ONE WEEK!
In one week, Blood Atonement hits bookshelves. I’m nervous and beyond excited and worried over things I can’t control like book sales and reviews and whether anyone will read it and whether I’ll ever publish another book after this … (I’ve got two more in the rewrite/editing phase before my agent sends them out to publishers, but you just never know if a book is going to land).
And that, my friends, is the anxiety-inducing truth: You just never know.
When I wrote Blood Atonement I couldn’t have predicted that two wildly popular shows about the Fundamentalist Mormon Church would come out in the months before publication (Netflix’s Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey and Hulu’s Under the Banner of Heaven). Years after their prophet Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison, there’s clearly still a ton of interest in the cult-like goings-on of the FLDS. I hope this bodes well for a thriller tied around the real-life psychological damage done by this sect.
If you live near Vancouver, please join me to celebrate the launch of Blood Atonement at Massy Arts on SUNDAY OCTOBER 23rd 6-8pm. I’ll be joined by authors Erik D’Souza (Death at Halfmoon Bay) and Amber Cowie (Last One Alive). There will be yummy food and books and lively conversation. Massy is asking guests to register in advance, and you can do so by clicking the image below:
I hope to see you there! For those who live too far away, I’m doing several podcasts and online events in the coming weeks. Here’s what’s coming up, plus some easy buying links (books will also be available from Massy Books at the launch):
PRE-ORDER (Paperback & Ebook):
Audiobook:
AND DON’T FORGET YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! :)
I mentioned being nervous about reviews, but I have to admit I’m pleasantly surprised at how much love Blood Atonement’s been getting!
Reviews:
“A dark and poignant psychological thriller with a cult backdrop. Freedman grips right out of the gate with dual timeline narratives that weave together more and more tightly until they meld into a mind-bending twist of a climax.”
- Loreth Anne White, Washington Post bestselling author of The Patient’s Secret
“Imagines what Sybil would have been like if she were raised in a cult. Blood Atonement is a wild ride exploring the twists and turns of a fractured spirit and a broken community.”
- Tanya Eby, USA Today bestselling author and narrator
“The Handmaid’s Tale meets All About Eve in this dark and disturbing thriller about a polygamist cult and the children who sought to escape it.”
- C.S. O’Cinneide, Edgar-nominated author of the Candace Starr series
“Pulls the reader in with the force and fury of a riptide, with beautiful descriptions and masterfully constructed characters.”
-J.J. Dupuis, author of the Creature X mystery series
“Past wounds and present danger twist together in this dark, propulsive tale that will grip you long into the night. A bloody good book with a heart-rattling end.”
- Eddy Boudel Tan, author of After Elias and The Rebellious Tide
“Does anyone have some OMG’s I can borrow? I seem to have used all of mine. It’s horrifying without being explicit, which is something that not many authors can pull off. Seriously, I can’t recommend this book enough. Just make sure you clear your schedule, because you won’t want to put it down.” (Read full review HERE)
- Book Nerd’s Brain Candy
“A flawless story of surviving atrocities and the powerful effects that they will have on the rest of your life. I cannot recommend reading this book enough.” Rread full review HERE)
- Lit and Leta’s Book Review
“A thought-provoking read, providing a look at life after a cult and portraying the survivors as real people, warts and all. The shocking ending here is a reward of its own, and getting there is a journey through incredible details of life inside Warren Jeffs’ world and inside the mind of a troubled woman.” - First Clue (Read full review HERE)
“Damn.................. Lmao. You know when you're so emotionally wrecked you just sit in silence and stare out the window? That's how I was when I finished this book. What. A. Banger.” (Read full hilarious review HERE)
- The Girl with the Pink Ski Mask