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FROM
THE WRITER'S DESK
STEPHANIE'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER 
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1st January, 2009.
Happy New Year! Well, it's 2009, and I hope the year brings your peace, joy and happiness. And lots of interesting books to read. As the weather here, and in much of the northern half of the world, is cold or snowy or icy--great weather for curling up with a book--I thought I'd share with you those authors currently on my "Buy Books By" List. I often get asked what I read--so here's the current answer.
I assume everyone who reads lots has a "Buy Books By" list. In addition to the books of my best friends (Victoria Alexander, Susan Andersen, Patti Berg, Samantha James and Linda Needham), on my current list are books by (in no particular order): Robert Crais, Sharon Penman, Charlaine Harris, the Handees, Lara Adrian, Catherine Coulter, Linda Howard, Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle, Patricia Briggs, Christina Dodd, Kresley Cole, J.R.Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Jeaniene Frost, Kim Harrison, Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Suzanne Brockman, Jennifer Crusie, Naomi Novik, Lori (L.L.) Foster, Nancy Martin and Loretta Chase. So there's crime, historical mystery, paranormal, contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy - a pretty broad church.
Some I've just received, and they're in my TBR pile, others I'm (impatiently) waiting for their release. I spend a lot of my day writing, but I have to have my reward--and for me, the best reward is curling up in the evening with a good book.
So now it's on to my books.
The next to be released will be the paperback edition of WHERE THE HEART LEADS--the first volume in The Casebook of Barnaby Adair. This is not a Cynster novel despite what it says on the paperback cover. The art boffins got it right on the hardcover cover, but goofed on the paperback and sadly none of us caught it in time. To remind those who've yet to read it, this novel features Penelope Ashford, Portia's, Anne's, Emily's and Luc's youngest sister, who has appeared in numerous Cynster novels, and Barnaby Adair, that sleuth we all love, who likewise has appeared in numerous Cynster tales. This is their book--their romance. Inspector Stokes also appears, as do a number of other characters we'll be meeting again in future books. The gorgeous new--very red--paperback cover is on the Home page, and if you want to take a look at a really hot stepback, check out the WHERE THE HEART LEADS bookpage--put the cursor over the cover and it will flip to the stepback. Now is that an evocative scene, or what? A hero to die for?
The following month, in late February, the next new Cynster novel, TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER, will be on the shelves in hardcover. This is Lucifer Cynster's brother-in-law, Jonas Tallent's story, #15 of the Cynster novels, and it takes us back to Colyton, to that sleepy little village where Lucifer and Phyllida are bringing up their little boys. At the beginning of the story, Jonas has a problem--the village inn, which his family owns, has no innkeeper, and is in dire need of one. Then Miss Emily Beauregard turns up at his door, applying for the position, and in no mood to be refused. Yet from that moment on, nothing goes quite as either of them plan, for Emily has a secret, and Jonas is bound and determined to uncover it...along with the alluring Miss Beauregard herself. Toss in a little mystery, and a dark and dangerous villain, a buried treasure hidden somewhere in the village with only a cryptic family rhyme to lead them to it, and there's soon plenty of action, passion and drama stirring up sleepy little Colyton--much to the villagers' delight. Yet another red cover (not sure why red is so much my color these days!)--you can view it on the Home Page, and from their click through to the Excerpt to grt a little taste of what's coming in the book.
And for those who'd like a chance to read the book early, as a prelude to Valentine's Day we're offering 3 chances for readers to win an Advanced Readers Copy of TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER - check the Contest page for details.
The latest,
and penultimate, Bastion Club novel, THE EDGE OF DESIRE, Christian's story,
is now out there to enjoy. And so now you know Dalziel's real name, and
his title. And at least part of his problem. A little more will be revealed
in the excerpt that will run in the back of the upcoming new Cynster novel,
TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER, out in March, and then Dalziel's story itself,
MASTERED BY LOVE, the final, capping volume of the Bastion Club novels,
will follow in at the end of July, 2009. Note: it will be a month early!
For US-readers,
I have some BIG news about the booklet "THE WORLD OF STEPHANIE LAURENS."
Avon/HarperCollins (my publisher) is running a sweepstakes from NOW until
next January - the prize will be a complete library of Stephanie Laurens'
Avon books, all autographed - and every entrant will automatically
be mailed a printed copy of THE WORLD OF STEPHANIE LAURENS booklet (while
stocks last)! To enter and receive your booklet, simply click HERE
and fill in the form. Note that the standard privacy laws apply. Please
note that due to legal considerations,
HarperCollins USA are unable to open the sweepstakes to non-USA readers.
In addition, for everyone, we'll be including the booklet in a fully updated
version in the back of an upcoming special Stephanie Laurens' original
novel, currently scheduled for Christmas 2009.
The downloadable version of "The World of Stephanie Laurens," a pdf (Adobe Acrobat file) containing all sorts of background on my novels, including updated family trees and a chronology, will continue to be available. It can be found by clicking HERE. The downloadable file will be updated coinciding with the updated version to be printed in the novel at the end of 2009.
Do remember that each new, not-previously-published paperback (like THE EDGE OF DESIRE) keeps its original cover, which includes the stepback, for only a limited time before being given a "World" cover to fit into the "World" look, so if you want the full art to add to your collection you need to make sure you get each book when it first comes out in paperback.
For my audio "readers" - the first five Bastion Club novels are now available, unabridged, from Recorded Books. They are narrated by Jill Tanner. The rest of the unabridged Bastion Club novels are definitely in the works, although as usual I have no idea of exactly when they will be released. Recorded Books are also continuing to work their way through the unabridged Cynster novels, and are currently finishing What Price Love? which for some reason they'd missed. And I just received their unabridged version of WHERE THE HEART LEADS, with the delicious Simon Prebble as narrator.
Now a few quick Q&As:
In addition to the the Cynster connections and elders, the following gentlemen have stories coming - sometime - Timothy Danvers, Viscount Breckenridge, from The Ideal Bride, James Glossup from The Perfect Lover, Neville Roscoe from The Edge of Desire, Heathcote Montague from more stories than I can count, Lord Justin Vaux from The Edge of Desire, Jeremy Carling from A Lady Chosen, Fabien Morduant from The Promise in a Kiss, and a few others whose names are suppressed the better to surprise you. Their stories will come!
Regarding Augusta (nee Cynster) she makes numerous appearances in both Cynster and Bastion Club novels as the Marchioness of Huntly, a major hostess, occasionally further identified as Helena's sister-in-law. Edward, Augusta's son, is not a Cynster in any way - he takes after his father, who is relatively dull and boring, and Edward naturally spends his time more with his paternal relatives than his maternal cousins. As he is not a Cynster, he doesn't appear in the Family Tree (he was added for The Promise in a Kiss because he was mentioned in it, and we forgot to remove him for a few more books, but as he's not a Cynster he has no claim to just be dangling there). His sister - the child Augusta was expecting in The Promise in a Kiss - is Marjorie.
For those who haven't realized, the Cynsters and their associates appear in the background of the Bastion Club novels, and in some cases vice versa - the two groups of novels are not separate but rather are two perspectives on the same group within society, the same "world" - "The World of Stephanie Laurens."
Please note: Various 2-in-1 editions of some of my books will continue to appear in various outlets - these are reissues. You will never find new, first time in print books of mine in a 2-in-1 format. Yet for some, a 2-in-1 may be the first time you've seen some of these stories, so if you come across them and don't have them, the 2-in-1 is a cost-effective way of picking them up.
Our plan
to have one new Cynster novel, whether you read them in hardcover or paperback,
and one new Bastion Club novel (in paperback) will continue through 2009.
THEN, however, things will change. You'll always have at least
2 books in paperback from me per year, but after Dalziel's book in August
2009, there'll be something special coming. I can't say more yet, and
following after that special event there are 5 Cynster girls yet to come,
plus numerous connections, and there'll be more tales from the Casebook
of Barnaby Adair coming along to entertain you as well, so you have lots,
lots more to look forward to.
My release schedule for 2008/2009 reads:
OUT NOW!!- THE EDGE OF DESIRE (paperback original) - #7 of the Bastion Club novels, Christian Allardyce's story.
OUT NOW!! - IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (paperback anthology) - 4 novellas by Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacqueline D'Alessandro & Candice Hern - all with the same premise of a hero and heroine who haven't met for 10 years being stranded together for one night at an inn.
OUT NOW!! - FOUR IN HAND - MIRA reissue (see REGENCIES page for more details of Four in Hand).
JANUARY 27TH , 08 - WHERE THE HEART LEADS (paperback) - the story of Barnaby Adair, and the lady who captures his attention, his imagination, and finally his heart. First volume in the Casebook of Barnaby Adair.
LATE FEBRUARY , 09 - TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER (hardcover) - the story of Jonas Tallent, Lucifer Cynster's brother-in-law, his innkeeper-manager and a treasure hunt that turns deadly.
JULY 28TH, 09 - THE VERY LAST VOLUME OF THE BASTION CLUB NOVELS - MASTERED BY LOVE -#8 of the Bastion Club novels, Dalziel's - Royce Varisey's -story
We will always keep this website and this letter up-to-date with all my
latest news.
For those who have emailed, thank you for taking the time to drop me a note.
I hope you all enjoy reading my works as much as I enjoy writing them.
Best wishes
and happy holidays!
Stephanie
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