So it’s my birthday today. While it did involve work as usual (time and spreadsheets wait for no woman), it also involved a card from my coworkers, cakes at work, presents from my family, a nice dinner out with steak and wine, and a generally good day.

It’s also just over a week now since The Masked City came out in the US. I hope that people are enjoying it! (And if you really want to give me a birthday present, and you enjoyed reading it, then do leave a good review on amazon or wherever – it’s the sort of thing that makes authors happy…)

I need to remember to check the Lush shop soon. They should be getting in their Halloween and/or Christmas specials any day now. I’m a Lush addict – well, some of their products, at least – and I wouldn’t want to miss any good new stuff.

So with The Masked City coming out in the States next week, am I nervous? Of course not, she says unconvincingly, wearing a path in the carpet with her constant pacing…

But in the meantime, we now have two giveaways!

Here’s the first:
Goodreads giveaway of The Masked City – US only, ends 4th September

And here’s a brand new one:
Tor giveaway of both The Invisible Library and The Masked City – US only, ends 4th September

Now please excuse me while I go off to work on book 4. Irene is currently sitting up from trauma and demanding brandy. She’s very predictable…

My US publishers (Ace and Roc Books) are doing a giveaway on Goodreads – 12 days to go in which to try your luck and get a free copy of The Masked City. 30 copies are up for grabs.

You can see the giveaway at:
The Masked City – Goodreads giveaway

It finishes on September the 4th, and – as you will already know (cue flashback montage, pages flickering across the screen, etc) the book itself comes out on the 6th September.

Action! Excitement! Adventure! Venice! People falling in canals! Speak now or forever hold your peace… wait, that’s weddings. (Oh well, I’m sure it’ll be relevant somewhere down the line…)

Just back from:

a) a splendid time at the Nine Worlds convention in London.
b) a very relaxing and extremely lazy few days with my parents where I did nothing. Well, almost nothing. I did work on the next chapter of book four, but apart from that I did practically nothing. (I might possibly have played Pokemon Go a little…)

Anyhow, back to work now. (For those people curious about the entry title, check out the Molesworth books by Willans & Searle.) Work as usual starts again tomorrow, plus I have the American proofs of book 3 (The Burning Page) to check, and book 2 (The Masked City) comes out in America on the 6th of September, which is very close indeed…

Delighted to share the news that my American publishers are doing a giveaway of advance reading copies of The Masked City. Check it out here:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/195433-the-masked-city

It’s US-only, I’m afraid, and the giveaway dates are Jul 18 – Aug 01, 2016. Increase your personal libraries! Fill your shelves! Get more books!

(In other news, I now have a new fridge/freezer and am extremely grateful for it.)

Currently having issues with my fridge/freezer. This is unlikely to get into my writing, as “Irene has to wrestle with a malfunctioning fridge and ends up defrosting it” lacks narrative interest. Even for the bit where Kai complains that she’s thrown out all the carefully made pure springwater ice cubes which he likes to drop in his drinks.

I have (and here I’m going to tease) been proofreading a special little easter egg for the American edition of The Masked City. I won’t be too specific about it yet, but I think people will like it.

And speaking of proofreading, look what turned up in the post today: The Burning Page, ready for proofreading.

No rest for the wicked…

It’s astonishing to think that a week (well, nearly) has gone by since The Invisible Library was released in the US. Is this where I stand on a balcony and wave a tentacle to all my new readers? Hi there. Happy reading.

I’m now back at work on book four – apologies that I can’t give any US release dates on that – and should soon be getting the proof-sheets for book three, The Burning Page. I’m also keeping up the day job, and working on my current quilt, which has just reached the stage of hand-sewing on the binding. I’m now being reminded of why hand-sewing black fabric binding onto a black fabric background using black thread is not always a good idea. At least I sit directly under a strong light while doing it.

In case you’re wondering, I drink a lot of coffee, and I catch up on sleep at weekends.

I’m also being worried about the upcoming “Brexit” referendum: I know it won’t do any good to fret, but nervousness is very bad at listening to common sense. (In case you’re curious, I’m planning to vote Remain. And hoping.)

For anyone who’s curious about the deep abysses of my personality, or at least my bookshelf, here are some questions I answered for the Book Brahmin column for Shelf Awareness. Interesting site, and I was very flattered to be asked to contribute.

And here’s your last chance (for the moment) to win an early copy of The Masked City, together with a current copy of The Invisible Library, and other goodies…

Show them your dream library.

(Or just have a look at some other people’s…)

I’m in the stage of emotional exhaustion where I wander round babbling how I love you all, guys, I love you, you’re great, etcetera. (Alas, no alcohol in the mug by my computer, just coffee.)

The Invisible Library is now out in the US. Thank you very much to everyone who’s supported it.

For US readers who’d like an early look at the sequel, Ace and Roc Books are doing a rolling giveaway of books 1 and two and additional goodies on Facebook here – check it out. Today’s challenge involves gargoyles…

Also, I’ve been answering some questions – here – from Mariana at Book is Glee. Sordid details and dark secrets revealed, etcetera.

I would like to sit down and work on book four, but I’m tired, and more in the mood to curl up with a good book. Fortunately I have my hands on the final Temeraire book by Naomi Novik, League of Dragons. Which makes the decision easy. Pass the book and the coffee, sign me off for the night.

I’ve been trying to think of songs about “tomorrow”, but so far my best options are “Tomorrow belongs to me”, which has somewhat varied associations, and “One More Day” from Les Miserables, which is … mixed.

Anyhow. Tomorrow is the American release of The Invisible Library. To everyone who hasn’t read it yet and is about to, I hope that you enjoy it.

The second Ace and Roc Books challenge is now up: Post a photo of your favorite book with a blue cover. (If you’re unable to post a photo, a link is fine, too!) This is a chance to win not only The Invisible Library, but also an ARC copy of The Masked City. And other goodies.

And now I need to get back to working on book four. Irene shouldn’t be allowed out on her own. (As Kai has frequently remarked.)