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Hello all,
I'm a bit late with this one, but I am fighting for time at the moment as I head towards my deadline on LADY OF THE ENGLISH.
My UK novel THE TIME OF SINGING was bought by my USA publishers Sourcebooks. We decided to rename it FOR THE KING'S FAVOR. I know this hasn't met with universal approval from all readers and I do understand that it can be a problem with duplications but it's one of the prices paid when global markets collide and the Internet bring everything closer together. We changed the title because readers kept getting TTOS wrong. It has been A TIME OF SINGING, THE/A TIME FOR SINGING. Sourcebooks and I decided to go for something a bit more mainstream. FOR THE KING'S FAVOR, is one of the strongest themes in the novel. What do you have to do to earn and keep it? Is it a good thing to have? What are the consequences of being out of favour? What is the price you pay when all is said and done? The original TTOS title grew out of the song of Solomon and the fact that when Roger Bigod first sets eyes on Ida de Tosney, she is singing. There is a lot of garden imagery in the novel and I felt the Song of Solomon fitted, but it's not immediately obvious.
So, agree or disagree, that's the thinking behind why the title changed and why both are appropriate. Goodness knows what titles are going to translate to when my other foreign editions are published!
The cover has changed too - to suit the market and Sourcebooks branding style. I love it. I love the colours and the movement of the sleeve and the fact that there are a couple of corridor scenes in the novel that the cover picture could even be from. The model was actually expecting her first child when the pictures were done, so this makes it even more poignant (as you'll know when you read the novel).
Anyway, I have 3 copies to give away in a prize draw and I am making it international even though it is an American publication. And to re-iterate, it is available in the UK as The Time of Singing. They are virtually the same book. (I've done a bit of minor editing).
There will be one copy for a UK reader, one for a USA/Canada reader, and one for the rest of the world. Just drop me an e-mail to elizabethchadwick@live.co.uk, saying which draw you want entering into - UK, USA & Canada, or Rest of World, and I will do the rest! Closing date Mid-day London time on October 1st.
If anyone wants to know more about the characters in The Time of Singing/For The King's Favor, just go to my website and click on book cover icon on the home page. There is a biography about Roger Bigod the hero, and links to blog posts I have written about the novel in the past, including one on Roger's hat collection!
And now back to the grindstone!
Editing today (14th September) to add a few excellent blog reviews that have come in since publication.
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/2010/09/for-the-kings-favor-by-elizabeth-chadwick-book-review/
http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/09/book-review-for-the-kings-favor-by-elizabeth-chadwick.html
http://historicallyobsessed.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-for-kings-favor-by.html
7 comments:
This is such an amazing book. What wonderful characterizations! It really does bring the time and place alive for you. I already own this one as part of my collection - so good luck to everyone - you are really in for a treat and an extraordinary read!
Mrs. Chadwick,
I'm a history nerd that ran across your books by accident and am very pleased to have done so! I started reading books on Eleanor of Aquitaine, and did research on the side for certain happenings I was unsure of. I ran across the name William Marshal, though didn't think much of it. When I was on Amazon looking up books to keep reading about the particular time period (I've been reading later time periods such as the 15th and 16th centuries), it gave your book The Greatest Knight as something I might check out. So I did. And I have since picked up The Scarlet Lion and For The King's Favor. I am so happy that your books are coming out in the States! Keep writing please! And thanks for sharing your stories!
~Kaite Fink
nova0613@yahoo.com
Hi, EC and all:
I just managed to escape from the hospital a few days ago, and have finally rediscovered your blog. I'm glad to hear that "Time of Singing"/"For the King's Favor" is a giveaway. Personally, I like the British cover better, but what can an ignorant American do? In any case, if you really are giving these away, please count me in!
Anne G
I saw it today at my favorite independent bookstore. It's beautiful. Although I own The Time of Singing in both paperback and audio versions (which is very well done), I may have to break down and buy the book as For the King's Favor, it's that beautiful. I know I will purchase it for my Kindle so that I can have it with me where ever I go. You never know when or where you might want to reread a great book!
Congratulations on the US release!
Ms Chadwick -- that's particularly touching about the cover model! I do love that kind of serendipity! :)
Count me in as well! I was so excited to see that the US was getting a release date for To Defy A King. Sometimes I have a really hard time finding your books new here. Lucky for me I have a good friend in a Commonwealth country and she keeps me supplied. =) Have a good day!
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