A visual preview of the winter season

Some publishers have begun to release information on their Winter 2009 titles. Most don't have cover art available yet, at least not publicly, but these are the ones I've come across so far. All of these images were taken from publishers' online catalogs or Amazon, and are subject to change. You'll remember what happened with Devil's Brood.

For some, all I could find were b/w images. Leave a comment if you come across newer versions of these covers. In the meanwhile, enjoy.

The story of Delia Chandler, a Southern girl who marries into the British aristocracy, following her from pre-WWII England to British-occupied Egypt. Broadway, March; to be published in the UK by HarperCollins as A Dangerous Desire.

From Revell in March, inspirational biographical fiction about King David's first wife, book 1 in a series.

Mythological novel about "Deirdre, the Irish Helen of Troy, whose beauty ignited a bloody war between two medieval Irish kingdoms" (Publishers Marketplace). From Bantam Spectra in February, from the author of the Dalriada Trilogy set in Roman-era Scotland.

A female perspective on the American Revolution, not a subject you normally get to read about (and for me, different = good). From Berkley in April, from the author of Midwife of the Blue Ridge.

Frank Lloyd Wright, through the eyes of four women who loved him (not just Mamah Cheney, for readers who remember Nancy Horan's take on that aspect of his life). Viking, February.

The story of Caterina, a fifteen-year-old girl who in 1452 gave birth to an illegitimate son named Leonardo in the city of Vinci. January, from NAL. In the endpapers of Mademoiselle Boleyn, it was mentioned this would be Robin Maxwell's next novel.

Biographical novel of Anne Whateley, betrothed to Will Shakespeare just days before he was forced to wed the pregnant Anne Hathaway. Putnam, February.

Did anyone else enjoy Margaret Lawrence's Hannah Trevor mystery series, three novels set in post-Revolutionary Maine, as much as I did? There was a sequel, The Iceweaver (2001), featuring Hannah's deaf daughter Jennet, more a literary novel than a mystery. I believe Roanoke is her first novel since then. It's described by the publisher, Bantam Dell, as a literary suspense novel about the lost colony of Roanoke and a charismatic spy sent to the Americas. Out in February. The glittery cover makes it look like more like historical fantasy.

Publishers Marketplace described this last fall as "a historical novel set in Hong Kong, at the outbreak of WWII, and 10 years after, following two love affairs linked by the events of the war." From Viking, January.

Per Publishers Marketplace, the original (working) title was "The Battle of Teutoberg Forest," which was accurate if uninspired. Fans of the period will recognize the new title, but will anyone else? Either way, it's an attention-grabber. From St. Martin's, April. (b/w image)

From the author of Moloka'i, which got a rave review in HNR some time ago, a new novel about a "young immigrant bride in a ramshackle town that becomes a great modern city." Set in Honolulu beginning in 1914. St. Martin's, March (b/w image).

An imagined life of Eve, the first woman, inspired by the Genesis account and Mesopotamian history. February, Delacorte.

Historical fantasy from the author of Black Ships, which I highly recommend. "Charmian is Cleopatra's half sister, daughter of Pharaoh and a woman of the harem. She shares with her a grace and a terrible burden -- to be the Hand of Isis Incarnate in Egypt's most desperate hour." From Orbit next March.

Two years ago, Publishers Marketplace described this as "first in series of historical thrillers in which the painter Gustav Klimt is fingered as the murderer of five young Viennese girls, but ... the trail actually leads directly to the gates of the Hofberg itself." January from Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's (b/w image).

Repackaged edition of the first novel (originally Berkley, 2003) in Diana Norman's Makepeace Burke trilogy set in pre-Revolutionary Boston and Georgian London, now that Norman's finally getting the recognition she deserves for her Ariana Franklin novels. Out in March from Berkley. Now might we have reissues of Fitzempress' Law and Shores of Darkness, please?