With the release of Vengeance just a few days away, I find myself short on time to do my traditional list of (possibly) teaser tidbits in advance of publication. So, instead, I’ll do them all into one slightly longer post, but in the format of a traditional question-and-answer session. Feel free to ask more questions in the comments; I’ll try to answer as many as I can before the book arrives on shelves.
As a promotional side-note: if you’ve not had a chance to pre-order your Kindle copy, there’s still time to ensure you get it the day it releases; hardcover and paperback options will also be available the day it drops.
Now, on to the tidbits!
The cover seems a bit dark…
You noticed that, did you? At the risk of engendering some confirmation bias, the original cover showing here on the website was intended to be a not-very-subtle foreshadowing of the extended plotline for the book. This is actually the second cover done in this manner; Bewitched has a similar tonal selection though in comparison it’s far lighter. I actually have an updated cover for Vengeance that my art department has been working on, but it wasn’t ready by the time I had to make my final submission. It will make an appearance later.
And yes, the darkness is significant.
You didn’t leave Sean in a very good place at the end of the last novel.
No, I didn’t. Bewitched was a complicated case that became even more thorny when (slight spoiler) our hero makes a rookie mistake at a critical moment. That sort of thing can’t go unaccounted for, and the first tendrils of that appear at the end of the prior novel. As much as I would like my characters to exist in a utopia where they get everything right 100% of the time, I know that would reduce them to some sort of derivative version of themselves that no one would find interesting — especially me.
If you are worried about where things are going, remember that Vasily went through a similar situation in Ditched. While I’m not saying it is analogous to what is ahead for Sean, it will give you an idea of how I like to tie things up in cute little bows. (Though it might take more than a single book to do it.)
Well, at least he has Suzanne to help him get through whatever it is you’re gonna do to him.
I’m not touching this one other than to ask, have you read Snow Drifts yet?
Will we see more of Norm?
Much more, yes. As this book starts, Norm is finally beginning to settle in to being Sean’s number two — though he’s still not quite ready to make important decisions without checking in with the boss first. And with his own budding relationship on the side, he’s never been happier…
The ellipsis at the end of the last section is worrying.
As it should be. Did I mention Vengeance is darker than the last book? It might also be a good time for me to remind you, dear reader, that my titles tend to hold more than the obvious meaning when it comes to the overarching story.
Next, you’re going to say that Vasily doesn’t make an appearance.
Fear not. Both Vasily and the now mythical Chat Noir costume are included in this tale (tail?). I will reveal, however, that most of Vasily’s moments are over the phone this time out, mostly because he’s got his hands full with another case while Sean is dealing with his own.
Will there be a podcast on this novel?
Yes. We’re taping it the weekend prior to the book release with the intention of having it air concurrently. That also means my friend is furiously reading an advanced copy so she can pepper me with questions; if you have something you want her to ask, add that to the comments on this post and I’ll forward them to her.
Okay, that’s about all I have time for — hopefully this has whetted your appetite for what I think is a pretty cool new story for Sean. Now I’m off to write the next story in the series…
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