Tag: Kate Quinn
Co-Writing Historical Fiction & The Dramatic Destruction of Pompeii
Had a marvelous discussion with fellow historical novelist Ryan Byrnes about the recent re-release of A DAY OF FIRE, the first continuity novel in the historical fiction genre. Take a watch and learn about the tricky and exciting process of 6 authors co-writing a novel together, as well as what I personally think tales set in the past allow modern readers to do.
Award Winning “A Day of Fire” Re-releases with a Stunning New Cover
In 2014, six top historical novelists made history with the first collaborative novel in the genre. Today A Day of Fire reissues with a stunning new cover. Come with us to Pompeii in its last days, minutes, and hours . . .
Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain’s wrath . . . and these are their stories:
A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii’s flourishing streets.
An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire.
An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished.
A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue.
A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls.
A priestess and a whore seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried.
Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others’ path during Pompeii’s fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?
Happy Bastille Day!
I first fell in love with France and French history when I visited the Loire Valley as a college student studying abroad.
And the fascination stuck! If you haven’t noticed dear readers—but I suspect you have—three of my four historical novels are set entirely or significantly in France:
⚜️ RIBBONS OF SCARLET—Feel like starting a revolution? You’re in good company. Travel to 18th century Paris and meet seven amazing French women who fomented and fought in the French Revolution. RIBBONS, which I co-authored with five amazing fellow historical novelists, is a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—unforgettable women who leave their distinctive marks on one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history. But if anyone offers you a ride in a Tumbril just say NO!
⚜️ MÉDICIS DAUGHTER—Travel to 16th century France and visit the gorgeous palaces of the Loire and the steamy summer streets of Paris, with French Princess Marguerite de Valois. But be careful, Marguerite’s mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis is always plotting something . . . and a wrong move could be your last. Oh, and if you are invited to Marguerite’s wedding (her heart belongs to the handsome Duc de Guise, but her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce) you’d better dress for a massacre as well as dancing.
⚜️ THE SISTER QUEENS—This novel is 50% French. One of my sisters, Marguerite, is Queen of France in the 13th century, while the other—Eleanor—is Queen of England. Both were raised in Provence at the court of their father, the Count of Provence. And though they come to be separated by royal marriages, they are never truly parted.
For more about each book, check out its individual book tab! And for plenty of Francophile pleasing history, book-recommendations and more, peruse the archives of this blog!
Cover Reveal Day: Kate Quinn’s THE ROSE CODE
It is cover Celebration Day for my good friend and Scarlet Sister Kate Quinn’s upcoming novel, THE ROSE CODE.
LOOK at this beauty!!!! And let me tell you WHAT IS BETWEEN THE COVERS IS EVEN MORE exciting (envy me oh readers–I’ve read the whole thing already. Such are the perks of being a critique partner).
Here’s a teaser . . .
ABOUT THE BOOK
The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.
1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart.1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter–the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger–and their true enemy–closer…
Pre Order today from the vendor of your choice! And make sure you subscribe to Kate’s newsletter to stay updated!
Praise for RIBBONS OF SCARLET . . .
RIBBONS OF SCARLET is getting some terrific notice. I and my fellow #ScarletSisters were delighted to get this fabulous quote from New York Times bestselling author Melanie Benjamin!
To celebrate, I am GIVING AWAY a 6-WAY-AUTHOR-SIGNED ARC of RIBBONS on FaceBook.
To enter FOLLOW THIS LINK then COMMENT on my Facebook post, and please LIKE and SHARE! We are eager to spread the kudos RIBBONS is receiving! The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard time on July 31st and it is international.
RIBBONS OF SCARLET is available for PRE-ORDER!!! On Amazon, at B&N, on Google, iBooks, IndieBound, and Kobo
2nd Chance to WIN: If You Did Not Win My RIBBONS Giveaway . . .
Yes, it’s true, you CAN believe your eyes—a Goodreads Giveaway for Ribbons of Scarlet got underway this morning. There are 50 copies up for grabs. So head to Goodreads and enter . . . you could win one of this fall’s most anticipated historical releases before the leaves change color!
GOOD LUCK all! And remember, the surest way to be sure you have your copy or Ribbons in hand on October 1st is to pre-order. Check out the “My Books” tab for Ribbons for more about the novel, and all the pre-order links you could possibly desire.
WIN Ribbons of Scarlet (an Advanced Reader Copy)
Four months from today—that’s when Ribbons of Scarlet: A Novel of the French Revolution’s Women officially lands on bookshelves (and in the mailboxes of those who pre-order from Amazon or elsewhere). That’s a looooooong time to wait. Trust me mes amis, I feel exactly the same way.
But what if you could get your own copy—an Advance Reader Copy (ARC for short) before the month was out? What if you could read the epic stories of 7 remarkable women as told by 6 award-winning and bestselling female historical novelists in 1 seamless novel MONTHS before anyone else?
MAYBE YOU CAN . . . Yes devoted readers it is CONTEST TIME.
I will be giving away TWO (2) ARCs of Ribbons, and you can earn multiple entries. Just follow the instructions below (the only thing required to put your name in the hat is a comment on this post—but there are ways to earn additional chances to win).
Bonne chance!
Goodreads Giveaway for RIBBONS OF SCARLET
RIBBONS OF SCARLET Cover Reveal
Drum roll please (okay maybe not, that does remind one of the moments before the blade falls on the guillotine—at least if one is an aristo) . . .
Here it is,cover of my next novel RIBBONS OF SCARLET–co-authored with the amazing Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Heather Webb, Eliza Knight and Laura Kamoie!!!
Are those the Market Women, members of the original WOMEN’S MARCH, marching on Versailles? Why yes!!! But my role in RIBBONS OF SCARLET was to offer the story of the only Royalist—The king’s intelligent, pious, and ultimately daring sister Princess Elisabeth, who takes a stand to defend her brother, spirit her family to safety, and restore the old order, even at the risk of her head.
As Madame Elisabeth scrambles to save those she loves, and the women of Paris march on towards Revolution and their destinies, you dear readers can march to your favorite purveyor of books and PRE-ORDER your copy of RIBBONS OF SCARLET (which will release October 1) TODAY!
Here are those handy “buy” links–
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Indiebound
RIBBONS OF SCARLET NEWS!
It’s time for another sneak-peek into the world of my next novel—RIBBONS OF SCARLET (coming October 1, 2019). WE HAVE OUR OFFICIAL COVER COPY, guaranteed to give you all the feels!
HERE IS A TEASER . . . .
DO YOU HAVE THE SHIVERS YET? CLICK THE LINK AND READ the back-cover in full. Then don’t forget to pre-order your copy! Because #historicalfiction rules!