Cathy Marie Buchanan's Blog

Take the Daughter of Black Lake Trivia Quiz quiz. Just so you know, I scored 10/10, Phew!

I was asked to dreamcast a movie adaptation of Daughter of Black Lake by the popular blog My Book, the Movie. Love you hear what you think of my picks.

Because the story moves back and forth in time, two of the novel’s main characters—Devout and her mate Smith—appear both as youths and as adults, adding an extra layer of challenge to casting the movie. For youthful Devout, I choose Kiernan Shipka, and for her adult counterpart, Emma Stone. I admire both, and think their shared traits of fair skin, wide eyes and broad mouths might make them plausible as the same person at different ages. My reasoning is similar in casting Smith: As his youthful self, Timothée Chalamet; and as his adult self, Kit Harington (who doesn’t love Jon Snow?). As Hobble, I cast Mckenna Grace. She could pass as Emma Stone’s daughter, and a talent like Mckenna could pull off Hobble’s beyond-her-years wisdom and strength. That leaves only Fox uncast. Who best to play the druid priest who arrives at Black Lake hellbent on stirring up rebellion to Roman rule and who becomes Hobble’s chief adversary when she gets in his way? Sam Heughan? In the novel, I describe Fox’s ridged brow, his grooved cheeks—a face made lean by unrelenting effort, by quick accomplishment. Yes, Heughan’s got the chops to play a fanatic, a man incapable of reason, incapable of adopting any view other than his own.

Long last, Daughter of Black Lake is available! Can't wait for you to start reading.

Daughter of Black Lake is a transporting story of love and survival set in the misty boglands of pagan Britain.

“Far­off history comes to life in this story of two generations of women.”—Entertainment Weekly, Best Books to Read This Fall

“Evocative, meticulously researched. History truly comes to life.”
—Parade, Fall’s Best New Historical Fiction

“Engrossing . . . Buchanan immerses readers in Roman Britain in this beautifully emotive tale of family, community, and love.”
—Booklist, starred review

“Buchanan captures in this immersive, supernatural latest the hardships of village life in first-century Britain . . . Her descriptions of pagan rituals are fully realized and provide a haunting, engaging backdrop for the two teenage protagonists. Fans of thoughtful, inventive historical fiction will enjoy this transporting novel.”
—Publishers’ Weekly

“Some books do more than allow us to imagine another place and time. Some, like Daughter of Black Lake, take us there. . . . a moving and richly textured story about the many colours of love: passion, yes, but also the enduring love of family, and community. Daughter of Black Lake is an enchanting read.”—Gail Anderson-Dargatz,
Internationally bestselling author of The Cure For Death by Lightening

“Buchanan creates a world of dark magic and haunting mystery, brutality and beauty.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Train and The Exiles

“Evocative and deftly paced, Daughter of Black Lake conjures both landscape and ancestral memory, transporting us to a time and place we have not lived yet somehow recognize . . . . A historical page turner that’s the perfect antidote for our uncertain times.”
—Brunonia Barry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lace Reader and The Fifth Petal

“In a tale that feels at once classic and fresh, Buchanan brings her trademark grace and attention to detail to this luminous story of a mother and daughter in first-century Britannia . . . .a thoughtful, compelling novel, a true pleasure to read.”—Therese Anne Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald and The Good Neighborhood

Want to watch a video clip of my first glimpse of my new novel Daughter of Black Lake? I think you'll see my joy. Watch it here.

In today's stellar news Daughter of Black Lake is featured in Entertainment Weekly’s Fabulous Fall Reads. (Alongside eh like of Marilyn Robinson, Nick Hornby and Martin Amis. Gulp.)

“Far­off history comes to life in this story of two generations of women. In Iron Age Britain, a rapidly changing world threatens a mother’s dreams, while her daughter searches for the strength within herself to protect their way of life.”

Win 10 copies of Daughter of Black Lake for your book club.

US book clubs: Enter here

Canadian book clubs: Enter here

So exciting to see Parade magazine's Fall's Best Historical Fiction include Daughter of Black Lake. Chosen by Christina Baker Kline​, acclaimed author of The Orphan Train & The Exiles.


See all the Fall's Best Historical Fiction picks

Win one of 30 copies of Daughter of Black Lake right here. Closes September 9th. (Sorry, Canucks; US only.)

Daughter of Black Lake (coming in October) is a transporting story of love and survival set in the misty boglands of Iron Age Britain. In starred review, Booklist calls Daughter of Black Lake "Engrossing" and says "Buchanan immerses readers in Roman Britain in this beautifully emotive tale of family, community, and love.” More here

Good luck!! Cathy

Oh my!! The Painted Girls makes Good Housekeeping's Best Reads of 2013. Gobsmacked and delighted!

Check out the excellent list: http://tinyurl.com/mkdlcza

The Painted Girls in a contender in the Goodreads Choice Awards. If you loved the book I'd much appreciate you taking a few minutes to vote.

https://www.goodreads.com/choiceaward...

Merci beaucoup!