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  

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

A March Madness of Historical Fiction

According to the various online dictionaries, "March Madness" has many meanings:

"The period of the annual NCAA college basketball tournament, with the majority of the competition set in March." Source: dictionary.com No, that's not what I mean 

"The month of the government of Canada's fiscal year end (March 31), when departments traditionally rush to spend the remainder of their budgets in order that they not experience budget reductions the next year." Source: wikipedia. That's really not what I mean

1. "The main part of the breeding season of the European hare." Source: wikipedia Oh, come ON

           "The most wonderful time of year." Source: urban dictionary Yes!

 For the purposes of this blog post, March Madness is a time when readers can be transported across centuries and across continents into the stories of five different women. Some are from history, some are fictional, but all are enthralling. :)

These five historical novels constitute a very special March madness. Among your choices, an empress, a queen, a fashion designer, a witch and a nun:

Lady of the Eternal City, by Kate Quinn. (Go to Quinn's website here.) Publishes March 3rd

Rome, 2nd Century: Elegant, secretive Sabina is the wife of Hadrian, Rome's brilliant and sinister Emperor, and she must struggle to keep the peace between her husband and the battered warrior Vix, who was her first love.

"An epic, sexy romp," Publishers Weekly 

"A feast for historical readers," RT Reviews

Rebel Queen, by Michelle Moran. (Go to Moran's website here.) Publishes March 3rd.

India, 19th century: The story of Queen Lakshmi--India's Joan of Arc--who against all odds defied the mighty British empire. The novel is told from the viewpoint of Sita, the queen's most favored companion and most trusted soldier in the all-female army.

"Filled with fascinating historical details about a subject that is not often portrayed, the novel looks at both the rights of women and the conflict between the British army and India"-- Library Journal

"A riveting and addictive glimpse of that era"--Historical Novel Society

Mademoiselle Chanel, by C.W. Gortner (Go to Gortner's website here) Publishes March 17th

France, 20th century: A novel of the life of Coco Chanel, the ambitious, gifted laundrywoman's daughter who revolutionized fashion, built an international empire and became one of the most influential and controversial figures of the 20th century. 

"Gortner brings history to life in a fascinating study of one woman's unstoppable ambition," Booklist

"In this deliciously satisfying novel, C.W. Gortner tells the rags-to-riches tale of how this brilliant, mercurial, self-created woman became a legend." -- Christina Baker Kline

The Witch of Painted Sorrows, by M.J. Rose (Go to Rose's website here.) Publishes March 17th

France, 19th century:  A woman named Sabine flees to her grandmother's Paris mansion to escape an abusive husband, but what she finds there is even more menacing. Sabine explores the forbidden night world of Paris, discovering both an occult underworld and her true nature as artist and lover.

"Rose's new series offers her specialty, a unique and captivating supernatural angle, set in an intriguing belle epoque Paris, a perfect match for the author's lush descriptions, intricate plot, and mesmerizing storytelling" -- Kirkus

"A haunting tale of possession" -- Publishers Weekly

The Tapestry, by Nancy Bilyeau (Yes, this is me! And you can find my website home page here) Publishes March 24th

England, 16th century: Joanna Stafford, an aristocrat and former novice of the Dominican Order, is summoned to the court of King Henry VIII because of her talent at the tapestry weave. Struggling to stay ahead of a formidable enemy, she becomes entangled in court politics when she tries to free her beautiful young friend, Catherine Howard, from the king's tightening web.

"Up to her ears in court intrigues, religious persecutions, beheadings galore and Henry VIII's volatile nature, Joanna shines, remaining ever vigilant." -- Historical Novel Society

"Fans of Ken Follett will devour Nancy Bilyeau's novel of political treachery and courageous love, set amid the endlessly fascinating Tudor landscape." -- Erika Robuck

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