Sylvain Reynard

NY Times Best-Selling Author

“Gabriel’s Redemption” Audiobook Available for Preorder

Dear Everyone,

Many thanks to Veraswriting, a reader, who alerted me to the fact that the audiobook of Gabriel’s Redemption is now available for preorder from Audible.com.  The narrator is John Michael Morgan.
If you’ve had the pleasure of listening to the audiobooks of Gabriel’s Inferno or Gabriel’s Rapture, then I’m sure you’ll agree that John is the perfect voice of the novels. He doesn’t simply read or narrate – he performs. And he’s excellent with all the characters, especially the Professor.
If you wish to hear a simple, you can do so here.  Click “sample.”
If you wish to learn more about John Michael Morgan, you can do so in a post I wrote last year.
According to Audible, Gabriel’s Redemption will be available on December 3rd, which is the same date as the print and ebook release.
Don’t forget that if you preorder the audiobook, you can request a gift from the Professor.  Here’s how: https://sylvainreynard.com/exclusive-extras-for-those-that-pre-order-gabriels-redemption/
All the best and thank you for listening,
SR
PS. I will be able to share more about my next writing project soon, including a sneak peek. Stay tuned.

Deleted scene from “Gabriel’s Inferno”

Dear Everyone,

Recently, I was interviewed by Yel of the Itzel Library. The interview is available in English and Spanish and you can read it here.

Yel asked me about deleted scenes and outtakes from the novel, reminding me of a scene involving Richard and Grace that was cut from Gabriel’s Inferno.

(Spoiler ahead)

The scene takes place after Julia separates from her boyfriend while studying at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.  Grace is upset that Julia won’t answer her telephone calls:
Grace sat at her dressing table in her bathrobe, brushing her long hair and thinking. She was upset. She was worried. But she didn’t know what to do.

“Come to bed, love.”

She took her husband’s outstretched hand and followed him to the bed, divesting herself of her robe in the semi-darkness and joining him naked between the sheets. She positioned herself on her side, running her fingers through the light dusting of chest hair that decorated his upper body.

“My love.” Richard grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. “Tell me what’s bothering you before I make you forget your troubles. You’re driving me crazy.”

Grace laughed. He knew her so well. She would absentmindedly glide gentle hands over his still muscular body in order to help her think better, but it had the opposite effect on him.

“Sorry, dear. I was thinking about Julia.”

Richard sighed and waited for her to elaborate, but he knew what was coming.

“She won’t return my calls. She won’t return Rachel’s calls. Tom says she’s holed up in a tiny apartment near campus and she’ll barely speak to him. I was thinking about driving up there to see her tomorrow and taking a care package.”

Richard was a thoughtful man, a quiet man. He gave his wife’s words his full consideration as she waited to hear his opinion. They were that attuned to one another. They were that much in love.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If she’s retreating, it’s because she’s afraid. If you go to her home, you’ll be upsetting her in the one place in which she feels safe.”

Grace rested her hand on his heart. “You aren’t a psychiatrist.”

“That’s right.  But we both know Julia is withdrawn and timid. If you threaten her security, you will be threatening her coping strategy. And then she’s going to have to find something else.”

“So what should I do?”

“Why don’t you write her a letter, expressing your concern. Give her some time to process things and respond. And then wait and see what happens.”

Grace rested her head on her husband’s shoulder. “I can do that, but I wish she’d talk to me – let me know what happened that made her want to hide from all of us. And then I could help her.”

“Rachel mentioned something about her boyfriend.”

Grace flinched. “I never liked the way he looked at her. He was proud of how she looked on his arm, but there was something in his eyes.” She reached over and planted a light kiss on her husband’s lips. “He never looked at her the way you look at me.”

Richard smiled at her and caressed the naked curve of her hip with his fingers. “No one looks at anyone the way I look at you because no one loves anyone the way I love you.”

Grace’s worries were momentarily interrupted by a passionate kiss and a pair of strong hands stroking her lower back.

“Julia would have been vulnerable when she started seeing him. Her mother had died, she was away from Selinsgrove. She likely tolerated whatever he was willing to give to her. And gladly.” Richard sighed deeply. “She’s a dreamy romantic, I think, not unlike her mother.”

“Don’t mention that woman to me. She nearly ruined that little girl. When I think of what she exposed her to and —”

He leaned over and kissed her again. “I know, my love. But there’s nothing we can do about it now.”

“I feel helpless,” Grace whispered. “She’s suffering and she won’t let me comfort her. I promised Julia I would be her mother. But she won’t let me.”

“She’ll come back to you when she’s ready.”

“You said that about Gabriel. He never comes home.”

Richard shifted uncomfortably. “He hascome back to us. He’s clean, he has a good job, and if we’re lucky, he’ll meet a nice girl and she’ll straighten him out. You lit a candle for him. Why don’t you light a candle for Julia?”

Grace kissed her husband, but her sadness over her eldest son radiated through her touch.

“Things will work out, my love. I promise. We’ll find a way.” Richard softly kissed her.

And when their contact grew more heated, he looked down at her and traced the soft line of her earlobe, pausing to touch the sparkling diamond in her ear, a gift from long ago.

“You’re upset. You’re sad tonight. I don’t think that we should —”

“Making love with you comforts me, darling. Please.”

He had never denied her any good thing. He could not deny her this. He hovered over her, staring deeply into her eyes. There was no need for words; their gazes said it all.

It was a slow, easy rhythm, the effortless, intimate coupling of a man and a woman who knew each other. The kind of love making that could last for hours or even a lifetime.

“I worship you,” he whispered against her neck, as she arched her back, her hands urging him deeper.

“I love you,” she whispered. “Always.”

The wave crashed over both of them, leaving them breathless and contented.

Grace’s last thought was a silent prayer that one day Julia and Gabriel would each find love. 

And then she fell asleep wrapped up in the arms of her beloved husband…

Thank you to Yel for reminding me about this scene, which I’d forgotten. And to the moderators of the international SR accounts, who are providing the translations.

In case you missed it, you can view the cover design for the UK edition of Gabriel’s Redemption here. You can also preorder it through Waterstones or Amazon.co.uk.

All the best everyone and thank you for reading,
SR

www.sylvainreynard.com

Disclaimer: These translations have been made non-profit and with the sole purpose of allowing non-English speaking readers to read the presentation, worldwide. All rights belong to Sylvain Reynard, his publisher Penguin Berkley and additional publishers.

Croatian Translation
Italian Translation
Portuguese Translation
Romanian Translation 
Russian Translation
Spanish Translation

Dialogue with the Professor

Dear Everyone,

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a dialogue with the Professor, on Facebook and Twitter. In case you missed it, here it is in its entirety:

So the Professor stopped by my flat and without introduction strode into my living room. He sat in a chair, crossed his legs, and glared at me.
(This was not uncommon.)
“SR.”  He nodded.
“Gabriel.”
I glanced in the direction of the kitchen.  “Would you like a drink?”
The Professor’s lips visibly thinned.
“This isn’t really a social call.”
“So you aren’t here to borrow milk, then?”
“No, I am not.”
“Can I offer you a towel?”
“I’ll get to that in a minute. First, I want to talk to you.”
“No need to wait. I have plenty in a variety of colours.”  I gestured to the hallway. “I’ll just run and get one.”
“As I said, I want to talk to you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but realized that in his current mood, such protestations were futile.
Averting my eyes from the spectacle that was the naked professor seated on my very nice leather chair, I sat far away from him, feeling very uncomfortable.
Clearly he was agitated and sadly for me, Julia had not accompanied him.
(I pondered the possibility of fetching the Snarky Narrator in order to deal with him, but alas, he was out shopping for a new set of parentheticals.)
“This isn’t an art gallery,” I grumbled.  “Or a photo shoot. I’m going to have to have that chair cleaned now.”
“Have you forgotten something?”  The Professor’s eyes flared in my direction.
I looked away from him pointedly.  “I might have asked you the same question.
“No, I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything, apart from a plastic cover for my leather furniture.”
He leaned forward. “Perhaps my appearance might jog your memory?”
I continued inspecting the fascinating sight that was the bare wall of my condominium.
“I can hardly see what your appearance has to do with me, although you might want to rethink your wardrobe choices.  The police aren’t likely to look favourably on a naked professor sauntering down Bloor Street.”
“Allow me to refresh your memory.  On June third, you released Chapter One of Gabriel’s Redemption. Then the story stopped. Does this ring any bells?”
“Well, you and Julianne were in the orchard at the end of the chapter, and …”
The proverbial light went on in my head. “Oh.”
“Exactly.  Oh. Although in this case, it would be better to say ouch.
“Do you have any idea what it’s like to lie naked in an orchard day and night for weeks on end?”
I blinked as I scanned my memory banks.
There was that one time in Barcelona …
I shook my head.
“Sadly, no.”
The Professor sniffed primly.  “Well, it’s damned cold. We only have one blanket.  I’m afraid Julianne is going to catch pneumonia.”
“And die,” I muttered.
“Excuse me?” The Professor gave me a look that was so scathing, it could have peeled the paint from my walls.
“Uh, nothing.”  I scratched my head thoughtfully. “I could rewrite the scene and add a few more blankets.”
“You’re obfuscating.”
I straightened in my chair.  “I most certainly am not. And may I remind you, you stole my thesaurus the last time you were over. I want it back.”
The Professor waved a dismissive hand in the air, as if he were swatting a gnat.
“Forget about the thesaurus.  What’s this about Gabriel’s Redemption being released in December?”
Oh, here we go, I thought. 
“Et tu, Brute?”
The Professor merely scowled.
I cleared my throat.
“As you know, I hadn’t planned to write a sequel to Gabriel’s Rapture.  Readers changed my mind.  So the gap between the release of books two and three is wider than between books one and two.”  I pushed my glasses up, as they’d begun slipping down my nose. 
“Regrettably,” I added.
The Professor gazed at me coldly.
“I’ll say this slowly so that I’m sure you can keep up.
“We’re in limbo, naked, in the orchard until you release Chapter Two or publish the entire book.  How do you think that feels?”
I pondered this idea for a moment, since his wife was very beautiful.
“SR?” he prompted.
“What’s that?” I had momentarily forgotten he was there.
His eyes narrowed, as if he were reading my mind.
I looked away.
“I’m sure it’s extremely uncomfortable.  Somewhat like having one of your characters show up during lunch unannounced, naked, and truculent.
“And don’t even think about borrowing my Oxford English Dictionary in order to look up ‘truculent.’”
“I don’t need your damned dictionary. I know what it means,” he spat.
Muttering to myself, I wandered down the hall to fetch him a towel, which I dumped unceremoniously in his lap.
“Please give my apologies to Julianne. I’m sorry for the inconvenience and I will go back and write in a few more blankets and maybe a cashmere robe.”
“Thank you. 
“Being stuck in limbo until December third is damned inconvenient for both of us.  And I’ll have you know that Professor Picton is not pleased about your delay, either.”
At this, I closed my eyes.
Not Katherine, too.
I opened my eyes.
“As I recall, Professor Picton appears in the novel fully clothed.”
The Professor glared at me once again.
I shifted my weight awkwardly. “Not that she isn’t attractive. Um, should I expect a visit from her as well?”
“No, she’s in Oxford, where you left her.”
“Oxford is a bit like limbo. Although perhaps the food is better. I’m not sure.”
Gabriel snapped his fingers.  “Try to stay focused, will you?  You have the attention span of a fruit fly.”
I straightened myself to my full height.
“I beg your pardon. I am completely focused. And you might want to rethink your attitude given the fact that your destiny rests in these hands.”
I crackled my knuckles in what I hoped would be a menacing fashion.
The Professor snorted like a horse.
“I think my destiny rests more in the hands of readers, but carry on, oh God-like third-person author.”
I narrowed my eyes at his sarcasm.
“Allow me to explain how this works.  Readers can pre-order our novel, which means they’ll receive it immediately on its release. In some cases, it’s delivered to their Kindle at the stroke of midnight.  So pre-orders will certainly hasten your freedom.
“And because Julianne is – ah – cold, I’ll release Chapter Two. But after I’ve given her a bathrobe.”
I gazed into the distance, as I began thinking aloud.
“And maybe one of those things … you know… with lace and straps.  And some …”
“Watch it,” he growled.
My attention immediately returned to the Professor.
I gulped.
“Right. Just a robe. But a nice one. Cashmere.  Very warm.”
The Professor checked his watch.  “I should leave so you can get on with it. We’ve waited long enough.”
He stood to his feet, affixing the very large black bath sheet around his waist.
“I don’t like to be kept waiting, especially with this book. You know what’s at stake.”  He gave me a significant look.
I nodded, keeping a safe, respectful distance.  “I promise to do my best.”
“Is this to be the last book?”
I scratched my head.  “I think so.”
“You think so?”  he repeated.  “You don‘t know?”
“Well, you know what happened the last time I said ‘this is the final book in the series’…” 
He shook his head.
“For an omniscient author, you know precious little.”
I sighed deeply.  “I get that a lot.”
“I’ll see myself out.  Enjoy your lunch. And SR…”
“Yes?”
“Put on some clothes, for God’s sake.”
He grimaced at the sight of my Superman pyjamas (of dubious origin) and quickly withdrew, leaving me to my solitude and my writing.
I’m going to have to burn that chair, I thought.
Or perhaps I can sell it on Ebay…
Fin.

As mentioned above, I posted Chapters One and Two of Gabriel’s Redemption on my website. If you preorder the book, the Professor has a gift for you. You can learn more here.
The Professor, Paul, and the Snarky Narrator were recently interviewed by the Sub Club Books site. You can read the interview here.  They’ll also be posting a transcript of July 13th’s Twitter chat with the Professor, #Lust102.
Finally, UK readers can see the cover design for Gabriel’s Redemption and preorder it here.

In order to pass the time between now and December 3rd, (when Gabriel’s Redemption releases), I have a number of extras and surprises for you. Please stay tuned and thank you for reading, SR

Charity Spotlight: Heather Huffman’s Fight Against Human Trafficking

 Dear Everyone,

I’ve never had a guest post on my blog. Today, I’m pleased to introduce my first guest post, penned by author Heather Huffman.

Thank you, Heather, for joining us today. – SR
–

Before I wrote Throwaway, I thought slavery ended in the United States when the 13th Amendment was ratified. What I stumbled across while doing research opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know existed – to the human trafficking trade in the United States and abroad.

I had no clue what to do about my newfound knowledge, though. I tried getting involved with various anti-slavery groups, but none of them returned my emails. When the obvious failed, I began toying with the idea of using the books as a way to raise awareness, since some of them included human trafficking as plot points.

Then my sisters signed us all up for a human trafficking symposium in January 2011. On our way there, I told them that I wasn’t sure how or what it would look like, but I wanted to use my books as a voice for the voiceless. At the conference, as the main speaker was introducing the topics for the day, he said, “Maybe someone here is supposed to be a voice for the voiceless…” The entire row turned and looked at me.

Not long after that, I released four novels as free ebooks. Two of them had human trafficking as plot elements, two didn’t. They weren’t in-depth examinations of trafficking or anything, more like conversation starters. My books are first and foremost romance novels. Still, all four included an author’s note about trafficking along with ways for readers to get involved.

The books went kind of crazy. Tens of thousands were downloaded, and I began hearing from readers all over the world, including some who were former slaves. It was readers who put me in touch with groups like Project Liberty and The Covering House, two organizations on the front lines of the fight against slavery.

About six months after the books were released, I was contacted by a small publisher out of Seattle called Booktrope. After a couple months of discussion, they republished the first four novels and the fifth was in the publication process. I worried the decision to republish would be selling out, but I felt my reach would be greater with a publisher behind the books. Now that the books were being sold, I decided to donate a portion of my royalties to groups fighting trafficking.

Thankfully, Booktrope believes in offering free ebooks often, which means the books are still out there raising awareness. When Throwaway was re-released under their banner as a free ebook, it received 150,000 downloads in the first six weeks of its release. We recently made the ebook format of Throwaway free again (on iTunes In the United States) and plan to leave it that way for the foreseeable future.

When I set out on this venture, I have to admit I envisioned writing a big, impressive check to Project Liberty – something that would make a real difference in their daily operations – but I seem to be better at raising awareness than funds. Still, I’m not sure the amount matters as much as the act of doing something, anything to help. If I waited to donate until I could give an amount that I felt made a difference, that day might never come.

So I give what I can and offer encouragement to those doing the work the rest of us can’t. In addition to donating to a couple of groups I trust, I sponsor children through World Vision because fighting abject poverty in third world countries is another way to attack the evil of human trafficking. I also give talks in schools, churches and women’s groups about trafficking and how we can keep our children from being victimized. It’s an eclectic approach to joining the fight, but then my personality has always been a bit eclectic so I guess that’s fitting.

Before I wrote Throwaway, I had no clue about things like human trafficking. Now that I know, I feel like an itty-bitty ant trying to move a mountain. Luckily, I don’t have to move the mountain alone. I just have to keep chipping away at it along with everyone else who feels called to move that same mountain. Eventually, we’ll get there. – Heather Huffman
Heather & Goatsy

Heather Huffman calls the beautiful Missouri Ozarks home. When not writing, this homesteading mother is either cheering one of her three sons on at a sporting event or tending the family’s myriad of animals, which includes alpacas, goats, chickens and ducks. Huffman’s optimistic and somewhat quirky view of life often finds its way into her novels.               

Heather is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Suddenly a Spy, Ring of Fire, Tumbleweed, Devil in Disguise, Roses in Ecuador, and her latest book, Fool’s Game. You can find out more about her family’s adventures as they strive to live off the land, as well as her writing and charitable work on www.heatherhuffman.net
Jessie  Jones is living the life–except for the fact that she earns it by working the streets. She’s been under pimp Spence’s thumb for fourteen years, and she isn’t looking to change it. That is, until undercover cop Gabe walks into her life and offers her something she’s never had before: a love, a future, a home. But even if Jessie could walk away from Spence, there are darker forces of evil who want her to stay put, or worse, dead.

In this romantic suspense, author Heather Huffman delivers an adventure from the vibrant streets of St. Louis to the caves of the Ozarks as Jessie discovers whether she can love another, whether she can love herself, and whether any of it is enough.
Don’t miss Heather Huffman’s other books: Suddenly a Spy, Jailbird, Ring of Fire, Ties That Bind, Tumbleweed, and the newly-released Devil in Disguise!

At the request of the U.S. Government, Caitlyn O’Rourke faked her death years ago, only to be reborn as the Cat—a deadly black-ops agent tasked with working for the shadowy organization Chameleon and doing the jobs that can’t be done in the light of day. Now, on the verge of taking down a notorious drug lord and rescuing a captured Chameleon agent, Cat is targeted for assassination…from within. But who’s making the call, and why?

As she attempts to uncover answers and stay alive, Cat finds herself working alongside Cody Kingsley, the mysterious senator who broke her heart and betrayed her long ago. Along with an inner circle of fellow agents, Cat and Cody must untangle the web of lies that surrounds them before it’s too late.

From the sultry streets of New Orleans to a secluded plantation in Ecuador to Washington, DC, Cat must elude an agent hell-bent on her destruction while figuring out how high up the ladder the conspiracy reaches. At the same time, she must work through her tumultuous and conflicting emotions where both Cody and fellow agent Galloway—who may or may not have her best interests at heart—are concerned.

A thrill ride of emotions, suspense, and action, Fool’s Game intertwines matters of the heart and survival …and the only thing certain is that Cat will never be the same.

Where to find Heather:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Thank you, David Gandy. You really are the perfect Gabriel Emerson.Read-a-long & Chat

From Enn:

 

Have you seen this?

No? Well take a moment to watch.

Now watch it again.

Are you still with me?

I have a treat if you are.

The lovely The SubClub Books is hosting a Gabriel Emerson chat on 7/13/13 at 5PM Est.

That’s right, Gabriel takes over SR’s Twitter.

On 7/12/13 (stretching into 7/13/13) in preparation, I’m hosting a Gabriel’s Inferno Read-a-Long on Twitter. Your mission should you choose to accept it is…

1. Wear kick ass heels
2. Pour a drink
3. Open your book
4. Tweet your favorite lines with the #GabrielsInferno hashtag
5. Tweet a photo of you, your kick ass heels, and your ereader and/or novel to me @ennbocci

No start time, just jump on when you can and send the photos to me. End time can be just before the chat starts on Saturday.

What will your kick ass heels and awesomely perfect lines get you?

How about either…

a Gabriel’s Inferno audio book or a set of foreign editions (with bookplates from SR)

Speaking of foreign editions, the Italian version of Gabriel’s Rapture has just been released.   If you haven’t seen it, yet the cover is gorgeous!!

See you soon!

Enn

www.sylvainreynard.com

Connect with Sylvain

About The Author

fluer-de-lisI am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {More About Sylvain}

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