My 2012 debut novel, The Crown, was set in Tudor-era England with a Dominican novice, Joanna Stafford, as the protagonist. The historical thriller found readers in the United States and United Kingdom as well as other markets worldwide, from Germany to Spain to Russia. I followed it with The Chalice and, finally, The Tapestry.
I'm pleased to report that Orion Publishing, the respected house that put out my Joanna Stafford novels in the UK and Australia, is publishing The Crown and The Chalice with new covers to bring them to the attention of readers who might not have discovered the novels the first time.
When The Crown first came out, it was dubbed by Oprah magazine "the Page-Turner You'll Tear Through." The review said: "Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal."
Authors who endorsed the book included:
Alison Weir: “A stunning debut. One of the best historical novels I have ever read.”
Deborah Harkness: "Nancy Bilyeau's polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling. . . . In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values, while Stafford's desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans."
As for The Chalice, it won the Romantic Times Award for Best Historical Mystery in 2013.
The Chalice won praise from:
Elizabeth Fremantle: "THE CHALICE is a gripping, tightly-plotted mystery, with a beguiling heroine at its heart, that vividly conjures up the complex dangers of Reformation England. Bilyeau's deftness of touch and complete control over her complex material make for a truly exciting and compelling read."
Parade: “English history buffs and mystery fans alike will revel in Nancy Bilyeau's richly detailed sequel to The Crown.”
Historical Novel Society: "Bilyeau continues from her first novel the subtle, complex development of Joanna's character and combines that with a fast-paced, unexpected plot to hold the reader's interest on every page."
You can pre-order The Crown as a paperback here and The Chalice paperback here. This is for the UK market only.
In America, the novels with their original covers are very much on sale. I still get royalties every year for The Crown! You can find the trilogy in audiobook, paperback, hardback, and ebook here.
I loved writing these books and hope new readers will discover Sister Joanna...
