Today's Unusual Historicals Blog contains a piece I wrote about Smuggling as a profession. It also contains a scene from my upcoming historical romance novel, "Fire at Midnight."
If you have time, and are so inclined, I'd appreciate it very much if you would read the short article and leave a comment on the blog.
Here is the link: http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2009/01/professions-smuggling.html
Also...big exciting news...my novel just been given a 4-star rating by RT Book Reviews in the March edition. I've been doing the "please, please a 3! Not a 2, but a 3!" mantra for a few months now because the RT magazine is an influential publication and a 3 is a highly respectable rating for a debut novel. When I learned yesterday that my book had received a 4 (their ratings range from 0 to 4 1/2), I was absolutely thrilled, humbled, grateful...you get the idea!
Lisa Marie
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Writerly Stuff: Basking in the Glow of a Good Review
With my debut novel in the hands of a variety of review sources at the moment, it's a cause for insomnia. In this tough economy, my publisher has warned its authors that many booksellers have been driven to stock only proven authors on their shelves. Advance orders of debut novels written by new writers have consequently experienced a drop, and I can't help but believe that reviews will matter more than ever.
This means that if a reader is interested in my debut novel, it is likely they will have to go to greater effort to acquire it than simply walking into their local Barnes and Noble or Waldenbooks and heading for the Romance section. Fortunately, the internet provides many sources for placing orders, and Amazon.com has received an early shipment of "Fire at Midnight" and currently has it IN STOCK!!!
Book reviews and the all important word-of-mouth will play a critical role in the success or failure of my book. When it came to my attention earlier this week that revered Amazon.com reviewer Harriet Klausner had given "Fire at Midnight" a favorable review, I was thrilled, grateful, humbled, relieved.
While I understand that reviews are always subjective and I can expect a mix of favorable and not so favorable reviews, the endorsement by a reviewer universally respected by the publishing industry was beyond my wildest dreams, and I would like to share it with you.
Here follows the entire, glorious, wonderful review:
Fire at Midnight
Lisa Marie Wilkinson
Medallion, Mar 2009, $7.95
ISBN: 9781933836546
In 1703, her odious Uncle Victor Brightmore with the help of Dr. Elliot Macgulay places his eighteen year old niece Rachael Penrose in Bedlam Insane Asylum to keep her out of the way of his stealing her younger brother’s inheritance.
To insure his plan goes without a hitch Victor has abducted his nephew James and has spread rumors that Rachel told the authorities about smugglers like Frenchman Sebastien Falconer. Victor leads a more vicious smuggling crew than that of Sebastian.
Whereas Sebastien searches for Rachel, John Wyatt, a pal of her friend Tarry Morgan, breaks her out of asylum. However nine days and drugs have taken their toll so when he realizes they are followed, he places her in another carriage so that he can divert Victor’s thugs from her.
Sebastien takes the woman to his isolated home only to learn his ailing guest is Rachel. She escapes to London where Tarry sent James after rescuing him. There she meets Sebastien’s English customs officer estranged twin Jacques while Victor has John killed and the house belonging to Tarry’s father burned to the ground. Soon all will converge in danger and love.
FIRE AT MIDNIGHT is an exciting Georgian romantic suspense starring a strong lead couple and a solid support cast. Though he has no redeeming quality in some ways the ultra villain Victor steals the show as his plots and actions are diabolical and deadly even when he is off the page. The rest of the secondary characters are also developed enough to either enhance the story line or the understanding of the two stars; especially Tarry who wants to be a hero to his beloved friend and to his larger than life father, but though he tries he lacks the skills. Fans will enjoy this fine early eighteenth century historical thanks to deep characterizations that hopefully include sequels.
--Harriet Klausner
This means that if a reader is interested in my debut novel, it is likely they will have to go to greater effort to acquire it than simply walking into their local Barnes and Noble or Waldenbooks and heading for the Romance section. Fortunately, the internet provides many sources for placing orders, and Amazon.com has received an early shipment of "Fire at Midnight" and currently has it IN STOCK!!!
Book reviews and the all important word-of-mouth will play a critical role in the success or failure of my book. When it came to my attention earlier this week that revered Amazon.com reviewer Harriet Klausner had given "Fire at Midnight" a favorable review, I was thrilled, grateful, humbled, relieved.
While I understand that reviews are always subjective and I can expect a mix of favorable and not so favorable reviews, the endorsement by a reviewer universally respected by the publishing industry was beyond my wildest dreams, and I would like to share it with you.
Here follows the entire, glorious, wonderful review:
Fire at Midnight
Lisa Marie Wilkinson
Medallion, Mar 2009, $7.95
ISBN: 9781933836546
In 1703, her odious Uncle Victor Brightmore with the help of Dr. Elliot Macgulay places his eighteen year old niece Rachael Penrose in Bedlam Insane Asylum to keep her out of the way of his stealing her younger brother’s inheritance.
To insure his plan goes without a hitch Victor has abducted his nephew James and has spread rumors that Rachel told the authorities about smugglers like Frenchman Sebastien Falconer. Victor leads a more vicious smuggling crew than that of Sebastian.
Whereas Sebastien searches for Rachel, John Wyatt, a pal of her friend Tarry Morgan, breaks her out of asylum. However nine days and drugs have taken their toll so when he realizes they are followed, he places her in another carriage so that he can divert Victor’s thugs from her.
Sebastien takes the woman to his isolated home only to learn his ailing guest is Rachel. She escapes to London where Tarry sent James after rescuing him. There she meets Sebastien’s English customs officer estranged twin Jacques while Victor has John killed and the house belonging to Tarry’s father burned to the ground. Soon all will converge in danger and love.
FIRE AT MIDNIGHT is an exciting Georgian romantic suspense starring a strong lead couple and a solid support cast. Though he has no redeeming quality in some ways the ultra villain Victor steals the show as his plots and actions are diabolical and deadly even when he is off the page. The rest of the secondary characters are also developed enough to either enhance the story line or the understanding of the two stars; especially Tarry who wants to be a hero to his beloved friend and to his larger than life father, but though he tries he lacks the skills. Fans will enjoy this fine early eighteenth century historical thanks to deep characterizations that hopefully include sequels.
--Harriet Klausner
Thursday, January 1, 2009
ARC Winner Announced!!
If you entered my drawing for the advance reader copy of "Fire at Midnight," please hop on over to my website at http://www.lisamariewilkinson.com to see if you're a winner.
If you haven't visited my site in awhile (or ever!) please review the Books and Excerpts page. I've posted several of the advance review quotes I've received for the book, plus an excerpt consisting of chapters 1 and 2 has been added, too.
Happy New Year to all!!
If you haven't visited my site in awhile (or ever!) please review the Books and Excerpts page. I've posted several of the advance review quotes I've received for the book, plus an excerpt consisting of chapters 1 and 2 has been added, too.
Happy New Year to all!!
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