01 January 2017

In Arcadia - Release and Competition

So it's 2017.

On the world scene, 2016 had quite a few down points, so I thought I'd start the new year off with a small gift for my fans.  Now I know I've been promising a Touchstone short story for years, but I'm afraid I'm just not a short story writer...so you're going to have to make do with a brand spanking new Touchstone novel.

My first outright romance novel, in fact, with the story of how Cass' Mum Laura gets together with Tsur Selkie.  Well, you know me - it's more a slice-of-life geek-fest because how would you feel getting to move to a place like Muina?  Though Tsur Selkie sure as hell knows how to make a romantic gesture.  [And I hope you all fall in love with Aunt Sue, because I sure did, and Aunt Sue will definitely be getting her own adventure some time.]

I love this cover image, btw.


One does not simply walk onto another planet.  At least not without the help of a daughter who has developed unlikely powers, fought an intra-dimensional war, and then arranged for a family relocation to a futuristic clone of Earth.  Laura Devlin would gladly have paid any price to have her daughter back, so living in a techno-paradise with spaceship views is merely an added bonus.  And a dream come true.

But Arcadian paradises do not come without complications.  Laura's include a plethora of psychic grandchildren.  Interplanetary diplomacy.  Her daughter's immense fame.  And KOTIS, the military watchdog that seems to consider Laura's entire family government property.

Forewarned by her daughter's experiences, Laura had anticipated as many problems as she could, and didn't doubt her ability to cope with the rest.  But she had not planned on Gidds Selkie, a military officer 'chipped from flint' and not at all the sort of man lifelong geek Laura had ever imagined would find her interesting.

Burned in the past, Laura is surprised to find herself tempted.  Is this a new start to go with a new world?  Or a mismatch doomed to failure?


Ebooks
Amazon USUKDEFRAU
Kobo 
Barnes & Noble  
Google 

Trade Paperback
Amazon 
CreateSpace 


Competition!
I had a number of large magnets made up from the cover to give away, for those who are really keen on some new fridge decorations.  When I say large, I mean large:



To enter, just add 'enter' in the comments of this post (or, if you can't comment, email me at mail at andreakhost.com).  [Feel free, of course, to squee as well, but try to keep this relatively spoiler-free.]

Competition closes end of January.  I can also sign your magnet with a glittery pen, if you so choose, or even a short quote from the novel of your choosing.






46 comments:

  1. Thank you! Just bought it.

    Ganne

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  2. Enter please! So excited for some good NYE reading!

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  3. ENTER ENTER ENTER :takes deep breath: ENTER PLEASE.

    Also yesssss

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  4. enter! oh my gosh I'm so excited, and trying to hold off reading till tonight so I'm not ignoring my kids lol

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    Replies
    1. I did finish reading it and loved it. Maybe one day we can get to see things from Aunt Bet's pov?

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  5. Oh goodness! Happy New Book Day (and also that other thing).

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  6. Enter! I'm so excited to read this!

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  7. Thank you so much for the holiday surprise! What a wonderful way to begin a new year! I hope 2017 is an amazing year for you and everyone in your life.

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  8. Enter please. And just bought the book.

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  9. Entered. Purchased and read today. Absolutely beautiful book. Happy New Years

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  10. Enter. Thank you so much for writing this. It is the best New Year's present I could have gotten.

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  11. I got to preview the new book and AM SO excited. When might the Kobo version be available?

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    Replies
    1. Hopefully soon. I submitted them at the same time, but I think Kobo shuts down over the holidays.

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    2. I have Kobo as my reader of choice, so I'll just keep my eyes pealed...squee!

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    3. Just downloaded. Very excited!

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  12. I love you! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for starting my new year with a novel, AND A TOUCHSTONE NOVEL, at that! HNY and much love and gratitude from Seattle, WA, USA �������������� Oh, and ENTER!

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    Replies
    1. Cool! I live in Tacoma. It's nice to know there is another Touchstone fan nearby.

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  13. YAY! This will be my first book of the new year.

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  14. I second what the others have written: another novel is a very cool way to start the new year.

    The Touchstone series fascinated me to the extent that it lead me to discover Kdramas, so I'm doubly thankful to your writing skillz. How? Tarens look Asian, and I was looking around for images of Asian celebrities that might represent the Touchstone characters, and that lead me to Kdramas (and Jdrama and Cdrama).

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    Replies
    1. Oh, and Enter.

      hehehe; that's like saying "open sesame", eh?

      Delete
  15. Enter from San Diego, CA. Love your Touchstone series!

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  16. Yay, thank you! Enter.

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  17. Enter, Enter and YESS Enter pease ! :)

    Finished it this morning, what a happy read, (and looks like there should be some followups... \o/ )

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  18. Yay,
    I was just thinking I needed to do a thorough browse for some new reading material...now put off for another day or so.

    Jenny

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  19. So happy to get to read your new Touchstone book!! I would love to enter the competition for a magnet too. Keep writing!!!

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  20. I want one! Autographed! With YOUR choice of quote! Samantha Barnes
    Barnesamantha@gmail.com

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  21. Also, this series is one of my favorites ever!

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  22. Oh wow, another Touchstone novel! Thanks so much for a happier new year

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  23. What a surprise and exactly about Cassandra's mother! Thank You! And happy new year! In Poland we have cold winter now and long dark evenings - it is perfect time for reading.

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  24. Enter please. You have no idea how much of a pick-me-up finding out this novel existed is today. Thank you!

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  25. OMGosh, I just finished it! Sooo good and to be honest I didn’t think I would care for it this strongly. It was so nice to get to know Tsur Selkie and Laura better (and all of the other characters, too) though I did miss there not being more of Cass in it.

    What an ending! Seriously hope there will be a follow up, soon, on what happened on earth after the gate closed perhaps from Bet’s or Maddy’s POV? or some of the delegations and of course more about Muina? Looking forward to Sue’s story. Now I’m going to go back and re-read the ending again :)
    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!


    PS Thank you but I’ll pass on the competition,

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  26. Thank you for another great addition to an amazing series that has become an obsession! Finished and rereading the whole series from the beginning (again) Can't wait for the next one!

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  27. Thank you for writing this; an unexpected but very happy present! I just bought the ebook on Kobo and will be reading it this weekend.
    I'll probably get the paper book as well once I've read it - most of yours are such favorites I wouldn't want to do without, if ever my ebook library becomes unreadable (you never know, with weird computer crashes). I'm glad you are keeping that option available too.
    Hanneke

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    Replies
    1. Read it, loved it, bought the Trade Paperback edition as well so my dad can read it too, and am now starting a reread of the whole series.
      Thank you for keeping up the writing and publishing!
      Hanneke

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  28. After reading #5, I decided to go back and read the entire series again for about the 10th time and just had a question or two.

    Would a gate sight talent be able to find natural gates to other planets or extend the time the gate that Cass went through is open? or hold it open for awhile?

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    Replies
    1. Gate Sight talents would be able to see a natural gate. They can't do anything _to_ gates, but Ena Manipulation talents can. I doubt they'd be able to extend the gate to Earth at all, though. Those gates are aligning and unaligning according to the orbit of planets, and you'd need to build something like the Tower network to impact that - and it would be a bad idea.

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    2. Oh, of course! I should have remembered that. Thank you for replying.

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  29. Oh, enter!!! I loved getting to know Cass's mom! The moment for Tsur Selkie has always been one of my own faves, and I have so often wished to get to know the Earth family better...Thank you for this absolutely lovely addition to the Touchstone Trilogy.

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  30. enter!!! thank you for great books!

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  31. I absolutely love the Touchstone books, and I just recently finishing re-reading the series. Definitely looking forward to reading this book, too!

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  32. I'm dying to know who Sue is dating. I want it to be Arden Ruuel lol. Really enjoyed the book!

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    1. Christina, that's who I think/hope she might be dating. Although I know we will have to wait to find out.

      I wonder if Ms. Host is influenced by fan comments? Chocolate chip cookies sent from Seattle?

      Andrea: What will get you to write the next installment in the Touchstone series? Please...and soon! <3 <3 <3

      Toni Newman Maritima (easily located on FB, and I've written a review of In Arcadia on Amazon)

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    2. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Toni. :)

      Sue is dating a person who had a speaking role in the primary trilogy, but who did not appear in In Arcadia.

      Delete
  33. Thank you for the update on Muina! Already read the novel!
    It was a great new year gift!

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  34. Thank you thank you thank you. I am completely in love with the touchstone characters. Please keep it up.

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