 I'm proud to welcome award-winning author Jennifer Ivy Walker today! I recently started reading The Lady of the Mirrored Lake. Talk about intense! Jennifer will tell us more about her latest release, but first let's learn a little more about her! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? I enjoyed stories about medieval knights and ladies, such as tales of King Arthur, Lancelot, and Robin Hood. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? I love paranormal, medieval, and historical romance! 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I discovered I had a knack for writing when I was eleven—the same year I started studying French. I realized I had a passion for the French language, history, literature, and culture as well. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? A short story about my cocker spaniel in seventh grade. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? Growing up, I lived far from friends, so Nature was my companion, and being alone a lot fostered my imagination. Later on, I learned to sew, so in addition to writing, I also create couture (which I sell on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/bohemienneivy. As a French teacher, I used creative methods—such as puppets, Theater in the Classroom, music, dance, and literature to enhance my students’ learning. Beautiful shop -- seriously boho! What it must be like to be so creative ... 6) What’s your writing space like? I redecorated a spare bedroom, furnishing it with light aqua French antique furniture, huge pink roses, and lots of plants!  So lovely! Thank you for sharing your space with us. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I prefer to write during the day when it’s quiet and peaceful. I always work out plot developments or character backgrounds on my daily beach walks. Nature--especially the ocean-- inspires me so much! 8) Time to talk about The Lady of the Mirrored Lake, which I am reading at the moment (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? When I earned my MA in French literature, I discovered the medieval legend of “Tristan et Yseult”. I have always loved Arthurian myth, and when I discovered that Tristan was a Knight of the Round Table and friend of Lancelot, it gave me the idea to do a paranormal fantasy adaptation of that medieval French legend, incorporating the French version of Arthurian myths. You've done it beautifully. 9) Now let’s talk about… A recent five-star review said this about my new release, The Lady of the Mirrored Lake (book 2 of The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy). “Decidedly more dark and decadent…the author deftly weaves some daunting new enemies into this magical tale, creating a rapturous fusion of myth, lore, and wizardry. 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. I know what that takes. Still, I can’t help but ask -– do you have anything waiting in the wings? “The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight”—the conclusion of my trilogy—will be published on June 21st. “Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle” – a passionate romance between a fiery French princess descended from Vikings and the sullen, solitary knight who suffers an impossible love for her--will be published later this year. I just submitted the completed manuscript for “Flames of Flamenco”, an exotic romance set in Montmartre, the bohemian heart of Paris. I hope it lands another contract!  Finally, my current WIP (work-in-progress) -- “Amour in Avignon”—is a Cyrano de Bergerac kind of love story where a lonely American divorcée falls for a romantic French actor when she goes to the Festival of Theater in Avignon (a city in Provence, in the south of France). Wow! Bravo! Seriously, do you write in your sleep? 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I am THRILLED to share the news that my debut novel, “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”, won FIRST PLACE in the Paranormal Romance Guild 2022 Reviewer’s Choice Awards in the Historical Romance category. I am truly honored to have won this prestigious award! I happen to know that The Lady of the Mirrored Lake also recently won The Titan Gold Award! Congratulations, Ivy, for the honors as well as for your latest, award-winning release! Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us. Wishing you all the best!  Mirror, mirror on the lake. Reveal the path the queen will take. Hunted by the Black Widow Queen, Issylte--a healer with the verdant magic of the forest--must flee Avalon with the two finest knights in the Celtic realm, both wrongly accused of treason. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies. In mystical Brocéliande, Issylte becomes a warrior priestess of the Tribe of Dana and otherworldly mate of the Blue Knight of Cornwall, discovering with Tristan a passion that transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths. As a nascent evil emerges in a fetid cave, Issylte and Tristan must face a diabolical trio that threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms. Enchanted. Enflamed. Entwined. Can their passion and power prevail? Amazon B&N  Excerpt Their bodies sated—at least for now—they lay together, a tangle of limbs, reluctant to leave their enchanted realm. Tristan propped himself onto his elbow to unabashedly appreciate her nudity, worshipping her beauty with admiring eyes. He kissed her softly. “I love you, Issylte. With every breadth of my soul. With every beat of my heart. I am yours. Now, and forever.” His sea raven heart soared in the love light shining in her forest fairy eyes. “And I love you, Tristan. You are my warrior. My friend. My teacher. The only one who ever believed in me. Who promised to fight for me. Beside me.” Rising onto her knees, she took both of his hands in hers and kissed them. Her eyes glistening, she whispered, “You gave me weapons. Trained me to fight. To defend myself. And that…” she choked, gazing up at him, “is not only the greatest gift I have ever received. It also saved my life.” She kissed his hands again. “You are helping me to grow, Tristan. To believe in myself. To face the wicked queen who denies me my birthright. Who killed so many of those I loved. Whose evil threatens us all.” Lying down at his side, she laid her head over his pounding heart. He softly stroked her long blond hair. “You have made me strong, whole, and complete, Tristan. I am totally, utterly, undeniably yours. “ He held her for a few moments. His wild rose. Then, rising to his feet, Tristan took her hands, and pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her waist, gazing intently into the deep green eyes of his Muse. “Toi et moi. So it shall be. You and I are entwined. Eternally.” Amazon B&N  About the Author Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French. As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch. “The Lady of the Mirrored Lake”—book 2 of “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven” trilogy--is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a paranormal fantasy adaptation of the medieval legend of "Tristan et Yseult" (Tristan and Isolde), interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic. Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.
15 Comments
Virginie
3/15/2023 01:34:42
hey! Looooove your writing space! biz
Anastasia
3/15/2023 12:58:12
Hi, Virginie! Thank you for stopping by! 3/15/2023 02:37:59
Fab blog. Lovely to hear more about you Ivy. And so multi talented. I've a friend whose work is displayed I'm thr V AND A. her work reminds me of your writing space. Quite beautiful 😍 now I'm going to look at your site. So excited 😊
Anastasia
3/15/2023 12:58:59
Thanks so much for stopping by, Lynn! 3/15/2023 06:06:34
Thanks very much for hosting me, Anastasia! I am honored! ♥
Anastasia
3/15/2023 13:01:29
It's been a pleasure. Thank you, Ivy! 3/15/2023 07:42:15
Love the aqua furniture and that you sew. It's always good to have multiple creative outlets. Your first two books were wonderful. Can't wait to dive into the next one! 3/15/2023 12:24:29
Thanks, Kim! It's coming June 21st--the summer solstice!
Anastasia
3/15/2023 13:02:24
Hi, Kim! You should know about being multi-talented! Thank you for sharing your time with us! 3/15/2023 11:22:05
Really looking forward to this book and the next. Congratulations on your awards!
Anastasia
3/15/2023 13:02:55
Hi, Ilona! Thank you very much for stopping by!
Barbara Bettis
3/15/2023 13:15:16
Fabulous interview, ladies. Jennifer, I have to agree with Anastasia--do you write in your sleep LOL. I loved your first two books and am looking forward to seeing the trilogy wrap up! All the best, as always!! Leave a Reply. |
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