Whilst I’m immersed in Blood Dark edits, Bookouture’s fabulous Publicity Manager, Kim Nash, is already plotting the build up to its release.
Today, she asked if I thought my readers might like to be in with a chance to win all four paperbacks of Blackthorn so far – signed by me. That’s Blood Shadows, Blood Roses, Blood Torn AND Blood Deep.
I think it’s an awesome prize for a Blackthorn fan, especially as it’s the first time we’ve ever offered signed copies as a ‘collection’ so, obviously, I couldn’t say yes quick enough!
I just wanted to give you the heads-up to watch out for it in the forthcoming weeks. I have other giveaways and more blog posts to come soon too. Edits first though! I’m nearly there…
Some of you might be very pleased to know that, as of last night, the completed first draft of Blood Dark is on my editor’s desk. Yay!!!
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
I’ve recently had a few conversations with readers eagerly awaiting their next installment of Blackthorn as well as querying why it takes so long between books. First of all, it’s flattering that it feels like such a long wait! Second of all, in truth, the turnaround with Blackthorn books is actually quite quick – especially considering their average 120K word count, and the complexity of the overarching story that runs through the series. Here’s a little of what happens:
START TO FINISH
It usually takes me around eight weeks to write the first draft of a Blackthorn book (bearing in mind all of the series is already plotted out). During that time, amidst copious amounts of note making, it’s head down and writing chapter after chapter. A first draft is all about getting the story down in its raw form – no rewriting or worrying about all the finer details, because that comes later. The first draft is so my editor can judge if the story that I originally intended has made it onto the page in a way that is structurally sound. They’ll look at everything from story arc to character development and journey, to pacing, and, in the case of Blackthorn, how it fits into the overarching plot too.
Aside from when the finished book goes out to reviewers for the first time, waiting for this initial feedback is definitely the most daunting part of the entire process.
SO CAN YOU NOW ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE DATE?
Despite being nagged to within an inch of my life to be more specific (you’re all so lovely), I can still only indicate ‘Summer’ for release. We do have a provisional month, but it doesn’t get shared until my editor decides how much structural work the book needs and, in liaison with my publisher, I agree to the timescales I believe I can work to based on the initial feedback. I’ll give you more information as soon as I can, I promise!
AFTER THAT…
After the structural edits are completed, I receive the line edits – the nitty-gritty of all those finer details. Once the line edits are completed and approved by me, a brand new set of eyes then come in with the copy edits to focus on the spelling, the grammar, the consistencies etc. Again, I make any necessary changes and then have to approve these too. After that, it heads off to the typesetter. Once I have approved the final version, the book is then distributed as an ARC (Author Review Copy) via my publisher to reviewers. That’s not taking into account all the other work my publisher does leading up to that point. This all happens before it gets anywhere near my readers.
WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN EDITS?
Between edits is a vital time to catch up on all the things I don’t have time to do while actually writing. It is the perfect time for me to get blog posts written; to respond a little quicker to all my readers who get in touch; and, of course, make a start on the next Blackthorn book (I get withdrawal after about three days). It’s also the chance to clear up the copious amounts of post-it notes, notepads, scrap bits of paper (sometimes thoughts come when you least expect them), pencils, pens, mugs, and anything else in the writer trail I’ve left around the house whilst in “the zone” – only for it all to start again a couple of weeks later…
SO THANKS FOR BEING THERE
Writing has to be the best job ever. I love every minute of mine, and completing a first draft is one of the best feelings. But it’s not an easy job. Like any job, some days are really tough. It’s not the kind of thing we’re supposed to confess to but I think it’s good, particularly for aspiring authors (I know a few follow this blog), to know that none of us are immune to that wall of self-doubt that can hit at any time. If mine could have knocked me out cold these past couple of months, I think it would have – and, some days, it nearly did.
This is when I count myself very lucky to have you because, during the past couple of months while I’ve been working on Blood Dark, not more than two days have gone by without a reader emailing me, or messaging me, or tweeting me to share what they’ve enjoyed, tell me they’ve just discovered Blackthorn, or have now finished all four, or have asked when the next one is out… There is nothing quite like those intermittent boosts to fend off all those negative jabs that can really affect the writing process. So thank you, Team Blackthorn, as always, for every snippet of encouragement and support you continue to send my way. Blood Dark is now that one giant leap closer.
I’ll be back on the weekend with that blog post about Blood Deep’s Jessie and Eden that I’ve been promising you for ages. Until then, have a great week! <3
It’s the start of a new year for Blackthorn, and that means a new year for this blog. If you want to know everything there is to know about my series, this is the place to be. This is where I record all the major happenings throughout the year, details about my books that you won’t find anywhere else, as well as it being an open forum for readers to comment or ask questions. In fact, quite a few posts over the past two years have been inspired from your input. So, as always, if there is anything you would like me to include over the forthcoming year, do feel free to let me know. I already have a few posts lined up to start us off though…
THE YEAR AHEAD
Blog posts about me…
I was blog-tagged a little while back to reveal some previously undisclosed facts about myself, so that’s up first. I’m already wracking my brain!
…about Blackthorn…
Having already given my personal take on each of my Blackthorn couples – Kane and Caitlin, Caleb and Leila and Jask and Phia – I’ve been asked a few times when it will be Eden and Jessie’s turn. I’m pleased to tell you that they will finally be in the spotlight next month. Hopefully you have now read Blood Deep, so there won’t be any spoilers. If there are any details you wish you knew about our latest hero and heroine, do let me know!
Although it feels like ages away, it won’t be long before we’re counting down the weeks to Blood Dark’s release. Nearer the time, I’ll be posting a glossary of all of Blackthorn’s characters (just in case you need to refresh your memory). And, now that we’re at the mid-way point in the series, I’ll also be summarising the Blackthorn story so far – something else that could prove useful with so many threads now coming together!
…and even more giveaways!
Your response to Blackthorn giveaways last year was fantastic. Creating the Blackthorn soundtrack was definitely a highlight of 2014 for me. I was truly blown away by your suggestions, mainly because the lyrics you chose demonstrated just how much you “get” these books. Of course, I also discovered some superb songs and albums thanks to you!
Your participation in my Audiobook giveaway was particularly brilliant, so much so that I have more Audiobooks to give away very soon. Thanks to Bookouture and Lorella Bella Literary Agency, it’s going to be an even bigger giveaway than last time. Stay close for that one!
As Blood Dark draws closer, there will be an early eBook copy up for grabs as well as a signed paperback copy after its release. I might even have a few more limited-edition postcards up for grabs later on in the year as well – I know they always prove popular.
And then we can do the same all over again with book six (no spoilers with the title yet 😉 ), which may also make it out this year.
2015 has arrived!! Happy New Year!! I hope you’re looking forward to the year ahead? Hopefully bringing TWO more Blackthorn books your way before the year is out will help. 🙂
To be honest, I hadn’t planned to post this early on in the year, but 2015 has got off to a terrific start for Blackthorn. I’m thrilled that both Blood Torn AND Blood Deep have been nominated for Best Paranormal Romance Novel of 2014 in the fantastic Moonrise Book Blog Readers’ Choice Awards.
If you have time, I would love you to take a couple of minutes to vote for either book. All you need is to be logged into Google (in order for the list of nominations to show up) and follow this link.
Huge thanks to my Facebook supporters who have already started casting their votes. There’s some tough competition, so fingers crossed!
And in other news…
I was also chuffed to find out today that I’ve been named as one of Gaga Over Books’ Favourite Authors of 2014.
As well as that, Blackthorn has been listed amongst their Series Favourites. With such an incredible list of books consumed by this blogger, it’s an honour to be mentioned. Thank you, Honey – and for your lovely comments about my series.
I’ll be back in a couple of weeks but, for now, I’m going to have my head down with Blood Dark. Things are getting pretty intense here – containing Kane, Caleb AND Jask all on the same page is no mean feat… and yet so much fun… 😉
As we draw to a close on 2014, I want a say a very special thank you to all my fantastic Blackthorn readers and supporters. It’s hard to think that there was no Blood Torn and no Blood Deep this time last year – not on the page anyway! In fact, many of you hadn’t even heard of Blackthorn back then.
Blackthorn has progressed considerably this past year. With all the couples now on the page, many plot threads having come together and loads of possibilities laid out, the series is now at its halfway point – and I can’t wait to share where it’s heading next.
Your support, ratings, reviews, comments and recommendations have contributed hugely to the continuing success of the series. Subsequently, this year, the rest of Blackthorn was signed. It also snagged the attention of Tantor Media who signed the first three books to audio. On a much more personal note, because of all of this, I’ll be a full-time author as of January 2015 – a dream that has taken over thirty years to materialise. But more on that another time!
So, needless to say, I couldn’t end the year without sharing my gratitude for the part each and every one of you has played. You’ve brought me loads of smiles, plenty of laughter and, yes, a few tears too. Thank you to everyone who has been in touch to let me know how much you’ve enjoyed my books.
It’s certainly going to be a busy year in Blackthorn in 2015, so I’ll be back in January to give you some clues as to what’s to come. If you don’t want to miss anything, don’t forget you can sign up to this blog (via the sidebar) which acts as my newsletter. Or if you simply don’t want to miss my next release, you can sign up here.
But until 2015 is with us, here’s a fab review that I picked up from Love And Live To Read today, who gave Blood Deep another 5 star review for Blackthorn – and totally made my day. Thank you, Maria!
As for now, I wish you all a wonderful and peaceful Christmas, and health and happiness in the year ahead. Thanks for being a part of Team Blackthorn.
Today, is the second anniversary of both the launch of my first Blackthorn novel, Blood Shadows, and also the launch of its fantastic publisher, Bookouture.
Above: Happy 2nd Birthday, Blackthorn! What a 2 years it has been!!
Bookouture are currently celebrating with cake and bubbles, and rightly so! Since signing me, they have gone on to acquire many exceptional authors – both debut and established. Bookouture have had eight Amazon top 100 hits in the UK, three in the US, two in Canada and even one in France. They’ve sold hundreds of thousands of eBooks – and quite a few paperbacks, too! This week alone, they have three books in the Amazon UK top 100!
From being a one-man-band consisting of its Founder and Managing Director, Oliver Rhodes, Bookouture has expanded its publishing team too. Claire Bord,formerly of Avon (HarperCollins), became Bookouture’s Publishing Director with the aim of developing and expanding their publishing programme. As part of that, Keshini Naidoo (previously having worked with eBook bestsellers, also at Avon) joined the team as Senior Commissioning Editor with a focus on crime and thriller titles. To keep up with increased demand, the super-supportive Kim Nash joined as Bookouture’s Publicity Manager. Bookouture also linked up with the Lorella Belli Literary Agency who has since sold rights in France, Germany, Norway, Italy, Turkey, India and the Middle East, as well as doing deals for audio rights.
It’s amazing how far Bookouture have come, and I am immensely proud to have been there from the beginning. Bookouture has undoubtedly been the best thing to happen to Blackthorn. It might be a small, independent publisher, but darn they’re exceptional at what they do (proof above)! With ‘Big 5’ experience within a dedicated, hard-working, author-centric team of professionals, it’s no wonder that, along with the success of their books, Bookouture continues to be so highly praised by its authors.
As for me, it’s hard to believe that it was two years ago that I held a copy of my book for the first time; that I was a bag of nerves waiting to see what PNR reviewers, let alone readers, would make of my debut, Blood Shadows.
Above: A sample of reviews from the launch of Blackthorn, Nov 2012
Thankfully, many bloggers and reviewers embraced Blackthorn – and so did many more readers. If you’re reading this now, you’re likely to be one of those very readers who, like Bookouture, decided to take a punt on a new PNR series. You’re probably part of the reason why, through your reviews, ratings or word-of-mouth recommendations, the rest of the series has been signed. Thank you. Because being signed by a terrific publisher may be one of the best things to happen to an author, but so are great supporters. I have the privilege of having some of the best. 🙂
So before I leave you with the trailer that kicked the series off two years ago (which includes the original cover before the rebrand), I can’t do so without first wishing all my U.S. followers a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
I’m uber-thrilled to be able to share that the rest of the Blackthorn series has officially been signed! I’m just as thrilled to be able to announce that Blackthorn will remain with its original publisher, Bookouture.
Having been inundated with queries as to how many more books there will be, I can now reveal that Blackthorn will consist of eight books in total – that means there are four more to come!
Above: We’re halfway there… spot the “unintentional” giveaway clue on the spine of the books.
It feels like a long time since I shared Bookouture’s interest in the rest of the series. Before signing a contract though, there’s a lot to take into account. Firstly, I needed to make a final decision as to how many books there would be (the final book could have been broken into two parts, but we opted for an epic finale). I also needed to think carefully about the timescales for when I could deliver those books. Most of you will know that, like most authors, writing isn’t my only job. So when Bookouture offered me a contract for the rest of the series, I had a huge decision to make. Six weeks ago, I resolved to step out of teaching for a while and focus fully on finishing writing Blackthorn. So, as of 2015, I will be a full-time author for the first time ever – and Blackthorn will be receiving my undivided attention all the way through to its conclusion.
Blackthorn has certainly come a long way since its inception back in 1996 when, having just moved to a big city hundreds of miles from all I knew, I got lost on my way home one night. I then spent fourteen years dipping in and out of developing the series amidst working on other writing projects and teaching full time. Back in 2010, I finally bit the bullet and entered the opening chapter of Blood Roses into the international online romance writing competition, ‘New Voices’. Although up against thousands of entries, a combination of editors’ decisions and reader votes saw Blood Roses through to the final. A year later, Blackthorn made it to the final again – this time with Blood Shadows.
For those who don’t know, it was Blackthorn’s success in that competition that brought me to the attention of Bookouture. I’d just started submissions when, out of the blue, they got in touch. A three-book deal soon followed. Just over a year later, back in January, they signed Blood Deep. Blackthorn has gone on to sell tens of thousands of copies, with new readers finding the books every day. It doesn’t mean I’ve ever taken the signing of the rest of the series for granted though. That’s why it still felt momentous signing the last of the books over.
So here they are in Blackthorn’s full line-up: all your heroes and heroines who now have their work cut out in bringing down the oppressive system that surrounds them. I can’t wait to share how they’re going to do it! 🙂
And on that note, I’m also pleased to be able to reveal that Blood Dark will be released next Summer* (2015)! Yes, I know it probably feels likes ages away, but I’m afraid a lot of work goes into publishing a book even after I’ve submitted it. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to persuade Bookouture to give away an early book or two like we did with Blood Deep. 😉
Of course, I’ll also be sharing a summary of ‘the story so far’ before Blood Dark’s release. I get the feeling it might prove useful by then!
Thanks, as always, for your continued support. xxx
