DARK VOYAGE

I’m always on tenterhooks before reviews of a new book start coming in. That’s been doubly true for BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS, since it’s my first stand-alone novel. But Library Journal has just published its review and I couldn’t be more delighted. An excerpt:

In her new stand-alone thriller, Davidson (Evil in All Its Disguises) introduces the reader to a cast of troubled, double-crossing characters who end up entangled in a dangerous game… you can’t help turning the pages in anticipation of yet another twist or turn. VERDICT Recommended for mystery fans who appreciate quirky tales of revenge and family drama.

Writing a stand-alone felt like a risk in a lot of ways, especially since my Lily Moore books have been so warmly received. It means a lot to get a review like this from Library Journal!

The countdown has started: we’re just 14 weeks from the launch of BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS. I’m always excited to have a new book coming out, but in this case, that’s doubly true, because BLOOD is my first stand-alone novel. My earlier three books are part of a series, and I know many readers have a close relationship with Lily Moore, Jesse Robb, and the world they inhabit. BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS introduces an entirely new cast of characters, and it’s my hope that readers will be fully drawn into their world. I’m thrilled to say that some of my favorite writers are saying terrific things about the book:

“Blood Always Tells gives us a tale of revenge and redemption that keeps the reader guessing until the last page” — Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Missing You

“A terrific thriller with enough twists and shocks to keep you on the edge of your seat, not to mention a touch of wicked humour when you least expect it!” — Peter Robinson, award-winning author of Children of the Revolution (DCI Banks series) 

“Readers may think they know where Hilary Davidson is going with Blood Always Tells, but they’ll be wrong time and again.  Davidson writes thrillers by her own set of rules and the result is a terrific, highly original read.” — Gar Anthony Haywood, author of the Shamus Award-winning Aaron Gunner mystery series

“Intense and suspenseful, with a surprise around every corner. This tangled-web thriller of a family gone wrong, darkly noir and relentlessly sinister, is the definition of page-turner!” — Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author

And so… welcome to the pre-order contest for BLOOD!

Pre-orders are incredibly important in the publishing business. For starters, they influence the size of of a book’s print run. They can also affect a bookseller’s willingness to stock a book in-store, rather than only making it available by special order. They count toward a book’s first-week sales, which is a very big deal. When you pre-order a book, you’re doing an author a big favor. So, this contest is also my way of saying thank you. Now, without further ado, the prizes!

• Everyone who pre-orders the book will receive an electronic copy of my short-story collection, THE BLACK WIDOW CLUB: NINE TALES OF OBSESSION AND MURDER. Yes, everyone. I told you I wanted to say thanks! If you have an eReader, I’ll send an ePub file; if not, I’ll send a PDF.
• Three lucky people will each win a one-year subscription to one of my favorite magazines: Crimespree Magazine, Mystery Scene, or Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. (If you subscribe already — as well you should — your current subscription will be extended by a year.)
• One grand prize winner will win a character name in my next novel. I can’t promise whether your namesake will be good or evil, but you will be immortalized in print.

The last time I hosted a pre-order contest, the lovely Sabrina Ogden won the grand prize, and her namesake character appears in BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS. Is she a heroine or villain? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

The fine print:

• You can pre-order BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS anywhere they sell books. It doesn’t matter if it’s ordered from a brick-and-mortar store (here’s a list of some great ones) or online. Want some pre-order links?
• Hardcovers and eBooks both count.
• Email a copy/scan/photo of your receipt to preorder AT hilarydavidson DOT com. Be sure to include your mailing address.
• If you pre-order more than one copy of the book, let me know — not only will you have my undying gratitude, but you’ll get a contest entry for each copy you pre-order.
• Let me know if you’d prefer a PDF or ePub version of THE BLACK WIDOW CLUB. If you’ve already got your own copy of the book, you can designate another recipient for your gift copy.
• To be eligible to win a magazine subscription or the grand prize, you must have a mailing address in the US or Canada. But no matter where you live, you’ll get an electronic copy of THE BLACK WIDOW CLUB.
• The grand prize winner will need to sign a standard release form allowing me to use his or her name in a work of fiction.
• The contest will run from January 7th until April 13th, 2014. Winners will be selected in a random draw.

BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS will be released on April 15, 2014, in the US and Canada. Stay tuned for news about the tour. In the meantime, let me just saya heartfelt thank you for all of your support.

Sometimes things take a little longer than planned. Back in August, after the launch of the eBook edition of my short-story collection, THE BLACK WIDOW CLUB, I planned to release a print edition. But when I started the process, I discovered that the layout I’d used in the eBook needed a number of changes. For example, since many readers don’t go through a short-story collection in order, that meant the spoilery final page of one story directly faced the opening page of another story. It wasn’t an issue with the eBook, for obvious reasons, but with print, it posed problems. And don’t get me started on the difficulty of designing a cover. Graphic designers already had my respect, but now I admire them even more.

I’m thrilled to say that the print version of THE BLACK WIDOW CLUB is finally available via Create Space. It’s priced at $9.99, but Amazon is already discounting it, so the price at the moment is $8.99. I hope you’ll enjoy it. And since the holiday season is here, I hope you’ll consider the collection as a gift for the naughty. It’s a great alternative to a lump of coal!

If you’ve read Ken Bruen, you know that his books are brimming with references to novels and music and poetry and pop culture. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been inspired to pick up a book or listen to a song because he mentioned it. So it was a huge honor to discover that I’m in his latest novel. Purgatory is Bruen’s 10th book featuring former cop Jack Taylor, and if you know Jack, you know he loves to read (between bouts of bloody mayhem, of course). From the book:

I was on a female mystery kick, reading only lady crime writers. My contribution to equality. Had asked Vinny to stack my new bookshelves with them. 

He did.

I skimmed through the authors.

Sara Gran

Zoë Sharp

Margaret Murphy

Wendy Hornsby

Lynn S. Hightower

Megan Abbott

Cornelia Read

Alafair Burke

Hilary Davidson

Jan Burke

And was content.

I’m on Jack Taylor’s shelf, in the most amazing company. I still can’t believe it, but I couldn’t be more honored.

Ken Bruen is an exceptional writer and an amazing person. He’s generous and kind, yet writes some of the darkest, leanest prose you’ll ever encounter. If you’re not reading him yet, you need to start now.

I promised you the cover. Here it is…

Coming from Tor/Forge on April 15, 2014!

A couple of weeks back, writer  and All Due Respect founder Alec Cizak interviewed me for the KMSU Weekly Reader. He had plenty of questions for me about EVIL IN ALL ITS DISGUISES, the Lily Moore series overall, and the craft of writing. The podcast of our interview is now online. 

Have you seen the newly unveiled cover of my fourth novel, BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS? It’s up at the Crimespree Magazine blog. Thanks to my amazing friends there for showing it off! I’ll be adding it here soon. The release date — April 15, 2014 — still seems so far off, but I know it isn’t…

How much fun did I have at Bouchercon this year? Let’s just say that when I returned home, I immediately registered for Bouchercon 2014 in Long Beach, California. Some highlights from Albany:

With my “Methods of Murder” panel: (clockwise from top left) Matthew Clemens, me, Chris Ewan, Meredith Anthony, Helen Smith, and Sarah Weinman.

At the St. Martin’s/Minotaur party with Jon and Ruth Jordan. Check out the beautiful skull scarf Ruth gave me!

Dinner with my terrific Tor/Forge editor, Paul Stevens, and a great crew: Dennis Tafoya, Stacia Decker, Wallace Stroby, Joelle Charbonneau, and Jon McGoran.

“The New Noir” panel, with (left to right) moderator Reed Farrel Coleman, Duane Swierczynski, Jason Starr, Dick Lochte, me, John Rector, and Todd Robinson.

Hanging out with Big Daddy Thug, natch.

The Bouchercon bar is filled with my favorite people! Starting with Chris F. Holm and Scott Montgomery…

Dennis Tafoya…

Neliza Drew and Laura K. Curtis…

Joe Clifford…

…and Jacques Filippi and Robin Spano (this was taken in a hidden corner of the bar where Canadians hatch their nefarious plots).

Reading at Noir at the Bar Albany (brilliantly organized by Eric Beetner)

Dinner with Taylor Stevens, Brad Parks, Christine McCann, Jen Forbus, my husband Dan, Katrina Niidas Holm, Chris F. Holm, and Daniel Palmer.

Are you headed to Albany for Bouchercon this week? I’ve been looking forward to it since… well, since last year’s Bouchercon in Cleveland ended. If you make it to this year’s edition of the world’s best crime-fiction conference, please look me up. Here’s where to find me:

Thursday, Sept. 19th, noon-12:55pm: I’m moderating “She’s Got a Way — Methods of Murder,” a panel with Meredith Anthony, Matthew Clemens, Chris Ewan, Helen Smith, and Sarah Weinman. Um, I get to talk to some terrific writers about ways to kill people? It’s a dream come true! (Room 2)

Thursday, Sept. 19th, 3pm-3:30pm: I’m doing an Authors’ Choice panel with authors Robin Spano and David Whellams. Since the titles of the real panels were taken from Billy Joel songs, we stole “My Life,” since we’re talking about using real life in your fiction. (Room 5)

Friday, Sept. 20th, 10:20am-11:15am: Never mind that it’s Friday morning. The panel is “Night is Still Young — Going Dark: The New Noir” moderated by Reed Farrel Coleman and featuring Dick Lochte, John Rector, Todd Robinson, Jason Starr, Duane Swierczynski, and me. Just don’t ask us what noir is, okay? (Room 1)

Saturday, Sept. 21st, 2:30pm-3pm: Noir at the Bar Albany! Okay, it’s not actually at the bar — it’s in Room 5 — but Eric Beetner has lined up some fantastic writers to do some ultra-short reads. And we’re giving away books! The talent includes  Owen Laukkanen, Johnny Shaw, Les Edgerton, Matt Coyle, Lisa Brackmann, Travis Richardson, Terrence McCauley, Anonymous-9, Josh Stallings, and me. (Room 5)

One more thing: on Sunday, Sept. 22nd, from 3pm-4pm, I’ll be at Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine’s booth at the Brooklyn Book Festival. I’ll be signing copies of the November issue, which features my story “Darkness in the City of Light.”

There are several great crime zines out there, but one of my all-time favorites is Beat to a Pulp. That’s partly because its editor, David Cranmer, is such an all-around good guy who’s incredibly supportive of other writers. It’s also because publishing work in Beat to a Pulp has led to good things: “Insatiable,” the first story I published there, went on to win a Spinetingler Award, and my “A Special Kind of Hell” ended up as a finalist for a Derringer Award. My latest story, “Fair Warning,” is up now.