Thursday 1 June 2017

#newrelease ~ Kindred Spirits: Royal Mile #histfic @inkjunkie1984


Kindred Spirits: Royal Mile 
By 
Jennifer Wilson


The bestselling Kindred Spirits series continues...

Along Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, royalty and commoners – living and dead – mingle amongst the museums, cafés and former royal residences. From Castle Hill to Abbey Strand, there is far more going on than meets the eye, as ghosts of every era and background make their home along the Mile.

Returning to the city for her annual visit, Mary, Queen of Scots, is troubled by the lacklustre attitude of her father, King James V of Scotland, and decides to do something about it, with the aid of her spiritual companions. More troubling, though, is the arrival of a constant thorn in her side: her second husband, Lord Darnley.

Can Mary resolve both her own issues and those of her small, ghostly court?

Author’s Inspiration

Hi Mary, and thank you so much for inviting me back onto your blog, to talk about my second novel, Kindred Spirits: Royal Mile, released today by Crooked Cat.
Have you ever thought about what the dead get up to when we’re not looking? Not in a terrifying, trying to drive you out of your house sort of way, just in a ‘getting on with their own lives’ sort of way?
Following the release of Kindred Spirits: Tower of London, published in October 2015, I started thinking about where my ghostly eavesdropping could take me next, but really, there was only ever one choice – wherever I went, it had to involve Mary Queen of Scots, one of my favourite historical characters. Yes, I usually stop reading the novels and biographies once she heads off to England (a bit like stopping The Sound of Music once the wedding finishes!), but after a childhood stalking her historical footsteps, she was the obvious star.
I started thinking again about the friendships and feuds which she might have got into over the centuries since her death, and who might now form her inner circle in the city which was her capital for a relatively short time, given her fame in Scottish and British history.
I started writing a host of scenes, exploring the various historical sites up and down the Mile, and reading up about who might be ‘hanging about’, as it were, and gradually, the cast and plot fell into place….
Along Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, royalty and commoners – living and dead – mingle amongst the museums, cafés and former royal residences. From Castle Hill to Abbey Strand, there is far more going on than meets the eye, as ghosts of every era and background make their home along the Mile.

Returning to the city for her annual visit, Mary, Queen of Scots, is troubled by the lacklustre attitude of her father, King James V of Scotland, and decides to do something about it, with the aid of her spiritual companions. More troubling, though, is the arrival of a constant thorn in her side: her second husband, Lord Darnley.

Can Mary resolve both her own issues and those of her small, ghostly court?
If you’d like to find out more about the book and its settings, as well as partake in some excellent virtual food, drink and entertainment, then I’d love you to attend the online launch party - click here for more information. There’ll also be a couple of book-related competitions, and the chance to win a Mary Queen of Scots themed duck. How could you possibly resist?
Hope to see you there!

 Links for Purchase

About the author
Jennifer is a marine biologist by training, who spent much of her childhood stalking Mary, Queen of Scots (initially accidentally, but then with intention). She completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Hull, and has worked as a marine environmental consulting since graduating. Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east reignited Jennifer’s pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks ever since. In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and also continues to develop her poetic voice, reading at a number of events, and with several pieces available online. She is also part of The Next Page, running workshops and other literary events in North Tyneside.
Jennifer’s debut novel, Kindred Spirits: Tower of London, was released by Crooked Cat Books in October 2015, and Kindred Spirits: Royal Mile is coming June 2017. She can be found online at her website, on Twitter and Facebook, as well as at The Next Page’s website.

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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx