I’d wanted to do this last week, but it all got away from me a bit. (I spent most of it trying desperately to stay warm, actually. It was 65 degrees when my dad and I left to take the dogs for their morning walk on Monday, and twenty minutes in we got hit by the first cold blast of wind; within about five more minutes the temperature had dropped almost ten degrees and the wind was constant, and we were running home in our sweatshirts bitterly regretting our decisions not to bring our coats. One thing we did NOT renovate on this house was the windows, so that wind just drove itself through all the little gaps and spaces. It was miserable. I mean, just really fucking miserable. And it was still cold as shit all week, though thankfully without the driving wind. Now it’s 72 degrees and gorgeous. Texas!) AND, I was still fiddling with the book. So, sorry about that!
But I am VERY excited to say that BLACK DRAGON is ready for purchase directly from me! (It will be a few more days before it’s all loaded up on Amazon/B&N, and I’m still working on figuring out Apple–but I thought why make you guys wait if you don’t want to?) The cover is under the cut, FYI, because I couldn’t seem to get it to resize properly–payment info is there, too, so skip to the end if that’s the stuff you’re here for, baby.
ALSO…I’ve decided to do something a little fun (I hope). I’ve got the beginnings of a little Downside short. If I sell 150 copies of BLACK DRAGON this week…I will finish and post the short for free here on the blog for Xmas (probably starting around the 10th of December). So if you’re at all interested in reading BLACK DRAGON, now’s the time!!
I’m really excited about, and pleased with, this new updated “Special Edition.” I’ve re-read it a couple of times (more like five or six times, actually) now–looking for more things to fix, the odd typo or whatever, making sure the new stuff flows with the old, etc.–and I’m really happy with it. There’s not a single chapter, barely a single scene, that hasn’t had some kind of adjustments made, even if it’s just eliminating some extraneous dialogue tags/dialogue or tidying up the prose. Most of them have bigger changes, though; like I mentioned before, I eliminated as many of the POV switches as I reasonably could–there are still a few more than I like, but some of that stuff is important and would require a much bigger rewrite to fix, and in the long run the switches aren’t awful (I hope not, at least), there are just more than I’d have were I writing it today.
(Honestly, it was tempting to rewrite the whole damn thing, or at least almost the whole damn thing. If I didn’t have so many other projects etc. that need my time and attention I might have gutted it and added a bunch of new scenes and such–and believe me, just typing that makes me want to do it. But no. Part of the reason I’m doing this is for those who loved the original story, and while I’m happy to do some George-Lucas-ing to make it sharper and better, I will not go the full Lucas and start taking stuff out or changing major plot points/character moments/story beats. I promise you, I have made no changes that remove or destroy important character traits or ruin existing scenes or change the meanings of anything. And let’s be honest here; I’ve always loved this book, but it’s not a major cultural touchpoint for an entire generation or two, so I don’t think the changes will ruin anyone’s memories of it or anything.)
I expanded quite a bit in terms of inner thoughts and conflicts. I cleaned up a lot of language and fixed all the comma issues (EC house style dictated no commas before the word “and,” so I put my commas back in and then eliminated some others), and turned a number of long rambly sentences into nice succinct ones. I addressed a few plot points I felt were ignored before, and expanded on a few others. It’s a pretty extensive edit, actually; in the new and (much) expanded Author’s Note I estimate there’s about 15-20% new material, and I do think that’s correct. The previously published version was about 96k words, and this new edition is 103k, and that’s not counting the stuff that’s just changed as opposed to added.
On the whole, I feel the book still has that “old school romance,” kind of voice that was my goal, but I think it’s sharper now and more like “me,” and I’m really happy with it and excited to hear what you guys think of it. I really, really hope you enjoy it, even if it’s not your regular thing–it’s not mine, either, but I still love it despite all its little quirks.
By the way, I was looking back at some old posts and such, and was reminded that BLACK DRAGON was overall the highest-reviewed out of ALL of the genre romances I wrote (not the UF, but the romances). Like:
“December Quinn’s gift of suspense and characterization is well demonstrated here in The Black Dragon…The plot will captivate the reader’s attention…The Black Dragon is a novel worth reading.”
“Black Dragon is a fantastic read, and December Quinn has done a lot of research to make it as accurate as possible. The entire story…had me turning page after page to see what was going to happen next… Ms. Quinn writes a fast paced, action packed romance that is not to be missed. I highly recommend Black Dragon.”
“With the clever blending of historical facts with the author’s vivid creativeness, BLACK DRAGON takes the reader to a setting and time where political unrest is widespread and battles are frequently fought over beliefs. December Quinn has superbly researched this era and crafted a most rewarding story filled with dynamic characters…Through Ms. Quinn’s skillful writing, I found myself believing all the events in the story in fact took place those many years ago.”
“Knowing that when all else seems to be lost, December Quinn reminds us that love finds a way to bring the wounded home, even a larger than life legend like THE BLACK DRAGON is no exception.”
You can find links to those original reviews, along with a pretty amusing send-up of the first (dreadful) cover the book was given [not by EC], here. (Reminder: Link will open in new tab.)
Here’s the blurb, which I realized I forgot to give you before:
Isabelle de Harvington wants only peace and happiness, and believes a musician in her father’s employ can provide it. But 13th century politics intrude, and Isabelle finds herself wed to the one man in Christendom she least desires: Gruffydd ap Hywel, the handsome but unfeeling Welshman who witnessed the most humiliating moment of her life six years earlier. Being forced to marry him is bad enough; being forced to live in Wales is worse, and her husband’s obvious desire for her to go away is worst of all. Isabelle would gladly leave–if she hadn’t promised her beloved father that she would not unless she’s told to, and that she would try to make the marriage work. But trying to make marriage to a cold-hearted barbarian like Gruffydd work is more difficult than anything she’s ever done, even as she begins to see the man behind the forbidding exterior…and starts to realize he might be the one man she can truly love.
Gruffydd made a blood oath the day he left his childhood behind, an oath to devote his life to others–and to vengeance. Loneliness is the price he willingly pays to uphold that oath. As the mysterious Black Dragon, his identity a secret from all but his loyal seneschal, he spends his nights fighting, protecting his people from criminals and enemy invaders, welcoming the pain he believes he deserves and punishing himself when he feels he has failed. When his Prince forces him to marry and, even worse, makes him promise that he will not send his new wife away, Gruffydd plans to just ignore her until she leaves on her own…but beautiful, desirable Isabelle stubbornly refuses to do so. Little by little, she starts to break through his iron defenses, forcing him to confront his past, to consider his future, and to begin to accept that maybe his life can be more than endless punishment…that maybe he can let himself have happiness, as well.
Now Gruffydd must choose between the two promises he made, the two halves of himself: the vengeful warrior whose life is only pain, or the reluctant husband who is falling desperately in love with his wife. As the Dragon’s enemies close in, the wrong choice could mean death for them both, and Isabelle must fight to prove that love can tame even the fiercest dragon…before it’s too late.
And here’s the cover! As I mentioned before, the original art was done by a rising young artist who happens to be my eldest daughter. I personally predict a huge career for her, because she is the most intelligent, beautiful, witty, charming, talented, hilarious, awesome eighteen-year-old girl on the planet…but I might be a little bit biased.
And another excerpt (“Gwledyr,” btw, is pronounced “Goo-leh-dear.”):
Isabelle smiled her thank you, but was not really concerned about her appearance. It for certes made no difference to her husband, so why should it to her? She was far more concerned about what kind of danger she was truly in. “Why does he not succeed in his attacks?”
“The dragon protects us,” said Gwledyr. “We do not fear, for we know we are safe.”
Isabelle opened her mouth to ask about this—surely the poor girl was not right in the head, if she believed that a dragon patrolled the forests at night to protect her—when Gwledyr bowed to her again. “Shall we go down?”
Isabelle nodded, not sure if Gruffydd wanted her to come down or not, but unwilling to risk his wrath if he did by not going. Her head was swimming. Nighttime attacks and menacing husbands with bad dreams and reflexes like a snake’s…this was for certes not what she had ever expected her life to be.
Gruffydd did not notice when she entered the room, although most of the men did. Isabelle smiled and returned their bows, relieved that she had not been shunned.
Gruffydd was across the great hall from her, his arm around a young man with unruly reddish hair. Isabelle was astonished to see the youth crying while her husband comforted him. She stopped in her tracks and watched.
‘Twas only three days now that she’d known Gruffydd, but she would have felt confident wagering he was not a man whose breast contained anything of comfort or kind understanding. And yet there he was, holding a sobbing boy, his voice low as he spoke. Even as she watched, the boy buried his face briefly in Gruffydd’s chest while her husband clutched him tighter, still speaking quietly.
Gruffydd glanced up and met Isabelle’s gaze. His face was impassive, but Isabelle thought she saw sadness and anger in his eyes, just for a fleeting moment before he turned away.
“That is Culhwch ab Ithel,” Gwledyr whispered. “‘Twas his home that was burned last night, his father that was killed.”
Isabelle gasped. “Someone died?”
“Aye. We are lucky the dragon arrived before any more were lost.”
Isabelle tried not to focus on the image that this statement made in her mind, of a dragon flying through the trees, breathing fire on the attackers. “How did the dragon not kill everyone, destroy everything?”
Gwledyr looked surprised, then amused. “You understand that we do not speak of an actual dragon, do you not? We have been blessed with a warrior whom we call the Black Dragon, for he is the fiercest and greatest fighter any have ever seen.”
Isabelle mentally breathed a sigh of relief. At least Gwledyr was not insane. “Who is this Dragon, then?”
“We do not know. None have seen his face. He has never come forward to claim his title. Lord Gruffydd has spoken to Prince Llewelyn, and together they have offered lands to this man, but he still maintains his secrecy.”
“Perhaps it is more than one man,” Isabelle said. “Perhaps it is a group of men taking it in turn.”
“Nay, it cannot be. Our men are the finest warriors in the world, but none of them can fight like the Dragon. Why, only a few days ago, one of the village women was beset by thieves as she traveled from here to visit relatives in Meirionydd. That is a few hours’s ride,” she added, seeing Isabelle’s confusion. “She does not know how the Dragon heard her screams, but he did. She said he fought off five men before finally escorting her safely to her destination. She said he was not even injured.”
“They were likely drunk,” Isabelle said, but regretted it when Gwledyr looked hurt.
“That may have been so in that case, but I can assure you it is not so all the time. Our own men have seen the Dragon take on many foes, soldiers of Gwenwynwyn’s, mercenaries, and he has never failed to defeat them.”
“Did the village woman ask him who he was?”
“Oh, she could not. He did not even speak to her, she said, save a whisper to know her destination.”
Isabelle tore her gaze away from her husband and looked at the girl. Gwledyr’s wide, friendly face was solemn. “The Dragon is a gift we have been given,” she said. “We count ourselves far too lucky to question it.”
So…let’s talk money. I need it. You probably do, too. The holidays are coming, you know. We all have bills to pay and household needs that have to be taken care of and, for some of us, kids whom we’ll be thrown in jail if we don’t feed…so money is pretty important.
I plan to charge $2.99 for the book on Amazon/B&N/etc. But if you buy it directly from me during this pre-release period, I’m offering it at a discount price of $2.50. (After the book is available in those stores, you can still buy it directly from me if you want, but the price will be $2.99 everywhere, because I think it’d be unfair otherwise.)
If you want to pay more than that, you certainly can! I won’t complain! And conversely, if money is so tight that even $2.50 is a little steep for you–and I’ve been there, sister/brother, for real; I truly do know how it is to be scrounging up change to put gas in your car to get the kids to school or serving pasta with butter for dinner because it’s the day before payday and that’s all you can afford–then pay less. Pay what you can, if you can. If you really can’t pay anything at all right now but are dying to read it? Pay nothing. (You’ll need to email me in that case, though, because I don’t think Paypal will accept a payment for no money at all. Just use the contact form here, and if you haven’t heard back from me within 24 hours, comment or email or DM me on Twitter or whatever; my Spam filter shouldn’t interfere, but you never know.)
Now. In order to accommodate the potential for people to pay more or less (as opposed to just the set price), I’ve had to create two buttons, because the Buy Now button won’t allow me to have options with set prices and an option with no price, and I really feel strongly about allowing those who can’t afford it to pay less–more is nice, but it’s not the reason I’m setting up a separate button, since I don’t actually anticipate anyone is going to want to do that anyway (I mean, I’d totally appreciate it, I don’t mean to sound like I think you’re a weirdo if you think the book is worth more than $2.50 or like I wouldn’t be flattered and grateful and all, but I don’t expect it.) So there you go. The first is Donate–use that if you’re paying more or less (or the $2.50, really, it doesn’t matter), because there’s no set amount there. But specify format, please!!
The Buy Now button is set up so you have three options: Epub, Mobi, and PDF, all of which charge $2.50 automatically.
Please make sure you specify format!! I will of course email you to ask if I don’t see one specified, and I don’t mind or anything, but it’s an extra step that takes more time, thus delaying the moment that you get to start reading this expanded and updated Special Edition.
Oh, and if you need a format that isn’t listed there, like html or Lulu or something, let me know. I use Jutoh to create my ebooks, so I can create other formats pretty quickly (assuming they are formats Jutoh offers). So it’s not a problem, just let me know and I’ll do what I can as fast as I can.
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and to pay the straight $2.50:
Again, if I sell 150 copies in the next week, there will be a new Downside short in it for all of you next month! Tell your friends! In fact, not only will I publish it here on the blog, but I will email a copy to every person who purchased BLACK DRAGON (in the same format).
One more thing:
I’m going to be sending these files as fast as I can, as soon as I get the notification or email or whatever. And honestly, I don’t expect that I’m going to be swamped and chained to my seat for the next week sending out files or something; let’s be realistic here (though I AM hoping to sell the 150 copies in the next week). But please do remember that I am only one person, and I have dinner to cook and eat and writing I am trying very hard to get back in the swing of doing daily and wonderful children who need rides and conversation and such and a wonderful husband who requires the same, and a very demanding German Shepherd who (when not engaged in one of his 2x/day 30-50 minute walks), likes to sit or stand a foot in front of me and whine, his stare unwavering, if I am not paying attention to him when he wants me to or playing with him when he wants me to or whatever. (Trying to do anything at all while a demanding German Shepherd sits/stands a foot in front of you, staring at you and whining pitifully, is extremely difficult, I promise you. Especially when said German Shepherd is simultaneously the most adorable, handsomest, sweetest, bestest boy ever AND a horribly spoiled pain in the ass brat who keeps trying to hump our female lab [who is eight years his senior, and spayed, and NOT amused by the humping at all] and does things like yip at the stove to demand leftovers or keep dropping his filthy Kong ball into your lap for you to throw over and over and then, after you’ve thrown it, decides he wants you to throw it again but doesn’t want to give it to you, he wants to play Tug with it instead or try to shove it into your mouth, or, you know, stand a foot in front of you, staring with an unwavering stare and whining pitifully. Oh, or drags you thirty feet across a slippery carpet of leaves in the crowded park when another dog comes running at him and he runs toward it, and you cannot stop him thanks to said slippery leaves making it impossible for the soles of your shoes to grip the ground, and you end up falling down, whereupon he continues dragging you like a runaway horse dragging an unsaddled cowboy across the plains while a park full of people sees this and probably grabs for their cameras as fast as they can because you look absolutely ridiculous. That was my day last Sunday, guys.)
Point is, my dog is an asshole and please give me up to 24 hours to receive your file. It shouldn’t take that long, but please do give me that long. If you haven’t received it by the end of those 24 hours (or heard from me to explain any potential delay), please get in touch and let me know what email address you used for payment and what email address you want the file sent to (and what format you want, of course). I know at least once I’ve had someone who made a typo in their email address and I got a Delivery Failure notice, and when that happens I can (and do) ask here and on Twitter and such who paid and didn’t get their book, but there’s no guarantee you’ll see that and I hate the thought of someone giving me money and getting nothing in return. That’s not fun for either of us. That’s the kind of thing that keeps me awake at night worrying (sleep, by the way, is another thing that I both have to do and am trying to do more of these days, because health and a fresher brain or whatever for that writing I’m doing. Four hours of sleep a night starts wearing on me faster these days than it used to). So if 24 hours have gone by and you’ve gotten nothing from me, PLEASE contact me and ask what’s up.
Okay! I think that’s it! Thanks for reading, and thanks for being awesome! I hope you buy the book, and I really hope you enjoy the book!
