Friday 29 September 2017

Nachtstürm Castle by Emily C A Snyder - Excerpt, Guest Post and Giveaway

Book Cover: Nachtsturm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel by Emily C A Snyder
As you know, I enjoy reading books inspired by the works of Jane Austen. I like what-ifs, where we explore another path, sequels, so we get MORE, alternate points of view and minor character stories. Most of the Austenesque reads out there are based on Pride & Prejudice. While this is my favourite of Austen's works, that doesn't mean that I don't like the others! Sometimes I like a change.

In my searches for books to add to my 'to be read' list based on Austen's other works I came across Nachtstürm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel by Emily C A Snyder. This is a sequel to Northanger Abbey, which promises gothic excitement for Catherine Morland. When I looked it wasn't available on kindle and in paperback it was crazy expensive! I thought I'd never get an opportunity to read the book, but Emily has re-released it on kindle. She's visited us today with a post about the re-release and an international e-book giveaway. First I'll share the blurb with you, and then we'll hand over to Emily for a post about re-releasing her story. But as an aside, think how much Catherine would adore the exclamation marks in this book description from Amazon!

Book Description:

Moonlight! Castles! Ghosts! Storms! Secret trap doors! Suicide! Grave yards! Mistaken Identities! Carriage accidents! Gypsies! Hauntings! A kidnapping! Purloined letters! A duel! Swooning! Wild Pursuits! Demonic possession! A disputed inheritance! Three romances! A ransacking! Ancient curses! A stolen will and testament! Dank subterranean passageways!

Multi-talented Emily C. A. Snyder has managed to pack the above list (and more) into Nachtstürm Castle, a sophisticated Gothic fantasy sequel, taking up the further adventures of Henry and Catherine Tilney where our divine Miss Austen finished the last lines of Northanger Abbey.
- Jeffrey B Ward, Austenprose.com


Excerpt 

Prelude
Which Begins in the Manner of a Truly Horrid Novel

Book Cover: Nachtstürm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel by Emily C A Snyder
A proper Gothic novel ought to begin with the dire pronouncement of some grand death: the fatal demise of some far-flung Count who has, despite his own earthly lavishness, still managed to leave a large inheritance behind; or – even better – the contested death of a terrible Marquis who scrawled his butler’s initials in blood upon a ghostly woman’s portrait, before thoughtfully arranging his own body to point towards an open and hitherto secretive door.

Alas, the best that I can assure you is that:

The cat was dead.

He died neither gruesomely, nor with any sort of mystery, belonged to no one of any note, happily sired half the tabbies of the congregation, and his last thought, so much as anyone can discern, appeared to have been: “I thought this wall was longer.”

He also, I’m afraid to say, will not figure into our further adventures of this slim volume, belonging to none of the heroes or villains contained within.

But a proper Gothic novel ought to begin with at least one death, and so I may declare to you again with perfect confidence that:

The cat was most assuredly dead.

Just as Mr and Mrs Henry Tilney, whom we shall meet in a moment – if the Reader is not already acquainted with them through a far Superior Novel – are most decidedly alive.

For now.

~*~

Guest Post on Relaunching by Emily C A Snyder

"Did you know," someone wrote me a few years back, "that your novel is going for several hundred pounds on Amazon.uk?"

My jaw dropped to the floor and I had to laugh at the outrageousness of the idea.  I had written my Gothic Austen parody, Nachtstürm Castle from 1999-2000, in the baby days of the internet, mostly for the delight of members of Pemberley.com (where I published under "Elspeth," - still being too shy to use my own name).  I hadn't thought much of my little Bit of Ivory, but Margaret Sullivan, author of There Must Be Murder, another Northanger Abbey homage, convinced me to allow her to archive the novel on her site and then later introduced me to Girlebooks.com who printed the previous edition.  The Austen world was hugely supportive of Catherine and Henry's continuing adventures, and it was great fun to get to know others in the community.  But when Girlebooks unfortunately had to fold, I let Nachtstürm slip away again, every once in a while introducing it to a publisher, who always politely declined to pick up a previously published volume.

So why am I republishing now?  Well, for a few reasons.  In my other life, I write and direct plays, which means that I hobnob with actory types a lot.  A brilliant friend of mine approached me about auditioning to read one of my novels, and so I sent her the new prelude (see below).  She did a bang-up job and we agreed that at long-last an Autumnal rerelease would be scheduled, and Nachtstürm Castle could rise again.

There's a joy to rereleasing a novel.  It was like visiting old friends to go back through the text again.  It was also a relief to address the Super Long Chapter which, if you read the previous incarnation, you know the chapter you always skip - and instead to do up that "chapter" properly as a legitimately Gothic novel-within-the-novel, compleat with an introduction, an unreliable narrator, some terrible poetry and pretentious chapter titles, and all the trappings there besides.

Because Nachtstürm Castle is, at its heart, a Gothic novel turned on its head.  In all its ridiculous, wonderful, trapdoor filled g(l)ory...whether Catherine wants to acknowledge that or not!

So I hope you enjoy this latest edition of a spooky Austen delight!  And keep your ear out for Suzanne T. Fortin's marvellous audiobook recording of the same just in time for Halloween!

~*~

Buy Links: Amazon US / Amazon UK - Or add to your Goodreads shelf.

Author Emily C A Snyder
About the Author

Emily C. A. Snyder has been inventing stories since she was old enough to babble, and writing them down since she was old enough to dictate. A prolific writer, Snyder is also the author of The Twelve Kingdoms series from Arx Publishing, LLC which includes Niamh and the Hermit and Charming the Moon, as well as several plays, including Wallace's Will from Playscripts, Inc. Snyder holds an MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College, Boston, MA and a BA in Literature and Drama from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH. When not writing, Emily can most often be seen teaching or directing Shakespeare. And when not doing that, chances are she's driving aimlessly in her car, singing at the top of her lungs. For more information, please visit her website http://www.emilycasnyder.info

Giveaway Time

Book Cover: Nachtstürm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel by Emily C A Snyder
Emily is kindly giving away an ebook of Nachtstürm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel to a commenter on this post! To enter, just add your comment by the end of the day on Friday 6 October, ensuring that you leave some way for me to contact you. This is open to international entrants.

Thank you so much to Emily for visiting!


33 comments:

  1. This story sounds interesting and it sounds exactly like a story Catherine belongs in the middle of. I have seen this book and been interested in it and am so happy it is being rereleased. I have added it to my wish list. Thank you for the generous giveaway. skamper25 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. So glad to re-release it! :D *phew*

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    2. Thanks Debbie! I was glad to hear that this was being re-released too :)

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  2. Oh, this sounds delightful. I can sooo see Catherine right in the middle of an adventure. I am currently in a GoodReads group wrapping up our group read on Northanger Abbey and this would be a great follow up to Austen's novel. Thanks for hosting Ceri and blessings on the re-launch of you book Emily.

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    1. Thanks so much and much love to your Goodreads group!

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    2. It's fun to imagine Catherine in the midst of a Gothic adventure isn't it Jeanne!

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  3. Added it to my to buy list. Sound great.
    (One of the books I want has no kindle edition but it is only going for $4800 - so affordable!)

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  4. Love the intro and the death of a cat! He must have used up the last of his nine lives! Congratulations on the re-release!

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    1. Bless him! I'm just glad it wasn't worse!

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  5. I have always liked NA. This does sounds like a book to fit Catherine's tastes as long as Henry is there to moderate her actions.

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    1. I think Henry will definitely prove beneficial, as long as his teasing side doesn't get the better of him and he finds himself egging her on!

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  6. Congratulations on the rerelease. NA is one of my favorites of JA. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    Pattyedmisson at gmail dot com

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    1. It's so good to see a book based on NA isn't it, Patty!

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  7. So happy to discover this title. I have never read a NA variation before and this one sounds really good. Thanks for sharing and the chance to win a copy. jadseah4 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Thanks Darcybennet. Good luck in the giveaway.

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  8. What a wonderful story premise. I've not read a sequel to the Tilney's lives so this one will go on my TBR pile. Best wishes to you!

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    1. I don't think I've read a NA sequel either, Joy. Hope you enjoy this when you read it.

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    2. It's now on my Kindle patiently waiting its turn.

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  9. Great news! I was just planning my reads for October! Congrats! ;)

    newyorkgirl82(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. It really strikes me as an October read too, Maria, something a bit spooky.

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  10. Congratulations for republishing your novel! Since Jane Austen's Northanger Abby is a commentary on the gothic novel, yours is a commentary on the commentary. It will be fun to find out what the Tinleys are up to. Thank you for the giveaway.

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    1. A commentary on a commentary! Thanks for commenting and good luck on the giveaway, Eva.

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  11. I have had my eye on this one for some time! Congratulations on the rerelease.
    Cherringtonmb at sbcglobal dot net

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    1. Me too, Becky. It was one of the books I stalked to see if the kindle had been re-released, or the 2nd hand price dropped. I'm glad it's available to buy again.

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  12. Wow, I hadn’t heard of this one but it sounds fantastic!

    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

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    1. Hi Anna, I think I found it via one of Meredith's fantastic lists over at Austenesque Reviews.

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  13. Congrats on the rerelease! Can't wait to read it!

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    1. I hope you enjoy it when you read it Leah.

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  14. I had the earlier edition by Girlebook.com but I never had the chance to read it. I would love to win this new re-release cos Emily has edited some parts of it. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.

    evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Ooh, you are one of the lucky ones who had the earlier version!

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  15. As a heads up to anybody who subscribed to comments on this post, this book is free today on Amazon US/UK and potentially elsewhere!

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If you're not logged in to Google please leave your name in your comment or it will post as anonymous. Thanks! - Ceri