New Pub Date for Crimson Death
Crimson Death, the new Anita Blake novel, will be published on September 13, 2016. For those of you who follow my blog, you know I’m still writing the book, what you don’t know is that I finished it once already. I typed, The End, one glorious morning as I watched the sun rise; but once the euphoria of the writing high faded and I got some sleep, I knew something was wrong. I’d known something was wrong for weeks, maybe months, but definitely weeks. I was too close to finishing the book, so I ignored my muse and my characters arguing with me. One character in particular wasn’t happy. Damian, who started life as a Viking until one dark night he and his brothers in arms tried to raid the wrong castle. She-Who-Made-Him, a master vampire that traumatized him so badly he’s afraid to speak her name, held him as a virtual slave for centuries. She let him go, and he still doesn’t know why, but he was allowed to go to America where he became a manager at one of the hottest dance clubs in the country, Danse Macabre. In fact, he first appears in the book that introduces the club. The Killing Dance is the sixth book in the series, and this is Damian’s introduction:
“I TURNED to find another new vampire. He was tall and slender with skin the color of clean white sheets, but sheets didn’t have muscle moving underneath, sheets didn’t glide down the steps and pad godlike across a room. His hair fell past his shoulders, a red so pure it was nearly the color of blood. The color screamed against his paleness.”
Originally, I thought Crimson Death would be a short novel like my books, Micah and Jason, called Damian, but very quickly I realized it was going to be a big book. I believe my largest word count was 300,000 words. I’m one of those writers that writes long and then cuts, but this was excessive, even for me. It was another clue that my muse and I were debating with each other. The original plot had Damian kidnapped and Anita coming to his rescue. It would take me typing to the end, or what I thought was the end, to be willing to listen to my muse, and to Damian. He finally got through to me and not literally said, but basically told me, “I’ve been in the series since book six and now I’m finally getting my own story in book twenty-five and I’m just the damsel in distress. All those newer characters that have come on stage and been heroes, or major love interests, or something more than just the victim du jour, and now I’m just as unhappy, just as powerless, just as afraid as I began. Nineteen books and I haven’t grown at all.” He was right, and it was unusual for me, because I’m all about the character growth and letting my fictional friends have interesting lives, except for him. Damian had been almost static, I don’t know why, but he finally stepped up and threw the gauntlet down.
“You can do better than this,” he told me, and he was right. I turned my plot on its ear and now Damian is going back to Ireland to help solve a mystery. He’s going back to face his greatest fears to save lives as a consultant with the Irish authorities about their sudden vampire problem. Sudden, because Ireland isn’t supposed to have any vampires. It’s one of the few countries on the planet that has no folklore about them. The only dead that walk in Irish myths are ghosts and the shades of heroes. But Damian knows differently, he knows that there is a vampire so powerful and so frightening that to even speak her name is to risk her power seeking you out, even across an ocean. She-Who-Made-Him says the vampires plaguing Dublin are not her doing, and that she’s grown weaker since Damian left her side. U. S. Marshal Ted Forrester, AKA Edward, is already there acting as a consultant. He wants fellow marshal Anita Blake to come help hunt the undead and to bring the only vampire that might know the truth about what’s happening. Anita thought Damian was going home, but Ireland was never home, it was the place where he died.
75 thoughts on “New Pub Date for Crimson Death”
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What a wonderful wedding gift this will be for me! Glad you’re going in a different direction.
This will be my Birthday present to myself. I always look forward to a new book and I will be happy when I can get my hands on this one.
Holy Crap! Can’t wait!
Oh, damn, Laurell…I cannot WAIT to read this one! My ancestry is mostly Irish, so this will be a cool read for me. I don’t raise the dead, but there has always been parts of Anita that have struck a cord with me, which is one of the (many) reasons I love her character.
Oh ny goodness!! I am so excited to read this with the new plot! I am almost bouncing in my chair. This is the book I want to read!!
Wow looking forward too reading this book I will loose sleep I know it.
I am literally squirming in anticipation!!
I can’t wait love all your books you keep us on the edge every time.
OMG – September’s too far away!! Can’t wait to get my hands on it! I’ll be up all night reading.
Damien has been fine in the other books as a victim because he has never really steppd up he keeps letting Anita down or so it has felt like for me. Maybe he has just now (and maybe his new lady has helped) decided that its time to put on his big girl panties and step up.
A viking needing big GIRL panties? C’mon we can do better than thus. Vampire society is violent & based on power so he’s at a disadvantage. Still I’d think twice about provoking him
Super excited! Will you ever consider releasing your unedited trimmings for us to drool over?
Im so happy i almost screamed i have been waiting for Damian to have more storyline and more love from Anita when this book comes out it will be a sleepless night for me like all your books
I’m so excited to have one of your books out on my birthday! I can’t wait! Thank you for the update.
We’ll wait cos we know it’ll be worth waiting for!
Always wise to listen to your muse and inner thoughts. We have intuition for a reason, and at the end of the day, we are wiser & more thankful that we listened.
OMG!! I am soooo excited for this book and even more happy that Damian gets to be more than what he has been, finally! He has been like n adopted puppy that was only adopted to rescue him/save him, but really was placed on the back burner. Even as part of Anita’s triumvirate, he wasn’t a huge part of everything even though i think they could be of a huge power/significance to everyone if they really worked on that triumvirate.
Damn, I’m glad Damian is becoming. To be so tied to Anita, it amazed me how much of a nonentity he has been. Sounds like a good epiphany.
Great opening I can not wait until September…..Damian has never been at the top of my list but figured we were going to have to deal with him at some point……love Anitaverse and can’t want to visit again
Can’t wait until it comes out. I’ve read the series several times since I was introduced back in 2013.
I can’t wait for this book just like all the others. But I’m happy to wait as long as it takes because if you are not happy with the book I’m sure I won’t be either. You have been making me happy with your books for years.
I am looking forward to this one. I love your strong characters and fascinating story lines. I have never been able to guess the endings of any of your books and can’t to start at book one again to read the newest addition to the story. As you stated your characters have grown as we have gotten to know them and love them.
I look forward to the month of June. Not only because it’s my birthday month but because you always seem to have a new book out around then. But, alas, I think I can wait until September to see Damian finally have his chance to shine. I’m wishing that he and Anita grow closer because truthfully besides Nicky, he’s my favorite.
Wow what can be said….waiting unpatiently
I love the way you write the simplest of things to the most intense scenes! I have so much respect for you and all of your’s, not just the characters in the books but in your everyday life. I find it truly amazing the amount of research and real life experience you put into your writing. Thank you for all of it and for being a role model for so many in so many different areas of life!
Merry ye met and Blessed Be!
Tempest
YEAH – finally! I have been waiting for a meaty, BIG story about Damian since I met him – I felt exactly as he told you- he’s been there, loyal, intense, damaged but so strong – waiting for HIS story to be heard – and he absolutely is not the damsel in distress – can’t wait for this!
I just love this series I get lost in the books I feel like am one of the characters can’t wait for this book I just love Damien ☺ and Edward is just power on his own
OMG. I have been in Love with your books since the beginning. I can’t wait for your latest adventure. Please keep them coming.
I can’t even explain how much I am excited for this book! I love Damien, I always felt he didn’t get enough mention even though he is part of a triumvirate. He key to Anita’s life and all of her important lovers life’s but for the longest seems like an afterthought. As silly as it sounds I adore you because you have given me my two favorite series that I love. But I’m sooo happy Damien is getting star time in a book. He deserves it. Plus I’m nosy and have always wanted to know his back story lol.
About time! I’ve been waiting to hear more of Damian’s story for years!
I’m on obsidian butterfly right now for the 6th time. On my countdown to Crimson Death. It’s unfortunate that I will probably finish all 24 before September the way I’ve been reading through them. Once I’m on my Anita kick, there isn’t much that can slow me down or throw me off the story!
Maybe when I’m finished I’ll start my Merry Gentry series again. It’s been a minute since I’ve visited her world of fey ?
Glad to be able to have a story with Damian . Wish it was coming sooner, but I understand the muse has to decide if things are right or not.But, I have pre-ordered it. So, I will just have to wait a few months longer then the June I thought at first. Oh well, that is life. Things change…I will still be happy when it does come out. Just as I am each time you put a book out.
I have to say that is quite brave, because if I was in Damian’s position, so afraid of Moroven/Nemhain that she’s his version of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named I don’t think I would leave the country. Much less to go back to my place of death where even the slightest possibility of her still remaining there exists.
OMG, I can’t wait to read this Damien is one of my favourite characters. I’ll be sitting on my hands until it comes out….
Can’t wait can’t wait!!! I’ve got all your books, even have a cpl signed…looking forward to another Merry novel as well, Sholto dying had me bawling!! You inspire such great emotion with everything you write…congrats I feel we have grown up together and I turn 36 this year ?
I was sooo bummed about Sholto dying…I wanted him brought back somehow. There’s plenty of other useless cannonfodder hanging around to kill-off. He was awesome and soo sweet!
I am thrilled that he threw down the gauntlet! Your best stories seem to come when the characters do that to you, because then they seem to write their own story and Damien has been so quiet in the background, never sinking his teeth into the story, so to speak! I promise that no matter when the book comes out, I will not read it until I have time to savor it, because I know it’s gonna kick some serious ass! My heart will pound and why do I get the feeling that I may need to have a box of tissue nearby?
This sounds so exciting I can hardly wait, I also hope now that he walk in the sun that this is explored more & he overcomes his terror of the sun & for what she who made him put him & others through I.hope.she is destroyed in sunlight. Sounds like we are waiting for an amazing book. Love to Laurell & her family.
Mrs laurel Hamilton I bought all the antia blake series books and I bought almost all of your Mary gentry series to to read over the summer can’t wait until your book comes out in September of this year
I hope and shiver…..maybe Olaf is coming with Edward…?!
I can not wait to read this. I’ve been a fan for years and repeated re-read your Merry Gentry series and the Anita Blake series. I even re-read the series from beginning to end every time I hear a new book is coming. I better get started, LOL! Congrats!
The only thing I have ever hated about your books is waiting for the next one to come out. Can’t wait for Damian…..it’s like going on vacation, the anticipation of going is unbearable but always depressing when it’s over,.. already anticipating the next time. Love your books!!
Please please give us an Audible Pre-order? <3 Must have audiobook!
Only author I buy hard cover. Can’t wait
Knew you had been here (Ireland) Can’t wait to see the results
Sounds awesome. I had already preordered, as usual. Can’t wait to read it! My favorite series of all time. Worth the wait! Being in education, I hardly ever say come on September, but please come soon. Yay.
I enjoy the way you bring depth to your characters. They always have an interesting story to tell. I’m glad Damian spoke out. I look forward to reading his tale.
An Edward book and a Damian book! So awesome 🙂
Wonderful—can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I have read every Anita Blake book so far.. I love your writing and all those wonderful characters you create from your fertile imagination. Thank you for so many happy reading hours
The change you are doing sounds absolutely fascinating. Worth the wait for a few more extra months. I’m excited to see Edward in another book, but a growth on Damian?! Finally! I’ve been waiting for something like this since first reading about Damian in the Anita Blake Series. Currently re-reading the whole series until this new book comes out.
: 3
I can’t wait to read it. It sucks that I must wait for paperback to come out though. I’ve always bought your books as paperbacks and to start buying hardcovers would totally ruin my good organization (lol). I’m still waiting for Dead Ice’s paperback debut so maybe you could try convincing them to release it earlier (for the sake of my collection! Haha) Seriously though, can’t wait to read it.
Wow! I like this new direction you decided to take with Damion. I was wondering why he was still a character, except for being in the triumerivant. He is not a lead character. But, now you give him a reason to live longer. I love Edward, besides Anita, my favorite character in your books. I understand why you pushed your date back. I guess I have to wait patiently, sitting on my hands wanting to get up, for the book in to come out in September. Thanks for your wonderful works you bring to us.
My birthday is September 17th so like others this will be my birthday present to myself. I generally have to get myself one thing I really want at my birthday and Christmas, so now I know what I will be getting myself. Thank you I do believe you write a better book when you listen to your muse and your character because after reading your books and blogs over these many years. I have come to realize your characters are people and people do change and grow and you realize this when you listen to them as you say your writing is great not just run of the mill. I hope at some time after I get all my medical bills caught up to be able to meet you and Sherry, you have seen me through so much and are always there to help. All my best wishes on this rewrite, you are absolutely doing the right thing.
I’m so excited that Damian threw down and you listened!!! I’m a long time fan of his, and I’ve been hoping he’d eventually get his own book and no longer just be a background boy. 😀 Plus having Edward in the book just puts frosting on it for me.
While I love Damian, and very happy to see him man up. My absolute favorite character is Edward and I’m so happy to see him in this book! Inner fangirl is jumping for joy!
Short stories just aren’t as wonderful. There is no room for twists, turns and development. I am happy to wait longer for more story. this sounds so great though so i kinda hate the fact it isn’t coming out till September.
What a great way to celebrate turning 40! Not excited about waiting longer, but I think this date is much better
Yes!!! A literary trip to Ireland just in time for my week off of work!! BLESSED BE!
Cannot wait!! Hope you don’t kill him off! Your work definitely has made my tough times so much better, a chemical-free moodlifter and stress reducer. I’m building quite the library of your stuff. Top Favs: Nicky++, Edward, Jean-Claude (want him to recapture his manliness by getting “Poldark-ed”, all dirty & sweaty re-experiencing rustic & filthy hardship somehow), Wicked, Truth, Rafael, Bernardo, Ethan, Sin, Richard/Dolf/Jacob Leon/Olaf (deserve possibly off-Anita-Radar lengthy funny humiliation side-books to explain Richard & Dolf’s personality changes. Olaf, I want strung up like “9-to-5″‘s Dabney Coleman, hogtied and swinging from the rafters with a ballgag in his mouth as a daily playtoy in Narcissus’s Pleasure Dome, then “Brided” to Anita).
Others I like less that could be cannonfodder or seriously broken-down-&-rebuilt: Micah (his sneaking around that’s going to bring all Hell down on everybody), Nathanial, Jade, any other weak side characters.
September is to far away. I have read and reread this series several times and as soon as I find out a new book is coming I do it again. I just recently downloaded all of the books in the series on my kindle, but still have all the books and can’t wait.
I can’t wait to read the new book! Having said that, I’m not a big fan of Anita when she travels…because most of my favorite characters don’t play a big enough part in the story. I’m loving “more Edward” but it usually means less Jean Claude, Micah, Nathanial, and even mopey Richard. Maybe Anita could start taking the entire St. Louis gang with her when she has to leave home? OK, so she’d need to rent the entire hotel, but Jean Claude can afford it, right?
So glad you have another book on the way. I look forward to escaping into “Anita’s world.”
Would also have to ask though – when will we see another Merry book? Surely you can’t leave us hanging for much longer????
Great I am so glad to have another book on the way I love Anita and so enjoy her world….Can’t wait
I was sad that the opening date is being moved to Oct. But the announcement that it will be a BIG book is great. I love reading the series over and over again and again. You had a couple of chapters posted on your webpage before to tide us over till the relise date. Any thing like that would be GREAT!
Normally I would be really, really unhappy that a book I pre-ordered is being delayed. Delayed not by a few days, but by months. However, I agree with Damian. There’s no way that he could stay weak forever, not when he’s tied to Anita. Anita may accept weakness, at first, but she seems to have a way of getting those around her to grow past it, into the amazing people that they were always meant to be.
Congratulations, Damian, for finally getting there. I can’t wait to join you on that journey.
I am hopeful for this book. I also hope that you let us know what happened with Rafael since you didn’t really give us closure in Dead Ice.
I do wish they would release your books on a Friday so I could sleep in the next day. Monday releases make the following day rough at work. Other than that I am anxiously awaiting this next book.
I was disappointed that the release date was so far away, usually they come out in June and its my birthday present to myself to buy a new Anita book. Once I read the plot of the book? I could wait forever! I have been waiting for poor Damien to have his day, he’s been there for Anita almost since the beginning…in my mind’s eye he been just waiting for this chance to finally be seen! Awesome!
Well I am excited about the new book but just wish it was in July it would have been a great birthday present to me on my 60th birthday and 39th wedding anniversary. Can’t wait to read, I am using my husbands Facebook account, it gives him something to get excited about, thanks for writing Anita she is awesome
YES!!! Damian is finally coming into his own! I don’t have a birthday or anything to justify the buy, just my absolute adoration of your books! Thank you for keeping all the friends I’ve made through Anita alive and growing!
I can’t wait. The new book comes out on my birthday. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. You are my favorite writer.
I can’t wait to read this! I’ve been reading this series since I was a teenager! Anita truly strikes several personal cords and you couldn’t have made a better character !
This is probably not the spot for this comment but I don’t know where else to offer it. I am a little behind on reading so I just finished Affliction. And I love that Jean Claude finally proposed. And in idle thought I came up with a cool way to have him propose with all the men/women in Anita’s life. Once they figure out who will be married they could all get together with Anita for a wonderful date then all of them get down on one knee in a semi circle facing Anita. Jean Claude in the center holding a box with a ring done in Platinum with a small stone of each of the men/women’s birth month stones in it. Jean Claude says “Will you marry me?” And the rest hold up a rose and say “And me” I think that would be a great way for all of them to be involved in the proposal. Anita can pick out a ring for each man/woman with their birthstone in it to give them in return. I’m not a writer but I wanted to share thought. Thank you for reading.
I really love reading anita blake books. First one I bought was at this one grocery store call schnucks in st louis and it was call the lunatic café. When I reading some of it I was surprise it was set in my city which I found out later on when I saw she is also in st louis. I am a big fan of vampires and werewolves.
I and my late sister met her once at a sci convention where she made an appearance along with the late Leonard Nimoy, which I am also a big fan of sci-fi to,
right before she came out my sister had to go to the bathroom and she waited in the doorway before Mr. Nimoy left and when she came back to sit down she told she was standing next to Laurell and I think she didn’t know who it was but after she came back to sit down she told me she was next to her.
I almost saw her again when she was coming to Crestwood Mo to the Barnes and Noble bookstore to signed autographs on her new book. My late friend and I was waiting outside to get a number to go see her and since there was too many people and we were waiting after midnight, we left.
Never got to see her anymore since there were no more events in my city. We don’t have Creationent here but she doesn’t go to them. There is 2 conventions we do have but one doesn’t come around a lot and I did go to comic-con and I was very disappointed cause I paid $55 and I couldn’t take celebs pictures cause they charge you for each one and had to stand in line which I didn’t have and wasn’t allowed to take pictures.
I love the Anita Blake series as well of the Merry Gentry series I have all the books in both series ..but her newest Crimson Death ..all my books are in paper back ..when does Crimson Death come out in paper back ?? All I found is hard back I want to keep my collections all the same ..my laurell k Hamilton books are my cherished books ..I remember reading my first Anita Blake book when I was 19 ..I’m 28 now and still in love with the series ..I have reread all the books more 20xs ..the first time you read it you enjoy the story the 2nd time you fall in love with characters ..by the 3rd and 4th time you relate and are mesmorized by the words ..Laurell K . Hamilton is my favorite author..her books make me feel like I’m in the world of Anita Blake.. I just know Crimson Death is going to be awesome and freaking amazing ..