Oh yes! 2016 has begun in a spectacular way and I’m not talking about fireworks. AURELIA, the fourth Roma Nova thriller, first in a new cycle of adventures featuring Praetorian and imperial councillor Aurelia Mitela, has been shortlisted for the 2016 HNS Indie Award.
*Jumps up and down with silly grin on face.*
When AURELIA was selected as an indie Editor’s Choice in the August 2015 Historical Novel Society’s reviews, I was delighted. This was the second Roma Nova book to be so honoured; SUCCESSIO was an Editor’s Choice in 2014. But now it gets serious.
The 2016 longlist derives from all the Editor’s Choices in the previous year; in 2015, there were 38 and all terrific reads. The shortlist of nine is the second ‘sift’ announced today and a final list of four will be chosen to be considered at the HNS Conference in Oxford in September 2016 when the award will be presented.
The organisers, and judges are all volunteers, but happily give their time and precious reading hours in the mission of driving historical fiction indie writing quality upwards.
Even if AURELIA doesn’t go further (but I rather hope she will), this is a huge honour. Being shortlisted for one of the most prestigious indie prizes around will make anybody reach for the champagne. It may have been New Year’s Eve yesterday, but the bubbly will be flowing again today!
What’s AURELIA about?
Late 1960s Roma Nova, the last Roman colony that has survived into the 20th century. Aurelia Mitela is alone – her partner gone, her child sickly and her mother dead – and forced to give up her beloved career as a Praetorian officer.
But her country needs her unique skills. Somebody is smuggling silver – Roma Nova’s lifeblood – on an industrial scale. Sent to Berlin to investigate, she encounters the mysterious and attractive Miklós, a known smuggler who knows too much, and Caius Tellus, a Roma Novan she has despised and feared since childhood.
Barely escaping a trap set by a gang boss intent on terminating her, she discovers that her old enemy is at the heart of all her troubles and pursues him back home to Roma Nova…
Watch the trailer…
Available now as an ebook from Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, B&N Nook and as a paperback, author signed paperback and from other retailers
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA. The Roma Nova box set is available until 31 January 2016.
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Very well done, Alison. Fingers tightly crossed for you!
Fingers and toes crossed here! It’s a varied list with some great sounding books. The TBR pile is about to take on another tranche.
Fantastic news. Well deserved.
Thanks, Suzanne.Lovely of you to stop by.
Congratulations. I’ve yet to read it but from what I hear it sounds truly deserved. Best of luck with the next phase of the competition!
Thank you so much for your congratulations, Christoph. People seem to enjoy reading it… 🙂
Very many congratulations and good luck!
Many thanks, Sophie. I will, of course, have no nails by September.
Very many congratulations, Alison. You, deserve it. Fingers well and truly crossed.
Thank you, Sally. I’m rather thrilled. It’s one of the big indie prizes, so getting this far is already a great step.
Congratulations!
Thanks, Samantha.
Congratulations to you! This is great news!
Thank you! I’m still trying to believe it myself. 😉
Well done on getting shortlisted, Alison – fantastic news! Love the video too.
Thank you, Colin. I’ll be biting my fingernails until September, but it’s a huge honour to have reached this far.