The inspiration behind Darkest London . . . by Kristen Callihan

On the 29th we published the first four in Kristen Callihan‘s rich and exciting Darkest London series! And to help celebrate we have a special web piece written by the author herself, fresh-faced from the RWA convention in Texas!

Piatkus: What can you tell us about Firelight, and the inspiration behind it? And what do you think of the setting and characters?

Kristen: Firelight  is what I like to call a weed book, in that it popped up without warning . . .

 

One minute I was putting on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast for my young daughter, and then next, I started to wonder, what if the ‘beast’ was not outwardly ugly but had to hide himself behind a mask? What if who he was, and what he was hiding, made him the prime suspect of a murder mystery? And what if ‘Beauty’ was determined to solve this mystery and save her beast?

Of course this tale needed a setting; some place dark, atmospheric and full of danger; a place where murder most foul could play out on a grand scale. What better setting could there been than London? To me, Victorian London and Gothic tales go hand in hand. Flickering gas lamps, narrow alleyways shrouded in murky fog, glistening cobbles echoing with the sound of footsteps, all of it is a veritable feast for the senses. Is it any wonder that London became a character in its own right?

I’ve had such fun with this great city. From the British Museum to Big Ben to Trafalgar Square and St. Paul’s, the landmarks play their own roles and characters often have an emotional connection to them. In truth, during the course of research, I’ve grown quite attached to London myself!

The Darkest London series are stories of action, mystery and romance, revolving around characters who hide what they are from normal human society. And while the characters often have extraordinary powers, they crave for love and acceptance, as we all do. I hope you enjoy reading the books, and invite you to sink into the sensual and often dangerous world of 1880s London.

Firelight, Moonglow, Winterblaze and Shadowdance are out now in ebook, and in paperback later this year!

Firelight

by Kristen Callihan

For fans of Diana Gabaldon, Amanda Quick and Nalini Singh comes the Darkest London series. In Victorian London, magic lurks in every shadowy corner . . .

'Callihan has a great talent for sexual tension and jaw-dropping plots' - Diana Gabaldon

'A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent' - Larissa Ione

London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

'Evocative and deeply romantic, Firelight was fascinating from the very first page' - Nalini Singh

'Callihan has a great talent for sexual tension and jaw-dropping plots' - Diana Gabaldon

'A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent' - Larissa Ione

'Debut author Callihan pens a compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul' - Publishers Weekly

'A taut tale filled with sexual tension. This is one of the finest debuts of the season' - RT Book Reviews

Kristen Callihan is RITA nominated and the bestselling author of The Hook Up

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