Checking In.

A quick post, just to say hello, while I fight my way through the word jungle.

This week I had a picture sent to me in a reader email, which I think is brilliant, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Wise words indeed.
(Thanks Mark E!)

There's just under ten weeks to go until Wintercraft: Legacy comes out in the UK (I can't believe how fast this year is flying. One second it's early January, the next... March!) so keep an eye out for crows watching you from the rooftops.  I can't wait to share the third book with you all.

Bye for now!

Radio Silence.

Recorded Message Begins.

Greetings.
Jenna is wandering the dark depths of her current story and apologises for her recent lack of blog updates. Normal service will be resumed shortly.
If you'd like to leave a message, or send virtual tea and biscuits to her desk, please do so after the beep.

BEEP

Message ends.

It's The Little Things.

Poor, forgotten January often ranks near the bottom of my list of favourite months. It's been a busy one for me, but instead on concentrating on the bigger things that have happened this month, I thought I'd focus on the smaller things that have made January shine so far.

Sherlock Series 2.
I very rarely watch TV by appointment. If there's something I'm interested in, I'll record it or catch up online later, but Sherlock is my only exception. If Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are gracing the screen, I'll be there to watch them.

Each series may just be three episodes long, but I've enjoyed every one. (And I really like Moriarty. There are people out there who may disagree, but I think he works really well. He teeters just on the wrong side of creepy insanity.) Also, Sherlock's handsome coat deserves a series of its own.  Maybe it could team up with the skull and the violin and go out solving crimes on its own. I don't know how it would work, but it should.

'The Coat' swooshes for the camera.

2.  Somebody That I Used To Know
Thanks to Cat at Beyond Books, I discovered this video of five people playing the guitar to a song I'd never heard before. The original song has now claimed a spot among my all-time favourites, and the cover version is well worth a watch. I love the intensity of the guy in the middle who looks like he wants to stand up and just rock out at any moment, and the complete laid back coolness of the guy on the right. It makes me smile.

3. Reader emails.
This month has been an unusually busy one for reader emails, and this time Edgar's fans have been writing to me more than most. Usually, Kate and Silas are the main talking points, but it seems Edgar is attracting his own pod of followers too!

Thanks to everyone who has written to me this year. I'm sorry I can't give anything away about Legacy, but May isn't too far away now. You'll have the story in your hands very soon!
(Many thanks to Brittany for the fantastic drawing of Kate, Crow and Edgar.)

 4. Some spectacular sunsets.
Nature has treated us to some gorgeous sunsets this month.  It's always nice to take time out to watch as earth turns away from the sun, and the sky has put on some spectacular shows. Take a look out of the window this evening. You could be missing something wonderful.

What little things have made January special for you this year?

Happy New Year!

A brand new year has pulled on its sparkly jacket and strutted out to dance under the disco lights!

Thank you to everyone who visited this blog throughout 2011.  2012 has lots of excitement lurking on the horizon, so I hope you'll join me here on the run up to Wintercraft: Legacy's release here in the UK in May, and Blackwatch's release in the US in June, plus more potential book news later in the year.

Here's hoping 2012 is a friendly year that brings good things to us all!

December Swoops In

I've been quite quiet since my last blog post, partly because I have two stories competing for attention in my brain and partly because life in general has cranked up a gear and become hectic, leaving less time for sitting down and catching up with things.

So far this month, I've been experimenting in the kitchen (which is always a scary time, because I can't bake anything without it looking as if a small floury bomb has detonated nearby) and in the spirit of the festive season, I had a go at making chocolates for the first time.

Here's a sample of the chocolatey goodness.

And I made some fudge.

Next stop, sweet mince pies and biscuits. The kitchen won't be safe until at least 2012.





Book Signing.
I'm not out and about much this month, but if you live in the Darlington area and you fancy braving the shops in town on Christmas Eve, I'll be signing books in Waterstone's from 11am-3pm, so maybe I'll see you there!

For now, I shall leave you with a slice of festive joy to warm your cockles this wintry eve.

Happy December!

Wintercraft: Legacy - Unveiled!

Set your watches, mark your calendars.

Wintercraft: Legacy is coming to the UK on 10th May 2012.
And here is its beautiful cover.

Silas and Kate are about to find themselves on opposite sides during Albion's darkest night.

Will you join them?

November Sketchbook

Lots of you have sent in beautiful pieces of Wintercraftian artwork over the past couple of weeks, and you've all chosen to draw either Silas or Kate!

Here are two of my favourites chosen from a fantastic selection.

The first is by Colleen, who drew this (rather handsome) picture of Silas after reading Shadowcry.

Thanks, Colleen!

The second picture was drawn by Sophie, who lives in my home town.  She decided to draw a beautiful portrait of Kate in a manga style.

Thank you, Sophie!

Thanks to everyone who has sent in drawings.  At this rate, the wall of my writing room will be covered in your wonderful art.

Keep your pictures coming!  I love every single one.

(ps. So far, no one has tried to draw Silas's crow and I think it is feeling a little left out.  Are you up to the challenge?)