How I'm Launching My Book

Thank you so much for letting me showcase my forthcoming steamy action-romance novel SHANNON’S LAW. It’s  the second in my PASSION PATROL series - stories where sassy female cops lock up the criminals and always get their man.


February marks the start of my “Pinterest Reveal Virtual Book Tour” in the run-up to the launch on the 28th February 2014. 

Every day there are feature posts on topics relating to SHANNON’S LAW on blogs all around the world.  They’re all linked together on one big Pinterest Board. Each post replaces a ‘mystery’ silhouette that was posted in January. I saved all  my notes and photos as I was writing, on a private Pinterest Board and now I can share them with you.

Today’s subject is Avington Park

I was once a tourist in a group visiting a pagan stone circle. A member of the party asked how old were the stones. The guide replied that all stone is as old as the world and indeed the big bang. Of course, I understood what the tourist meant. It is the hand of man and his clocks that define human time. Shannon's Law revolves around the village of Fleetworth-Green and its stately home Bloxington Manor. Our grand English houses are the work of the architects, dreamers and craftsmen who made them.


When I began to research the book I needed to feel the atmosphere of this house. To create this I re-visited the stately home of Avington Park which is close to my Hampshire home in the UK. Lists of historical facts can be boring but for me it is easy to imagine the religious turmoil of England under HenryVIII. It was he who gave away the original house to a courtier when he broke up the lands of the catholic church. Then, following civil war and the beheading of Charles I, the rise and fall of a  republic under Cromwell, Charles II, son of the executed king, was restored to the throne in the year of 1660. Again the house was given to a courtier and extended to accommodate the new king and his mistress Nell Gwynn. As the relationship develops between characters in Shannon's Law, they walk in the footsteps of such lovers. They breakfast and take tea in the orangery. They eat fish and chips at the scrubbed wooden kitchen table Let's not think about beds at this stage.


My first sight of the house was when I cycled there with the poet Oscar Sparrow who was to become my partner. The building is magnificent and appears to enhance the beauty of nature. Few modern buildings have that effect! We stopped and sat on a bench at the edge of a lake looking across to the columned grand entrance of the house. It is here that I set one of the early interactions between the main characters. 


Excerpt from this scene:

He hadn’t looked at her. The touch not touched and the look not looked hung like a great weight on a rope which tied them together, pulling them closer and closer.

The house at night is on the front cover of the book and the VIP launch party is being held here on the 3rd March 2014 (visit the Facebook page for Shannon’s Law to win tickets if you are in the UK!).  We will be having a tour of the house and of course, English Afternoon Tea in the Orangery.


By Emma Calin. SHANNON’S LAW comes out on February 28th 2014 in print and digital formats for all e-readers. Amazon are offering some great discounts for pre-orders of the paperback version (29% off in USA, 12% off in the UK). You can pre-order the digital version at a pre-launch special price from Nook, Kobo, and iTunes. It will also be available in all digital formats on Smashwords. See this post and others from my tour as they go live on Pinterest or click the Goddess Fish panel below to visit the other blogs in the tour. Follow Shannon’s Law on Facebook.

Emma will be awarding a $30 Amazon Voucher to one randomly drawn commenter, a print copy of Shannon's Law will be awarded to two randomly drawn commenters and a digital copy of Shannon's Law will be awarded to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour. ALL ENTRANTS get emailed a digital cookery book of recipes (including photos!) for meals/food eaten in Shannon's Law. The book is called 'Cops Cuisine'. One host will receive a signed print copy of the book, a swag package,  and a $30 Amazon voucher at the completion of the following tours: Cover Reveal, Launch Day Book Blast, Kindle Free Days Book Blast, and Name Before the Masses Review Tour (one entry for each time they host).

I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

3 Comments

  1. Emma Calin3 February 2014 at 12:43

    Thank you so much for featuring us on your blog. I was visiting Avington Park earlier today to finalise the launch tea party on the 2nd March - unfortunately it was not as lovely and sunny as in the photo here. Inside it's cosy and warm and they're going to light the massive fireplaces for us on the day as March can still be chilly. Looking forward to it!

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    Replies
    1. Jo Linsdell3 February 2014 at 16:15

      You're very welcome. All the best with your book. I'm a big Pinterest addict and love the idea for including it in your launch.

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  2. Unknown4 February 2014 at 01:04

    This book sounds amazing! I love steamy romance/action books. I am also interested in criminology and forensics, so this book is going to be a welcomed addition to my kindle!

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