September 24, 2012

As reported this morning in the Bookseller and by Pan Macmillan themselves, I have agreed a deal to publish three more novels.

These are not Jessica Daniel books, nor are they crime fiction. This is a hybrid young adult/sci-fi/fantasy series – the Silver Blackthorn trilogy – which is, essentially, everything I grew up reading.

In addition, AudioGo will produce audiobooks of the trilogy – as well as the Jessica Daniel titles.

Here is the synopsis:
In the village of Martindale, hundreds of miles north of the new English capital of Windsor, sixteen-year-old Silver Blackthorn takes the Reckoning. This coming-of-age test not only decides her place in society – Elite, Member, Inter or Trog – but also determines that Silver is to become an Offering for King Victor.
     But these are uncertain times and no-one really knows what happens to the teenagers who disappear into the castle. Is being an Offering the privilege everyone assumes it to be, or do the walls of Windsor have something to hide?
     Trapped in a maze of ancient corridors, Silver finds herself at the mercy of the mad King. In this warped world of suspicion it is difficult to know who to trust and who to fear. The one thing Silver does know is that she must find a way out…

Jessica Daniel fans should rest assured that I have already written and submitted these books to the publishers, so it is not distracting me from writing or working on Jessica Daniel titles. I still plan to continue writing them and have long-term plans for the series.

This is something supplementary and, if all goes to plan, I will have three novels out in 2013:

• Jessica Daniel book 4: Think of the Children (February)
• Jessica Daniel book 5: Playing With Fire (July)
• Silver Blackthorn book 1 of 3 (Autumn)

It is quite an exciting time for me. For someone unheard of a year ago to have sold nine books to a major international publisher is about as unprecedented as anything in the publishing industry.

I also answered a few questions for fellow author Tasha Harrison, which you can read here.

More news as and when…