Gearing up for THE LAST QUEEN in paperback

In between interviews and guest posts, I wanted to let you know that I'm gearing up for the trade paperback release of THE LAST QUEEN, which hits stores on May 5, 2009! The new cover is now on this blog's sidebar; I think it's quite sumptuous and fitting for our dramatic Juana. A Random House Readers Circle selection, the paperback features reader group discussion questions and Q&A. I'm committed to working with reader groups, and can meet with them via speaker phone, so if you're part of a reader group and think THE LAST QUEEN would be a good selection, please let me know. So far, reader groups love the book, as it generates a lot of robust discussion. There's a reader group link on my website, where you can find more information about scheduling a chat with me.

I'll also be doing a virtual book tour in May and will post tour dates here, as these occur. In the San Francisco Bay Area, I'll be making appearances and I'll be speaking on two panels at the Historical Novel Society Conference in Schaumberg, Il. (June 12-14). On May 8, I'll be chatting with readers on Goodreads. If you want to join in, click here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/14760.Chat_with_C_W_Gortner

My website is also undergoing a visual renovation and is scheduled to launch in mid-April.

On the new book front, I turned in my latest revision for THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI and my editor is currently reading it. As far as pub date goes, it's scheduled for 2010; I'll keep you posted as more details develop.