ICYMI: Kate Elliott Interviews & Guest Posts

In case you missed it, here’s a roundup of Kate Elliott’s recent online appearances:

Nov 5 – John Scalzi’s Whatever Blog Guest Post: The Big Idea
“Change always happens, but as Kate Elliott explains in this Big Idea for Black Wolves, the opening novel in a new fantasy trilogy, not all change happens at once.”

Nov. 13 – Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog Guest Post: 10 Fantasy Novels Whose Depictions of Women Did Not Make Me Smash Things
“Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, […] it [was] almost impossible to find fantasy novels that gave me a fresh, provocative, innovative landscape without simply replicating the same dull and retrograde roles for women. Fortunately these days it’s new world dawning and I, for one, am thrilled.”

Nov 20 – Fangirl Happy Hour Ep. 27: “That Darn Internet”
“This week on Fangirl Happy Hour, Renay and Ana welcome Kate Elliott back to the show to discuss H.P. Lovecraft, the World Fantasy Award, fandom, rec the best pigeon dating game you will ever play, and answer some listener questions.”

Nov. 23 – Tor. Com’s Rocket Talk Ep. 69: Kate Elliott & Emma Newman
“This week’s episode features fantasy and science fiction authors Kate Elliott and Emma Newman on their recent novels, what it’s like to write aged characters and what kinds of resistance exists in society to hearing those stories. They also discuss the rarity of anxiety disorders in fiction.”

Dec. 2 – Lady Business Guest Post: The Call to Adventure
“Kate Elliott shares the old opening to her new novel, Black Wolves, which came out November 3.”

E.P. Beaumont Interview: The Muse of Research with Kate Elliott
“Kate Elliott took time from a very busy schedule of writing, revising, and promoting her work to grant this interview. As reader, I’m entertained; as writer, I’m taking notes.”

Happy reading!

BLACK WOLVES – Best Epic Fantasy Novel Finalist

More good news! Kate Elliott’s latest fantasy novel, Black Wolves, is now a finalist for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards for Best Epic Fantasy Novel!

2015-rt-awards-hero_2
Other honorable finalists in the Best Epic Fantasy Novel category include Cecilia Holland’s Dragon Heart, Erin Lindsey’s The Bloodforged, and Juliet Marillier’s Tower of Thorns. Congratulations to all the nominees in all of the categories!

PS – You can also read RT Book Reviews’ review of Black Wolves here.

BLACK WOLVES – Library Journal Starred Review!

Elliott_BlackWolves-TPExcited to announce that Kate Elliott’s Black Wolves has received a starred review from Library Journal:

“Elliott sketches in a delightfully complex landscape full of court intrigue, religious upheaval, culture clashes, and the mysterious demons who seem to be pulling many of the strings in play. . . . Elliott’s strong narrative will keep readers engaged.”

You can read more quotes, reviews, and more about the new epic fantasy at Kate Elliott’s main page. If you haven’t already, you can pick up your copy of Black Wolves at your local independent bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other online and bricks and mortar stores!

Brand New Kate Elliott Short Story: THE BEATRICEID

If a Court of Fives novella prequel isn’t enough, Kate Elliott will also be publishing a new short story, THE BEATRICEID, with The Book Smugglers.

Set in the world of the Spiritwalker trilogy, the story is “a fun, feminist, subversive retelling of Virgil’s The Aeneid featuring the author’s beloved characters Cat and Beatrice,” written entirely in iambic pentameter. The story will also feature a beautifully illustrated cover from Hugo Award winner Julie Dillon.

THE BEATRICEID will be available 22 DEC. 2015 as an e-book and a limited edition print paperback, which will include two essays and a Q&A by Kate Elliott herself.

Pre-orders will be taken from 8 DEC. 2015, along with an official cover reveal.

Get more details and stay up-to-date with more BEATRICEID news at The Book Smugglers.

NIGHT FLOWER Cover Contest Winner

Thank you to everyone who voted for The Novl’s cover contest for NIGHT FLOWER, the Court of Fives exclusive digital prequel! And the winner is…

night flower 1

NIGHT FLOWER tells the “legendary love story” of Jessamy’s parents prior to the events in Court of Fives:

Kiya is a Commoner who has just arrived in the bustling city of Saryenia. Esladas is a member of the Patron ruling class and determined to prove himself in the army. His plans are disrupted by the outgoing and beautiful girl who sells him fruit in the market, though, despite the fact that neither of them speaks a word of the others language. Brief conversations and stolen moments together soon become something more, but when their divided cultures clash, Kiya and Esladas must decide if their blossoming love is worth becoming outsiders for the rest of their lives.

This companion novella will be available digitally through Little, Brown Books for Young Readers via The Novl on 8 DEC. 2015.

Read more about NIGHT FLOWER at The Novl!

PS – The sequel to Court of Fives, POISONED BLADE, will be available Aug. 2016. Read NIGHT FLOWER to tide you over until then! 😉

BLACK WOLVES – AVAILABLE NOW

Get your copy of Kate Elliott’s BLACK WOLVES today! Set in the same world as her Crossroads trilogy, but the first of a stand-alone series, Black Wolves is available at your local independent bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other online and bricks and mortar stores!

Elliott_BlackWolves-TP

DESCRIPTION:

An exiled captain returns to help the son of the king who died under his protection in this rich and multi-layered first book in an action-packed new series.

Twenty two years have passed since Kellas, once Captain of the legendary Black Wolves, lost his King and with him his honor. With the King murdered and the Black Wolves disbanded, Kellas lives as an exile far from the palace he once guarded with his life.

Until Marshal Dannarah, sister to the dead King, comes to him with a plea-rejoin the palace guard and save her nephew, King Jehosh, before he meets his father’s fate.

Combining the best of Shogun and Netflix’s Marco Polo, Black Wolves is an unmissable treat for epic fantasy lovers everywhere.


QUOTES:

 “Black Wolves is a sweeping tale of loyalty and betrayal, ambition and intrigue, impelled by the mysteries that lie at its heart.”―Jacqueline Carey, bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy series

“Intricate, fascinating worldbuilding, twisty political intrigue, vivid characters to love and hate — this is Kate Elliott at the top of her epic fantasy game.”―Karen Miller, author of The Tarnished Crown series and Rogue Agent series

“On a vast, colorful canvas, Kate Elliott has drawn dozens of characters who act and react with poetry and grit. Lush and textured, by turns moving, exciting, playful, and contemplative, Black Wolves is a masterpiece that soars with an epic soul.”―Ken Liu, Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy award-winning author of the Grace of Kings

REVIEWS:

“Sophisticated, multifaceted worldbuilding sparked by original flourishes, populated by characters we quickly come to care about and whose motivations drive intricate, absorbing conspiracies.” – Kirkus Review

“With this book, Kate Elliott has leveled up. It’s a formidable fantasy…exceptionally plotted and filled to bursting with the politics and drama that makes all of her work so memorable. If you’re seeking epic fantasy that remembers women exist—that they matter—Black Wolves is not to be missed.” –Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog

“This is a novel about politics. It’s politics all the way down. It’s about families of blood and families of choice, families of chance and family secrets and betrayals. It’s about heritage and inheritance in all senses. It’s also an argument about law, justice, and what happens on the edges of empire. It’s about consequences. All about consequences.” –Tor.com

BLACK WOLVES – Coming Soon!

You can now pre-order the first book in Kate Elliott’s new epic fantasy, BLACK WOLVES at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. (Official release date is 3 NOV. 2015 by Orbit US.)

Elliott_BlackWolves-TP
DESCRIPTION:

An exiled captain returns to help the son of the king who died under his protection in this rich and multi-layered first book in an action-packed new series.

Twenty two years have passed since Kellas, once Captain of the legendary Black Wolves, lost his King and with him his honor. With the King murdered and the Black Wolves disbanded, Kellas lives as an exile far from the palace he once guarded with his life.

Until Marshal Dannarah, sister to the dead King, comes to him with a plea-rejoin the palace guard and save her nephew, King Jehosh, before he meets his father’s fate.

Combining the best of Shogun and Netflix’s Marco Polo, Black Wolves is an unmissable treat for epic fantasy lovers everywhere.


QUOTES:

 “Black Wolves is a sweeping tale of loyalty and betrayal, ambition and intrigue, impelled by the mysteries that lie at its heart.”―Jacqueline Carey, bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy series

“Intricate, fascinating worldbuilding, twisty political intrigue, vivid characters to love and hate — this is Kate Elliott at the top of her epic fantasy game.”―Karen Miller, author of The Tarnished Crown series and Rogue Agent series

“On a vast, colorful canvas, Kate Elliott has drawn dozens of characters who act and react with poetry and grit. Lush and textured, by turns moving, exciting, playful, and contemplative, Black Wolves is a masterpiece that soars with an epic soul.”―Ken Liu, Nebula, Hugo and World Fantasy award-winning author of the Grace of Kings

REVIEWS:

“Sophisticated, multifaceted worldbuilding sparked by original flourishes, populated by characters we quickly come to care about and whose motivations drive intricate, absorbing conspiracies.” – Kirkus Review

 

Read for Pixels: Kate Elliott Reading and Q&A — LIVE TONIGHT

Early_Blogs2Catch Kate Elliott live online TONIGHT (6 PM PST) for The Pixel Project’s “Read for Pixels” campaign. She will be participating in a reading of one of her works, as well as answering questions from viewers.

If you’re interested, please watch and participate in the Google Hangouts Reading tonight at this link!

The Read For Pixels campaign features live Google Hangout Readings with award-winning bestselling authors in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign which aims to raise US$1 million in aid of The Pixel Project and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Code Switching in COURT OF FIVES

In Kate Elliott’s Court of Fives, Jessamy must navigate between different cultures, classes, and languages, as she competes in an athletic tournament and struggles to save her family. Elliott explains this navigation, or code-switching, in her guest post at Diversity in YA:

Jessamy’s parents come from different ethnicities, Saroese and Efean (also called Patrons and Commoners in the book). She knows both languages, is fluent in both, and can switch easily between the two in contrast to most of the population, who only speak either Saroese or Efean depending on their ethnicity.

But because Efea is a conquered country, and because the Saroese are the conquerers, she also must negotiate a far trickier form of code-switching: That between the class divide created by the privileged and powerful Patrons and the conquered and looked-down-upon Commoners.

Read more and enter to win a copy of COURT OF FIVES and four other YA SFF novels at Diversity in YA.