Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Elisabeth Hobbes on THE BLACKSMITH'S WIFE

This week, we're pleased to welcome author ELISABETH HOBBES with her latest release,  THE BLACKSMITH'S WIFE. One lucky visitor will get a digital only copy of The Blacksmith's Wife - this giveaway is open internationally. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments of today's author interview for a chance to win. Winner(s) are contacted privately by email. Here's the blurb.

A passion forged from fire

Rejected by her favoured knight, Joanna Sollers knows she will never love again. Especially when the man she’s now forced to marry is none other than her beloved’s half brother!

For blacksmith Hal Danby, marrying Joanna makes his lifelong dream of entering the Smiths’ Guild possible, even if the secrets in his past mean he’ll forever keep his distance. But everything changes with one stolen night, and in the arms of his new bride, Hal wonders if this loveless arrangement could transform into something real...

Praise for The Blacksmith’s Wife

‘A passionate story that unfolds with a great plot and well defined characters. It is one that you will remember and a little out of the ordinary for its content.’

‘I loved the historical accuracy and detail, and the plot gives you great characters (some you'll love, some you'll enjoy hating!), excellent settings, and the desire to bang heads together as two people don't let on what they really think.’

‘The attention to setting and period details mean that you quickly become immersed in the tale - and this tale has everything you need: tensions and misunderstandings, a growing passion between two very engaging protagonists, and a dog called Simon. It's brilliant.’

**Q&A with Elisabeth Hobbes**

Can you summarise your latest book for us?

Joanna is in love with Sir Roger, a knight who has no intention of in marrying her.  When Roger’s brother, illegitimate blacksmith Hal discovers this, he insists Roger ends the assignation.  The unforeseen consequence of this is that Joanna now needs a husband.  Her uncle, the master of the guild Hal has ambitions to join, decides Hal would be the perfect candidate to take his unwanted niece off his hands in return for possible entry into the guild.

Despite neither Hal nor Joanna wishing to marry, and both knowing Joanna is in love with Roger, they feel they have little choice but to agree.  They move to Hal’s village on the North York Moors to try build a life together.  As they begin to grow closer, secrets and misunderstandings threaten to destroy their prospective happiness.

Are your books linked in any way?

None of them are linked in a series, though the idea for the plot of The Blacksmith’s Wife came out of the fact that in my second book, A Wager for the Widow, the heroine was faced with a choice of two men: the hero who she loved but who had hurt her and a knight who she did not love but who would have presented a better opportunity.  Eleanor made the right choice but it made me wonder what might happen to a heroine who chose to marry the ‘other’ man in that situation and how the unwanted husband could turn out to be the right choice in the end.

I am currently editing my fourth book and after that I am considering whether to tell Sir Roger’s story and see if he can be redeemed enough to earn a happily ever after.

How do you go about researching for a new story?

Once I have an idea I research dates to find out if there are any particular events that the story would fit into. For A Wager for the Widow I chose the 1290s because of the opportunity for Will to make his fortune in the wine business.  For The Blacksmith’s Wife I wanted a time when my heroine Joanna would meet the knights that were travelling round the country taking part in tournaments and close enough to the Black Death (or Great Pestilence as it was known at the time) to have orphaned her.

Once I’ve chosen my period I like to use visual images as inspiration for clothing, hairstyles, buildings and so on.  Because I set The Blacksmith’s Wife in my hometown of York I spent a lot of time visiting the many buildings from the medieval period that still stand and taking photographs, walking the snickelways (lovely word) and alleys that Joanna and Hal would have walked, and (very happily) visiting a couple of the pubs that would have been there at the time.  My sister works at the Jorvik Viking Centre and has friends and colleagues who spend their lives surrounded by artefacts and documents so I was very lucky to have ready access to ask any questions I needed answering.

Do you draw on any personal experiences when writing?

In this book more than my others I drew on my love of York and the North York Moors to create the setting.  Joanna is unwilling to move to Hal’s village but once she’s there she can’t help fall in love with the landscape.  I don’t get back as often as I would like and share Hal’s emotional response on seeing the rolling vastness of the moors after a long absence.  Especially when they’re covered in purple heather they are breathtaking.

Although I don’t have a dog, I do think giving dogs human names is very amusing.  Naming Joanna’s dog Simon came about accidentally (the uncle was named before the dog even existed in the story) but coincidentally it’s the name a friend and I agree is the best name for a dog so it was great to be able to give Hal and Joanna our in-joke.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

No.  I believe in attraction at first sight and that lightning bolt feeling of ‘wow!’ when you meet someone new.  Just like Joanna and Hal discover, love takes longer to develop and comes when you really get to know and understand someone.

Are you doing anything special to celebrate the book's release?

I’ve recently joined Knutsford Literary Society and in the week The Blacksmith’s Wife is released I will be hosting an author Q&A session and reading excerpts.  I love meeting readers so I’m really looking forward to the event.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blacksmiths-Wife-Mills-Boon-Historical-ebook/dp/B01B16JQ10/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1460925809&sr=1-3 

http://www.amazon.com/Blacksmiths-Wife-Harlequin-Historical/dp/037329882X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461003740&sr=8-1&keywords=elisabeth+hobbes

Learn more about author Elisabeth Hobbes

https://twitter.com/ElisabethHobbes

https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethHobbes?ref=hl

http://elisabethhobbes.co.uk

Excerpt Thursday: THE BLACKSMITH'S WIFE by Elisabeth Hobbes

This week, we're pleased to welcome author ELISABETH HOBBES with her latest release,  THE BLACKSMITH'S WIFE. Join us again on Sunday for an author interview, with more details about the story behind the story. One lucky visitor will get a digital only copy of The Blacksmith's Wife - this giveaway is open internationally. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments of today's post or Sunday's author interview for a chance to win. Winner(s) are contacted privately by email. Here's the blurb.

A passion forged from fire

Rejected by her favoured knight, Joanna Sollers knows she will never love again. Especially when the man she’s now forced to marry is none other than her beloved’s half brother!

For blacksmith Hal Danby, marrying Joanna makes his lifelong dream of entering the Smiths’ Guild possible, even if the secrets in his past mean he’ll forever keep his distance. But everything changes with one stolen night, and in the arms of his new bride, Hal wonders if this loveless arrangement could transform into something real...

Praise for The Blacksmith’s Wife

‘A passionate story that unfolds with a great plot and well defined characters. It is one that you will remember and a little out of the ordinary for its content.’

‘I loved the historical accuracy and detail, and the plot gives you great characters (some you'll love, some you'll enjoy hating!), excellent settings, and the desire to bang heads together as two people don't let on what they really think.’

‘The attention to setting and period details mean that you quickly become immersed in the tale - and this tale has everything you need: tensions and misunderstandings, a growing passion between two very engaging protagonists, and a dog called Simon. It's brilliant.’

**An Excerpt from The Blacksmith’s Wife**

Having both been rejected- Joanna by Sir Roger, the man she loves, and Hal by the Smiths Guild he had hoped to join – Joanna’s uncle, Simon Vernon, Master of the Guild proposes that if Hal marries Joanna he will help ease Hal’s way into the guild.  Having made his decision Hal goes in search of Simon.

Hal retraced his steps to the Guild Hall along the alleys Joanna had taken him through the previous night. He suppressed a smile as he remembered her wide eyes full of innocence as she had led him in circles throughout the streets.

Even without instruction he could not have missed his destination. St Andrewgate was home to all York’s metalworkers. The narrow street was lined on both sides with open-fronted workshops making and selling all manner of wares and the heat from the furnaces and heady stench of smoke meeting the drizzle greeted Hal like an old friend.

Master Vernon’s foundry was located in an excellent position on the corner with two sides open to the street. Hal paused outside, aware of a clamminess creeping around his back. It was not too late; he could turn and walk away and no one would know. Except for him. He contemplated Simon Vernon’s establishment, larger and grander by far than his own forge in Ravenscrag. One day he would be master of such a place and today, for all his reservations, he was setting his foot most decisively on that path.

Simon Vernon was standing with his back to Hal, barking orders at a pair of young apprentices. A figure was seated at a table in the corner. Hal stared in surprise as he recognised Joanna, head bent over a wax tablet with a stylus in her hand. No one had noticed his arrival so for a moment he stood drinking in the sight of her. She wore a dark-blue dress, high necked and tight sleeved beneath a sombre grey surcoat, belted tight beneath her breasts. Her hair was braided and held back from her face with a linen band. In such a setting she appeared as delicate and out of place as a wren in a nest of crows. The impression was such a contrast to the gaily dressed, flighty girl he had encountered at the camp that Hal was transfixed.

She was not beautiful, at least not in the way he preferred his women to be, but engrossed in her task Joanna’s face was alight with enthusiasm, lending her cheeks a blush of rose. Her figure he already knew from having examined her the previous night. A slight stirring of excitement made him grin. Whatever other reservations he might have about marriage to Joanna, the physical aspects were not among them. He would enjoy getting to know his wife once they were wed.

Joanna muttered to herself, made a swift stroke with a quill and looked up. Too late to glance away her eyes trapped Hal’s. She frowned, a small furrow appearing between her eyes before she broke into a wide smile. She jumped from her chair and crossed the room to him.

‘Master Danby, what brings you here?’ she asked warmly. ‘Do you have a message for me?’ Her voice was hopeful, leaving Hal in no doubt whose word she craved.

He ignored the faint stab of jealousy that pricked his chest, deciding that whatever else occurred, Joanna would never discover Roger’s indifference from him.

‘I’m here to see your uncle.’

Simon Vernon finally noticed him. He strode to Hal, an eager expression on his face. ‘You again. Should I assume you are here because of our conversation last night?’

Hal bowed. ‘Good morning, Master Vernon. I am indeed here to discuss your proposal.’ He glanced at Joanna who was still standing beside her uncle, her eyes bright with suspicion. Master Vernon followed his gaze.

‘Joanna, go fetch ale for us. Make haste, girl!’ he exclaimed, pushing her shoulder.

Hal’s teeth gritted. If he had needed confirmation that he was making the right choice, the man’s manner towards his niece was enough.

Joanna left the building.  Simon Vernon watched her go then turned to Hal.

‘You’re here to ask for her hand?’

Hal took a deep breath. ‘I am.’

Now the words were out the weight of anxiety lifted from his shoulders.

‘Last night I was certain you would refuse,’ Simon said. ‘What changed your mind? Was the promise of my good favour too much to resist?’

Hal smiled politely. ‘Naturally.’

Simon Vernon held out a hand. ‘Then the matter is settled. Now let’s discuss terms.’

Joanna tapped her foot impatiently as the serving girl filled an earthenware jug with maddening slowness, all the while wondering what her uncle and Hal had been discussing. When she first saw him her heart had leapt, believing for one blissful moment that Sir Roger had changed his mind and sent his brother as messenger. Of course that had been foolish. From what she was learning of Hal he was too proud to consent to carry out such a task. This was not merely a visit for courtesy, however. From the way her uncle had dismissed her she knew there was more to Hal’s appearance and she was determined to find out what it was.

She arrived back at the foundry with heels skidding in the mud. The two men were facing each other, arms folded and legs set wide, consciously or unconsciously mirroring each other’s stance. They were both talking and smiling, but when Joanna entered Hal’s face became serious.

‘Bring the ale quickly, Joanna,’ her uncle instructed. ‘We have something to drink to.’

Obediently Joanna walked to the table at the back of the room and filled two cups. She picked them up and turned to find Hal standing close behind her.

‘Let me help,’ he said, taking the cups from her hand. He stared down at Joanna with an intensity that sent warm shivers running across her scalp.

‘Come here, girl!’ Simon called. As she joined them his jowly face split into a smile. ‘I said last night I would find you a husband if you could not find your own. Master Danby here has asked for your hand and I have agreed.’

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blacksmiths-Wife-Mills-Boon-Historical-ebook/dp/B01B16JQ10/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1460925809&sr=1-3 

http://www.amazon.com/Blacksmiths-Wife-Harlequin-Historical/dp/037329882X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461003740&sr=8-1&keywords=elisabeth+hobbes

Learn more about author Elisabeth Hobbes

https://twitter.com/ElisabethHobbes

https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethHobbes?ref=hl

http://elisabethhobbes.co.uk

Guest Blog: Ginger Myrick

This week, we’re welcoming historical romance author Ginger Myrick, whose novel El REY, is a 16th century story of love set in the Iberian Peninsula. Ginger is here to talk about the novel and offer a copy to a lucky winner. Leave your comment with an email address for a chance to win. Here's the blurb:

Winner of the Rosetta Literary Contest 2012 from a field of worldwide submissions, the soul-stirring novelette, The Converso: A Tale From Renaissance Iberia, was adapted from a chapter in this stunning work of historical fiction by Ginger Myrick. Written in the the tradition of classic period romance from such authors as the Bronte sisters, Anya Seton, and Jean Plaidy, and set against the backdrop of 16th century Portugal and Spain at the dawn of the dynamic Age of Exploration, EL REY boasts an inspiring cast of courageous characters that will touch your heart and capture your imagination. At its core is the turbulent love story between Inez García and El Rey.

Inez is the outspoken, independent daughter of a wealthy merchant who fled the Spanish Inquisition and a domineering mother of English noble stock with secrets of her own. At a dinner party in his honor, she falls in love with El Rey, a dashing, charismatic sea captain with a golden voice who has spent his life expanding the Portuguese empire. He is nephew of the King of Portugal with blood ties to the illustrious royal houses of Castile’s Queen Isabella and England’s King Henry VIII.

Inez and El Rey strike up an immediate friendship and discover that they have much in common. Inez has spent her childhood in the shadow of her beautiful elder sister, Serafina, so when El Rey befriends her based on her own merits, she vows that she will never love another. Captivated by her spirited charm and mesmerized by her bewitching silver and gold eyes, El Rey promises to one day return and ask for Inez’s hand in marriage. Though misfortune, class prejudice, and El Rey’s foolish pride conspire to keep them apart, life’s disappointments only make Inez more determined to seek out the elusive happiness in which she has never stopped believing.

But it is much, much more than just a love story.

EL REY is a sweeping family saga worthy of Colleen McCullough or James Michener. Interwoven in the main body of the work are four meticulously researched narratives representative of the time. Spanning three continents and two centuries in the history of the warring kingdoms of medieval Portugal and Castile, the vignettes chronicle the heroic struggles of three families to overcome racial discrimination, murder, plague, war, and the Spanish Inquisition. Filled with food and travel, and tempered with humor, tenderness, and tragedy, this intriguing story tells the timeless tale of the triumph of true love and the resilience of the human spirit.

EL REY has something in it for everyone. You will laugh, and you will cry. No one who reads this book will remain unaffected.

**Q&A with Ginger Myrick**

What inspired your story?

I was exploring an idea for a short story about a Welsh girl growing up during the reign of King Henry V of England. I had spent the day scouring old folklore books, because I wanted to add an element of magic to her tale. I needed a break, so I turned on the computer to search for a new recipe or knitting pattern. I found myself reading some posts about my old favorite, Katherine by Anya Seton. I have always had a keen fascination with the Plantagenets, and this time John of Gaunt’s bid for the Castilian crown struck my fancy. After contemplating the relationship between England, Castile, and Portugal—the Portuguese lent their support to John, resulting in the marriage of his oldest daughter, Philippa, to King Joao I—the entire storyline for EL REY flashed into my mind in what I can only call ‘Divine Inspiration’. It took a couple of days to pinpoint a suitable location and significant events that fit the setting, but for the most part, the story flowed out of me more or less in its finished form. The biggest challenge was finding the time to write it all down.

What do you think about the label “unusual”?

I suppose that because the whole idea of writing a novel seemed so foreign to me, that the rarity of the setting was not enough to warrant notice. I was warned at the outset of this venture that anything outside of the accepted Britain, France, and sometimes Italy would be a hard sell, but it’s not like I wrote the book in Portuguese or Spanish! The thrones of Portugal and Spain have ever been entwined with those of England and France. Beyond that, there is enough in El Rey that is relatable and familiar. The love of a mother for her child, a wife for her husband, sibling rivalry, for anyone who has ever loved an animal or had a childhood crush on a movie actor or rockstar—these themes are timeless and universal and transcend any gap of language or setting.

El Rey is a love story. Why is it not classified as historical romance?

El Rey is more a work of historical fiction with a ‘clean’ love story at the core than a romance. Part of my intention in writing El Rey was to give a fairly thorough representation of the relationship between the neighboring nations of Castile and Portugal. I did my very best to give a basic understanding of the events of the time, especially the ones that had a lasting impact on the face of our modern world. Of course without the human element it would have been quite dry. After all, the history would have been meaningless if it had had no bearing on people.

But, although I cringe at the classification of romance and the implication of what that label has come to signify, El Rey is a love story. I am a Christian, and I hope to show the reading community that a romance need not include graphic details to convey deep love and passion. I very much like the classification coined by a fellow author, Emery Lee—romantic historical fiction—and I use it on my website.

Which historical events are touched upon in El Rey?

On the Portuguese side I cover Vasco da Gama’s first and final voyages to India, discovery of China, occupation of Northern Africa in effort to subdue the Moors, the executions of the Dukes of Braganza and Viseu, and Portuguese settlement of the Azores. On the Castilian side are the continual pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the Castilian Inquisition, and the Wars of Succession between the two nations. These are all subjects that I explore. It may sound like a lot, but believe it or not, there was so much history that occurred during the 200-year period covered by El Rey that I struggled to contain the story to only these events.

A story from your book took first place in a literary contest. Tell us about that.

From the very beginning El Rey cried out to be translated into Portuguese and Spanish, but at over 500 pages the cost is prohibitive. I submitted an 11,000-word section from El Rey to the Rosetta Literary Contest 2012. It is a story about a family of conversos who escape from the Inquisition. Out of a field of worldwide submissions THE CONVERSO won first prize, which was translation of the story into Spanish and a professional book cover. At the very least, potential readers will know that my writing has some merit.

How have you handled the lukewarm reception of your unusual setting?

Sometimes when I watch my sales ranking tumble or see a mediocre review of El Rey, I look around me and see the blessings that abound in my life. When I cook a big family meal and my loved ones are all lying around the living room digesting their food while a roaring fire blazes in the fireplace, or when my cat, whom we affectionately but fittingly call Mr. Stinkerpuss, climbs up behind me in my computer chair, or when I head out to the backyard to play catch with my eager, scruffy-faced puppy—I often find myself asking, “Do I really need anything more than this to be happy?” Of course the answer is no, but if any of you ladies were interested in reading my book, that would be nice, too!

What is your current work in progress?

I am currently working on the story that I was researching when the inspiration struck for El Rey. It is another work of historical fiction, also a love story, tentatively titled The Welsh Healer. It takes place in 15^th century England and is about a young girl who comes from a long line of healers. She is the fulfillment of a prophecy and is destined to eventually preserve the Tudor bloodline. It covers the time period from the reign of Richard II through Henry V, from the Welsh rebellion through the conclusion of the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of the Roses.

Thank you, Ginger, and best of luck with El Rey.

Learn more about Ginger at:

Twitter 

Facebook   

Goodreads 

Author Central page at Amazon 

El Rey Product page at Amazon 

Excerpt Thursday: EL REY by Ginger Myrick

This week, we’re welcoming historical romance author Ginger Myrick, whose novel El REY, is a 16th century story of love set in the Iberian Peninsuala. Join us Sunday, when Ginger will be here to talk about the novel and offer a copy to a lucky winner. Here's the blurb:

Winner of the Rosetta Literary Contest 2012 from a field of worldwide submissions, the soul-stirring novelette, The Converso: A Tale From Renaissance Iberia, was adapted from a chapter in this stunning work of historical fiction by Ginger Myrick. Written in the the tradition of classic period romance from such authors as the Bronte sisters, Anya Seton, and Jean Plaidy, and set against the backdrop of 16th century Portugal and Spain at the dawn of the dynamic Age of Exploration, EL REY boasts an inspiring cast of courageous characters that will touch your heart and capture your imagination. At its core is the turbulent love story between Inez García and El Rey.

Inez is the outspoken, independent daughter of a wealthy merchant who fled the Spanish Inquisition and a domineering mother of English noble stock with secrets of her own. At a dinner party in his honor, she falls in love with El Rey, a dashing, charismatic sea captain with a golden voice who has spent his life expanding the Portuguese empire. He is nephew of the King of Portugal with blood ties to the illustrious royal houses of Castile’s Queen Isabella and England’s King Henry VIII.

Inez and El Rey strike up an immediate friendship and discover that they have much in common. Inez has spent her childhood in the shadow of her beautiful elder sister, Serafina, so when El Rey befriends her based on her own merits, she vows that she will never love another. Captivated by her spirited charm and mesmerized by her bewitching silver and gold eyes, El Rey promises to one day return and ask for Inez’s hand in marriage. Though misfortune, class prejudice, and El Rey’s foolish pride conspire to keep them apart, life’s disappointments only make Inez more determined to seek out the elusive happiness in which she has never stopped believing.

But it is much, much more than just a love story.

EL REY is a sweeping family saga worthy of Colleen McCullough or James Michener. Interwoven in the main body of the work are four meticulously researched narratives representative of the time. Spanning three continents and two centuries in the history of the warring kingdoms of medieval Portugal and Castile, the vignettes chronicle the heroic struggles of three families to overcome racial discrimination, murder, plague, war, and the Spanish Inquisition. Filled with food and travel, and tempered with humor, tenderness, and tragedy, this intriguing story tells the timeless tale of the triumph of true love and the resilience of the human spirit.

EL REY has something in it for everyone. You will laugh, and you will cry. No one who reads this book will remain unaffected.

**An Excerpt from EL REY**

As they stepped outside, they saw El Rey swinging down from his mount. He casually tossed the reins to a waiting groom, and as he flipped his hair back over his shoulder, his face was revealed. Striding toward them in his cool, self-assured manner was the most beautiful man Inez had ever seen. Her head swam, and she found it difficult to breathe. In an attempt to keep her pounding heart a secret, she dropped her gaze and inconspicuously inched behind her mother. From there she peeked out to get a better look.

Inez had expected ‘The King’ to be a giant of a man, but that was not the case. The confidence that radiated from him added to his stature, but in reality he was only slightly taller than the average man. His long tenure as a sea captain had left him well-muscled and broad-shouldered yet still slender. His hair fell to the middle of his back and was dark and glossy as a raven’s wing. The dark eyes that peered from his sculpted face sparkled with intelligence and humor, and their slight almond shape lent an exotic cast to his extraordinary visage. He had a prominent Roman nose, which on another might have been a distraction but on him was not uncomely and suited his face. As he drew closer, his face broke into a smile showing strong white teeth, and Inez had to catch her breath.

“Senhor García,” began El Rey in Portuguese, bending slightly at the waist. “At last we meet, and what a pleasure it is. And this enchanting creature?” he asked, turning to Joanna. “Your daughter I presume?”

She giggled like a young girl as he bowed over her hand with a courtly flourish and grazed it with his lips. “Por favor, Señor,” she stressed in Castilian, “Your flattery is well-intended, but I am far past the age to believe it. Welcome to our home. May I present our daughter,” she said and pushed Inez to the fore.

Inez, feeling completely exposed, kept her head down and dropped a curtsey. “Pleased to meet you, Señor,” she mumbled. She tried but could not bring herself to look him in the face, fearing that if she did, he would read her thoughts.

Finally, to her relief her father said, “Well then, shall we go inside?”

Learn more about Ginger at:

Twitter 

Facebook   

Goodreads 

AuthorCentral page at Amazon 

El Reyproduct page at Amazon 

Guest Blog: Erin O'Quinn

This week, we're welcoming historical romance author Erin O'Quinn. Her latest title, FIRE & SILK, is sent in ancient Ireland and made its debut this month. Erin is here to talk about the novel and offer a PDF copy to a lucky winner. Please leave a comment for your chance to win a copy. Here's the blurb:

Flann O'Conall, the gruff, redheaded son of a king in ancient Ireland, has for the past twenty years preferred the wilderness to the company of a woman. Then, one rainy night, he reluctantly opens his rainproof blanket to the innocent yet disdainful and taunting Mariana de la Castra del Oro.

What happens under his blanket? The encounter of his fire with her silk creates a maelstrom of conflict and raw passion that changes both their lives.

First, he teaches her some survival skills, while she tries to teach him the meaning of love. Finally, when Flann flees back to the security of his waterfall in the mountains, he is caught in a perilous trap and only Mariana can track him and save his life.

Flann is torn at last between the lonely but secure life on his chosen mountain—his symbolic mistress—and the torment of letting go of the willful, passionate Mariana.

**Q&A with Erin O'Quinn**

Welcome, Erin, and congratulations on the debut of your newest romance. Why are all your current novels set in the dark ages of Ireland?

True “history” did not begin in Ireland until the time scholars reckon that St. Patrick arrived, probably 432 AD. That is precisely when my romance novels begin. I postulate that a group of immigrants, led by a young woman named Caylith, followed Patrick to Ireland. With Patrick came pagan conversion, monastery schools, the learning of Latin and the preservation of ancient writings. In short, Patrick arrived--and Ireland's history literally began. Ironically, the history of Ireland began even as invasions by Saxons and others were destroying the scrolls and scriptures of antiquity on the mainland in the wake of the retreating Roman armies.

Why St. Patrick? Isn’t it a little edgy to include a saint in what is clearly a group of steamy romances?

My husband, a devoted fan of historical fantasy, pointed out to me one day that no fantasy writer has ever written about the time of St. Patrick. I did a little digging and found out that, as far as I could tell, no romance writer had ventured there either. So I began to write about the man I fancied he might have been; not too tall, but charismatic, with intense blue eyes, blond hair, chubby cheeks and a voice to enthrall a crowd and an entire nation. Soon my imagination had him becoming a friend and mentor to young, adventurous Caylith in Britannia before he was sent by the Pontiff to a ministry in Hibernia. And the adventures began.

Tell us about your romance novels and how actual history figures in them.

I now have a complete trilogy published by SirenBookstrand: Storm Maker, The Wakening Fire, and Captive Heart. These books take the reader from roughly September of 432 AD until December of 433 AD. The first one finds Caylith bound to a promise she had made earlier to Father Patrick--that she would keep her chastity until marriage. In addition to the tension created by an old enemy, the sexual tension mounts as she once again meets a passionate young clansman named Liam. In the second of the trilogy, Caylith and Liam begin to discover the mystery of their enemy, a man named Owen Sweeney. Their pursuit of the mystery leads them at last to the sacred Hill of Tara, where Patrick is bound to set his Easter fires in defiance of High King Leary’s own Beltane fires on May 1, 433 AD. As far as scholars can determine, those events actually happened. And Owen is a real historical figure, as I’ll discuss below. Finally, in Captive Heart, Caylith and Liam set their boot-tips to the rough northern seacoast of modern Donegal, then called Tyrconnell, where they have discovered that a group of women are being held as slaves to be sold. The history in this book is manipulated somewhat. I postulate that High King Leary has made it illegal to hold foreign captives as slaves. In truth, Ireland’s Brehon Law actually allows such bonding of people, although it certainly does not condone the kind of mistreatment these women undergo at the hands of their captives. The places in this novel--especially the desolate, dangerous island of Tory--are very real, and frightening even to this day.

Fire & Silk debuted this week. Tell us why you chose to feature that novel on Unusual Historicals.

The “old enemy” I referred to before--Owen Sweeney--turns out to be the bastard son of Ireland’s most famous high king, Niáll of the Nine Hostages. In truth, he was not born out of wedlock, nor was he a cripple. Those are liberties I have taken in creating the character. But it is true that Owen MacNeill conquered and gave his name to both Inishowen and Tyrone, and the excerpt tells that story.

Far beyond the tale of Owen, Fire & Silk is the story of two improbable lovers--a silent, dedicated bachelor named Flann O’Conall who loves only his precious mountains and rough sea; and a young virgin from Iberia named Mariana, who thinks that the man is a crude peasant who means to debauch her. In truth, Flann is the son of the king of Tyrconnell, Conall Gulban, and he is terrified of getting close to any woman. And she has held her virginity until she meets Flann, when she begins to feel a certain hollowness she cannot understand....and neither can he!

Thank you, Erin and best of luck with Fire & Silk, available now!

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Excerpt Thursday: FIRE & SILK by Erin O'Quinn

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming historical romance author Erin O'Quinn. Her latest title, FIRE & SILK, is sent in ancient Ireland and made its debut this month. Join us Sunday, when Erin will be here to talk about the novel and offer a PDF copy to a lucky winner. Erin tells us a bit about the novel:

If you are familiar with northern Ireland, you know the name Inishowen, the northernmost promontory, part of Co. Donegal, that swells into the Sea of Éire. In the fifth century AD, it was called Inis-Owen, the Isle of Owen, after Owen MacNeill, one of the sons of the high king Niáll of the Nine Hostages. To the west lay Tyr-Conall, “the land of Conall,” named after Owen’s brother Conall Gulban and now called Donegal. And the land south of both was named Tyr-Owen, “the land of Owen.” Of course, this area is now Co. Tyrone. The following excerpt from Fire & Silk is a fictionalized account of how those lands got their name. Yet the derivations of the names are true and accurate.

Owen MacNeill is a character who has appeared in all my romance novels--a cripple, yet a man bigger than any around him, larger than life, a tragic figure who has just discovered his royal heritage. Here, the hero of the novel Flann O’Conall is taking his uncle Owen to see the brother he has never met. The hilltop where they stop is indeed called the Grianán, and it actually is the site of an ancient ring fort, as the narrative suggests. On the map, it is the narrow strip in yellow between the two large lakes.

**An Excerpt from Fire & Silk**

A curious procession moved south, beyond Snow Mountain. It bore slightly west, away from the worst of the foothills in the high pastureland. In front rode a quiet redheaded man on a black stallion. He turned his head often to gaze at the woman next to him, one whose long, dark hair lifted like wings around her face. 

He turned in the saddle to glance at his companions. Behind him, there rolled and rattled a vehicle borrowed from the poetry of the filí, bards of the kings. The man in the chariot was large and heavy browed, and he shouted out to a brace of strong horses as he guided the vehicle around a rocky outcropping or a small gully. Beside him sat a shapely little woman, her deeply black hair swept up with a large ivory bodkin, her eyes sometimes on the driver and sometimes gazing ahead.

Behind the chariot, three very large men sat astride horses, shouting and laughing, sometimes singing. And in the rear walked six packhorses. This was the caravan of Owen, King of Inishowen, who traveled to meet his own brother for the first time.

Above them, thin clouds, gray as dove feathers, flew south with the prevailing wind. Flann eyed the clouds from time to time, confident that the fair weather would continue for another day. It was important that when they reached the hilltop stone remnants, the Grianán, his Uncle Owen be afforded a clear view. 

This was the fifth day of their trek. This morning they had caught sight of the Swilly to the west, and Flann reckoned they would see the bird-shrouded island and the hill fort within the hour....

He turned Storm around and cantered alongside the chariot. Owen turned his eyes to the younger man in a silent question.

“There is a nearby hill,” Flann said. “A place I want ye to see. Can ye ride astride a horse?”

“I can, and I will,” Owen answered bluntly. 

“Then let us stop here. I give ye the stallion. And Moc, ye may have the dappled gelding.”

Flann signaled to his cousins, and the procession stopped. Murdoch dismounted and walked to the chariot. He and Flann stood a while talking, and then both men turned to Owen. Each of them grasped the brawny man by his shoulders and buttocks, and they lifted him from the chariot and set him high in the saddle. 

Mockingbird needed no help at all. She mounted Breac easily and waited for Owen. He grasped the pommel with one large hand and flicked the reins a little, urging the stallion onward.

Flann had stepped back, letting Owen and Moc lead the procession. The three MacOwen boys, now walking, were leading their own horses close to his flank, ready to catch their father if he should fall from the saddle. He and Mariana ... walked hand in hand behind all of them....

The hill was four or five hundred feet above the flat ground, and the incline was steep enough to force them into a slow, meandering path upward. Flann saw the first sign of the ancient ruined wall. He saw Owen point and say something to one of his attendant sons. In spite of the steepness, they all began to move faster, until finally, they stood on the crest of the sun-drenched hill.

He joined the others all grouped near and on the tumbled remains of the rock fortress. Everyone was looking down into the valley on the shining water of the Swilly and on a small island that seemed to lift and swell as the thousands of birds took off and landed on its surface.

Owen sat on the stallion, seeming to be frozen in place, his eyes more alive than Flann had seen them. “Tell me about this place,” he said without taking his eyes off the island.

“They call it the Grianán. I think the place itself used to be called the Kingdom of Aileach. Ye can see, I think, that it is several hundreds of years old. Here stood a fortress, Uncle Owen, I am sure of it.”

“I agree. Who destroyed it—and when? I think none will ever know.” He looked around the circumference of the stones. “Behold a tumulus—a burial mound, I think.” He urged Storm twenty feet beyond and sat looking at what to Flann seemed merely a small grassy hill on a hill. “Perhaps King Aileach himself lies under this mound.”

“If ye cast your eyes east, Uncle, ye may catch a glimmer of the River Foyle. About six or seven miles. There lies the bally of Derry.”

“Indeed?” Owen asked, a smile toying with his wide, narrow mouth. “Then this place where we stand lies between the Swilly and the Foyle, and the land south is unclaimed by any clan.”

“Ye’re right, Uncle. On the west stands the leg of your brother Conall. And on the east stands the leg of your brother Leary. The head is Inishowen—your head.”

“And the land south, nephew, must be my mighty groin, eh? I have often said I would capture my kingdom like a lover. And there she lies.”

He pulled the reins sideways, leading Storm to where Moc sat on the gelding, and he rode close enough to reach out and grasp her hand.

“Boys, cast your eyes on this place in the sun. It is well-named a grianán, like a summer house. D’ye think ye can have a new fortress built here?”

Fergus was clearly excited. “Yes, Father. After our visit with Uncle Conall, Echach and I can begin to gather men like milk cows and herd them to this high búaile. We will start to build right away.”

Owen looked at Flann. “Go raibh maith agat. My deepest thanks. You have awakened an old desire. This kingdom shall live again. We shall call it the Land of Owen, or Tyrone, from this day forward.”

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