This is more of a “yes, I’m still out there” post than anything else, I’m afraid. I was pretty wiped out most of last week by some flu-like bug. That and the periodic appearance of winged termites in the house kept me quiet on the blog front.
Last week, however, I did get the advance review copies for Hugh and Bess, and they’re lovely! If the termites get near them, they’re doomed. (Actually, they’re doomed anyway, since the exterminators have been by.)
I’m also eagerly awaiting the publication of The Traitor’s Wife next month, to the point where I’ve been scoping out its future location on the shelves of the nearby bookstores. (At the Borders nearby my house, the fiction books beginning with “Hi” are at knee level. I wonder if the manager would consent to move them all up to eye level? Or to the front of the store?)
Finally, I’m making good progress on the Buckingham novel, though Richard III might beg to disagree, since I reached the Battle of Bosworth last night.
Susan…glad to hear you're feeling better! I've never had issues with termites, but carpenter ants made my life hell for a while and it's not fun!
I love the cover for Hugh & Bess, by the way and I'm a quarter of the way through The Traitor's Wife and loving it!!! I've been hearing about it since I started into historical fiction years ago and I'm finally reading it! It was worth the wait!
Sorry you’ve been sick but glad you’re feeling better. Can’t wait for your next novel!
Hi! Glad to know you’re feeling better…but that whole situation with termites- Poor you!
And so…. what are you going to be doing with these “doomed” ARC’s?? Inquiring minds would love to know 😉 wink wink
Oh dear, seems like you’re having trouble with bugs of all descriptions! Nice to hear you’re getting over the illness – and good luck with the termites – thank goodness we don’t get them here!
I hope you are feeling better.
BTW, can you drop us a hint? Is Jasper Tudor going to be hot?
Susan, nice to hear you are back in the land of the living – or maybe that should be alternating between both – in a methaphorical sense.
I hope you’re feeling better! Very exciting to hear about the review copies. I’ll be reviewing The Traitor’s Wife on Apr 13th and I just can’t wait to read it! I’ve been excited about it for a long time.
I’ll also be reviewing The Traitor’s Wife on April 13th on my site.
As far as the bookstores are concerned (and you probably already know most of this), you could always do some creative “rearranging” to have the “Hi” section move up a level or so. I worked in a bookstore for a couple of years. For all the other books around your book (shelves above and below), just turn those books so they are facing out with the spine and not the cover. Then shift everything until you clear out some space on the level above for your books. And make sure your books are outward facing with the cover. Readers are more willing to pick up an outward facing book than a book only showing the spine.
Moving your books to the front of the store might be more tricky. Not sure what could do b/c those books are pre-determined to already be there. You could always ask the manager I suppose. Maybe he’ll be nice, not likely though 🙂
Glad to hear you’re on the mend, and that really is great about the publication of Traitor’s Wife!
Thanks, all! It’s glad to be feeling human again. And I hope those of you with copies of The Traitor’s Wife enjoy it!
Right now the Hugh and Bess ARC’s are just going out for blurbs, but I imagine the publisher will be sending out some to reviewers in the summer.
Amazingly, I’m not quite decided about Jasper yet. I think a son of the studly Owen Tudor should be hot, though.
No live termites spotted in three days, yippee! You can imagine how the neighbors loved seeing the termite truck parked out in front all morning.
Copies of The Traitor’s Wife have been spotted on the shelves of the B&N in Springfield, IL, by the way. And they were placed face out!
Thanks, Sarah! I'm off to check my B&N tomorrow!