The Blackthorn Bites are back and this time we’d like you to have your say!
We’re already super-excited about the release of Blood Roses (out in April!), and starting to think about what our ads will look like. To help with this, we’ve selected our favourite Bites that were put together to help promote my debut paranormal romance, Blood Shadows, including some exciting NEW ones – and we want to know which ones you like best.
A brand new Bite will appear each day for the next week on Twitter and Facebook but, for those of you who follow me here, you can see them all NOW over on a brand new Pinterest board I’ve created.
On the first board you see, named ‘Please VOTE! Vampire Romance Bites’, Bookouture and I have selected our top 10 ‘Blackthorn Bites’. Tell us which are your favourites and those with the most votes are the direction that we’ll take for Blood Roses.
Simply vote with a like or a re-pin, or you can comment to let us know what you think. Also feel free to tweet, Facebook, share and even upload the Bites to your own blog.
My editor came back to me on Tuesday and was super-pleased with my Blood Roses revisions. A couple of tweaks and we’re ready for the next stage! Yay!
I was thrilled to read another terrific review of Blood Shadows – this time from Michelle’s Paranormal Vault Of Books who gave it 5 out of 5 and a ‘highly recommended’. Not only that, but a likening to Kelly Armstrong. I haven’t read any of Ms Armstrong’s work yet, but I know it’s a massive compliment. Huge thanks, Michelle Lynn, who was also kind enough to then post her review on Amazon.com.
The Blood Shadows giveaway on Goodreads attracted a lot of attention with an amazing 2,267 people signing up to win a copy by the closing date on Friday. To think I was beside myself with excitement when I got to 500! The books are now on their way for me to sign.
Don’t forget you can still sign up to win a signed copy of Blood Shadows on my Facebook page. Click on the sweepstakes tab and like my page and you could be in with a chance of winning 1 of 5 copies.
As well as all that, I’ve just seen the new Blackthorn Bites – and they are awesome! I mean, really awesome. They’re very different to the last ones and yet equally perfect. I am exceptionally excited to share them with you so am giving you the heads-up that the reveal will be on Tuesday evening (UK time). Do come and take a look!
Team Blackthorn, I hope you’re suited, booted and ready, because we’re going to be on a mission to spread the new Bites far and wide!
I promised yesterday that I’d give a few hints of what’s to come in Blood Roses. So for those of you who are struggling in anticipation, here are five things you can expect that might tide you over for now…
Expect new characters…
Blood Shadows was Kane and Caitlin’s story. Blood Roses is not a continuation of that, though they do get a mention. Don’t worry – they will be back! But Blood Roses is Caleb and Leila’s story. Feel free to check on the ‘Books’ tab on this site if you’d like to know more about what lies ahead for them.
Expect to see more of Blackthorn…
Each book in the series will reveal more about Blackthorn. In Blood Roses, you’ll learn more of what life is like in the district as well as aspects of how it is run and controlled. You’ll visit parts you haven’t been before.
Expect more revelations about the prophecies…
The prophecies were mentioned in Blood Shadows but not elaborated upon. That’s because it’s Caleb and Leila’s role to reveal much, much more. Expect to come away with a much clearer idea of what’s in store.
Expect a few more pieces to start to fit together…
One thing you’ll come to see in the Blackthorn series is how the characters’ stories are going to intertwine. For those who remember Blood Roses from New Voices, you might have already started to piece a couple of things together at the end of Blood Shadows. You certainly would have picked up on a familiar name fleetingly mentioned. Yes, expect to meet one rather significant member of the vampires’ Higher Order.
Expect it to be darker…
I have been told I skirted close to the edge at times with Kane, well expect more of the same with Caleb – and more often. The intentions are darker, the sexiness is darker and so is the mood. I was once told Caleb was irredeemable. None of my vampire heroes are irredeemable – I just like a challenge. But yes, he is incredibly bad… this is Blackthorn, after all.
Blood Roses is the second book in the Blackthorn series and it’s due out this Spring!
I had an email come through this week, from a fan turned very special friend:
“I love Blood Shadows, don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic. But Blood Roses is probably my favorite book EVER (the portion I’ve seen). I am so bloody (yes pun intended) excited about it, I can’t even tell you.”
I got a bit emotional when I read that. A big part of the emotion is because I’ve reached that stage now when I know I’ll soon be parting with Blood Roses. I’ve been working on revisions in the background since the launch of Blood Shadows, and those who follow this blog and Facebook will know those revisions went back to Bookouture on New Year’s day. My editor will be back in touch with me in the next few days to give her verdict – that basically means I’ll know how much more work it still needs before the final polish. After that, it’s line edits and copy edits before I finally hand it over.
Blood Roses has been with me a long time. It was conceptualized years ago (I can’t even pinpoint when), the majority of it written back in 2007. Although it’s not my first published book, I will always look on Blood Roses as the book that launched my career as a published author.
It was entered in Harlequin Mills and Boon’s New Voices competition back in 2010, where it got into the final – the only PNR to do so. It’s scary to think I nearly didn’t enter. I submitted right before the deadline. It was the first time I’d put myself out there for scrutiny and was a test of whether I had what it took to write romance. I was terrified because it wasn’t just a competition – it was going to help me make the decision whether I tried to launch my Blackthorn series or turned my back on romance a while longer to continue focusing on supernatural thrillers.
If you don’t know about the competition, writers uploaded a chapter on an open forum for readers to comment (readers also got to vote). Blood Roses came under scrutiny straight away, but not for the right reasons. I entered the longest opening chapter in the competition – almost 9,000 words long. I remember reading speculation over why I had done it, not least the assumption that I had misread the rules. The simple truth was that I was so convinced I would get nowhere, I entered the biggest chunk of work I could in the hope that, even if I bombed in the competition, I might at least catch an editor’s eye. I didn’t have the confidence to believe I could do that in 3,000 words.
Of course it meant that when I got into the Top 10, I was left with only 700 words for chapter 2 and then only 200 for the pivotal moment when I progressed into the Top 4. It worked in my favour though, with readers again speculating whether I’d manage it or not. The response when I did was fantastic. And those supportive comments, along with the belief of my amazing mentors – Lesley Stonehouse and Rhyannon Byrd – gave me the courage to re-enter in NV 2011 where I finished a finalist again.
Blood Roses helped me believe in myself as an author. It shaped my writing. It gave me the best opportunity to launch my writing career. It taught me that I don’t have to write like anyone else – that I’ll find my readership as me and not by trying to follow in anyone else’s footsteps. It taught me that romance readers are more open minded than I gave credit for before I became a part of this amazing community. It taught me there is a place for books like mine that are a little bit dark, a little bit dangerous and a little bit different. It taught me that I had to stop hiding my writing in a drawer.
I understood exactly what my friend was saying when she sent me that email, and responses like that will be the ones that help me let go of Blood Roses when the time comes. Looking back, I also realise how much I’ve moved on in the last two years from writing purely for myself to having the courage to share my books with an audience.
And that’s why Blood Roses is, and always will be, so special to me.
Come back tomorrow if you’d like to get a few hints of what to expect. No spoilers thought, I promise!
For just one post, I thought I’d break from the norm. As well as a passion for vampires, you might know I have a fascination with many other myths and legends – especially local ones. So, after Batty’s popularity since introducing him to you only a week ago, he’s back for a second appearance. This time, Blackthorn’s mascot is adding a little something to my visit to the magical village of Tintagel in Cornwall: the home of King Arthur.
For those who might not know, King Arthur was a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries who led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. A lot of the story is based on folklore and literature so his actual historical existence is debated and disputed. Needless to say, most people will have heard of Merlin, Excalibur, The Holy Grail and the Knights of the Round Table.
At Tintagel, there’s a replica of King Arthur’s great hall. So here are a few things from inside…
Batty hanging from a sword. Shame it’s not Excalibur.
The sword was the principal weapon of a knight but was of equal importance symbolically. The blade was symbolic of faith. The knight would keep his blade shining bright as a reminder to keep his soul pure. The scabbard was symbolic of purity and as such had to be kept clean at all times. The handle and pommel – the part that allows the knight to control the sword – signified power so had to be wielded with humility.
Batty in the middle of the Round Table.
This is a replica Round Table around which Arthur and his 12 knights congregated. It is circular to represent that there is no head of the table, implying that everyone who sits there has equal status. The shields of all the knights, including Arthur, span out from the middle and their knights’ names are engraved where they would have sat. The table was believed to have been a dowry from Guinevere.
Me and the knight (Batty in hand).
Now I love a knight as much as the next girl. They’re supposed to be chivalrous and gentlemanly, but it doesn’t hurt to check! The way to assess a knight’s intentions was whether they had their helmet visor raised or closed. For a knight to raise their visor, and thus show you their eyes, meant they had no aggressive intent – and is one of the possible reasons why the military still salute today: a symbolic lifting of the visor.
And once I knew the coast was clear…
Batty and King Arthur’s throne.
It wouldn’t be a king’s abode without a throne. I think Batty looks quite at home! And yes, I spent a little while there too. 😉
I hope you enjoyed your brief tour and quick step into one of Britain’s most famous legends. I’ll be back talking vampires on the weekend with an update about Blood Roses, including a few clues of what to expect.
After almost 30 years of writing, 21 years since I’d written my first paranormal romance and 16 years of Blackthorn in the making, 2012 was the year when I finally became a published author.
My avid followers will no doubt have picked up on the fact I haven’t had a moment to breathe since then. No sitting with my feet on my desk, sipping Pepsi whilst I dreamily doddle plotlines in my notebook in-between gazing out of my study window. Oh no.
In April of 2012, I’d resolved I’d had enough of sitting on the Blackthorn series and needed to seriously pursue publication. I set up a blog (a must, I was told by my new writerly friends) and, in June, started submitting to publishers.
I’d prepared for the long-haul – weeks, months, maybe even years of waiting. Okay, the latter is an exaggeration – I’d decided I’d self-publish if it came to that. But on Friday 13th July, came the request from Bookouture that changed everything. Less than a month later came ‘The Call’ along with a very impressive book proposal and fantastic plans for Blackthorn.
September was the month of secrets. I blogged about being offered a three-book deal, but had to remain hushed about who by until Bookouture was launched and all the finer details were tied up – not least the contract! And, gee, was it tough keeping quiet!
Finally, at the end of October, I was finally able to announce that I had signed with Bookouture and my brand new website was launched. News of my signing went global and there were over 1,000 hits on the news feed in the first couple of days.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, straight after, Hollywood came calling. Yes, they really did! I didn’t say much because, well, basically I knew the chances were minimal. It was still amazing to have had the book requested though and the feedback from the head of creative affairs, although a no, was great:
“I really enjoyed BLOOD SHADOWS, Lindsay is a wonderful writer. She’s crafted one heck of a world with Caitlin, Kane, VCU and the Soul Ripper. A few of us really took to the book and world creation but, alas, the consensus was that it isn’t exactly what…is looking for.”
I didn’t have time to dwell though, because we were already in November – and what a month November was!
First came the cover reveal for Blood Shadows. And for anyone who has got a hardcopy and seen who the designer was (yes, I know some of you have!) you’ll know why I was so ecstatic about who took the project on. Shortly after came the first of the fantastic and fun Blackthorn Bites. Within days there was the release of the awesome Blood Shadows book trailer. On Thursday 15th, I shed a tear when I held a copy of my book in my hands for the first time. Then on the 27th November (give or take a few days…) Blood Shadows was finally officially launched.
The promotions kicked off instantly and haven’t stopped since, not least with my U.S. book tour starting on 28th December and running through the whole of this month.
And the reviews. Ah, the reviews. I have come to discover that reviews are single-handedly one of the most rewarding and, at the same time, utterly terrifying parts of being a published author. I’ve been lucky that, apart from a handful of ratings (rose bombers spring to mind anyone?), the reviews have been amazing. So thank you to every single person who has taken the time and the effort to share what they think on Amazon and Goodreads. There is no better way to get my books into the hands of new readers than through those reviews, so believe me when I say I appreciate your effort more than I can possibly express here.
And during all of this, I’ve feverishly been working on revisions for Blood Roses, which I sent back to Bookouture on New Years’ day. Yay! More about Blood Roses very soon…
But before I go, when I announced by blog tour last Friday, I did promise to tell you about my Christmas present this year.
I’m the kind of girl who, as long as I get a couple of notepads and a pack of pens or pencils, I’m usually a pretty happy bunny as far as presents go. Throw in a bottle of my favourite Thierry Mugler’s Angel now and again and you’re guaranteed to raise a satisfied smile. Fortunately, I have a husband whose imagination, year after year, spans beyond my feeble attempts at a creative list for Santa.
I must be honest though, this year I did give him a hint of what I wanted. I didn’t quite expect the end result though. Welcome to my new study wall…
Now if that isn’t motivation enough to keep writing Blackthorn books, I don’t know what is! And yes, if you wrote one of the earlier bites, you are up there! So huge thanks to Michele Hauf, CC Mackenzie, Fiona Chapman, Lindsey Clarke, Amity Grays and RomFan Reviews.
But that wasn’t all. As you’ve probably guessed, I’m a fan of personal gifts. So when this little chap was handed to me, overwhelmed doesn’t begin to describe it. Say hello to Batty…
This little chap was handmade especially for me by exceptionally talented, local artist Minerva (of Minerva Twist). She’s thrown a creative spin on a variety of animals but this was her first attempt at my personal favourite – a bat. Not only is he reading a copy of my book (and the glasses are uncannily like mine too!), but she even went to the trouble of joining the oo’s together just like on the cover of Blood Shadows and putting a dot after the ‘J’ in my name. Now that’s the attention to detail I like. Thanks Minerva, you ridiculously talented lady, he’s absolutely gorgeous!
And that’s it – here’s hoping 2013 brings just as much excitement!
Finally, huge thanks to my super-supportive, long-suffering husband who makes sure I eat, drink, sleep and, on occasion, get suitably socialised. Massive thanks you all my wonderful, wonderful supporters, including my fantastic new-found writing friends – to those who have been published this year and those who are going to be published in 2013, here’s wishing you every success. And for those who haven’t got there yet, I’m rooting for you with every digit crossed. I’m a walking example that dreams can and do eventually come true. DO NOT give up.
So here’s an extra special thank you to the amazing Oliver Rhodes, founder of Bookouture, for not only making my dreams come true in 2012, but for making my first two months as a published author more exciting and fun than I ever could have imagined.
