Monday, March 16, 2009

Catch-Up Time!

This is more of a "yes, I'm still out there" post than anything else, I'm afraid. I was pretty wiped out most of last week by some flu-like bug. That and the periodic appearance of winged termites in the house kept me quiet on the blog front.

Last week, however, I did get the advance review copies for Hugh and Bess, and they're lovely! If the termites get near them, they're doomed. (Actually, they're doomed anyway, since the exterminators have been by.)

I'm also eagerly awaiting the publication of The Traitor's Wife next month, to the point where I've been scoping out its future location on the shelves of the nearby bookstores. (At the Borders nearby my house, the fiction books beginning with "Hi" are at knee level. I wonder if the manager would consent to move them all up to eye level? Or to the front of the store?)

Finally, I'm making good progress on the Buckingham novel, though Richard III might beg to disagree, since I reached the Battle of Bosworth last night.

14 comments:

Passages to the Past said...

Susan...glad to hear you're feeling better! I've never had issues with termites, but carpenter ants made my life hell for a while and it's not fun!

I love the cover for Hugh & Bess, by the way and I'm a quarter of the way through The Traitor's Wife and loving it!!! I've been hearing about it since I started into historical fiction years ago and I'm finally reading it! It was worth the wait!

Lynn Irwin Stewart said...

Sorry you've been sick but glad you're feeling better. Can't wait for your next novel!

Lucy said...

Hi! Glad to know you're feeling better...but that whole situation with termites- Poor you!

BurtonReview said...

And so.... what are you going to be doing with these "doomed" ARC's?? Inquiring minds would love to know ;) wink wink

Jules Frusher said...

Oh dear, seems like you're having trouble with bugs of all descriptions! Nice to hear you're getting over the illness - and good luck with the termites - thank goodness we don't get them here!

Anonymous said...

I hope you are feeling better.
BTW, can you drop us a hint? Is Jasper Tudor going to be hot?

Melisende said...

Susan, nice to hear you are back in the land of the living - or maybe that should be alternating between both - in a methaphorical sense.

Anonymous said...

I hope you're feeling better! Very exciting to hear about the review copies. I'll be reviewing The Traitor's Wife on Apr 13th and I just can't wait to read it! I've been excited about it for a long time.

Anonymous said...

I'll also be reviewing The Traitor's Wife on April 13th on my site.

As far as the bookstores are concerned (and you probably already know most of this), you could always do some creative "rearranging" to have the "Hi" section move up a level or so. I worked in a bookstore for a couple of years. For all the other books around your book (shelves above and below), just turn those books so they are facing out with the spine and not the cover. Then shift everything until you clear out some space on the level above for your books. And make sure your books are outward facing with the cover. Readers are more willing to pick up an outward facing book than a book only showing the spine.

Moving your books to the front of the store might be more tricky. Not sure what could do b/c those books are pre-determined to already be there. You could always ask the manager I suppose. Maybe he'll be nice, not likely though :)

Kathryn Warner said...

Glad to hear you're on the mend, and that really is great about the publication of Traitor's Wife!

Susan Higginbotham said...

Thanks, all! It's glad to be feeling human again. And I hope those of you with copies of The Traitor's Wife enjoy it!

Right now the Hugh and Bess ARC's are just going out for blurbs, but I imagine the publisher will be sending out some to reviewers in the summer.

Amazingly, I'm not quite decided about Jasper yet. I think a son of the studly Owen Tudor should be hot, though.

No live termites spotted in three days, yippee! You can imagine how the neighbors loved seeing the termite truck parked out in front all morning.

Sarah Johnson said...

Copies of The Traitor's Wife have been spotted on the shelves of the B&N in Springfield, IL, by the way. And they were placed face out!

Susan Higginbotham said...

Thanks, Sarah! I'm off to check my B&N tomorrow!

Lauranne D. said...

...So...3 weeks ago i have bought "The Queen of last Hopes" and i fell in love with this book. It´s my second book written by Susan. My first one was "The stolen crown". But i have to say, i love the new book even more than ;the last. Finally some modern, actual, very human and emotional picture of hated Margaret of Anjou.Margaret seen through eyes of a modern woman. Great! I cannot say i would love this troublesome woman now. But i could understand some aspects of her life better.As a woman probably.But and that made me fall in love with this novel: Henry Beaufort. OMG, i never would say, i could be enamoured with this man. But i am. Finally someone who donesn´t give all attention to notorical and obviously irresistible Edward IV. (because i don´t like him, sooorry!). Susan has picked up other very interesting people living in this time- in the shadow of Roses. Henry Beaufort was definitely one of them. Thank you for the novel!
P.S. sorry for my english, i am german married to Frenchman, so english isn´t my first, nay even second language :)