I’ve finished writing Blood Deep! Well, in first draft anyway. As of yesterday, it’s in the hands of my publisher and editor whilst I await their verdict in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I’m left with post-exam/post-interview nerves. Let’s hope they like it!

That’s the exciting news. As a small aside, the sad news is that on Friday, days before my deadline, my beloved laptop finally gave up on me. It feels like the end of an era, not least because I’ve spent fourteen years writing Blackthorn on it. It’s now going to rest snugly in my attic with my old electric typewriter where Blackthorn begun its first outing all those years ago. Sigh.

But back to Blood Deep…

So what happens next?

Before you get too excited, for those not in the know, this is just the first stage of the process. Once the story gets the nod of approval, the structural edits soon follow. After the structural edits come the line edits. After the line edits come the copy edits. A whole team will be working away in the background week after week until Blood Deep is exactly how I want it. The good news, however, is that although there’s still a wait, it might not be too much longer before my publisher let’s me announce the release date. Stay close for that one!

HUGE thanks, Team Blackthorn!

Since the release of Blood Torn back at the end of February, Blackthorn’s readership has increased day by day. Luckily for the series, many of you are wonderfully vocal with it – and this is something that certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by my publisher. I cannot thank you enough for all the amazing messages you’ve been sending my way, let alone the fantastic reviews you’ve been leaving on places such as Amazon and Goodreads. Every single review matters and makes a massive difference in helping towards more Blackthorn books being signed. So THANK YOU so much for taking time out to share your support for both me and Blackthorn.

It’s payback time with a giveaway!

So to say thank you to all my awesomely-lovely Blackthorn supporters and because it’s my 40th birthday next week, I can’t resist a giveaway. I’ve been promising this for a little while but wanted to hold on until Blood Deep was in.

The challenge is simple and hopefully fun! Could you cast ‘Blackthorn The Movie’? Did you have someone in mind when you read the books? Do you know who would make the perfect Kane? The best Leila? Have you already decided on the ideal man to play Jask Tao and head up Blackthorn’s most notorious pack?

All you have to do to enter this giveaway is write your suggestions below this post or on my Facebook page stating who YOU would cast in the title roles. Because casting is so subjective though, I’m not going to judge the winners. Instead I’m going to pick names randomly from a hat. You get an entry for every suggestion you make so the more characters you choose, the better chance you stand!

The prizes

There are TWO prizes up for grabs – again, the winner of each prize will be chosen randomly. The same person may even win both!

Are you looking at the picture of that manuscript above, wondering what’s written beyond that first chapter? I’m going to give one reader the chance to read the first three chapters of Blood Deep before anyone else (other than my publisher and editor!). It won’t be an e-copy though – I’ll send you a one-off print version signed by me.

Also up for grabs is a signed paperback copy of my last release, Blood Torn.

It doesn’t matter where you are, I’ll post both prizes anywhere – so don’t let location put you off.

The giveaway opens now and closes on Wednesday June 25th (midnight UK time). I’ll announce the winners on Friday 27th June here on my blog.

I’ll also be posting all your suggestions onto a Pinterest board dedicated to YOUR shared vision of the Blackthorn cast. I’ll share the completed board with you once the competition closes.

I’m going to be taking a short break between now and then but please do keep posting your entries! Good luck! 🙂