Nancy Bilyeau's Blog, page 3

'The Blue' Ebook Is .99 cents for Cyber Monday

Update: My novel THE BLUE, set in the 18th century and following a Huguenot painter's secret mission to discover the formula for the most beautiful shade of blue ever created, is discounted as an ebook in the United States and the United Kingdom.

I was fortunate enough to win endorsements for THE BLUE from some wonderful authors:
'Definitely a winner!' -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network
'Fascinating' -- Ian Rankin, author of the top-selling Rebus mystery series

‘...transports the reader into the heart of the 18th-century porcelain trade—where the price of beauty was death.’ - E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mystery series.

'Bilyeau is an impressive talent who brings to life a heart-stopping story of adventure, art and espionage.' - Stephanie Dray, author of My Dear Hamilton.
'With rich writing, surprising twists, and a riveting sense of 'you are there,' The Blue is spine-tingling entertainment.' – Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Assassins
To download an ebook in the US, go here.
To download an ebook in the UK, go here.

'The Blue' Ebook Is Free This Week

Flash Sale!

My novel THE BLUE, set in the 18th century and following a Huguenot painter's secret mission to discover the formula for the most beautiful shade of blue ever created, is free for the ebook in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The sale lasts until June 3rd.



I was fortunate enough to win endorsements for THE BLUE from some wonderful authors:
'Definitely a winner!' -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network
'Fascinating' -- Ian Rankin, author of the top-selling Rebus mystery series

‘...transports the reader into the heart of the 18th-century porcelain trade—where the price of beauty was death.’ - E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mystery series.

'Bilyeau is an impressive talent who brings to life a heart-stopping story of adventure, art and espionage.' - Stephanie Dray, author of My Dear Hamilton.
'With rich writing, surprising twists, and a riveting sense of 'you are there,' The Blue is spine-tingling entertainment.' – Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Assassins
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'The Fugitive Colours' Is Here

My sixth historical novel, The Fugitive Colours, is officially on sale!

London 1764. Genevieve Planché, from a family of Huguenot refugees, struggles to keep her silk-weaving business, her family, and her own nearly-crushed dreams of being an artist alive. An invitation to the house of leading painter Joshua Reynolds raises hopes that at last an art career is in reach. Genevieve soon learns that for the portrait painters ruling over the wealthy in London society, fame and fortune are there for the taking. But such high stakes spur rivalries that darken to sabotage and blackmail—and even murder. And watching from the shadows are ruthless spies who wish harm to all of England.



"Nancy Bilyeau's sequel to her breakout hit The Blue is a riveting read in its own right: a woman of ambition, and the net that weaves to take her down. Resourceful Genevieve Sturbridge struggles to keep her silk-weaving business, her family, and her own nearly-crushed dreams of being an artist alive in the stifling constraints of eighteenth century London, only to find herself embroiled in a web of plotting portraitists, seething courtiers, and international spies. Deftly written and deeply atmospheric, The Fugitive Colours is a book you'll have trouble putting down!" Kate Quinn, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Diamond Eye

"A worthy successor to Nancy Bilyeau's excellent The Blue. Genevieve Planché is back with another edge-of-your-seat mystery, packed with fascinating characters and rich, well-researched historical detail. The Fugitive Colours proves that Bilyeau is one of the best authors of historical thrillers working today." - Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow

"The Best Books to Read in May": The Fugitive Colours -- Town & Country magazine.

"A cracking historical spy thriller."- Historical Novel Society

To order the novel:

In the U.S., the book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Walmart, The Golden Notebook, and other retailers.

In the UK, the book is on Amazon, Waterstones and other retailers.

In Canada, the book is available on Amazon. 

In Australia, the book is available on Amazon and Dymocks Books and Gifts

 

Join Me on May 12th at One of My Fun Online Events

I'm launching my novel THE FUGITIVE COLOURS with an in-person event in Woodstock, NY, on May 14th.
But also I am doing two exciting online events on Thursday, May 12th, and I'd love to include you at one--or both!
 The first event is an online panel on historical fiction. I'll be joined by superb novelists Finola Austin (Bronte's Mistress), EM Powell (Canterbury Murder), Eva Stachniak (The School of Mirrors), and Cristina Loggia (Lucifer's Game).

The event is from 7 to 8 BST (GMT), which means that it's perfect for people in the UK. But anyone from all over the world can attend. (That's beginning at 2 pm EST and 11 am PST)

To register for the free event, click here.



The second event is a Facebook party from 5 pm to 7 pm EST, organized by Amy Bruno of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I'll read a little, announce the giveaway winners, and do an interview with fellow author Peter Andrews, who is an acclaimed writing coach. I plan to be on the front porch of my 1908 farmhouse in the Catskills. And I've asked four talented authors of new or upcoming books to stop by:
Evie Hawtrey (Sophie Perinot) on 'And By Fire'
Mariah Fredericks on 'The Lindbergh Nanny'
Ellen Marie Wiseman on 'The Lost Girls of Willowbrook'
Kris Waldherr on 'Unnatural Creatures'

You are all officially invited. I'd love to see you drop by. Click here to sign up and get the reminder: https://www.facebook.com/events/1180762386069959

And if you ARE local and would like to come to the Woodstock event on the 14th, you can get more information here.

Pre-Order 'The Fugitive Colours'

My historical novel 'The Fugitive Colours' goes on sale May 12th in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It comes in ebook and paperback formats and will be an audiobook too. 

In the U.S., the book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Walmart and other retailers.

In the UK, the book is on Amazon, Waterstones and other retailers.

 

Head's Up: A Discount for THE BLUE

My novel THE BLUE, set in the 18th century and following a Huguenot painter's secret mission to discover the formula for the most beautiful shade of blue ever created, is discounted to .99 for the ebook in the United States and the United Kingdom. The sale lasts until March 24th.

I was fortunate enough to win endorsements for THE BLUE from some wonderful authors:
'Definitely a winner!' -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network


‘...transports the reader into the heart of the 18th-century porcelain trade—where the price of beauty was death.’ - E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mystery series.

'Bilyeau is an impressive talent who brings to life a heart-stopping story of adventure, art and espionage.' - Stephanie Dray, author of My Dear Hamilton.
'With rich writing, surprising twists, and a riveting sense of 'you are there,' The Blue is spine-tingling entertainment.' – Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Assassins


For the U.S. ebook, click here. For the UK ebook, click here.
And if you're looking for a source of good fiction, at low prices sign up for the My Next Read newsletter here.

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway

Good news!

My publisher is giving away 10 copies of 'The Fugitive Colours.' The book will be published in May, but you can read it much sooner :)

To enter the giveaway competition, go here.

Here's an early review from a reader:

 rated it it was amazing"The Fugitive Colours is a sequel to Blue, a fascinating glimpse into the world of colour and porcelain painting in France before the revolution. I would highly recommend reading the first book as the background is important to fully understand the events taking place in the second book.

We are transported to 1764 England, where Genevieve Sturbridge is mistress of her own silk design workshop. A talented painter in her own right, she employs two other painters who help her produce designs that are more beautiful and original that any other designer at the time.

London is dirty, the air is foul and walking the streets is dangerous. Earning enough to support her household is becoming increasingly difficult. She has still not fully recovered from her traumatic experiences in France and she becomes alarmed when a serious of encounters with characters from her past begin to threaten the peace she has worked so hard for. Her experience as a former spy are crucial to her investigation of events unfolding around her as she feels her control slipping away, both with her work and her household.

Beautifully descriptive with believable characters, this is another one of those absorbing stories that will keep you up late at night."

Nancy's 2021 List: Historical Fiction and Suspense

I told a friend recently that I don't find enough time to read historical fiction, my favorite genre. The reason: I have a fulltime job, kids, and my own books to write. But after making this declaration, I took another look at my Kindle list and at the books stacked by my bed. And you know what? That statement is not in every respect accurate, as Ong Chi Seng said in one of my favorite films, Bette Davis's The Letter.

I've actually read quite a few historical novels in 2021! Now not all of them were published in this calendar year. But that's OK. People don't confine their reading to the year of publication.

So I decided to share my first-ever end-of-year reading list. And I have three reasons. 

First, I want to shine the light on these amazing authors. Some are big bestsellers, and some are with small publishers and frankly need more attention paid. 

The second reason is I realize that I walk a particular line in my reading. I like classic historical novels of queens and kings and soldiers and spies. But I also like murder mysteries and thrillers set in the past.

The third reason is I realize after examining my 2021 list that I read books set in "popular" eras: World War II and the Tudor era. But I enjoy stories in many, many other periods too, from 11th century England to 20th century Mexico and India. 

So without further ado, here is my list of fiction set in the past that I read in 2021...

Dazzlepaint, by Erica Obey. A layered murder mystery set in Woodstock in 1919 that draws on some deliciously eerie legends of the Catskills. 

The Lost Apothecary, by Sarah Penner. This page turner kept me up past 2 a.m. because I had to know what was going to happen to the characters in both 1791 London and the modern day city.

The Bombay Prince, by Sujata Massey. The third book in one of my favorite historical mystery series being written today. Bombay solicitor (and Zorastrian) Perveen Mistry is a fantastic protagonist!

Anticipation, by Melodie Winawer. I love it when science enters the story, and this thriller weaves medical mysteries and mystical possibilities into the rich history of Greece. 

The Women of Chateau Lafayette, by Stephanie Dray. You just have to stand back and applaud the skill of a novel running on different time tracks that manages to pull you into characters' lives like this.

Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I know I'm a little late to the party here, but I was blown away by the atmosphere and dark tension in this imaginative novel.

The Hollywood Spy, by Susan Elia MacNeal. I don't miss a Maggie Hope mystery. And this installment took Maggie to one of my favorite settings of fiction and film: 1940s Los Angeles. Superb pacing.

Cut From the Earth, by Stephanie Renee Dos Santos. This novel really gets at the drive to create art--and what it could cost someone in past centuries. I loved the "trip" to 18th century Lisbon.

The Strange Case of Eliza Doolittle, by Timothy Miller. A delightful reimagining of a Sherlock Holmes adventure, this is the first in a new series. Lots of surprises here!

The Nicholas le Floch Affair by Jean-François Parot. Yes, it was written in 2009. But I've just discovered this translated series set in pre-Revolutionary France thanks to the fantastic (and sexy) TV series running on MHz.

The Stolen Lady: A Novel of World War II and the Mona Lisa, by Laura Morelli. If somehow you didn't realize that art could be at the heart of page-turning mystery and emotional turmoil, then drop everything and start reading.

The Vanished Days, by Susanna Kearsley. I'm a longtime fan of this author, who always manages to marry haunting stories of love and loss to magnificent history. Here it's Scotland in the late 17th and 18th centuries.

Death of a Showman, by Mariah Fredericks. Gilded Age mysteries don't get much better than this series featuring resourceful lady's maid Jane Prescott. Here Jane dives into Broadway misdeeds.

Katharine Parr, the Sixth Wife, by Alison Weir. One of my favorite historians writing a novel about my favorite wife of Henry VIII? Irresistible. Weir's series found fresh angles to The Six.

The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn. When I hear the words "Bletchley Park," I come running. But it turns into a sprint when the book is by Quinn, who pens such stirring and beautifully researched historical stories.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue, by Fiona Davis. How could I not devour a novel set in one of my favorite buildings in all New York City--the New York Public Library? I loved the strong female protagonist.

The Steel Beneath the Silk, by Patricia Bracewell. Any fan of The Vikings or The Lost Kingdom needs to read this amazing series about the 11th century's Emma of Normandy.

Sharpe's Assassin, by Bernard Cornwell. Paris right after the Battle of Waterloo yields a fantastic setting for espionage and adventure. I interviewed Cornwell  for BookTrib on his writing career.

The City of Tears by Kate Mosse. An author who has deeply inspired me with her blend of suspense, historical atmosphere and richly drawn characters. And here she's writing about the Huguenots!

Next Year in Havana, by Chanel Cleeton. I was late to discovering this 2018 novel, but wow, this author knows how to write compelling characters and ripped-from-the-pages history. (And romance.)

I fear I may have left someone out from my reading list of the year and for that I fervently apologize!!

Head's Up: There are so, so many historical novels and mysteries coming out in 2022. I'm already looking forward to Garden of Sins by Laura Joh Rowland, The Strange Case of the Dutch Painter by Timothy Miller, The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb, And By Fire by Evie Hawtrey, The Prophet's Wife: A Novel of an American Faith by Libby Grant, and Unnatural Creatures by Kris Waldherr.

Sharing the Cover: 'The Fugitive Colours'

 I'm thrilled to reveal the cover of my next novel, The Fugitive Colours. The book will be published in May 2022 in the U.S., the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Here's the description of the book:

‘The Fugitive Colours’ reunites readers with Genevieve and again reveals the dazzling world of glamour and treachery in Georgian England. 

 

Now living and working in Spitalfields, Genevieve is struggling to keep her silk business afloat. When she one day receives a surprise invitation from an important artist, Genevieve grasps at the promise of a better life. 

 But she soon begins to suspect that her own secret past has more to do with her entrée into London society than her talent. One wrong move could cost her not just her artistic dreams but the love of those she holds dear. And watching from the shadows are ruthless spies who wish harm to all of England.

A sequel to Nancy Bilyeau’s The Blue, The Fugitive Colours again reveals a dazzling world of glamour and treachery in Georgian England, when beauty held more value than human life. She immerses readers in a fictionalized account of real lives and events whilst staying faithful to the historical and social context.

Nancy Bilyeau, a Michigan native, has worked as an editor on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, and Good Housekeeping. Passionate about history and art, she wrote an award-winning trilogy set in Tudor England before creating a heroine, Genevieve Planché, who holds personal significance. Nancy is descended from a Huguenot settler who came to America in 1661 and draws on her fascination with French Protestant refugees when writing the character of Genevieve Planché, a Huguenot artist. Today Nancy lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children.

You can preorder the paperback or ebook on amazon: https://tinyurl.com/fugitivecolours

I love the way it continues the visual look of The Blue:

Interview with Julieta Almeida Rodrigues

 A fellow member of the Historical Novel Society, Julieta Almeida Rodrigues, published a fascinating novel, Eleonora and Joseph: Passion, Tragedy and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment. I asked her recently about what's next in her writing plans.

JAR: Interesting that you should ask this question because your novel The Blue is still very much in my mind today, though I read it in 2018. At the time, I wrote a very short Review that read:  

 What I most loved about The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau is the idea! How art and money combine to form a magnificent 18th century tale of international espionage. As the daughter of a Portuguese collector who did not miss a porcelain sale in the famous Lisbon auction houses, I was brought up with the notion that the blue to be found in exclusive pieces was invaluable. As a child, I lived with these pieces around me. As an adult reader, I loved going back to The Blue and see how, in retrospective, my father had been so justified in his choice of what he sought to collect. 

 Three years later, I am starting a novel that incorporates your idea: that art and money combine in ways that are set to pleasing the eye and can lead to awe-inspiring plots. I am not going into details for the moment; I will only mention that I found a narrative for a work of art that I saw in Istanbul in 2013. It is an extraordinary piece, dating from the late eighteenth century, that makes me shiver every time I look at its reproductions. Two friends of mine from Columbia University wrote a non-fiction book about it. I recall their surprise – and their encouragement - when I said I would like to write a novel incorporating their work.

 Anyway, I designed a plot that combines two settings that are very dear to me: the area of Ajuda in Lisbon – where the attempted assassination of King José of Portugal (1714-1777) took place - and Constantinople (as Istanbul was known until the end of the Ottoman empire), where the piece of art I am referring to was conceived.

 The way ideas travel is wondrous at times. I just finished The Museum of Innocence, the novel by Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish Nobel Prize winner. I also read The Innocence of Objects, the illustrated catalogue of the objects which are part of the museum that Pamuk opened to bring the book alive. Pamuk says his idea for the novel and the museum came at the same time. His notion that objects have a life of their own is rather intriguing. I enjoyed this ideia much more than the love story; I found the romance tiresome at times. Pamuk says some collectors are bashful – they have a wound hidden inside a broken heart – and their collections are a consolation, a palliative for an invisible pain. I had never thought about it this way, but this was certainly the case with my father.

  Then he makes another challenging assertion. He says, “Our museum has been built on the contradictory desires to tell the stories of objects and to demonstrate timeless innocence.”

 Do objects have a timeless innocence? I find this view rather poetic. Objects conjure up feelings; but are they more innocent than people, if wittingly or unwittingly, we happen to compare them? The blue pigment of the porcelain pieces in your novel, The Blue, is far from innocent – and I love it that way!

 Nancy, thank you very much for this opportunity; I appreciate it. The beginning of a novel is a state of elation, and I feel very much at that threshold! 

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You can find out more about her novel on Goodreads. 

 

 To learn more about Julieta, go to  https://www.julietaalmeidarodriguesauthor.com/