We first read The French for Love by Fiona Valpy on a miserable winter’s day – and were instantly transported to the idyllic setting of the French countryside – filled with sunshine, laughter and wine.

So, we’re very pleased to announce today that author Fiona Valpy has signed with Bookouture and that The French for Love will be published this summer – on 12 July to be precise.

Fiona lives in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007 – which is part of what makes The French for Love feel so authentic. She left behind a career in Marketing and Public Relations to explore new avenues and now teaches yoga and writes.

Having renovated an old rambling farmhouse with her husband, she has developed new-found skills in cement-mixing and interior decorating, although her preferred pastime by far is wine-tasting.

Keep an eye on the Bookouture Facebook page for news of the cover design and the chance to get a sneek peak at an extract.

 And you can read our full press release below…

Bookouture discover The French for Love: the signing of author Fiona Valpy by bookouture

The post Bookouture discover The French for Love appeared first on Bookouture.

Q. Blood Roses is finally out today (quick, go buy it here - and then come back and read the interview), but when did you first start writing it?

A.

I wrote about three quarters of the book back in 2007. The characters and basic storyline were devised a few years before then but, like many of my Blackthorn stories, it remained under development while I worked on plot threads, world building and other short stories. I was spurned on to finish it after the tremendous response from readers/voters when I entered it in New Voices in 2010. I have a LOT to thank them for.

Q.

Leila, the heroine from Blood Roses is a serryn – which we’d never heard of before – can you explain what that is exactly?

A.

A serryn is a rare strain of witch whose blood is poisonous to vampires. They’re human and impossible to detect. All serryns are witches (or the politically correct term ‘interpreter’), but not all witches are serryns. They hunt and tempt or, if the desire takes them, seduce vampires into biting them. They’re cruel, devious and detached. You know their potential because even Kane [a master vampire and the Hero of Blood Shadows] makes reference to being ‘unnerved’ by them.

Leila is an anomaly though. She recognises the slippery slope that befalls serryns once they embrace what they are – not least estrangement from their families. Because of her background, Leila is determined to turn her back on her destiny but faces a terrible struggle once faced with Caleb.

Q. 

OK – so if serryns kill by seducing vampires into biting them, does that work with both male and female vampires?

A. 

All vampires are susceptible to serryns who, incidentally, are always female. Serryns themselves are non-discriminatory – they’ll kill males, females and the young. They truly are incredibly unpleasant.

Q.

Kane Malloy from your debut Blood Shadows was a very old and powerful master vampire.  Caleb from Blood Roses is an infamous serryn-hunter with a dark past and a key player in what’s to come.  So, I think what everyone wants to know is… Kane vs Caleb – who wins? And will we ever find out?

A.

You most certainly will! As you would have read in Blood Shadows, and will read in Blood Roses, they are already more than aware of each other. Kane and Caleb will be on the page together before too long, and it’s going to be interesting! I had a lot of fun writing one of their initial scenes together. I almost wanted to take a step back and just watch. They’re quite hypnotic when interacting. I’d want both on my side and neither as my enemy, that’s for sure!

Kane is quite something to contend with – you’ve only seen a fraction of his capabilities so far. When you see him confront the Higher Order (just one small spoiler!), you’ll understand much more just how powerful master vampires are. Saying that, Caleb’s darkness is more intense than Kane’s. Caleb teeters on the edge of falling into a lethally dark place again, the consequences of which would be dire. But then Kane knows much more about what’s to come. After all, he’s in Blackthorn for a reason.

As for who will win… I can’t tell you that! All I’ll say is they’re both survivors, exceptionally smart, strategic, manipulative and ruthless and both born leaders. They’re quite similar, and were created that way for a good reason. It’s their weaknesses that will set them apart – and I’ve interwoven plenty of clues (both in their pasts and their current behaviour) as to what those weaknesses are. Right, enough said!

Q.

And your personal preference…?

A.

My personal preference? Ha – that’s gives away far too much information! Ask me again when the series is over. The author in me finds them both equally enthralling. I love writing them because they’re so unpredictable. Right up to the last minute of writing a scene, they can change it. Saying that, my heroines don’t do a bad job of throwing my plans into disarray either.

Q.

Caleb and Leila really shouldn’t be together – I mean they’re from different sides of town, they’re genetically programmed to kill each other, and they’re fighting each other for the survival of their entire species (phew). Do you intentionally set out to make things as difficult as possible for your hero and heroines? 

A.

Lol! Absolutely. Stories are about conflict – internal and external. If you’re going to do it, do it plentifully and passionately. The whole Blackthorn backdrop is built on conflict and the characters’ relationships need to reflect that. If you want to sit back and have an easy time, Blackthorn’s not the place.

Like you said, Caleb and Leila really shouldn’t be together. Theirs is the most forbidden romance of all because of the consequences. Basically, Blood Roses is a much darker and more intense read because their developing love is. Caleb and Leila have what I would describe as epic love. I’ve had some mixed responses about the end of Blood Roses so far, but all I can say is it absolutely has to happen that way to make sense of what’s to come.

Q.

Blood Shadows was a pretty dark book by paranormal romance standards… but if anything Blood Roses is even darker and more intense – do you ever have to stop writing because you’re scaring yourself?

A.

Ha! Yes! I want to feel when I write. I also want to react. If I’m not, I can’t expect my reader to. I have even typed whilst squinting across my shoulder at the screen to create some safe emotional distance. I think the most essential tools for any author, aside from a way with words, is empathy and sensitivity.

In terms of comparing the darkness and intensity in the stories, I’ve always felt it important that each romance carries its own identity. The style of each book primarily reflects the heroine’s journey. Blood Shadows is fast-paced (only days for Caitlin to save her own life) with lots of twists and turns because much of it is about Caitlin uncovering that the truth is contrary to what she’s always believed. Just as I keep pulling the rug out from under Caitlin’s feet, I do the same to the readers.

Blood Roses is much darker because Leila is placed in the midst of her worst nightmare. Caleb is brutally single-minded and relentlessly piles on the pressure to make Leila break. I wanted the reader to feel the same intensity, frustration and claustrophobia that Leila does. One reviewer openly said she had to take a break whilst reading it, which is perfect. Poor Leila doesn’t get that option, which I hope increases readers’ empathy with her situation.

Q.

We get to learn more about the vampire prophecies in Blood Roses and I get the feeling that we’re building towards something EPIC.  How long do we have to wait?

A.

In terms of actual books, not too long. You’ve got one more pivotal couple to meet – Jessie and Eden – then it all kicks off. In some way, the first four books are like the opening ceremony to the Olympics. I wanted to introduce you to everyone, let you decide who you’re rooting for, feel the tension building and make your predications – then the games will open.

Q. 

What’s it like sharing the world of Blackthorn with readers after 16 years of having it all to yourself?

A.

Insanely exciting – especially based on the incredible response to Blood Shadows. Because the time was very short between signing with Bookouture and the first book coming out, I was swept up in all the mania and didn’t have much time to think. Now, some days, I get painfully anxious about how Blood Roses will be received, just because it’s so different to Blood Shadows. But inevitably comparisons will be made between the books and readers will have their favourites – but that’s a good thing.

Of course, the best thing is actually having people to talk to about Blackthorn, especially having kept it to myself for some many years. The most overwhelming emails I get are those from readers thanking me for writing the series. I also love hearing from readers itching to know a little more – which is part of the reason why I wrote my Beneath Blackthorn posts.

I can only say how grateful I am to the readers who have invested their time and money in the series so far. I don’t take any of it for granted, especially as there’s not some magic formula where the books get published regardless.

Q. And finally, how about Blood Torn – book three in the Blackthorn series… it’s a little way off, but what can we expect?

A.

I’m HUGELY excited about Blood Torn. It’s a leap into the clandestine lycan world which you haven’t seen much of yet. I don’t want to give too much away but, as with my vampires, I’ve introduced some new ideas around lycan mythology to keep it interesting and fresh, let alone tie it in with what’s to come. I’ll be posting more about it on my blog in due course.

Both the hero and heroine are extremely different to what I’ve written before, as is the dynamic between them. But the story, as with all Blackthorn romances, remains dark, sexy and edgy. There are some plot twists, paths begin to cross and expect some huge revelations of what’s to come. As always, I advise you enter Blackthorn with an open mind and no set rules or expectations of how the paranormal world works. I can’t wait to share the next installment with you.

If you enjoyed that little extra insight into Blackthorn, please help us share the news via twitter and facebook!

And if you haven’t bought Blood Roses yet, than what are you waiting for?!  Buy links below:

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | iBookstore | Kobo |

You can follow Lindsay at the links below:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

The post Lindsay J. Pryor: Blood Roses interview appeared first on Bookouture.

Please do help us to share the cover with the world via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

And the release date?  Not long to wait… 26th April 2013.

Designed and photographed by the incredible Henry Steadman.

Blood Roses by Lindsay J. Pryor – an introduction…

“She was supposed to kill vampires, not save them.  Those were the rules.  That was the lore.”

A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse.  After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life.

That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain – a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart.  The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother.

A serryn who has no reason to help him.  Except that he has her sister.

Caleb and Leila are each other’s worst nightmare – but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable.  Will Leila’s blood be his damnation?  Or could her kiss be his salvation?

The post Blood Roses cover reveal appeared first on Bookouture.

Monsoon Memories by Renita D’Silva is one such book.

At the end of January this year, we received a manuscript that immediately melted away the English winter frost and effortlessly transported us to India.  We were mesmerised by the quality of the writing and captivated by the story that unfolded.

With shades of Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and storytelling reminiscent of Jodi Picoult we knew we had discovered an author with an incredible talent.

Since then we’re delighted to say that we’ve agreed a three book contract with Renita and can announce that Monsoon Memories will be published in June this year.

We’d love you to be part of the Monsoon Memories journey, and to help us spread the word about what is undoubtedly a very special book. 

Simply enter your e-mail below and we’ll share with you extracts, news and the cover design before anyone else gets it.

In the meantime, the press release about Renita’s signing is below – please help us share this very exciting news via Facebook and Twitter.

The post Bookouture sign Renita D’Silva appeared first on Bookouture.

Even more excitingly there’s not long to wait, with Nancy’s first book, The Husband Diet, being published in May this year.

Our aim at Bookouture is to discover authors with real talent who we think we can turn into real global success stories – and Nancy certainly fits that criteria.

The Husband Diet features Erica Cantelli – an over-worked, over-weight and under-loved mother who is finding life as suffocating as a size 4 dress.  When she realizes that the only thing lower than her self-esteem is her husband’s libido, Erica is forced to make a choice – losing weight, or losing him?

Nancy’s story-telling is both hilarious and touching, beautifully observed; and with a raw honesty that will touch the hearts of readers everywhere.

Nancy commented on the deal.

“I signed with Bookouture because they share my vision for my books and care about them as much as I do- an author’s dream come true. They’re amazing to work with and I thank them for believing in me. I’m over the moon because I know it’ll be a fantastic journey!”

Born in Canada, but living in Italy (and married to a Brit) Nancy is a previously published Romance author, but The Husband Diet will be her women’s fiction debut.

Please do help us share this exciting news via Twitter and Facebook.

You can also find Nancy on Twitter.

See below for the full press release.

Bookouture sign Nancy Barone – Press Release by bookouture

The post Nancy Barone signs for Bookouture appeared first on Bookouture.

Q. Edward or Jacob?

A. Neither. Twilight is too young for me. If you’d asked me when I was a teenager, I probably would have said Edward.

Q. True Blood or Vampire Diaries?

A.

Absolutely The Vampire Diaries. I LOVE that show. I know I should say True Blood because it’s a lot more adult which is along the lines of the types of books I write, but after the first three series I found myself looking away more than looking at the screen. Then it just fizzled out for me unfortunately. TVD has me totally hooked. I love the chemistry, the relationships, the storylines and Damon is so incredibly addictive.

Q. If Kane was on twitter, what would his bio say? (That’s Kane Malloy, don’t you know – Master-vampire and hero of Blood Shadows)

A. LOL! I really can’t see Kane on twitter. If he was though, his bio would probably say something like: Planning to screw up Blackthorn’s corrupt power base. Want to play?

Q. How about Caitlin’s Twitter bio?

A. I think her bio could say something along the lines of: VCU Agent. I only follow vampires to track and convict them. You have been warned.

Q.

In Blood Shadows, Caitlin is a shadow reader – can you explain what exactly that is?

A.

Shadow readers are humans with an innate ability to read and interpret third species’ shadows. Shadows are the third species equivalent of souls. As well as basic DNA, it’s what differentiates them from humans.

A shadow reader can access the inner workings of a shadow like a recording of past actions and events, thus allowing them to search and analyse information. They need a pulse to unlock what is contained because a heart beat releases concentrated energy to make the contained recordings more vivid. Shadow readers are used in the interrogation room by the Third Species Control Division as a last resort to convict those trying to evade justice. It’s a very invasive technique so is only used if a detainee refuses to co-operate or if their confession conflicts with evidence.

I’ve used the concept of shadows as a means of exploring some themes that are fundamental to the Blackthorn series – not least prejudice and attitudes towards morality and redemption.

The Global Council, who oversee the political and social set-up since the third species came out into the open, are very clear that they believe humans are the superior species. They teach that souls are made up of an innate sense of good and evil and because they are pliable and responsive to change, are open to redemption. They dictate that shadows, on the other hand, are not reactive to change and therefore all third species are irredeemable. Third species are therefore judged as a lesser species morally.

Q. If you had one superpower traditional to vampires which one would you choose and why?

A.

A traditional power? I’m going to be so superficial and say the ability to fly. I’m just a big kid. Flying in the dark would be the ultimate.

Q. You’re British, but the vast majority of Paranormal Romance authors are American – do you have any idea why that is?  Are there just more vampires in the States?

A. Ha! If that was the case, Bram Stoker should have sent Dracula to the US instead of to Whitby. But seriously, I think it’s because PNR hasn’t been big for so long over here, whereas it has been established for years in the US. It was interesting that during New Voices, a lot of people automatically assumed I was American. I think that’s a perfect example of how tightly associated PNR is with the States. I must admit, when I started to look for where to sub my Blackthorn series, I was really disappointed by the lack of UK publishing houses that were open to unagented PNR submissions.

It’s so tough to break into PNR and to get yourself known. There are some huge names dominating the top of the lists who regularly produce great stories. They also come with very loyal fan bases. I know I’ve got my work cut out trying to carve my niche, but you’ve probably already worked out I like a challenge.

Q. Blood Shadows is the first book in your Blackthorn series… where exactly IS Blackthorn?  Google maps tells me it’s in Oxfordshire in the UK, but I’m not sure that’s what you had in mind?

A.

Ha! No, I didn’t have Oxfordshire in mind (I need to go and look that up now). Blackthorn could be anywhere. A specific location is irrelevant to the content of the stories. I did have the layout of the UK in mind when I devised the idea but the concept of locales is transferable anywhere.

Q. You’re a former Sunday school teacher, current Special Needs Teacher, you rescue hedgehogs and are all-sorts of lovely.  But Blackthorn is a pretty DARK place – there’s vampires eaten alive, and some pretty imaginative torture scenes – do you have a dark side?

A.

That must be the most probing question I’ve ever been asked! I most definitely do have a dark side. But dark can be interpreted lots of ways. I would never describe myself as a ‘dark’ person. And my dark side most definitely rests firmly within the realms of fantasy. Reality is a different story.

I’m not afraid to let my characters stray into the darker sides of humanity. I suppose Blackthorn is one big representation of that. And because the books are dark, potentially contentious issues will arise out of that. I have to be true to the stories though and, on occasion, that means going places even I feel uncomfortable with. My stories are most definitely not for the faint-hearted but I think that’s the draw.

Q. Vampires and Lycans are described in Blood Shadows are ‘Third Species’ beings.  Are there any other third species that we don’t know about yet?

A.

Third species are in human form (hominids), but have genetic make-up that makes them fundamentally different on a functional level. Yes, I have others in my notebooks and plotlines – some new species too. I promise there’s a lot more to come!

Q. There’s some fairly heavy tension in Blood Shadows between humans and Third Species – and the discrimination against Vampires and Lycans feels very much like it mirrors our own world.  Was that intentional?

A. Absolutely. I have a pet hate for intolerance and pre-judgmental attitudes. I totally and utterly believe in the uniqueness of every single person and assumptions that discriminate out of ignorance or inflexibility irritate me. You’ll see a lot of that leak into the stories.

Q. You started writing fiction when you were just nine-years-old – what’s been the hardest part of your author journey for you?

A. I was fine until I started considering publication, then self-belief became a huge issue. I sincerely thought no one would get what I write and that held me back. Because of the social arena I grew up in, I’d never mixed with anyone who’s into paranormal and I even now I have people close to me who are fervently against it or just don’t understand the appeal.  I don’t know why I have the passion I do – it was certainly from no discernable influence and that’s always made me feel like an outsider with regards my interests. I’d more or less convinced myself I’d never be published with the Blackthorn stories but I couldn’t not write them – they’re too important to me.

Being an author is so much about people-pleasing: pleasing a publisher, pleasing an agent, pleasing an editor, pleasing the readers, pleasing reviewers… it just goes on. I firmly believe that the heart of your writing should always be pleasing yourself first and foremost. It took me a long time to accept that.

Q.And how about the highlights?

A.

Doing well in New Voices [An online writing competition from Mills & Boon] was the breakthrough for me. If it hadn’t been for the feedback through that competition, I can’t guarantee Blackthorn wouldn’t still be languishing in a drawer somewhere. It was that competition and the readers who so vocally supported me (many of whom are now my friends) that have got me to this point. And, of course, New Voices was how I was discovered – albeit ironically not by the publisher and imprint I was targeting! But it all worked out for the best.

Ever since I signed with Bookouture, every day has been a highlight. I feel like I’m on such an adventure and I have not stopped being grateful for every moment.

Q. And finally – the redemption or the romance – in the end, which is more important to you?

A. This is a tough one. Each of my protagonists experiences some sort of redemption through their romance so the two are pretty much intertwined. But which is more important to me? I’m going to say redemption because I think accepting who you are, flaws and all, is the first step to the intimacy needed to truly have someone love you and you them. For me, true romance is all about delving deep with total honesty.

Have any other questions?  Let us know via the comments section.

Blood Shadows is available to buy today from Amazon and the iBookstore.

The post Author Interview: Lindsay J. Pryor appeared first on Bookouture.

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Read on for a little more on Blood Shadows…

For vengeance

would you trust a vampire?

For justice

could you betray your family?

For love

are you ready to question everything you believe in?

Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of ‘third species’ beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit’s most powerful agent.  Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy – a master vampire – comes with a death wish.  Many have tried, but few have survived.

For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation.  With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane’s help she is next.

She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy.  The vampire who despises everything she stands for.

Or die.

Blood Shadows is officially released on 27th November 2012.

The post Blackthorn: the book trailer appeared first on Bookouture.

Most authors now recognise that it’s important to have an author website. But having a website alone is not going to magically increase your sales overnight.  Indeed a bad website might be nothing more than a waste of your time and money.

So, let’s backtrack quickly and establish WHY an author website is important.  Here’s three quick answers.

1. So readers can discover you via online search.  That could be if someone is looking for you specifically, or equally if they’re searching for terms related to your writing.
2. To act as an hub of content about you and your books.  High quality content builds audiences and helps to sell books.  A website should make all of your content (blog posts, book trailers, book lists, free extracts etc) readily available in one place.
3. To create direct relationships with readers.  Being able to talk (and listen) to readers is incredibly valuable.  A good website should help readers sign up to updates, connect with you via social media, and talk to you via comments or e-mail.

Lindsay already had a WordPress.com site and some great blog posts, so our aim was to make her website easier for readers to discover, to add a little visual excitement in keeping with the author identity that we’d created, and to integrate her social media presence.

We opted for self-hosted WordPress site – the same as used on the Bookouture website – with a customised theme. We did this because WordPress.org (as opposed to wordpress.com) allows greater functionality and freedom – especially in being able to add plugins and the widest range of themes.

The new site has a ton of great features, but let’s get back to the three questions of WHY an author website is important in the first place to see what difference the re-launched site can make.

Reader discovery via online search

We used the Google Adwords Keyword tool to do some analysis on what search terms we should be targeting for Lindsay’s author website. This helps to guide the posts that Lindsay creates to ensure we’re talking the same language as readers, so that search engines will suggest her site to them.

We’ve added WordPress SEO by Yoast a great (and FREE) plugin to help us make sure that each post is optimised for search and is hitting those keywords that we identified.  We have also ensured that all posts are categorised, images are named and posts are tagged – providing more keywords for search engines to find.

These steps aren’t the most glamorous part of a new website, but are key to making sure that you can connect with readers.  They’re about Search Engine Optimalisation (SEO) – and whilst they aren’t a magical overnight fix – over time, combined with the great, regular content will help to improve her Google ranking.

To act as a hub of content

We’ve added some extra content to Lindsay’s site in the form of Sliders which tie in with her author branding and help to promote her Paranormal Romance series – Blackthorn.  This helps to give the site a bit more visual impact.  The new theme also makes adding video and images all the easier – which ties in brilliantly with the plans we have.

We’ve also added an extract from Lindsay’s first book Blood Shadows and a Press section – with press releases embedded in the page (We’ve used Scribd to do this).  And in the run up to the launch of Blood Shadows there’s going to be much more to come.

To make the content in Lindsay’s website easier for readers to discover, we’ve added a search box and improved the navigation with a second menu bar that links to the categories of her blog posts.  Want to see everything about Lindsay’s author journey? Or all the posts on Paranormal?  Just click the links.

There’ll be plenty more content to come on Lindsay’s site in the coming weeks and months – including an AWESOME book trailer – so sign up via e-mail to receive the latest updates… which brings us nicely to our final point.

To create direct relationships with readers

Lindsay already had a sign-up for readers to subscribe to her blog posts but, for the new website, we’ve integrated Lindsay’s other social media activity too.

You can see all of Lindsay’s latest Pinterest activity in the sidebar, check out her latest tweets or even see those that are connected to her on Facebook.  This makes it easier and more compelling for readers to sign up and connect with Lindsay with their favourite social networks.  One of the real strengths of the WordPress system is the plug-ins, and all of this social integration is easily achieved simply by finding and appropriate plug-in.  And even better – it’s free.

Summary

If you’re considering setting up or re-launching your author website, think about WHY you need it in the first place, and focus on features that will help you achieve those goals.  Bookouture works with our authors to make their online presence the best it can be, but often the reality is that it’s down to you as an author to find your own way.

The good news is that, with tools like WordPress readily available, your own website is cheaper and easier to achieve than ever before – just make sure it’s doing what you want it to.

The post Author websites – making a difference appeared first on Bookouture.

These simple ads are going to be released on both the Bookouture website and Lindsay’s site – as well of course as on social media.  Sign up to our Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest pages to get them all.

Here’s the first Blackthorn Bite – with more to follow over the coming days.  And watch out for the Blackthorn trailer too – released this Wednesday.

The post Blackthorn Bites… appeared first on Bookouture.

Blood Shadows is a dark, intense paranormal romance that will appeal to readers of JR Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon – but also anyone who is a fan of TV shows such as True Blood or the Vampire Diaries.

Set in the dystopian world of Blackthorn, Blood Shadows is also the first book in a series – with the sequel Blood Roses out in Spring 2013.

We wanted a really distinctive look that would work not just on this book cover – but set a style for the whole series.  We also needed a look that we could translate across Lindsay’s website, twitter and facebook pages and provide the inspiration for our advertising and book trailer.

Working with one of the very best cover designers and photographers in the business, there were three separate photo-shoots involved (one for Kane, one for Caitlin and one for the blood).  We hope you like the result… and we’d love to hear what you think – just use the comments box below!

PS.  Also keep an eye out for more teasers in the next couple of weeks AND the reveal of our fabulous Blackthorn video…

The post Blood Shadows book cover reveal appeared first on Bookouture.