Exactly a year ago, on 2nd of May 2014, I published my first novel: All Hallows at Eyre Hall.
I don’t know what I expected when I hit ‘publish’, because publishing was new to me. I didn’t have much of an online presence. I had about a dozen followers on my blog, no twitter, and Luccia Gray, my pen name and alter ego, was an unknown product of my imagination.
A year later, I have 319 followers and 14,000 views on my blog, 282 likes on my Author Facebook page, and over 2,000 followers on twitter, which means that many people know that Luccia Gray is a writer.
All Hallows at Eyre Hall has 37 reviews on Amazon.com, with an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars, and I’ve sold about one thousand ebooks. My Amazon Best Sellers Rank yesterday was #259,181 in the paid in kindle store. I also have 4.21 average rating on 33 ratings on Goodreads. I have no idea what this means in the bigger picture. I’m probably still a drop in the ocean, but I’m satisfied.
Now I’m a successful published author, because I’ve been an Amazon Bestseller on various occasions during the past year, and also because my book is being sold, read, and reviewed. Although I know more about indie authors and indie publishing, I’m still not sure what to expect as a writer in the long-term, but I do know that I’m going to keep on writing.
My career as a writer is a journey, not a race, and I’m not sure of the destination, except that the first stage of this journey includes writing the The Eyre Hall Trilogy.
The Eyre Hall Trilogy is a neo-Victorian Gothic Romance, set in Eyre Hall, the rebuilt Thornfield Hall, which was burnt down in Jane Eyre.
The trilogy takes up Jane’s life 22 years after her marriage to Edward Rochester, when she was a naïve 19-year-old, orphaned governess. In The Eyre Hall Trilogy, Mrs. Rochester is the mature matriarch and virtual administrator of the Rochester Estate, while her husband is lying on his deathbed, and unspeakable secrets, which rock Jane’s world, are gradually disclosed.
Book one, All Hallows at Eyre Hall, portrayed some dramatic and even shocking events, which escalated into an unexpected and unfortunate ending. Although there are several romances, it is a darker novel due to Rochester’s death, and the nature of the secrets revealed.
Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall, book two in the trilogy, takes up the story of the scattered and damaged characters, moving them on to experience more unexpected happenings, and surprising reunions and turns of events.
Although the plot is still thick with unexpected twists and some unpleasant turns, it is a more hopeful novel, as the diverse stories within the novel embark on a more promising journey, which is what I wanted to convey with this cover.
The highlight of the novel occurs around Christmas, 1867, when the members of the extended Rochester family: Jane, Richard, John, Annette, Adele and her fiancé, Mr. Greenwood and his son, Dante, their employees: Dr. Carter, Mr. Briggs, Michael, Susan, Simon, Beth, Daisy, Leah, Jenny, Nell, and Thomas, and some intriguing new characters, are reunited at Eyre Hall.
The action will take an unexpected turn with the death of a member of the household, in suspicious circumstances, on Twelfth Night, 6th of January.
The estimated publication date of Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall is the end of July, 2015
I’d like to thank Melody Simmons for the beautiful cover.
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Do you like my cover?
Would you be interested in beta reading?
Would you be interested in an advanced review copy (ARC)?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below or via email luccia.gray at gmail.com
Rereading Jane Eyre 
I love the cover. It looks really elegant! I also loved All Hallows’ at Eyre Hall. You were very kind to let me read it and I didn’t write a review because I’m too shy for that but I enjoyed it a lot. I’ve loved Jane Eyre since I was a teenager. I first watched it on TV with my mother and when my English was good enough I read it and re-read it. I’m looking forward to your second book and I hope we can get it on Amazon Spain. I don’t really know if I’d be helpful to you if I did a beta reading. I know when I like a book but maybe my comments may not mean much to you. However, I’ll definitely read it whenever I can. Good luck!
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Thank you for visiting and your kind comments on my blog, Elena 🙂
I’m so glad you liked All Hallows at Eyre Hall.
Please don’t be shy about writing a review, you only have to give it the stars you think it deserves and a short comment saying you enjoyed reading, you don’t even have to say why!
Another review on amazon.es would be great:)
Of course Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall will be available in Amazon.es, too!
I’ll be in touch regarding the ARC.
Have a great weekend, and please visit again 🙂
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It is indeed a gorgeous cover, Luccia. It sounds as if you’d had a great year. To many more!
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Thank you! It has been different to any other year in my life!
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Nice. 🙂
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Thank you, Matt 🙂
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What an elegant cover, Luccia. Gorgeous and eye-catching. I would love to be a beta reader but I am swamped with other books right now and am not sure I could do it in a short enough turn around time. What are you looking at with regard to your deadlines?
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I don’t think I’ll be ready for beta readers until the end of June. I’ll email you about it 🙂
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Smashing cover! The first cover drew me in with its darkly mysterious and historical cover. The second adds a sultry appeal to the time period and I like seeing your name big and bold! Congratulations on another milestone in the journey. You are doing good with your reviews and ratings! I’ll add the cover under debuts at the Bunkhouse Bookstore!
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Thank you! Yes I wanted a more alluring and exciting cover as the story progresses on a less dramatic note. I’m so glad I found Melody 🙂
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Congratulations Luccia you’ve had an excellent first year in publishing and it is so well deserved. I love the new cover and I shall enjoy eventually getting my hands on Twelfth Night at Eyres Hall. I’d really like to have offered to beta read for you but as you know I’m on a very tight schedule this summer myself and am not able to do justice to the job for you at the moment. I wish you all the best with your launch of the second in your trilogy 🙂
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Thank you, Georgia. A lot has happened in a year. I’m amazed when I think of it all:) now I feel I know what I’m doing, but it’s tough out there, as you know! Good luck with your trilogy, too:)
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Well done; great year. Many thoughts but first the cover looks stunning. Interesting placement of the hands? Is that important??! Don’t answer either way! Second I’d happily beta read though I’m not that quick. I will however make space for you!! Third I’d love to know about your author page on FB which I guess is separate from your personal one? How do you use it out of interest? And fourth it sounds to me with 1000 sales like your are doing a pretty good job! I’ll be old and grey before… wait! I am old and grey!!
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I’ll email you because they’re long answers:)
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look forward to it!
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Love the cover and the premise of the story. Not read Book 1. I would love an ARC, if still available. Either in PDF or mobi format. Email me at tarenn98@yahoo.com
I also am co-owner of My Book Addiction and More and My Book Addiction Reviews
Thank you!
AprilR
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Thank you for your kind offer, April. I’ll be in touch by email.
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Gorgeous cover! Love it.
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Thank you!
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The cover is gorgeous! I can’t wait to read the book.
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Thank you, Elizabeth💖
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I have been waiting MONTHS for the second book in the trilogy. Please publish it. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Jessica. It’s nearly there. I’ve taken a month off blogging to give it the final push. I’ll be in touch very soon 🌹💖
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