in the YA ebook category of the 2019 Moonbeam Awards.

I’m pleased and proud to announce that Dragon’s Truth has also received first place in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category of the 2019 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. Congrats to all the winners – especially my Vinspire Publishing colleagues, Susan Miura and Leslea Wahl! (See Vinspire post below).

link to vinspire publishing blog

Happy Half-Birthday, Dragon’s Truth!

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It’s hard for me to believe that September 30 will mark the six-month anniversary of the publication of Dragon’s Truth! The weeks have flown by and I have truly enjoyed sharing Rhyan Kember’s story and connecting with readers at libraries, bookstores, and festivals, and I’m looking forward to upcoming school events and classroom visits.

To celebrate this six-month milestone, I’ll be running another #followblitz promotion throughout the month of September.  New blog followers on leannepankuch.com, and new followers on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook will receive TWO entries to win an autographed copy of Dragon’s Truth and a map of Rhyan’s world. Already following me in all of these places?—You’ll receive one entry.

Check out the right-hand column on this page for easy blog sign-up and links to my social media accounts.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me on this fantastic journey!

A Writer’s Adventures in Publishedland

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Leanne at the Kids Read Book Festival in Poughkeepsie, NY

It’s a little over a month since Dragon’s Truth released. I want to sincerely thank my family, my friends, my readers, and my publisher for helping to successfully launch my first book into the world.

The initial two weeks were an absolute whirlwind–I spent a ridiculous amount of time on social media promoting the book, updating information, and responding to congratulations (rough, right?). We celebrated the launch on March 30 (my birthday!) in a couple of local venues, traveled to Los Angeles, and returned to the Hudson Valley just in time for the first ever Poughkeepsie Library District’s Kids Read Book Festival where I presented on the use of maps in the fantasy writing process, met dozens of dragon lovers, and gratefully sent signed copies of Dragon’s Truth home with readers.

As each subsequent week began, I thought the activity would become more manageable–but it really didn’t. And, as excited and grateful as I am to be fulfilling my dream of being a published author, I continue to hate to be away from writing. Storytelling is in my DNA. I have to create…

To survive, you must tell stories. – Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before

So, I need to do a better job of balancing my time between the business of being a published author and my need to live out my vocation as a writer (you have to actually write to be a writer…!) I’m devoting the next few weeks to getting myself back on track. Send mojo and perseverance my way, if you can. #amwriting

End Note: I’ve got two great local Dragon’s Truth events coming up! Check out my Events page for all the details. I’m also scheduling events for the 2019-2020 school year, so please reach out through the Contact Leanne tab if you are interested in scheduling an event for your group or class.

The Dragons are coming…are you Ready?

13 Wednesday Mar 2019

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No, this isn’t a promo for the much-anticipated premiere of the final season of Game of Thrones. Although–like many of you–I am counting down the days until April 14!

In only 17 days, my debut young adult fantasy novel, Dragon’s Truth, will enter the real world and Rhyan Kember’s story will finally be available to readers all over the planet. Adventure, love, friendship, dragons, magic–I’m so excited to share!

Thanks to all of you who have pre-ordered Dragon’s Truth. The value of pre-orders and their effect on a book’s success in today’s industry can’t be overstated. Publishers and booksellers make future decisions about a book based on pre-orders and pre-publication interest.They spend more money promoting books that launch with solid pre-sales. Better pre-order numbers can mean expanded access and distribution–the difference between success and obscurity.

Like all authors, I am very appreciative of pre-orders. So, I’m inviting anyone who orders (or has already ordered) Dragon’s Truth before the official launch date of March 30, 2019, to share a picture of their favorite dragon or dragon book on social media with the hashtag #dragonstruth and be entered to win a map of Rhyan’s world. Entries will be accepted through midnight on March 29.

Haven’t yet ordered? Love to read stories with dragons and adventure and want to be one of the first to enter Rhyan’s world? Here’s the info:

Click here to pre-order a signed copy through Oblong Books and Music. Pick up in store or ship directly to you!
Have your own fave local indie store? Pre-order with them today!
Also available through:
Indiebound
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


Frost: a tale of Love and Death

14 Thursday Feb 2019

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Artist: Arthur Rackham

As those close to me know. I am a collector of tales. Not just physical books—although I do have an ever-growing personal library—but the stories themselves. As a child I was a voracious devourer of text. I read constantly! Forbidden to bring books to the table during meals, I sneakily read cereal boxes and mayonnaise jars. On too-cold or rainy Saturdays, I’d curl up in a quiet place with the dictionary, the Lives of the Saints, Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedia, Bulfinch’s Mythology, or a torn old volume titled A Fairy Book, illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

One of the first stories I remember re-reading was the fairy tale of Frost in The Fairy Book. Rackham’s art was frightening and beautiful—and so was the story! Sure, Marfa, the good daughter, is sent home with furs and riches, but the other sisters are left to cruelly perish in the snow after being rude to Father Frost. I shivered, but I loved the juxtaposition of darkness and light. This was the beginning of my realization that, for a story to be truly great, it can’t be all rainbows and butterflies, but must also be shadows and monsters.

I’ve struggled to capture this idea in every piece of my own writing—the constant dance between darkness and light. And I’ll keep struggling, because that is where the truth lies in story.

My fascination with the Frost tale has continued. My original copy of The Fairy Book was lost in a house fire when I was a teenager, but I found an old copy at a yard sale a few years ago. And I’ve collected other versions—including the “original” published by Alexander Afanasyev, the Russian counterpart of the Brothers Grimm—I’ve also acquired illustrations, and even a 1964 Russian movie, Morozko, based on the story. Most recently, I finished reading The Winter Witch, the final installment of the amazing Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy. I highly recommend the series and am avoiding spoilers for those who’ve added it to their reading list—suffice it to say that Frost—Morozko—is a key player in the tale.

What is your favorite fairy tale? Did it make your heart pound? Give you nightmares? Make you laugh? Make you dream of adventure? Inspire you to write your own?