After Orlando Shootings, The Labyrinth Wall Author Emilyann Girdner, Cancelled June 12th Book Signing at Altamonte Springs Mall

After the Tragic Shootings in Orlando, Author Emilyann Girdner Cancelled Book Signing Event and Turns Attention to Writing a Letter in Response to the Sad News and Spreading a Positive Message

Emilyann Girdner, author of young adult fantasy book, The Labyrinth Wall, cancelled her signing at Barnes & Noble in Altamonte Springs on June 12th, 2016. This cancellation was in response to the shootings that occurred over the weekend in Orlando, Florida. Though the event was cancelled, the store did stay open until closing hours. Girdner encouraged anyone planning to purchase books at the event, to instead redirect those dollars to donations for the loved ones of victims from weekend tragedies. The author did indicate that the event will be rescheduled for another time to be determined at a later date.

Beyond cancelling the signing, the author also issued a personal response (in the letter and in a video) regarding the tragic events happening in Orlando. She had this to say about her public response, "This video was recorded earlier this morning when we knew less about the shooting, all I knew at the time was that twenty people were shot last night in Orlando. Below is my short video response, but being a writer, I wrote a letter about this with more information about the event being postponed and the message of love. It has been difficult deciding to share the statement and even more so the video. But if anyone out there feels one bit more loved from it, it is worth it."

Girdner’s full letter response can be found on her website and is making circles on social media. In her letter, Girdner apologized to readers for cancelling the event. She also made this strong statement, “It is scary to do or say anything right now. But the message I want to spread is so much stronger, so I have to rise above my fear and shout love in the face of this! I don't have any idea what exactly our law enforcement or military should do about all of this, but I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to go on loving all people every day!”

The young adult fantasy author also stated, “Don't let violence and terrorism break us apart, let them make us stronger!” Girdner’s voice is just one among so many mourning and offering support during this hard time. Her complete letter is available at www.emilyanngirdner.com.

Further Information:

Luminous Words Press:

Public Relations Department

pr(at)thelabyrinthwall(dot)com

Orlando, FL



This is a release by Luminous Words Press. This news reflects the response of the author and does not represent any comments on behalf of Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble’s comments at this time can be found on the Barnes & Noble Altamonte Springs Facebook page. Luminous Words Press does not claim official endorsement by any named businesses in this release.

The Haunted Realm Book Launch!

The Haunted Realm Book Summary:

Book 2 in the Obsidian Series
A Young Adult Dystopian Epic Fantasy Book
By Emilyann Girdner 

The Haunted Realm is the thrilling sequel to Young Adult Fantasy novel The Labyrinth Wall (Tweeted by Sean Astin from Lord of the Rings, Dante Rossetti Award Finalist, 5 Star Reader's Favorite Rated and Amazon Best-Seller).

In this riveting continuation of the story, Araina again faces a series of seemingly impossible magical obstacles. As Araina and her friends search for answers about their Creators and their magical labyrinth world, their journey becomes rife with peril when Araina falls victim to illness. Despite heart-pricking losses in the labyrinth swamps, vengeful ghostly attackers in the Blinking Willows, and many other dangerous obstacles, Araina is determined to succeed. If Araina can’t solve the mysteries of the haunted realm and find a cure for her sickness, she and her friends may never escape the labyrinth, or even live to try.

Click Here to See Sean's Tweet

The Haunted Realm Excerpt:

“You’re robbers and murderers. You steal from the Creators and the rest of us, taking from those who have little.”

Another hand lands on me, dragging me along despite my attempts to refuse. Pressure shoots through my legs as my heels dig into the ground; but my delays are useless.

“Those who have little? You’re seriously confused, aren’t you? The Creators have plenty. And I may have stolen once or twice in my life. Well, more times than that, but only for survival reasons.”

Now it feels like we’re walking across the boards of a dock. My ears are met with the sounds of soft splashes displacing the water, and crickets conversing. Where are we headed?

“Let me go!” I kick at Zem. I hit some part of her, but her grip doesn’t falter.

“We’re almost there,” she says as she and another person pull me along.

“I never did anything to you.”

There are more voices around us now. A gasp sounds nearby.

“You found that girl,” someone says.

“Did she try to rob you?” another woman asks.

“Quiet now, ladies,” an authoritative feminine voice chimes. “Zem, this is an unexpected treat. You’ll be rewarded well for bringing this snake to me.”

“It’s my duty to help maintain justice by turning in liars and killers, Narrah. Just doing my part,” Zem tells the woman.

Fingernails scrape my cheek before the cloth meant to conceal my eyes is yanked below my chin, leaving me face-to-face with a Creator, and once again the bane of my existence has the upper hand.

Obsidian Series Purchase Links:

The Labyrinth Wall (Book 1): 

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback

Barnes & Noble Paperback

The Haunted Realm (Book 2): 

Amazon Kindle, 

Amazon Paperback

Barnes and Noble Paperback

Stay Connected to the Series via Websites and Social Media:

Use this Facebook link to sign up for the newsletter

www.obsidianseries.com

www.emilyanngirdner.com 

Emilyann on Goodreads

Emilyann on Facebook

Emilyann on Twitter
Emilyann on Pinterest

A The Haunted Realm Book Launch Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway:

And guess what else? It would be awesome if you're up for spreading the word about the launch on Social Media. In fact, anyone who likes and shares The Haunted Realm launch photo (not the post) on Facebook to help spread the word will be entered in a contest to win a $10 Starbucks giftcard... mmm yummy! =-) Click here to share the photo and enter.

The Haunted Realm Release Date News! And Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) Tweets About The Labyrinth Wall

Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings and Goonies) Tweeted Emilyann Girdner’s The Labyrinth Wall Just in Time for Luminous Word Press' Launch of the Sequel, The Haunted Realm, in November 2015

Orlando, Fl. October 09, 2015

Click Here to See Sean's The Labyrinth Wall Tweet

In addition to anticipation for The Haunted Realm book release which is officially scheduled for November 10th, Obsidian Series fans went wild on social media this weekend when Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, Goonies, Rudy, and 50 First Dates) tweeted thanking Orlando, Florida Author, Emilyann Girdner, for autographing his copy of The Labyrinth Wall (young adult fantasy novel). The Labyrinth Wall is an Amazon Best-Seller, Dante Rossetti 2014 Award Finalist (an international competition) as well as a 5 Star Reader’s Favorite rated book.

The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner is a young adult book set in a magical epic fantasy world like The Hobbit but with a dark dystopian feel and it is written to be a quick read reminiscent of The Hunger Games. Emilyann has said before that she wanted to write an imaginative fantasy series that is a fast read for modern busy lifestyles. She imagined a story about a teenage girl (Araina) that is part of an entire race of people created to serve their makers within the labyrinth world. Subject to the repression of a hostile civilization within the dark labyrinth, all Araina knows is servitude until she witnesses a man unlike any she has ever seen with supernatural powers emerge magically through a wall into her world. Having realized for the first time that there must be more than the labyrinth, she is left to solve the mysteries of who the stranger is, why he has special abilities and what is on the other side of the labyrinth wall through which he came.

Emilyann Girdner and Sean Astin

In The Haunted Realm, the riveting continuation to the story, Araina again faces a series of seemingly impossible magical obstacles as she and her friends search for answers about their Creators and their magical labyrinth world. At the Barnes & Noble The Haunted Realm book launch event, fans will be able to meet the Author, grab a signed book, make memories in an Obsidian Series photo booth and more. Fans of the series can sign up at the links included at the end of this article to reserve their book for the book launch as well as sign up for the Author’s newsletter for online pre-order updates.

The Haunted Realm Book Launch Event: 

Barnes & Noble 

Altamonte Mall 

December 12th, 2015, 4:00pm 

451 E Altamonte Dr. 

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 

(407) 261-0252

Click Here to Reserve Books for the Event 

Click Here to Sign Up for the Author’s Newsletter

 

This Exciting Obsidian Series News Has Been Featured
on the Following Media Outlets:

* Agents, publishers, producers and members of the press are encouraged to contact PR(at)thelabyrinthwall(dot)com for Author and book series inquiries *

* Luminous Words Press (LWP) does not claim any official endorsements by any named people or businesses *

The Haunted Realm Summary Reveal at Creative Con 2015

The Haunted Realm Summary Reveal and Emilyann Girdner at Creative Con 2015

Alongside legendary Star Wars and Magic the Gathering Artist, Dave Dorman, as well as Bruce Ballister (Author of Dreamland Diaries) and many more talented guests, The Labyrinth Wall Author, Emilyann Girdner, enjoyed the company of many fantasy fiction lovers at Creative Con in Panama City on August 1st, 2015. This event also marked the official summary reveal of The Haunted Realm (book 2 of the Obsidian Series).

The Haunted Realm Summary Reveal

As Araina and her friends search for answers about their Creators and their magical labyrinth world, their journey becomes rife with peril when Araina falls victim to illness. Despite heart-pricking losses in the labyrinth swamps, vengeful ghostly attackers in the Blinking Willows, and many other dangerous obstacles, Araina is determined to succeed. If Araina can’t solve the mysteries of the haunted realm and find a cure for her sickness, she and her friends may never escape the labyrinth, or even live to try.

The Haunted Realm is tentatively scheduled for publication in October of 2015. 

©Luminous Words Press

The Haunted Realm, Sequel to Best-Selling Book The Labyrinth Wall, Summary Reveal at Creative Con 2015

Fans of Best-Selling, Award Finalist Fantasy Book, The Labyrinth Wall,  are Sure to Enjoy The Haunted Realm Book Summary Reveal at Creative Con 2015 in Panama City

Luminous Words Press today announced that Young Adult Fantasy Fiction Author, Emilyann Girdner, will reveal The Haunted Realm book summary at Creative Con on August 1st 2015 from 10:00AM to 6:00PM in Panama City. Girdner and fellow Tallahassee Author Bruce Ballister (creator of Dreamland Diaries) can be found in the Creators’ Quarters Room at the event. The Haunted Realm is the sequel to Amazon Best-Selling book The Labyrinth Wallof the Obsidian Series. The Obsidian Series fans will be able to sign up for a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card giveaway contest, purchase signed copies of The Labyrinth Wall, enjoy the first sneak peek of The Haunted Realm book summary and meet Girdner in person. An official publication date for The Haunted Realm has not yet been released, however, the book is scheduled to launch before the end of 2015, tentatively in October.

The Labyrinth Wall, which was written during Girdner’s semi-truck traveling adventure around the country with her husband and cat, has come a long way. In addition to landing the Amazon Best-Seller list, the book is Reader’s Favorite 5 Star-rated, a Dante Rossetti Award 2014 for Young Adult Novels Finalist, and receives high praise from Young Adult Fantasy readers, Literary Consultants, Editorial Reviewers and genre Authors alike. Young Adult Author, Crystal Collier, wrote “Wow. This book was engaging. It’s been a while since I felt COMPELLED to keep reading, but Emilyann definitely pulled that one off magnificently.” Combining a dose of mystery and a refreshing marriage of adventurous magical tales like The Hobbit with a dark dystopian society reminiscent of Panem in The Hunger Games, the Obsidian Series is becoming America’s new ground-breaking Young Adult Fantasy obsession.

Anyone looking for a mysterious and magical read will not be disappointed by the Obsidian Series. Luminous Words Press invites fans to sign up for the Obsidian Series newsletter to receive notifications about The Haunted Realm’s release date as well as a chance to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. The email submission form can be found at the bottom of the Obsidian Series website (www.obsidianseries.com). 

Click Here for Creative Con Tickets

Summary of The Labyrinth Wall Young Adult Fantasy Book:

Araina’s isolated teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man emerge through a rippling wall into the dark labyrinth she calls home. As a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s Creators have unleashed a series of magical attacks using the labyrinth against its inhabitants. Now Araina must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to reach safety on the other side of the labyrinth wall.

Contact and Resources:

Public Relations Department

Luminous Words Press

PR@thelabyrinthwall.com

Author’s Media Kit
www.obsidianseries.com

News Updates: The Labyrinth Wall Lands Best Books of 2014 List

Crystal Collier
Young Adult Author

The Labyrinth Wall made Crystal Collier's Best Books of 2014 List!

In the year since The Labyrinth Wall was published, The Labyrinth Wall has become an Amazon Best-Seller, reached 2nd of the Goodreads First Person Sci-Fi Fantasy List, been given a 5 Star Rating by Reader's Favorite and more. And Luminous Words Press is excited to announce that Moonless Author, Crystal Collier, recently listed The Labyrinth Wall as one of her favorite books of 2014. In the sea of popular epic Young Adult Fantasy books released in 2014, Luminous Words Press is honored to have seen The Labyrinth Wall mentioned on the list.

See Crystal Collier's Best Books of 2014 post for the full list...




Photo Source

News Update: Featured Literary Resource Consultant Review of The Labyrinth Wall

Literary Resource Consultant Review of The Labyrinth Wall

Exploding with rich complex text, suspense, excitement, and lessons in companionship. Common Core enthusiasts will love this one! Vocabulary list and discussion guide online to supplement if used in a classroom setting. But also a great read for enjoyment....hard to put down even at a new chapter!

Beth Allen
Literacy Resource Consultant


(See this review and more on Amazon, or leave your own Amazon review for Best-Selling Young Adult Fantasy novel The Labyrinth Wall and get a chance to see it featured here)

  

News Update: Barnes & Noble Book Signing (Press Release)

Luminous Words Press Expects Big Turnout:
Hometown Book Signing for Best-Selling Author, Emilyann Girdner

Orlando, FL (May 20, 2014)—Luminous Words Press has announced the first Barnes & Noble book signing for Author of The Labyrinth Wall, Emilyann Girdner. Her appearance at the Semi-Annual Big Bend Area Book Signing for Local Authors from 2:00pm to 6:00pm on May 31st, 2014 has Tallahassee’s Young Adult Fantasy Fiction fans abuzz. This will also be Mrs. Girdner’s first book signing since her debut novel hit the Amazon Best-Seller list. Tallahassee, her hometown, is expected to have a big turnout for support as the community celebrates the local author’s success.

The Labyrinth Wall, which was written during Emilyann’s semi-truck traveling adventure with her husband and cat, has come a long way. In addition to landing the Amazon Best-Seller list, the book has been #2 on the Goodreads First Person Fantasy Sci-Fi list, and received high praise from Young Adult Fantasy readers. Fans of The Obsidian Series are looking forward to the second installment (release date yet to be announced). “If you enjoy books like The Hobbit (with a slightly lighter feel), you will definitely enjoy The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner. I can’t wait to read the next book” raves one fan. In addition to The Hobbit, the book and writing style have also been compared to The Hunger Games and even Harry Potter. Fellow Young Adult Author, Crystal Collier, wrote “Wow. This book was engaging. It's been a while since I felt COMPELLED to keep reading, but Emilyann definitely pulled that one off magnificently” (Amazon Reviews). First published in January 2014, The Labyrinth Wall was an instant bestseller, appealing to both teen readers and adults.

Having also recently celebrated the major-league baseball debut of Cole Figueroa, Emilyann’s former Florida High classmate, Tallahassee is full of big news and pride in 2014. Emilyann has said of her upcoming Tallahassee visit “I’m so honored by the support I’ve received from the Tallahassee community and can’t wait to be home.”

About Emilyann Girdner:

She was born in Germany and raised in Turkey until the age of five. Emilyann Girdner then spent the majority of her grade school years attending Florida High School in Tallahassee, Florida. Her writing has appeared on websites and blogs including Center for Work Life, Easter Seals Florida, MU Museum of Art & Archaeology's Musings and Examiner.com. She is the recipient of several awards and is best known for her Amazon Best-Selling novel, The Labyrinth Wall. 



Contact and Resources: 
Public Relations Department 
Luminous Words Press 
Orlando, Fl. 
PR@thelabyrinthwall.com
Author’s Media Kit
www.thelabyrinthwall.com

-------- End Release --------

Join the event on Facebook

From Barnes & Noble:

"Join us for our Semi-Annual Local Author Book Signing. Talented authors from the Big Bend area will be discussing and signing copies of their books. Come meet these outstanding local writers from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. For more info: crm2849@bn.com"

Author guests to include Emilyann Girdner (The Labyrinth Wall), Leslee Horner (Summer of Stars) and more...

Grab your copy of The Labyrinth Wall:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Share it with your friends with the social media buttons below

News Update: Best Selling Fantasy Novel Gains Traction

Press Release

01/06/2014 -- Fantasy novel, The Labyrinth Wall, became a #2 Amazon Best Seller in its category on January, 3rd 2014. Four star ratings speak well of this new release on their own, but Desert Rose Reviews pours out insight into the work’s magnetic energy in this statement “A unique twist in this book, the characters the story follows were created inside the labyrinth, and have never escaped.

Full of exciting situations, humor, and a good look at the human psyche of a labyrinth prisoner, this book pulls you in, and doesn't let you go until the very end. This story mesmerizes you with fights against guards, cannibals, saber tooth mutts, and some slightly insane creatures. Well written and smooth, Emilyann Girdner has created a wonderful reality with this labyrinth experience. I look forward to reading more books from her in the future, and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fight-for-survival adventure.”

About Emilyann Girdner
Emilyann Girdner graduated in 2011 from Missouri State University with a BFA in Digital Art and a Minor in Art History. She quickly launched a career in the writing field. Her writing and publications have appeared on Examiner.com and MU Museum of Art & Archeology’s Musings. She’s contributed to blogs at businesses including Center for Work Life and Easter Seals Florida. Her personal blog called Anything Imagined has earned her two Liebster Blog Awards and a Sunshine Blog Award from the blogging community. Most recently, The Labyrinth Wall has garnered her success as an Amazon Best Selling Author. She now lives and works in Florida.


Source: Piece of Cake PR
Posted Monday, January 06, 2014 at 4:28 PM CST - Permalink
Published: SBWire


*Best Seller Update: The Labyrinth Wall hit #26 on the Top 100 Amazon Best Seller Free Ebook List on 1/5/13.

Additional Updates to come from Luminous Words Press

News Update: Pre-Release Book Event

Pre-Release Book Event scheduled for The Labyrinth Wall in Author's home town: Tallahassee. 7:00pm on December 29th at Black Dog Cafe. Get your copy of the book before it's even available through retailers (while supplies last). *Author Chat *Book Signing * Fun Labyrinth Photo Booth.
#TheLabyrinthWall#Tallahassee #Event #YounAdultBook

News Update: Resources For Educators

The Labyrinth Wall resources page is now live!

A discussion guide, vocabulary outline, glossary, cultural references list and more are available for free.

The Labyrinth Wall Summary

Waking up in a musky room packed with other people is Araina’s first memory in life. The Creators built her to appear like a young woman, equipping her mind with basic knowledge of their deadly labyrinth, but Araina has yet to understand the purpose of her existence. Though her people, the Mahk, are known to kill one another for food she has managed to avoid such measures. Araina makes do under brutal circumstances until

News Update: Explore the map...

The labyrinth is full of nasty characters and deadly nooks. But now you can do more than read about it, you can explore interactively too. Check out the new interactive map.




*Map feature not optimized for mobile devices - access through webpage only* 

News Update: Pinterest Love

The Labyrinth Wall Pinterest board is up and running....

 

News Update: Novel Puzzle Inside Scoop

Check out the Author's novel puzzle piece series for a glimpse into the origins of The Labyrinth Wall. There are exclusive bits of information about the book you won't find anywhere else. Enjoy!