Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman

Back in November of 2011, I hosted a short story by Emma Newman, Knotty Secrets, which takes place in the Split Worlds. The Split Worlds started out as a project where Emma would write a short story every week for a year and a day, and various bloggers (like me!) hosted these stories. Each of the stories takes place in the Split Worlds, a fantasy world where magic exists in forms of magical beings and acts. Between Two Thorns is the first novel of the Split Worlds, which comes out in the UK on March 7th and the US on February 26th. If you think you’ll be behind because you haven’t read the stories, don’t fear! They are merely fun back story for the world. The novel will completely stand alone; it is in no way necessary to have the knowledge the stories give you. However, if you’re interested in checking out the stories, I would recommend a few of my favorites to start with.

• The Good Client
• The Wishing Book
• Separation

Between Two Thorns is a 400 page urban fantasy. To give you an idea of the story, enjoy the novel’s blurb:

Something is wrong in Aquae Sulis, Bath’s secret mirror city. The new season is starting and the Master of Ceremonies is missing. Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds Treaty, is assigned with the task of finding him with no one to help but a dislocated soul and a mad sorcerer. There is a witness but his memories have been bound by magical chains only the enemy can break. A rebellious woman trying to escape her family may prove to be the ally Max needs. But can she be trusted? And why does she want give up eternal youth and the
life of privilege she’s been born into?

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Pre-order a copy of Between Two Thorns for a chance to win a great prize!
 Pre-order a copy of Between Two Thorns and you’ll be entered into a prize draw. If you win, you’ll have a character named after you in “All Is Fair” – the third Split Worlds novel (released October 2013) – and a special mention at the end of the book.

How to Enter
Pre-order a copy of the book from your favourite retailer (if you pre-order from Forbidden Planet you’ll get a signed copy).

If you order from Forbidden Planet or robottradingcompany.com (for ebooks) you don’t need to do anything else – Angry Robot will take care of your entry for you. If you pre-order from anywhere else you’ll need to email a copy of your order confirmation to: thorns@angryrobotbooks.com and they’ll assign a number to you.

Where to Pre-order

• Forbidden Planet (signed paperback) http://forbiddenplanet.com/97907-between-two-thorns/

• Angry Robot Trading company – for DRM-free ebook http://www.robottradingcompany.com/between-two-thorns-emma-newman.html
• Amazon (paperback)

1. UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Two-Thorns-Split-World/dp/0857663194/
2. US http://www.amazon.com/Between-Two-Thorns-Emma-Newman/dp/0857663208/

• The Book depository (Worldwide free postage)

1. UK Edition http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Between-Two-Thorns-Emma-Newman/9780857663191
2. US Edition (bigger) http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Between-Two-Thorns-Emma-Newman/9780857663207

There are two UK launches and an international one using the magic of telephone conferencing. All the details are here: http://www.enewman.co.uk/real-world-adventures/between-two-thorns-launches-prizes-and-parties

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Order your copy of Between Two Thorns today, and join the fun that is the Split Worlds!

Interview with Emma Newman, author of 20 Years Later

Sometime last year I received an ARC copy of 20 Years Later from the goodreads First Reads program, and I really enjoyed it. From there, I learned of Emma Newman, author of other great things like From Dark Places, and a short story in Nothing But Flowers, which I purchased and intend to read this year. She also does audio recordings of just about everything she writes, and she has quite a pleasant voice, give it a listen.

Author bio

Emma lives in Somerset, England and drinks far too much tea. She writes dark short stories, post-apocalyptic novels and records audiobooks in all genres. Her debut short-story collection From Dark Places was published in 2011 and she’s celebrating the recent publication of 20 Years Later, her debut post-apocalyptic novel for young adults. Emma recently secured funding to write a new five book urban fantasy series called the Split Worlds and is releasing a short story every week set there. Her hobbies include making Steampunk costumes and playing RPGs. She blogs at www.enewman.co.uk, rarely gets enough sleep and refuses to eat mushrooms.

I had a few questions about 20 Years Later that Emma obligingly answered…

1. Where did you come up for the idea of 20 Years Later?

In some ways that’s easy to answer, in some ways complicated. The easy answer is that it grew organically, driven by the characters and the geography of post-apocalyptic London. There wasn’t a particular part of the plot that popped into my head right at the start.The complicated answer is that I was watching my boyfriend of the time (now my husband!) starting to play a new game on the PS2 with a very cheesy opening sequence about a post-apocalyptic world. I remembered how much I loved various post-apocalyptic books I’d read years before and had a sudden urge to tell a story set in post-apocalyptic London. Only problem was that I was deep in a ten year long writer’s block. It was so deep I even forgot I used to write. So I had to tell the story a different way: running a roleplaying game for my partner and two friends.The Red Lady was the first character who popped into my head, Jay was the second. I walked around London, looking at potential territories and the three players described the kinds of characters they wanted to be. I built the world around the Red Lady’s Hunters, the Bloomsbury Boys and the requirements of the players and the story grew over about two years I think. Then I stopped running the game for logistical reasons and a few months after that I had finally got to the point when I could start writing the book. But that’s a whole different story!

2. Zane, Titus, Erin, Eve. Do these names hold any significance? How do you choose character/gang names?

The three players chose their own names: Zane, Titus and Erin and I liked them – and couldn’t imagine them as anything different to be honest! As for Eve, there’s a rather dark and unpleasant reason behind her name which would be a spoiler to people who haven’t read the book yet, so I’ll tuck that at the bottom*, if that’s okay?

As for the gangs, well, the Bloomsbury Boys are named after the area of London their territory is in, and the Red Lady’s Hunters is a name reflecting their lifestyle and leader. As for why she’s called the Red Lady, that’s revealed later in the trilogy.

The Weavers of Soho are mentioned, and they take their name from two things: one is that Soho is known (amongst other things) for its fabric shops, the second reason is that they have complex relationships with the gangs forged through trade; metaphorical weavers.

3. We don’t really learn much about Eve in this book, can you give us any hint to what her power is?

I do, in the book! It’s just a hint, and as that’s a major plotline in books two and three, my instinct is to say no more. Sorry.

4. If you had to pick a favorite of the four, who would it be and why?

Titus. Without a doubt. Why? Because he is ruthless without being hateful. He has a determination, to the point of obsession, that really appeals to me, probably because I have those tendencies myself. I love the way he sees the world, the way he’s always on the outside looking in. And he’s got a photographic memory, something I have always wanted.

5. You’ve said that this is the first book in a trilogy. Do you have names or plots planned out for more books set in this world?

I’ve already written them. The second book is called 20 Years Later – Legacy and the third is called 20 Years Later – Revelation. It feels weird to talk about the first book as the final draft went to the publisher two years ago and the first draft was written five years ago. The third book was finished last summer, so when I think about the characters, they’re at the end of the trilogy instead of the beginning!

6. Do you have a date set for the release of the other books? Do you have a blurb or a teaser or anything to keep your readers satisfied until then?

Um, no. Sorry! Dates are completely up to the publisher and I don’t have a blurb that’s good enough to be released into the wild. I will say that book two reveals more of Erin’s story, and the reason why the kids are different is revealed over the remaining two books, that’s the biggest plot line, forming the spine of the series. The consequences of a variety of actions on the part of the Four have a huge impact… but I can’t say more than that.

7. Will we learn more about the Hex project or its creators in sequels?

They’re mentioned, but not a focus. However, the consequences of what happened in the Unders reach into the second and third books.

8. I noticed you’ve written other stories in a dystopian setting. What draws you into that genre?

Yes, I’ve written a few, now you mention it. Some flashes, one a short story commissioned for an anthology called Nothing But Flowers which was a lot of fun. I like both post-apocalyptic and dystopian sub-genres for the following reasons (not in order of preference):

• They scare me in just the right way – not so that I can’t sleep at night, but enough to make me mindful of the way I live and how society is developing
• They can show the very best and very worst of human behaviour
• The best dystopian fiction (i.e. 1984) can make terrifying predictions
• I’ve always been fascinated by how fragile modern life is, and PA fiction allows me to explore what would happen if all of these little comforts we have are stripped away

9. What projects are you currently working on?

I finished the 20 Years Later trilogy last summer and knew what I wanted to write next. I also knew that if I carried on in my day job, I’d go crazy, so I developed a business plan and got private investment to fund my next project (apparently this has never been done before, according to various publishers I’ve been chatting to recently) called The Split Worlds.

It’s a quirky urban fantasy setting with detective noir, evil fairies, sorcerers, and people just trying to drink their tea in peace. There will be a five book series, and for a year and a day leading up to the release of book 1, I’m releasing a short story every week set in the Split Worlds.

It’s a gruelling writing schedule, but I have never been so happy and contented with my professional life before. The first book is currently with my first round of beta readers, I’m about two thirds into the first draft of the second book and at the time of writing, the sixteenth weekly story will be released, so I’m pleased with where it’s all at.

10. Do you have any fun/weird writing habits?

Hrm, I imagine one writer’s normal is another’s freakish behaviour, so it’s hard to judge. The only habit I have (apart from high tea consumption) is to say out loud before each writing session: “I give myself complete permission to write absolute crap.” I find it helps keep the dreaded internal Censor at bay – remembering that I don’t have to write a perfect first draft usually results in much better writing and a lot less fear.

11. What is your favorite fruit?

Strawberries, but not the ones bought at supermarkets, they just taste like water.

12. If you could pick one question that I didn’t ask that you wanted me to, what would it be, and how would you answer?

Oh blimey! I can’t think of one actually, I already like the ones you’ve asked!

13. Any last thoughts?

Just thank you for the interview, and I hope people enjoy my work. I’m easy to find online, so if anyone reading this is on Twitter, look me up, I’m @emapocalyptic and I love to chat.

POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT!

*Eve’s name is a result of her life as a test subject in the Unders, all the girls are called Eve, plus an individual number, I think hers is Eve 17.

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If you enjoy post apocalyptic literature, I highly recommend checking out 20 Years Later. I just wanted to say thanks again to Emma for answering my questions!

Knotty Secrets — Emma Newman

Here is something a little different than my usual review. May I introduce Emma Newman, who has written 20 Years Later and an anthology of short stories, From Dark Places. She has started a very exciting new project, but I’ll let her get into that… 

This is the third in a year and a day of weekly short stories set in The Split Worlds. If you would prefer to listen to an audio version, you can find it here:  and you can find links to all the other stories as they are released here. 

Knotty Secrets

The cheap knife he’d stolen from the kitchen bent as Coll dug it into the tree. He cupped his hand over the circle he’d cut in and caught the chunk of bark as it flicked out. The moonlight glinted off the blade as he pocketed it, hands shaking. Inside his chest the pressure was building, it was so hard to keep the secret.

The farmhouse and outbuildings nestled at the bottom of the hill. Only one light was on now; the porch lantern they burnt through the night. Pam said it was for anyone who needed to find a way to a safe haven. It made him want to spit. Safe haven? That place?

He gouged out a hole in the trunk a few inches deep. He didn’t look up as he did so, knowing the silhouette of the branches against the moon would creep him out too much to see it through. At least it was a dead tree, trying to hack out a hole in the trunk of a healthy one would have been impossible.

He dropped the knife at his feet when it was done, needing to get it over with before he could care about covering his tracks. He leaned forwards, feeling the rough knots of the trunk dig into his belly, brushing the edge of the newly carved hole with his lips.

“I love Emily Fletcher,” he breathed into the trunk. “I really do. I love her and I want to shag her.”

He rested his forehead against the tree, resting briefly as the pressure lifted from his chest. Then he stuffed the chunk of bark back into its original place, like driving a stopper back into the neck of a test tube, keeping the noxious secret trapped inside.

He didn’t want to go back to the commune, so he let himself sit at the base of the tree, listening to it creaking in the breeze. Now the pressure had lifted, he felt calm, then silly. Maybe the hippies were getting to him, not that any of them had told him to do it, but it was the kind of thing they’d like. Idiots. He wanted a Chinese takeaway and to hang out with his mates at the local bus stop, like things used to be on a Friday night. Instead he was in the middle of nowhere because of his stupid Dad, doing crazy stuff with a tree because of a stupid dream. Life sucked.

He looked down at the outbuildings, trying to work out which one Emily lived in. She’d be there now, in her nightdress, lying in bed. His fantasy reworked it into her standing at the doorway to her room, backlit by a candle so he could see the shape of her body through the thin cotton. “Hi Coll,” she whispered with the same hungry eyes as the glamour model in the magazine he’d smuggled in. “Come to keep me warm?”

It was a while before he went back down the hill.

***

“Coll!” Emily’s voice woke him the next morning. “Come and look!”

He stumbled out of bed, groaning at the birdsong as he threw on the same clothes he’d worn the night before. He took a moment to check there were no tell-tale wood chips caught on the rough woollen jumper and followed her out, liking the way her blonde hair brushed the top of her backside.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“You have to see it, come on!”

They went out into the muddy courtyard, she was leading him to the gate out of the farm. The twilight held the promise of a fine spring day, but he was worrying about whether he’d forgotten something the night before. He’d buried the knife, there wouldn’t be this much fuss over a missing utensil, surely?

Emily was heading up the hill towards the tree, he kept his eyes on his shoes as he quietly panicked. He could hear his Dad’s voice up ahead, then the murmuring of others. The crazy old bat with the long grey hair was singing like she did whenever something special happened. He reminded himself that she thought an apple was something special, so he shouldn’t read too much into it, but still, it made him nervous.

“Coll!” his father called but he didn’t look up. He tried not to look at his father these days.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Emily asked, he watched her feet stop ahead, and then turn towards him. “Coll? Look at it!”

He raised his head slowly, knowing the dead tree was up there, hoping desperately that they’d found some rabbit droppings in the shape of a heart or something equally lame that they all sang and gave offerings for every bloody day. Just don’t be the hole in the tree, he thought.

But it was the same tree they were clustered around, the crazy singing lady working herself up into a frenzy as they all pointed and gabbled at the blossom bursting from its branches. “I thought it was dead,” he muttered as Emily grabbed his hand and pulled him up towards it.

“It’s been dead for years,” Emily said. “Mam says it’s a miracle.”

“Gaia is smiling on us!” her mother cooed, stroking the tree trunk reverently. “She sees the way we tread lightly on the Earth. This is a sign of her approval!”

Coll didn’t believe her, but he refused to believe it had anything to do with him either. If he did that, he’d be turning into one of them, and that was never going to happen. He checked the hole was still hidden, it took him a few moments to catch sight of it, looking like just another knot in the bark. It was a coincidence, nothing more than just a quirk of nature.

“I think it’s a miracle,” Emily whispered, squeezing his hand tight. “Don’t you?”

“Yeah,” Coll said, thinking of Emily touching his skin for the first time. “A miracle.”

—

Thanks for hosting Hannah! I hope you enjoyed the story. If you would like to find out more about the Split Worlds project, it’s all here: www.splitworlds.com. If you would like to host a story over the coming year, either let me know in the comments or contact me through the Split Worlds site. Em x

20 Years Later — Emma Newman

Tomorrow I will be hosting a short story by a fantastic author, Emma Newman. I recently read her first full length novel, 20 Years Later, which is a wonderfully detailed post-apocalyptic story set in London, year 2032.

Review

This book started off a little slow — but I could tell it was to create the detailed setting that was so important to the plot. I really enjoyed the world Emma Newman created, and each of the gangs (there are three: The Bloomsbury Boys, the Gardners, the Red Lady’s Gang) were incredibly unique and fun to read about. The main three we hear about in this novel (of “The Four”), Zane, Titus, and Erin were easily identified with. Zane seemed a bit naive for his age, although I couldn’t tell you how experienced someone growing up in a post-apocalyptic world would be, but Titus and Erin felt much more realistic.

The story is centered around Zane and his mother, Miri, which are in a neutral zone between the gangs. Miri is what you might call a healer, even though she is deathly afraid of hospitals, and doesn’t allow her son to enter them. Zane has never been recruited by a gang so they are all welcome. Things change drastically when the Red Lady’s Gang takes an interest in Zane.

Although some of the writing wasn’t what I hoped for, the plot kept me interested throughout. It was pretty quick-paced, so it was nice to sit down and read for a good long while. I loved the ending, and I hope I correctly picked up a hint about a sequel. I really want to read more about these compelling characters. Although the plot was fantastic, it felt like this was a setup novel to something even more amazing as the fourth main character, Eve, was only introduced in the end of the story.

NOTE: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Information

If you want to learn more about Emma Newman, visit her blog: http://www.enewman.co.uk/

There isn’t a need to get a lot of background info on the Split Worlds, as there are many short stories concerning different characters. If you are interested in reading the other stories you can read them on, and sign up for more stories at, the Split Worlds blog: http://www.splitworlds.com/