Tuesday, December 31, 2013

THE SHADOW PRINCE Teaser Tuesday #3 (and giveaway)

Happy New Year's Eve!

I'll admit it, 2012 was kind of a craptastic year for me and my only hope for 2013 was that it would be marginally better. But like the wise Rachel Hawkins recently said of herself, I decided to chalk 2012 up as a "learning year" and made some changes--both big and small. And you know what? 2013 has turned out to be pretty darn great! A time filled with good physical and mental health, true friends, amazing family moments, and even a few end of year surprises that were the chocolate shavings on top of an already pretty sweet year.  So if for you 2013 has been the equivelant of crap on the bottom of your shoe, I'm a walking testament as to how quickly your fortune can turn around if you keep moving forward.

I'm hoping that with the release of  THE SHADOW PRINCE that my 2014 will be an even better year!

Speaking of end of year surprises . . .

In case you've missed my obsessive Instagraming the last few of days, you should meet the newest member of the Despain clan (and present from hubs):

Mei Mei the Christmas Kitten!

You have no idea the amount of joyful squeals that have been going on over here while playing with this little cutie.

Okay, I'll stop teasing you all with Mei Mei's cuteness and move on to the real business . . . .

THE SHADOW PRINCE: Teaser Tuesday #3:

Today's teaser is extra special because it involves a song. Not just any song, but the song that was the very first inspiration for this book: "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie.

If you're not familiar with the song, you should have a listen by clicking here.

I was kind of obsessed with this song back in 2006--as in played it on a loop incessantly--and the lyrics really got me thinking and about who would do such a thing. Follow someone into to the dark--or the unknown, as I like to think of it. Which then reminded me of the myth of Persephone and Hades, which then got me thinking about the relevance of their story in our modern time, which got a couple of characters talking in my head, and a story started forming . . . and several years later it is now a book!

And of course a discussion of the song and these themes of it all made it's way into one of my very favorite scenes in the novel. A tidbit of which is today's teaser:

 

(Many thanks to anyone who wants to snag the teaser image and share it on Pinterest, Instagram, your blog, facebook, wherever! Every share helps spread the word about the book and fills me with immense gratitude.)

Now for the giveaway!

To help spread the word my fellow Utah author Natalie Whipple's new book BLINDSIDED, I am giving away a signed copy of TRANSPARENT (book one) to a lucky winner. This book is about an invisible girl who is on the run from her mob boss father who wants to turn her into an assassin--and it so much fun! Definitely one of my favorite reads of the summer. I can't wait to get a copy of the sequel, BLINDSIDED, this week!

Use the rafflecopter below to enter to win TRANSPARENT:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Winner of Teaser Tuesday #2

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate, and a happy quiet day to all those who don't. Since it's Christmas Eve and most a super busy with their family or friends, I'm not going to post a new teaser today. But don't worry, I'll return us to our regular schedule next Tuesday--maybe with an extra juicy teaser for you all.

Just popping in to wish everyone a happy holiday, and to post the winner of last week's giveaway.

Congratulations to: Madeline Hale!

(Winner, if you didn't get my email, please click the contact button in the menu above and sned me your shipping info in order to claim your prize.)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

THE SHADOW PRINCE Teaser Tuesday #2

I know it's late in the day, but it's STILL Tuesday, so that means it's time for another teaser from THE SHADOW PRINCE.

But first, I must announce the winner of Teaser Tuesday #1. Drum roll please . . . .

And the winner is: Michelle Chaffee!****

Now for Teaser Tuesday #2:

I've often said that THE SHADOW PRINCE is a crazy-fun mish-mash of all the things I love, rolled together with some Bree Despain-style romance.  This is especially true when it comes to Haden Lord--the disgraced prince of the Underrealm and one of the book's main characters. So today I thought I would share with you my inspiration board for Haden--featuring a few of my favorite fictional hotties.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY HADEN LORD INSPIRATION BOARD ON PINTEREST.

Then be sure to come back and enter this week's giveaway:



I was privileged enough to get a signed ARC or DEFY from my friend Sara B. Larson. I read it (and it's awesome, by the way) and now I have her permission to give my copy away to one of you!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below to win my signed ARC of DEFY and also a Shadow Prince silver Lyre necklace.***

(Why the lyre necklace?  Because the lyre is the ancient Greek symbol for music and storytelling. And music plays a very important role in THE SHADOW PRINCE, where it is forbidden for one character and essential to another.)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Contest is open internationally. Winner will be announced next Tuesday. Winner must claim their prize within 30 days or it will be forfeit.
****Winner, if you did not receive my email, hit the contact button above and send me your shipping address so I can send out your prize. 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

THE SHADOW PRINCE TEASER TUESDAY #1 (and giveaway!)

You guys, we are only 3 months of Tuesdays away from the release of THE SHADOW PRINCE on March 11th, 2014!!! To celebrate, starting today and then every Tuesday until launch, I am going to host THE SHADOW PRINCE TEASER TUESDAY in which I will be posting special teasers like snippets from the book, pictures or Pinterest boards of people or things that inspired the story/characters, and even a few fun videos.  And since no celebration is complete without prizes, we'll even have a bunch of those, too!

To kick off our very first Teaser Tuesday, I thought I would start with one of the most important parts of the book--the first line.  Would you believe that I wrote 24 different openings to THE SHADOW PRINCE before landing on just the right one? Good then, because it was actually 28!

But then the perfect line came to me--in the shower of all places--and everything started to click into place: character, setting, word-building, stakes. It was the line that prompted a dozen questions in my head, and finding the answers became a book.

So now I present to you, THE SHADOW PRINCE TEASER TUESDAY #1:



And as some of you might have noticed, there's a double teaser in that image. THE SHADOW PRINCE is going through a cover redesign, and while I can't show you the whole thing yet, I got permission to show you the little teaser snippet of the title treatment above. Isn't it stellar?

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!!:***

Enter to win a signed ARC of THE SHADOW PRINCE (which is now a limited edition with the old cover) and a beautiful lyre necklace (the importance of which you'll know after you read the book).  Also, I'm giving away signed copies of the Raven Boys books.  Check out the lovely prize pack:


Enter to win using the Rafflecopter below, and be sure to come back every Tuesday until March 11th to get more teasers and enter to win more prizes!

And feel free to grab the teaser image and share it on your blog, tumblr, pinterest, wherever!

*** Contest is open internationally. The winner will be announced next Tuesday. Prize must be claimed within 30 days or will be forfeit. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Saturday, November 23, 2013

INTRODUCING THE YA SERIES INSIDERS--And the Epic Giveaways of Epicness

You guys, so many awesome things are happening today that I might just spontaneously combust from an overload of squeeing.

1. It's the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who--which means my favorite Doctor, David Tennant, is returning! You have no idea how giddy this makes me. (BTW, did you know that one of the characters in my upcoming book, THE SHADOW PRINCE, was inspired by David Tennant?)

2. I get to see CATCHING FIRE today! I will make this happen. I WILL, SO HELP ME!!! The first half of this book was my favorite part of the whole HG series, and I keep hearing this movie is even better than the first. *cue squee meltdown in 10, 9, 8 . . .*

3. I get to introduce you all to my new project, the YA SERIES INSIDERS!!!!




I've joined forces with YA authors Jennifer L. Armentrout, Nina Berry, Anne Blankman, Martina Boone, Lanie Bross, Tracy Clark, Claudia Gray, S. E. Green, Kimberley Griffiths Little, and Sara Raasch, so we can bring you YASeriesInsiders.com.

YASI is all about series fiction, and it's put together by a group of young adult authors who believe that books, and especially book series, can change hearts and form relationships with readers that last a lifetime. With that in mind, YASeriesInsiders.com is a blog about the discovery, celebration, and shared experience of the worlds and characters of the great teen series. While each of the eleven authors involved have young adult series starting in 2014 from major publishers, this blog is about all teen series fiction—past, present, and future.

As series authors ourselves, we have a unique experience in that we can look at the books we love both as authors and readers. We also have the opportunity to reach out to the authors of these great books (or to run into them at book events), so we want to be able take advantage of that to make YA Series Insiders a place where readers and authors come together.

The Tumblr blog is launching today, with interviews and lots of secrets from great series authors including:
  • Melissa de la Cruz
  • Tahereh Mafi
  • Marie Lu
  • Lauren Oliver
  • Leigh Bardugo
  • Tamora Pierce
  • Ann Aguirre
  • Beth Revis
  • Cynthia Leitich Smith
  • Nancy Holder
  • Gennifer Albin
  • Jessica Brody
  • Susan Dennard
And many, many more! Plus we'll keep adding new secrets about authors, characters, and books, not to mention great series news, book trailers, cover reveals and, of course, more giveaways of the hottest series books.


THE EPIC GIVEAWAYS OF EPICNESS: 

To celebrate the YASI launch, we are having a HUGE giveaway, including more than $1,000 of signed box sets or hardcover sets of our favorite YA series, plus jewelry, DVDs, and fun, handpicked items from each of the eleven YASI authors, at http://YASeriesInsiders.com.

We are also hosting smaller giveaways, including MORE jewelry, unique gifts, and swag from each of the YASI authors on the following four blogs:
  • Adventures in YA Publishing - Gifts plus signed hardcovers of LEGEND, PRODIGY, CHAMPION by Marie Lu
  • Mundie Moms - Gifts plus signed hardcovers of INSURGENT, DIVERGENT, ALLEGIANT by Veronica Roth
  • YA Books Central - Gifts plus signed hardcovers of THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, THE CROWN OF EMBERS, THE BITTER KINGDOM by Rae Carson
  • Page Turners Blog - Gifts plus signed hardcovers of SHATTER ME and UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi and a signed hardcover of ICONS by Margaret Stohl
Also stop by the following places to win more great, signed books:
The giveaways all start today, November 23rd, and run through the end of the year. We'll announce all winners at YASeriesInsiders.com on January 1, 2014. There is only one winner per giveaway, eleven winners in all, so winners will be taking home boatloads of literary loot. :)

Now go visit, follow, and explore YASeriesInsiders.com! (Pretty please?)

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Winners of THE SHADOW PRINCE ARCs!!!

You guys, you guys--look what arrived on Friday!!!!



I can't believe ARCs of THE SHADOW PRINCE are already here! I mean, I just finished writing this book a few weeks ago, and now the printed advanced copies are already in my hands. (And they're even more gorgeous in person than in a picture!)

I had promised the very first ARC to my amazing Grandma B, but sadly she passed away last month--just days before I turned in the final draft of the book--so instead, I gave the very first ARC to my parents. But the next five copies are going out to the winners of last week's contest.

Here they are:

Karen Taylor Russell
Ariel
Betsy Lybbert
Jessica Russell
Brooke Newton

Winners, please email me at readbree{at}gmail{dot}com with your shipping address so I can get your ARC out to you A.S.A.P.!!!

Of course, giving out ARCs brings a whole truckload of FEELS that kind of has me freaking out. First comes giddiness from just getting to hold the physical book in my hands (I carried a copy around with me that whole first day) and the pure excitement of giving one of my stories to somebody to read...but then there's all the trepidation that comes with that.

Will they like it?
Will they love it?
Will they hate it?
Will they still like me if they don't like it?
Will they think I am a little nuts after getting a glimpse inside my imagination?
Crap, is my crazy showing too much?

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

So yeah, excuse me while I try to keep a straight face while giving out these ARCs . . . .


I really, really hope you love THE SHADOW PRINCE as much as I do!


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Into The Dark Book 1: Title and Cover Reveal (and ARC Giveaway)

You guys! You guys! You guys! If you can't tell, I am so freaking excited. Because I can finally share details with you about my new book! Really good details like the title, release date, a short synopsis, and the COVER!!!! I was going to fill this post with a bunch of Supernatural GIFs to show my extreme enthusiasm, but figured I should probably just get to the goods--as in, the cover--because we all know that's what you're here for.  Oh, and the ARC giveaway.  (I'll get to that in a minute.) So without any more ado, I present to you the STUNNING (if I do say so myself--which I am--heheh) cover of . . .

The Shadow Prince
(Book One of the Into The Dark series) . . .

Coming March 11, 2014 . . . .






Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails.  As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

A pulsating romance of epic proportions, Bree Despain’s The Shadow Prince will leave her fans breathless for the next book in the Into The Dark series.
[Please note: this is not the official finalized summary of the book.]

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about The Shadow Prince! And the cover literally made me scream with joy when I saw it. Many thanks to the crew at Egmont USA for designing something so incredibly amazing to encapsulate how I feel about this book. It's a story I've been mulling over for several years and it's kind of a combination of all of things I love from Greek mythology to Avatar: The last Airbender, Supernatural to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hot princes, and indie music. And I just have to say that Haden is by far my most favoritest (yes, that's a word) character I have ever written.

The Shadow Prince will be released on March 11, 2014 but it is already available for pre-order on Amazon HERE. And I am sure it will be up soon on B&N and IndieBound soon.

But a few of you won't have to wait that long!

ARC GIVEAWAY!!!
In honor of the cover reveal, my wonderful publisher is giving away five advanced reader copies (ARCs)* of the book.  Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below to be one of the first to read The Shadow Prince!**

*Please note, ARCs are not available yet, but will be sent out to winners as soon as they are.
**This giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry!

Announcements:
P.S. I will be speaking and signing tonight (July 9th) at the Provo Library with Kasie West, Elana Johnson, Natalie Whipple, and Jenn Johansson. Come join us to "Escape Reality" with a panel Q&A, signing, and prizes galore! 7:00 p.m.

P.P.S. Did you know that I am on tumblr and Pinterest now? (Yeah, I know, it's about time.) I am new to both and still learning the ropes, but you can follow me here http://breedespain.tumblr.com/ and here http://pinterest.com/breedespain/ if you want. :)

Now on to the giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, July 8, 2013

Something awesome this way comes...

Tomorrow that is. Yes, tomorrow I get to show you something super freaking awesome. (Hint: Said super freaking awesome thing wraps around a book. That I wrote. Just for you.)

I can't tell you how excited I am to show you the awesome, but I can show you . . . .

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

New Website, New Look

You might notice that things look a little different around here.  That's because we've completely rebuilt my website.  The old one had a few kinks and was proving to be difficult to add new pages and content to, so we decided that we needed to scrap it and start over from scratch.  Feel free to poke around!  Just click the navigation buttons up above.  You will even find a fan page where I've posted some of the fan-art and fan-fiction from last year's Talentmania contest (being able to do this was one of the reasons for overhauling the site) along with some of my favorite fan-made book trailers.

Have any Dark Divine fan-art or fan-videos that you would like me to see?  Just click the "contact" button above and send it to me--I may even feature it on my new website!

Happy button clicking!

Bree