All posts by RFLong

The Book of Gold is Out Now

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The Book of Gold is out now and available in all your favourite bookshops!

We had the most amazing night at the Gutter Bookshop last night. Sam Blake hosted the book launch and we had cake – book cake for a book heist – and some Typis Cornellis stickers up for grabs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to everyone who made it – my agent Sallyanne, my family and friends, and especially these three – CE Murphy, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Susan Connolly – without whom the book simply wouldn’t have happened and have been a support and sanity check for so long. And in related content, thanks to the ever amazing emotional support husband, always my hero.

For publication day I also wrote about the inspirations and research for The Book of Gold in Writing.ie.

Planning a heist and coming events

New releases, Out and About

As we count down to the release of The Book of Gold at the end of the month, I have a post up on Writing.ie this week about planning a heist with some details of how the Book of Gold’s crew came to be.

Sam Blake will be launching The Book of Gold on the 28th November, at 6.30pm in The Gutter Bookshop. All are invited.

I will also be doing an event at The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus on the 6th December, also at 6.30 pm. There is a charge BUT you also get a copy of the incredibly beautiful shiny and glittery hardback to take home with you. Tickets are available here via eventbrite.

The Book of Gold launch

New Books, New releases, Out and About, Uncategorized

It’s finally November and so begins the month of The Book of Gold, Book one of The Feral Gods, my renaissance inspired fantasy heist book of my heart!

So I’d like to invite you all to come to the book launch on the 28th November, at 6.30pm in the fabulous Gutter Bookshop on Cow’s Lane in Dublin.

You can pre-order The Book of Gold from your favourite bookshop now and there’s also the Goldsboro edition to look forward to.

Buckle up for a heist for the ages!

Glasgow 2024 Worldcon Schedule

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Glasgow 2024 Worldcon is fast approaching (NEXT WEEK!) and the schedules can now be shared. So this is where I can be found and what I will be up to.

So please come and say hello (especially at the signing because I think I’ll be sitting there – I’m not sure there’s going to have books there to be signed, but hey, I can sign anything).

The full programme (and what a programme!) can be found here.

Really looking forward it all.

Hope to see you there!

 

Cover reveals

Cover Love, , ,

I’m so excited today because I have not one but TWO cover reveals to share.

First of all the cover of The Book of Gold, which is out from Hodderscape on the 28th November this year, has just been revealed. It’s by the Hugo nominated Micaela Alcaino and captures so many hints of the story, nods to 16th century bookbinding and glimpses of the city of Amberes that I have basically lost my mind.

OBSESSED – it’s available for pre-order now

I can’t wait for everyone to meet Lyta and the gang.

Also revealed today is the cover for A Kiss of Flame (by Jessica Thorne) from Second Sky designed by the talented Mary Luna who also designed the cover for A Touch of Shadows. And the other surprise is this, Book 2 of the Lost Queen, will be out on the 5th September, the same day as book 1 so no waiting around at all!

 

 

 

Cover Reveal and Pre Order A Touch of Shadows, Book 1 of The Lost Queen

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So excited to finally be able to share the cover of A Touch of ShadowsA Touch of Shadows (Book 1 of The Lost Queen), the first in a new trilogy called The Lost Queen by my alter ego, Jessica Thorne.

It’s available for pre-order now

A lost queen’s sacrifice. Two kingdoms at war for centuries. And a spark of passion between hunter and hunted with the power to end everything…
The shadow magic has always whispered to Wren. The same dark power that once ravaged her home kingdom of Asteroth. So she must keep her magic hidden, only using it to help people in need in the remote border village she calls home. Discovery of her gifts would mean death.
Noble knight Finn has sworn to serve his new home, Asteroth, by hunting down those who use shadow magic. He has never forgiven his father, ruler of enemy kingdom Ilanthus, for his terrible cruelty. Spying for Asteroth in his own father’s royal court is his revenge – and carrying a warning of raiding parties on the move, Finn is passing through Wren’s small town…
When terrible creatures in the nearby forest attack him, Wren risks exposing her magic and saves his life. But as they touch, burning desire takes over. And Wren’s magic floods through them both.
As the power fades, Wren and Finn’s wariness of each other returns, even with a new bond between them. But there’s no time to untangle their feelings from the seductive call of the magic. Because with enemy soldiers crossing the border, dark days are coming to Asteroth…
Their fates now entwined, can Wren and Finn learn to trust each other to save their kingdom? Or will they be the key to its destruction?
A Touch of Shadows is a totally gripping and enchanting fantasy romance, packed full of delicious passion, stunning world-building and bewitching magic. This first book in an addictive new series is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout

New Book News! The Book of Gold is on the way

Fantasy Romance, New Books, news,

I’m so delighted to finally share this news because I’ve had to sit on it for a while. Anyone who has seen me talk about rare books knows it’s an absolute passion of mine, especially when I get onto the subject of the wonderful Plantin Bible and all the stories of the wild west that was early western printing.

Well, that went somewhere. 🙂

 

From Bookbrunch:

Hodderscape signs Ruth France Long’s ‘brilliant’ historical fantasy trilogy, which kicks off with The Book of Gold, set in an alternate-Renaissance fantasy world

Hodderscape has signed a historical fantasy trilogy from rare-books librarian Ruth Frances Long after Publishing Director Molly Powell acquired World English rights from Sallyanne Sweeney of MMB Creative. The first, The Book of Gold, will be published this November.

Long (pictured) said: “Inspired by the wild and dangerous world of early western printing, my love of rare books, and a city at the turning point of modernity, all of which had been simmering away in the back of my brain for so long, writing The Book of Gold has felt like my own quest, alongside characters who are forever part of me, and I am delighted this book of my heart has found its home with Hodderscape.”

Powell said: “Trapped gods, found family, a magical book, a second-chance romance, and a royal heist for the ages – what isn’t to love? I’m so excited to be bringing Ruth’s brilliant historical fantasy trilogy to Hodderscape.”

Sweeney said: “The Book of Gold is the series Ruth was born to write. I’m thrilled to have the perfect publishing home for it in Hodderscape and can’t wait for readers to discover Amberes.”

According to the acquisition statement: ‘The Book of Gold is a part-historical, part-fantastical heist novel set in an alternate-Renaissance fantasy world and inspired by the early days of printing in Europe. When thief Lyta’s brother is arrested for sedition, she strikes a bargain with the king to steal the Book of Gold, a manuscript reputed to hold vast magical power, from his rival.

‘Ruth Frances Long writes young adult romance and fantasy from the heart which often strays into weird and wonderful liminal places. She works in a specialised library of rare books. In 2015, she won the European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award for Best Author of Children’s Science Fiction and Fantasy for A Crack in Everything.

‘As Jessica Thorne, she also writes adult fantasy which wanders from space opera to time travel to epic fantasy, including The Water Witch, The Bookbinder’s Daughter, The Stone’s Heart and more. The Stone’s Heart was nominated for the RNA Romantic Fantasy novel of the year in 2020.’
 

Exciting 2024 news

Octocon, Writing Life,

So I have been very quiet here of late, but there has been a huge amount going on in the background which I haven’t been able to share as yet.

But now I can share the first really exciting bit of news for 2024. I’m deeply honoured to have been asked to be a Guest of Honour along with Glyn Dillon, at my beloved Octocon this year.

Join us in the Gibson Hotel, 5th-6th October. There will be shenanigans.