Connie Glynn will be releasing a series of books called The Rosewood Chronicles beginning later in 2017.
In a recent video, Connie revealed that the first book in the upcoming Young Adult series is currently available for pre-order and will be released on 21 September 2017. Two sequels will follow, the first in 2018.
She said the series, centered around “a thrilling world of parties, politics, and badass princesses”, could eventually consist of five books, as yet untitled.
According to Penguin Random House, the first book will find one of the main character, Lottie Pumpkin, starting her new year at the “infamous Rosewood Hall” where she ends up sharing a room with the Crown Princess of Maradova, Ellie Wolf.
“Due to a series of lies and coincidences, 14-year-old Lottie finds herself pretending to be the princess so that Ellie can live a more normal teenage life,” the blurb continues. “Lottie is thrust into the real world of royalty – a world filled with secrets, intrigue and betrayal. She must do everything she can to help Ellie keep her secret, but with school, the looming Maradovian ball, and the mysterious new boy Jamie, she’ll soon discover that reality doesn’t always have the happily ever after you’d expect…”
Publisher Ruth Knowles said: “Connie oozes creativity, and her energy for and commitment to this series is infectious […] Her writing, and the cast she’s created, has such spark and shows such skill as a storyteller.”
“It’s hard to pick one favourite scene,” Connie tells TenEighty. “Ellie is definitely a bit of a scene-stealer – she’s both outgoing and has very little self-control, so naturally hers are some of my favourite scenes to write – but if I had to pick, it would probably be the ‘pool’ scene, and the one that follows it (and that’s all I’m gonna say).”
When asked about her characters and where she drew inspiration from, Connie says: “The two main characters Lottie and Ellie are actually named after my closest friends who I met at university, Charlotte and Ellen.
“Charlie’s from Essex and loves Captain America, getting her nails done, and drinking wine, and Ellen is a veteran hardcore punk girl from Southampton who could probably kick your ass. They also brought me a lot of KFC when I was in hospital with a broken leg so obviously I owe them my life.”
On writing the book, Connie explains: “It was very natural. Writing has become as normal to me as breathing. I can’t remember a time in my life where I wasn’t working on some kind of big writing project, it feels weird and unnatural now to have nothing to work on to the point where on my first day off after I finished Book One I got so antsy that I immediately started Book Two.”
She added that she finds it difficult write if someone is sitting near her. “If I have someone sitting beside me I feel very judged and as if there’s this added pressure of not lingering in one place for too long.
“I like to just spill all my feelings onto a page, but I’m also quite slow,” she continues. “I want to give every word the attention it needs to make sure I’m expressing exactly what I’m picturing and feeling in my head.”
Fans have expressed anticipation for the release and many people have congratulated to Connie on completing her first book:
I'm so happy Connie's #SecretProject was a series of books..it will be joy to be exposed to what her imagination has to offer 😊💓 Can't wait!
— becca ♡ (@sakuraconnie) January 23, 2017
I can't believe Connie wrote a book??! This is so exciting 😁😁 !!
— سمية (@pxperchain) January 23, 2017
@noodlerella has writen a book!!! Even when she was on holiday,even with a broken leg.I RESPECT HER SO MUCH
She was born to make history❤💕 pic.twitter.com/HPcsBQm3rC— irina loves connie (@HerreraIrinaR) January 24, 2017
The hardest challenge to overcome when writing this book, Connie admits, was self-doubt. “Even though I’ve been writing pretty much my whole life, I really struggle to share my work with anyone. I think it’s important to remember, in any creative project that you undergo, that you can never completely control the way people interoperate it and just enjoy the experience.”
Penguin Random House will host a special pre-publication event to launch The Rosewood Chronicles onto the world stage at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Speaking to her audience in the announcement video, Connie said: “I just want to say one massive thank you so much to all of you for being so incredibly patient, as you have with me, these last few months while I finish my first book, it really means so much to me!
“I just can’t wait for you guys to come on this journey”, she added. “It’s going to be wild.”
Photo by Elle Meadows.
Want more?
On the theme of books, Oli White has announced his second novel. Alternatively, why not read about Suli Breaks‘s Not A Role Model show!
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