The Enchanter Heir--Coming 10.01.13

 

Shadeslayer's Shiv The Enchanter Heir

 Some of you have been wondering what I’ve been up to since I left off tormenting Han and Raisa and wreaking havoc in The Seven Realms. Have I been resting on my laurels? Eating bon-bons and raking in the cash? Jet-setting around the globe?

Um, no. Laurels are kind of prickly to sit on, anyway.

 I’m writing two more Heir Chronicles novels. The first of those is called The Enchanter Heir and is set for release October 22, 2013. I’ll be introducing some new main characters, as I’ve done before in this series, but readers of the first three books will get to revisit some old friends. I’m putting a new and interesting twist into the magical system involving a team of specialized Weir assassins known as shadeslayers who hunt the undead with ensorcelled daggers known as shivs. Some slayers are beginning to ask whether they are targeting the wrong people.

If you haven’t read the first three Heir Chronicles books, fear not! My goal with The Enchanter Heir was to write a book that a new reader can enjoy without having read the previous ones. That said, I hope you’ll go back and read the first three!

One challenge was finding a way to unravel the tenuous peace that was established at the end of The Dragon Heir. My personal tagline for the book: Peace just doesn’t work for some people.

Watch for the cover reveal on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/CindaWilliamsChima and my website at www.cindachima.com. And, of course, follow me on Twitter @cindachima.

The Seven Realms--Thank you!!

 I’d like to thank everyone who has joined me on this journey with Han, Raisa, Cat, Dancer, Micah, Fiona, Amon and the rest. Who stuck with them when a planned trilogy turned into a quartet.  Who took my characters into their hearts and laughed, cried, fought, loved and lost with them through four novels totaling more than 2200 pages. Who encouraged me through the 27-page editorial letter and the endless revisions, false starts, and blind alleys that inevitably happen on the way through an epic tale. Who let me know in no uncertain terms when I disappointed them. Or pleased them.

I’d like to thank the readers who got on board early—those fans of the Heir Chronicles who decided to “take a chance” on high fantasy. And the high fantasy fans who wondered if a writer whose previous novels were set in Ohio was up to the task of building a brand new world.  Some of you who follow me on line know my secret—the world of the Seven Realms was already built when I set out to write The Demon King. I created the Seven Realms for The Star-Marked Warder, a high fantasy series for adults that I began but never finished. Some of the characters in The Seven Realms YA series appear in SMW as adults. I believe in recycling and repurposing.

Blessed are the readers who worked their way through the world-building in The Demon King and told their friends it was a journey worth taking. Who waited, sometimes impatiently, for the story to unfold over four years. And bless those new readers I’m hearing from now—who blaze through all four books in a week and want to know if there will be more.

Tip of the hat to Team Amon. I know some of you were disappointed, but know that Amon’s and Raisa’s lives entwine and entangle for years to come.

I’ve met so many people at bookstore signings, library appearances, school visits, bookfests, and conferences over these four years. That is one of the BEST parts of this job. Not only does getting out and meeting people get me out of sweats and pajamas now and then—but I get to hang out with people who love books! How awesome is that?

Why Stop with Four?

Who says I am?

I felt the need to provide some closure to readers, and at least a temporary  happy ending for Han and Raisa. Come on, don’t you think they deserved it, after all they’ve been through? And don’t you hate it when a series goes on and on and on and you get the impression the author is milking it out of greed? I’d rather have people asking for more than hitting the exits before the series is over.

So--I don’t have specific plans for more Seven Realms novels at this point. Obviously, it’s a big place and with many stories to tell. I know a lot of the challenges and disasters that lie ahead for Han and Raisa, because of The Star-Marked Warder. So I may yet return to the Seven Realms. It depends, of course, on how these books do, publisher interest, and like that. Certainly, it’s a place I feel comfortable living—and writing--in. 

Whatever happens, readers of this blog and my followers on Facebook will be the first to know! So stay tuned.

Where to find me? I’m on Facebook here  www.facebook.com/CindaWilliamsChima ; My website is here www.cindachima.com. And, of course, follow me on Twitter @cindachima.

Coming next—The Enchanter Heir 10.22.13

Read all about it here on Friday.

Foreign Publication Update: The Crimson Crown Since You've Asked

Original-language E-book Overseas

It’s taken quite a while to ferret this out. It may have had to do with the fact that the Seven Realms series was originally supposed to be a trilogy. My American publisher, Hyperion, didn’t have contracts in place for overseas distribution of the Crimson Crown e-book by the U.S. release date. They are working furiously to get those in place, and do the formatting and so on. It appears that the first e-book to be available overseas will be in the Apple format but I don’t have a date for that.

Translation Rights

Bear in mind that for foreign rights, the author is usually the last to know anything—especially if there is a language barrier (I am sadly monolingual.) In general, if you’re wondering about a release date, the best way to find out is to 1) search online for local information 2) ask your bookseller 3) visit the publisher’s website, and if there is no information there, contact them and ask.

            That said, here’s the current info that I have:

The UK

My UK publisher is Harper Voyager (Harper-Collins UK.)  They have purchased the rights, but there is no information on their site regarding a release date. http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/Authors/8539/cindawilliams-chima regarding a date. You may want to drop them an email or contact your local bookseller and let them know you are waiting. I’d love for you to buy the UK edition because I want to support my UK publisher.

France

To be published simultaneously by Bragelonne (adult) and Castelmore (YA) imprints. They have bought the rights to The Crimson Crown, but no information on their site about a release date. 

            Good news!! Bragelonne/Castelmore have bought the French  translation rights for The Heir Chronicles!!

The Netherlands

Zwarte Kunst 4 Scharlakenrode Kroon was released in December, 2012 by Luitingh Fantasy

Poland

Galeria will release Polish translation 3.20.13 

Germany

No information on pub date from Verlagsgruppe (Random House Germany.) http://www.randomhouse.de/search/searchresult.jsp?ssit=qus&pat=Chima&x=0&y=0&pub=1

Good news!!  Verlagsgruppe Blanvalet has bought German translation rights for The Heir Chronicles

Spain

Ediciones B has not yet purchased the translation rights for The Crimson Crown. Because the series was initially planned to be a trilogy, they bought the rights to the first three books but have not made a bid to buy the fourth.

The best way to encourage a publisher to release my books or any book in translation is to spread the word to friends and fellow readers about the books you like.

Cabin Fever? Hope to See You At One of These Events!

 

Tucson, AZ -- Tucson Festival of Books

March 9-10, 2013

The University of Arizona campus

Tucson, AZ

http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

Skype Virtual Visit

February 6, 2013, 1:30 P.M. CST

Chaska Middle School

Chaska, MN

Cornwall, NY -- School Visit

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Cornwall Middle School

Cornwall, NY

Strongsville, OH -- Appearance and Signing

Saturday, March 2, 2013, 3-5 p.m.

Strongsville Branch, Cuyahoga County Public Library

http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Branch.aspx?id=840

New Philadelphia, OH – Presentation and Signing

Thursday, March 7, 2013, 6:30 p.m.

121 Fair Ave NW New Philadelphia, OH 44663 330-364-4474

http://www.tusclibrary.org/newphil

Houston, TX -- Virtual Visit

Wednesday, March 13, 3 P.M. CST

Houston Public Library

For info, access http://www.houstonlibrary.org/events

Orrville, OH -- Wayne College Writing Workshop

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The University of Akron Wayne College

1901 Smucker Road, Orrville, OH 44667
Phone: 330-683-2010 Toll Free: 1-800-221-8308

Info posted soon http://wayne.uakron.edu/writers/writers-workshop.dot

Newark, OH -- Presentation and Signing

Thursday, April 11, 2013, 4 p.m.

Licking County Public Library

101 West Main Street

Newark , Ohio 43055 740.349.5552

http://www.lickingcountylibrary.info/

Evansville, IN -- River Bend Writing Project

Workshop for Teachers/Public Appearance

Saturday, April 13, 2013

University of Southern Indiana

http://www.riverbendwritingproject.com/index.html

Houston, TX -- Teen BookCon

Saturday, April 20th 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Alief Taylor High School

7555 Howell Sugar Land Road Houston, TX 77083

http://www.teenbookcon.org/Home.php

Kent, OH -- Reading and Writing Festival 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Fantasy Writing Workshop

Sponsored by the Six-District Compact

Kent State University, Kent, OH

For more information, contact the Festival Director, Mary Jane Stanchina, at the Six District Compact: (330) 655-2247.

Maumee, OH – Claire’s Day

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Maumee Branch, Toledo Lucas County Public Library,

501 River Road, Maumee, Ohio.

Join me and ten other authors at Northwest Ohio’s children’s litfest.

http://www.clairesday.org/

Flint, MI – Author Appearance and Signing

Tuesday, May 21, 2013—details to follow

Flint Public Library

1026 E. Kearsley St. Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 232-7111

http://www.fpl.info/

Enchanted Inkpot Interview!

 









The fabulous CINDY PON interviews me on The Enchanted Inkpot. 
Here's another great chance to win The Crimson Crown.

The Crimson Crown is One of Kirkus's Best!

It's official! The Crimson Crown is one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Teen Books for 2012! Details are here!

Holiday Shopping? Think Autographed Books

Autographed books make great holiday presents!

Find autographed Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles books at

The Learned Owl

Hudson, OH
http://learnedowl.com/books-cinda-chima
 

Books & Books

Coral Gables, FL.
http://www.booksandbooks.com/coralgables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnes & Noble

Easton Town Center,
Columbus OH
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2925

The Blue Willow Bookshop, 

Houston, TX
http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/

Books of Wonder

New York City
http://www.booksofwonder.com/bowcatalogfall2012/index.html


and other places I've visited on tour. Act fast, call ahead, quantities are limited!