Oooo a bag…
What’s in the bag?
BEAUTIFUL THINGS!
Category Archives: New releases
Cover Reveal 2: A Crack in Everything
You know that saying about buses – you wait ages at the bus stop and then two turn up at once. Apparently it’s the same with covers! I promised you that you wouldn’t have to wait too long for the next YA one, didn’t I?
I saw the draft for this a while ago and squeed so much I seriously think I made noises only bats could hear. The Ninja Puppy whined! The Patchwork Cat stalked off in a huff.
And now all the tweaks are done and I can share the cover for A Crack in Everything which comes out from O’Brien Press at the beginning of September. Only 86 days away!
Let that sink in while I make that noise again, possibly at an even higher pitch and feast your eyes on THIS!
She was a mistake. A crack in the order of the world …
When Izzy Gregory takes a wrong turn down a Dublin alley she stumbles into a shadowy, frightening world where magical beings, angels and demons hold sway. In this place where everything is strange, Izzy finds herself surrounded by danger, chased and threatened. Her only chance of survival lies with Jinx, who’s been sent to capture her. Jinx has known nothing but duty and cruelty from his own kind; Izzy is something altogether new to him – and to his world …
Falling in love was never in the plan, but it might be the one thing that can save them.
—oOo—
And it’s available for pre-Order. Just saying…
What do you think? Essitid?
The Mirror of Her Power is out & Giveaway
The Mirror of Her Power, a tale of magic and desire, is out now and available on the Taliesin website at the special New Release discount price of $2.79 for the time being. So get it soon, before that time is up.
On Facebook I’m also taking part in Juicy June Reads – A Celebration!
25 amazing prizes up for grabs from a wonderful group of authors with new romance releases this month! Join us on June 28 for a celebration event. JOIN THE FB PARTY HERE!
The Mirror of Her Power booktrailer
Leading up to the release of The Mirror of Her Power on Thursday, here’s a booktrailer I put together.Enjoy…
Cover Reveal – The Mirror of Her Power by R. F. Long
I’ve been locked away in the editing cave but I’m just sneaking out into the sunshine for a moment to go …
Ta-DAH!
And reveal the cover for my new paranormal romance which comes out next week (NEXT WEEK! EEK!).
The Mirror of Her Power is being released from Taliesin Publishing on the 5th June. It’s my first full on paranormal romance since Soul Fire and I’m really excited about it. Magicians living amongst us, desire and magic going hand in hand, steamy encounters, ancient enemies and untold wonders.
And all quite over-18s only. (sorry under 18s but you only have to wait a few months for A Crack in Everything, promise. And it will be SO worth the wait!)
Are you ready?
Magic and desire – the magicians are among us
Mia’s life as a bike messenger has a few perks, mostly the glimpses she gets of the hot and mysterious Balthazar. But while making a delivery to his home, a strange bracelet attaches itself to her arm and everything changes. Balthazar is a magician, and Mia is fated to be his apprentice.
Only Balthazar doesn’t want an apprentice. The last time he tried to share his life and his power with someone it ended in ruin. He won’t risk that again. But magic and lust are intricately connected, as are the fates of magicians and their apprentices. The desire that ignites between the two of them is more than he’s prepared for, and maybe it’s more than just desire.
When Balthazar’s former apprentice, a powerful and dangerous sorceress returns with vengeance on her mind, he’ll have to join forces with Mia, or risk losing her forever.
Along with his last chance of redemption.
I’ve always loved stories about magicians and magic and this particular story, characters and world just begged to be told. Even though I’ve been focusing on YA recently I simply could not shut Balthazar and Mia up.
Oh and Emrys.
Especially Emrys. Oh my goodness, he never shuts up! Wants his own book next. Cheeky boy.
The Mirror of Her Power will be available as an ebook from the 5th of June from Taliesin Publishing and all the other online retailers. As soon as I have the buy links, they’ll be up here 😀
Hope you love it as much as I do.
Shoes, Ducks and Maids of the Sea booklaunch 2nd April 2014
I’m so excited to be a part of this anthology. My story, Winter, is based on a lesser known Hans Christian Anderson tale called The Ice Maiden. The ebook will be available soon.
Everyone’s invited to the launch on Wednesday! Make sure to say hello.
Happy May Day – Giveaway
May 1st is the feast of Bealtaine, or May Day, an ancient seasonal festival signally the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere, a time of fires and fertility rites. It is the day of the May Queen, the mythical figure who presages the arrival of summer and an important element in my novel The Treachery of Beautiful Things.
Folklore suggests that after the most beautiful girl in the village had been picked to be Queen of the May, she was dressed in white, a garland of white flowers placed her head, she was paraded through the village, taken to the forest and sacrificed to the trees.
Jenny, in the Treachery of Beautiful Things is forced to take on the mantel of May Queen, but makes herself stronger than a tradition, so matter how old it might be.
I’m now the type of person who can’t look at pictures of a May Pole without a little shudder, even if it is made by Sylvanian Families (true story – I was toy shopping and had to leave before I made a little scene with hysterical giggles.)
Research into the folklore which underpins our traditions is a great way of adding richness to stories, to developing a depth of meaning. That meaning might not be apparent to many, it might upset some, but the sense of the old lurking behind new words, in between the leaves and blossoms of the May Tree, makes stories resonate for the reader.
~~~May Day Competition Time~~~
For a chance to win a copy of The Treachery of Beautiful Things in hardback, please leave a comment below telling me about your favorite bit of folklore or fairytale. The competition will run for a week, until the 8th of May when I’ll pick the winner.
The paperback edition of The Treachery of Beautiful Things is now available for pre-order and will be out on the 1st August (Lughnasadh, another Celtic fire festival, this time for Harvest. Let’s hope that’s a sign.) Check your local bookshop or Indiebound, Powells, Book Depository, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com
The Treachery of Beautiful Things booklaunch
What a wonderful night. With photos to prove it…
Having spent the two previous days getting apologies from those who couldn’t make it (with perfectly valid reasons of course), with a major concert on in Dublin, the Junior Cert exam results out that day, and traffic chaos, I was expecting no one to make it but we had a great turnout in the end. Yay! I didn’t get to talk to everyone, nor as much as I would have liked to but it was fantastic to see so many people, new friends and old. (Yes, I got into trouble for mentioning my “oldest” friends — I think I am forgiven now, barely. “The people with whom I have been friends the longest” isn’t quite so snappy though.)
Bob from The Gutter Bookshop introduced us,and Celine Kiernan spoke so kindly about The Treachery of Beautiful Things.
And I thanked … well everyone in the world really, virtual, imaginary, and real.
But eventually I shut up again and we had cake.
Did I mention the cake? 😀
I didn’t actually get any cake because I was signing books
but I’m told people enjoyed it and the hoard of small children surrounding the table earned themselves the nickname “The Cookie Monsters”.
And then it was time to go home. Thanks so much to everyone who was able to make it, who sent good wishes and celebrated online. I had a fabulous evening. I hope you did too!
Next up, it’s Titancon, from the 21st of September, in Belfast. I’ll be on the literary panels, and signing books. Check out those guests! Can’t wait!
The Treachery of Beautiful Things is now available, from Dial Books at
Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Powells
and at your local bookshop.
eta: I forgot to add – The Treachery of Beautiful Things got a STARRED REVIEW in the ALA Booklist – their review is here.
Out in the wild – Book Launch imminent
The countdown is on to the book launch. My brain has switched into its usual stress management mode – BAKE ALL THE THINGS!
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop
Date: Wednesday 12th September – 6.30pm until 8pm
Free and Everyone welcome. Encouraged even.
There will be cake. Just saying.
The book will be launched by the wonderful and talented, not to mention award winning Celine Kiernan.
There should be photos (if I charge my camera and find a photographer). And there might be wine. (*ahem*)
So come one, come all to the Gutter Bookshop tomorrow evening and see what happens.
~~oO0~~
The Treachery of Beautiful Things
by Ruth Frances Long
Now available:
Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Powells
and your local bookshop!!!
Launch Day – The Treachery of Beautiful Things
And what a wonderful day it has been so far.
All the lovely wishes, the people saying hello and congrats, friends and strangers, and the photos people have been sending of the book appearing on their eReaders!
I’m so happy that we’re here, and that Treachery (which was once just May Queen) is out in the world. So thank you to everyone who helped — friends, crit partners, gnats, agents, editors, everyone. You’ve all been amazing.
Now available:
Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Powells
and from your local bookseller