Sunday, July 12, 2026

Goodreads Giveaway of 'The Heiress of Northanger Abbey'

Goodreads is running a giveaway of my historical mystery, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey. Five signed paperbacks are being offered. To enter, go here.




Early reviews have been encouraging!

BlueInk Review gave it a star and said, "Nancy Bilyeau’s novel is a smart update and sequel to Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, set 22 years later. But Bilyeau doesn’t just attempt a stiff Regency pastiche; instead, she writes with a gorgeous, fluid voice that brings Jane Austen’s beloved characters back to life in a beautifully layered and thoroughly human way."

“Prepare to be captivated by this brilliant homage to the Gothic genre that will thrill Austen fans and lovers of historical fiction alike. Impossible to put down.”
—Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

“Mysteries and dangers … very enjoyable!”
—Janie Chang, USA Today bestselling author of The Fourth Princess: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai

“Twenty years after the events of Northanger Abbey, one of Jane Austen’s most gentle and warm-hearted heroines sets out to protect her daughter from the very real dangers of being an heiress. The result is a sparkling tribute to Gothic stories, replete with moors, ruined castles, vampyre stories and forbidden romance. Insightful and charming, this is a novel of which Miss Austen would surely approve.”
—Susan Breen, award-winning author of Merry

“The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is richly layered, deliciously Gothic, and brimming with psychological suspense.”
—Emilya Naymark, author of the Sylvan mystery novels

“A compelling version of the story years after Austen’s own story closes….Impossible to put down and highly recommended.”
—Michelle Cameron, author of Napoleon’s Mirage  





Sunday, June 14, 2026

Unveiling the Gothic Cover for My New Jane Austen Sequel



I'm excited to share the cover of The Heiress of Northanger Abbey. It's a Gothic historical mystery and a sequel to Jane Austen's classic. Twenty-two years later, Catherine Tilney must fight to protect her daughter from fortune hunters.





This novel is for Austen fans and anyone who adores a high-spirited Regency tale, savors a hint of the Gothic, and longs to be transported to the mist-shrouded moors.

The book officially goes on sale September 1st. Preorders are possible now--and the ebook is discounted to $4.99 before publication. (Paperback will be sold later.)

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

Apple


I'm so grateful for the endorsements that have come in:

"Prepare to be captivated by this brilliant homage to the Gothic genre that will thrill Austen fans and lovers of historical fiction alike. Impossible to put down!"- Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

"Nancy Bilyeau's sequel employs prose reminiscent of Austen's writing, with enough twists to keep the story interesting. Very enjoyable!" -Janie Chang, USA Today bestselling author of The Fourth Princess: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai

"Twenty years after the events of Northanger Abbey, one of Jane Austen's most gentle and warm-hearted heroines sets out to protect her daughter from the very real dangers of being an heiress. The result is a sparkling tribute to Gothic stories, replete with moors, ruined castles, vampyre stories and forbidden romance. Insightful and charming, this is a novel of which Miss Austen would surely approve." -Susan Breen, award-winning author of Merry

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is richly layered, deliciously Gothic, and brimming with psychological suspense.” —Emilya Naymark, author of the award-nominated Sylvan crime novels

"Catherine Morland is older and wiser, but twenty years on, she’s still drawn to the Gothic. A thrilling sequel that honours the original but brings its own delicious drama. Familiar characters in a masterful new tale about the next generation of the Tilney family."— Kate Braithwaite, author of The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph

“A compelling version of the story years after Austen’s story closes…impossible to put down and highly recommended.” —Michelle Cameron, author of Napoleon’s Mirage