New Life (and Covers) for Ninja Lily Wong

And How My Backlist Titles Landed in Front

Aloha Reading ‘Ohana,

As promised in my last entry, I have stunning new book covers for my Lily Wong Ninja Thrillers, coming January 21, 2025 from Datura Books!

Datura Books is the crime fiction imprint of Angry Robot Books, a very successful UK publisher known for exemplary science fiction and fantasy. Not only will my Lily Wong series be published in the United Kingdom (for the very first time!), but they will also be distributed in the USA through Penguin Random House. As I believed from the first moment I heard my former publisher (Agora Books/Polis Books) would be closing down, I have bounced up to an exciting new home.

How Reissuing Works:

When a new publisher acquires a previously published series, they can reprint it with the previous cover or design something new. They can also feature it as a frontlisted title—as a new and exciting publication—or add it without fanfare to their backlist catalogue. Either way, the book will, once again, be available for sale.

My ninja heroine is receiving the best of both worlds—an abundance of frontlist promotional attention and a revitalized, exciting new look.

Once I joined Datura Books, my editor and the marketing team suggested designing new covers for the first three titles to match the splashy cover for the fourth.

Why was the fourth cover different?

Before deciding to close their doors, my previous publisher decided to go all out for THE NINJA’S OATH, book four, with a hardcover release. Although Polis Books was struggling by then, which seriously hurt my book launch, I did get a stunning new cover.

The Datura Books idea to redesign the first three to match it turned out to be a fantastic idea. Even readers who have already enjoyed Lily Wong’s adventures have told me how excited they are to acquire this new set.

“Looks like I’m rebuying for the covers!”

“I borrowed them from the library, but would love to own my own set.”

“Enjoyed every one of them but nothing beats the tactile thrill of holding, and sniffing, a physical book. They’ll look grand in my bookcase!”

The vibrant new designs brand the series in a new and exciting way.

What Happens When a Publisher Shuts Down?

Since I always lean toward the most empowering perspective, I chose to write about the reissuing first. But many of you may be wondering what happens to the books when a publisher shuts down.

If you searched for any of my Lily Wong titles between July 1st and today, you may have noticed the e-books and physical copies were no longer in stock. That’s because the previous publisher had to shut down their distribution.

What happened to those books?

Well, they give us (the authors) a chance to buy copies at cost, then recycle the rest. (Gasp!) That’s right, all those lovely books were destroyed.

I bought a couple of sets as keepsakes and an extra copy or two of the hardcover copy of THE NINJA’S OATH. Stay tuned, at some point I might be tempted to give one away.

What Happens to the Audiobooks?

Since the audiobook licenses for THE NINJA DAUGHTER, THE NINJA’S BLADE, and THE NINJA BETRAYED, had already been sold, those audiobooks continue to be available in all the usual locations. Natalie Naudus, my award-winning narrator of over 400 titles, gives a stellar performance in all three. I hope she will be hired when it comes time to narrate the exciting conclusion to the series.

How to Pre-Order Copies in the US and UK:

Throughout this transition, my books have remained on Amazon and other buying sites with all of the reviews and publisher’s descriptions in place. (This was a great relief to me because I was afraid it would all be erase!) Only the buying options changed. Between July 1 and August 15, the physical and e-books were shown as out of stock.

I am thrilled to announce…

The Datura Books paperback and e-book versions, sold by Penguin Random House, are available for pre-order on all of the major US and Uk buying platforms. Release date is January 21, 2025.

Note: If you don’t see the Datura Books covers or paperback pre-order options yet, they will pop up very soon.

Where I’ve Been This Summer:

It’s been a couple of months since I posted my last Musings. Here’s a hint if you wondered where I went.

The last time I posted, I shared photos and stories from my book research trip to Hawai‘i Island and my Punahou class reunion on O‘ahu. This time, I went to Maui and Kaua‘i.

Maui was family fun with my mo‘opuna (grandkids), but my ten days in Kaua‘i was to visit and photograph many of the locations in my upcoming Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery, KAUA‘I STORM, out May 20, 2025 from Thomas & Mercer.

I had a blast eating, swimming, hiking at many of the sites I wrote about in my book. One of the standout experiences was paddle boarding up Wailua River to Uluwehi Falls and breathing in the ocean at Anahola Bay.

Truly, I could have stayed on Kaua‘i for the rest of the month!

What I’m Writing:

While on my work vacation, I polished up my editorial pass and wrote the front and back matter for KAUA‘I STORM. Front matter includes the dedication and preface. Back matter has the acknowledgments, glossary, character list, and a family tree for my protagonist’s ‘ohana. I had a blast creating these bonus extras for my readers to enjoy.

More recently, I’ve been working on the second book in the series, which I owe in December. I’m overjoyed with my progress. I’m writing faster and easier than I ever have before.

It’s as if I’ve finally given myself permission to write all the nuances in between that I feared no one would be interested to read. Oddly enough, those nuances have led to a engaging dialogue, heightened emotion, and vividly memorable settings.

It’s such a joy to let the words flow instead of constantly wrestling for perfection.

I still write for keeps from the start rather than rush what many authors refer to as their “crap first draft.” But my weekly word count has increased by half with an ease that makes me feel this is the new norm.

Best of all, I wake up excited to write!

What I’m Reading:

If you’re looking for short stories to enjoy, check out the new BACK IN BLACK anthology with my thriller short, “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution,” available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audiobook—with my story performed by Natalie Naudus!

I’m reading and enjoying Rob Lowe’s biography, LOVE LIFE. I recently finished NINE TALED, a Korean folklore fantasy by Jayci Lee, NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS by my pal Yasmin Angoe, and LAKE COUNTY by Lori Roy. I recommend them all.

For audiobooks, my recent listens include ERUPTION by Michael Crichton and James Patterson, Alma Katsu’s spy short story The Vanishing Man, and Stephen King’s ON WRITING. Right now, I’m listening to LEAVE NO TRACE by A.J. Landau, the co-writing pen name for my buddies Jeff Ayers and Jon Land. All of these audiobooks are great!

Until next time…

Be kind, laugh often, and make a positive difference in somebody’s life.

Aloha nui loa,
Tori 🌺