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Blood Roses Bites and Giveaways

Thank you to everyone who made Friday such an AWESOME day. I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of support out there for Blackthorn, so HUGE thanks to everyone who played a part.

Special thanks go to Tracey, Fiona, Linzi, Amity, Tima, Jane, Michelle, Aimee and Incy who all featured Blood Roses Bites on their blogs and also went that extra mile to share their own thoughts on the series. Also to Alison for sharing both Blood Shadows and Blood Roses with her readers, Martine for spreading the news on Facebook and Rae whose technical hitches caused her problems, but it’s on the way.

And don’t forget, you can still read my exclusive interview with Bookouture, where I share some insight into Blood Roses and hints of what’s to come for Blackthorn.

Thanks also to the wonderful Michele Hauf for the VampChix promo of Blood Roses, and sustained thanks to the awesome GraveTells for continuing to run Blood Roses ads. I have some exciting news to share about a special feature I’m doing with them very soon – more on that in a while.

But before I share a couple more exiting things, it’s time for Blood Roses Bite #4! They’ll be running every day this week, so be sure to look out for them!

Blood-Roses-quotes-1

 

Win an eBook of Blood Roses or Blood Shadows!

I also want to say a massive thank you to Kara-Karina who invited me onto Nocturnal Book Reviews to talk about what inspired me to write paranormal romance. We’re also giving away an eBook of your choice – either Blood Roses or Blood Shadows.

Win a SIGNED paperback copy of Blood Roses!

Due to the astounding response to the last Goodreads giveaway of Blood Roses (over 2,600 signing up) my wonderful publisher, Bookouture, decided to give everyone a second chance. Visit now to win one of two signed copies.

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blood Roses by Lindsay J. Pryor

Blood Roses

by Lindsay J. Pryor

Giveaway ends May 17, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Before I go, I’m going to publicly apologise to everyone already underway with Blood Roses for the clear issues I am causing AGAIN with late nights, neglected families and work avoidance. Also, apologies to everyone who has finished reading it, and have informed me I’m single-handedly responsible for your current difficulties re-engaging with reality.

Blame Caleb, not me. 😉

I’ll be back with another Bite tomorrow!

Blood Roses Has Arrived!

It’s Blood Roses launch day!!! Yay!!!

Blood-Roses-out-today

Yes, it’s FINALLY here.

Some of us have waited a few weeks, some a few months, New Voices fans of Blood Roses have been waiting almost three years. Me? Well, it must be over a decade since I first had thoughts of serryns and the darkest of vampires…

Thanks to the AWESOME Bookouture (and I will continue to sing their praises no matter how excessive because, sincerely, they are THE best publisher) – my dream of bringing Blackthorn to readers continues.

And it is those readers who are already making this an incredible launch day for me. Quite simply, without them, days like this don’t happen. For months now, some have worked really hard in the background – commenting on my posts here and on other sites, leaving messages and likes on Facebook, sharing and retweeting, dropping me supportive emails and, let’s not forget, writing those all-important reviews. ALL of it makes a difference – not least to me personally. I can’t thank you enough.

So, what’s happening today?

The two main things are…

1) The Bites are spreading!

If you have time to peruse, check out some of these fantastic bloggers who very kindly jumped on board to spread the word about Blood Roses. For all their relentless support these past few months, I offered them exclusive access to the bank of pending Blood Roses Bites so they could pick their favourite to share. But these are Blackthorn readers we’re talking about – and this passionate bunch always go the extra mile. Do please take a look at some of these fab sites from Australia, South Africa, USA and the UK, (in alphabetical order!!)… Fiona Chapman, Lindsey (aka Linzi) Clarke, Aimee Duffy, Amity Grays, Jane Hunt, Tima Maria Lacoba, Tracey Rogers and Michelle Smart to see what they have to say. Gee, you lot have brought tears to my eyes!! Really. And coming a little later: Incy BlackAlison Lodge and Rae Rivers. I also want to say a massive thanks to Martine Lamerton who doesn’t have a blog, but is spreading the word on Facebook, as well as my lovely fellow bloggers on the Hot Pink Typewriter who are letting me put up a Bite later today. And not least, I want to say a HUGE thanks to my wonderfully supportive husband who is not only spreading the word to EVERYONE he knows, but even took the day off to share my launch day with me.

My personal favourite Bite?

Never-give-up-on-Love

2) Exclusive Interview!

I’m also doing an exclusive launch-day interview with Bookouture at 3 pm today (UK time). I’d love you to come and say hi if you can! Oliver Rhodes knows what questions to ask to get me to talk… this really is a MUST-READ for curious Blackthorn fans.

There could be more things happening too – which I’ll post on Twitter and Facebook later.

So, that’s it! The book’s out, it’s being downloaded and posted through letterboxes even as I write this. The reviews are already coming in – and, unlike Blood Shadows, they’re a mixed bag so far! Some are loving it, some are slightly more ‘cautious’. But that’s okay – as long as I continue to do my Blackthorn fans proud. Fingers crossed I will!

So to finish off, here are reviews I’ve seen this morning and have totally made my day so far:

The Demon Librarian

Amazon.com

There is nothing quite like reading reviews from readers who  just “get it”.

Have a great day everyone!

xxx

 

 

Let The Bites Begin!

Tomorrow is finally the official launch day of Blood Roses – book two in my Blackthorn paranormal romance series!

That also means the official kick-off of the Blood Roses Bites – starting tonight!!

Last week, I introduced the first just to give you a taster of what was to come. So here’s Bite # 2… let the battle begin. 🙂

Blood-Roses-bites-No.2

 

Not only will there be another Bite here tomorrow, but some fantastic bloggers have jumped on board with me to help share the Bites as far and as wide as they can.

As always, please feel free to use any of the Bites on your own blogs. Tweet, Pin or share – the more the merrier!

And don’t forget, I’m on my fantastic publisher’s website tomorrow for an exclusive Blood Roses/Blackthorn interview. Do come and say hi if you can. More news of that tomorrow.

I’ll be back here then – if I don’t pass out from over-excitement in the interim… 😀

Blood Roses Soundtrack

Only two days until the official launch day of Blood Roses!! To mark the occasion and get you in the right mood, here’s the promised soundtrack for the book…

(Although I know it’s obvious – I must state, as with the Blood Shadows soundtrack, that this is a total mock-up album and in no way are the artists linked to Blood Roses or in any agreement to endorse it. Aw, but Adam – you know you want to…)

 

CD CASE

And to give you the heads up, I’m very excited to have been invited to appear on Bookouture’s website on Friday! My wonderful publisher will be interviewing me about Blood Roses and shamelessly trying to get me to disclose some hints of what’s to come in the rest of the series. This will be a must-read for Blackthorn fans!

Blood Roses is on GraveTells

The plan was to post the Blood Roses soundtrack tonight, but then I found out that the wonderful GraveTells have hopped on board with promoting Blood Roses. How terrific is that? Not only are they running a Blood Roses ad (one of the animated ones!) on all of their pages, but have also put a direct link to the opening chapters of the book.

To quote:

“Read the first 3 chapters of Lindsay J. Pryor’s upcoming Blood Roses, the second installment in the wickedly dark new Blackthorn paranormal romance series!

A gritty blend of urban fantasy where you think the couple might not get their “happily ever after” and steamy paranormal romance, Blackthorn is an explosive new series from an up-and-coming debut author who will knock your socks off!”

Yay!!

You can follow the link here if you’d like to read and comment.

 

Gravetells

 

The soundtrack’s coming tomorrow! Only three more days until the launch!

More Blackthorn Merchandise!

Last week, just for fun, I showcased some possible Blackthorn merchandise. I asked you to let me know what other merchandise you’d like to see and, as always, you didn’t let me down!

So here are a few of your requests. (I’m afraid I failed on the cocoa powder.)

 

T Shirts

It’s been almost 3 years since New Voices readers/voters coined the phrase Team Caleb. I can’t believe Blood Roses is finally nearly here! Only now there’s another vampire on the block who, of course, you hadn’t met back then.

aaa

Pillows

The request was put in for double-sided. Us Blackthorn girlies are a fickle lot. 😉

Pillows1

Hat and satchel

Hmm… is the team label too subtle maybe?

bbb

Hot water bottle

Again, by request, double sided for the indecisive amongst us. As if Kane and Caleb aren’t enough to keep us warm enough already.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Onesie

I was on the hunt for it all of last week by special request of Lindsey Clarke (she’s been hounding me… hounding me, I tell you!!) and finally tracked one down!

 

onesie

Posters

As well as the book covers, there are a whole range of Bites – any of which could make a poster. So I chose one that’s on my wall, the winning Blood Shadows Bite and one for my upcoming release.

ccc

Huge thanks to everyone who joined in by emailing, messaging and tweeting their requests. I’ll be back tomorrow with the Blood Roses soundtrack to get you in the mood for what’s to come. Only four days to go!!

The First Blood Roses Bite!

A week today is the official launch of Blood Roses!! Where did that time go?

The Goodreads giveaway to win one of three signed copies ended today, with over 2,600 people entering. Thanks to EVERYONE who signed up – you earned me a place in the top 9 most requested authors!

So to mark the occasion, and with the days ticking down, I’m super excited to reveal the very FIRST of the brand new Blackthorn Bites…

 

Blood-Roses-quotes-4

 

What do you think??

With the combined creative talents of the awesome Oliver Rhodes and Henry Steadman, there are many more Blackthorn ‘Blood Roses’ Bites come. Look out for them here, on my Facebook page, on Twitter and on Pinterest.

As always, please feel free to share/RT/pin any that you like – and spread the word that the next phase of Blackthorn is upon us.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Blackthorn Merchandise!

Okay, before I get lynched – these are not really for sale, but just for fun. After a few blog posts that have been fairly text orientated, I thought I’d go a bit easier on the eye. This post has been prompted by several fab fans who decided it was about time they could get their hands on some Blackthorn merchandise. Unfortunately, at present, this is the closest I can get.

I’m going to do a couple of these posts, so do let me know if there is anything you’d like to see and I’ll try my best (still trying to find the onesie, Lindsey Clarke!) to create it. The focus of the first one is Blackthorn merchandise for writers. I hope you enjoy!

iPhone cover

If you’re anything like me, your iPhone (or equivalent) never leaves your side. Emails, Twitter, blog checks – they all happen on this one little device that, unbelievably, I did actually manage to exist without until eighteen months ago.

iPhone case1

Laptop case

Bless, my laptop is so old now it has about fifteen minutes of battery life before it needs plugging in. Needless to say it’s primarily for working at home, but the bag could still be useful for pens, notebooks… a copy of Blood Shadows…

 

Ipad Case

Mug

Where would I be without my mug? Coffee is a must. As I have on my Pinterest boards – “No coffee, no workee.” And yes, as I have an unhealthy (some might say bordering on obsessive) fetish for Caleb’s eyes, he’s making another appearance.

mug

Notebook

I’d hate to think how many notebooks I’ve got through over the years. It must be some ridiculously shocking number. We’ve got to have somewhere to write our two a.m. flashes of inspiration though, haven’t we?

Notepad

Chocolate

Yes, the most essential of all. Well, it is to me anyway. And because it’s so essential, I decided I needed two bars. Oh yes, and yummy Kane had to appear on at least one. 😉 (Behave yourself, Tracey Rogers – I’m starting to learn how your mind works!

Screen Capture
Screen Capture1

Don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to see Blackthorn appear on. Message me here or email me. You could get a bonus point for creativity! (But no, that won’t win you a date with Kane or Caleb, I’m afraid.)

Beneath Blackthorn #10

Welcome to my final Beneath Blackthorn post – a series of posts aimed at avid fans of Blackthorn who want a little extra insight.

BEHIND BLACKTHORN

Blood Shadows has been out for five months, Blood Roses will be available within days, Blood Torn is well underway and I’m already plotting book four in the background.

It’s hard to think that when I started writing Blackthorn, I had no idea where I was going – which, ironically, is not unlike that fateful night which first inspired the series. But it never really mattered because the prospect of publication was nowhere in sight. Sometimes you just have to write because there’s a story to tell, and I wrote Blackthorn purely out of enjoyment. I was taking myself on an adventure and the more I wrote, the deeper I got.

Blackthorn certainly never started out as a plan for an interwoven series of books. My intention was a collection of independent love stories all within the same world – individuals fighting through conflict to cross barriers and learn something about others as well as something about themselves.

What quickly transpired though was something much more intricate than that. I experimented with many Blackthorn stories over the years until piles of notebooks became filled with ideas not only about structuring individual novels but a series. Over time, certain characters and their stories rose to the surface as I started to see where Blackthorn was heading. Those romances developed from short stories and novellas to become full-length novels – stories you have come to know, so far, as Blood Shadows, Blood Roses and Blood Torn.

Whilst developing the Blackthorn series, it remained important to me to keep an individual identity for each romance – for each story to vary in accordance with the characters, the circumstances and their own personal battles. It was also essential to be consistent in creating a dark, sexy and complex read that the reader would feel is building up to something.

And it’s that ‘building’ that is core to the series and all the stories contained within. After all, I think any story, first and foremost, should be a journey – whether a stand-alone book or a series, you have to go somewhere. I’ve been on quite the journey over sixteen years of constructing Blackthorn. It was my companion through some of the darkest, most terrifying times of my life. But I think that’s what makes it so important to me. I’ve always believed writing isn’t just about spilling words onto a page – it’s about feeling something as you write, because that’s how you connect the fantastical with the real. Get caught up in it. Enjoy it. Be entertained. Smile, cry, hide, drool, shake your head in frustration, yell at the page, roll your eyes, ask questions – that’s what it’s all about. I’ve certainly had plenty of those moments! All I hope is that the stories continue to intrigue you enough to keep coming back because one way or another, there’s a lot more to come!

But I can’t end these posts without acknowledging that Blackthorn wouldn’t be in readers’ hands if it wasn’t for one very special publisher. Bookouture not only ‘got it’, but subsequently decided it could be worth taking a risk on a debut paranormal romance author enthused with an overspill of ideas for a new PNR series in an already ridiculously competitive market. And for everyone who has bought into the series, you’ve proved that was a risk worth taking.

Huge thanks for taking the time to read these posts, let alone everyone who has taken the time to read and review Blood Shadows. Your responses have been so unbelievably encouraging and mean an incredible amount to me.

But is there anything I haven’t covered? Is there anything you’re still itching to know? Is there a blog post you’re desperate to see? Send me a message and let me know. When I say I love to hear from readers, I mean it. And for those who have already been dropping hints, I have some fun posts coming your way very soon – not least with Blood Roses just around the corner.

Onwards and upwards, Team Blackthorn! 🙂