What's new?

Lots!

The year has flown by. Mistress of the Sun came out last spring, where, for two months, it was on a Canadian national bestseller list, rising to #2. It will be coming out soon in French, German, Czech, Serbian, Hungarian and Russian. It's now available in audio, kindle and large print editions.

The reviews have been wonderful:

"A captivating jewel of a novel" — Editor's pick, Historical Novels Review

"Deliciously seductive" — Booklist

"Dangerously seductive" — Montreal Gazette (I love that)

"“Exquisite and fantastic detail . . . to be savored and enjoyed." — A perfect 10 rating, Romance Reviews Today

“Hedonistic and outrageous, with treachery and betrayal at every turn.” — The Vancouver Sun

But most of all, I've been thrilled by the letters readers have written. (Click: here.)

And, as well, Josephine B. just keeps on winning hearts. The Trilogy is now published in 15 countries and has sold over a million copies.

But the main reason for this newsletter is to announce that ...

Mistress of the Sun will soon be out in paperback

The paperback edition of Mistress of the Sun will be out early in April. (Click here to see the U.S. edition, and here for the Canadian.)

The U.S. paperback cover is identical to that of the hardcover, but the Canadian paperback (shown here) has an entirely different design.

As well, both my U.S. and Canadian publishers have redesigned the Josephine B. Trilogy to give it "the new look" (click here and scroll down).

Note: Those of you who have seen me give Josephine B. readings will recognize the gown the model is wearing on the new Canadian cover of Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (top right).

Blog tour

A number of blogs will be featuring Mistress of the Sun in April and May: reviewing it, giving it away in a draw, inviting me to be guest blogger and answer questions from readers.

Details of the "stops" on my Blog Tour will soon be posted on the website: click here for details.

Especially for bookclubs

I've improved the website in a number of ways, but the part I'm most excited about are the pages designed especially for bookclubs. The main bookclub page contains news and links to resources. "Dear Sandra" is a page of testimonials from bookclubs, but my favorite is a page for traveling bookclubs. Some bookclubs have traveled to France after reading one of my books. (If you belong to such a bookclub, please let me know. I'd love to add travel accounts to this page.)

One of the new ways of connecting with bookclubs is a live video chat using Skype. I had a wonderful talk with a club in East Grand Rapids recently, and will soon be talking to a high school class in the U.S. 

Discussion points and other items of interest to bookclubs are available on my website. The Canadian edition of Mistress of the Sun includes interviews and articles for bookclubs at the back. (Unbeknownst to me, my Canadian publisher contracted Fiona Foster to organize this section. I couldn't have been more pleased! Not only is Fiona a wonderful writer and editor, but she's daughter Carrie's good friend. She has done a spectacular job.)

A film? A mini-series?

No — not yet! The Josephine B. Trilogy is under option, and there is interest in Mistress of the Sun.

In the meantime, I'm collecting casting suggestions. So far, Angelina Jolie is favored to play Petite. (What's wrong with dreaming?) And as for Diablo ... ?

Who would you want to play? (I'd opt for Aunt Fanny in Josephine B. and Clorine in Mistress of the Sun.)

And speaking of film ...

My official "Author" video is showing on Royal Caribbean cruise ships as I write this. As well, I've clips of readings on YouTube. 

My Net-world

Confession: I've become a blogger:

Notes on the Writing Life is on just that.

Baroque Explorations is on researching the 17th century.

You can also easily find me on FaceBook, MySpace and (my latest weakness) Twitter.

Care to join the "shout it out" team?

No, I wouldn't dream of suggesting, not even for a minute, that you turn Mistress of the Sun face-out in bookstores, much less sneak it onto the "recommended" table.  :-}

But if you read and adored Mistress of the Sun, a word or two — not to mention stars — on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca would be very much appreciated.

(Also, please feel free to forward this newsletter to those you feel might be interested. If you're not on the mailing list and would like to be, click here.)

The next novel

I'm working on my next novel. It's set in the Court of the Sun King again. Petite will be in evidence, but very much in the background. In the foreground: Claude des Oeillets, the daughter of a diva theatrical star, confidential maid to Madame de Montespan, and, briefly, mistress to Louis XIV. It will be a novel about the glittering theatrical world of the period as well as the murky realm of sorcery. (Lots of fun.)

And so ...

Fare thee well!

Thank you for your wonderful support.

(Photo by James Brylowski.)