Danielle Trussoni's Blog

Dear readers,

I have some exciting news to share with you! If you've read novels in my Angelology series, and have been waiting for more, I have something special just for you. The Angel Lover, a brand-new novella that brings Evangeline and Verlaine back together, is available now to everyone who pre-orders my forthcoming novel, The Puzzle Box!



Here’s a description:

In The Angel Lover, a gripping new novella set in Danielle Trussoni's Angelology universe, the forbidden romance between Sister Evangeline and angel hunter Verlaine reignites in the aftermath of the Angelopolis disaster. As malevolent angelic creatures unleash chaos into the world, Verlaine and Evangeline must join forces to stop them. Bound by their love and haunted by their past, they must overcome their differences and confront the true nature of their bond. The stakes have never been higher. Can their love withstand the ultimate test, or will the forces they fight tear them apart?

While this is not “Angelology 3” (it is not a full length novel) it is a way to reconnect with Evangeline and Verlaine. Writing this is my way of saying "thank you" for your incredible support over the years, and for waiting so patiently for me to continue this story.

Pre-order The Puzzle Box today and receive a copy of The Angel Lover as a special gift. This is a limited-time offer that ends October 8th.

Here is how it works:

1. Preorder my new novel THE PUZZLE BOX from your favorite bookstore

If you’d like to save 20% on your pre-order, you can order through the bookstore Tertulia and use the code DRAGON.

If you’d like to pre-order a signed copy, you can do so at Oblong Books

2. Send proof of your preorder to dtrussoniassistant@gmail.com or to Penguin Random House here: https://sites.prh.com/puzzleboxpreorder

3. Once we receive proof of your preorder, you’ll receive THE ANGEL LOVER as an ebook that you can read on your Kindle or favorite device.

I’m so happy to bring you back to the world of Angelology and cannot wait to hear what you think of THE PUZZLE BOX.

Hello TruReaders!

I’m so excited to tell you about my new novel,The Puzzle Box, out October 8 2024. It is about an ingenious puzzle solver who travels to Tokyo, Japan to open a legendary nineteenth-century puzzle constructed by the Emperor of Japan Dragon Box. Inside is a world-changing secret, one has remained unsolved for over 150 years.






If you’ve never seen a Japanese puzzle box, you’re in for a treat. They are six-sided boxes with hidden compartments that can only be opened by adjusting the outside segments of the box in a specific order. They are beautifully made, challenging to open and a lot of fun. Here’s a puzzle box I bought when I was doing research in Japan for this book. SPOILER: it is much less dangerous than the one in my novel!







While the hero of this novel also appeared in my novel The Puzzle Master, this book is a stand alone story, allowing you to jump right in with Mike Brink without feeling like you missed part of his story.

Bestselling author Catherine Steadman has this to say about the book “You’ll hit the ground running in this rip-roaring adventure thriller that sends you across the breadth of Japan in search of ancient answers. Trussoni’s novel is an escapist, puzzle box of delights: a neurodivergent hero, an unsolvable mystery and death hanging over every move–you’ll whip through the pages. A book itself, as intricate and surprising as a Puzzle Box.”

Have I piqued your interest? If so, please add The Puzzle Box to your Goodreads TBR shelf and subscribe to my newsletter, where you’ll be the first to learn about news and giveaways for The Puzzle Box and my future projects.

All my best,
Danielle Trussoni

Hello readers!

I'm so excited that The Puzzle Master is a finalist for the CBS New York Book Club with Mary Calvi! Even better: YOU get to chose the winner! Click here to vote for The Puzzle Master by June 11th.

Yours,

Danielle

Hello readers!

I wanted to bring your attention to a discount Barnes and Noble is running from today to Friday 4/28.

You can get 25% pre-orders from Barnes and Noble using the discount code PREORDER25 at check out.

This is a perfect time to pre-order my new novel, The Puzzle Master, if you haven't yet already.

Dear readers,

Like many of you, I spend a lot of time reading. Over on Instagram and Twitter, I post pictures of books I’m reading on Friday (there’s a #FridayReads hashtag in which I like to participate). Sometimes I read fiction– often horror novels for my book column at The New York Times Book Review– and other times I’m reading nonfiction that supports whatever book I’m writing. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been reading lately:

The Disinvited Guest by Carol Goodman is a suspenseful new release. If you liked the isolated castle of my last novel The Ancestor, you’d enjoy this novel’s remote island setting. I was lucky enough to read a galley copy and I really enjoyed it.



My forthcoming novel The Puzzle Master has been compared to The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. This has been a favorite of mine for awhile, although when I went to reread it, I found it dated, the depictions of women rather flat and old-fashioned. It wasn’t published that long ago, but I found myself cringing whenever the narrator described his girlfriend, or other women he met at Princeton.



One of my favorite novels, Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson, is actually both a novel and a poem. This unique work re-creates a Greek myth by following Geryon, a young boy who is also a winged red monster. It explores his coming-of-age as an artist and unique creature and is a fascinating read.



As research for the puzzle solver main character of The Puzzle Master, I read The Puzzle Instinct: The Meaning of Puzzles in Human Life by Marcel Danesi. It explores why we love puzzles so much and was perfect for writing research, as it was entertaining and informative.



Do any of these books interest you? Let me know if you added any to your TBR list. For more recommendations, discussions about writing and books, exclusive content and other great things SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER, or come say hi to me over on Instagram and Twitter.

Happy reading,

Danielle

Hello readers. If you’ve never read my books,, I’d like to welcome you to my work. I’ve written 5 books—3 novels and 2 memoirs. My novels are classified as literary thrillers that have elements of gothic and the supernatural woven in. My memoirs are, well, about me—my relationship with my father and the story of my marriage. According to readers, these books are like mine:

If you like: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware





Try: The Ancestor





If you like: The Secret History by Donna Tartt





Try: Angelology





If you like: Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton





Try: The Fortress





If you like: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls





Try: Falling Through the Earth

I hope this helped fill your to-be-read shelves! Comment below and tell me if you read and enjoyed any of the books I mentioned and feel free to leave any other “Like, Try” comparisons in the comments too!

Stay in touch with me on Twitter, Instagram, and my Newsletter.

Happy reading,

Danielle

Hello readers, writers, and book lovers,

I hope all is well with you! There are two kinds of writers: those who love events and those who love staying sequestered in their offices surrounded by books. I’m usually the latter, but last week I ventured out of my writing cave to the AWP Conference and Bookfair in Philadelphia.

It was such a pleasure to meet writers and have an in-person event after what feels like a lifetime of virtual events and small gatherings. I’ve been living in San Miguel de Allende Mexico for the past 6 months, and so it was also great to travel back to the States.

On Friday morning , I was part of a panel with a group of talented writers: Angie Kim, Julia Phillips, Jean Kwok, Rebecca Makkai. We spent an hour discussing our experiences writing stories from multiple points of view. Everyone in the audience was fantastic. It was one of the most enjoyable panels of the weekend.





While writers are always talking about the importance of ‘point of view’ in fiction, I wonder if readers notice, or care. Do you? What point of view do you prefer? First person (“I walked to the store on a cold winter morning”), second person (“You’re walking to the store on a cold winter morning”) or third person (“She sauntered through the snow on a chill morning in December.”) Respond below with your favorite POV.

If you were at AWP, or if you’ve ever been to a conference like AWP, leave a comment and let me know about your experiences.

I have more photos and stories about my weekend on my Instagram and Twitter, so check them out.

Stay in touch and happy reading.

Yours,

Danielle

Hello writing cave dwellers!

Have you ever wanted to get your hands on a copy of The Ancestor? How about a SIGNED copy of the novel The New York Times Book Review calls “ingenious and addiction”?

Until April 1st, if you sign up for my monthly newsletter, you, dear reader, will be entered into a drawing to win one of three signed copies of The Ancestor!

My newsletter consists of exciting project updates, personal life stories, and the inside scoop of what it’s like to work with a publisher. Every month I ask my readers on Instagram and Twitter to ask writing and publishing questions, which are answered in the newsletter. And of course, I also share what great new books I’m reading, submission opportunities, and more!

Here is the link to sign up.

If you’d like an extra entry into the drawing, head on over to my Instagram, swipe up on one of my stories, and tell me about a puzzle you solved (a riddle, a game, a life puzzle). Please include the email you used to sign up for the newsletter so we can make sure to get you entered.

Good luck, stay in touch, and I hope to talk to you all soon through social media and your inbox.

Yours,

Danielle

For readers coming to my new novel The Ancestor, I'd to tell you a little about how I came to write this novel. A few years ago, I took a 123andMe genetic test. As you can probably guess from the name 'Trussoni' my father's family was Italian American. My great grandfather immigrated to the United States from a small village in the Italian Alps in the early 20th century. I expected to find that my heritage was at least half Italian. And yet, when I received the test results they reported that I was only 1.7% Italian. It was a shock. I was more French and German than Italian. More English and Irish. My sister took the test and had the same results. Although we had both grown up thinking of ourselves as Italian, the truth was that this cultural identity had no basis in fact.
This inspired me to think about the nature of inheritance and identity, who we are biologically and culturally. I asked myself the question: What could be the strangest thing that happens to a character who takes a DNA test? The result is The Ancestor, a novel that follows a young woman's journey of ancestral discovery. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

I have recently finished writing a new novel and finally have the luxury to read. I love to read hardcover fiction, especially beautifully written, well-plotted yet characters-driven thrillers, fantasy novels, horror novels. Really, any genre of novel, so long as it works.

There is a huge stack of books next to my bed, all of which have been published recently. This is how I'll spend the summer.

When I am in the middle of writing a book, it is difficult for me to immerse myself in another writer's world. It can throw me out of the process of creating my own novel. And so now is a delicious time of simply letting myself sink into the dream world of fiction. Any recommendations?

Danielle

PS: I am posting photos of the books I'm reading on instagram. Come find me. My user name is Danielle Trussoni.