Sarah Chislon

Society, suitors, and…serial murders?

Today’s the day—my gaslamp fantasy novel Tattoo of Crimson is here! And I’ve got some digital launch week bonuses to share. If you order by 1/23, you’ll receive:

✨ Double-sided digital printable bookmark
✨ Digital printable quote sticker
✨ Bonus journal entry
✨ Bonus scene

If you’re wondering what it’s about, read on…

As much as she desires to please her family, gently-bred herbalist Jessa Caldwell has no intention of making a suitable match—not when she’s seeking the truth about the taint of the fae that lies within her. If she’s to escape the madness brought on by fae-touch, she must devote her energies to seeking a cure.

But then mysterious tattoos begin to appear on the citizens of Avons. None recall receiving these harbingers of death, but all die at the hand of an untraceable killer days or weeks after being marked.

When the tattoo appears on her beloved mentor, Jessa seeks the Magistry with information on the case—yet they refuse to consider her findings, so she must risk both social censure and her own safety to hunt for the killer herself.

Her one possible ally represents her greatest fear—the encroaching Otherworld consuming her mind—and may well undo all her efforts to control her fae-touch. Yet if she forsakes the offered aid, the killer will go free.

Something sinister stalks the streets of her city, and she must decide…how far will she go to stop the killing?

💎 JEWEL OF BLOOD 💎
For the folk of Milburn, the threat of the Otherworld isn’t a distant one—it perpetually encroaches on the borders of their town. And now it’s found a way inside.

Would-be loremaster Leofric Heard knows the truth: some Otherworldly element has tainted the river supplying his town—and it could well kill them all. Yet no one will listen to the son of the village drunkard. They’ve branded him a shatterwit like his father before him. If he’s to vindicate his beliefs and protect those he loves, he must risk the journey to the nearby Crossing to confront whatever fae threat lurks.

But everyone knows—journey too close to a Crossing, and you won’t come back the same. You might not come back at all.

💎 Are you a fan of short stories? 💎

I can be, under the right circumstances. My reading tastes trend toward long books (and long series), but I do enjoy short stories on occasion--especially when they tie into broader fantasy worlds I'm already engaged with.

If you're a short story reader, you might enjoy "Jewel of Blood," set my "Blood of the Fae" world. It's available free to newsletter subscribers: https://sarahchislon.com/jewel-of-blood/

I’ve always requested books for Christmas, even as a child—and I’ve always treasured the ones I’ve received. One of my favorites this year was a lovely special edition of the Silmarillon, complete with stenciled edges, Tolkien’s illustrations, and a map inside. If you’re looking to add to your Tolkien collection, definitely check this one out!

Did you give or receive any books/book-related gifts this Christmas?

I'm so excited to share my upcoming gaslamp fantasy release with you! Tattoo of Crimson will release January 17, 2022, and to celebrate, I'm offering pre-order bonuses.

If you pre-order, you'll receive:

✨ Character art print
✨ Double-sided bookmark
✨ Custom sticker with book quote
✨ Signed special edition with bonus scene (direct orders from sarahchislon.com only)

Visit https://sarahchislon.com/product/tattoo-of-crimson/ for more details. :)

💫 Kindle Fire Giveaway 💫

I’ve joined with several other fantasy authors to offer a giveaway for a kindle fire + six fantasy novels. You can enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/xtwp6l/fantasy-kindle-7-giveaway/58wxwjx?

Even if you don’t win, you’ll have the opportunity to download a bundle of series starters offered free only for the duration of the giveaway. So if you’re looking to pick up some fantasy reads over the holiday season, please join us. 📚

Ends: December 16, 11:59pm EST
Winner announced: December 23rd, 5:30pm EST
CA/US/UK 18+ only

Are you a Kobo reader?

I am! As a reader, I appreciate the way they curate their store and the promotions they offer. And as an author, I've found the Kobo team great to work with—they’re helpful in every way and always willing to answer questions.

If you've been considering checking out Whispers in the Waters, you can get it 30% off via Kobo through November 22nd. 😊

I'm a big fan of owning books and building a personal library, but I also deeply appreciate public libraries and how they make books and other resources widely accessible. As both a child and an adult, I have so many fond memories of browsing the stacks and discovering new treasures.

One of my favorite things about my local library is the "Friends of the Library" book sales (where I snapped this photo)--it's a great way to support the local library and build my own book collection at the same time.

Are you a regular library patron?

Do you have a favorite historical fantasy series?
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I have many, but among them I count "The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion." Although I normally gravitate toward longer books, I quite enjoyed this series of quirky, engaging novellas that incorporate a touch of the fantastic into Victorian England. Characters make or break a book for me, and Emma and her companions are particularly engaging.
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Things that delighted me about this series:
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✨ The impoverished, book-loving protagonist who is determined to reclaim her ancestral home and become an academic
✨ Eccentric relatives and unusual friends/found family
✨The diary-style narrative, which offers an intimate perspective
✨ St. Crispian’s, an “almost perfectly normal” neighborhood—if you ignore the mysterious Roman and the objects that disappear and reappear at will throughout.
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If you're a historical fantasy reader, you might want to give these a try!

Do you write by hand (letters, journals, books) or do you do all your writing on the computer/phone/tablet?

While I enjoy the tactile experience of handwriting, I do the vast majority of my writing on my computer/phone. The reality is that I can type much faster than I write. I’m usually pressed for time, and I just want to let the words pour out before I lose the moment. That said, I will definitely send handwritten letters and cards on occasion. But for anything longer—and certainly for my books, all writing takes place on some sort of device.

Still I love the beauty of ink and quill and parchment, of fine leather journals and fountain pens. It’s something I want to return to one day, when time permits.

What about you? ✍🏻

I'm so excited to share to share the launch of my gaslamp fantasy novella "Whispers in the Waters." It's been a long time in the making, and it will be followed in a few months by "Tattoo of Crimson" the first full-length novel in the "Blood of the Fae" series.

I relate to so many of these! What about you?

While Austen puts these words in the mouth of Caroline Bingley, who doesn't appear to take any great interest in books, I can't help but appreciate the sentiment expressed. In fact, I have as great a library as I possibly can, one which has far overtaken available shelving.

What about you? Have your books overtaken your home, as mine have?