May112020

Defy or Defend Special Extras

Dimity’s story, Gentle Reader, is here at last!

Released May 3, 2020!

Defy Or Defend Dimity Delightfully Deadly Free Download DD2

I’m rather chuffed with it too, because Defy or Defend is particularly silly. There’s a vampire hive gone badly “to Goth” that needs tidying. Dimity plus one very tolerant (slightly twirly) knight are on the job.

This one may, or may not, contain interpretive dance, wafting white nightgowns through small forests, spontaneous intellectual salons, plus *surprise* Pillover.

How does it fit in the universe?

DD Delightfully Deadly Poison Protect Defy Defend Ambush Adore all three 3

It occurs in March of 1869 about 2 years after Poison or Protect and four years before the start of the Parasol Protectorate series.

Gail Mint Green Lace 1960s Pattern Turban Peep Heels Teacup Defy Signing Multiple

This  Delightfully Deadly book has me lampooning:

  • Byron
  • Emo Feels
  • Industrial Rock lyrics from the 1990s

All in one REALLY bad poem.

Editing this book is also responsible for this little gem…

Note to self: “swept her up in his manly arms” is quite different from “swept her up in his many arms.”

Even if octopuses are my thing.

Defy or Defend Inspiration Board

Inspiration!

Before you ask, Defy or Defend is indeed an ode to the fantastic Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (the movie is also excellent). I always knew Cold Comfort was a reverse Gothic, but it wasn’t until I started researching for this book that I realized it was also a makeover story.

Cold Comfort Farm Movie

I do love a makeover and so, it turns out, does Dimity.

I really hope you have as much fun reading this one, as I did writing it.

Special Extras for This Book

Nottingham Graveyard Church Lace Market Hotel View by Gail Carriger

Incidentally, here is a very fun fact about Nottingham!

Characters!

The cast of characters features the irrepressible Dimity Ann Plumleigh-Teignmott from the Finishing School series, all grown up and forging her own way.

Or is she?

Dimity is inspired by my BFF, Phrannish…

Dimity Fran Phran Francesca Best Freind Character Inspiration

Sir Crispin Bontwee is Dimity’s love interest in this book…

 

There is in fact a whole section with interpretive dance and ballet and such, so when this came up on Twitter regarding my cat… well I knew it also should go in the special extras section for this book.

Lilliput Interpretive dance

And I am terribly excited to introduce, Justice my favorite vampire character in this book!

Justice wears an open-necked poet shirt at the beginning of Dimity’s sojourn at the hive (much to her shock). Then at one point there is a nightgown incident, it’s all very dramatic.

 

So I really hope you have as much fun reading this one, as I did writing it.

Parasol Les Modes Parisiennes September, 1869 Plate Number v. 47, 117

What people are saying about this book:

Rally the Readers says:

Defy or Defend was perfect from beginning to end: the romance, the mission to save the hive, the friends from other Parasolverse stories, and as always with Gail Carriger’s books, the humor!”

Karen McCoy Interview’s Gail Carriger about Defy or Defend

“This book was such a delight. Watching Dimity at work, cheerfully setting the [un]dead to rights and bringing, er, life back to dark and dangerous places kept the pages turning–especially with a worse kind of death overshadowing all.”

~ Shelley Adina (Author of The Magnificent Devices Devices series)

“I love Dimity, I love Crispin and his morality, and I love how much a change of scenery can change not only a person, but their outlook on life as well. If you’re looking for more of Gail Carriger’s writing, or just want to know what happened to the girls after Finishing School, then you need to read this book next!”

~ Tiny Navajo Reads 

“I recommend the book to fans of Gail Carriger’s other supernatural Victoriana books. I also suggest it’s a pretty good place for a new reader to dip their toes in, since the book stands alone well and introduces the particular flavour of Carriger vampires (and werewolves, but less so).”

Defy or Defend Office Pastry Plate Silver Green HEader

~ Tsana’s Reads

“I enjoyed the characters and the story, this was great fun to read and full of humor.” 

~ Hidden in the Pages 

“Naturally you will get more out of the book if you are familiar with the world and the characters from previous books, but it’s not a requirement and you will easily fall in love with the characters without having to go back and read the whole series etc.”

~ The Lit Bitch

“I chuckled lots (both at the witty words, and the story itself), and enjoyed the whole book immensely. All the characters are well written – they all have their own personalities and motivations, and seem real.”

~ Roberta Reads says (of the Defy or Defend audiobook) 

quote defy She hated it when men got complicated. They were so very bad at it. Dimity

Yours (surrounded by apple green),

Miss Gail

P.S. Those of you who know me if old, know that I always buy a new pair of shoes for myself when I have a new book out. Well this one also released around my birthday and I discovered Poshmark. So instead of one fancy pair, I bought a practical pair, a skirt, and a necklace in honor of DEFY OR DEFEND. Dimity would approve, I think.

That’s an Eva Mendes “umbrella skirt” that also comes in black and red. No longer for sale but I found a few on Poshmark if you are as excited as I was.

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BOOK DE JOUR?

Defy or Defend, a new Delightfully Deadly book featuring Dimity!

Gail Mint Green Lace 1960s Pattern Turban Defy

PICK YOUR VENDOR!

Dimity, London’s cheerfullest spy, must fix a broken vampire hive while a gentle soldier tries to keep her safe. A charming makeover story set in the popular Parasolverse.

It’s a battle for survival… and wallpaper!

Gail’s Daily Tea Party

Tisane of Nifty 

Belle Monde Chocolates Nikki

Amazing chocolates I got for myself for my birthday from Belle Monde Chocolates. Just insanely delicious.

Writerly Tincture 

The Best Thing You Can Do to Support a New Book

Book Nibble 

Parsol Protectorate Boxed Set Sale Amazon Best Seller

Quote to Sip 

“I was ambushed, and she forcibly read her poetry at me.”

~ Overheard at the bookstore

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Posted by Gail Carriger

2 Responses

  1. Becky said:

    LOVED Dimity’s book! Read it on release day, posted a review, and then read it again the next day. So much fun! Next favorite novella after How to Marry a Werewolf.

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