FOR A ROMAN'S HEART Winner!

We have a winner for Denise Agnew's FOR A ROMAN'S HEART guest blog. A free copy goes to:

TRACIE!

Also, no winner stepped forward for E. D. Walker's THE BEAUTY'S BEAST contest, so the new winner is:

DANIELLE GORMAN!

Contact Carrie to provide your mailing address. The book must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought! Congratulations!

THE BEAUTY'S BEAST Winner!

We have a winner for E. D. Walker's THE BEAUTY'S BEAST guest blog. A free copy goes to:

RUTH M!

Contact Carrie to provide your mailing address. The book must be claimed by next Sunday or another winner will be drawn. Please stop back later to let us know what you thought! Congratulations!

Weekly Announcements - 18 Feb 2011

Lindsay Townsend has received the cover and copy for her July release, TO TOUCH THE KNIGHT, another in her very popular medieval series from Kensington.

As a pestilence sweeps medieval England, a low-born woman has only the sharpness of her wits--and the courage of her heart...

Edith of Warren Hemlet plays a dangerous game. At the knights' tourneys across the land, among the lords and ladies, she is a strange foreign princess. But in the privacy of her tent with the other survivors of her village, she is but a smith's widow with a silver tongue. They are well-fed, but if discovered, the punishment is death. And one knight--fierce, arrogant, and perilously appealing--is becoming far too attentive...

Sir Ranulf of Fredenwyke cares little for tourneys: playing for ladies' favors, when his own lady is dead; feasting, while commoners starve; "friendly" combat, when he has seen real war. Still, one lady captivates him--mysterious in her veils and silks, intoxicating with her exotic scents and bold glances. Yet something in her eyes reminds him of home...and draws him irresistibly to learn her secrets...

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Join us Sunday when Kristina McMorris will be here to celebrate the debut of LETTERS FROM HOME, set in WWII. She'll also be giving away two copies! Be sure to join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of E. D. Walker's romance featuring a Norman knight werewolf, THE BEAUTY'S BEAST. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.

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Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Denise Agnew Michelle Styles, Elizabeth Lane, Kris Tualla, will be coming up. Join us!

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Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Guest Author: E.D. Walker

This week on Unusual Historicals, we're welcoming Noble Romance author E.D. Walker, whose latest medieval romance, THE BEAUTY'S BEAST, features a werewolf knight in Norman times. Here's the blurb:

Lady Kathryn's father has sent her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn't bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, she finds her loneliness is eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: an uncanny black wolf. What the king doesn't realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.

The beast's too-knowing eyes and the way he seems to understand her every utterance convinces Kathryn the wolf is more than what he seems. Resolving to restore him, she doesn't count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity. And to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.

Only Kathryn's affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when the man who betrayed him returns to court, will Kathryn's love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?

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"...a page-turner fairytale for the adult (or younger!) dreamer....I really enjoyed this tale! How can you not like a book with a cheeky protagonist and a noble gentle-were?" ~ Night Owl Reviews

"I bought and read it all on in one night, and I loved every minute of it." ~ Book Geek Reviews

"I believe that THE BEAUTY'S BEAST is E. D. Walker's first published novel. I certainly hope it will not be her last, because I enjoyed this story enough to want more from her. Excellent job, Ms. Walker. Keep up the good work!" ~ The Book Wenches

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Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a SoCal girl born and bred, and right now I'm finishing up a (somewhat overdue) BA in English Literature at UC Berkeley.

I understand your inspiration for THE BEAUTY'S BEAST came from a homework assignment?

Yep. My World Lit professor assigned the medieval poem "Bisclavret" by Marie de France. As soon as I read this great poem about an accursed werewolf knight I knew I wanted to write a novel based on "Bisclavret." Just the two-word description gets me all excited: Werewolf. Knight. That's awesome, right?

That does sound cool.

Yeah! Who knew homework could be so exciting?

So, as far as 'writing' homework, were there any interesting research problems you encountered on THE BEAUTY'S BEAST?

Definitely. One really problematic aspect for me was that my hero is injured in the beginning of the novel, but he's injured in his wolf form. This meant I had to research medieval veterinary care, information about which is, understandably, somewhat limited. Eventually, I based the treatment for my wolfy hero on the sort of things that might be used on a prized hunting dog.

Were there any parts of researching the book that were particularly fun?

The clothes! I am a total historical clothing geek. I love historical fashion, so getting to play dress-up with my characters is always one of my enduring joys as a writer. For Kathryn's gowns I looked at historical paintings and woodcuttings. I also used Tom Tierney's paper doll books a little for inspiration. It was really great, actually, because my sister is an artist and this past Christmas she surprised me with a paper doll collection of my very own of the two main characters from THE BEAUTY'S BEAST. She's so detail-oriented she actually drew little wolf details on the trim of the heroine's gowns.

Often, in historical novels some real life historical figures show up. Do any real historical figures appear in THE BEAUTY'S BEAST?

Not many real historical people pop in, but I did feel so indebted to Marie de France for giving me such brilliant source material that she has a very small cameo in the book.

Can you offer any recommendations for books similar to THE BEAUTY'S BEAST that your readers would enjoy?

I would definitely recommend the Brother Cadfael chronicles by Ellis Peters. They're cozy mysteries set during the civil war in England between Stephen and Maude. The main character is a monk, but there's a little romance in each book between secondary characters. Cadfael books are straight historicals, so no fantasy elements, but I was heavily influenced in my tone for THE BEAUTY'S BEAST by that series with its warm, comforting presence. Another great historical read that does have fantasy elements is The Spirit Ring by Lois McMaster Bujold. That book is set in Renaissance Italy, and the heroine is the half-black daughter of a master goldsmith and magician. The Spirit Ring is chock full of action, court intrigue, romance and magic.

What's up next for you?

My second book HEIR TO THE UNDERWORLD actually came out late last year. It's a YA fantasy romance. Not a historical, alas, but the book is filled to the brim with ancient mythology, gods and fairies, so I think there's stuff there for a historical fan to enjoy.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Yes: I love hearing from readers! I have a blog that I update at least 3 times a week, a website where readers can learn more about me and my books, and a Facebook page where I post news and interesting links all the time.

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Thanks for stopping by today, E.D! Readers, E.D. is giving away a copy! Just tell us which shifter type is your favorite. I'll draw the winner next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

Weekly Announcements - 12 Feb 2011

Carrie Lofty's May 2nd release from Carina Press, PORTRAIT OF SEDUCTION, set in Napoleonic Austria, has its cover!

Greta Zwieg forges masterpieces. With her copies on their walls and the original paintings safely hidden, the noble families of Austria can rest assured their treasures will survive Napoleon's advances. But now Greta's uncle is changing the rules, selling her counterfeits as originals. Greta abhors the deceit. Though anxious for her family's safety in a perilous time, she is determined to put things right.

Oliver Doerger is living a lie of his own. While acting as valet for his aristocratic half-brother, Oliver saves Greta's life and is overwhelmed by the forbidden passion that flares between them. While he's not truly a servant, he is a bastard and a spy--certainly no match for a woman of such exquisite quality.

Though both fear discovery, they cannot resist each other. But when the truth comes out, and the city falls into chaos, Greta and Oliver will be forced to choose: love or duty?

In addition, Carrie's upcoming Victorian romance from Pocket, HIS VOWS TO KEEP, which is set in colonial South Africa, is available now from pre-order.

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Lisa J. Yarde will be a regular contributor at the Best Damn Creative Writing Blog, with weekly articles on writing and publication, starting in February.

Lisa will also self-publish her next historical fiction title, SULTANA, a story of murder, revenge and intrigue set in thirteenth-century Moorish Spain. Ebook versions available now at Amazon and Smashwords, while the paperback will appear in April.

In thirteenth-century Moorish Spain, the realm of Granada is in crisis. The union of Fatima, granddaughter of the Sultan of Granada, with the Sultan’s nephew Faraj has fractured the nation. A bitter civil war escalates and endangers both Fatima and Faraj's lives.

All her life, Fatima has sheltered in lavish palaces where danger has never intruded, until now. A precocious child and the unwitting pawn of her family, she soon learns how her marriage may determine her future and the fate of Granada. Her husband Faraj has his own qualms about their union. At a young age, he witnessed the deaths of his parents and discovered how affluence and power offers little protection against indomitable enemies. Guilt and fears plague him. Determined to carve his own destiny, Faraj struggles to regain his lost inheritance and avenge his murdered family.

Throughout the rugged frontiers of southern Spain, the burgeoning Christian kingdoms in the north and the desert states of North Africa, Fatima and Faraj survive ruthless murderers and intrigues. They unite against common enemies bent on destroying the last Moorish dynasty. While Fatima and Faraj establish a powerful bond, the atmosphere of deceit creates opportunities for mistrust and tests their love.

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Join us Sunday when E. D. Walker will be here to chat about THE BEAUTY'S BEAST, a Norman-themed romance. She'll also be giving away two copies! Be sure to join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of Beth Elliott's latest steamy medieval romance, APRIL AND MAY. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.

***

Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Kristina McMorris, Denise Agnew Michelle Styles, and Elizabeth Lane will be coming up. Join us!

***

Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Excerpt Thursday: E.D. Walker

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming Noble Romance author E.D. Walker, whose latest medieval romance, THE BEAUTY'S BEAST, features a werewolf knight. Sunday, E.D. will be here to talk about this fascinating setting, and give away a copy. Join us then! Here's the blurb:

Lady Kathryn's father has sent her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn't bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, she finds her loneliness is eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: an uncanny black wolf. What the king doesn't realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.

The beast's too-knowing eyes and the way he seems to understand her every utterance convinces Kathryn the wolf is more than what he seems. Resolving to restore him, she doesn't count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity. And to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.

Only Kathryn's affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when the man who betrayed him returns to court, will Kathryn's love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?

***

"You might not have heard, but the steward has given me use of Master Llewellyn's workshop to treat you. In the garden, I believe."

Leading the maiden forward, the wolf cut through the main corridor of the castle, then exited out the back, turning toward a small shed snuggled up cozily against the stone walls of the castle. He led the girl without hesitation to the right building, and when he glanced back, the girl was smiling to herself. "Have you have been to the castle before, my Lord Wolf?"

He looked up at her sharply, then huffed in a fair approximation of a human sigh. He had not meant to reveal he knew the castle, but in his present state of pain and abstraction, he had stumbled in keeping his secrets to himself….

The steward had fulfilled all of Kathryn's wishes with absolute precision and haste. The proper implements were there and waiting, as well as three strapping young lads from the stables who were used to violent animals and dirty work.

The wolf eyed these helpers with disfavor as he wriggled his way up onto the worktable.

"Do I need them to make you behave yourself, d'you think?" Kathryn whispered.

The wolf gave her a sharp look, then, ever so slightly, shook his head.

No.

Kathryn breathed deeply to steel herself, then examined the wolf's injuries. She had seen a few dogfights in the kennels at home, and these wounds were rather typical of a death fight. There were large, deep lacerations on his shoulder where the greyhound had grabbed him, and smaller cuts on the wolf's face where the hound had scratched at him before the wolf killed it. Mud and blood--some of which even belonged to the wolf--matted the wolf's coat.

"I'll have to use the iron, I'm afraid, my lord," she said absently to the wolf. Rolling up her sleeves, she patted his side gently. "I'm going to have one of my helpers here wash your wounds with wine while I get the bellows going and heat the iron."

One of the lads stepped forward. "I can do that, m'lady. I've practice enough with the iron from tending the dogs and horses."

Kathryn nodded. "All right. Make sure to use charcoal, not coal. And do not let the iron get so hot flame leaps from it."

Her helper went to heat the hot iron.

As she made everything ready, the other two helpers skirted wide around the wolf, apparently loath to touch him. Kathryn sent one to get honey and brandy from the kitchen and the other to heat water on one of the workshop's impressively efficient little burners. She herself set about cleaning the wolf's filthy coat, rinsing the dirt and detritus from the scratches on his face and body.

He settled in comfortably to her handling. When she dabbed at the scratches with the wine, he did not flinch, snap, or otherwise make any overtures of violence toward her, even though her ministrations must have hurt him. Kathryn smiled in satisfaction. "You are indeed a truly mild-mannered wolf."

The wolf winced as she touched some tender spot.

Had he only been a brutish animal, he might have whined from the pain in his shoulder. He certainly would have snapped at her, but instead he remained passive and patient. As she continued their one-sided discourse, chattering amicably about random odds and ends, the wolf looked at her rather sardonically, his eyes narrowed. The back of her neck tingled with awareness. He understands me. Every word. This wolf was obviously more than he seemed.

But how much more?