Note from Misty: Because this is an image-heavy post, I have it behind a page break. Click through to check out Julie's Reece's steampunk fashion picks for her The Artisans characters, and to enter to win a prize pack of books!
In The Artisans, Raven Weathersby makes clothes for what boils down to a few basic reasons. And though I don’t think she fully understands all the ‘whys’ herself, she knows designing is her passion. The need to sew is like breathing for her. In fact, if Raven had a work motto, it might be—create or die!
Raven comes from a long tradition of tailors and seamstresses. She has natural skill and aptitude for sewing inherited from her parents and grandparents, and she’s good at what she does. Word is spreading about her incredible ability. Some even call her works genius. Other reasons for pursuing her art go a little deeper as Raven’s home life is unstable to say the least. She sells her inventive gothic-steampunk clothing to support herself and her depressed and chemically dependent step-father. Sewing relieves the stress and heartache plaguing her daily life. In addition, and out of gratitude for their loyalty, she also sews clothing as gifts for her two best friends who could never afford the high-end fashions otherwise. Lastly, due to traumatic loss and severe poverty, Raven subconsciously looks for a way to add value to her life. To leave a legacy of art her mother would be proud of. She yearns to be the next avant-garde, cutting edge designer, looking for fantastical inspiration to take her creations to the next level.
And when she meets the infamous Gideon Maddox, she gets more than she ever bargained for.
Here’s a rough idea of what Raven’s gothic-steampunk watches that she’s been developing might look like.
And she’s no doubt wearing her favorite boots while creating!
This suggests something she might sew for her good friend Dane.
And something she’d be forced to create for her taskmaster Gideon.
A dress Raven might sew to wear to a party. And things might go badly, just sayin’.
This might be something she’d design for her dear friend Maggie.
Raven wearing a potential dress for the October Fallout dance at school.
A design idea Gideon might wear.
Or maybe this?
And well, around midnight at a high school dance, you just never know, do you?
Thanks for having me here today! I had so much fun : )
~ Julie
****GIVEAWAY****
This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends April 22nd at midnight, EST.
To enter, make sure you are registered on the FTF giveaway registry, and then fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
NOTE: Because of this there are entried available in the Rafflecopter that you're not able to earn yet -- but you will be! We have interviews coming up with both Juie and Vicki, which will give you more chances to win, so before you go digging around for interviews to comment on: they're not up yet! Don't worry, we'll have the giveaway posted in the interviews, too, so you can get your extra entries! ;)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ABOUT THE BOOK
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344 pages
Expected publication: May 19th 2015 by Month 9 Books
They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.
To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.
Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad's drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.
But Raven's stepdad's drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she's ever known out of jail, or worse.
Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries' clothing line, signing over her creative rights.
Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can't imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.
But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?
ABOUT JULIE REECE
Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.
I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.
Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.
Then I thought I’d write one down…
Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!
To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.
Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad's drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.
But Raven's stepdad's drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she's ever known out of jail, or worse.
Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries' clothing line, signing over her creative rights.
Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can't imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.
But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?
ABOUT JULIE REECE
I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.
Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.
Then I thought I’d write one down…
Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!
Image Sources:
Picture 1: Found on etsy.com
Picture 2: lacewithinthenight.tumblr.com
Picture 3: dungeonofdarkdapperanddebonair
Picture 4: Found on Pinterst
Picture 5: Found on wattpad.com
Picture 6: my-ear-trumpet.tumblr.com
Picture 7: Found on estyleme.net
Picture 8: morbidfashion.tumblr.com
Picture 9: Found on infectiousthreads.com
Picture 10: Found on wattpad.com
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no rafflecopter option, yesterday or today on mine.ahhhhhhhh
ReplyDeleteDo you mean Rafflecopter's not showing up for you? If so, that's really strange! Both giveaways show up for me and have entries, so they must be visible to other people, too. I wonder if you have some setting that blocks it?
DeleteHere's the direct link for today's; let me know if it still doesn't work for you: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a75cb03c102/
I love the watch and the boots! They are all gorgeous outfits!
ReplyDelete<3 Thanks, Dena! I just wanted to pop in again to thank the fabulous Misty for having me here XOXOX Good luck with the giveaway, everyone. I hope you enjoy the books. :)
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love those pictures. I especially adore Dane and Maggie's clothes - but they're all gorgeous. And now I want a watch like that. Anything with steampunk is an automatic win for me. (And upon looking this book up at Goodreads, I found out it retells my favorite fairy tale. Yay!)
ReplyDeleteA retelling of Rumplestiltskin? Yes, please! Amazingly, I knew a gal in college who was a lot like Raven sounds, with the poverty and the sewing and designing and all. Very, very cool- I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDelete(and that feather cravat is gooooorgeous)
DeleteRaven's dress is my favorite........
ReplyDeleteMy favorite outfit is the black and white trousers, ruffle shirt, and vest that Raven's friend Maggie would wear. I love that look, eish I could pull it off!!
ReplyDeleteI have both of these books on my TBR for forever... I pretty much want EVERYTHING that Month9 Books puts out!! I love their authors and the awesome range of genres they publish. I've been waiting for what seems like forever for The Artisans to drop!!! Can't wait :-) And the cover for Crown of Ice remains one of my favorite covers EVER!
These are very dark custome choices, so I can only imagine what these books have in store.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I adore the dress for the October Fallout dance! It's so flowy and ethereal... Beautiful.
ReplyDelete