Category Archives: Fantasy Romance

Behind the Bestseller Podcast

I had such an amazing time talking to Sam Blake on her podcast, Behind the Bestseller. 

Romance is the biggest selling genre worldwide and award winning author Ruth Long, in all her various incarnations as RF Long, Ruth Francis Long and Jessica Thorne, writes romance combined with fantasy – from parallel worlds to sci-fi space opera, for both young adults and adults. Discussing what romance is and why it’s so popular, Sam Blake explores how Ruth develops character, the secrets of world building and what makes a successful book in this huge genre. Ruth outlines how important community is and how organisations like the Romantic Novelists’ Association can be of huge help in assisting authors build their career.

Come and listen to us chat about fantasy and romance, about worldbuilding and all the things my characters get up to when I’m not looking. It makes sense*. I promise.

 

*it may not actually make sense.

The Stone’s Heart RNA Award Nomination

I’m over the moon to share that The Stone’s Heart, the sequel to The Queen’s Wing by Jessica Thorne has been nominated for the Romantic Novelists Association Fantasy Romantic Novel Award. It’s an amazing shortlist and I’m so delighted to be on it. All the details and all the nominations are on the RNA website here.

We are delighted to announce the shortlists for the prestigious 2020 Romantic Novel Awards in what promises to be a spectacular year for the Association, as we celebrate our 60th (Diamond) Anniversary. Writer and performer Jenny Eclair will present the Awards during a ceremony at Leonardo Royal London City Hotel on Monday 2nd March.

I adore this book and its heroine, Petra. It’s pure Space Opera and Petra herself is kickass and vulnerbale at the same time. I’m absolutely honoured and can’t wait for the party. Fancy gúna has been bought and the golden glittery shoes are making a comeback. Such and adventure.

Thanks so much to Bookouture, my editors Kathryn and Ellen, and my agent Sallyanne, and to all my friends and family.

Octocon 2019

On Sunday the 13th of September we’ve having a mini-Octocon (just the one day – I think everyone is still exhausted after Worldcon). All the details are on the website and the programme is now up.

I’m absolutely delighted to be a guest, especially as the theme is fairies! And I’m also there as Jessica Thorne so looking forward to talking about Sci-Fi Romance as well. You can find out what I’m up to here and the details are below. It’s an amazing line up. I hope to see many of you there. Come and say hello.

11am The Fae in Popular Culture
Room 4&5
Tags: panel

On one hand we have the dangerous creatures of Irish mythology and Terry Pratchett’s malicious Lords and Ladies; on the other, sexy elf-lords and twee little creatures with their homes in trees. How have our perceptions and cultural understanding of the Fae been altered, influenced or completely disregarded by modern fantasy novels, Hollywood, and TV shows like Carnival Row and Charmed?


2pm Author Readings
Room 12, 2pm – 2:25pm
Tags: reading

Guest authors Peadar Ó Guilín and Ruth Frances Long/Jessica Thorne read from their recent work.


3pm
Romance in SFF: Not Just a Sub Plot
Room 11
Tags: panel

Many SFF stories involve romance – it’s part of human nature, after all. SFF romance as a subgenre is as varied and creative as the genre as a whole but has often been .dismissed and undervalued. But why should lovers (of romance) settle for it being considered second-best to dragons and rocket ships?


5pm From the Terror in the Night to a Bedtime Tale
Room 4&5
Tags: panel

Once gruesome cautionary tales of warning, fairy tales somehow became cute children’s stories instead. Is it time for a return to the horror stories of old or do they need to evolve to remain alive? Are any of them no longer suitable for modern audiences, and is there room for both Disney sweetness and the grimmest of Grimm for children and adults alike?

 

New Jessica Thorne 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.

Republishing adventures continue: The Wolf’s Sister

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.

 

Happy New Year

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.

Republishing: The Scroll Thief

Book 2 in my republishing adventure, The Scroll Thief is almost ready to go and available for pre-order now.

One theft too many and their world will burn.

Malachy and his sister, Halia, have what it takes to survive the dangerous streets of Klathport, capital of the once-great kingdom of Ithian. From the moment he steals from Trask, everything goes to hell.

Trask follows the law, determined to serve the city. But the secrets he keeps and his turbulent past are about to catch up with him and the other side of prison bars could prove deadly.

Cerys plays the role of a simple travelling healer. Her mission was supposed to atone for a dreadful, long-ago act and she needs the two men to fulfil it. Instead, they unleash a chain of events which sees them hunted through city and surrounding desert by the guards, the council, a psychopathic murderer and a malevolent sorceress.

Romance, tragedy, and adventure combine in a magical land on the brink of war when past and present collide.

Pre-order here (Amazon.co.uk) & here (Amazon.com). You never know what surprises you might find…