The Crimson Shard (29 page)
My editors, Anne Finnis and Emily Hawkins, were, as ever, a joy to work with. I am grateful to them and to everyone at Templar Publishing, as well as editor Kate Fletcher and the team at Candlewick Press, who published the U.S. edition. I also count myself extremely lucky to have Kathryn Ross as my agent. Her sound judgment and encouragement are deeply appreciated.
I am most thankful for the support of my family and friends, especially my husband, Pablo, who has cheerfully accompanied me on this writing journey. I treasure their enthusiasm and their contribution to my work.
Look for Sunni and Blaise’s third adventure,
The Shadow Lantern,
coming in July 2013!
TERESA FLAVIN
is a former art-school lecturer, amateur radio DJ, and illustrator.
The Crimson Shard
was inspired by her fascination with art forgery, illusions in paintings, and the dark side of eighteenth-century London. She says, “I loved creating the mysterious candlelit world of thieves, body snatchers, and alchemists, where nothing is as it seems and danger lurks in every shadow.” She was born in New York and currently lives in Scotland.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2012 by Teresa Flavin
Cover illustration copyright © 2011 by Teresa Flavin
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
First U.S. electronic edition 2012
The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
Flavin, Teresa.
The crimson shard / Teresa Flavin. — 1st U.S. ed.
p. cm.
Summary: During what seems like an ordinary museum visit, a tour guide lures Sunni and Blaise through a painted doorway — and they discover they’ve stepped into eighteenth-century London. When they realize their “tour guide” will do anything to get more information about what Sunni and Blaise know about magical paintings, they attempt to flee and encounter body snatchers, art thieves, and forgers.
ISBN 978-0-7636-6093-2 (hardcover)
[1. Painting — Fiction. 2. Space and time — Fiction. 3. Adventure and adventurers — Fiction. 4. Magic — Fiction. 5. Great Britain — History — 18th century — Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.F59861Cri 2012
[Fic]—dc23 2011048343
ISBN 978-0-7636-6208-0 (electronic)
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Somerville, Massachusetts 02144