I’m getting in early this year! I usually leave this post until a couple of days before Christmas. As I’m currently locked in Blackthorn though, I’m worried about losing track of time. It’s strange to think it was 2012 when I last worked over Christmas and New Year on Caleb and Leila’s story, ready to introduce them to you. Now, exactly five years later, I’m back full circle with them – this time to bring the Blackthorn story to an end.
Of course they should have been with you by now but, yes, I’m having closure issues! I know some of my readers are getting impatient (in a good way) but hopefully my slight delay means you have more Blackthorn to look forward to in 2018. At least it’s not over just yet!
Until then I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all of my fantastic readers who have been a part of my 2017. Whether you have supported me via social media, email or by reviewing my books, you have made a HUGE difference as always. Being able to bring you my Lowtown series is proof of that, let alone having one of my books in bookshops for the very first time too with HAVEN. Thank you, Piatkus! Keep your eyes peeled and you might see Nate on a shelf somewhere near you. He’s already been spotted in a bookshop in Australia! If you find him, do let me know. I’m going to track him down for myself here in the UK…
Have a wonderful Christmas and I wish everyone health, happiness and hope in 2018 – oh, and tonnes of wonderful new books to read too! Thank you so much for being there.
As of midnight last night, HAVEN should have landed on your e-reader or already be on its way in the post to you. It’s been an absolutely incredible day (now almost half past ten in the evening here in the UK) all thanks to a whirlwind of incredible support from my wonderful readers. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing my day with me. ❤️
As well HAVEN being the start of a brand new adventure for you, it’s also the start of a brand new adventure for me. Although you can already buy my Blackthorn series in paperback, this will be the first time ever that you might even spot my book in your local bookshop over the forthcoming months. Courtesy of my awesome new publisher Piatkus (Little, Brown Book Group), I am officially in traditional print as of today! I’ve had my first newspaper review in The Peterborough Telegraph (a wonderful 7/10 from a thriller specialist), HAVEN will be featuring in a mainstream magazine soon and I’ll also be appearing on radio for the first time ever. It’s majorly exciting for me. I can’t thank my superb publicist at Piatkus enough. Sophia, you’re fantastic!
I’m already a little overwhelmed today. Five years ago this month my publishing career launched with Blood Shadows, the first book in my BLACKTHORN series. Soon that series will be coming to an end. But now, because of your enduring support and because of your requests not to let go just yet, I’m able to show you even more aspects of this world you’ve come to love. I hope you enjoy my LOWTOWN books as much as you have Blackthorn. I certainly loved every minute of writing HAVEN for you. It’s been an incredible journey up to this point and one I’ll share with you in the forthcoming weeks.
But, for now, I will leave you in peace with your HAVEN. I’ve posted some of the events of the day below, including some of the fabulous reviews that have started to filter through. I’m overjoyed that it’s already being so well received. So thank you to every single person who has participated in today and made it so special for me.
REVIEWS SO FAR
“The plot went places I never saw coming and as always, I was left with nothing but admiration for how well Lindsay weaves her web, to the point where we’re never quite sure what path the story will take. The pacing was fast and relentless, the tension was electrifying throughout, the hot scenes were, well, sizzling (as always) and there was mystery and intrigue on every page. It’s been a while since a book got me so hooked that I spent my time in between reading thinking about what might happen next and each time I returned to it, I lapped it up and hoped it would never end. It did, of course and yes, I may have cried a little (although this was mostly due to plot, damn you LJP!).
Gritty, relentless and hot as Hell, with new favourite characters to adore and darkness and danger lurking at every turn, Haven is without doubt my PNR top read of the year so far. Five stars for this breath-taking, brutal, dark fantasy tale!” ~ Lindsey Clarke
“Haven will draw you in with a compelling couple, a truly dark and gritty world, and a story that will twist, turn, anger, sadden and completely consume you. You’ll find light in this dark world, and watch as two people defend the good that needs to survive while falling deeper into each other. There are moments that will make you want to look away from the page – but you can’t. Moments that will give you a smile in the midst of darkness.
I am always amazed at the magic that authors create. Lindsay J. Pryor has given us another paranormal world to rival Blackthorn. Not take its place, but companion with. Her world building, the descriptions that place me right in the middle of the action, the emotions that are drawn out of me while in her worlds always leaves me in awe. And I don’t say that lightly. If you haven’t read Ms. Pryor’s works yet then I would strongly, gently encourage you to take that dive off of a cliff and emerge yourself in this world. You’ll never view Paranormal the same way again – 5 stars.” ~ Keeper Bookshelf
“This book grips you right from the beginning. The goal, the motivation of the main protagonists seem clear from the start and you invest in them instantly. But then, as you get deeper, so do the goals, so does the motivation, getting more desperate, more urgent. And that’s without the conflict! My goodness does the author put them through an emotional wringer! The plot is amazingly good, simply wonderful, something that is the only thing that doesn’t surprise me about the authors writing. I’ve never been able to figure out one of her plots and Haven is no exception. Lindsay J. Pryor’s world building is perfection. The plot is skilled and engrossing. Each chapter has some snatches-your-breath revelation. The conflict builds and builds, as does the tension. The final word is perfect and deeply satisfying. Everything about this book is satisfying. Dark, gritty, urban fantasy at its absolute best. Ah, Haven. You came, I read, I cried and fell in love. I found my haven in Haven!
Pure fantasy. Pure Genius. 5 Butterfly Rating!” ~ Tracey Rogers
“This is a well paced story, with the great world building from the Blackthorn series used to great effect and enhanced in this story. I don’t think you need to have read that series to enjoy this one, as the author continually gives reminders and additional information so readers are aware of the various scenarios, rules, restrictions and expectations which apply in this dystopian community. The characters are easy to relate to and empathise with. The dramatic encounters are brilliantly brought to life in the imagination of the reader. I didn’t want to put the book down and the twist at the end is superb! I have no hesitation at all in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys reading about suspense filled paranormal societies, with mobsters, murder, mystery, magic and romance all having key roles in the unfolding story. I can’t wait to read more in this series! 5/5.” ~ Splashes Into Books
“Lindsay transports you right in the middle of the world she has created. She takes you into the heart of the action. You can smell the desperation of what it’s like to live in Lowtown, you can feel the terror, the hopelessness of being one of the unlucky folks who happened to be born into the wrong family, the wrong area. But you can also be uplifted by the spirit of the people who live there, and none more so than our heroine, Ember…
At the beginning, I read slowly, keen to make sure I followed the story, for Lindsay J Pryor’s writing is not only absorbing, but it’s also intelligent. You have to pay attention… From about the fifty percent mark, I couldn’t flick the pages fast enough… as the author has done many times before, Lindsay J Pryor surprised, shocked, and astounded me with her storytelling, her guts, her ability to make the tough calls. Her ability to pull out something amazing… and when the covers are peeled back to reveal the outcome, she definitely provides that ‘What the heck’ moment!
Make no mistake: Lowtown is dark and gritty, and gives us more than a glimpse into the depths of human depravity. But it’s also uplifting, inspiring, and shows the strength of humanity, of how there are still those with determination to do the right thing, no matter what it costs them.” ~ Passionate About Books
“Haven has all the grittiness and the rawness of her Blackthorn series. It comes with the depravity and the nitty gritty. She has this way of creating a world that in all reality should disgust you, it should make you want to run for the hills BUT you know with absolute certainty you’d run straight into those pages and into that world. It’s fantastic creativity.
It’s not just the world building that amazes me, it’s also the story itself, there are so many plot twists and second guessing. You go through one chapter thinking you know what’s coming and then bam, you hit another plot twist. If this book was a theme park ride it’d definitely be a rollercoaster…The chemistry between the two was electric. The tension palpable… It was fantastic writing.
I’m always in awe of an author’s ability to take you away from the real world and Lindsay seems to do this every time. Blackthorn will be my first love but it most definitely won’t be my last. Lowtown has just become a very real contender.” ~ Wopsywoobookblog
“I am totally speechless after finishing this story. I loved her Blackthorn series and didn’t think anything could surpass that and keep me gripped like that series did but WOW this book blew me away with how this plot unfolded, Lindsay’s attention to detail throughtout this story is just astonishing.
The depth of passion and emotion throught out this book is sheer genius from this author,she has set the bar very high,but this is what she does… this was a dark and gritty story with lots of twists along the way that you never see coming.
This book is pure genius from a fabulous author that will keep you hooked and intrigued till the last page…it is PNR at its very best. SUPERB.”
A MASSIVE thank you to all the above reviewers for your time, effort and incredible feedback. ❤️
And before I go, thank you for all the incredible support that has come through on my Facebook Page, Twitter and all your emails throughout the day and evening too. I’m still catching up but I will respond personally as soon as I can. ❤️
Happy (if not slightly angst-ridden) reading, everyone! As always, come back safely. xxx
***
UPDATE
Thank you for the fantastic reviews that have continued to come in for HAVEN over the past week. Including:
“I can easily predict this new urban fantasy series from her will be my next favorite thing. Loving the fact these books will be standalone. Haven was utterly engrossing. It had the usual flare of Lindsay’s awesome writing, alluring world-building and her fantastic characters that I have come to associate with her after loving and following her Blackthorn series. I couldn’t stop reading this book even when I should have. But I just couldn’t. Put. This. Book. Down. It was so captivating.
I loved the plot, the contrast it has to Blackthorn, the rawness and the brutalness–the familiar unpredictability that makes you fall in love with Lindsay’s writing and the world(s) she has created.” ~ Gaga Over Books
“Rich in intrigue, and twists and turns, Haven is a dark, dark PNR/urban fantasy novel of the first class. The world building is superb, so too, the action scenes—the frustration, despair and violence, scarily bold and graphic on the page.
Ember (heroine) steals the show. Here’s one woman who stands tall and brave in her own quiet way. Sure, she’ll appear to concede (when it suits her), but her intelligence always keeps her steps ahead of those who would do her, or those she cares about, harm. With Ember it’s not her physical actions you have to watch, it’s her mind! Nate (hero) is a perfect foil for her, bringing to the fore as he does, her vulnerability. Nate’s not quite an anti-hero, but he’s pretty damn close… No comment on the plot because of spoilers, but in a word, DEVIOUS.
So aside from the writing, the plot, the characters, what else raises Haven very much above the average? Well the politics, the social injustice, the raw indignation at how corruption triumphs—fact of life. But amid all that bleak there exists integrity and loyalty and love, keeping hope strong.” ~ Incy Black
“I loved it. I savoured every single word. Ms Pryor delivers an urban fantasy masterclass
What stood out for me was the romance, it’s heart breakingly romantic. I’m a sucker for romance, I’ll admit I probably watch Strictly Come Dancing hoping for romance. Haven reminded me of a brilliant Viennese Waltz – beautifully romantic with constant twists and turns that left me dizzy and breathless. My heart ached and ached.
I adored Nate’s sensitivity and all male softness. He reminded me of peanut butter ice cream – cool, unexpected and with real depths of flavour… As for Ember I loved that she was determined, smart and strong without being tough or spiky. How refreshing is that? I just hope we haven’t seen the last of these two.
This is urban fantasy infused with tendrils of romance. If either genre appeal to you then this is your perfect read.” ~ Big Little Sister Blog
“She’s done it again. It never fails to amaze me the incredible skill that Lindsay J. Pryor has for creating a world… Settings and plot lines and districts and locales, full-bodied characters with enough history to fill a library. The dedication she’s made to her stories; her characters, and the world in which they are embroiled, is incredible… there are plenty of sharp twists and turns and shock revelations to leave you guessing right up until the last minute, to keep you turning the page and in danger of a serious lack of sleep.
True to form, Ms Pryor has… delivered us some wonderful characters with issues akin to real life – and they’re not your average human-nature problems. These character flaws go deep – she’s not afraid to pack the layers. Because this novel is not just about romance. Or the paranormal. It’s about power, about real-life struggles. About danger. Death. Destruction. And all the crap the universe could possibly throw at you in one lifetime. It’s clever. It’s dark. It’s intense. 5 stars.” ~ Fiona Chapman
I’m so appreciative of the response to HAVEN so far, as is Piatkus. ☺️
And speaking of Piatkus, I would like to say a huge thank you to my fantastic publisher for the stunning publication day flowers I received. I’m not sure if the splash of orange was an intentional link to HAVEN‘s cover but it certainly worked a treat for me. ❤️
Just to warn you, I might be a little quiet here for a while now as I immerse myself in Blood Broken again. Normal service will resume soon, I promise. Hopefully I’ll be back with some updates too. I know lots of my readers are desperate to get a publication date confirmed. I’ll let you know the second it’s agreed. I can’t wait until it’s up for pre-order either! And back to it… xxx
Thank you so much to all my lovely readers for your patience these past few months whilst I’ve been working on our Blackthorn finale as well as preparing for Haven’s release. Although I’ve been posting snippets as regularly as possible on Facebook, I’ve had an uncharacteristic lull here. But I’m pleased to finally be able to tell you the lull is almost over!
As of this time next week, there will only be one month to go until Haven’s publication day. I cannot tell you how excited I am at the prospect of my brand new series launching with Piatkus and, with it, a brand new chapter in my publishing career too. I’ve had an incredible time getting to know the team so far, including being allocated an absolute gem of a publicist (Sophia) who I’m over the moon to be working with. Best of all, she has a real passion for fantasy. She’s busily reading through Haven at the moment as she prepares her pitches and I think she’s sussing my writing very quickly, especially as her current working tagline for Haven is “True Blood meets Narcos”. I love it! And she said, “It’s so easy to pitch a book I‘m in love with and think is brilliant… I’ve read a LOT of fantasy in my time and yours really stands out.” I’m thrilled to say the least.
And with less than a month to go, those who have been through a pending book release with me before will know what’s coming… the giveaways will soon begin! Don’t stray too far if you don’t want to miss anything!
MORE PRE-ORDER LINKS
There were also some pre-order updates this week, so I’m delighted to share that Haven is now available for pre-order in paperback in the US and Canada with the following retailers:
But, of course, thank you so much if you’ve already pre-ordered. I really appreciate your support. <3
BLOOD BROKEN NEWS
As for Blood Broken, our Blackthorn series finale, I will finally be able to share updates on that after the fun and excitement of Haven has started to settle down. So not only will you have Haven soon, you have the release date, cover reveal and giveaways for Blood Broken to come too! I did warn you it was going to get busy towards the end of the year. 😉
I know a few of my eagle-eyed readers have spotted this already, but I’m delighted to be able to officially announce that HAVEN is now available for pre-order!
The first book in my brand new spin-off series with Piatkus Books, HAVEN is due for release on 2nd November this year – but you can order your paperbacks and eBooks now!
Every few days, the handsome stranger comes into the café in Lowtown for an hour at a time. Mostly he keeps himself to himself – one drink and he leaves. Sometimes people meet with him but about what remains elusive, the edge of mystery and danger adding to his allure.
Not that Ember is allowed to think about him. She’s finally on the cusp of gaining her citizenship and escaping Lowtown for good, so she can’t be seen to be involved with a vampire – evidence of one single bite would be the end of her prospects. But when those prospects are rocked by her links to the district’s dark underbelly, the stranger she must avoid could be her absolution – and she could be his . . .
A spin-off from the bestselling Blackthorn series by Lindsay J. Pryor, set in Lowtown, the neighbouring district to Blackthorn. The product of a brutal class system, the dark, enticing world of Lowtown will grip you and never let you go.
*
What reviewers are saying:
I absolutely adore the world she’s put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I’m living in Blackthorn… (Marked by Books)
This is a paranormal universe like none you have encountered before. (Keeper Bookshelf)
I don’t think I have read such a finely executed dark PNR world before… The world-building is spectacular. (Gaga Over Books)
Lindsay Pryor has crafted a world that’s intricate, gritty and genuinely fascinating… (Big Little Sister Blog)
This concept is creative and different from other paranormal books I’ve read lately. (My Paranormal Book Review)
I cannot say how much I love this author. She is creating a world which sucks you in, which makes you want to know more about Blackthorn and its inhabitants. (I Heart Books)
Not only are Pryor’s characters and fathomlessly dark love stories fabulous, but her continual world building of Blackthorn blows me away.(Gravetells)
Lindsay is a wonderful writer. She’s crafted one heck of a world… (Vice President of Creative Affairs for Relativity Media Film Studios, California)
Thank you so much for the amazing response to my cover reveal last time – both here and on social media. I’m beyond thrilled you love it as much as I do. It has had a slight tweak since then but, don’t worry, it won’t be the last you see of Ember. 😉
Oh, and if you missed the lowdown on Lowtown last time, you can read all about it here.
For now, it’s back to Blackthorn for me. Hopefully you’ll have your clicky fingers ready for when our finale goes up for pre-order too!
Thanks for your support, Team Blackthorn – and now Team Lowtown too! <3
I’m absolutely thrilled to bits to be able to share both the title and the cover for the first book in my brand new LOWTOWN series with Piatkus Books, due out later this year.
Meet Nate and Ember… and welcome to HAVEN:
I do hope you like it! I think Piatkus have done an exceptional job. They’ve captured the essence of the story and characters beautifully in this cover.
I’ll have more information to share about it in the forthcoming weeks, including the blurb to give you a sense of what the story is about. I’ll also have details about pre-orders.
Until then…
Ever since I announced earlier in the year that I was writing a spin-off series, I’ve received a lot of questions about it. So, I thought it would be useful if I posted a list of FAQs based on the questions I’ve been asked the most. As always, feel free to get in touch if there’s something you’re desperate to know that I haven’t covered.
THE LOWDOWN ON LOWTOWN
IS LOWTOWN A SPIN-OFF TO THE BLACKTHORN SERIES?
It is!
Lowtown is the neighbouring district to Blackthorn so will already be familiar to Blackthorn readers. However, up until now, the goings-on there have been peripheral to the main focus of the Blackthorn story. Each Lowtown book will focus on the plight of those living there and the challenges they face. Basically, Lowtown will provide an even fuller view of the world Blackthorn readers have come to know.
Yes. There’s no co-dependency between Lowtown and Blackthorn. A reader will be getting a richer experience of the worldbuilding though by reading both.
WILL THE LOWTOWN SERIES HAVE AN OVERARCHING PLOT AS THE BLACKTHORN SERIES DOES?
No. All the books will be standalones. There’s no continuing storyline and no cliffhangers. Readers will be able to dip in and out of Lowtown books in any order. The only aspect that binds the books together is that they centre in the same district.
IS IT A SERIES FOR ADULTS?
Most definitely. As with Blackthorn, it contains themes and scenes suitable for a mature audience only.
WHEN IS THE LOWTOWN SERIES SET IN RELATION TO BLACKTHORN? SAME AS NOW? OR IS IT A PREQUEL, SUCH AS WHEN THE SEGREGATION WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED? OR MAYBE A SEQUEL?
All Lowtown books will be set either prior to or during the events that occur in the Blackthorn series. I can’t stress enough that Lowtown won’t be expanding on the Blackthorn story or its characters – it’s an independent series in its own right.
Despite knowing how many of my readers would love a sequel (who doesn’t want to see Tuly all grown up and fighting challenges of her own?), now is not the right time for me to dive straight into one. I would never rule it out but if I ever did one, it would be much further down the line. For now, the Blackthorn story needs to end where it ends.
HOW MANY LOWTOWN BOOKS WILL THERE BE?
I have signed two initially. Because they’re standalones, Lowtown books have huge flexibility in terms of the number (and premise) of its stories. I certainly have ideas for several more and am also open to hearing about aspects of the world that my readers are desperate to know more about (the angel mythology of Blackthorn seems particularly popular in queries). To be completely honest though, further books will come down to how my readers respond.
WILL THERE BE THIRD AND FOURTH SPECIES IN THE SERIES OR WILL IT HAVE HUMAN CHARACTERS PRIMARILY?
Although Lowtown is a district predominantly occupied by humans (as opposed to Blackthorn being a third species locale), third species do co-exist with humans there so they’re guaranteed to play a significant role. I definitely want to retain the paranormal element in Lowtown.
As for the fourth species, they’re more relevant to the Blackthorn story, but I won’t rule out that there’s always scope for them to appear! You know what they’re like. 😉
IF IT’S A SPIN-OFF FROM BLACKTHORN, WHY IS IT BEING CALLED URBAN FANTASY AND NOT PARANORMAL ROMANCE? IS THERE NO ROMANCE IN LOWTOWN BOOKS?
For many readers, there’s a fine line between the two genres anyway. Due to the various cross-genre elements to the books, Blackthorn has been referred to as urban fantasy, dystopian fantasy, Gothic romance, paranormal romance, paranormal suspense as well as a paranormal thriller. Ultimately though, the developing romantic relationships always take centre stage in the Blackthorn series which is why it sits firmly within PNR.
Lowtown books will all have romance in them but the parallel plot carries equal (or greater) weight in the books – hence why it’s being referred to as urban fantasy. Expect all the familiar Blackthorn trademarks though such as the dark and atmospheric backdrop, gritty issues, twists and turns, and intricate plots.
WILL SECONDARY CHARACTERS (such as Alexander) BE FEATURED AS MAIN CHARACTERS IN LOWTOWN?
The aim of Lowtown is to be a spin-off from the worldbuilding and not a spin-off from already familiar characters, but you will come across familiar names if you’ve read Blackthorn. A lot of people seem to want an Alexander story though! I love that kind of feedback so I won’t say never.
WILL WE SEE SOME GLIMPSES OF THE BLACKTHORN GUYS?
I know this is what a lot of my readers are hoping for. All I’ll say is the locale is a small world so, when you have key players like the main characters in Blackthorn, it’s hard not to give them a mention – and there’s always the potential for paths to cross.
AND WHAT ABOUT BLACKTHORN? WHAT’S HAPPENING THERE?
Rest assured, everything is equally underway with our Blackthorn finale in the background too. I promise it’s not being neglected. I hope to have some updates for you over the summer.
I’ve been asked many times, over the last couple of years in particular, when I’m going to participate in a book-signing event. Well, it’s finally going to happen!
To mark the end of BLACKTHORN and the beginning of my brand new LOWTOWN series, I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be attending RARE18 at The Olympia in London on 24th February 2018. This will be my first public appearance and the first opportunity I’ve had to meet some of my readers – and I cannot wait.
If you’ve never heard of RARE (Romance Author & Reader Events), it’s an incredible event reaching increasing popularity since it began in 2014. It’s been hosted in Edinburgh and Montreal, is based in Berlin this year, and will be hosted in London and Rome in 2018. It’s your chance to meet a whole host of amazing romance authors across the full spectrum of the genre from contemporary to fantasy to suspense.
Tickets are going on sale on Saturday 4th March at 3 p.m. UK time. Don’t delay once the tickets become available as there are over 1,000 confirmed attendees already. If you’d like to find out more before then, you can join RARE 18 London‘s Facebook group where they are announcing authors who are attending. For those not on social media, I’ll update the end of this post once I have further news.
So, if you’d like the chance say hello and have your books, audiobooks, notebooks, giveaway prizes you may have won in the past, or anything else signed by me, I’d love to see you there.
My new publisher, Piatkus, is very kindly planning on providing some LOWTOWN stash and hopefully I’ll have one or two BLACKTHORN treats too. 🙂
On top of all of that, I’ve discovered that it won’t just be authors and readers attending. I jokingly put a teaser out on my Facebook page earlier in the week that I was going to be participating in a signing event and that Kane, Caleb, Jask and Eden would be joining me – but in 2D only. Now I’ve heard that some cover models really are going to attend! So, who knows, maybe* one of our Blackthorn boys will appear after all.
Form an orderly queue…
xxx
*Don’t hold me to it being one of our boys. I genuinely have no idea which models are coming!
I’m beyond elated to be able to reveal that I’ve signed a three book deal with PIATKUS, an imprint of LITTLE, BROWN BOOK GROUP!
Two of the books are a spin-off to my bestselling Blackthorn series (more on that in a moment) and the third is an unrelated title. Piatkus have bought world English rights in both print and eBook, with the aim to make my books available in bookshops in the UK, US and Australia. How exciting is that?
Anyone familiar with PNR and Urban Fantasy will know why I’m so over the moon about this. Piatkus are globally synonymous with the genres, publishing leading names such as Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward and Nora Roberts. Needless to say I am uber-excited to be working with their expert and passionate team on my new books.
I had the greatest pleasure meeting with my new editor – Anna Boatman (Editorial Director at Piatkus) – in December when she travelled from London to Exeter to take me out for lunch. We’d already had several phone conversations by that point and Anna had been following my work for years, so meeting her in person was the final confirmation of how much I wanted to work with the Piatkus team.
The news has been issued both in BookBrunch andThe Bookseller:
NO BLACKTHORN SEQUELS OR PREQUELS, BUT SOMETHING FAMILIAR YET NEW…
As well as 2016 marking the release of two Blackthorn books, it was also a year of big decisions as to what to do once Blackthorn ended. With the finale approaching, I’d been receiving an increasing number of requests for prequels, sequels or even spin-offs from readers not ready to leave this world behind yet. I’ve always said that the Blackthorn story will end with book eight though, and I’m not going to change that. However, with a backdrop as detailed and complex as this one, there’s always been scope for a sideways step – especially with so many aspects of life in the locale that never made it into the overarching Blackthorn plot.
After revelations in interviews and blog posts that I had other stories set in the same locale, reader requests increased so I decided to give it some serious thought. Some of my favourite characters who never made it into Blackthorn soon came to mind, their stories opening up other parts to this world that my readers had yet to see. Some of those stories centred around one district in particular.
My current readers will know of Lowtown as the neighbouring district to Blackthorn. It’s where Caitlin from Blood Shadows lived, where the TSCD is based as well as the penitentiary too. However, the plight of those struggling to survive in Lowtown has remained peripheral for my readers whilst I remained focused on the Blackthorn story. Now seems to be the perfect time to delve into unexplored corners of this stratified and corrupt society and, with it, even deeper into the world.
HOW BLACKTHORN AND LOWTOWN WILL DIFFER
Set against a backdrop of social unrest my readers will be familiar with, Lowtown books will retain the same dark and gritty urban feel as Blackthorn. The romances will be just as intense and the struggles just as severe.
However, unlike their Blackthorn predecessors, each Lowtown story will be a standalone. They’ll also be completely independent of the overarching plot that runs through my eight Blackthorn books. One or two familiar names or places might appear though. 😉
AND THAT’S NOT ALL…
In 2019, I will also be bringing something brand new to my readers. As well as two spin-off titles, I have signed another book with Piatkus – one that is far removed from the familiar urban dystopia of Blackthorn and Lowtown. Expect chills and mystery set against a rural backdrop, as well as more romance of course!
THE YEAR AHEAD
I’m thrilled to finally be able to reveal this news to you – and I hope you’re just as pleased to hear it. Thank you to all of my readers who regularly contact me to share their thoughts, particularly with what you enjoy about my writing and what you’d like more of. You’ve helped shape what I’m going to do next.
Well, it’s certainly going to be a busy year ahead! Our Blackthorn finale is due for publication before the end of the year and now the first Lowtown book is scheduled for release this November. That means we’ll have double the cover reveals, double the blurb reveals, be concluding Blackthorn as well as launching Lowtown… I think we’re going to have a lot of fun with this, and I can’t wait! Of course, it also means I might not be around as much as usual for the first part of this year, but I promise I’ll keep you updated as often as possible.
Thank you for being there, for supporting my writing up to now and, by doing so, for helping this happen. 2017, here we come!!
**UPDATE**
A huge thank you to Piatkus Fiction for sharing the announcement on their Facebook page, and for all the wonderful comments already being left on their post.
And thank you to everyone who is supporting this announcement across social media. I’m truly overwhelmed! <3
It’s cold, the wind is howling, the rain is thrashing against the windows and it’s already dark outside. But who cares? It’s Christmas Eve Eve! I love Christmas Eve Eve, especially with a whole Christmas weekend ahead. I’m still not completely convinced I’m as organised as I should be though – or as I think I am. I’m about to find out as soon as I finish this post!
Above: Can’t imagine why my hubby thought this folder was so suitable for me…
It’s been a busy year, that’s for sure. 2016 saw the publication of two Blackthorn books – Blood Instinct back in May and then Blood Bound in September. Since then I’ve been well underway on the series finale: Blood Broken. But that’s not all I’ve been working on. With Blackthorn coming to an end in 2017, I’ve also been developing ideas for my next projects. I’ll be sharing news about those very early next month. I hope you’ll be as excited about them as I am!
Before I switch off for Christmas and the New Year though, I want to offer my usual heartfelt thanks to all of my amazing readers who have been a part of my 2016. Whether you have supported me here, via social media, email, or by rating and reviewing my books, you have made a HUGE difference to both my series and to me. Thank you so much for being there.
Above: Christmas is now underway in the Pryor household.
Here’s wishing you a fantastic Christmas as well as health, peace and happiness in the year ahead. I hope to ‘see’ you in 2017 for our Blackthorn finale as well as what I plan to be a lot of fun in the build-up to its publication!
I’ve been nominated for TWO awards in the GraveTells 2016 Readers Choice Awards! Blackthorn has been nominated for ‘MOST OUTSTANDING SERIES’ and I’ve been nominated for ‘MOST ENGAGING AUTHOR’. I’m thrilled!
I would absolutely love your votes if you could spare a couple of minutes. It’s really quick and easy. Just click on this link and scroll through to find my categories. Bookouture are also up for an award so I’ve no doubt they’d love your vote too.
Every single vote counts, so please support me if you can. I can’t do this without you! Huge thanks to everyone who has already joined in.
