Category: For Historical Fiction Fans
What La Traviata and The Sister Queens Have in Common
March 6th is a good day for debuts. One hundred and sixty years ago today (March 6, 1853) La Traviata premiered at the La Fenice opera house in Venice. One year ago today (March 6, 2012) my debut novel, The Sister Queens, hit shelves. Auspicious. And while I never expect to be as popular as Verdi, I’ve been overwhelmed by the generous responses of critics and the kind and often moving responses of readers. Thanks all! 
Readers—Visit my Sister Queens Facebook page for instructions on how to get one of twenty signed bookplates (there are still a few left) for your copy of The Sister Queens.
Writer friends — The day after its premiere Giuseppe Verdi worried that La Traviata was a failure so EVERYBODY has artistic angst. Have faith in your work and its ability to find an audience.
Finally, for those who haven’t tried The Sister Queens yet — I believe that Amazon still has the book on sale for $6 a copy (limit 2). Wouldn’t now be an excellent time to add it to your TBR pile?
And Then There Were Ten. . .
The Sister Queens just made its TENTH “best of 2012” list thanks to Kayla at the Historical Fiction Examiner. Make sure to check out Kayla’s entire Top 10— lots of great books to add to your TBR pile there. My debut is listed with novels by so many authors I truly admire including, Michelle Moran, Juliet Grey, Elizabeth Loupas and Susan Higginbotham.
Must admit it feels overwhelming to make see my book alongside the work of so many luminaries of the genre. This time I am actually one-of-ten with Philippa Gregory. Weird. But weird in a good way!
A “Wrap Up” of Places you Can Win Books (Including Mine) This Season
Nine days until Christmas, have you finished shopping? Well, never mind that. Have you entered all these SUPER holiday book giveaways? There is no time to waste, many of these giveaways are ending shortly.
1) The Historical Holiday Blog Hop at Passages to the Past – This is the jackpot! FOUR fantastic prize packages each an overstuffed holiday stocking of super historical fiction titles (and I mean win a prize and take home more than a dozen historical novels). Check it out! The Sister Queens is part of oh-so-impressive “Prize Package #4.”
2) Over at Let Them Read Books you could win ANY historical title of your choice (valued $15 or less) shipped to you wherever you live (yes, this one is international folks). Jenny has some recommendations based on her favorite reads of the year if you are looking for suggestions. 
3) At Tanzinites Castle Full of Books three lucky winners will chose two, gently-read titles each in another historical fiction giveaway.
4) Giveaway number four, at Peeking Between the Pages, has four fantastic historical titles on offer including books by Michelle Moran and yours truly.
5) And finally, if you are looking to step outside of the historical fiction box I have a pair of giveaways for you.
First, the authors of Book Pregnant are celebrating the “book baby” births of 2012 by hosting a giveaway of 2012 debuts. There are fourteen titles to choose from including literary fiction, women’s fiction, YA, historical fiction and more. At the moment there are more books on offer than entries—you have to like those odds.
Second, there is a very nice Books for Christmas giveaway at the blog of author Genevieve Graham featuring ten titles (including mine) across various genres and each with it’s own rafflecopter entry form. When you click the link you will be at the top of a string of posts, make sure to scroll down to see and enter all the contests.
I’ve just given you six excellent reasons to take a break from your baking and wrapping. GET TO IT!
The Sister Queens on a 2012 Top Picks List!
I am very pleased to announce that The Sister Queens is a TOP PICKS of 2012 for historical fiction at Let Them Read Books (and in the august company of CW Gortner and Robin Maxwell no less). See which books made Jenny’s list for historical fiction, historical romance and historical fantasy and enter to WIN a title of your choice as part of the “Historical Holiday Blog Hop”.
A Sneak Peek Into THE SISTER QUEENS and a Chance to Have It for a Stocking Stuffer
As I mentioned in my last post, the marvelous Genevieve Graham is running a “Books for Christmas” promotion all month to introduce you to ten author’s whose books would make brilliant holiday gifts. She’s even offering you a chance to win their books to slip into the stockings of someone you love (or to install on your own bedside table as the case may be).
Today it’s my turn. Since you’re here at my blog I presume you’ve already met me (*waves cheerfully*). But if you haven’t read The Sister Queens yet here is your chance to have a sneak peek inside the book and meet Marguerite of Provence, Queen of France, on her WEDDING NIGHT! In addition, there is a chance for you to win the entire book for yourself or—if you’ve already read it (bless you)—to give as a holiday gift to a historical fiction lover on your list. When you arrive at Genevieve’s promotion page if I am not at the top of the post just scroll down — I am the December 7th feature.
Just a thought . . . books make GREAT stocking stuffers!
A Murder Mystery from the Era of The Sister Queens
Saw this article today and thought many here might enjoy it. Researchers in western England have found the body of a 13th century knight who killed by a single sword blow to the back. They speculate he was Geoffrey Dutton a prominent local. How he received the mortal wound “that may have left him alive for several hours, yet unable to walk” is uncertain. I see a book plot in there somewhere. What do you think? 
Three Ways to Win WITHOUT Wearing a Hairshirt
As my anniversary blog-tour continues I’ve dropped in at A Chick Who Reads to talk about a scratchy but fascinating subject—the hair-shirt and its place in medieval regimes of self-mortification. But even if you are neither a devotee of hair-shirts as Louis IX of France was nor intrigued by them as I have been since childhood there’s good reason to check out my post. Chick is hosting a giveaway, one of THREE currently on-going. 
Yep at the present moment there are THREE copies of The Sister Queens up for grabs in the blog-o-sphere. Besides Chick’s giveaway (which ends on October 19th), In the Hammock Blog is running a giveaway ending October 21st and Teddy Rose at So Many Precious Books So Little Time is hosting one that ends on October 25th. So spread the word to friends who’ve been waiting to read The Sister Queens until the time is right. That moment is now and with three chances to win their copy may be free. No hair-shirt necessary to win.
Couldn’t Make It to the Baltimore Book Festival—Never Fear, Post Festival Blogging Is Here
As many of you know I was a presenting author at the recent Baltimore Book Festival. This gave me a chance to participate in a number of compelling author panels, two of which have now led to blog posts. So if you weren’t able to make it to Charm City, here’s your chance to read about the discussions you missed.
Reinventing yourself as an author? You can read my thoughts on why it is vital to find the guts to admit you want your writing to be more than a hobby at Book Pregnant where I’ve posted a discussion of “Finding the Courage to Write” based on my panel of the same name.
Fan of historical fiction? If you are a reader or writer of historical novels you may be interested in my guest post today at In the Hammock, where I consider whether Historical Fiction is Women’s Fiction—or more precisely where and why I believe the two genres intersect. This is an issue I’d never given serious thought before being assigned to the “What is Women’s Fiction” panel in Baltimore.
Please stop by either or both blogs and join the discussion!
Countdown to Baltimore
Two more days. That’s ALL! On Friday the Baltimore Book Festival begins and I will be there—meeting and greeting readers in the Maryland Romance Writer’s tent at NOON on Friday (September 28th), then participating in four phenomenal panel discussions over Friday and Saturday. Will YOU be there too? I sure hope so! I will be keeping a sharp eye out and I hope—friends, fellow writers and readers—you will make yourself known with a big hello! Click here for a reminder of my schedule of appearances, festival hours, etc.