On the left you will find links to all the pages of the site, full of interesting facts about me and my writing and the various periods in which my books are set. There is an account, specially written for this site, of the true history of John Rawlings and how I first met him. And there's a regularly updated letter with all my news! In my latest letter, you'll find an update on the book I am currently working to finish: Death and the Black Pyramid will be the thirteenth John Rawlings novel.
From time to time I have speaking engagements, and when I do, you will find the details here. Right now, I have a rather different event to tell you about: a production of Deathtrap at the Stables Theatre in Hastings, in which I play the part of Helga ten Dorp, the slightly mad Dutch clairvoyant. It opens on April 11th and closes on April 19th. If any of you should live nearby please come and see it and have a chat with me in the bar afterwards. The Box Office number is 01424-423221 and it is now open for tickets. Besides myself there is a really excellent cast of actors and I would love it if some of you could be there.
Meanwhile, this is where you will always find news of my latest books; I hope you enjoy them, and that I will hear from you at deryn [at] derynlake.com .
The latest John Rawlings adventure brings the apothecary into the aristocratic circles of the notorious Hellfire Club. In disguise and accompanied by the ungainly Sam Swann, John befriends Sir Francis Dashwood and gains access to his home and family, including someone from John's past, someone whose exceptional beauty still hypnotises him. However, evil lurks in hidden corners of Sir Francis's opulent home and there seems to be a sinister element behind the infamous Hellfire Club's debaucheries. Is John putting himself and Sam in danger by trying to find out the truth?
Death in Hellfire was published on 3rd December 2007. You can order it from Amazon, or from any bookshop, quoting the ISBN: 978-0749080761.
3rd December also sees the publication of the paperback edition of Death and the Cornish Fiddler, in a smart new cover: order it now from Amazon, (ISBN: 978-0749081935)
Read more about all the latest John Rawlings stories
"Meticulously researched ... brings the past to colourful life"
Guardian
"This is vintage stuff ... With history this colourful and a mystery this baffling, the result is delicious"
Good Book Guide
"As usual, Miss Lake spins a yarn with all the flourish of a dandy producing a silk handkerchief"
Birmingham Post
Hot news at the moment is the recent court case between two of the authors of THE HOLY BLOOD AND THE HOLY GRAIL and Dan Brown, writer of THE DA VINCI CODE. As we all know by now Dan Brown won because there is no copyright on ideas and his book, after all, was a work of fiction.
What connection has all this with THE KING'S WOMEN, I hear you ask? Let me tell you that I read THE HOLY BLOOD AND THE HOLY GRAIL at the time I was researching my book and became convinced that there really was a secret society called The Priory of Sion. Moreover it had a connection with Joan of Arc - one of the main characters of the story - through René d'Anjou. Rene was not only the future King of Lorraine but also Grand Master of the Priory, and Joan of Arc actually asked to be sent to him at the time when she was attempting to see the Dauphin.
As for the rest... you'll have to read the book to find out how this most intriguing mystery unfolds.
I am so grateful to Allison and Busby for reprinting the book and to Suzy Dunlop, the managing director, for showing her faith in me. It now means that a new generation of readers can find out more about the fascinating character of Charles VII and the many women with whom he was connected.
By the way, I gave THE HOLY BLOOD AND THE HOLY GRAIL a really good credit at the end of the book and was quite definitely not sued!
Read more about historical novels by Deryn Lake.
Web site designed and maintained by Cornwell Internet Last update 14th March 2008
