Happy Medieval Monday! I'm delighted to celebrate today with Virginie Marconato, multi-published author of medieval romance. Virginie's writing is captivating, throbbing with passion and emotion as it immerses readers in another time and place. We'll talk about her latest book Shadows in the Mist, which just launched in February, but first let's get to know Virginie a little better. Welcome, Virginie! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? Oh, I’ve always loved reading! The first books I remember rereading over and over again are Fantastic Mr Fox and White Fang, which everyone will know, and Pimprenelle and the Whimsical Leek, which no one will. The story of a leek with the powers to transform itself into anything. Very random but aged 7 or 8, I loved it. And of course the series of the Six Compagnons, a band of friends very much in the style of The Famous Five, with their own dog, Kafi. I wore them thin, all 20 of them. Of course, I read all this in French. I’m wondering now what the first whole book I read in English might be… Maybe Animal Farm, or 1984. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? No surprises there, romance! In all sorts of subgenre and level of spice, with the exception of clean. I feel cheated if I don’t get the natural conclusion of a love story. I also love Jasper Fforde, Mark Gatiss, Karen Maitland. Or I read a lot of nonfiction about the Middle Ages for research and pleasure. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? Hum… Aged 11 at school we started to do writing essays and I really loved that. I always had top marks, actually. The idea that I could start writing books popped into my head when I was about 28. “Why couldn’t I write something? Other people do… Why not me?” I thought out of nowhere. I tried poetry, contemporary romance but the results were not conclusive. And then one day (whilst swimming in my pool) I realised where I was going wrong. I was not writing about what I loved most! As soon as I started to write a story set in the midst of the Hundred Years War I knew I had found my path. It’s like falling in love, I think. When you meet the right person it clicks, even if you don’t know exactly what it is about them that draws you to them. This is such a beautiful explanation. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? One of those writing essays I just told you about probably. We had to imagine what came next in an Arsène Lupin scene. The teacher was so impressed with my work she read it out loud to the class. I could have cringed, but I was so chuffed! Other than that my first historical romance scene where the hero feeds the heroine a juicy pear in an orchard. It was the first time I wrote something I thought was representative of my own style, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? No idea. I only know that I have all these ideas floating around. It’s not a case of finding inspiration for me, rather harnessing and organising the chaos and deciding what has potential or not. Of course visiting ruined castles helps but it could be anything. Listening to a historical documentary, looking out over a beautiful landscape, listening to a piece of music, seeing an animal, anything can trigger an idea. Then generally I take a long walk to let it develop in my head. I suppose it’s a bit like picking a flower bud and then waiting for the petals to unfurl. Sometimes it takes longer than you would like but you have to be patient. It will open eventually. Rhuddlan Castle, Wales 6) What’s your writing space like? I don’t have one. I write anywhere and everywhere. At home it’s usually on the sofa but it could be at night in my bed, while I am queuing at the market, on public transport… I always have a notebook and pen in my bag with me so I can jot down ideas or even write whole scenes. Then I type it into my computer, padding it out as I go. Sometimes I find it hard to get going and cannot write more than a few lines at a time, sometimes the words come pouring out for hours on end, it really depends. But once I start, I get into my bubble and I am no longer on a plane or in the kitchen but in a castle in the fifteenth century or galloping through the forest with brigands in hot pursuit. So the place doesn’t matter. As long as I’m comfortable physically. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? No favourite time, but definitely when they children aren’t around easiest. I always do other things like crochet at the same times, check on the quiche in the oven, get the washing out. I time these activities for when I can’t get a sentence right. By the time I come back to the computer, the knot had entangled itself. For the mindset, it’s more a case of shaking myself out of my story. I will be shopping, chopping herbs, washing my hair and all the while thinking of my WIPs. 8) Time to talk about Shadows in the Mist (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? This particular one came after I read in one of my nonfiction books that widows whose husbands had fought on the wrong side of the war would have their allowances taken away from them. I could not stop thinking of the poor women innocent of any wrongdoing. I decided to give at least one of them, my heroine, Rose, a way out and a happy ending. Her name, along with her hero Philip, comes from the couple in Sleeping Beauty, which my daughter was watching at the time, my favourite Disney. Philip and Aurora, who the fairies call Rose in the forest. That's fascinating. Sweet, too, that your characters' names come from Sleeping Beauty and that you have a favorite Disney movie. :) 9) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Most definitely! My first Scottish romance Dark Highlander is coming out in June. I have a real soft spot for my hero Cormac, whom I enjoyed very much to write – and mentally picture! I have other stories in the editing stages. Two should be out this year, I think. I am so looking forward to a Scottish romance from you! 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Oddly enough, I cannot write in my native language - French. I’ve tried, because my friends and family, who don’t read a word of English, pester me to, but I can’t! It sounds contrived, unnatural, insipid. I think I would even hate to read a translation of my books in French. Now, in Italian I would love it! This, I find very surprising! But I'm not going to complain. I'm glad you write in English! :) Thank you for sharing Medieval Monday with us today, Virginie. Congratulations on your latest release! The woman Philip finds in his bed one night is not the one he thought would be there for a playful romp, a night’s entertainment. That’s all he wants to provide to the women who try to snare him as a husband. Yet he is more honorable than his stepbrother, the person this woman awaits. A penniless widow, Rose has accepted a humiliating marriage offer in the hope of being reunited with her son, taken from her by his grandfather. But the fiery lover who comes to her in the dark and finds her in his bed is not the future husband she was expecting... How can she overcome this setback in her plans and still keep her dignity and reputation? Amazon Goodreads Excerpt from Shadows in the Mist “I came to give you this.” With those words he handed her a piece of paper. With its big waxed seal, it looked official, as official and impressive as Philip himself. His tunic of dark velvet made him appear darker himself, and he was wearing a hat adorned with a brooch. She had never seen him in such magnificent apparel. He was dressed in a manner more suited to a visit to court than to an impoverished widow in the country. “What is it?” she asked, looking at the paper. She could not quite bring herself to touch it. “It is an ordinance from King Edward.” There was a pause. “Your pension has been restored to you. You do not need to wait for charity from Baron Maltravers or anyone else. From this day hence, you will be, if not exactly a rich woman, at least comfortable enough to get your son back.” Rose’s mouth opened in shock. Get her son back? She had hoped to hear these exact words so many times, but now that she had…they didn’t seem real. “Why… The king…” She was speechless. “Why would he do this for me? I never petitioned him. I do not know him.” “No, but I do. I asked for an audience with him. That is why I left so abruptly the morning you left Wicklow Castle, something I did not even apologize for,” Philip said. He gritted his teeth. How had he not thought she would be hurt by his apparent desertion? He’d had a good reason for leaving her at such an inopportune moment, but of course Rose had not known that. She would have thought him as callous as Gilbert, sending her away without so much as a goodbye. “By chance I had heard the day before that he was on progress in a nearby town,” he explained. “The opportunity was too good to miss, and I had to leave without delay. I did not tell you at the time because I did not want to raise your hopes too much in case I could not gain access to him. But I did, and here is the result.” “You went to the king to petition on my behalf and ask for my pension to be restored?” Rose wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. But Philip nodded as if this was the most natural thing in the world. “I fought for him in various battles and was made a lord for my services. He was kind enough to remember me and grant me this small favor. Our sovereign is a generous and forgiving man. I argued that a widow could not be made accountable for her husband’s unfortunate allegiances and promised that you would not use your influence to foment rebellion against him. I trust you not to make a fool out of me now and raise an army to bring him down.” His lips quivered. They both knew that she had no influence and would never pose any threat to the king, but he enjoyed teasing her. She had a ready sense of humor and was not easily prone to offense. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her and what he had missed the most. Rose understood Philip was teasing her, as was his wont, but she could not smile back. She was too dumbstruck, too touched that he would have taken the trouble to risk angering the king, all for her. “Why would you do this for me?” The brown eyes glittered. “Apart from an innate sense of justice, you mean? What happened to you is appalling. I do not see that an innocent woman should be punished and pay all her life for her husband’s decisions in such an extreme fashion, when we all know that more often than not she has no input in them and may not agree with them.” “Yes, apart from that,” Rose whispered. Though she could readily believe that Philip would be moved by such a situation, she had a feeling that he had meant to help because of who she was, not for a mere question of principle. His next words confirmed it. “I think you will agree that I owed it to you. I was the one who, albeit unwittingly, denied you the solution you had found to your predicament. I still do not agree that you should have married Gilbert, so I cannot be too sorry about being the cause of his change of heart, but I can feel responsible for the consequences.” He pursed his lips like a man who had eaten an unripe fruit by accident and could not get the tart taste out of his mouth. “I could not in all conscience have left it at that, after hearing your story. This is for little Edward as much as for you.” Amazon. Goodreads About the Author I think I became a writer the day I decided to write a (very bad, shamefully close to the real story) version of White Fang when aged nine or ten! As for the Middle Ages I fell in love with it at school during a history lesson, then Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood put its final seal on it all. A girl of twelve then, I never recovered! virginiemarconato.com FB Coming soon, The Dark Highlander! For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis!
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I'm thrilled to welcome Lynn Griffin. She gives wonderful support and encouragement to fellow authors and I've been enjoying her latest book, The Twenty-One Year Contract. We will definitely get to the book, but first let's learn more about author. Welcome, Lynn! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? Enid Blyton was one of my favourites. She was not only a prolific writer, she covered all ages and did wonderful series, all of which served me well until I hit around 11. I also loved Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. I think it’s quite possibly why I love writing children’s books in a similar vein. Think Alice walking through Lemony Snicket. As you can see, I like dark. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? Oh, gosh. I will literally read anything, though I’m so keen on horror if there’s unnecessary tons of blood and guts. Sorry you guys that write in this genre, and to those who read it. I know it’s a popular genre and there are really great horror authors out there. To give you a flavour of my most recent reads: Ishiguro, Richard Osmond and on my bedside table at the moment Rachel Brimble, if you check any of these out you can see how diverse they are and who I have reviewed on Goodreads, Bookbub, Ben Shepard. For me, it’s all about getting inside the story, losing myself and learning. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I can’t put my finger on exactly when I knew I wanted to write books, but it’s been there since I was a child. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? I wrote a children’s story. It’s still on the backburner waiting for me to submit, though I need to work out the best place for it. I keep thinking Tim Burton. All my children’s books, much like my adult books, a little dark and with a meaning. Think Alice in Wonderland meets Lemony Snicket. At the moment though, my debut – Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox is my proudest achievement. Why? Because I was brave enough to submit it, but only because a friend said: “Do it now before you pop your clogs mate.” She was right, life is too short. Bravo! 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? My imagination is rife with wild and wonderful things. Writing allows me to express all things beautiful, yet all things honest in life. My stories are inspired by the wealth of people I have met, by those who have survived through courage and determination, and who area real life heroes. 6) What’s your writing space like? Oh my goodness. I have a lovely converted bedroom specifically set up for the job. Trouble is I share it with my husband, so not always a good space, because I chat to my imaginary friends, and he either thinks I’m going bonkers or I’m talking to him! Since I retired, I find I can write anywhere. In the garden, on the sofa, or in a café. It has become a moveable feast. That all sounds wonderful. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I always wrote around the paid job. Up at silly o’clock, then dash out to work. Toast in one hand and fixing my hair with the other because I forgot the time. 8) Time to talk about your latest book (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? Adoption. Life. Humour. Survival. Crime. Mystery. Coincidence. All these elements are ensconced in my novels. They share the reality of life, the drama of survival and inspirational courage. Thinking about coincidence. How many of us have walked down a road in a different town, city, or in another part of the world and bumped into someone you haven’t seen for years. My stories are also filled with coincidence as this is life. Well certainly this has been life for me. The Twenty-One-Year Contract is the sequel (also standalone) to Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox. 9) Now let’s hear about The Twenty-One Year Contract. Only a simple shoebox, but full of secrets... Kathleen is 14, wild, fun, and talented. When her adoptive family died in tragic circumstances she is devastated and alone. Uncle Jack is wonderful, but he lives in America, and works across the world. He can’t be father to her. Kathleen takes a chance. She becomes Kate and runs away to London with the hope of fulfilling her dream to become a fashion designer. Here she meets and makes friends with Harriet (in Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox). Who would have guessed her new friend would hold life changing secrets hidden in a shoebox. All I can say, from what I've read so far, is that it's a truly beautiful book. 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Yes, The Twenty-One- Year Contract was released July 2022, but I’ve got a couple of projects on the go. I’m in the throes of editing a contemporary romance who is third generation of Harriet/Kate’s story. I also have an idea bubbling around for the coming years of Harriet and Kate – so from the early 60s. We all know London was a hive of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but crime and fashion were reaching dizzy heights of fame and infamy. Enough said. 11)Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I love to help budding writers. I know it’s a lonely occupation, and as a result I have teamed up with our local library and offered a free writing workshop and am following it up with kickstarting critiquing groups. These were far and few between when I started looking for help, so I started my own – one has been running for fifteen years and another around four. I do a random blog so check that out – it hosts wonderful authors and is interspersed with information for writers. www.wifeinthewest.com Most recently I hosted my editor Nan Swanson – in two parts, first about her background and the second that will be a very useful tool for writers who are starting out. This all goes so well with how I think of you -- kind, generous, genuine. Thank you for sharing your time with us today, Lynn. Wishing you all the best! Thank you so much for hosting me Anastasia, it’s been an absolute pleasure. And now for an excerpt from The Twenty-One Year Contract! Only a simple shoebox, but full of secrets… Kathleen Gray—talented, a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life in rural Somerset, with a doting family. Suddenly, they are gone, everything is changed, and she has only Uncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her—he has a business to run and his own life to manage. Kathleen takes a chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a new life built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly have imagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers. Excerpt ‘After a glass of water, Jack made himself a cup of tea and returned to the job in hand. This was going to be much harder than he could ever have imagined. Working deep through the night, Jack methodically sifted through volumes of paperwork until light inched its way through the curtain. Though he felt thoroughly ready for bed, he continued searching, his aim to find at least a smidgen of information about his niece. Randomly tidying up as he went, Jack noticed an encyclopaedia oddly extended over one of the top shelves. He tried pushing it back into place. It was jammed. It looked awkward. Pulling it out to check the depth of the book, he found a box file hidden behind. Upon the side panel was one word, capitalized in thick bold lettering: KATHLEEN As the hazy sunlight grew, puzzled, Jack pulled the curtains to lend natural light, took the file off the shelf, sat back in Henry’s chair, and looked inside…’ Purchase here. About the Author L.B Griffin loves to write stories to touch people’s hearts. She draws upon social issues that are often hidden in deep drawers but readers can identify with. Her women don’t see themselves as courageous, strong, or survivors, but they certainly are. Her debut, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox has received superb five star reviews, amongst them Whispering stories and VINE VOICE reader/blogger Michelle Ryles, singing high praise: Incredibly well-written, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox is a magnificent debut. It’s a poignant, disturbing, and a heart-warming page-turner that has left me chomping at the bit to continue Harriet’s story. The sequel, also a standalone – The Twenty-One Year Contract, is already receiving famtastic five star reviews such as VINE VOICE: This book will have you laughing, crying, and cheering. L.B. Griffin continues to turn silent stories into courage, hope, and survival. Be warned, she is a self-confessed chocolate-raisin and strawberry addict! www.instagram.com/lynngriffinauthoruk www.Facebook.com/lynngriffinauthor/ www.twitter.com/lbgriffinauthor www.wifeinthewest.com mybook.to/twentyone More from author Lynn Griffin... 1950s London and everybody has a secret... When Harriet Laws loses her grandmother and her job, her happy life in London seems over. Alone, grief-stricken and penniless, she thinks wildly of ending it all. Fate steps in as Tom Fletcher saves her, gives her hope, and guides her to new employment. He takes her to dinner, and she finds him attractive. He's older, but she doesn't mind. Does he? Tom, a quiet, hardworking man, is unsure of Harriet's feelings, but he's also very busy building his business interests. So it's no wonder a suave, sophisticated fellow walks off with Harriet right under Tom's nose. What follows, no one could have predicted, as Harriet not only loses contact with all her friends but must again fight for her very life...will she ever see Tom again? Available at Amazon. Today I'm pleased to welcome author Mary Ann Jacobs, whose debut cozy mystery recently launched. Congratulations, Mary Ann! Thank you for sharing your time with us. 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? I read all the series books, Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames Student Nurse, Charlotte's Web, The Babysitters’ Club. Charlotte’s Web was always my favorite and still is. Charlotte's Web -- such a beautiful story. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? I enjoy spy novels and mysteries. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? After getting a degree in English, I realized that I actually enjoyed writing papers. After that, I had many causes and wrote essays about whatever cause I was passionate about. While teaching grade school, I discovered the poetry of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutski and realized I loved poetry. Thus began my poetry writing career. I didn’t know I wanted to write books until Covid hit, and I decided to try writing a book as my Writing Therapy to keep from going crazy because of the isolation. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? I always felt proud of the essays I wrote, especially when some of them were published. I also wrote my first children’s book, but looking back on it, it was a disaster. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? In fiction, characters just pop into my mind, and I create scenes for them. In poetry, I like to observe and create poems from my observations. I think it's wonderful that you write poetry. Do you know, I "Invented" a hashtag: #theworldneedsmorepoetry? 6) What’s your writing space like? A very cluttered desk with numerous projects in different piles – not the model workplace for anyone. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I grab snatches of time in my busy schedule to write. 8) Time to talk about your new book, Don't Mess with Me (rubbing hands together). How did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? After immersing myself in cozy mysteries to relieve stress during Covid, I decided to try my hand at a cozy mystery. I love strong women protagonists, so I created a widow, modeled after many widows I know who have carried on after the death of a spouse. For Sadie, I modeled her after my Lebanese aunts who were very strong women. Once I had my two strong women, it was time to create the Super Sleuths and the ensemble of characters who would populate this group. Tidbits – I am a city girl. Visiting my daughter in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, I was introduced to festivals and small-town living. This became my setting. It all sounds wonderful! 9) Now let’s hear about the book. The recipes in the book came from my grandmother who taught my mother how to make Lebanese food. My mom was English and Austrian so before she could marry my Lebanese father, she stayed for a week with his mother and learned to cook the ethnic food. Interestingly, she became one of the best cooks in the family. Mmm. I love this! I'm half-Lebanese, mom's side, and my husband is from Lebanon. Fabulous cuisine -- good for body and soul! 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Oh yes. I have written a collection of modern fables for children, a book on how to write poetry with sample poems and instructions on how to create poems. I just got notice that two more of my poems will be published in an anthology in May. I have several picture books I’m marketing, and last, but not least, if the Berkshire Mystery Series is to carry on, I need to finish book two. I am about a third of the way through. You are busy! 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I just need a week alone in a cabin somewhere to finish all I have started. It’s hard to find time to write and even harder to find time to market what I have written. Thank you again for joining us today, Mary Ann. Congratulations again on your new release! Wishing you all the best! Thank you. Sheriff Houtman, who left Boston to have a more peaceful career, finds himself faced with two murders and a kidnapping. He is challenged by a band of amateur sleuths who doubt his competence. Will his conclusions hold, or will he have to admit defeat? Unfortunately, Sheriff Houtman’s judgement is impaired because of his infatuation with Sadie, and his immediate suspicion of a homeless teen that Robin and Sadie befriended. Robin George narrates the story. She is a widow with a young son who moves to the Berkshires after her beloved husband died. Her bookstore, Bookworms, and Sweet Indulgences, her best friend Sadie’s restaurant, become the hubs for Robin’s amateur detective group where they plan how to solve the local crimes and exonerate Billy, the Sheriff’s main suspect. Will they prove the Sheriff wrong? Excerpt from Don't Mess With Me by Mary Ann Jacobs The Sheriff, losing his normally calm demeanor, confronted Fergusson, “Are you aware that someone was murdered last night? Not only are we investigating a murder, but we also are looking for a vandal and a robber. I suppose you think a little noise is more important than all that. You are a self-centered so and so,” sputtered the Sheriff. Shaking, Sheriff Houtman turned around and said to the rest of us, “I’ll get back to all you later. One crime at a time. I better get back to the station and check out this rumor of arson. Let’s hope my deputy has turned up some evidence. Houtman then rushed for the exit. I thought, “Wow, he really went off on Fergusson. I wonder why. But the Sheriff is a coward to just leave without even a comment about Billy’s interrogation. I’m worried that Houtman has already tried and convicted Billy in his own snap-judgement mind.” Fergusson shouted at Sheriff Houtman’s fleeing figure. Fuming, Fergusson left the shop, banging the door behind him. Billy came back with his head down and his hands stuffed in his pockets. Gone was his cocky attitude. Whatever Houtman said to him seemed to have broken his spirit. “I’m really sorry, Ms. George, that I crashed through your door and made such a commotion,” said a subdued Billy. Worried, Sadie went to Billy, and they found a secluded corner of the store and sat and talked. At least he seemed to be open to Sadie’s questioning. To Contact Mary Ann:
Website FB Twitter Amazon maryalexanderjacobs@gmail.com maryannjacobsauthor@gmail.com Happy Medieval Monday! Since March is Womens' History Month and today is our granddaughter's saint's day, I thought it the perfect time to consider Nicolette Boellet, otherwise known as Saint Colette, and the life of medieval nuns. The Church played a gigantic role in medieval history. It's no surprise that books and movies set in the era often feature clergy of some sort. I've seen nuns portrayed as small-minded, harsh, cruel individuals and also as brave, intelligent, benevolent ones. Truth? Surely they were as varied as people in any station of life in any era. During my studies, it occurred to me that in many ways, medieval clergy had a more stable life than almost anyone -- up to and including royalty. Certainly, they had more comfortable lives than peasants. For one thing, they were pretty much guaranteed a roof over their heads and nourishing (if simple) food to eat. Women as well as men were educated. Nuns were respected, too, their social status just below that of the nobility. Nevertheless, the nuns' lives were often hard and austere. They spent a lot of time in prayer, including but not restricted to praying "the hours", which meant even rising from bed in the middle of the night to pray. Many orders demanded strict asceticism, calling for abstinence and fasting as well as hard work and prayer. What kind of work did they do? Convents, like monasteries, were self-sufficient communities. They did everything for themselves. They had to provide their own food and clothing. There were gardens to tend, every sort of household chore to take care of, cooking, wine-making (not trusting their water source) -- no pizza deliveries or washing machines. They sewed, too, of course, and some embroidered. They also ministered to the poor and the sick, taught, and gave sanctuary when needed. And like any community, there was surely dissension. Not everyone would have agreed or gotten along all the time. Not all nuns were kind and generous. Despite a certain stability, their lives weren't easy. Yet they managed to do a lot of good and were important to medieval society. While many nuns came from noble families, bearing rich endowments, it was certainly not the case for all. Women from all stations of life became nuns. Born in Corbie, France in 1381, Nicolette Boellet was not wealthy or privileged. She grew up in the shadow of Corbie Abbey where her father worked as a carpenter. Her parents were both in their sixties when she was born. By the time she was 17, she was an orphan. She chose to embrace religious life.
From her humble beginnings, she became a force within the church. As a nun and a mighty medieval woman, she reformed the Poor Clares. Despite much opposition, she returned the order to a lifestyle of strict poverty and devotion. She went on to found eighteen monasteries across Europe, even creating her own order, the Colettine Poor Clares, which still exists today. Saint Colette wrote a lot, too, including a biography of Saint Clare. She is remembered for being especially mindful and caring towards pregnant women and children. The medieval era lasted for approximately 1,000 years. Nicolette Boellet -- Saint Colette -- was just one of countless remarkable women through the ages to make positive differences in their worlds. But I like to imagine that during her time in history, when the church -- the cornerstone of medieval society -- was falling apart and women and children often had little or no rights at all, she forged ahead, holding everyone to a higher standard, caring for the weak and defenseless. And still, she took time to write. :) Happy Feast Day, darling Colette! For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit awesome medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis! Wishing you a beautiful week ahead! Happy Medieval Monday! This past weekend was our anniversary. My sweetheart and I took a short holiday -- a long weekend -- to celebrate, so I don't have much in the way of a post today. But I was inspired to look up some medieval wedding images.
Priest, no priest. Handfasting. A simple exchange of vows, no witness required. A royal procession. A good number of the marriages were arranged. During the long, medieval era (approx. 500 - 1500), wedding traditions varied widely. They also changed in the course of 1000 years. None of that is surprising, right? Even now, in our modern times, no two weddings are alike, which is as it should be. My own wedding was 41 years and one day ago. I was 19 and my groom, 25 -- so young and in love. It was a formal occasion, honestly over our heads. I hardly remember a thing. Isn't that crazy? I don't mind, though. It was a happy, exciting day that I think of as our family's birthday. I could not be more grateful. Most of the medieval paintings and engravings depict royal weddings or, at least, those of the nobility. They were more political alliances than anything else. But I like to think that at least for some of the couples, it was a happy, exciting day. Just like ours was. :) I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit authors Barbara Bettis and Mary Morgan. Wishing you a magical week ahead! I’m thrilled to welcome Susie Black, whose latest book in her Holly Swimsuit cozy mystery series recently launched. Susie, congratulations on Death by Pins and Needles! So exciting! We are eager to hear all about it, but first, let’s learn more about you. 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? SUSIE: As a young child I was given the Mary Jane series and The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew series from my mother-these were her books when she was a child, so they were of course, quite special to me. When I was older, hands down, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series were my favorites. I also loved the biography of Amelia Earhart. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? SUSIE: I enjoy reading books in the mystery genre in general, but gravitate towards the same type of books I write -- humorous cozy mysteries. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? SUSIE: Actually, it was at a rather young age. I can remember writing short stories in the third grade. In junior high, high school, and college, I was a reporter and wrote for the school newspapers. I was ultimately made the Editor-in-Chief of all three. Oh, wow! Bravo! And when did you know that you wanted to write books? SUSIE: While writing the daily journal entries that chronicled the interesting people I encountered and the crazy things I got myself into and out of during my career as a ladies’ apparel sales exec was when I knew I wanted to turn my experiences into books. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? SUSIE: My first column as the Editor-in-Chief of my high school newspaper. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. SUSIE: The creative force within me is how I see the world. That is why I write in the first person. So, it is my voice that the readers hear in their heads when they read my books. The way you see the world, then, is with a wry and wonderful humor. What inspires you to write, to create? SUSIE: I am a people person. People are utterly fascinating and are my inspiration to write and create. I can sit for an hour in the mall food court or an airport departure lounge and people watch and come up with hundreds of stories about the folks I observe. 6) What’s your writing space like? SUSIE: I have commandeered our family room as my writing space. I have a large-screen computer on a computer desk adjacent to a copier, a TV, and a stereo. If the writing is going well, I listen to either jazz or rock N’ roll oldies. But if I am struggling, I find music a distraction and turn it off. We live in the southern California desert on a golf course. I can look out the window onto the fairway and watch the hapless duffers whack away or observe the ducks and geese in the water hazard lounging around for comic relief. It is a very peaceful atmosphere and always gets my creative juices flowing. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? SUSIE: I don’t have a set daily schedule or a set number of hours a day to write. I try hard to write at least something every day, but candidly, life often gets in the way of the best-laid plans…That said, I can tell you that I rarely write in the morning. I am a night owl and often do my most productive writing late into the wee hours. Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? SUSIE: Before I sit down to write, I make sure there is a full pot of fresh coffee brewed and keep a jar of mixed nuts next to the computer. When I am plotting, I step away from the computer and walk. Some people do their best thinking in the shower or the car. I do my best thinking while walking. 8) Time to talk about your latest release (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the Holly Swimsuit Mystery series? SUSIE: I came up with the idea for the series based on my career. My protagonist’s name is Holly and she is a successful ladies’ swimwear sales exec in the Los Angeles area and an amateur sleuth. Holly is the me I always wanted to be. My journal is the source of all my writing all my characters are based on real people I have crossed paths in my apparel career. Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? SUSIE: I inherited my maternal grandmother’s love of perfume, jewelry, taking chances, speaking my mind, a wicked sense of humor, and regrettably, her fear of death that we both nervously compensated with by laughing whenever we heard someone died. I incorporated this weird trait into my Holly Swimsuit Mystery series by giving Holly Schlivnik, the protagonist, the same affliction and response to death. 9) Now let’s hear about Death by Pins and Needles! SUSIE: Set in the heart of the competitive Los Angeles Apparel Industry, Death by Pins and Needles is the story of one ruthless woman who didn’t care who she had to step on to get to the top. Lissa Charney is the showroom manager of a ladies’ swimwear line in the California Apparel Mart. Since Lissa didn’t think any of the rules applied to her, she had no problem breaking them all. From job stealing to dumping a boyfriend when he needed her the most, selfish and self-centered Lissa’s list of enemies rivaled those of Al Capone. So, when Lissa is murdered, no one on the swimwear aisle was particularly surprised…the only surprise was what had taken so long. 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? SUSIE: I do. After Death by Pins and Needles is released, I have three more new books that will be published this year, ninety days apart. I also have one half-completed manuscript that candidly should have been finished long ago, but kept getting pushed to the back of the “to do” pile. I have vowed to finish writing this one and submit it to my editor by the end of this year. 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? SUSIE: Yes, actually, two things: First, I want to thank you for hosting me on your blog and giving me the opportunity to introduce myself and my books to your followers. Second, on behalf of all authors, I’d like to ask your readers to please consider writing and posting a review for the books they read. Reviews are the life blood of all authors. Word of mouth is the most effective way to have the light of approval shined on our works. If readers aren’t quite sure how to write a review, I have a terrific guide to point everyone in the right direction. E-mail me at: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com and I’ll gladly send out a copy. As a fellow author, I thank you for your request on our behalf. Susie, thank you for spending time with us. It's a pleasure to host you and I love your latest book. Congratulations again! And now, more of Death by Pins and Needles. Who wanted Lissa Charney dead? The list was as long as your arm….but which one actually killed her? The last thing Mermaid Swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected to find when she opened the closet door was nasty competitor Lissa Charney’s battered corpse nailed to the wall. When Holly’s colleague is wrongly arrested for Lissa’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to sniff out the real killer. Nothing turns out the way she thinks it will as Holly matches wits with a heartless killer hellbent for revenge. Death by Pins and Needles -- Excerpt! I’d combed the place from one end to another and found no sign of Lissa. Where the Sam Hill was she? Not in the showroom. Not in her office. Not in the kitchen. Not in the copier room. In the ladies’ room? Abducted by aliens? Hiding in a closet? I was out of options and time; so, for giggles and squeaks, I pulled open the doors to the enormous sample closet that stretched across the back wall and peered inside. Good news. I found Lissa Charney. A dozen swimsuits picture -framed Lissa’s battered, bloody corpse like a museum exhibit. Ringed with matching black and purplish-blue shiners, her wide-open, sightless eyes stared into space as though surprised by her situation. No kidding. That made two of us. I was no doctor, but you didn’t need a medical degree for this diagnosis. No need to take her pulse. One thing was for sure, Lissa Charney had made her last sales presentation. Naturally, I burst out laughing. About the Author Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Fashion & Foul Play Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries. She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. Looking for more? Contact Susie at: Website: www.authorsusieblack.com E-mail: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com Happy Medieval Monday! For me -- and for other Eastern Rite Christians -- it is also Ash Monday. Like Ash Wednesday, which is in two days, it marks the beginning of Lent. It is a time for reflection, penance, good deeds, and fasting. But the Church is a lot easier on believers than it once was. The "recommendations" for fasting have relaxed through the centuries. During the early medieval period, Lent was a time of gloomy deprivation with one small meal a day for forty days. Meat, dairy, even fish were forbidden, as were sweets of any kind. Pretzels, made with flour, water, and salt, were easy and acceptable additions to the Lenten diet. A few sources have suggested that the monk invented them during Lent. In many countries, they are still considered a traditional Lenten food. Tradition has it that in the seventh century, a European monk shaped some leftover dough into pretiola, little rewards, to reward his young students for learning their prayers. Shaped like arms folded in prayer, they also represent the Holy Trinity. Pretzels are in a surprising variety of religious art, appearing even in paintings of The Last Supper. Pretzels caught on pretty fast. Monasteries and bakeries across Europe began producing them. German immigrants likely introduced bretzels to America. Nowadays, pretzels are enjoyed in all shapes, sizes, and flavors -- hard or soft, sweet or salty, large or small. From delicate, anise-flavored treats to butter and cheese-stuffed mini-meals to the little, crunchy ones found in the snack aisle of the supermarket, they are well-loved treats. I've always enjoyed the big, soft ones slathered in mustard, but I think I will be expanding my pretzel experience. Yummm. And you can bet I'll have some on hand this Lent. For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit the lovely medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis. Wishing you a wonderful day and week ahead! Sundar1, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Eilean Donan Castle, Scottish Highlands And she says further: “A knight on a stalwart steed, himself clad all in glittering gold, hath to-day borne away the prize for all three days of the jousting. If ye tell the truth to my father, that it was you who jousted so well, then I dare say, surely, he will give you me and all his land. The marriage between yonder young prince and myself should be to-morrow; but here I make a solemn vow, I will never have any man but you! Therefore I pray you with all my heart, go not away, the morn!”
“Nor will I, my sweet lady. I will not go from your sight.” Happy Medieval Monday! I thought I would share a medieval love story with you for Valentine's Day. Who has heard of Roswall and Lillian? This time, I don't think the answer is "everyone but me." I sincerely hope not, anyway! It is consistently -- pretty much always -- referred to as a "medieval Scottish chivalric romance", but I'm not sure why. That is, why Scottish? The only reason I can come up with is that the earliest printed version is dated back to Edinburgh in the 1600s. But the story is considered much older than that, likely dating from the fifteenth century. It certainly has lots in common with other chivalric stories of the times. The story begins with an act of compassion. Prince Roswall frees three prisoners against his father's wishes. At first, the king doesn't know who freed them and vows to hang the man who has done so. When he finds out it was his beloved son, he rushes to come up with a Plan B. He ends up sending the prince to another kingdom with gold and a steward to help him. First chance, the steward threatens to kill Roswall if he does not hand over his gold and letters of introduction. Poor Roswall does so and enters the Kingdom of Bealm as servant to his servant, who abandons him shortly after. A woman takes pity on the handsome young man and offers him shelter. He lives with them and attends school with her son. The young prince applies himself diligently and his integrity is so obvious that the King of Bealm's steward takes notice of him. He takes him to the castle, which is where he meets the beautiful Princess Lillian. Of course, they fall in love. But Lillian is supposed to marry a prince. As it so happens, it's the sneaky steward turned false prince. Surprise! A tournament is set to celebrate the upcoming wedding. Roswall goes hunting in the forest and meets a white knight, who lends him his horse and armor so that he can enter the tournament. Roswall carries the day. The next morning, another knight gives him a gray horse and red armour. Roswall wins again. On the third day, he fights dressed in gold and riding a mighty steed. Lillian doesn't know it's him at first, but she begs her father to allow her to marry Roswall. He refuses, insisting she marry the prince. The night before the wedding, the knights come to the city and salute the king, queen, and Princess Lillian, but not her betrothed. When asked why they aren't saluting the son of their king, they explain that they don't see him. Upon finding Roswall they identify him and the king asks him (Roswall) for the truth. As it comes to pass, those three knights are not only his benefactors from the forest. They are the knights he freed from his father's prison. The evil steward is dealt with and Roswall and Lillian are finally allowed to wed. They rule justly and Roswall rewards all those who were kind to him in his time of need. They have many children and live happily ever after. The end. What's not to love? For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis. Happy Medieval Monday, Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Week ahead! Lachlann stared at the Great Falls--Plodda Falls-- wondering how his heart could hammer so hard without killing him. The name—and everything else—might have changed, but they hadn’t. They didn’t even look smaller. How that could be, when they were nearly seven hundred years older and he was much bigger than he’d been as a boy, he didn’t know. They seemed the same. But where was the cave? He studied the rocks, but it was hard to tell looking straight down from the platform at the top of the falls. He glanced down the river. He thought he knew approximately where they had fished, but the trees were different. It was hard to be sure. There’d been no platform, of course. They’d approached the falls from the opposite side, at the bottom. Rónán, wherever you are, help me. Happy Medieval Monday! I thought I'd share a little scenery with you along with a scene from Tremors Through Time. In the fourteenth century, Lachlann and Rónán liked to spend time at the "Great Falls". But when Lachlann visited twenty-first century Plodda Falls, he found that it looked different. The falls were the same, but the trees had changed. And they had. While Glen Affric is still home to one of Scotland's largest Caledonian pine reserves, between 1895 to 1900, Lord Tweedmouth planted the area with Douglas firs. In other natural areas of Glen Affric, the Forestry Commission is slowly removing non-native species, but the firs around Plodda Falls remain. They are huge and, I must admit, stunning. My husband and I enjoyed our time in Glen Affric and our day at Plodda Falls. I can understand why Lachlann and Rónán liked the area so well. Excerpt -- Tremors Through Time They hiked down and walked along the edge of the stream, away from the falls in what he thought was the right direction. Lachlann stared at the opposite bank, trying to get a feel for his surroundings, to imagine them as they were in his childhood. Desperately, he turned in a circle, looking upriver and down. “Lachlann, wait.” He stopped instantly. “Smell that.” Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, then smiled at him. “It’s wonderful.” “Deidre…” “It’ll only take a minute.” He frowned. Couldn’t they do this later? He had to find the cave. Stepping closer, she took both his hands in hers. “Only a minute,” she repeated. “Breathe. Close your eyes and breathe.” He did as she asked, taking several deep breaths, allowing the fresh, cool air to fill his lungs. He could smell the trees. The familiar sound of the falls reminded him of that day so long ago. He cast his line. Rónán did the same. They usually did a little fishing before hiking up to their cave. The falls were a long walk from their homes. Although he would never have admitted it, he was often surprised that Rónán had been able to make it. An accident had crushed the bones in his foot when he was small. It hadn’t healed properly and still pained him, sometimes a lot. But his friend was stubborn. “Shouldn’t we bury our treasures first?” Rónán asked, even as he collapsed on a boulder. “We promised to bring trout home,” Lachlann reminded him. “It’s important that we keep our word.” “It shouldn’t be hard,” commented his friend, drawing a hook from his sporan. “I can see them from here.” He spoke the truth. The clear river was running with trout. Rónán had collected worms before Lachlann had joined him that morning, so they were able to cast right away. Their lines weren’t long and didn’t need to be. Although it was a hot day, it was cool by the water’s edge, in the shade of the great pine trees. They sat on boulders and ate lunch while they fished. They didn’t talk much, not even Rónán, who knew not to scare the fish away. Anyway, he was pleasantly occupied eating. Their lines were hit simultaneously. Lachlann jerked his rod and stilled for a moment. When his line went taut, he jerked it again and began pulling in the speckled fish. Rónán did the same. In less than two hours, they both had plenty of trout to share with their families. They left their catch in their nets at the river’s edge, hidden among some grasses. They weren’t particularly worried about daylight-- the days were long in summer—but they didn’t want to be too late in case their families were counting on their catch for supper. They trudged up the slope, clambering over the rocks, to the steep path leading to their cave behind the falls. Lachlann opened his eyes. It all came back to him. He smiled at his angel before releasing one of her hands to look around. Then he saw it—the indentation that marked the narrow path he and Rónán had taken up to the falls. For more Tremors Through Time. To enjoy more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis! Wishing you a splendid day and week ahead! No fewer than four silver candelabras, holding great waxen torches, served to illuminate this apartment. Yet let not modern beauty envy the magnificence of a Saxon princess. The walls of the apartment were so ill finished and so full of crevices, that the rich hangings shook in the night blast, and, in despite of a sort of screen intended to protect them from the wind, the flame of the torches streamed sideways into the air, like the unfurled pennon of a chieftain. Magnificence there was, with some rude attempt at taste; but of comfort there was little, and, being unknown, it was unmissed. -- Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe It's one of my favorite passages from Ivanhoe, the singular passage I remember when the story comes to mind. I was gifted the book around the age of 12; in other words, many, many years ago. To be sure, there are many more memorable selections throughout the tale. Practically any scene with Rebecca is more so. But then, as now, it reminded me that beauty (as well as "magnificence" and "comfort") is in the eye of the beholder. Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832) wasn't medieval, but I like to think he was something of a medievalist. Ivanhoe is a spectacular medieval romance. Many of his poems, such as Marmion and Lord of the Isles, were set in medieval Scotland. And then there's that little issue of The Honours of Scotland. That is to say, Scotland's crown jewels, which certainly hail from medieval times. They are the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles. According to my Edinburgh Castle Souvenir Guide (absolutely worth it if you go) the Crown, Scepter, and Sword were created in Scotland and Italy during the reigns of James IV and James V. They were first used together for the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. During Oliver Cromwell's time, the Honours were moved around, even buried for protection. Once the coast was clear, after the Treaty of Union in 1707, they were locked away in the Crown Room and pretty much forgotten. There they remained until Sir Walter Scott, historian that he was, sought and was granted royal approval to break into the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle to rescue them. He wasn't alone, of course. He had a whole host of commissioners with him for the historic event. But it was his idea. The extreme solemnity of opening sealed doors of oak and iron, finally breaking open a chest which had been shut since 7th March 1707, about a hundred and eleven years, gave a sort of interest to our researches, which I can hardly express to you, and it would be very difficult to describe the intense eagerness with which we watched the rising of the lid of the chest. -- Sir Walter Scott in a letter to John Wilson Croker, February 7, 1818. Not long after, The Honours of Scotland went on display in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle, where they've been ever since. Granted, one or all of the articles have been escorted to various important, royal functions. Most recently, this past September, 2022, the Crown of Scotland was placed on the coffin of Elizabeth II, may she rest in peace, remaining there throughout the service. BBC still/ Fair Use I never could assign any probable or feasible reason for withdrawing these memorials of ancient independence; and my doubts rather arose from the conviction that many absurd things are done in public as well as in private life, merely out of a hasty impression of passion or resentment. For it was evident the removal of the Regalia might have greatly irritated people's minds here, and offered a fair pretext of breaking the Union, which for thirty years was the predominant wish of the Scottish nation. letter to John Wilson Croker, February 7, 1818. Medieval romance, medieval treasures, love of history and country... I think it quite reasonable to celebrate Sir Walter Scott. Medieval Monday is as good a time as any. What do you think? For more fun, be sure to visit medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis.
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