It’s a long time between babies. In this case it’s two years since I unwrapped my first copy of The Raven’s Heart and held it in my hands, hefting its weight. It’s a girl! A bit over the 500 gm cutoff weight beyond which an Australia Post parcel gets more expensive. Fair complexioned. Representing far too many years of work.
Here I am again, this time with a dark-complexioned baby who tips the scales at 5 grams over the Aust Post parcel weight (drat!) and is deliciously smooth to the touch. Chasing the Light: A novel of Antarctica is sitting on my desk looking graceful and alluring, thanks to the haunting cover imagery. I’m far too scared to actually look inside the thing – the terror of finding an error is extreme, as this is just the moment that any mistakes jump out and wave their horrible little arms.
The novel won’t be in the bookshops until 1 Feb next year, still about seven weeks away. So for now it’s my precious. Picture me, Gollum-like, stroking the cover and glaring at anyone who comes near. There aren’t even any frightening reviews yet, so I’m safe a bit longer.
The Raven’s Heart, in the meantime, is making her way out in the wide world (this is the cover for the UK/USA version) and gathering some quite lovely reviews. For those of you not in Australia, you can WIN a FREE copy of The Raven’s Heart on my virtual book tour (hey doesn’t that sound relaxed? I don’t even have to leave the desk). Just click HERE and you’ll be swept away to a list of review sites where it’s being reviewed between now and 21 December. Most or all of the sites are running book giveaways, so throw your entry in. Adios!
Blackadder Blogs 
ooh, ooh, ooh. The cover looks luscious and I love the title. Congratulations, Jesse!
Thanks Robyn – how’s things with you? I’m coming to the Perth Writers Fest if you have any plans to be in the city around that time xxx
Great, yes, plan to come up for the Writer’s Festival (we live in Bunbury, 2 hours south of Perth). Look forward to catching up!. R
Yes, an evocative cover. I’ll be reaching for it. Congratulations again.
Dearest Jesse… You really must know that you have no reason to fear the review process. Your first two babies couldn’t have been less similar, and yet they are both ‘can’t put down’ interesting!
I agree that your new baby’s skin is silky to the touch, and luminous, to boot, but I’m keen to know her better…. to find my way inside her, into her room, so to speak! Hee hee! 🙂 If mistakes do lurk within her being, be happy, as being too perfect at such a young age is possibly more a curse than a blessing :):):) Hugs to you (((hug))).
Oh Jesse, how thrilling. It looks so beautiful too. I like this dark baby. Congratulations. I’m really excited for you. Hold her and enjoy her.