You can buy my new book right now
Right now. Like, today. At this very second. You can click this link and pre-order a copy of my debut romance novel, Pas de Don’t, which has a gorgeous cover by the artist Sarah Gavagan and will be in bookstores, both physical and virtual, on May 2, 2023.
This book is a dream come true, even if that dream is shaped a little differently than the one that became Turning Pointe. But it is about ballet. It’s a love letter to the art form, to my hometown, and to women who are figuring out what they deserve from a relationship and taking risks to get it. Here’s a longer blurb:
Heather Hays finally has everything she’s worked for—she’s a principal dancer at New York Ballet, has the best friend a girl could ask for, and is engaged to her forever crush, fellow principal Jack Andersen. They’ve been dubbed “American ballet royalty” . . . but when Heather’s best friend Carly catches Jack with a corps ballet de dancer, the castle comes crashing down. Determined to prove that she rose to the top on her own merits—and not, as the press has always implied, because of her relationship with Jack—she accepts a guest position from the only company that will hire her without him: the Australian National Ballet.
Marcus Campbell has had the most hellish year imaginable. He shredded his Achilles tendon during a performance, destroying any chance of his dad seeing him dance before lung cancer ended his life. He’s spent a year in physical therapy, getting his strength back and determined to honor his father’s memory by getting back on stage before he’s too old to dance anymore. Now Marcus’s boss wants him to play tour guide for the company’s new arrival.
When Marcus realizes who the new arrival is, and that she’s even more gorgeous in person than she is on the cover of Barre magazine, he also finds she’s opinionated and funny. And for Heather, Marcus is everything Jack wasn’t: kind, consistent, and interested in what she has to say. For once in her life, she wants to rebel a little. But Heather’s in Sydney to dance, and it’s not like she can act on her attraction: ANB has a strict no-dating policy, an anti-harassment measure that the reform-minded artistic director takes very seriously.
But as their Sydney sightseeing time turns to much more, Heather and Marcus find even the best-kept secrets have a way of coming out.
And here’s what one of my favourite romance authors, USA Today bestseller Andie J. Christopher, had to say about it:
“Pas de Don’t sizzles with sexual chemistry between the two leads. It’s a kind and grown-up love story between two passionate and ambitious people. Angyal rips the glamorous facade off the world of ballet and exposes the heart and artistry of those who dance. A truly original take on a slow-burn workplace romance.”
If you love romance novels, I hope you’ll pre-order it. If you love ballet but have never read a romance novel, I hope you’ll pre-order it. If you don’t like either romance novels or ballet… I’m honestly not sure what you’re doing on this email list but I’m glad you’re here and I hope you’ll pre-order it. If you don’t want to buy from Amazon, please call your local bookstore and pre-order it from them! I’ll send Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org, and other non-Amazon links as soon as they become available.
Here’s my quick spiel about pre-orders and why they matter, especially for new authors:
Short of handing her a wad of cash, pre-ordering her book is the best way you can support an author. Pre-orders count toward first-week sales, which means you up her chance of making the bestseller lists in their first week of life. Most books don't make any of those lists (it’s fine! they’re short lists!) but first-week sales numbers matter for that book and whatever book she writes next. Pre-orders also signal to booksellers and publishers that this book will have a significant audience. So, booksellers might order in more copies and position them prominently in the store, or be more interested in hosting a book event with that author. Publishers might throw more marketing money at the book, which might mean a bigger presence in the media, shops, and libraries.
In short, pre-orders kick off a virtuous cycle, and all it costs you is a bit of planning and the cost of the book. If you can afford that, please do it. If you can't, please request it at the library.
I loved writing this book. I love what it’s become, and I hope you will, too.
That’s all for now. Thanks as always for reading (and did I mention you should pre-order my book?)
Chloe.