January 20th 2112
Another year underway, and lots of writing projects to update you on. Macbeth, a Novel will be out in its print version as a trade paperback in May and is already available for preorder. I love the cover art! The second book in my Darwen Arkwright series has gone through line edits and is on schedule for its fall 2012 release. In fact, I'm already beginning the process of outlining book 3. I'll also be doing a lot of presentations in schools in the course of the spring semester, particularly in the southeastern states, so feel free to drop me a line if you have school connections and are looking for an author visit. And, of course, if you have read the first book in the series, please consider writing an online review or otherwise spreading the word!
I have a new and edgy young adult novel which I'll be showing to publishers very soon, which I spent the tail end of last year working on, but will tell you more about that when I have a sense of when it might see general release. My next adult thriller, The Tears of the Jaguar should be out by year's end. AS soon as I have a release date for that, I'll announce it here.
I'll be appearing at more conventions in 2012 than I have ever done before, which is a little daunting but certain to be at least as much fun as it is exhausting. I'll update the appearances page with those as they come in, and look forward to meeting readers there. I will also be writing for Magical Words every Friday from here on, except when we have a guest blogger in.
December 3rd, 2011
What a month it has been!
Darwen is out and selling like the proverbial hot cakes. Along with some TV and radio spots, I've been doing school visits and library talks aimed mainly at grades 4-7: a real shift of gears for someone used to talking to college students, but a lot of fun. The kids' enthusiasm for reading, their capacity to get caught up in a story, the way they value writers all make me glad to be alive!
That said, it's exhausting and the upcoming winter break will be a much-needed chance to recharge my batteries. Of course, I have lots of signings and events before then (see the Appearances tab).
But Darwen hasn't completely taken over my life. I'm pleased to announce that an adult thriller I've been fiddling with for a long time will come out late next year. It sees the return of Deborah Miller (from the Mask of Atreus) and its current title is The Tears of the Jaguar. I'm delighted to have found a great home for this book and can't wait to get it into the hands of readers.
Audible have named Macbeth, a Novel one of their top fiction picks for 2011, a huge honor for David Hewson and me! It has also just been announced that the National Theatre of Scotland will be staging a one-man production of Shakespeare's play starring none other than our own gifted narrator, Alan Cumming. The idea that our book played a part in this project coming together is thrilling, and I hope to see the show on stage, if not in the UK then when it travels to New York.