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It’s HAVEN’s Publication Day!

As of midnight last night, HAVEN should have landed on your e-reader or already be on its way in the post to you. It’s been an absolutely incredible day (now almost half past ten in the evening here in the UK) all thanks to a whirlwind of incredible support from my wonderful readers. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing my day with me. ❤️

As well HAVEN being the start of a brand new adventure for you, it’s also the start of a brand new adventure for me. Although you can already buy my Blackthorn series in paperback, this will be the first time ever that you might even spot my book in your local bookshop over the forthcoming months. Courtesy of my awesome new publisher Piatkus (Little, Brown Book Group), I am officially in traditional print as of today! I’ve had my first newspaper review in The Peterborough Telegraph (a wonderful 7/10 from a thriller specialist), HAVEN will be featuring in a mainstream magazine soon and I’ll also be appearing on radio for the first time ever. It’s majorly exciting for me. I can’t thank my superb publicist at Piatkus enough. Sophia, you’re fantastic!

I’m already a little overwhelmed today. Five years ago this month my publishing career launched with Blood Shadows, the first book in my BLACKTHORN series. Soon that series will be coming to an end. But now, because of your enduring support and because of your requests not to let go just yet, I’m able to show you even more aspects of this world you’ve come to love. I hope you enjoy my LOWTOWN books as much as you have Blackthorn. I certainly loved every minute of writing HAVEN for you. It’s been an incredible journey up to this point and one I’ll share with you in the forthcoming weeks.

But, for now, I will leave you in peace with your HAVEN. I’ve posted some of the events of the day below, including some of the fabulous reviews that have started to filter through. I’m overjoyed that it’s already being so well received. So thank you to every single person who has participated in today and made it so special for me.

REVIEWS SO FAR 

“The plot went places I never saw coming and as always, I was left with nothing but admiration for how well Lindsay weaves her web, to the point where we’re never quite sure what path the story will take. The pacing was fast and relentless, the tension was electrifying throughout, the hot scenes were, well, sizzling (as always) and there was mystery and intrigue on every page. It’s been a while since a book got me so hooked that I spent my time in between reading thinking about what might happen next and each time I returned to it, I lapped it up and hoped it would never end. It did, of course and yes, I may have cried a little (although this was mostly due to plot, damn you LJP!).

Gritty, relentless and hot as Hell, with new favourite characters to adore and darkness and danger lurking at every turn, Haven is without doubt my PNR top read of the year so far. Five stars for this breath-taking, brutal, dark fantasy tale!” ~ Lindsey Clarke

You can read the full review HERE.

“Haven will draw you in with a compelling couple, a truly dark and gritty world, and a story that will twist, turn, anger, sadden and completely consume you.  You’ll find light in this dark world, and watch as two people defend the good that needs to survive while falling deeper into each other.  There are moments that will make you want to look away from the page – but you can’t.  Moments that will give you a smile in the midst of darkness.  

I am always amazed at the magic that authors create.  Lindsay J. Pryor has given us another paranormal world to rival Blackthorn.  Not take its place, but companion with.  Her world building, the descriptions that place me right in the middle of the action, the emotions that are drawn out of me while in her worlds always leaves me in awe.  And I don’t say that lightly.  If you haven’t read Ms. Pryor’s works yet then I would strongly, gently encourage you to take that dive off of a cliff and emerge yourself in this world.  You’ll never view Paranormal the same way again – 5 stars.” ~ Keeper Bookshelf

You can read the full review HERE.

“This book grips you right from the beginning. The goal, the motivation of the main protagonists seem clear from the start and you invest in them instantly. But then, as you get deeper, so do the goals, so does the motivation, getting more desperate, more urgent. And that’s without the conflict! My goodness does the author put them through an emotional wringer! The plot is amazingly good, simply wonderful, something that is the only thing that doesn’t surprise me about the authors writing. I’ve never been able to figure out one of her plots and Haven is no exception. Lindsay J. Pryor’s world building is perfection. The plot is skilled and engrossing. Each chapter has some snatches-your-breath revelation. The conflict builds and builds, as does the tension. The final word is perfect and deeply satisfying. Everything about this book is satisfying. Dark, gritty, urban fantasy at its absolute best. Ah, Haven. You came, I read, I cried and fell in love. I found my haven in Haven!

Pure fantasy. Pure Genius. 5 Butterfly Rating!” ~ Tracey Rogers 

You can read the full review HERE.

“This is a well paced story, with the great world building from the Blackthorn series used to great effect and enhanced in this story. I don’t think you need to have read that series to enjoy this one, as the author continually gives reminders and additional information so readers are aware of the various scenarios, rules, restrictions and expectations which apply in this dystopian community. The characters are easy to relate to and empathise with. The dramatic encounters are brilliantly brought to life in the imagination of the reader. I didn’t want to put the book down and the twist at the end is superb! I have no hesitation at all in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys reading about suspense filled paranormal societies, with mobsters, murder, mystery, magic and romance all having key roles in the unfolding story. I can’t wait to read more in this series! 5/5.” ~ Splashes Into Books

You can read the full review HERE.

“Lindsay transports you right in the middle of the world she has created. She takes you into the heart of the action. You can smell the desperation of what it’s like to live in Lowtown, you can feel the terror, the hopelessness of being one of the unlucky folks who happened to be born into the wrong family, the wrong area. But you can also be uplifted by the spirit of the people who live there, and none more so than our heroine, Ember…

At the beginning, I read slowly, keen to make sure I followed the story, for Lindsay J Pryor’s writing is not only absorbing, but it’s also intelligent. You have to pay attention… From about the fifty percent mark, I couldn’t flick the pages fast enough… as the author has done many times before, Lindsay J Pryor surprised, shocked, and astounded me with her storytelling, her guts, her ability to make the tough calls. Her ability to pull out something amazing… and when the covers are peeled back to reveal the outcome, she definitely provides that ‘What the heck’ moment!

Make no mistake: Lowtown is dark and gritty, and gives us more than a glimpse into the depths of human depravity. But it’s also uplifting, inspiring, and shows the strength of humanity, of how there are still those with determination to do the right thing, no matter what it costs them.” ~ Passionate About Books 

You can read the full review HERE.

“Haven has all the grittiness and the rawness of her Blackthorn series. It comes with the depravity and the nitty gritty. She has this way of creating a world that in all reality should disgust you, it should make you want to run for the hills BUT you know with absolute certainty you’d run straight into those pages and into that world. It’s fantastic creativity.

It’s not just the world building that amazes me, it’s also the story itself, there are so many plot twists and second guessing. You go through one chapter thinking you know what’s coming and then bam, you hit another plot twist. If this book was a theme park ride it’d definitely be a rollercoaster…The chemistry between the two was electric. The tension palpable… It was fantastic writing.

I’m always in awe of an author’s ability to take you away from the real world and Lindsay seems to do this every time. Blackthorn will be my first love but it most definitely won’t be my last. Lowtown has just become a very real contender.” ~ Wopsywoobookblog 

You can read the full review HERE.

“I am totally speechless after finishing this story. I loved her Blackthorn series and didn’t think anything could surpass that and keep me gripped like that series did but WOW this book blew me away with how this plot unfolded, Lindsay’s attention to detail throughtout this story is just astonishing.

The depth of passion and emotion throught out this book is sheer genius from this author,she has set the bar very high,but this is what she does… this was a dark and gritty story with lots of twists along the way that you never see coming.

This book is pure genius from a fabulous author that will keep you hooked and intrigued till the last page…it is PNR at its very best. SUPERB.”

~ Book Aholic Dawn  

You can read the full review HERE.

A MASSIVE thank you to all the above reviewers for your time, effort and incredible feedback. ❤️

And before I go, thank you for all the incredible support that has come through on my Facebook Page, Twitter and all your emails throughout the day and evening too. I’m still catching up but I will respond personally as soon as I can. ❤️

Happy (if not slightly angst-ridden) reading, everyone! As always, come back safely. xxx

***

UPDATE

Thank you for the fantastic reviews that have continued to come in for HAVEN over the past week. Including:

“I can easily predict this new urban fantasy series from her will be my next favorite thing. Loving the fact these books will be standalone. Haven was utterly engrossing. It had the usual flare of Lindsay’s awesome writing, alluring world-building and her fantastic characters that I have come to associate with her after loving and following her Blackthorn series. I couldn’t stop reading this book even when I should have. But I just couldn’t. Put. This. Book. Down. It was so captivating.

I loved the plot, the contrast it has to Blackthorn, the rawness and the brutalness–the familiar unpredictability that makes you fall in love with Lindsay’s writing and the world(s) she has created.” ~ Gaga Over Books

You can read the full review HERE.

“Rich in intrigue, and twists and turns, Haven is a dark, dark PNR/urban fantasy novel of the first class. The world building is superb, so too, the action scenes—the frustration, despair and violence, scarily bold and graphic on the page.

Ember (heroine) steals the show. Here’s one woman who stands tall and brave in her own quiet way. Sure, she’ll appear to concede (when it suits her), but her intelligence always keeps her steps ahead of those who would do her, or those she cares about, harm. With Ember it’s not her physical actions you have to watch, it’s her mind! Nate (hero) is a perfect foil for her, bringing to the fore as he does, her vulnerability. Nate’s not quite an anti-hero, but he’s pretty damn close… No comment on the plot because of spoilers, but in a word, DEVIOUS.

So aside from the writing, the plot, the characters, what else raises Haven very much above the average? Well the politics, the social injustice, the raw indignation at how corruption triumphs—fact of life. But amid all that bleak there exists integrity and loyalty and love, keeping hope strong.” ~ Incy Black

You can read the full review HERE.

“I loved it. I savoured every single word. Ms Pryor delivers an urban fantasy masterclass

What stood out for me was the romance, it’s heart breakingly romantic. I’m a sucker for romance, I’ll admit I probably watch Strictly Come Dancing hoping for romance. Haven reminded me of a brilliant Viennese Waltz – beautifully romantic with constant twists and turns that left me dizzy and breathless. My heart ached and ached.

I adored Nate’s sensitivity and all male softness. He reminded me of peanut butter ice cream – cool, unexpected and with real depths of flavour… As for Ember I loved that she was determined, smart and strong without being tough or spiky. How refreshing is that? I just hope we haven’t seen the last of these two.

This is urban fantasy infused with tendrils of romance. If either genre appeal to you then this is your perfect read.” ~ Big Little Sister Blog

You can read the full review HERE.

“She’s done it again. It never fails to amaze me the incredible skill that Lindsay J. Pryor has for creating a world… Settings and plot lines and districts and locales, full-bodied characters with enough history to fill a library. The dedication she’s made to her stories; her characters, and the world in which they are embroiled, is incredible… there are plenty of sharp twists and turns and shock revelations to leave you guessing right up until the last minute, to keep you turning the page and in danger of a serious lack of sleep.

True to form, Ms Pryor has… delivered us some wonderful characters with issues akin to real life – and they’re not your average human-nature problems. These character flaws go deep – she’s not afraid to pack the layers. Because this novel is not just about romance. Or the paranormal. It’s about power, about real-life struggles. About danger. Death. Destruction. And all the crap the universe could possibly throw at you in one lifetime. It’s clever. It’s dark. It’s intense. 5 stars.” ~ Fiona Chapman

You can read the full review HERE.

I’m so appreciative of the response to HAVEN so far, as is Piatkus. ☺️

And speaking of Piatkus, I would like to say a huge thank you to my fantastic publisher for the stunning publication day flowers I received. I’m not sure if the splash of orange was an intentional link to HAVEN‘s cover but it certainly worked a treat for me. ❤️

Just to warn you, I might be a little quiet here for a while now as I immerse myself in Blood Broken again. Normal service will resume soon, I promise. Hopefully I’ll be back with some updates too. I know lots of my readers are desperate to get a publication date confirmed. I’ll let you know the second it’s agreed. I can’t wait until it’s up for pre-order either! And back to it… xxx

Fascinated by Witches?

Happy Halloween!!!!

Usually I reserve my blog for all things related to my books but I read an article today that I thought my readers might find fascinating.

Mention witch trials and Salem is most likely one of the first places that springs to mind, but here’s some historical insight into my local city here in South West England:

West Country Witchcraft and the Hanged Women of Urban Exeter 

Having used Exeter’s underground tunnels and passages to help me write those Blackthorn scenes, I wonder if there were ever any witch shenanigans down there too? I’m heading out now to cement a pair of my shoes to my window frame, just in case…

But seriously, as I said to one of my readers on Facebook, I think the content of this article says more about human nature than about the supernatural – and, for me, the reality of our actions born out of our fears is far more disturbing than “the unknown”. It’s no wonder I write what I do. 😉 Talking of which…

Less than two days to go until HAVEN is yours! And you still have a few hours left if you’d like to enter my Halloween-themed giveaway to win a signed HAVEN paperback! Thank you to everyone who has joined in so far, whether here, on Facebook or via email. Wow, your fear confessions make fascinating reading!! Winners will be announced tomorrow!

Stay safe tonight!!

xxx

Win a signed HAVEN paperback!

ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL PUBLICATION DAY!! We’re nearly there! To mark the occasion, I have THREE of these beauties to give away in our last HAVEN giveaway.

Because I’m going to be closing the giveaway at midnight on Halloween, I thought we could have some fun with this one (or lasting trauma as the case may be) and have a theme all about fear.

If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a SIGNED HAVEN PAPERBACK, all you have to do is:

TELL ME WHAT SCARES YOU

Maybe it’s a particular supernatural being that terrifies you, such as vampires or werewolves or ghosts. Maybe your phobia is a common one: a fear of heights or spiders or snakes. Or maybe it’s a little more unusual, like a fear of balloons or cheese or even your own navel (that’s a real fear apparently!). Or maybe it’s clowns that give you the chills, or being alone in the dark… or maybe you hide under the bed during a lightning storm…

Don’t be scared to confess all – you’re amongst friends. None of us will judge. Honest. 😏

HERE ARE THE RULES

For your entry to be valid you must:

  • leave your answer in the comment thread below

OR

OR

ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PLEASE (however long your list might be)!

The giveaway is OPEN NOW and will close at midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 31st October.

The three winners will be drawn using a random number generator and will announced by 8 p.m. (GMT) on Wednesday 1st November – Haven eve!

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • The winners will need to claim their prize within 7 days of their name being announced. If you do not follow my blog or like my Facebook page, you will need to check back to see if your name has been selected.
  • Your book can be posted anywhere.
  • Proof of postage will be retained but prizes lost in transit cannot be replaced.
  • As with all of my giveaways, I will avoid responding to entries.

Have fun! I’ll be back next Wednesday to announce the three winners. Have a great weekend – and happy Halloween! 👻🕸🎃

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

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WINNERS

And the winners of a signed paperback each are…

Huge congrats, Jennifer, Jenny and Olga! Please email or message me with your contact details and I will get your signed book in the post to you asap. 😊📖✍🏻

Again, thank you so much to everyone who joined in – and with such a sense of fun too! I was inundated with entries in the end as the confessionals began. It was such an eye opener! And far too many times I found myself nodding and agreeing (as well as recoiling in horror at some of the pics posted on my Facebook thread 😱). For those of my readers who don’t have access to Facebook, here are just some of the entries:

We’re nearly there now! As of midnight tonight, HAVEN will either be appearing on your e-reader or heading in the post to you. My fingers are crossed that you enjoy it.

Happy (even if slightly angsty) reading! And thank you, as always, for your support.

xxx

An Exclusive Haven Giveaway

Today marks exactly TWO WEEKS until HAVEN’s publication day. I am SO excited! And I’m over-the-moon to be able to share that more 5 star reviews having been coming in for it. One of the latest has come from a reviewer already familiar with Blackthorn:

“Completely blown away by this book. I knew not to expect anything less as it was Lindsay J. Pryor writing but this was absolutely fantastic.

I can easily predict this new urban fantasy series (a duology currently) from her will be my next favorite thing. Loving the fact these books will be standalone.

Haven was utterly engrossing. It had the usual flare of Lindsay’s awesome writing, alluring world-building and her fantastic characters that I have come to associate with her after loving and following her Blackthorn series. I couldn’t stop reading this book even when I should have. But I just couldn’t. Put. This. Book. Down. It was so captivating.

I loved the plot, the contrast it has to Blackthorn, the rawness and the brutalness–the familiar unpredictability that makes you fall in love with Lindsay’s writing and the world(s) she has created.

Am I crazy to say I want a series on the Midtown and Summerton districts as well. And can we see this world on TV?

Whilst waiting for the final book in Blackthorn to come out. I’m a go dig around more on Lindsay’s website.”

YAY! 🎉

Not that we need an excuse for another giveaway, but let’s use this review anyway because I have something VERY special for you this time around!

OUR SECOND HAVEN GIVEAWAY!

As Piatkus wanted to do something special to mark my first ever print deal and my first book with them, my wonderful publicist has put together THREE beautifully bound SIGNED copies of the opening chapters of HAVEN in this EXCLUSIVE one-off giveaway. I’ll also tuck a sticker and signed postcard inside.

As these booklets will never be reproduced, I need to know they’re going to be well looked after. So, if you would like to be in with a chance of winning this bundle, all you have to do is reassure me you’ll keep yours safe if you win.

TO ENTER

Tell me…

WHAT ‘HAVEN’ WILL YOU GIVE YOUR HAVEN BOOKLET?

Under your pillow? In a safe? On your bookcase? Wrapped in titanium under armed guard (maybe a little extreme…)? Have fun with it or be deadly serious… just convince me yours will be OK! You have three days to think about it!

THE RULES

For your entry to be valid you must:

  • leave your answer in the comment thread below

OR

OR

  • email me via contact here on my website

ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PLEASE!

The giveaway is OPEN NOW and will close at midnight (GMT) on Sunday 22nd October.

The three winners will be drawn using a random number generator and will announced by 8 p.m. (GMT) on Monday 23rd October.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • The winner will need to claim their prize within 7 days of their name being announced. If you do not follow my blog or like my Facebook page, you will need to check back to see if your name has been selected.
  • The prize can be posted anywhere.
  • Proof of postage will be retained but prizes lost in transit cannot be replaced.
  • As with all of my giveaways, I will avoid responding to entries.

Good luck – and I’ll be back on Monday to announce the three winners. Have a great weekend!

xxx

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*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT 

Huge congrats to Patti, Karen and Pamela! Please email me or message me via my Facebook page with your address and I will get your prizes in the post to you asap.

As always, thank you so much to everyone who joined in. Look out for another HAVEN giveaway coming THIS THURSDAY. I’ll have three signed paperbacks up for grabs!

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Our First Haven Giveaway!

As today marks exactly one month until HAVEN’s publication day (YAY!), it’s time for the first of three giveaways I have planned for you.

This is your chance to win a signed Haven postcard and sticker featuring our gorgeous cover. I have FOUR PAIRS to give away.

HOW TO ENTER

All you have to do to enter is complete this sentence:

I HAVE PRE-ORDERED HAVEN BECAUSE…

I thought that would be a gentle one to start with. 😉

(And if you haven’t yet pre-ordered your copy, please go and sit in the corner of shame…)

THE RULES

For your entry to be valid you must:

  • leave your answer in the comment thread below

OR

OR

MAXIMUM OF THREE ENTRIES PER PERSON PLEASE! Each comment will count one entry.

The giveaway is OPEN NOW and will close at midnight (GMT) on Sunday 8th October.

The winner will be drawn using a random number generator and will announced by 8 p.m. (GMT) on Monday 9th October.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
  • The winner will need to claim their prize within 7 days of their name being announced. If you do not follow my blog or like my Facebook page, you will need to check back to see if your name has been selected.
  • The prizes can be posted anywhere.
  • Postage proof will be retained but prizes lost in transit cannot be replaced.
  • As with all of my giveaways, I will avoid responding to entries.

Good luck – and I’ll be back on Monday to announce the winners. Have a great weekend!

xxx

***

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT 

Huge congrats to Kristy, Colette, Joy and Wendy! Please email me or message me via my Facebook page with your address and I will get your prizes in the post to you asap.

As always, thank you so much to everyone who joined in. Look out for another HAVEN giveaway coming next week! Piatkus have a little something special for you that you might not want to miss. 😉

xxx

The Lull is Almost Over

Thank you so much to all my lovely readers for your patience these past few months whilst I’ve been working on our Blackthorn finale as well as preparing for Haven’s release. Although I’ve been posting snippets as regularly as possible on Facebook, I’ve had an uncharacteristic lull here. But I’m pleased to finally be able to tell you the lull is almost over!

As of this time next week, there will only be one month to go until Haven’s publication day. I cannot tell you how excited I am at the prospect of my brand new series launching with Piatkus and, with it, a brand new chapter in my publishing career too. I’ve had an incredible time getting to know the team so far, including being allocated an absolute gem of a publicist (Sophia) who I’m over the moon to be working with. Best of all, she has a real passion for fantasy. She’s busily reading through Haven at the moment as she prepares her pitches and I think she’s sussing my writing very quickly, especially as her current working tagline for Haven is “True Blood meets Narcos”. I love it! And she said, “It’s so easy to pitch a book I‘m in love with and think is brilliant… I’ve read a LOT of fantasy in my time and yours really stands out.” I’m thrilled to say the least.

And with less than a month to go, those who have been through a pending book release with me before will know what’s coming… the giveaways will soon begin! Don’t stray too far if you don’t want to miss anything!

MORE PRE-ORDER LINKS

There were also some pre-order updates this week, so I’m delighted to share that Haven is now available for pre-order in paperback in the US and Canada with the following retailers:

USA

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Canada

Amazon

Indigo

And if you missed my previous post, Haven is also available for pre-order here too:

iBooks

Waterstones

Amazon UK

KOBO

Amazon US

Amazon ANZ

But, of course, thank you so much if you’ve already pre-ordered. I really appreciate your support. <3

BLOOD BROKEN NEWS

As for Blood Broken, our Blackthorn series finale, I will finally be able to share updates on that after the fun and excitement of Haven has started to settle down. So not only will you have Haven soon, you have the release date, cover reveal and giveaways for Blood Broken to come too! I did warn you it was going to get busy towards the end of the year. 😉

Here’s to a fun few weeks ahead!

xxx

Haven Is Available To Pre-order!

I know a few of my eagle-eyed readers have spotted this already, but I’m delighted to be able to officially announce that HAVEN is now available for pre-order!

The first book in my brand new spin-off series with Piatkus Books, HAVEN is due for release on 2nd November this year – but you can order your paperbacks and eBooks now!

Every few days, the handsome stranger comes into the café in Lowtown for an hour at a time. Mostly he keeps himself to himself – one drink and he leaves. Sometimes people meet with him but about what remains elusive, the edge of mystery and danger adding to his allure.

Not that Ember is allowed to think about him. She’s finally on the cusp of gaining her citizenship and escaping Lowtown for good, so she can’t be seen to be involved with a vampire – evidence of one single bite would be the end of her prospects. But when those prospects are rocked by her links to the district’s dark underbelly, the stranger she must avoid could be her absolution – and she could be his . . .

A spin-off from the bestselling Blackthorn series by Lindsay J. Pryor, set in Lowtown, the neighbouring district to Blackthorn. The product of a brutal class system, the dark, enticing world of Lowtown will grip you and never let you go.

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What reviewers are saying:

I absolutely adore the world she’s put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I’m living in Blackthorn… (Marked by Books)

This is a paranormal universe like none you have encountered before. (Keeper Bookshelf)

I don’t think I have read such a finely executed dark PNR world before… The world-building is spectacular. (Gaga Over Books)

Lindsay Pryor has crafted a world that’s intricate, gritty and genuinely fascinating… (Big Little Sister Blog)

This concept is creative and different from other paranormal books I’ve read lately. (My Paranormal Book Review)

I cannot say how much I love this author. She is creating a world which sucks you in, which makes you want to know more about Blackthorn and its inhabitants. (I Heart Books)

Not only are Pryor’s characters and fathomlessly dark love stories fabulous, but her continual world building of Blackthorn blows me away. (Gravetells)

Lindsay is a wonderful writer. She’s crafted one heck of a world… (Vice President of Creative Affairs for Relativity Media Film Studios, California)

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PRE-ORDER LINKS:

iBooks

Waterstones

Amazon UK

Kobo

Amazon US

Amazon ANZ

Thank you so much for the amazing response to my cover reveal last time – both here and on social media. I’m beyond thrilled you love it as much as I do. It has had a slight tweak since then but, don’t worry, it won’t be the last you see of Ember. 😉

Oh, and if you missed the lowdown on Lowtown last time, you can read all about it here.

For now, it’s back to Blackthorn for me. Hopefully you’ll have your clicky fingers ready for when our finale goes up for pre-order too!

Thanks for your support, Team Blackthorn – and now Team Lowtown too! <3

Lowtown Cover Reveal! Welcome to Haven…

I’m absolutely thrilled to bits to be able to share both the title and the cover for the first book in my brand new LOWTOWN series with Piatkus Books, due out later this year.

Meet Nate and Ember… and welcome to HAVEN:

I do hope you like it! I think Piatkus have done an exceptional job. They’ve captured the essence of the story and characters beautifully in this cover.

I’ll have more information to share about it in the forthcoming weeks, including the blurb to give you a sense of what the story is about. I’ll also have details about pre-orders.

Until then…

Ever since I announced earlier in the year that I was writing a spin-off series, I’ve received a lot of questions about it. So, I thought it would be useful if I posted a list of FAQs based on the questions I’ve been asked the most. As always, feel free to get in touch if there’s something you’re desperate to know that I haven’t covered.

THE LOWDOWN ON LOWTOWN

IS LOWTOWN A SPIN-OFF TO THE BLACKTHORN SERIES?

It is!

Lowtown is the neighbouring district to Blackthorn so will already be familiar to Blackthorn readers. However, up until now, the goings-on there have been peripheral to the main focus of the Blackthorn story. Each Lowtown book will focus on the plight of those living there and the challenges they face. Basically, Lowtown will provide an even fuller view of the world Blackthorn readers have come to know.

If you want to know a little more about the set-up in Lowtown, don’t forget you can read about it here.

CAN YOU READ ONE SERIES WITHOUT THE OTHER?

Yes. There’s no co-dependency between Lowtown and Blackthorn. A reader will be getting a richer experience of the worldbuilding though by reading both.

WILL THE LOWTOWN SERIES HAVE AN OVERARCHING PLOT AS THE BLACKTHORN SERIES DOES?

No. All the books will be standalones. There’s no continuing storyline and no cliffhangers. Readers will be able to dip in and out of Lowtown books in any order. The only aspect that binds the books together is that they centre in the same district.

IS IT A SERIES FOR ADULTS? 

Most definitely. As with Blackthorn, it contains themes and scenes suitable for a mature audience only.

WHEN IS THE LOWTOWN SERIES SET IN RELATION TO BLACKTHORN? SAME AS NOW? OR IS IT A PREQUEL, SUCH AS WHEN THE SEGREGATION WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED? OR MAYBE A SEQUEL?

All Lowtown books will be set either prior to or during the events that occur in the Blackthorn series. I can’t stress enough that Lowtown won’t be expanding on the Blackthorn story or its characters – it’s an independent series in its own right.

Despite knowing how many of my readers would love a sequel (who doesn’t want to see Tuly all grown up and fighting challenges of her own?), now is not the right time for me to dive straight into one. I would never rule it out but if I ever did one, it would be much further down the line. For now, the Blackthorn story needs to end where it ends.

HOW MANY LOWTOWN BOOKS WILL THERE BE?

I have signed two initially. Because they’re standalones, Lowtown books have huge flexibility in terms of the number (and premise) of its stories. I certainly have ideas for several more and am also open to hearing about aspects of the world that my readers are desperate to know more about (the angel mythology of Blackthorn seems particularly popular in queries). To be completely honest though, further books will come down to how my readers respond.

WILL THERE BE THIRD AND FOURTH SPECIES IN THE SERIES OR WILL IT HAVE HUMAN CHARACTERS PRIMARILY?

Although Lowtown is a district predominantly occupied by humans (as opposed to Blackthorn being a third species locale), third species do co-exist with humans there so they’re guaranteed to play a significant role. I definitely want to retain the paranormal element in Lowtown.

As for the fourth species, they’re more relevant to the Blackthorn story, but I won’t rule out that there’s always scope for them to appear! You know what they’re like. 😉

IF IT’S A SPIN-OFF FROM BLACKTHORN, WHY IS IT BEING CALLED URBAN FANTASY AND NOT PARANORMAL ROMANCE? IS THERE NO ROMANCE IN LOWTOWN BOOKS?

For many readers, there’s a fine line between the two genres anyway. Due to the various cross-genre elements to the books, Blackthorn has been referred to as urban fantasy, dystopian fantasy, Gothic romance, paranormal romance, paranormal suspense as well as a paranormal thriller. Ultimately though, the developing romantic relationships always take centre stage in the Blackthorn series which is why it sits firmly within PNR.

Lowtown books will all have romance in them but the parallel plot carries equal (or greater) weight in the books – hence why it’s being referred to as urban fantasy. Expect all the familiar Blackthorn trademarks though such as the dark and atmospheric backdrop, gritty issues, twists and turns, and intricate plots.

WILL SECONDARY CHARACTERS (such as Alexander) BE FEATURED AS MAIN CHARACTERS IN LOWTOWN?

The aim of Lowtown is to be a spin-off from the worldbuilding and not a spin-off from already familiar characters, but you will come across familiar names if you’ve read Blackthorn. A lot of people seem to want an Alexander story though! I love that kind of feedback so I won’t say never.

WILL WE SEE SOME GLIMPSES OF THE BLACKTHORN GUYS?

I know this is what a lot of my readers are hoping for. All I’ll say is the locale is a small world so, when you have key players like the main characters in Blackthorn, it’s hard not to give them a mention – and there’s always the potential for paths to cross.

AND WHAT ABOUT BLACKTHORN? WHAT’S HAPPENING THERE?

Rest assured, everything is equally underway with our Blackthorn finale in the background too. I promise it’s not being neglected. I hope to have some updates for you over the summer.

More news soon! Have a great weekend! <3

Flash Giveaway! Win a Blackthorn Paperback!

Whilst working on our Blackthorn finale as well as the first book in my new Lowtown series, I’ve had some wonderfully encouraging and inspiring feedback from my readers recently.

So, to say thank you for your support, I decided to run a flash giveaway to give you the chance to win a signed Blackthorn paperback of your choice.

HOW TO ENTER

You know how I love to keep giveaways as quick and easy as possible so, inspired by some of the comments above, all you have to do to enter is tell me:

What is it about Blackthorn that keeps you coming back for more?

And, for the first time ever, you can submit an entry both here on my blog as well as on my Facebook page to double your chances of winning!

THE PRIZES

There are TWO paperbacks up for grabs – and the two winners can pick which one they want*.

Whether you want to start your Blackthorn paperback collection, fill a gap, or complete your series so far or, if your collection is already complete, win one for a family member, a friend or even as a prize for your own blog or book club, the choice is yours.

*I’m afraid advanced copies of Blood Broken are not included in this giveaway. We’ll be having a special giveaway for that nearer the time.

THE RULES

  • The giveaway is open NOW and will close at midnight GMT on Friday 24th March, so be quick!
  • Only two entries per person please – one here and one on my Facebook page is the max.
  • All entries will be assigned a number and the two winners will be selected using a random number generator.
  • The winners will be announced on this post as well as on the related Facebook post on Saturday 25th March.
  • Winners will need to check if they have won and contact me to claim their prizes by midnight Wednesday 29th March for your books to be ordered. We can sort out the finer details then.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • As with all my giveaways, prizes will be posted anywhere.
  • Proof of postage will be retained but prizes lost once out of my hands cannot be replaced.
  • And as with all giveaways, I will refrain from responding to comments. If you have any queries though, feel free to email or message me.

Good luck, everyone! <3

*

GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

HUGE congratulations to….

Claire Palmer

and

Kimmie Lew

You have both won a signed Blackthorn paperback of your choice! Please either email me or message me via Facebook and we will sort the details.

Thank you, as always, to everyone who joined in. Your comments were incredible. I am so relieved I didn’t have to choose a winner based on those! And, of course, commiserations to anyone disappointed not to win. Rest assured, we’ll have plenty more giveaways to come.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone! xxx