 Talk about unexpected! You write a book, possibly the fifth in a series, launch it, get some lovely reviews, some friendly blog guest posts and general congratulations then you go back to writing the next one. Imagine when an email pings into your inbox saying this book has been reviewed by the Historical Novel Society and chosen as an indie Editor’s Choice!
Juno!
To be chosen for an HNS review is the first step; not every book gets past this stage. To receive a good review from this well-respected society is wonderful. To be selected as an Editor’s Choice means a rush for the champagne bottle. Now, this is the third time this has happened – SUCCESSIO and AURELIA have been thus honoured and AURELIA is one of four finalists in the 2016 HNS Indie Award – but it’s no less exciting the third time than the first time, believe me!
So what did they say?
Ms Morton returns to the world of Roma Nova in her series about an alternate history of Europe, where the Roman Empire survives as a small alpine country.
Aurelia Mitela has retired from her former military career and is a politician charged to serve, protect and guide the new Imperatrix, Severina – who is not the woman her mother was, and her weakness proves fatal. Aurelia must fight against the enemies of Roma Nova, to do what she knows is her duty even if it goes against everything she believes in.
Roma Nova does not exist, but from Ms Morton’s portrayal you are in doubt that this little state is not real. It is perfectly portrayed, perfectly explained, without feeling like a politics lesson. With a deft touch, Ms Morton gives us a matriarchal society that is not in any way a feminist stronghold, but just is.
Aurelia is a character the reader cares about. We smile when she smiles, we flinch when she flinches. Her progress through the story is not easy, and the reader is there every step of the way with her. She is surrounded by people that you have to feel something for, be it respect, liking or loathing. Love them or hate them, they are real, rounded and believable.
Technically not falling into the HNS boundary of a novel set pre-1960s, this story does have a firm place among the more straightforward idea of historical fiction because books such as this cannot be recommended highly enough. As long as you can accept the ‘what if’ premise of history, and that Ms Morton will put you through the wringer and your journey as a reader will not be easy, you will love this.
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/insurrectio/
Thank you, Historical Novel review team, and thank you, Fortuna.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA. The fifth in the series, INSURRECTIO, was published on 12 April 2016.
Find out Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways by signing up for her free monthly email newsletter.
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 With Carole Blake of Blake Friedmann You may remember that in January this year I asked Blake Friedmann Literary Agency to handle my ancillary rights
Well, exciting news – and you are the first to know it – they’ve negotiated a contract with Audible to produce audio versions of INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA.
Of course, I rushed for my champagne glass!
 Audiobooks are a great antidote to the problem of never having enough time to read for pleasure. You can ‘read’ a book while doing other things: on the daily commute, walking the dog, cooking and cleaning, at the gym(!) or if you’re painting and decorating, gardening, or just lounging around.
On a practical level, it’s ideal for readers with poor eyesight or eyestrain or those of us who work on the computer all day! You can listen on an MP3 player, in the car on a CD player, a computer, a home sound system, on a Kindle, etc.
I bet you can think of even more times and places to listen.
Told you it was exciting. 😉 It’s going to be weird hearing Carina and Conrad ‘speaking’…
September update
 Audible invited me to their offices for an author interview where I met interviewer Robin Morgan and his technical team. It was all very relaxed and friendly and they let me witter on about Roma Nova to my heart’s content. The camera was turning as well… I can’t wait to hear and see what they produced.
December update
The audio interview is out and is FREE to download from Audible. And there’s a mini interview on YouTube! Wow!
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA. The fifth in the series, INSURRECTIO, was published on 12 April 2016.
Find out Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways by signing up for her free monthly email newsletter.
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 So, 2016 London Book Fair. What a blast!
As I sit on a train heading towards the Kent countryside for a few days’ recuperation, I’m trying to round up my brains. It’s a good thing we take photos, or I’d lose track.
INSURRECTIO, the fifth Roma Nova thriller, was due to be launched on the Tuesday, so clad in my 1980s green ‘networking jacket’ – the book is set in the 1980s – I headed to the SilverWood Books stand. As I approached it, my name and INSURRECTIO in large Roman letters blasted out at me. What a great panel SilverWood Books had done for me!
I’d hardly put my bag down when I was whisked off to the Kobo stand for a video interview. Diego Marano is a focused, but gentle, interviewer and although I’m sure I burbled; he seemed to think it went satisfactorily. Of course, it’s all in the editing…
Then chatting and mingling with SilverWood’s Helen Hart and team, with potential and current authors. After an entertaining talk by bestselling author Peter James and catching up with friends from the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLI), and lunch with a fellow Romantic Novelists’Association (RNA) author, it was back to the stand for launch preparation. The wine arrived, so I knew we were ready!
 With critique partner Denise Barnes
Well, nobody yawned or threw their drink at me and some laughed in the right places, so I think it went well. 😉
 With Jane Davis  With Alison Layland (left) and Stephanie Zia
 Helen Hart, Publishing Director at SilverWood Books  Harvey Black, another featured SilverWood author
 Karen Inglis buying for her thriller-loving husband  With Christina Courtenay
 ‘ALLies’  The RNA contingent
When I staggered back to the hotel that evening (from tiredness!), I was overwhelmed by the volume of photos posted during the launch and the congratulations flooding Twitter and Facebook. I spent four hours trying to reply to all of them.
This continued through Wednesday, online and with visitors to the SilverWood stand during the day and at the ‘Meet the Authors’ drinks that evening.
I managed to squeeze in a few talks and seminars; ALLi talking about how to sell more books and Tracy Chevalier on her new Shakespeare project.
 E M Powell, one of INSURRECTIO’s endorsers!  With Orna Ross of ALLi And people continued to visit the SilverWood stand to say hello on Thursday.
At the ALLi drinks party that evening (sponsored by Amazon – thank you!) people were still talking about it all.
I sold all ten books I brought with me which was not only satisfying, but made my suitcase a lot lighter for the journey home. People were/are so generous in supporting me, not least SilverWood Books who pulled out the stops for the launch.
**Book trailer, endorsements and buying links for INSURRECTIO**
Updated 2022: Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series.Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. Double Pursuit, the sequel, is now out!
Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines and taste world the latest contemporary thriller Double Identity… Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email update. You’ll also be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
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