Jack of Ravens » Bantam

The Queen Of Sinister US Cover

MarkC — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:56:34 +0000

I’m currently head down and writing the final part of the next book so it’s necessarily been a bit quiet round here. The Swords of Albion series is a departure on many levels from what I’ve done before, particularly the degree of necessary research ( and if you’ve read any of my books you know I do a lot of research). But it seems to be coming together pretty well, I think.

In advance of normal service being resumed, here’s a quick catch-up:

Firstly, take a look at the new cover for the Pyr edition of The Queen of Sinister, Book Two of The Dark Age. Once again it’s by the astonishing John Picacio.

Secondly, the first US review of The Devil in Green, Book One of The Dark Age, is in, and it’s from Rob Will Review. To be honest, I don’t read most reviews, even if they’re brought to my attention. I do what I do, and it’s up to readers to take it or leave it. But there are a handful of reviewers I respect, and I listen very closely to their criticism and try to improve my work accordingly. Rob is one of those. You’re probably already aware of the others. In fact, here’s another…

…from Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review. It’s the first UK review of The Sword of Albion, out in May from Bantam. Not only did Graeme like it, he made some good comments which I am now addressing in the next book.

The Sword Of Albion Final Cover

MarkC — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:42:54 +0000

Here’s the finished article and a first look at the cover copy for the UK edition.

Very different from the US version (which the artist Christian McGrath styled on the work of Caravaggio, fact fans), but I like the sense of adventure and intrigue here too.

The front cover photo is by Jonathan Ring and the design by Stephen Mulcahey. The Sword of Albion is out in the UK from Bantam in May and you can pre-order it here.

Swords Of Albion Date Announced

MarkC — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The UK publication date for my new series, Swords of Albion - Elizabethan spies vs Faerie, in a nutshell – has just been announced by my publisher Bantam for April 2010. The book is now available for pre-order at the usual sites.

And a quick plea to all UK readers, please don’t order the US version, if you can possibly resist. The global market is causing a headache for publishers with staggered releases (it’s not always possible to align publication dates around the globe) – and if everyone orders the US version on import, my UK sales will tank and my editor will give me a good kicking.