All posts by RFLong

Pre-Worldcon panel

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The headlong rush to Worldcon starts here.

Dublin2019: An Irish Worldcon presents a pre-convention panel on LGBTQ+ writers, characters, and tropes. This panel follows on from the survey that was released in the May newsletter, the Pride survey. Join Andrew Meaney, Ruth Long, and Helen Corcoran to discuss the themes raised from the survey as well as how to write a positive LGBTQ+ character and how to avoid the usual tropes.

This panel will be held at the Pearse Street Library in Dublin on 22nd July at 6:30-7:30pm. Please come and join us!

 

Oh and also, as of today… there’s a new Jessica Thorne book in the works…

New Jessica Thorne books

Fantasy Romance, New Books, ,

I’m delighted to announce that I’ve signed a new deal with Bookouture to write more Jessica Thorne books.

The first novel, Mageborn, will publish in February 2020, followed by the second book in the series in May 2020.

Mageborn follows the story of Grace, an orphan who has been trained as an elite soldier to track down Mageborns – those who are born with forbidden magic – and destroy them if they don’t surrender their power to the Crown. But then Grace herself begins to show the first signs of magic. Only the mysterious Lord of Thorns, the castle recluse, can help her now…. if he doesn’t destroy her first.

But don’t worry, Anthaeus and The Queen’s Wing aren’t forgotten. I hope to be getting back to them as soon as I can as well. But ohhhhh I couldn’t pass up the chance to write epic fantasy romance…

In the meantime, as I’m on holidays, and to give you a taste of what’s in store, I spent today in a very Mageborn setting – the beautiful and inspirational medieval town of Locronan in Brittany.

Angels everywhere

Dubh Linn, links and stuff, YAIE, Young Adult, , ,

I got a wonderful email today to let me know that A Crack in Everything is on a list of 10 Glorious Young Adult Fantasy Books About Angels. There’s a super list of books featuring angels and apparently an AI generated video describing them. (!)

So if you’re interested in angel books have a look.

Of course A Crack in Everything, and its sequels A Hollow in the Hills and A Darkness at the End are available in all good bookshops. They have slightly less jogging and winged sprites and more desperate escapes, blood and terror but hey. 😀

And now back I go to working on the new Jessica Thorne project. More soon. <3

Republishing adventures continue: The Wolf’s Sister

Cover Love, Fantasy Romance, New Books, New releases, Re-releases, ,

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

I hope everyone is having a brilliant day.

For some reason (*cough* Jessica Thorne *cough cough*) I had to put my republishing adventures aside for a little while there, but it’s that time again and I’ve been working away at the series A Tale of the Holtlands. This comprises the two novella’s The Wolf’s Sister and The Wolf’s Mate, which were previously published by Samhain Publishing, and The Wolf’s Destiny the novel length conclusion to the story. I’ve been repackaging and updating these and I’m delighted to reveal the cover for The Wolf’s Sister today.

The Wolf’s Sister ebook is up for pre-order (Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com) and will be available on the 29th March along with a paperback version, with the other two following in the next couple of months.

The Wolf’s Sister, a Tale of the Holtlands, book one

The past catches up with everyone, and their past could tear them apart.

All Jeren thought of was escape from the ruler of River Holt, and his nefarious plans for her. Lost in the snowfields of the north, she is rescued by Shan, a warrior from an enemy race, and one thing is clear, she can never let him know who she is. What she doesn’t anticipate from this supposed savage
is his gentleness. She never expected love.

Shan is still grieving his murdered sister, and has no time for a girl used to courtly luxuries who hasn’t a hope of surviving in his harsh world. But slowly and surely, he begins to see the steel beneath her skin, and the beauty in her soul. Shan didn’t mean to fall in love with anyone, let alone a Holter. Jeren changes everything.

But the past has a way of catching up with everyone, and their past could tear them apart.

 

The Stone’s Heart is out today!

New Books, New releases, Publications, Sci-Fi Romance, Space Opera, , ,

I’m absolutely delighted that The Stone’s Heart, the sequel to The Queen’s Wing by my alter-ego Jessica Thorne is out today. We’re back to Anthaeus, and this time the story is told not just by Bel, but also by Petra, her ever-faithful General of the Queen’s Guard.

But Petra has problems of her own. Not only is her ex, Bel’s brother Zander, on Anathaeus for the wedding, but also a delegation from the Empress, heading by the handsome, charming and enigmatic Lord Teel.

Meanwhile…

Something evil is gathering power in the kingdom. It knows the secrets in your heart, and nobody is safe…

The Stone’s Heart is out now.

Happy New Year

Cover Love, Fantasy Romance, New Books, New releases, Sci-Fi Romance, Space Opera, YAIE, Young Adult, ,

Happy New Year to all. And here’s to a great reading and writing year, which begins for me very soon with the publication of The Stone’s Heart, by my alter-ego Jessica Thorne on the 19th February.

The Stone’s Heart is the sequel to The Queen’s Wing. As it follows on directly from the first book, some of the story is in Bel’s point of view and the rest is in that of her bodyguard and friend, Petra Kel’s. Petra was one of those characters that was just meant to be a bit part in the background. But Petra being Petra, refused to stay there. And why would she? She’s awesome.

Yes, I had a minor character who wouldn’t shut up and wanted to be heard. Shocking! (/sarcasm)

For those of you on Netgalley, The Stone’s Heart should be appearing there in just over a week. It’s also available for pre-order on Kindle.

Come back to Anthaeus for another adventure, reunite with old friends and meet some new ones and find out what Petra’s been hiding all this time. And what Zander got up to on Cuore (or some of it anyway).

Any thoughts on who else should feature in future books, I’d love to hear them.

The Queen’s Wing is out & a surprise

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Celebrating the release of The Queen’s Wing by Jessica Thorne yesterday I forgot to post here! Sorry people. It was nothing to do with the lovely bottle of champagne. I promise.

The Queen’s Wing is now out in ebook, paperback and audiobook and available in all the usual online places. Hopefully we’ll start seeing it in bricks and motor shops soon as well. If you do, take a photo and send it to me. (or @JessThorneBooks).

Today, just to add to the excitement and ensure that I’m never going to calm down at all, The Stone Heart, the sequel to The Queen’s Wing is available for pre-order and the lovely people at Bookouture have released the beautiful cover. I can’t believe my luck. I don’t know what I’ve done to please the cover fairies again but I’m hoping I keep on doing it.

This is absolutely stunning! It features Petra, as does the book as well as Bel.

The Stone’s Heart comes out on the 19th February but you can pre-order it now.

 

Mansion of Madness on Comixology and The Queen’s Wing in print

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Mansion of Madness

Just in time for Halloween, pick up a copy of the new horror comic book anthology, Mansion Of Madness, which is edited by Lee Robson and Dan Hill. It includes my comics debut, Black Dogs, where aliens and folklore collide with incredible artwork by Bryan Coyle.

Find out more below, but also to add, the print edition of The Queen’s Wing by Jessica Thorne, is now available for pre-order (Amazon.co.uk, Book Depository).

MALLET PRODUCTIONS RETURNS FROM THE GRAVE!

The classic British studio has been resurrected under new ownership and releases a one-off special of their classic horror comic Mansion of Madness

United Kingdom, 2018: After almost forty years, the classic British studio Mallet Productions is back, with new owners and a brand new edition of the classic horror anthology Mansion of Madness, featuring the stories from some of the best and brightest creators in the comics world today.

A 48 page digital only collection, Mansion of Madness contains six brand new spine-tingling tales of terror, guaranteed to leave you sleeping with the lights on.

Here’s the entire ToC:

GhostWriter

Writer: Andi Ewington
Artist: Maan House
Letterer: Bolt-01

Black Dog

Writer: Ruth Frances Long
Artist: Bryan Cole
Letterer: Bolt-01

Traffic Stop

Writer: Dan Hill
Artist: Alfie Gallagher
Letterer: Bolt-01

Words Are Not Real

Writer: Maura McHugh
Artist: Alex Patterson
Letterer: Bolt-01

The Whispers of The Stones

Writer: Jasper Bark
Artist: Paul Moore
Letterer: Bolt-01

A Nest Of Plaques And Tangles

Writer: Clay McLeod Chapman
Artist: Adam Kindred
Letterer: Bolt-01

Front cover: Mattthew John Soffe
Rear Cover: Andi Ewington

Behind The Curtain feature written by Colin Smith (illustrations Provided by the estate of “Carlo Ferigno”)

MoM design and logo by Bryan Coyle
Mallet Productions logo by Andi Ewington