Lucienne Diver's Blog: Lucienne Diver's Drivel, page 15

AVOIDABLE CONTACT by Tammy Kaehler

 Tammy Kaehler’s latest Kate Reilly racing mystery, AVOIDABLE CONTACT, is out today!  (Along with some other amazing reads you might have heard me tweet, blog, Facebook or otherwise crow about: BLOOD GAMES by Chloe Neill, DOWNFALL by Rob Thurman and DUST AND LIGHT by Carol Berg.)

Thus, I have Tammy here today to talk about why she writes what she writes.  Enjoy!  (And, really, check out Kate Reilly in DEAD MAN’S SWITCH, BRAKING POINTS and AVOIDABLE CONTACT.  Not to oversell, but I love her work because she reminds me of Dick Francis set in the auto racing world!)

* My Secret Motive by Tammy Kaehler

When I promote my mystery series about a female racecar driver, I’m usually talking to mystery fans, in which case I have to “sell” the racing aspect (You don’t have to know racing to enjoy it! You’ll learn something new!), or I’m talking to racing fans, to whom I’m usually “selling” the idea of reading at all or reading a mystery (You can take the race home with you! Learn even more about the sport you love!).

Two of the three reasons why I write the books are because I love mysteries, especially those in which the reader learns something, and because I am fascinated by racing and want to share what I’ve learned with others.

The third reason is because I love reading about women kicking ass.

I don’t talk about that last reason quite as much as the others, because I’m not sure it’s the selling point for the broadest segment of my reading audience—and when I have limited character space or attention span in which to reach people, I want a message with broad appeal.

But I’m tired of not talking about it. I want more role models of women kicking ass and taking names. Even if they’re fictional. We need them!

So if you like strong women who are succeeding in a man’s world, check out Kate Reilly. I’m doing my best to have her make all of us women proud!

(*Photocredit S. James Photography)

_______________

Book Blurb:

Racecar driver Kate Reilly is suited up and ready for the start of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona. But what lies ahead is not just a racing challenge but a harrowing test of her will and nerve off the course.

Even before the green flag waves over Daytona International Speedway, Kate receives word her boyfriend Stuart is hospitalized nearby in a coma, fighting for his life after a hit-and-run. Stunned by the news, Kate can do nothing better for Stuart than complete her scheduled laps driving her team’s car. But more shocks follow as Daytona’s clock starts ticking. An on-track accident ends tragically. Some of her complicated family is spotted with other teams—why? And an eyewitness claims Stuart was run down deliberately by someone from the race paddock.

Alternating stints behind the wheel of the team’s Corvette with stretches of quizzing colleagues and searching for clues, Kate circles the police and taps every possible source—friend, foe, and family—to find out who’s after Stuart and why. As the race clock counts down to zero hour, Kate must come to terms with her own fears rising from her past and decide who she’s willing to trust. Only then can she identify who’s willing to kill to keep a secret buried.

Series Quotes:

AVOIDABLE CONTACT

“This book revs the suspense past 10,000 RPM on the first page and keeps it there until the last. Tammy Kaehler sure-handedly steers readers deep into the world of endurance racing with an entertaining cast of characters. I’d ride shotgun with Kate Reilly any day.”

—Brad Parks, Shamus-, Nero-, and Lefty-Award-winning author of The Player

“Snappy dialogue, a smart and affable heroine (who calls to mind auto racer Danica Patrick), and pacing reminiscent of 24 combine to make this entry as exciting as a spin around the speedway.”

—Publishers Weekly

“I have absolutely loved watching how Kate has developed through the first few books, and thoroughly enjoyed how close to reality Tammy has made so many of the racing-related storylines that Kate finds herself in. This series always leaves me wanting more, so I cannot wait to keep reading and see what’s next on the horizon for my fellow female racing driver!”

—Pippa Mann, IndyCar driver

BRAKING POINTS (winner of the Motorsport Book Award from the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association)

“Kate’s second outing is just as fast-paced as her first, balancing mystery and racing adventure all the way to the checkered flag.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Kaehler’s second Kate Reilly mystery (after 2011’s Dead Man’s Switch) races through a packed plot and skillful dialogue nearly as expertly as driver Kate threads her way through a racecourse.” —Publishers Weekly

“Kaehler ably steers her second series entry (after Dead Man’s Switch) through the exciting world of auto racing. Action from page one ensures an engrossing read with abundant twists in the plot. This is certainly for Danica Patrick fans and pairs nicely with Simon Wood’s racing series or Steve Ulfelder’s Conway Sax series.” —Library Journal

“Few novels cater to the auto sporting community, and fewer still convincingly portray any form of car racing, but Braking Points does both in the guise of a spirited mystery.” —New York Journal of Books

“Reilly is a likeable character. She’s not perfect, but her flaws humanize her, which contrasts nicely with the public image put forth by the drivers and their publicity teams throughout the book. It’s a terrific balance of the media image versus the private people behind them – a balance that seems to be bleeding into more professions than ever these days.” —Criminal Element

“just as fast-paced as the first novel, Dead Man’s Switch, this new mystery offers a perfect balance of suspense with sports.

“Quill says: This is one racing adventure that readers will continue to enjoy until that checkered flag is waved. Enjoy!” — Feathered Quill

“Like Francis, who takes readers inside the world of horse racing, Kaehler’s books take readers backstage at racing events with full pit, hauler and motor home access.” — Pressdog* Woman of Pressdog (popular racing blogger)

“… Kate once again proves she belongs in the driver’s seat, with Kaehler expertly taking the reader into the mind of a race car driver doing 140 mph on the backstretch…Braking Points is a fun read and you’ll literally be on the edge of your racing seat wondering who done it!” —Corvette Blogger (popular with Corvette enthusiasts)

King’s River Life magazine: “Kaehler explores and explains in an easily understandable way the complex world of competitive racing, from the intricate rules to the toll it takes on the drivers. The author skillfully approaches the mystery using a completely unique approach and opens the fascinating world of competitive car racing seen through the eyes of a woman to the reader. Kate’s strength, reliance on her friends, and the trust she places on her team make her an admirable and very engaging heroine.” —King’s River Life Magazine

“This is a solid mystery with as many twists and turns as a racetrack. The plot weaves on and off the road in a complex pattern that comes to a screeching conclusion in the last few pages.” —In My Words

“Tammy Kaehler provides a fascinating insider perspective of racecars and their drivers in Braking Points, the second mystery in this series featuring Kate Reilly…. The cast of characters in Braking Points are really quite extraordinary, from Kate Reilly herself to team owner Jack Sandham to her best friend Holly. As might be expected of a racing-themed mystery, the pace of the story is fast, quickly moving from one scene to the next, never veering too far off-track, as it were. There is a nice balance of suspense and adventure to the story, one that will have readers anxiously anticipating the metaphorical finish line of the book.” —Mysterious Reviews

 

DEAD MAN’S SWITCH

“Kaehler’s clear explanations of technical jargon make the racing world come alive. An engaging debut; I can’t wait to see where Kate and the crew go next.” —Library Journal

“[A] winning debut…Even those unfamiliar with this world will appreciate Kaehler’s vivid descriptions of the intricate teamwork involved in racing, the amazing equipment, the split-second decision making required of the driver, and the pulse-pounding race itself.” —Publishers Weekly

“L.A. pumps out standard-issue whodunits with the regularity of racetrack car accidents. What sets Tammy Kaehler’s first-time effort apart is its slam-bang setting—and the ease with which this former technical writer renders descriptions of her fancy equipment.” –Los Angeles Magazine, Critic’s Pick for August

“Dead Man’s Switch” will appeal to race fans and to people like me who love a good mystery. Kaehler gives us adventure with lots of twists and turns and the promise of more to come in future books. A good book for a quick weekend or rainy day read.” —Suspense Magazine

“Every sport has its dark side and Tammy Kaehler blows the lid off the world of motorsport.”  —Simon Wood, Author of Did Not Finish

“Dead Man’s Switch is a great read whether you’re a NASCAR fan who never reads mysteries or a mystery fan who knows nothing about racing. And if you love both cars and crime fiction, it’s a must-read. Kate Reilly is smart and tough and engaging—and she sure can drive. And Tammy Kaehler sure can write.” —Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity-award winning author of A Date You Can’t Refuse

“Tammy Kaehler’s debut novel, Dead Man’s Switch, takes the reader on a glorious spin through the fascinating, dangerous world of sports car racing. Her heroine, Kate Reilly, is smart, believable and resourceful, an up-and-comer in the high stakes world of fast cars, fast living, and sometimes deadly competition. Fasten your seat belts and get ready for one high-G-force read.” —Wendy Hornsby, Edgar-award winning author of The Paramour’s Daughter

“… chock full of [good drama]. The characters were full of life and completely believable. Kate was aggressive but not pushy, and she didn’t make a big deal of being a ‘female driver’ … which quickly gets old. I really hope this becomes a series.” —Fresh Fiction

“Pedal to the metal from start to finish, Tammy Kaehler’s sensational debut is a high-octane whodunit so real you can smell burnt rubber and racing fuel. Displaying a veteran’s writing skills, Kaehler’s Kate Reilly series is off to a jackrabbit start!” —Julia Spencer-Fleming, author of One Was a Soldier

“Kaehler’s debut wraps the reader in layers of racing detail.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A tale of mystery and intrigue that involves Corvettes and racing will often move high on a recreational reading list…[Kaehler] became interested in racing after a visit to a hospitality suite. That day led to intense research and a quest for accuracy that will appeal to the knowledge race enthusiast.” —Auto Enthusiast

“Kudos to Kaehler and Poisoned Pen Press for assembling a solid package of a debut novel with an interesting lead character and a real hook for mystery lovers. I look forward to more books in the series.”—Bookgasm

New Releases

Since I’m going to be on a plane for Australia this coming Thursday – Sydney for the 2014 Romance Writers of Australia Conference! – I’m posting about my exciting releases over the next couple of weeks today.  I do hope to have at least some access to social media while I’m gone (otherwise, withdrawal symptoms will set in), I want to be absolutely sure to spread the word on these fabulous new releases.

Coming August 5th:

 DUST AND LIGHT by Carol Berg

National bestselling author Carol Berg returns to the world of her award-winning Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone with an all-new tale of magic, mystery, and corruption….

How much must one pay for an hour of youthful folly? The Pureblood Registry accused Lucian de Remeni-Masson of “unseemly involvement with ordinaries,” which meant only that he spoke with a young woman not of his own kind, allowed her to see his face unmasked, worked a bit of magic for her….After that one mistake, Lucian’s grandsire excised half his magic and savage Harrowers massacred his family. Now the Registry has contracted his art to a common coroner. His extraordinary gift for portraiture is restricted to dead ordinaries—beggars or starvelings hauled from the streets.

But sketching the truth of dead men’s souls brings unforeseen consequences. Sensations not his own. Truths he cannot possibly know and dares not believe. The coroner calls him a cheat and says he is trying to weasel out of a humiliating contract. The Registry will call him mad—and mad sorcerers are very dangerous….

(*Check out the Author’s blog for contests and appearances!)

 BLOOD GAMES by Chloe Neill (#10 in the New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series)

“IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A VAMPIRIC ROLE MODEL, YOU COULDN’T DO ANY BETTER THAN MERIT….CHICAGO IS LUCKY TO HAVE HER.”—#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Charlaine Harris

While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet….

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

(*Chloe Neill is running a big giveaway right now, including a grand prize of a Kindle Paperwhite, audiobooks and all kinds of Cadogan House swag.  Check it out!)

 DOWNFALL by Rob Thurman (#9 in the New York Times bestselling Cal Leandros series)

I let it go—all of it. Everything I’d been saving up all my life, building and growing inside me, too much to hold in one half-human body. It pushed and fought to be free with a force that turned me into a bomb with a timer vibrating on zero. I was free.

But so was everything I’d fought so hard not to be….

Brothers Cal and Niko Leandros know trouble when they see it—and then proceed to wipe the floor with it. But now it seems their whole world is falling to pieces. Cal’s nightmarish monster side is growing ever stronger, changing Cal physically as well as mentally. Which is exactly what Grimm—Cal’s savage doppelgänger—wants. And when a covert supernatural organization decides that it’s time to put Cal down before he threatens pretty much everything else in existence, the brothers find themselves in a fight they actually might lose. But the dark temptations Cal has denied all his life may prove to be exactly what can save them.

Even if he must fall forever…

(*The author is running a fabulous contest until August 9th for signed copies and prints of some special character pics.)

Coming August 12th:

 BLACK ICE by Susan Krinard (#2 in the Midgard Series, which started with MIST and the novella FREEZE WARNING)

New York Times bestselling author Susan Krinard continues the thrilling urban fantasy series that began with Mist in Black Ice.

Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie known as Mist one of the only survivors.

Or so she thought.

The trickster god Loki has reappeared in San Francisco, and he has big plans for modern-day Earth. With few allies and fewer resources—but the eyes of the gods and goddesses of an old world upon her—it’s up to Mist to stop him before history repeats itself.

RWA, etc.

This year’s RWA was pretty amazing for me.  First, I LOVE San Antonio.  The Riverwalk is beautiful, peaceful, lush and a great place to visit.  Second, the people were, as always, fabulous.  I love catching up with my authors, meeting new people, finding myself standing next to a longtime heroine of mine (Susan Elizabeth Phillips) and trying not to fangirl.  I was blown away by the party settings and the innovative ways the publishers made their events special, from photo ops to flower pins and hairclips made from book pages.  Every time I thought, “This setting has =got= to be the best” I had to revise my opinion when I reached the next event.  In short, the publishers blew out all the stops and I enjoyed every moment of the conference.  So that you can share a bit of it with me, here are some pics.  Not nearly all I wanted to take (ref. my attempts not to fangirl), but a good representation.

Me and the stellar Vicky Dreiling!

Next week I’m off to the Romance Writers of Australia Conference in Sydney.  So excited!

NEXUS!

HUGE CONGRATULATONS to Ramez Naam, whose awesome sf thriller NEXUS is a finalist for this year’s Endeavor Award!

 

RWA National

About to head to the airport for the Romance Writers of America’s Annual Conference.  Days and days of meetings, appointments, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, drinks, parties and sleep deprivation.  I love it!  A chance to reconnect with clients, editors, bloggers and friends.  For anyone looking for me, I’m doing the agent appointments.  I’ll also be part of the big Literacy Signing tonight and the Samhain signing from 1-2:30 on Saturday.  Come and find me!

In other news, Amy Christine Parker was kind enough to fly solo yesterday on our YA Rebels vlog. Check her out!  She’s talking about storyboarding and SAVE THE CAT.

 

That’s all for now.  “See” you next week with pics from RWA!

Bucket Lists

This week for the YA Rebels, Amy Christine Parker and I reveal our crazy bucket lists.  Come on, we all have them!  We’d love to hear about yours as well.

New YA Revels vlog wherein we expose our dark sides

Is it me or do I sound awfully perky for the conversation?  Hmm.  Anyway, in case you missed it, Amy Christine Parker and I talk about what we do in the name of research this week with the YA Rebels!

“Where Does the Author End and the Character Begin?” By D.B. Jackson

To celebrate yesterday’s release of the third novel in D.B. Jackson‘s wonderful Thieftaker series from Tor Books, I’ve asked him to come talk about the division between character and writer.  A PLUNDER OF SOULS, the latest novel, is also my favorite in the series so far…and just wait until you get to book #4, DEAD MAN’S REACH!  The series just keeps getting better and better.  But more about that later.  For now, I present to you:

 “Where Does the Author End and the Character Begin?” By D.B. Jackson

 

How many times have you read a story or book and assumed that the protagonist was, on some level, speaking for the author, or that the experiences of the author’s point of view character were in some way autobiographical? It’s hard not to make such assumptions. Perversely, the better the writing, the more convincing the character development, the more this becomes a problem. The narrating character becomes so real and so convincing that it’s hard to imagine how he or she could be entirely imagined. I’ve been writing for the better part of two decades, and still sometimes, when reading a great book, I forget that the author and the hero do not necessarily have a lot in common.

Ethan Kaille, the thieftaking, conjuring hero of my Thieftaker Chronicles (Thieftaker, Thieves’ Quarry, and, most recently, A Plunder of Souls), a historical urban fantasy series set in pre-Revolutionary Boston, is very much a man of the eighteenth century. He has lived a hard life, he’s a loner, and he makes his living in the violent streets of a lawless city. Aside from his fine physique and devastating good looks, he and I have very little in common.

[Tapping foot and glaring] As soon as Lucienne stops laughing I’ll continue . . .

Kidding aside, Ethan and I are very different people, not only because we live in different times, not only because he has access to magic and I don’t, but because I have worked hard to make him his own man, with a life history and personality that have nothing to do with me. He is braver than I am, and more willing to rely on his physical strength in moments of crisis. He is self-reliant to the point of being standoffish, a product, no doubt, of having survived years as a prisoner, laboring under brutal conditions on a sugar plantation in Barbados. Time and again, he has proved himself far stronger than I ever could have been.

Do we have some attributes in common? Sure. We’re both rash and quick-tempered at times. We’re both utterly devoted to the people we love. And we both pride ourselves on our integrity.

The fact is, though, being similar to or different from our characters comes down to much more than just a catalog of qualities. We are all collections of attributes, positive and negative, and invariably we are going to share some of those qualities with our protagonists, and be their polar opposites with respect to others. What still surprises me about characters in general — and what has surprised me about Ethan from the beginning of the series — is the choices he makes.

Let’s start with the fact that Ethan is a Loyalist, also known as a Tory: put another way, he is a supporter of the Crown and Parliament in their dispute with the American colonists over taxation and representation. Without in any way wanting to start a political argument, I know myself and my leftward political leanings well enough to understand that there is no way I would have been on that side of the argument. But despite my own Whig leanings, Ethan made it clear to me from the outset that, because of his service in the British Navy as a younger man, and in part as well because of his conservative temperament, he has no tolerance for rabble-rousers like Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty. This changes somewhat after the British occupation of Boston begins in the second Thieftaker book, Thieves’ Quarry, but still, his political tendencies are nothing like mine.

And then there is this moment, also from Thieves’ Quarry, when Ethan truly shocked me. Late in the story, he explains to someone all that has been done with “magick” over the course of events described in the novel. The man to whom he is speaking is horrified and nearly orders Ethan from his house. “If this power you wield can give and take life with such ease,” the man asks, “how can such a thing not be evil?”

“I carry a knife on my belt,” Ethan answers. “I can take a life with it. Does that make the knife evil? Or does the question of good or evil fall to the man holding the blade?”

The argument should sound familiar. It is basically the same as “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.”

As I said before, I am not trying to start a political discussion about gun rights or, for that matter, any other issue. But I’m a political progressive, and it would never occur to me to make an argument like this in favor of gun ownership. And to be clear, I didn’t make the argument. Those were my character’s words, not mine; I didn’t know he would speak them until I typed the line. I realized immediately, though, that it was absolutely the right thing for him to say.

For those who don’t understand how an author can create a character without knowing him or her fully and without making intentional choices about that person’s politics, or tastes, or personality, I can only say that it happens. Yes, I have an idea of what my characters will be like. I try to give them certain traits, I fill in their backstory, I guide them through my narratives. But still, my characters surprise me all the time, doing and saying things that I neither planned nor expected. To be honest, it’s one of the greatest rewards of writing. When my characters surprise me in some way, be it with an unexpected comment or some plot-changing action, it tells me that the character has taken on a life of his or her own, and has become as close to sentient as a fictional being can be. It’s kind of cool, actually.

Ethan and I are not the same person. We have some common traits. I like him, admire him, respect him. At times I find him exasperating. I would like to think that if he could know me, he’d like and respect me, too. But I’m not at all sure he would. I do know that if I were to try to control him more forcefully — if I were to try to make him more like me in his actions, thoughts, and emotional responses — he would lose something vital and would be less convincing and compelling as a narrator for the Thieftaker books. So, I’m glad to give him his independence, and I expect he’s glad to have it. I’m sure, though, that he’d rather you didn’t share that bit of insight with Samuel Adams.

 

*****

A Sampling of Praise for the Series:

A PLUNDER OF SOULS

“This engaging third entry in Jackson’s Thieftaker series (following 2013’s Thieves’ Quarry) ably mashes up the historical with the fantastic… Jackson is an increasingly reliable tour guide to America’s colonial past.” —Publishers Weekly

“A Plunder of Souls is a terrific addition to the Thieftaker Chronicles. D.B. Jackson shows once again that he knows how to pull all the right strings to create one creative story. As I have said if you thought that Thieves Quarry was great wait till you get your hands on A Plunder of Souls, it’s even better, D.B. Jackson has really outdone himself.” —The Book Plank

THIEVES’ QUARRY

“With solidly developed characters, the vivid depiction of 18th-century Boston, and a seamless blending of realism and fantasy, this sequel to Thieftaker should interest fans of historical fantasy, alternate history and period mysteries.” —Library Journal

“I literally read this book in one sitting. Its fast pace, shocking crime, vivid historical setting, and the twists and turns of intrigue and suspicion totally absorbed me.” —Kate Elliott, author of King’s Dragon

“D.B. Jackson’s writing is amazing and Thieves’ Quarry is even better than the first book. Absolutely enthralling and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a wonderful read!” —Kat Richardson, author of Greywalker

“The Thieftaker series is a tour de force. There is no way to get enough of it– and I LOVE Thieves’ Quarry. This is definitely the best new series of the decade!” —Faith Hunter, author of the Jane Yellowrock books

THIEFTAKER

Named one of the Best Fantasy Books of 2012 by SciFiChick.com

Named “Best First Book in a Series” for 2012 (one of two books so honored) by the Word Nerds.

“The author does an impressive job of weaving fantasy into historical fiction, and even introduces a few familiar names from . . . the Stamp Act from American history . . . With plenty of adventure, mystery, magic, drama, and thrills – genre fans won’t want to miss this one. Thieftaker is a fantastic series debut that I can’t wait to see continue.” —SciFiChick.com

“Thieftaker is a bit like the Dresden Files meets Johnny Tremain, combining magical crime-solving with the Revolutionary War. At first, it sounds like a strange combination, but it works and I’m already looking forward to the sequel . . . A fun read.” —The Word Nerds Book Banter

“Jackson has an enviable gift for detail, the ability to put his reader smack-dab in a location (Boston, 1765) with such intensity that you can hear the burr in voices, smell the smoke and tea in the air, and wince when the hero gets punched in the face . . . Thieftaker is a delicious murder mystery sundae, with a sprinkle of supernatural bravado and a few famous historical figures for cherries on top.” —Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show

*****

Author Bio:

D.B. Jackson is also David B. Coe, the award-winning author of more than a dozen fantasy novels. His first two books as D.B. Jackson, the Revolutionary War era urban fantasies, Thieftaker and Thieves’ Quarry, volumes I and II of the Thieftaker Chronicles, are both available from Tor Books in hardcover and paperback. The third volume, A Plunder of Souls, has recently been released in hardcover. The fourth Thieftaker novel, Dead Man’s Reach, is in production and will be out in the summer of 2015. D.B. lives on the Cumberland Plateau with his wife and two teenaged daughters. They’re all smarter and prettier than he is, but they keep him around because he makes a mean vegetarian fajita. When he’s not writing he likes to hike, play guitar, and stalk the perfect image with his camera.

Social Media:

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“The Second Time Around…” by J. Kathleen Cheney

J. Kathleen Cheney’s second novel, THE SEAT OF MAGIC, came out last week.  It’s an amazing novel, sequel to THE GOLDEN CITY, which was a finalist for the Locus Award for Best First Novel and received special acclaim as a best book of 2013 from Library Journal and Ranting Dragon!  She’s here today to talk about what she’s learned since then.

The Second Time Around… by J. Kathleen Cheney

For a bit of background, my novel The Seat of Magic debuted last week, right before the July 4th weekend, which was wonderful timing. The sequel to The Golden City, it’s a Historical Fantasy set in an alternate 1902 Portugal, with nonhumans and humans working together to stop two strings of murders in a city where the nonhumans have been banned.

Yes, my new book is a sequel. I’ve been through this book debut business before, and I learned some things from my first debut that have made this one much easier. So here are a few hints—for those aspiring writers out there—of what to expect when your turn comes around.

 

1) Reviews trickle in.

I don’t know why I had this perception before, but I believed (wrongly) that all the major outlets (Publisher’s Weekly, RT, Library Journal, Kirkus, etc.) would review my book months in advance.

Where I got that idea, I have no clue. They’re human, just like me, and they have to juggle a TBR pile far larger than mine. So this time around, I haven’t spent hours refreshing the webpages, wondering when they’ll get my review up. I’ve been more patient, and it’s been a less stressful experience for me. (The same goes for reader reviews, by the way. Not everyone will read your book the day it comes out…because hundreds of other books will come out on the same day!)

 

2) Things will go wrong, and it won’t be the end of the world.

Of the three signings I had set up for the debut of Book 1, two were hit by ice storms. Yes, even though you plan months in advance for everything to be perfect, things will happen that are simply beyond your control.

 

3) You don’t control those sales numbers either, so spend your time elsewhere.

As a brand-spanking-new writer, it’s easy to get hooked on refreshing Amazon every few minutes to see your author ranking change. (Going up, one hopes.) But knowing your sales figures doesn’t improve them. Concentrate on the things that you can affect to build readership instead, whether it’s blogging, making appearances, of writing something good. In fact, that has to be your first priority, because as a writer, you always need to be working on something new.

 

4) Expect a troll or two.

I’m a fairly inoffensive person online, so I was surprised to be hit by a troll reviewer within a day or two of my book’s debut. I couldn’t imagine why this reviewer was passionate enough about my book to write two full pages on why she didn’t like it, but she did. The truth is, someone is always going to dislike my writing, and they are going to talk about it online. I learned very quickly to spot that kind of reviews and walk away. It’s going to happen, but I don’t have to read them.

 

5) Enjoy where you are.

Not enjoying your novel debut is a bit like climbing to the top of Mt. Everest and not stopping to look around. Thousands of people would love to be where you are.

So expect a few things not to turn out like you’d hoped. That’s inevitable. Enjoy all the ones that do turn out the way you planned. Enjoy the signings and tweets from happy readers. Enjoy the blog posts and good reviews and friendly FB comments. Enjoy.

 

And then get back to writing…

 ________________________________

 BLURB for The Seat of Magic

Magical beings have been banned from the Golden City for decades, though many live there in secret. Now humans and nonhumans alike are in danger as evil stalks the streets, growing more powerful with every kill….

It’s been two weeks since Oriana Paredes was banished from the Golden City. Police consultant Duilio Ferreira, who himself has a talent he must keep secret, can’t escape the feeling that, though she’s supposedly returned home to her people, Oriana is in danger.

Adding to Duilio’s concerns is a string of recent murders in the city. Three victims have already been found, each without a mark upon her body. When a selkie under his brother’s protection goes missing, Duilio fears the killer is also targeting nonhuman prey.

To protect Oriana and uncover the truth, Duilio will have to risk revealing his own identity, put his trust in some unlikely allies, and consult a rare and malevolent text known as The Seat of Magic….

 ________________________________

Great Quotes for the Series

THE SEAT OF MAGIC

“[A] killer sequel…Intriguing and fun, the mystery unfolds like a socially conscious tour through a cabinet of curiosities.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[M]esmerizing.” —Publishers Weekly

“This second entry in the Golden City series is even better than its predecessor. Readers will be completely enthralled with the characters and the organic development of their relationship. It is a sheer delight to see more of Oriana and her people… Add to that an engaging world filled with selkies, sereia and the prohibition of magic and you won’t want to put The Seat of Magic down. This reviewer couldn’t help falling for the hot hero, whose banter with Oriana is awesome; their sweet romance is utterly charming.” —Romantic Times

 THE GOLDEN CITY

“VERDICT Cheney’s debut is a masterpiece of historical fantasy, set in early 1900s Portugal, a time and place rarely explored in English-language fiction. The fascinating mannerisms of the age and the extreme formality of two people growing fonder of each other add a charmingly fresh appeal that will cross over to romance fans as well as to period fantasy readers.” —Library Journal, Starred Review

“Cheney’s The Golden City pulls readers in right off the bat, as the story kicks off with our heroine in a desperate situation that will leave you rooting for her almost instantly. Oriana’s “extra” abilities are thoroughly intriguing and readers will love the crackling banter and working relationship between Oriana and Duilio.” —Romantic Times

“An ambitious debut from Cheney: part fantasy, part romance, part police procedural and part love letter to Lisbon in the early 1900s.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The Golden City is easily my vote for this year’s best debut novel, and Cheney has made her way to my must-read list.” —Ranting Dragon

“I honestly cannot wait to read what Cheney writes next.” – Bookworm Blues

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Author Bio

J. Kathleen Cheney is a former teacher and has taught mathematics ranging from 7th grade to Calculus, with a brief stint as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. Her short fiction has been published in Jim Baen’s Universe, Writers of the Future, and Fantasy Magazine, among others, and her novella “Iron Shoes” was a 2010 Nebula Award Finalist. Her novel, “The Golden City” is a Finalist for the 2014 Locus Awards (Best First Novel).

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheneyJKathleen

Twitter: @jkcheney

Website: http://www.jkathleencheney.com

New Releases

So excited about all the new releases this month and recent rereleases!  In no particular order, I’m pleased to crow about:

SEAT OF MAGIC by J. Kathleen Cheney, the sequel to her award winning debut fantasy novel THE GOLDEN CITY.

 THIEFTAKER and THIEVES’ QUARRY by D.B. Jackson, the first two novels in the author’s acclaimed “tricorn punk” fantasy series, now out in mass market. The third, A PLUNDER OF SOULS releases in hardcover (and digital, of course) tomorrow!

SOME GIRLS BITE and FRIDAY NIGHT BITES by Chloe Neill, the first two novels in the New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series are now out in mass market form.  So portable!  Best news – if you love them (and how could you not?), the series is on-going, with the tenth, BLOOD GAMES, coming out on August 5th.  Mark your calendars!