Looking Forward To 2016 — And "Daughter Of Blood"

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New Year is an exciting time — but even more exciting for me this year, since Daughter Of Blood, the third novel in my The Wall Of Night series will be published on 26 January.

And there is absolutely nothing more exciting than Publication Day!

Although the build-up to publication can be a lot of fun as well. You may recall that the new US covers were featured "side by side" on SF Signal in September —and they still look cool!  As do the UK covers, below. :)

No matter how cool, though, a book is more than a cover: it's also about story and that means the words on the page.

So, again on SF Signal, the very first words from Daughter Of Blood were unveiled on November 16: 

"Tongues of lightning flashed out of a bruised sky, the wildfire flickering along a broken colonnade before splitting apart around a man’s tall figure. Dead leaves drifted to either side as the rift in the air closed, but no ripple disturbed the length of the newcomer’s surcote, white over blue-black mail, or the fall of his long hair as he passed beneath a crumbing arch and into an open court, bounded by twelve paired pillars. A wide pool lay on its far side, with shallow steps leading out onto a stone platform where a woman gazed into the motionless depths. Her gossamer sleeves stirred in a slight breeze, but otherwise she was as still as the surrounding water and did not turn when the man joined her ..."

To read more, click on:

Prologue  

 

The second chapter featured on B&N SciFi only t'other week: 
 

“The three hooded figures came up Grayharbor’s Sailcloth Street just as the rain swept in off the sea for the second time that day. The deluge brought a swirl of leaves and rubbish down the deep gutters on either side of the cobbled thoroughfare, and all three leapt for the portico of Seruth’s temple where Faro had taken shelter. He heard one of the strangers curse as his boot came down in the flood. The fine black leather was soaked in an instant, and the man cursed again as he followed his companions into the porch. Faro moved further back, into the corner closest to the temple door, wary of the long black cloaks and deep hoods that did not fall back even when the newcomers sprang for shelter. They were carrying swords, too. He recognized the shape of hilt and scabbard beneath their cloaks

and knew that likely meant other weapons as well …”

For more, click on:
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Chapter 2, The Serpent Prince

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And there will be yet more to come — at least one more chapter preview, but possibly two, and I thought we might have some fun with deleted scenes as well.
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(Lots of those! O-o)

And there might be a giveaway or two somewhere in the mix. First though, I shall have to see some printed books — and we're not quite there yet. 

It must be close now though, very close...

So as you can see, I have a lot to look forward to early on in 2016!

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Helen Lowe is a novelist, poet, interviewer and blogger whose first novel, Thornspell (Knopf), was published to critical praise in 2008. Her second, The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night Series, Book One) won the Gemmell Morningstar Award 2012. The sequel, The Gathering Of The Lost, was shortlisted for the Gemmell Legend Award in 2013. Daughter Of Blood, (The Wall Of Night, Book Three) is forthcoming on January 26, 2016. Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, occasionally on SF Signal, and is also on Twitter: @helenl0we