A Cruel Light is available in EPub, hardcover and audio formats.
As A Cruel Light finds its readers, and the second Annora Garde novel–A Brutal Eclipse— is being considered by my publisher, Crooked Lane Books, a Penguin Random House imprint, I am working on a standalone horror-mystery-spice novel, writing my heart out every day.
( Cover concept / mockup )
Writing may be hard work, but it is also fun. In my Annora Garde mysteries, I get to slip into the shoes of a pretty cool art conservator who likes to travel, has three degrees, and enjoys her independence.
In Bloodroot Hollow, My main character is a twenty-four year old woman who was abandoned at only five in an off-the-grid mobile home. Oriana has lived a hard life and recently escaped domestic abuse. Desperate, needing time to plan her next steps, and willing to confront her past, she returns home. The land she owns is part of a century-old agreement between her great great grandfather and Harmony, a former logging town that isn’t as idyllic as it pretends to be. Though the town is now thriving, it’s history is stained with odd disappearances, and old legends. As Oriana establishes a temporary home for herself, she begins to see and hear things. Something sinister waits in the woods that surround her trailer, something ravenous, something that has been kept a secret for over a century.
(Cover concept/mockup)
Oriana’s voice is bolder. She was bounced between foster homes, and her favourite family owned a funeral home. She’s finding herself, exploring her sexuality, and enjoying her freedom, but she’s also struggling with issues around trust, and she has a lot of baggage.
I’ll be outlining the next Annora Garde mystery, A Scorned Shadow, in a week or two. The story is set on an isolated (fictional) island located near Cape Breton. This time, Annora will be restoring the slashed portrait of Blythe Rudaville–a famous silent film star–by using her ‘death’ mask. As Annora restores the painting, a drama documentary on the actress’s life and death is being filmed in her former mansion, now a museum and available for private rentals.
The notorious starlet had supposedly poisoned twelve guests at a dinner party. A hundred years later, the case is still being argued as to whether she truly did it. The island is reportedly cursed– tales of love triangles, revenge, and mass murders have tainted the island’s reputation since the eighteenth century. When a filmed reenactment becomes far too real, Annora and Mac survive the event… but will they survive the island?
AND Next Sat, June 3rd from 10-11:30 a.m., I’ll be attending my first book club event as an author at The Book Wardrobe in Streetsville, Ontario. The ticket to this event is the purchase A Cruel Light from the lovely shop on Queen St. I am looking forward to answering questions, discussing themes, giving readers the inside scoop, signing books and having my picture taken with all those who attend! It’s sure to be a fun.
I’m busy, feeling driven, and I have no word of a lie, ten books in my head that are demanding to be written.
Hopefully, I’ll have more news for you in the coming weeks.
Cheers
CYNDI MACMILLAN 