Black Hawk

Joanna here, talking about my new book, Black Hawk.

This is Adrian's story.  I don't know about anyone else, but I'm relieved the boy finally has his happy ending. 

We've met Hawker as a secondary character in the other books.  He's Hawker, or Adrian Hawker, or sometimes Sir Adrian Hawkhurst, depending who he's pretending to be and who he wants to impress.  He is deadly and sarcastic and maybe a bit too fond of sticking knives into people.  Naturally he has the making of a Romance hero.   
 
Two of the most dangerous spies of the Napoleonic War — on opposite sides, natch — fall in love.  Think Montague and Capulet.  Think Yankees and Red Sox.  Think Hannibal and Scipio Africanus.  Think about the owl and the hawk, two birds that  might share the sky for a while, but can't live together. 

Hawker rose up snarling out of the slums of London.  His mother was a country servant, forced into prostitution when she turned up pregnant.  She dies under the fist of a brutal customer, leaving Hawker to survive alone on the streets. By the time he's ten, he's becomes the most cunning thief and the most skilled, ruthless assassin in the service of the King of Thieves.  He's rescued from that life, by the British Service who have uses for his particular skill set.

Justine DeCabrillac, daughter of the nobility, is a woman just as formidable as Hawker.  Her parents die in the chaos of the Revolution and she is betrayed into a decadent child brothel.  She's rescued by a woman of the French Secret Police.  In time, Justine, too, becomes a great spy for France.

It was inevitable Justine and Adrian would meet.  The shifting intrigues of war and peace between England and France bring them together again and again, sometimes working toward a common goal.  Sometimes wholly at odds.  But a friendship forms between these two young spies, the best of their generation, based on common knowledge and common respect.  Spies of different nations have more in common with each other than with the armies clashing across battlefield or the civilians at home in bed. 

They become lovers. 
This is a great error.

For Montague and Capulet, owl and hawk, tragedy is inevitable.  The demands of
loyalty will drag them apart. 
But they can't seem to stop.

Then, in two decisive confrontations — one on the steps of the Louvre, one outside Paris as armies advance to take the city — they hurt each other.  They do the unforgivable. They speak words that can't be taken back. 

Their love story is over.

Ironically, years later, when England and France are at peace and Justine has given up her old spy games, she learns of a plot to discredit and destroy Adrian.  She's attacked on her way to warn him and staggers into British Service Headquarters, bleeding.

As Adrian carries her upstairs, unconscious, he knows it's a second chance at love.  If they can work together, they might just find out who wants to kill Justine and frame Adrian.  If not, they'll both fall.

And, an excerpt:

 

His chin was shadowed with a need to shave. She had known a boy three years ago. She did not really know this young man.

I do not know how to ask. Everything I can say is ugly. I do not want this to be ugly.

She gave her attention to pouring hot water onto the tea leaves. Rain drummed on the roof. Since they were not talking, since they were not looking at each other, it seemed very loud. He said, “As soon as you drink that, you should leave. It’s getting worse out there.”

I must do this now, before I lose my courage. “I am hoping to spend the night.”  She chose words carefully, to clarify matters beyond any possibility of misunderstanding. “It is my wish to spend the night with you, in your bed.”

Hawker was silent. He would be this self-possessed if tribesmen of the Afghan plains burst through the door and attacked him with scimitars. The refusal to be ruffled was one of his least endearing traits.

Time stretched, very empty of comment, while she swirled the teapot gently and he was inscrutable.  Finally, he took the oil lamp from the end of the mantel and busied himself adjusting the wick, lighting it with a paper spill from the fire. “The hell you say.”

 

In the books you love, what love stories were never told? 

For me, it's the story of Cat in Sharon and Tom Curtis' Windflower.  I would love to read his story.

I'll be giving away a copy of Black Hawk to one lucky commentator.

 

 

Comments

[Beebs]

How strange you should ask that question Joanna, I was just thinking as I read this post that the 'King of Thieves' would make for an intriguing story.

Other than that, while I absolutely adore Anne's Devil Riders series, I was re-reading Perfect Waltz (Sebastian *sigh*) and I would love to read a HEA for Cass and Dorie after their tragic early start in life.

[Tracey Devlyn]

Joanna, I can't wait to read Justine and Hawker's story. It sounds fraught with gut-gripping opportunities! At the moment, I cannot recall a love story that was never told. Maybe after I have my coffee. :)

Congrats on your release!

[Liz]

Eva and Johann in Helen MacInnes' Horizon. Star crossed lovers in another war.

Best wishes for success of Black Hawk and thanks for giveaway.

[Irisheyes]

Hi Joanna - Just wanted to offer up my personal thank you for telling your secondary character's stories. I remember getting a glimpse of Hawker in The Spymaster's Lady and wanting to know more (pretty much like every character you create LOL). I also remember how thrilled I was that you were going to tell Doyle and Maggie's story, too. That was a huge surprise since they were already a couple and not many authors will go back and do a prequel.

What stories were never told? As soon as I read that question, Graves and Winnie from Lorraine Heath's Scoundrels of St. James series came to mind. I remember being soooo disappointed when I found out that the series was ending and their story wouldn't be told. I was so sure from the first book in the series that she was setting them up for their own book. When I read that he wasn't getting his own book and she had never intended for them to be together it really threw me.

[Charlotte]

Wonderful book! I'm hoping Severine will get her own HEA eventually. Please don't enter me in the drawing -- I pre-ordered on Kindle and finished before Nov 2nd!

[deniz]

Congratulations Jo! Love the imagery you've chosen for Adrian, especially that kiss.
I could have used more about Anne and Gilbert *together*, especially in Anne's House of Dreams. Anne was always too busy spending time with the neighbours!

[Kate Mc]

Hi Jo,
I read the first book in a series once and it had two more at least potential heroes with a story but they were never told. No one but me apparently was interested in hearing/reading those stories.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Beebs --

>>I would love to read a HEA for Cass and Dorie after their tragic early start in life.<<<

There's common Romance trope where the protagonists have had a hard past. They have to overcome that. Have to deal with the scars it's left.

Looking at my own work, I find I've done that again and again. Obviously I like writing that kind of story.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Tracey --

I have sometimes thought Lydia's story (from Pride and Prejudice,) might be interesting.

Jane Austen consigns her to a vulgar and improvident life.

But she's very young indeed in P&P. A mid teen, for Pete's sake. what if she were widowed and rather suddenly grew up? What if the recklessness and courage were called upon?

Good story there, if we mentally expunge Austen's epilogue.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Liz --

When we see folks held apart by an outside force -- like the circumstances of war -- we do think of might-have-beens.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Irisheyes --

And I guess we'll always wonder why that couple didn't attract her enough to write.

I'm impressed she knew from early on in her series what books she'd write. That's loong range planning. So excellent.

I'll admit I never have any idea what's going to happen past the book I'm working on.

For instance, I didn't know I was going to write Pax's story till I was doing the main Pax scene in Black Hawk.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Charlotte --

I don't see myself writing Severine's story any time soon.

But who knows?

She's another of those characters created to be secondary. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the 'lost love stories' are because the characters were always meant to be secondary.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Deniz --

Oh *grin*.

You're putting your finger on one of the characteristics of Romance genre. It's 'about' the love story.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Kate McC --

And sometimes the writer just wants to move on. She has stories to tell, places to go . . .

[Dee]

I really can't think of an untold love story right now, mostly because if I find the characters sympathetic, I'll make up my own story for them. Interesting about Liz's earlier comment on Horizon. MacInnes's war stories did have that poignancy. After all, While Still We Live's couple was unlikely to ever survive (especially with the knowledge of hindsight). My personal favorite was Neither Five Nor Three and that ending was so bittersweet; all the hints are there for a positive resolution but I had doubts they'd ever be able to overcome the obstacles. That's one reason it's on my keeper shelf; I keep hoping the next time I read it things will work out better. Sorry, didn't mean to make this a post about another author! Anyway, congrats on the release and I am planning on tracking down this read as it sounds great.

[joanna bourne]

No. No. I LOVE to hear about books.

The whole question of how we resolve the bittersweet ending is fascinating. What do we do with a 'finis' that leaves ends dangling? With characters who are cut off in the middle of their story?

And as you point out, sometimes it's the 'unfinished story' stays on the keeper shelf.

[Christine]

If I had to pick characters who's love story was never told I would have to go with Jo and Laurie from Little Women. I know, I know, he ends up with Amy and she with old Professor Bhaer but my 10 year old's heart still wants them together.

Like a previous poster, I'd love to read Severine's story someday. Growing up with Maggie and Doyle and being Justine's sister how could she not be facinating? Congratulations on The Black Hawk!

[Gina Black]

Joanna, I'm with you on wanting Cat's story.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Gina --

I think there's a huge society of us, mourning the Curtises decision to stop writing. So sad.

Not that that would give us Cat's story, of course.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Christine --

Yes! I didn't want Jo to marry the professor. I wanted her to marry somebody exciting.

I wanted her to become Dr Who's companion.

[Gina Black]

Joanna, wouldn't it be lovely if the Curtises decided to self-publish their backlist for the e-market and in the process got inspired to work on it? A person can dream (which is sometimes how writers are born, eh?).

[Kim]

Congratulations on the new release.

Everyone keeps asking Julia Quinn to write the story of the Bridgerton's mother. She's a widow who deeply loved her husband and is integrel in the series. Since the reader knows that the love of her life dies, JQ is reluctant to pen the second chance at love scenario.

I tend to agree. When you've set up an entire series that the matriarch married her once in a lifetime love, how does a book with a possible second husband work? She's in a different stage of life, but all the prior books portray her as still in love.

[Gwyn]

I know there are several, but I can't think of a single one at the moment. Isn't that always the way? I'm so looking forward to reading this book! I'll keep shaking my head to see if any unwritten hero stories shake loose.

[Na S.]

That is a good question!
In Brenda Joyce's Deadly series I felt that Rick Bragg's love story was never told. Similarly I wanted to see Francessa and Calder's love develop more. The series ended because of low sales which makes me sad. I hope to see it revived in the future.

[Melanie Friedman]

Hello Jo!

Oh what an great question!!! Judith James' BROKEN WING had a secondary character, Ross, Earl of Huntington. I really, really loved him; almost as much as Gabriel the hero. I would have loved to read his happily ever after!

Melanie
www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com
Joanna Bourne’s ‘Hook-a-Book’ is ‘THE FIRE ROSE’!

[Annie]

I like Kim's suggestion of a love story for the Bridgerton mum. I know it's practically anathema for the romance genre, but I believe in second chances and second loves.

I got all intrigued with Felicity in BH and started making up backstory about her as I read. Totally wrong, of course, but I just couldn't stand not knowing more.

[Quilt Lady]

Hi Joanna, I have heard a lot of good things about your new book The Black Hawk and I can't wait to read it.

To answer your question I would love to see Gone With the Wind with a happy ever after. It has always been one of my favorite reads.

[LouisaCornell]

So far I have been fortunate in that those secondary characters who struck me as worthy of having their own story told eventually do have their story told. There is one particular highly touted romance novel in which I truly wanted the hero to end up with someone else, anyone else, because I detested the hero and the heroine at the beginning of the book, but he grew and she didn't. I wanted to scream at him "Run, man! Run far and fast, she will never make you happy!" I guess that in and of itself is a testament to the writer's skill!

[joanna bourne]

Hi Kim --

And it's so much what people want to write. There are stories that just come to us, that feel natural to us.

Maybe she'll suddenly 'see' that story, though. Could happen.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Gwyn --

*g* You don't get graded on the comment. You really don't.

And I understand about brain freeze. There are times I sit there looking at the computer, muttering . . . That big island in the Mediterranean. Not Malta. The other one. Name, name, name. What's it called?

[joanna bourne]

Hi Na --

That is so sad, and it's amazing that it could happen to Joyce of all people.

In a perfect world . . .

[joanna bourne]

Hi Melanie --

Yes. Exactly. There's a great example. I know writers go on to another project that calls them. Sometimes I hate to leave their fictive world and the people there.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Annie --

Y'know. That Second Chance At Love trope is the frame story in Black Hawk. I don't take advantage of all those possibilities, but I pulled in a lot of elements from that.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Quilt --

I would so much like to see a happy ending for Gone With The Wind. Absolutely. They deserve it. They've grown in the story. It's all set up for a happy ending. And then . . .

[joanna bourne]

Hi Louisa --

You're right. When you end the book wanting to grab the characters and make them do something else -- because you care -- the author has done her job.

She might have driven you to distraction, but it's a good distraction.

[Amy Kathryn]

I must be living right because I can't think of a beloved character that the author did not provide a story for (thanks stalker fan girls!). Some of this may be due to the fact that I usually wait for a series or at least a series arc or contract to be completed before starting...I am a serious glommer and have little to no patience to get my fix. The few times I have come into a series at the beginning and have had to wait with everyone else have been excruciating! I was one who waited until all the Harry Potter books were published and then read them.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Amy Kathryn --

I love it when a series neatly sorts everybody out with right partner. I do worry though about poor Leonie and all the years after the Duke of Avon, inevitably, pre-deceased her.

[chey]

I always thought that Gone with the Wind should have been the fist book in a series. Then we could find out more.

[Anne Gracie]

I've been practically stalking the mailman, because my copy of Black Hawk hasn't arrived yet (gnash, gnash.) Maybe next week.

<< I was re-reading Perfect Waltz (Sebastian *sigh*) and I would love to read a HEA for Cass and Dorie after their tragic early start in life.>>
Beebs, It's not always the author's decision wether a character gets a story or not. Authors write for a living and in my experience, it's usually the publisher's decision. I really wanted to write Cassie and Dorie's stories, too -- have HEAs planned out for them both, but it was time for a new contract and my editor at the time was more keen to have me start on the new series I'd proposed - the Devil Riders.

And now the same thing has happened with Marcus's story in the Devil Riders' series. I'd talked to my ed in July about it and had gained her go-ahead, and had started on it. It would have been part of my new contract, but when my publishers saw the new series I'd proposed, they wanted me to jump straight into that instead. So now poor Marcus is on the back burner, too.

But those characters still are alive and living in my head, quietly nagging for their stories, so I hope one day to write them.

[Anne Gracie]

whether (sigh)
How come I only see the typos as they're fading off the screen, too late to correct them...

[joanna bourne]

Hi Chey --

They tried that with the recent sequel, about which probably the less said the better.

It's not that I think the book is unfinished, so much as I wish it had been an HEA finish.

I wonder, sometimes, why it wasn't.

[Barbara Elness]

I just finished Shana Galen's Lord and Lady Spy and I'd love to see Agent Blue have his story told.

[joanna bourne]

I have this on my TBR shelf and am looking forward to it tremendously.

While I don't know this couple, I very much want anybody named Agent Blue to find his HEA.

[Betty Hamilton]

OMG.... I would LOVE to win this book!!!

[Beebs]

Hi Anne

Boo to publishers!

I really hope you do eventually get to write Cassie, Dorie amd Marcus' stories cos I'd really love to read them.

Fangirl squee for a new series which I'm sure will be great too.

[Janga]

First, I love The Black Hawk. I've already read it twice, once for the story and once to just delight in the wonderful prose. I wrote a love letter to it in my five-star review. It's one of my favorite books of 2011.

Anne, I'm sad we won't get Marcus's story soon, but I never give up hope. After all, I'm one of those readers who waited seven years for Jo to give us Rothgar's story and twice that for Dare's. By the time Connie Brockway publishes Giles Strand's story, I will have waited fifteen years. That may be my record.

I do wonder if the changes in publishing may see more authors epublishing books in a series that publishers lost interest in or writing novellas for characters whose HEAs don't require a full-length book.

[Linda Banche]

Joanna, I love your books. I love stories with unconventional women who do something important (unconventional where they break some dumb society rule doesn't count). Justine sounds like my kind of woman.

I also like adventure stories, and yours always have adventure in them, with the woman as the man's equal and they kick butt alongside each other. Finding this kind of historical is difficult. Yours are some of the few out there.

I pre-ordered THE BLACK HAWK, and it arrived yesterday. Am I going to have a good time.

[Maureen]

It is so exciting that Adrian has his story. I can't really think of any characters whose story I wanted told right now but I am sure there are plenty.

[Mary Ann]

Hi there, Jo! Congrats on the release of Adrian's story! As one of his most ardent fans, I'm thrilled! Lessee...other stories. I completely agree about Cat. Have always wondered about him -- thought he was by far the most intriguing character in 'Windflower.' Likewise, Stuart in Marsha Canham's 'Bound by the Heart' (1984). Great secondary character who deserves his own happily ever after.

[Gail]

I am brand new to your books Ms.Bourne so I really am not qualified to answer the question.But I love that cover.Nicholsterry27@yahoo.com

[Diane Sallans]

My heart breaks for a love lost, but sounds like they get it together in this book for their HEA.
I couldn't think of a good example to your question, but the other commenters had some excellent ideas. Had to make a few notes on some other books to look for.
sallans d at yahoo dot com

[V.Gracechild]

I've always wanted to know more about Constantine and Sunshine (SUNSHINE, by Robin McKinley) Theirs is not precisely a love story, but it is a deep companionship - I often wonder what would happen next. Or maybe there are stories that don't need to be tidied up into neat little parcels but give free rein to the reader's imagination.

I already have the Black Hawk in e-format and paperback

[Danise]

I am one of those who thought Violet Bridgetodeserved to live beyond motherhood. I think. It would be a nice subplot to another story.

[Danise]

Whoops! Still getting used to my phone...Make that Bridgerton and add a couple of spaces...

[Carol]

Hi Joanna,

I can't wait to read Adrian and Justine's story. The one I think about is George Faulkner from Suzanne Brockmann's Bodyguard book. I hope she will write his story one day. Also in Susan Elizabeth Phillips stories, they are still children but I would love to have Chip and Rosie's story one day.

[LilMissMolly]

I just love Joanna! I have several of her books and this one sounds to be just as great. Can't wait to read it!
lvsgund at gmail.com

[Debbie]

Cat, definitely. Rand Morgan, also, actually, but first and foremost Cat.
On a much lesser level, I'm no JRWard fan, but I would like to read the books about Sean O'Banion's brothers.
And Severine. Yep.

[Minna]

Well, Nora Roberts has this Night Tales series. I would have liked to see what happened to the next generation. Ok, she told what happened to Boyd's and Cilla's daughter, but I would have wanted to know what happened to everyone else, especially what happened to the children of Deborah and "Nemesis". Did any of of them inherit his strange powers?

[joanna bourne]

Hi Minna --

Interesting choice. I'd never wondered about that, and now I do ...

Don't know whether to be glad new questions have popped up in my mind or not. Glad, on the whole. I like to imagine stuff like this.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Debbie --

You're right. I'd be glad to see Rand again in any context. Secondary character would be fine. I like secondary characters as much as I like protagonists.

[joanna bourne]

Hi lilmiss --

Thank you so very much. I had fun writing Black Hawk.

Well, maybe not so much fun when I was actually doing the work. The writing process itself can get anxious and hard.

But now that it's done I'm glad I wrote it.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Carol --

I wonder if that is one of the possible stories Brockman has on the back burner . . .

[joanna bourne]

Hi Danise . . .

I feel as though there aren't enough books about people falling in love win their fifties and forties. There are LOTS of readers this age who would love to see stories like that.

Particularly dear to my heart is the secondary love story in SEP's Nobody's Baby But Mine.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Valerie --

I loved Sunshine and always felt as if the story cut off abruptly. McKinley, though, never meant for this to be followed by a sequel. Always made me disappointed.

Maybe it's more a YA . . .

http://robinmckinleysblog.com/2008/12/02/there-is-no-sequel-to-sunshine/

[joanna bourne]

Hi Diane Sallens --

I don't so much get to write 'lost love' books because I always stay 'in genre' -- and they are really interesting books.

In Black Hawk though I get to write both the lost love story and the HEA. Win-win for me.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Anne Gracie --

I have not yet had the publisher push me away from a story I wanted to write in favor of another one. All I can say is Ouch. So sorry.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Betty Hamilton --

I don't pick the winners myself, but I will wish you luck.

Some library systems have my work. And the Amazon site has a look inside the book feature that gives enough of a browse a reader can probably tell whether she wants to commit to buying.

(Black Hawk is on sale by about 20% just at the moment.)

[joanna bourne]

Hi Janga --

I think you've put your finger on it about authors self-pubbing novellas that 'finish off' a series or tie up loose ends.

The whole industries is getting shaken up. More choices. More freedom.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Linda Banche --

n structure, Black Hawk is a frame story holding a series of linked novellas (novellettes?) I look at the same characters at different ages. I look at a long term relationship at four or five different stages.

I hope you enjoy the book. I hope it works for you.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Maureen --

I'm kinda relieved, actually, that this book is written. I felt a lot of pressure on me to tell Adrian's story.

OTOH, once I 'met' Justine in my mind, it got much easier.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Gail --

I do hope you enjoy the books. The cover is well designed. It's even prettier in person than on screen.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Mary Ann --

I like to think Cat went on to medical school. Maybe in Edinburgh. So maybe he found a no-nonsense Scots lady with a tart tongue and a need for him.

[Ginny]

Mercutio's story in Romeo and Juliet. You already know the ending of his life and why but what happened beforehand.

[joanna bourne]

Mercutio is one of my great fictional loves.

He has maybe a hundred lines in the play. It's four hundred years later. And still I fall in love with him.

Now THAT's great characterization.

[Renee]

I am really looking forward to Adrian's story. I loved the Spymaster's Lady in both print and audio. Is there any plan to issue Black Hawk as an audiobook?

[Debbie]

Definitely Cat's story. For that matter, Rand Morgan's would also be fascinating.I fall in to the group that would welcome anything by those two.

On a very different level, I'd like Jessica Bird (JRWard) to write the stories of the other two OBanyon brothers. Don't think that is ever happening either.

Now that you've given us Adrian, I think I am going to be longing for Severine. Apart form letting us see more of Maggie and Doyle and Adrian and Justine, I think her persepctive as a girl brought up in the world of spying would be fascinating. And she seems to very much know her own mind.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Debbie --

My guess is JR Ward has a whole series of books planned out (and they're all going to be wonderful.)

I, too, would love either Cat or Rand's story. I have never quite resigned myself to the knowledge that ain't going to happen.

[joanna bourne]

Hi Renee --

The audiobook to-be-or-not-to-be is decided deep within Penguin. I suspect midnight meetings in an oak grove and the casting of knucklebones. Or maybe they look at sales figures . . .

In any case, nobody tells me anything. The author is always the last to know.

[Renee]

Thank you, Joanna for your reply. I hope Penguin in the dark of night (LOL) makes the right decision and picks the right narrator, too. Kirsten Potter from Spymaster's Lady was absolutely wonderful.

[joanna bourne]

Wasn't she remarkable!!

I think she hasn't narrated a lot of audiobooks. I hope this is the beginning of a great book-dramatizing career for her. She is so good