December News

A big month for me. Not only is it one of my favourite months of the year, it’s the month the second Nightstar book comes out. I really am excited about this series. I mean, every release leaves me checking the websites with an “Is this really me?” kind of wonderment, but the books about the music world have a special place in my heart. Music means a lot to me, and I usually write to a soundtrack.

Although Jace, the hero of “Born on the Bayou” is a badass half-French, half Louisiana guitarist, this book reveals that he also has a soft heart.

And I can finally reveal that the book I’m doing for the Clandestine Classics line is – “Tom Jones!” Those of you who enjoy my historical romances know that I’ve featured the Fielding brothers in quite a few books. They are fascinating characters, and I’ve done a fair bit of research into them, because their lives were roller-coaster ones.

Henry Fielding published “Tom Jones” in 1749, the same year another notorious book came out—“Fanny Hill” (yes, both of these titles have longer titles, but most people these days know them by their shorter names). What I hadn’t realised when I said I’d do this book was the length! “Tom Jones” is a bouncy, boisterous read, bursting with life, so it doesn’t seem that long. Except that it is. Since I’m adding to it, we’re splitting it into four parts, easier to put on ereaders and to navigate, as well as the print version being less heavy on the purse. Eight hundred pages long, this book, but it was an absolute delight. I found it a serious challenge getting into Fielding’s style. The thing about Clandestine Classics is that the modern author isn't allowed to change one word of the original. The rumpy-pumpy has to be added as seamlessly as possible. It’s very hard to do, but I do hope I did the original at least a little justice. I chose the book because it invites this treatment, and I’m not sure that Fielding might have added the naughty bits and taken them out later—there are so many scenes that seem to indicate that.

The first part of “Tom Jones” is due out in January. “Born on the Bayou” is out on December 7^th.

I’m also planning to put the books already on Kindle on other platforms, so those of you with Kobos and Nooks can get them, too.

And can I say thank you and “goodnight sweetheart” to Angelo, who graces the cover of “Born on the Bayou.”