First off, for all of you who were eagerly anticipating the next installment of Alexander’s story, never fear, it is coming and will be posted online tomorrow! (So you can set down the tar and feathers and cancel the lynch mob, please and thank you.) I plan to make a Saturday Special of it this week, just for you. This post simply couldn’t wait. It never rains, but it pours … This statement has never seemed truer to me than it has this summer. There have been so many things that have happened over the past few months. Some good. Some bad. Some highly exciting! The following news falls in the latter category. Out of Darkness Rising, a novella I wrote several years ago, is gearing up for an upcoming release! It has a new cover and will be releasing in February of 2015! (Which means, I’m currently wrapping up edits for Orphan’s Song, diving into edits for Out of Darkness Rising, planning and prepping for book releases, and writing book two of the Songkeeper Chronicles. Whew! See what I mean about the pouring?) It’s been a long journey with this novella. More of a circuitous route than a path, really. Some of you have been around since the beginning. This was my first true book ever written and completed. It was originally contracted back in 2011 with one publishing company, but that ended up not working out. So in November of 2012, Magpie Eclectic Press picked it up. Only there were a few unforeseen delays last year … but now, we’re moving forward! I can hardly believe it. And I’m incredibly excited to get to share the incredible new cover below! We used a contest where a number of fabulous designers submitted an overwhelming number of awesome cover concepts—which, I have on good authority, made selecting a winner quite a difficult task But against insurmountable odds, a winner did at last emerge with one spectacular cover! I’m slightly in love with it. This is the full cover—both front and back—gorgeous, isn’t it?
DARKNESS REIGNS UNCHALLENGED. For the villagers on the accursed Island, life has only one meaning—death. Bound to the Island by the curse, the villagers suffer beneath the iron claw of the serpent, daily breathing the poison of his breath and dying to appease his insatiable appetite. When Marya’s parents are slain by the serpent for their belief in a legendary king, she becomes an Outcast. Struggling to survive and avoid the vengeance of the Tribunal, Marya is torn between legend and the harsh reality of the Island. Yet when a forgotten promise springs to life, she cannot help wondering if the old stories might in fact be true. And if they are, will the promise prove stronger than the curse?
If you’re excited about the upcoming release of Out of Darkness Rising or Orphan’s Song, consider posting the book covers on Pinterest, or sharing the news with your friends online! In other news—I feel so newscaster-ish when I say that!—I now hang out on twitter and Google+ in addition to my facebook page, so feel free to look me up there! And don’t forget, the next installment of Alexander Mitus Scot Beauford III’s story will be live on the blog tomorrow, and—pray excuse me a devious chuckle—but it’s going to be good. You won’t want to miss it, take my word for it! Kirk out!
Andrea Nan says
The cover is beautiful! It looks so exciting and thrilling! Now I want to read it really, really, bad! :)
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Isn't it? I do believe I'm in love! All of the designers in the contest did an incredible job, but especially the four finalists. I wished we could have all the covers!
Sarah says
That cover is amazing, and Out of Darkness Rising sounds like a great book!
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Thanks, Sarah! I'm so glad that Out of Darkness Rising will soon actually see the light of day! :)
J.F. Dreamrider says
Oh my gosh, the cover is (for lack of a better word) EPIC!!! That is, in my humble opinion.
I (seriously) can't wait to read. :)
Gillian Bronte Adams says
May I just say that I love the name Dreamrider? Tell me that wouldn't make an awesome book title!
Epic is a pretty good word, if you ask me! ;) So glad you like the cover. I'm still shivering with excitement over it. I know once I actually see it on a physical copy, I'll probably just sit there and gaze at it in sheer happiness.
Aidyl Ewoh says
Wow! So exciting! That really is cool and the cover is quite amazing. Way to go!
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Thanks, Aidyl!
Allison Ruvidich says
Oh my word, Gillian. That is GORGEOUS! I am so excited for you!! : D
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Thanks, Allison! :)
Hannah says
I AM SO THRILLED WITH THIS COVER! It was my favorite of the finalists! :D
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Mine too! It was a close call – extremely close – but I'm glad we ended up going with this one!
Nightingale says
Wow, that cover is stunning!!
Two books from Gillian Bronte Adams. I'm so excited for you – and for us readers! ^-^ I am greatly looking forward to them both.
Thanks so much for keeping us updated, on your soon-to-be-published stories and on dear Alexander's tale. I don't know how you find the time to write his installments and keep them so interesting! Yay for another. ^-^
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Honestly, I never dreamed the two books would be coming out this close together! I think I'm slightly shell-shocked with the swiftness of how things have been happening this summer. One minute I'm practically jumping up and down with excitement, the next I'm hunched over my computer furiously scrambling to keep up with it all. ;)
Alexander's story, thankfully, is one of those that writes itself. I just hand Alexander and Destiny the pen and sit back to watch what happens! (Usually an argument because Alexander is terrible at spelling and it drives Miss Destiny crazy!)
Jill Williamson says
Beautiful cover, Gillian! Wow!
Gillian Bronte Adams says
It gives me shivers just looking at it sometimes! ;)
Alea Harper says
That is one of the most awesome covers I've ever seen!!!
Gillian Bronte Adams says
Most encouraging comment ever! Thanks, Alea!
Emily Ann says
Congratulations!! That's so exciting!!
Meredith says
Congratulations, Ms. Adams. The premise of this novel sounds fantastic! Hope to read it one day. God bless.
walkingthewrittenpath says
That's awesome! I'll buy it as soon as it comes out!
Stefanie Nicholas says
Eeek! I haven't read your other books yet so I'm kinda scared to read the synopsis, but that cover is beautiful! Look at that dragon *sigh* what a fantasy cover should be like. Even the back is awesome!
Xo, Stef @ CalledHis.com