Stephanie's February Blog

February 1, 2015

One month down, and our summer is largely absent. While those in northern climes deal with horrible winter storms, our usually hot and dry summer feels more like autumn - cool to cold nights and sunny-cloudy days. I just wish the rain would fall instead of just constantly threatening. Regardless, my garden is bounteous and beautiful - I just came in from picking Tigerella heirloom tomatoes and ordinary and Lebanese zucchinis. Nothing tastes better than home-grown vegetables.

But with one month gone, on the book front the excitement is building as we approach the release of The Tempting of Thomas Carrick on February 24. The story of Lucilla Cynster and Thomas Carrick’s romance, this book is spiced with mystery and a touch of the magical. We’ve included an Interview on some of the elements and challenges I encountered in writing this book - you can find it at this link - http://tinyurl.com/n2pk2lp

The Kirkus review says it all:

"A successful example of cross-genre experiments in which classic mystery and historical romance and even fantasy tropes are combined. The solution to the mystery is wonderfully unpredictable, and both Thomas and Lucilla are flawed and likeable characters. A fun and fast-moving read. Highly recommended."

And now...drum roll...the US/Canada arm of my publisher have dreamt up an extra special gift for my US/Canada readers to thank you for preordering THE TEMPTING OF THOMAS CARRICK. A Cynster Family Tree poster! Including all children up to 1837! If you have preordered this book - e-book or print - then all you need to do is click here (http://bit.ly/1FM4Lon%20) and register for the poster to be sent to you. This is not a sweepstakes, but a simple gift to you. If you haven’t yet pre-ordered, links can be found on the bookpage (http://tinyurl.com/lgh3n5y), and links for yet more retailers are on the registration page itself.

For all my non-US/Canada readers, we are working on finding a way to either include you in this, or in some way offer you the same opportunity to get one of these posters. Stay tuned. We continue to battle these territorial issues as best we can.

As with all my books, The Tempting of Thomas Carrick will be widely distributed in print formats as well as in a global e-book edition and audio editions.

Once you’ve absorbed Lucilla and Thomas’s story, you’ll be primed to dive right into A Match for Marcus Cynster, which will be released on May 26.

This book follows directly on from the end of THE TEMPTING OF THOMAS CARRICK and in many ways is a companion novel, as one might expect of the stories of twins. It will be released on May 26, 2015, in print, e-book and audio-book. A detailed description and pre-order links are on the book page - http://tinyurl.com/ljj4a58

I had intended to put up a series of rolling excerpts from this book, but - oops! - I realized that, as the two stories are so closely interlinked, the start of A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER gives away too much of the end of THE TEMPTING OF THOMAS CARRICK. So no excerpts from this book until well after the release of THE TEMPTING OF THOMAS CARRICK and much closer to the release date - most likely May 1, and as a Sneak Peek in the Email Newsletter in mid-April.

What we can share with you today is the stepback art from A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER. As I’ve mentioned previously, we are bringing back this additional art in all my books - both e-book and print editions - going forward. Click here to view the art -http://tinyurl.com/ljj4a58 Enjoy!

For those waiting for the paperback release of BY WINTER’S LIGHT, the paperback will be released on September 29, 2015.

BY WINTER’S LIGHT is the book that pivots from the preceding Cynster generation to the next. It was released in late October, and is available everywhere in e-book, audio-book, and in print (hardcover in US/Canada or trade-sized paperback in UK or ANZ). Links can be found on the book page. I know many of you have already enjoyed the experience of the snowbound Cynster Scottish holidays of 1837, packed with holiday traditions of yore, the delights of multiple generations under one roof, with a dash of adventure and a gentle romance, plus the seeds of romances to come.

Whether you have already read it or read it later this year, I hope you enjoy revisiting with the Cynsters and experiencing the atmosphere of their snow-bound Scottish holiday season.

So…What's Up Next?

The Tempting of Thomas Carrick will be released on February 24, 2015, in print, ebook, and audio editions. A longer description and pre-order links can be found on the book page, along with the stepback art, a long excerpt - all of Chapter 1 and 2, and the first scene in Chapter 3 (click on the cover to go to the book page).

A Match for Marcus Cynster will be released on May 26, 2015, in print, ebook, and audio editions. A longer description and pre-order links can be found on the book page, along with the stepback art (click on the cover to go to the book page). An excerpt will appear on May 1.

By Winter's Light will be released in mass market on September 29, 2015.


And then?

2016 will see the release of The Adventurers Quartet, a Regency-era adventure-romance quartet evolving from secondary characters encountered in The Lady Risks All, and also including some of your favorites from the Bastion Club and the Black Cobra novels. Think Regency buccaneers! The first volume is scheduled for release on December 29, 2015, the second volume on March 29, 2016, the third volume in the middle of the year, and the fourth and final volume will be with you in early 2017.

2017 will also bring 3 more Cynster novels, and after reading BY WINTER’S LIGHT, THE TEMPTING OF THOMAS CARRICK, and A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER, you’ll be able to guess which three Cynsters will get their romances next. Yes, those three - 2017 will be a very big year!

2018 will bring the next three Casebook of Barnaby Adair novels. I’m not completely certain which characters will feature, but you will have met those who have their romance in each book before.

And there’s many more stories on my TBW (to be written) List to follow after that. In short, there are lots more books coming your way.

If you want to keep abreast of details of what’s in the pipeline as well as being notified of my latest releases, joining my Email Newsletter List is the safest bet. It also carries links to exclusive sweepstakes and sneak peek excerpts. If you haven't yet joined, click on this link to join (http://www.stephanielaurens.com/newsl...) - it's easy!

Happy Reading!

Stephanie.