Where Have I Been? Under a pile of books? In a fugue state? Yes, and Yes.
by
At this point, I have been away from this website for so long that I’m not even going to mention what’s happened in the interim. Suffice it to say, there has been a string of Very Bad Things. I was talking to my dad yesterday and joked that I thought I might be under some kind of curse, and he said, that while it might feel that way, sometimes life just has a series of kinks that need to work themselves out. And I said, “Curses, old man! What do you know?” But, he’s probably right.
Since I’ve been gone, two Buffy books have come out, and the third is set to release on April 9th. I can’t wait to live it up one final time in the Buffyverse. I am going, to par-tay. I’m talking series readalongs and maybe episode watchalongs and BUFFY TRIVIA and Annotated Copy Giveaways and I hope some of you Buffy fans will join me.
For all you non-Buffy fans, come on, watch Buffy with us. But also, I have two books coming out this month:
–The Anna Dressed in Blood Anniversary Edition (September 12th)
AND
–Champion of Fate (September 19th)
The ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD ANNIVERSARY EDITION features an all-new novella called “DEAR ANNA” that catches up with Cas, Thomas and Carmel ten years later. They go to a haunted hotel, which is someplace I’ve always wanted to see Cas go. A certain ghostly love of his life may also make an appearance.
CHAMPION OF FATE is my love-letter to the epic fantasies of my youth. Immortal warriors and immortal horses, secret orders, heroes on a journey. To the Amazons and the Jedi. To the Iliad and the Mists of Avalon. To Lord of the Rings. And yes, to Xena: Warrior Princess. Which, if anyone wants to make a show based on Champion of Fate, doing it in the style of Xena: Warrior Princess would be a good way to do it. Just saying.
If you preorder Champion of Fate, please email a screenshot of your receipt and your mailing address to ChampionOfFatePreorder@gmail.com and I will send you three character tarot cards and a sticker as a thank you. Because preorders are really important! Submit the same thing to my publisher on this Champion of Fate Preorder page and they’ll send you a rad metal pin. Because seriously, they love those preorders. And when my publisher is happy, I feel…relaxed.
Another Bad or Bittersweet thing to note: (I’m telling you, Dad, I’m cursed, dammit! Throw some salt at me, what kind of a father are you?) I recently lost my wonderful agent of more than twelve years, Adriann Ranta Zurhellen. (I adore Adriann; she’s absolutely brilliant and without her I would have no career to speak of. Three Dark Crowns, in particular, would not exist as it does now.) I’m excited for her as she moves on to a new adventure in editorial, but I am definitely sad. Thankfully, after a call earlier today I’m very lucky to be staying on with Folio Literary Management, with the wonderful Emily Van Beek.
ONE LAST THING: You might notice there’s a newsletter sign-up on this website now. Because one day I was feeling like not a total lazy pants. For folks who sign up, my plan is to send you the bonus Three Dark Crowns story about Joseph and Billy, which isn’t available anywhere else. I just need to get the story all formatted and prettied up and I will do that as soon as these release things calm down.
OK, now this is really the last thing. We recently welcomed a stray cat into our home, so please welcome my new cat-son, Tom Bezos-Daytona. If you want to know the origin of his name, check the reel about him on my Instagram.
Wow I read the Anna dressed in blood the month it released when I was in grade 4.
Grade 4! A very advanced reader! I hope you didn’t mind Cas’s constant swearing, haha.
Your mr Tom is adorable! Champion of fate seems super cool , I hope it gets a translation to other lamguages sometime soon 😀
Tom says thank you! He is quite sweet and silly 😉
I hope your curse has been effectively banished since you posted this post. I plowed through seven of your books this year along with two novellas. So glad you’re still making it happen.
Thank you so much, Kathryn. I hope you enjoyed them! I’m thinking you enjoyed at least one, or you are just a very perseverant reader 🙂
Champion of Fate is THE BEST BOOK I’ve read in a really long while, and the series might even dethrone Three Dark Crowns, who’s been my favorite since the first book came out. I can’t wait to read more about Reed, Lyonene, Aster, Veridian, etc. A novella on Aethiel and her past on Fennbirn would be amazing, hope it’s in the works!
I would love the chance to write a story about Aethiel, her time as Queen Crowned, and the sequence of events that led her to the Aristene. There are no plans to write it right now, but…you never know.
I’m so happy you enjoyed Champion of Fate! Thank you so much for reading!
I second needing her story! As soon as I read that she was of Fennbirn I ran to see if anyone else saw!
I’m aiming to get lots more Aethiel into book 2! And a little more Fennbirn 🙂
I just finished reading champion of fate and OMG I love it and the end had me crying. I see all that there’s a seconds book but I’m not sure. Please I’m begging you clear my confusion because if there is a second book I need it ASAP!!
Hi Meiya! I’m so happy you enjoyed Champion of Fate! Thank you so much for reading! There is indeed another book coming, but not until September 2024. Fingers crossed for no delays!
Also: if you’d like to help me choose which characters are featured on the preorder bonus tarot cards, be sure to sign up for my newsletter, over on the newsletter tab 🙂
Ms. Blake,
I’ve been feeling a bit cursed lately too. It’s been a rough summer but being back in the Buffy Universe has been absolutely incredible. I haven’t read any of your previous works and had little hope for the fan fiction but you really blew me away. Buffy is my comfort food and we rarely like it when our favorite recipes are altered but I was desperate for a good fantasy read and willing to try anything. You’ve done such an incredible job with this sequel it’s renewed my dreams of a Buffy reboot but only if they use your trilogy as the script. It’s light and fun and transports the reader right back to Sunnydale and the warm embrace of the 90s. I needed that… Thank you!
Hi! I’m sorry about your curse (solidarity fist bump) but I’m so happy that Buffy could be there for you again. Thank you for your kind words. The Buffyverse means so much to me as a fan, and I was terrified going into this project…I couldn’t stop thinking of all the ways I could mess it up! My only goal was to give Buffy fans more Buffy. I am so happy you thought I did a good job!
BUFFY FOREVER
I just finished Warrior of Legend and I fell in love with all these characters!! I wasn’t sure if any books could win my heart more than Three Dark Crowns but these two may have! Please, please we need more Aristene AND Dark Crowns!!!!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Jaimie! Thank you for reading! I’m hoping to start work on Three Dark Crowns 5 this summer, which will complete Reed’s story. No idea how that will go, but I’m going to write it and see what happens!