A New Design for My Genevieve Planché Series

After I turned in my final edits on The Versailles Formula, I felt a tug of excitement over seeing what cover design my publisher's designer had created for the novel. Both The Blue and The Fugitive Colours displayed lovely covers, and I was curious to see the plan for the third in the series.

To my surprise, my editor emailed me that the team at Joffe Books had come up with a bold new idea: to redesign the covers of the first two novels along with the cover of the third. The series would take a fresh approach, emphasizing that these were suspenseful historical novels with a woman protagonist at the center who was facing obstacles and searching for answers. (Once I think about it, the covers of the first two, while striking, did not convey that.)

They fiddled and fussed over the details for a while—I have to say the suspense was building in my house! But when my editor emailed me the covers, I was enthralled. They have a rich atmosphere, a touch of eeriness, and a mood that I think conveys the spirit of Genevieve Planché.

Here they are:

I hope you like the new look of the series!

To kick off the series and find new readers, The Blue's ebook is discounted at 99 cents (or pence). 

'The Fugitive Colours' Is Here

My sixth historical novel, The Fugitive Colours, is officially on sale!

London 1764. Genevieve Planché, from a family of Huguenot refugees, struggles to keep her silk-weaving business, her family, and her own nearly-crushed dreams of being an artist alive. An invitation to the house of leading painter Joshua Reynolds raises hopes that at last an art career is in reach. Genevieve soon learns that for the portrait painters ruling over the wealthy in London society, fame and fortune are there for the taking. But such high stakes spur rivalries that darken to sabotage and blackmail—and even murder. And watching from the shadows are ruthless spies who wish harm to all of England.

"Nancy Bilyeau's sequel to her breakout hit The Blue is a riveting read in its own right: a woman of ambition, and the net that weaves to take her down. Resourceful Genevieve Sturbridge struggles to keep her silk-weaving business, her family, and her own nearly-crushed dreams of being an artist alive in the stifling constraints of eighteenth century London, only to find herself embroiled in a web of plotting portraitists, seething courtiers, and international spies. Deftly written and deeply atmospheric, The Fugitive Colours is a book you'll have trouble putting down!" Kate Quinn, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Diamond Eye

"A worthy successor to Nancy Bilyeau's excellent The Blue. Genevieve Planché is back with another edge-of-your-seat mystery, packed with fascinating characters and rich, well-researched historical detail. The Fugitive Colours proves that Bilyeau is one of the best authors of historical thrillers working today." - Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow

"The Best Books to Read in May": The Fugitive Colours -- Town & Country magazine.

"A cracking historical spy thriller."- Historical Novel Society

To order the novel:

In the U.S., the book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Walmart, The Golden Notebook, and other retailers.

In the UK, the book is on Amazon, Waterstones and other retailers.

In Canada, the book is available on Amazon. 

In Australia, the book is available on Amazon and Dymocks Books and Gifts

 

Pre-Order 'The Fugitive Colours'

My historical novel 'The Fugitive Colours' goes on sale May 12th in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It comes in ebook and paperback formats and will be an audiobook too. 

London 1764: Huguenot painter Genevieve Planche accepts an invitation to the Leicester Fields home of Joshua Reynolds. She may think that this is her chance for an art career at last, but instead she is pulled ever deeper into conspiracies weaving together the worlds of art, science, and international espionage. 

"Set in Georgian-era London, The Fugitive Colours is an immersive historical mystery full of surprising twists." - Foreword Reviews

A worthy successor to Nancy Bilyeau’s excellent The Blue. Genevieve Planché is back with another edge-of-your-seat mystery, packed with fascinating characters and rich, well-researched historical detail. The Fugitive Colours proves that Bilyeau is one of the best authors of historical thrillers working today." - Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow

"Nancy Bilyeau's sequel to her breakout hit The Blue is a riveting read in its own right: a woman of ambition, and the net that weaves to take her down. Resourceful Genevieve Sturbridge struggles to keep her silk-weaving business, her family, and her own nearly-crushed dreams of being an artist alive in the stifling constraints of eighteenth century London, only to find herself embroiled in a web of plotting portraitists, seething courtiers, and international spies. Deftly written and deeply atmospheric, The Fugitive Colours is a book you'll have trouble putting down!" Kate Quinn, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Diamond Eye

In the U.S., the book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Walmart and other retailers.

In the UK, the book is on Amazon, Waterstones and other retailers.

In Canada, the book is available on Amazon. 

In Australia, the book is available on Amazon and Dymocks Books and Gifts

 

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway

Good news!

My publisher is giving away 10 copies of 'The Fugitive Colours.' The book will be published in May, but you can read it much sooner :)

To enter the giveaway competition, go here.

Here's an early review from a reader:

Debra Schoenberger rated it it was amazing

"The Fugitive Colours is a sequel to Blue, a fascinating glimpse into the world of colour and porcelain painting in France before the revolution. I would highly recommend reading the first book as the background is important to fully understand the events taking place in the second book.

We are transported to 1764 England, where Genevieve Sturbridge is mistress of her own silk design workshop. A talented painter in her own right, she employs two other painters who help her produce designs that are more beautiful and original that any other designer at the time.

London is dirty, the air is foul and walking the streets is dangerous. Earning enough to support her household is becoming increasingly difficult. She has still not fully recovered from her traumatic experiences in France and she becomes alarmed when a serious of encounters with characters from her past begin to threaten the peace she has worked so hard for. Her experience as a former spy are crucial to her investigation of events unfolding around her as she feels her control slipping away, both with her work and her household.

Beautifully descriptive with believable characters, this is another one of those absorbing stories that will keep you up late at night."