Category: Book Launch Blog Blitzkrieg
Celebrating with Friends
Everybody knows there is no better way to celebrate success than with friends! Today I am celebrating the 8-week anniversary of the release of The Sister Queens (hooray). But I want to take a moment to celebrate how special this day is for two of my fellow historical authors as well.
Today is the 4-week anniversary of Kate Quinn’s brilliant Empress of the Seven Hills. It is also the 4-week anniversary of Elizabeth Loupas’ entrancing The Flower Reader. Now I could go on all day about how wonderful these ladies’ books are – but why take my word for it? Both have received considerable praise since they hit shelves. 
Peeking Between the Pages say’s of Kate’s Empress:
The characters in this novel just jump out at you. They have a depth to them and the life in Ancient Rome is described so vividly you feel sure you are experiencing it all with your favorite characters.”
While Amy at Passages to the Past purrs:
No one does Ancient Rome quite like author Kate Quinn”
Damn straight!
Praise for Elizabeth’s book includes this from The True Book Addict:
The Flower Reader is rich storytelling and its characters are real and interesting. The historical details were obviously meticulously researched. Throw in some intrigue and scandal and we have a book that will appeal to all readers, not only fans of historical fiction.”
I hope you’ll forgive me for rounding out this book-realease anniversary celebration with a clip from the newest review of my own book. The Tulsa Book Review said:
The Sister Queens is historic fiction at its absolute finest. I simply cannot wait to see what this author does next. She’s already won herself a spot on my list of favorite authors. In all of its colorful prose, deep and eccentric characters, and historical brilliance, this book can be summed up with one word: phenomenal. Brava!”
Happy anniversary ladies! And many, many happy returns.
Celebrating a 5-Star Review from Let Them Read Books
Put on your party hats! There is something to celebrate! The Sister Queens just received an extremely laudatory and exquisitely written review at Let Them Read Books. Lines like these had me blushing at my desk:
Sophie Perinot’s writing style is simple and honest and all the more eloquent for it.
* * *
I was reminded of one of my favorite historical fiction authors, Sharon Kay Penman. (Although Ms. Perinot’s style is deliciously more sexy 🙂 There’s not a word out of place, and I must have marked a dozen beautiful passages of description and observation. Whether the emotion is grief, anger, or love, Perinot gives it life and evokes it from the reader.”
* * *
Historical fiction lovers rejoice! A new and true talent has arrived on the scene!”
And while I am busy hugging myself (yeah, I do that), you should plan on returning to Let Them Read Books tomorrow because Jenny will be hosting a giveaway. I will also be guest posting on a new reading list I started at Goodreads—a list you may be very interested in.
The Seventh Inning and No Time to Stretch
I can’t believe it – today marks the 7-week anniversary since launch day for The Sister Queens. Never have weeks rolled by so quickly!
Much of the time I’ll admit I was lost in a blur of blog appearances and promotional duties, so I may have fallen short of my pre-launch pledge to “savor every moment.” But just because I was dazed doesn’t mean I didn’t’ enjoy myself! Highlights included a marvelous Moroccan dinner at the home of a woman who “won” me in a school auction; an on-line author chat where I shared the virtual floor with the talented Christy English; and a well-attended outing at Barnes & Noble where the incomparable Kate Quinn & Stephanie Dray joined me for a lively discussion of “Sex, Lies and History: A Literary Threesome.”
And then of courses there were the reviews. The Sister Queens was privileged (and I was humbled) to receive more than two-dozen on-line reviews from book bloggers and on-line publications during its first seven weeks on the market. If you are interested in reading some of the many good things that have been written about The Sister Queens, check out the “reviews” category here at the blog—it should take you directly to some of my “highlight” posts complete with links to full reviews. Besides these “official” opinions, many readers have taken the time to share what they thought about the book at Goodreads and Amazon. To everyone who has taken a moment to let me know whether by review, letter or email, how you felt about my debut effort, thank you! To all my “queen-spotters” (some of whose pictures dot this post), I appreciate your time, your enthusiasm and your photographic skills. My collage is filling in nicely. Over all then I am feeling pretty grateful to say the least!
But, even as I bask in the glow of a successful release, I know this is no time to take things easy. In the first weeks after its release a book is the latest thing. It’s on all those glamorous, sexy front bookstore tables under signs like “New Releases” or “Notable in Paperback” The internet hums with talk of an author with a new release and of her book. New is exciting. I am not new anymore. But I still want to be exciting! In the next seven weeks, even as I shift my attention more and more to my wip, I will still have an eye on The Sister Queens. I hope you will too oh faithful readers. The optimist inside me says that book lovers—unlike those who find the majority of their entertainment electronically—still have nice long attention spans in a era of sound-bites. Here’s hoping I am right!
Fantasy Casting—Sport of Arm Chair Readers and Writers Alike
I don’t play fantasy sports (real sports either for the record), but as a reader and writer I participate in something similar—fantasy casting. I bet you do too. Certain novels just read like movies, filling my head with images of people, places and situations so vivid that I might be watching the action unfold on a screen. I know EXACTLY who I’d like to see play particular characters in some of my favorite novels but, sadly, no one inHollywood ever rings me up when they are making a movie out of a book and says “cast this baby for us.”
Hence the fantasy casting. Because when real-life constraints—money, an actor’s age, and/or even whether he/she is still among the living—are set aside I can have any book made into a movie starring precisely who I envision in each role. Bliss.
Of course my fantasy cast is not your fantasy cast. And that’s another upside from my point of view. If I prefer Glenda Jackson asElizabeth I (a role she nailed on the BBC before many of you were born) and you prefer Cate Blanchett that’s just fine. We can each pop some popcorn, pull up our respective hassocks, settle down with the very same book in hand and watch the action on the tiny screens in our head featuring our choice. It’s a fantasy remember 🙂
But for some reason while I’ve been busy casting other writer’s historical novels I never thought about a fantasy cast for The Sister Queens . . . until yesterday. That’s when a pair of talented writer friends (Lydia Netzer and Nancy Bilyeau) pointed out how cinemographic my novel is and started making casting suggestions of their own.
Next thing you knew we had a pretty good list going. I knew it was time to share, and more than that to solicit readers’ opinions. So, in a sort of “We’ll show you our if you show us yours” gesture, I am putting our current fantasy casting ideas out on the table and counting on you to reciprocate. Who do you see playing Louis IX? Eleanor? Jean? The Dragon of Castile? DO TELL (that’s what comments sections are made for)!
Fantasy Cast, The Sister Queens:
A Starter List Courtesy of Sophie, Lydia and Nancy
Marguerite: (I’ll admit I see my eldest daughter in this role so thank heavens for the suggestions of others) Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, Keira Knightly
Eleanor: (Again my second daughter plays this role in my head): Miranda Otto (remember current age is no impediment), Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld (right age for start of book but later?), Rooney Mara, Dakota Fanning
Blanche of Castile: Dame Judy Dench, Virna Lisi
Louis IX: Julian Sands (when he was younger), Rupert Penry-Jones (ditto. Or he could play Henry as he currently is), Keith Ledger (told you we included the dead), Alex Pettfer, Raymond Coulthard, Douglas Booth (if he isn’t playing Jean)
Jean de Joinville: Douglas Booth (if you didn’t see him in the recent Masterpiece Great Expectations, click the link—it will be apparent why he is my first choice), Kit Harington (you know, Jon Snow in Game of Thrones), a younger Joseph Fiennes (particular if his brother played Henry), Henry Cavill, Jamie Bell (right age for the start of the action but later?), Jeremy Irvine, Orlando Bloom (who might also play Louis if he put in those contacts he wore for Legolas)
Henry III: Michael Fassbender (yeah he is too good looking – so?), Seth Green, Daniel Auteuil (in younger days), Sean Bean (and for once he wouldn’t have to DIE in a movie), Johnny Lee Miller, Rupert Penry-Jones.
The Sister Queens Spend a Day in the Renaissance
Today’s review of THE SISTER QUEENS comes from a fellow historical writer, Julianne Douglas of Writing the Renaissance. My favorite quote:
Congratulations to the author for finding a little-explored moment in history and bringing it to life for modern readers with verve, demonstrating how the bonds of sisterhood transcend not only distance, but time.”
They do indeed!
I am flattered that Julianne, a professor of literature, calls the novel:
an admirable debut, well-written and richly imagined, peopled with unique characters and simmering with conflict. Despite its length, the story never bogs down with unnecessary detail; the politics of thirteenth-centuryFranceandEnglandare sketched with just enough detail to support the dramatic action. The focus remains on the sisters’ relationship throughout, assuring thematic as well as structural cohesion.”
I hope you will venture over to Writing the Renaissance today and read the rest of her review. Then stop by again tomorrow when I answer a series of questions generated by Julianne’s reading of the book.
Celebrating THE SISTER QUEENS Twenty-Fifth On-Line Review
By my count this lovely review of The Sister Queens from Kathy at Bags, Books & Bon Jovi marks the TWENTY-FIFTH on-line review received by the novel. Twenty-five is a milestone.
I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every member of the virtual-world book community who took the time to read my debut and share their thoughts on it. I am grateful. I am humbled. And in many cases I was very moved.
As for Kathy, she believes The Sister Queens would make a “fascinating choice” for book clubs and says:
There is just so much drama and intrigue and it can be told from so many perspectives… and reading such a novel told from two sisters’ points of view is refreshing and, honestly, a little unexpected. I did not realize, when I was offered this novel for review, that it would be such an intimate tale.”
If you have missed any of what has been said about The Sister Queens, the “Reviews” blog post category should bring up a complete (or nearly complete) list of links as well as some highlights.
To Read or Not to Read? For These Reviewers the Answer Seems to be an Emphatic “Read It”
The Sister Queens started their week at The Maiden’s Court where Heather enthused:
The pages of this read absolutely flew by at a pace much faster than my recent reads this year. This is a testimony to just how well written these characters were and how invested in their lives I became. You are simply sucked into all of the ups and downs that these women face.”
Then, after stuffing themselves with four-week launch anniversary cupcakes (no, wait, that was me), the queens received “4 Willies” (can I just say I love that) at To Read or Not to Read, where Marcie said:
Perinot makes you care about these characters. She nailed the bond that only sister’s can have. The love, the jealousy, and also the deep friendship. This book was a page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Thank you ladies! So glad you had The Sister Queens on your reading lists. Hope your words will encourage others to add the novel to theirs.
Weekly Review Round-Up
It has been a good week for The Sister Queens in the blogosphere – a very good week. Just since Tuesday the novel has received FIVE reviews, all of them good. Here are highlights from what some of the fabulous women of book-blogging had to say.
From Broken Teepee:
Ms. Perinot’s characterization of the two women is fascinating and I found it quite hard to put the book down; in fact, I read it in one sitting. I love writing that grabs you and won’t let you go like that. I want to continue with these two women and their complicated men. I hope that Ms. Perinot is considering further books on unsung women in history as she does have a magical way with words. A way that brings long dead characters to very real life.”
Briar Patch Books said:
Perinot’s writing is almost flawless, and she brings to rich life characters who lived more than 600 years ago, no small feat. Readers will enjoy the romance of the tale but also the sibling connection between the sisters.”
And the Bookish Dame at A Bookish Libraria had some kind words about the characterization and dialogue in the book:
Her two sisters, as well as their two kings, the wicked mother-in-law ~ White Queen Blanche of Castille, and the sisters’ children are so magnificently drawn. I could absolutely see them alive and feel their hearts’ emotions and motivations. Beautifully written. Dialog was also appeared to be effortlessly rendered; it flowed and felt so natural. The intimate communications between characters were meaningful and telling.”
Several reviewers highlighted something I’ve believed (and trumpeted) since I first began reading historical fiction—the genre transcends history and speaks to issues as real and relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago. As Books, Belles, and Beaux put it:
While leading the life of a royal wife in the 13th century certainly has little bearing on life today, the relationships each sister shared with her husband, children, and extended family is certainly relevant to today’s reader.”
While I Heart Words points out:
Yes, Sophie Perinot’s debut THE SISTER QUEENS takes us through medieval battles, the crusades, and some juicy court politics, but it is truly a story about two women and their quest for fulfillment.”
All I can say is WOW ladies! And thanks. These last three weeks have been a marvelous whirlwind. Turns out holding my book for the first time in a Barnes & Noble was just the beginning of the thrills. Discovering there are readers who hold my book in their hearts—that’s the biggest thrill of all.
Happy Three-Week Birthday to The Sister Queens!
I am celebrating the three-week anniversary of my novel’s release with the help of Michelle at The True Book Addict. Michelle is hosting a birthday giveaway. A 500 page book – now THAT’S a party favor.
And Michelle had a present for me as well. There is no better gift (three-week birthday or other) for an author than a good review, and The True Book Addict gives The Sister Queens a very good review indeed, remarking that:
Good historical fiction will incite the reader to investigate the historical figures coming alive in its pages. The Sister Queens is one such book.
(a sentiment I share – in fact, this is one of the reasons I, myself, love reading and writing historical fiction!)
Praising the insight with which the sister-relationship at the heart of the book is portrayed, Michelle says:
What is interesting in their story is how both queens learned to take on the traits of the other’s personality to help them to smoothly navigate their royal marriages and lives. It takes intricate knowledge of the relationship between sisters to be able to portray that this is indeed what sisters do.
She concludes:
this book belongs on the shelf of anyone who loves the genre, and even those who are not regular readers of historical novels.
So what are you waiting for? Head to The True Book Addict and enter to win a copy.
I am “Hooked” for an Interview and Reviewed by Erin at Oh for the Hook of a Book
Today I am chatting with the marvelous Erin at Oh for the Hook of a Book. She had some very unique questions for me, including whether the Christian undertones in my novel were intentional.
Erin also reviews The Sister Queens, saying it is:
one to mark down for the greatest of novels list and reads visually as a theatrical movie
