Hello, all! Yes, the blog has been quiet lately. Sorry about that. I kept meaning to post, but then something would distract me and/or need to get done, so…poof. No post.
However, I’m breaking the long blog silence with some news. I’ve had lots of people ask “What’s next?” after WICKED ALL NIGHT since that’s the last Ian and Veritas book for the foreseeable future*. Now, I can finally tell you: I will be in an anthology with fellow authors Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong. Some of you might remember that Melissa, Kelley and I worked together before, on the NOLA STORYCON convention, so I’m thrilled to be collaborating with them again in :::drumroll please:::
Hex on the Beach
Girls Night Out has never been so much fun–but what are they going to do with all these bodies?
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost, and Melissa Marr deliver a sexy summer read with this novel-length anthology containing three all-new stories from their Cursed Luck, Night Huntress, and Faery Bargains worlds. Kennedy, Cat, and Gen are just trying to enjoy their respective getaways, but when immortals, vampires, and witches come out to play, things are bound to go awry. Let the supernatural hijinks begin!
Releases July 1, 2021
Note: the cover will be released later, and while some pre-order links are up now, some of them are not. More links will be posted as they go live. For now, you can pre-order from: B&N, Apple Books, Kobo.
Will my local book store carry this?
On their online website, probably. But probably not in their brick-and-mortar stores because most physical stores don’t carry books by self-published authors. So, again, the best way to get this is to order it online via your favorite book store. Again, we’ll post more retail links when they go live.
Will it be available in paperback?
Yes, but due to print-on-demand limitations, the paperback version might take longer to receive than the ebook. Or it might not. We’ll have more on this once we know.
Will it be available in audio book?
The whole anthology? Not at this time. As individual stories, probably. We’re in the process of securing audio editions of our individual stories, so more later on that, too.
Why are you announcing this now if you don’t have all the information on it yet?
Because earlier, B&N’s site did an oopsie and posted the release date as TODAY, so we started getting “huh?” emails from readers who understandably had questions. This announcement is to answer some of those questions, and to set the record straight as to the correct release day of July 1st, 2021.
Is this a whole book’s worth of a new Night Huntress story?
No. The anthology itself will be book-sized, but each of the three stories within it will only be novella-sized.
Is this a new Cat and Bones story? Or is it only Cat and Denise?
It’s a Night Huntress story, so of course you will see Cat, Bones, and Katie in their new lives after the events of WICKED ALL NIGHT (inserts shameless plug here to read WICKED ALL NIGHT when it comes out in February if you want to know the big change for Cat and Bones since the last Night Huntress book!) However, the main focus will be Cat and Denise having a girls’ night out that goes hilariously awry. Don’t worry, you’ll still get lots of Cat and Bones time, including sexy times, but I’ve been wanting to showcase the girls having fun kicking ass on their own for a while now, and I can with this story.
Wait, didn’t you say you were DONE writing about Cat and Bones?
I did! I made a whole, lengthy blog post about it, in fact, and I meant every word…at the time. Then, years passed and I started getting new story ideas about them, but (1) I was contracted to write other characters’ books instead, and (2) I had made SUCH a big deal about being done with Cat and Bones that I felt like I couldn’t go back on that “I’m done” post no matter how much I still wanted to write about them.
Then, as many of you know, I started writing an unfinished, serial retelling of Cat and Bones’s early days in THE OTHER HALF OF THE GRAVE back in late 2019/early 2020. At the time, I did it just for fun, but I later realized I did it because I missed them so much that I had to write about them, even if it was just in “his side of the story” form. When I posted it online, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that many readers had missed them and wanted more stories about them, too.
It started to feel foolish to not do what I wanted to do, and what many readers wanted me to do, simply because of a post I wrote several years ago. Fast forward to me finishing WICKED ALL NIGHT and wondering “What next?” to Melissa Marr calling me and saying “I have this anthology idea. Kelley’s already on board. Want to be in it?”
Yes. Yes, I did.
Again, this isn’t an entire new book featuring Cat and Bones. I don’t have plans to do another of those yet. But, I have had this particular story in my head for a few years now, and I’m so happy to get to tell it in this format, with friends. I hope that it makes some of you happy, too.
What’s next after this anthology?
I’m not sure. I have ideas featuring more familiar vampire characters, but I haven’t made up my mind yet. Once I do, I’ll let you know.
What did “*” mean when you said “since that’s the last Ian and Veritas book for the foreseeable future*” up at the top of this post?
It means that I think WICKED ALL NIGHT is the last Ian and Veritas book as I type this. But, since I apparently can miss characters enough to write about them again even after I tell everyone that I’m done, I’ve decided against declaring that the Night Rebel series is permanently finished after WICKED ALL NIGHT. Instead, I’ll just say that it’s done for now.
Wow, you’re not very professional, are you?
Not really! It seems I’m not much different at this point in my career than I was at the very beginning of it, which is a person who loves to write stories about characters that I love. It’s as simple as that, but no, it’s not necessarily professional. So, for every reader who chooses to take this new journey with Cat, Bones, and Denise in this story, yay! For every reader who chooses not to because the Night Huntress storyline was supposed to end at UP FROM THE GRAVE, I totally understand, and thank you for taking the journey with Cat and Bones up to whatever book you stopped at :).
If you have more questions, I’ll try to answer them below.
I’m just so HAPPY about this. Best news of 2020 so far 🙂
I am so excited!!!! I miss Cat!!
MADE ALL THE 2020 BADNESS GO AWAY WITH 1 POST! A talented woman indeed! ❤️❤️❤️
This just made my 2020 better. Thank you!!
“I want to write stories I’m excited about and lots of people want to read what I’m excited to write about but it’s ok if you don’t want to join us” seems pretty darn professional to me. Count me among those excited to read whatever you decide to write!
Best news since Wicked all Night!! ♥ And if you saying we might get more Cat and Bones and possibly more Ian and Veritas is being not so professional, then by all means please be as unprofessional as you like!! I love your characters and really hope to see more of them!! Vlad and Leila, Gretchen and Maximus, Katie and her family, Tate!! The now newly reappeared Timothy! Anything really! ♥
That is going to be a huge Happy Birthday to me! I too have missed Cat and Bones – and have read all of their story several times. Own paperback of most, and ebook of all. July 2nd is my birthday, but I won’t wait lol.
I’m excited for the anthology but really sad this is going to be Ian and Veritas last book (for now). I really hope you write more books about them in the future, I miss them already lol.
Are they going to appear in the anthology too?
Pfft.
We can overlook the mind set of a few years that said, “I’m done.” As a human, you have a right to change your mind. Particularly when you have a good story to tell.
I’m in on both counts.
Looking forward to it.
Stay safe!
Roseann
I’m so happy to hear that maybe there might be more Cat & Bones books at some point! I also love, love, love Vlad. If he got another book I would read it but, I’m dying to see if Tate gets a book!!!!! OMG! I want to see Bones crow over that one & how Tate finally admits that he was in lust with Cat not in love with her. I want to see what kind of woman knocks him on his ass and doesn’t put up with his shit. Please!?!?!?!?!?!? Love you, you are my favorite author. Whatever stories in the night huntress world you come up with I would read because I love them so much.
So! Excited!!! I love this series so very much!!!! Can’t wait to read!! Merry Christmas and a happy New year!! Much luv forever fangirl Kat Valentine💋💯💕👊
Yay! I really loved your chapters from Bones’ POV & it was lovely to revisit the first book with Cat & Bones. Thanks for being willing to change your mind on writing about previously ‘finished’ series/characters!!!
I think that as we get older, we come to the realization that we DO have the privilege of changing our minds without apologies or regrets & IMO you definitely don’t need to explain about doing something that makes you (& SO many others) very happy… even if you said you weren’t going to do it again.
(I often say I won’t do things in my life ever again either. I just don’t like the slightly ridiculous feeling I get when I change my mind… but I don’t want to regret not doing things either. So my temporary ridiculousness is worthwhile IMO.)
I am thrilled when any authors revisit my favorite characters/series/worlds, especially when they weren’t supposed to have any more stories. I don’t care if it’s a short story or a novella, as long as more stories are told. I always get attached & wonder “What next?” @ the end of any series/characters/worlds, so I am absolutely THRILLED that we will get a bit more of “THIS is what happened next…”.
I’m looking forward to the next book, thank you!!!
Nice to know that you miss them too.
So excited!!! All of your writing is so good! I’m always so happy to read about any of the people in your universe!! Will you potentially have Gretchen’s story coming soon?
Yasss!!! I love, love, love Cat and Bone and that entire universe! I go back and revisit them at least once or twice a year. I would love to read more about them especially the original four Cat, Denise, Kiera, and Lelah. A girls sleepover at Vlads or Mencheres’s house *castle*. Vlad being a protective older uncle to Katie. Gahh it doesn’t matter I’m not particular I just want MORE. I do hope you finish the serial from Bone’s perspective though. I love reading his side of that first book.
I’m so excited! I love the nighthuntress world!
Hahaha please be more unprofessional 🙇🏻♀️
Take a bow.
You are totally multi talented.
YES YES YES YES YES YES YEEEEEES!!!!!
Thank you so much, you are the best 💛
OMG something good is coming out of 2020!!😁😃
I think it is great that you are writing another book.
You can always write more shifter books like PACK or my vampire. Or just anything my creativity only extends to dreams I cannot remember and making books into movies in my head. LoL😂
If you write it we WILL read it.
More Cat and Bones, YES!!! Who can get tired of that? Seriously, who? My only hope is that Tavia continues to narrate the audio books. Because you know there is NO ONE else who can voice Cat and Bones.
Thank you so much, Jeaniene! I love Cat and Bones and Ian and Veritas, and all of your characters from the Night Huntress books, and frankly will happily read them forever.
Cat & Denise coming back to life in print makes dealing with 2020 a breeze now. Thank you for sharing the news with us fans! I miss Bones and Cat and cannot wait for the last Ian book; I needs my Night Huntress series as much as I need my kids, dog, cat, coffee, & crochet! hahaha Happy Holidays Jeaniene & Family!!!!
Yesssssss!