An Interview with Linnea Tanner: The Myth, History, and Heart of Apollo’s Raven

In this interview, Linnea Tanner discusses the inspirations behind Apollo’s Raven, from historical figures such as Boudicca and Mark Antony to enduring questions of fate versus choice. She reflects on crafting a heroine burdened by prophecy, balancing myth with historical realism, and exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, power, and love across enemy lines as the saga of the Curse of Clansmen and Kings begins.

Mary Anne: Apollo’s Raven blends Celtic myth, Roman politics, and epic romance. What first inspired you to bring these worlds together in a single story?

Linnea: Since childhood, the characters of a female warrior and her lover, a Roman commander, have lived in my head, in part, as a way for me to deal with challenges in my own life. They were characters bigger than life, but I never had a cohesive tale until one of my business trips to London. There, I was inspired by the statue of a warrior queen in a chariot with her two daughters along the Thames River. After I did more research, I learned she was Boudicca—an Iceni warrior queen who united the Britons against the Romans in a 61 AD to expel them. She inspired the creation of the primary protagonist of Catrin, a Celtic warrior princess. 

Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) and his tragic downfall with Cleopatra inspired me to create Catrin’s Roman lover, Marcellus. Later, the son of Mark Antony, Iullus Antonius, was forced to commit suicide for his scandalous affair with Augustus Caesar’s only daughter, Julia. Little is known about Iullus’ son, Lucius Antonius, except he was exiled to Gaul as a young man, most likely as a condition to escape his father’s fate. One of the burning questions I had is how would Lucius react if his own son chose the same curse of forbidden love as his ancestors?

Mary Anne: Catrin is both a warrior and a reluctant symbol of prophecy. How did you approach writing a heroine whose destiny threatens to eclipse her personal desires?

Linnea: Catrin learns that she is the raven mention in a curse that foretells she will join her half-brother, Blood Wolf, and a mighty empire (Rome) to overtake and destroy their father, King Amren. The etched curse on a dagger alters by choices Catrin makes. Loyal to her father, she is determined to break the curse but falls in love with Marcellus, a Roman hostage under her charge. She is torn between her duty to her kingdom or her heart for an enemy.  

Mary Anne: The curse of Blood Wolf and the Raven drives much of the novel’s tension. What fascinated you about using prophecy and curses as forces that shape political as well as personal conflict?

Linnea: A universal theme that I wanted to explore is how much is determined by fate or choices you make. Catrin can change the fate of Marcellus to die young, but she can’t foresee the political consequences of her decision.  

Mary Anne: Forbidden love lies at the heart of the story, particularly between Catrin and Marcellus. What challenges did you face in developing a romance across enemy lines without diminishing either character’s loyalties.

Linnea: Marcellus and Catrin are instructed by their respective fathers to spy on each other, but they struggle to do their duties as their romance develops. There is constant tension as to whether they can trust each other as they follow their hearts. For them, forbidden love blurs the line on what constitutes loyalty vs. betrayal of their people.

Mary Anne: Ancient Druids and their magic play a central role. How did historical research and mythology influence your portrayal of Druidic power and belief?

Linnea: Most of my research about the druids come from the accounts of Julius Caesar and other ancient historians while magical elements are derived from Celtic myths recorded by monks. The druids are considered the intelligentsia who could have more power than kings in making decisions. They officiated at the worship of the gods, oversaw sacrifices, and gave rulings on major decisions. I adopted their religious beliefs that the immortal soul does not perish but passes from one body to another form after death and that the head serves as the dwelling place for the soul. 

Mary Anne: King Amren is both ruler and father, torn between authority and family. How did you balance his political ambition with the emotional consequences of his choices?

Linnea: King Amren executed his former queen to maintain his sovereignty. Although he understands this decision and his political ambitions threaten his current family, he nonetheless manipulates Catrin and others to maintain his power. 

Mary Anne: The novel is set during a turbulent period when Rome exerts control through hand-picked British kings. What parallels, if any, do you see between this era and later historical struggles over power and identity?

Linnea: Colonial empires such as Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal controlled foreign territories to exploit resources, establish trade routes, and demonstrate their power during the 15th to 20th centuries. Native populations were displaced in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries with the westward movement of settlers to claim their lands. 

Russia’s war on Ukraine is a modern-day example of a brutal dictator, Vladimir Putin, trying to conquer another sovereign nation. The kidnapping of Ukrainian children to raise in Russin homes is parallel to Rome’s demand for foreign noble children to be educated in their households. King Amen speaks fluent Latin because he was raised in a Roman household. Also, Amren’s son, Marrock, was educated in the imperial family of Augustus Caesar. 

Mary Anne: Catrin must choose between duty to her people and her own heart. Do you see her journey as more about altering fate—or about redefining what fate means?

Linnea: Catin’s journey is about redefining what fate means? She must face several challenges that will forge her into a Celtic warrior queen—her ultimate destiny.

Mary Anne: Myth and history often collide in the novel. How do you decide when to follow historical realism and when to let myth take the lead?

Linnea: Historical ancient Rome and Britain provide the foundation for world-building. Timeline and historical figures need to be consistent with historical accounts. Magical elements must seamlessly weave into the story to reflect Celtic religious beliefs that the soul is immortal and that you can reincarnate into other forms after death. There is a thin veil line between the physical world and the spiritual Otherworld where one speak with their ancestors. 

Mary Anne: As the opening book in a series, Apollo’s Raven sets high emotional and political stakes. What did you most want readers to carry forward with them into the rest of the Curse of Clansmen and Kings saga?

Linnea: The stakes become higher for Catrin and Marcellus as they counter the political machinations of their families and homelands to keep them apart. The series will explore universal themes of fate vs. choice, love vs. duty, loyalty vs. betrayal, and political corruption. The series is ultimately about Catrin’s life journey of preparing to become a warrior queen to claim the Cantiaci kingdom as the rightful heir. 

Our sincere thanks to Linnea for joining us and sharing the rich historical, mythological, and personal inspirations behind Apollo’s Raven.

✔️ A love story shaped by danger and longing

✔️ Romance that grows in secrecy and sacrifice

✔️ When the heart chooses what the world forbids

Check out the blurb:

A Celtic warrior princess is torn between her

forbidden love for the enemy and duty to her people.

AWARD-WINNING APOLLO'S RAVEN sweeps you into an epic Celtic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. In 24 AD British kings hand-picked by Rome to rule are fighting each other for power. King Amren's former queen, a powerful Druid, has cast a curse that Blood Wolf and the Raven will rise and destroy him. The king's daughter, Catrin, learns to her dismay that she is the Raven and her banished half-brother is Blood Wolf. Trained as a warrior, Catrin must find a way to break the curse, but she is torn between her forbidden love for her father's enemy, Marcellus, and loyalty to her people. She must summon the magic of the Ancient Druids to alter the dark prophecy that threatens the fates of everyone in her kingdom.

Will Catrin overcome and eradicate the ancient curse? Will she be able to embrace her forbidden love for Marcellus? Will she cease the war between Blood Wolf and King Amren and save her kingdom?

Apollo’s Raven is available on Kindle, audiobook, paperback, and hardback. Pick up your copy HERE.

Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. She is particularly interested in the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2), Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3), and Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story Two Faces of Janus.  

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.

Website 

Twitter 

Bluesky 

Instagram

From MI5 to the Underworld: Avien Gray on Writing Rough Diamond – Rough Justice

In Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, Avien Gray introduces readers to Cain, a former MI5 operative whose life shifts from covert service into a perilous world of international crime, moral ambiguity and survival at any cost. Spanning multiple countries and cultures, the novel weaves espionage with the criminal underworld, shaped by loss, loyalty and hard-earned experience.

In this interview, Avien discusses the real-life influences behind Cain’s character, drawing on personal travel, encounters, and lived experience to explore the novel’s ethical tensions and emotional depth. He reflects on the themes of betrayal, inevitability and protection, and considers what he hopes readers will carry with them long after the final page.

Mary Anne: Rough Diamond – Rough Justice follows Cain from MI5 agent to globe-trotting adventurer and reluctant killer. What first inspired you to create a character with such a conflicted moral compass?

Avien: Like Cain, I was born in the UK. I have a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. I have also had handgun – no longer allowed in the UK – and shotgun licenses. My physical disciplines extend to martial arts, where I earned a karate black belt. On one or two occasions, I met real-life characters like Cain, hence I was inspired to create his character. Readers will decide if Cain is a character with such a conflicted moral compass.

Mary Anne: Cain’s journey takes him from protecting the Royal Family to the diamond world of Florida and South Africa, and even into a Chinese prison. How did you approach writing such a wide-ranging international thriller?

Avien: During my life, I have lived in Australia, Florida, South Africa and China where I took many hundreds of photographs, where real-life events and real people inspired such a wide-ranging – written over several years – international thriller.

Mary Anne: Themes of betrayal, loyalty, and survival run throughout the novel. Which of these felt most central to Cain’s story, and why?

Avien: Over decades, I met with many people who lived in extreme ways. Some good and tragically, some bad. Con men and perpetual liars – especially lawyers – who lived in a world of deceit, theft and corruption, causing financial loss and other tragic situations. These brutal realities of betrayal, loyalty and survival all felt most central – and the reason why – to Cain’s story.

Mary Anne: Cain begins as a photographer and surveillance agent before crossing into a far darker world. What drew you to blend espionage with the criminal underworld?

Avien: In the Good Old Days, several of my friends were police officers, members of The Sweeney, the Flying Squad, other services and Fleet Street. Their past experiences were all very helpful when it came to blend espionage – along with the realities I experienced in the different countries I lived in – with the criminal underworld.

Mary Anne: Romance and emotional connection appear alongside violence and danger. How did you balance tenderness and vulnerability with the novel’s hard-edged action?

Avien: From the age of fifteen to twenty-one seven friends tragically died in a motorbike, car accidents – I was not with them – or because of unexpected medical conditions. And for the rest of my life, more male and female friends / associates died in car accidents, – I was not with them – from unexpected medical conditions and in military action. It was a continuously recurring, always with me, tragic part of my life. And on one occasion in two different countries – walking on the streets in darkness – my life was threatened by robbers / thieves, wanting to take my vehicle or my watch & wallet, etc. Neither of them succeeded. Hence, my life’s experiences have helped me balance the novel’s tenderness and vulnerability with hard-edged action.

Mary Anne: The book places Cain in morally ambiguous situations again and again. How do you approach writing ethical dilemmas without offering easy answers?

Avien: Many people have their own quandary about what may be ethical dilemmas, what may be right or wrong. Therefore I will leave readers to decide if the book places Cain in morally ambiguous situations again and again – also ethical dilemmas – without offering easy answers. For Cain, there were no ethical dilemmas.

Mary Anne: The diamond trade and its associated dangers play a significant role in the plot. What kind of research did you undertake to portray this world convincingly?

Avien: There was no research. I relied on my own and associates personal experiences, encounters, and of course, the antics of con men and perpetual liars – who lived in a world of death, deceit, theft and corruption – to portray this world convincingly.

Mary Anne: Cain can never quite escape his past. How important was this sense of inevitability to the overall tension of the story?

Avien: Cain could never quite escape his past because he always had in the back of his mind why the death – possible murder – of his fiancée happened. But deep-down he knew he would eventually discover the truth, and his sense of inevitability told him what he would have to do. Inevitability only added – it kept readers thinking – to the overall tension of the story.

Mary Anne: The novel spans multiple countries and cultures. Did personal travel or life experience influence the way you depicted these settings?

Avien: My personal travel – and living in Australia, Florida, South Africa and China for several years – along with life’s experiences, influenced the depiction of these settings.

Mary Anne: At the end of Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, Cain has been changed by everything he has endured. What do you most hope readers will take away from his journey?

Avien: I most hope readers will take away thoughts for an enduring conversation with others. I hope readers will take away the feeling they will always be protected. They will have enforcers who will step-up to guard them, enforcers who will safeguard their families, their friends, their streets and their country. And bearing in mind how Cain has been changed by everything he has endured to the very last page of Rough Diamond Rough Justice, I hope readers will take away a simple question from his journey: What will happen next?

Our sincere thanks to Avien for joining us and offering such candid insight into the experiences, encounters and global influences behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice. His reflections on morality, loyalty and survival mirror the uncompromising nature of Cain’s journey, and highlight the depth of lived experience that shapes the novel. It has been a fascinating conversation that underscores why this hard-edged, international thriller resonates so powerfully with readers.

✔️ Former MI5 agent turned undercover, extra-judicial operative

✔️ A morally complex protagonist shaped by violence and consequence

✔️ From royal protection to covert assassinations

✔️ Sun-drenched Australia, Florida’s diamond world, South Africa, and China

✔️ A gripping look inside the international diamond trade

✔️ Betrayal, loyalty, and survival at the heart of the story

✔️ A fast-paced international thriller grounded in real-world experience

Check out the blurb:

After a first kill, MI5 Agent and erstwhile photographer Cain
becomes an undercover, extra-judicial killer for a secret Bureau.

Recovering from injuries sustained protecting the Royal Family, Cain embracesa new life and romance in sun-drenched Australia, leaving his past life behind.

But when tragedy strikes, he is on the move again. This time to a new career in the world of diamond dealings in Florida.

Curiosity takes Cain to the diamond world in South Africa, where his past finally catches up with him, the criminal world allies against him and he becomes a killer again.

In Cain's action-packed escapades, a spectacular betrayal takes him into the rigours of a Chinese prison where the truth about his past begins to unravel.

Aided by a loyal band of friends from the shadowy world of intelligence, he delivers his own particular brand of rough justice.

However, with enemies closing in on all sides, will Cain prevail?

Avien Gray, the English author behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, brings a wealth of experience to his gripping debut novel. Born in the UK, Gray has led a dynamic, bachelor’s life marked by an impressive array of skills and global adventures. He has a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. His physical discipline extends to martial arts, where he earned a karate black belt, complemented by a lifelong passion for photography that captures the world through his discerning lens.

Gray’s rumoured travels paint the picture of a man unbound by borders. He is said to have spent many months in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Europe and China. This rich tapestry of experiences infuses his writing with authenticity, lending a vivid, worldly edge to the thrilling narrative of his complex protagonist: a man called Cain.

Avien and his best friend shared a flat and went out with various female friends together. They had a great time. As it says in the book when Cain is talking with his best friend: a Royal Protection Officer.

 ‘We will have to write that book when we retire,’ Cain said.

 They looked at each other with knowing smiles – for a long few seconds.

 ‘All those secrets,’ said Jerry. ‘Perhaps we will.’

 And time moved on.

But in real life, his best friend tragically died – leaving Avien to write their book alone.

Connect with Avien Gray:

Twitter/X

An Epic Viking Finale: Falcon of the Faroe Islands by Jennifer Ivy Walker

 

Epic, sensual, and steeped in Norse myth, Falcon of the Faroe Islands by Jennifer Ivy Walker brings the Valiant Vikings trilogy to a thunderous, unforgettable close.

✔️ Viking warrior trained by the gods

✔️ Shape-shifting magic and ancient prophecy

✔️ A falcon-hearted hero bound by destiny

✔️ Powerful seiðr magic and forbidden visions

✔️ Dark Elves, dwarven-forged weapons, and hidden treasure

✔️ A love tested by fate and sacrifice

✔️ Norse mythology woven into historical romance

✔️ Epic battles, high stakes, and steamy passion

✔️ Award-winning Viking saga finale

Check out the blurb:

Haldor Falk, fierce warrior and powerful vitki
blessed by the Goddess Freyja with the extraordinary ability to transform into a falcon, has been charged with forging Skjöld, grandson of King Harald Bluetooth, into a rugged warlord in the wild north of Norway.

With his acolyte’s training now complete, Haldor intends to return to the Viking stronghold of Normandy. But when a vision reveals an imminent attack on a dwarf guarding a hidden treasure trove in a secret cave, Haldor and Skjöld gain Dwarven-forged weapons and an unexpected, invaluable ally.

Úlvhild, a völva of formidable seiðr magic and Haldor’s lover of nearly twenty winters, foresees that the Dökkálfar Dark Elves will strike to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy. When the Norns unveil the terrible price of her fate, Úlvhild must confront a crimson-eyed witch to save her beloved Falcon and ensure that the prophesied Son of the Dragon fulfills his destined path.

Falcon of the Faroe Islands is the sweeping, epic conclusion to the award-winning Valiant Vikings trilogy set in tenth century Normandy.

A sizzling blend of historical fiction, paranormal fantasy, Norse mythology, and steamy Viking romance!

Ready to sail north? Falcon of the Faroe Islands is available in #Kindle eBook, paperback, and free to read with #KindleUnlimited. Pick up your copy HERE.

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, spending summers in France as a foreign exchange student, exploring medieval castles and troglodyte caves in the Loire Valley, sites of pilgrimage such as le Mont-Saint-Michel, 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.

Her debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven"--the first of a trilogy-- is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of "Tristan et Yseult", 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.

Connect with Jennifer:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram 

Editorial Review: 207 West End Avenue by Randie K. Berma

This week’s review turns to 1980s Manhattan, where Randie K. Berman’s 207 West End Avenue examines ambition, power, and professional consequence within the rarefied world of corporate law.

“207 West End Avenue” by Randie K. Berman is a disciplined, intelligent novel that examines ambition, power, and professional accountability in the tightly regulated world of 1980s Manhattan corporate law. Grounded in a specific historical moment, the narrative interrogates the structures governing success, reputation, and transgression within elite institutions.

The novel centres on Samantha Ross, the youngest woman to make partner at the prestigious Epstein & Littleton law firm. Her professional authority is firmly established, not only within the firm but beyond it, as her reputation for decisive, high-stakes litigation attracts the attention of powerful corporate clients. Samantha’s success, however, comes at a cost to her personal life, which is marked by an unresolved, on-again, off-again relationship with fellow partner Zane.

Samantha’s personal life is further illuminated by her friendship with Becca, who serves as both confidante and counsellor. As a trusted sounding board, Becca offers perspective on Samantha’s professional decisions while also gesturing towards a life shaped by priorities beyond work. Both women are in their thirties, yet their trajectories begin to diverge: Becca increasingly contemplates settling down and starting a family, while Samantha remains unconvinced that such a future aligns with her own sense of purpose. This contrast is presented without judgement, reinforcing the novel’s emphasis on choice rather than prescription and highlighting the differing timelines often imposed on women by social expectation as much as by personal desire.

The professional setting is rendered with control. Legal practice is presented through hierarchy, coded behaviour, and reputational vigilance. The narrative illustrates how such mechanisms function uniformly in theory, yet unevenly in consequence.

Michael Taylor occupies a carefully calibrated position within this story. As Chief Executive Officer of CyPlay, he represents a parallel authority defined by discipline, strategic intelligence, and restraint. He enters Samantha’s orbit not through social proximity but professional necessity, seeking her out after a high-profile verdict establishes her reputation as a formidable litigator. What begins as a strictly professional engagement—rooted in shared competence and mutual respect—gradually acquires a personal charge. In a moment shaped by emotional exhaustion and impaired judgement, Samantha crosses a boundary she has spent much of the narrative resisting. Within the legal framework she navigates, such boundaries carry little tolerance for error. The narrative suggests a persistent imbalance in tolerance: conduct overlooked when enacted by men becomes career-ending when attributed to women.

The supporting cast actively advances the narrative. Characters such as Zane play an integral role in accelerating moments of reckoning. Dialogue remains controlled and purposeful, particularly in professional exchanges where implication drives action more forcefully than exposition.

Structurally, the novel moves with confidence, its pacing reflecting the emotional and professional stakes at play. The prose is measured and precise, favouring clarity over ornamentation and allowing meaning to emerge gradually rather than announcing itself outright.

What makes "207 West End Avenue" compelling is not simply its professional setting, but its attention to the cost of ambition. Readers drawn to stories about capable women navigating high-stakes environments will find a protagonist whose intelligence is never in doubt, yet whose choices remain open to scrutiny.  It is a book for readers interested in character-driven narratives that ask difficult questions about success, compromise, and the personal consequences of professional life, particularly within the social and institutional constraints of the 1980s.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Promotions

Check out the blurb:

"207 West End Avenue" follows the journey of a young female attorney, Samantha Ross, as she navigates the highest highs and lowest lows of being made the youngest woman to ever make partner at Epstein and Littleton, a prestigious, male-dominated Park Avenue law firm. The reader experiences Sam's legal brilliance and human frailties that lead her to promotions and the brink of career suicide. We witness the turmoil she endures with family, friends, and lovers as she attempts to recapture her reputation and sought-after place in the legal world. It is a captivating story of one woman's self-discovery.

207 West End Avenue is available to buy from your favourite online book store HERE.

Randie K. Berman was born, raised, and went to college in New Jersey. After practicing law for several years in both the private and corporate sectors, she decided to turn in her briefcase to pursue her love of writing and never looked back. Randie and her husband currently reside in the peaceful hills of Somerset County, New Jersey, where they spend their days appreciating life's greatest gifts. 

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook

Step Into 1820s Devon with Betsey by Marcia Clayton

 

Today I’m delighted to be welcoming Marcia Clayton to the blog with her historical novel Betsey. This story is the prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor series and takes readers back to 1820s North Devon, where a young girl finds herself burdened with responsibilities well beyond her years.

✔ Historical fiction

✔ Set in 1820s England

✔ Prequel to the Hartford Manor series

✔ Secrets and hidden truths

✔ Strong sense of place

✔ Emotional, character-driven story

Check out the blurb:

1820 North Devon, England 

Betsey, a sadly neglected child, is shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years. As she does her best to care for her little brother, Norman, she is befriended by Gypsy Freda, an old woman whose family is camped nearby. Freda's granddaughter, Jane, is also fond of the little girl and is concerned about her.

Thomas, the second son of Lord Fellwood, happens across the gypsy camp and becomes besotted with Jane. However, Jasper Morris, the local miller, also has designs on the young gypsy, and inevitably, the two men do not see eye to eye.

Betsey is drawn into their rivalry for the attention of the beautiful young woman, and she finds herself promising to keep a dangerous secret for many years to come.

Betsey by Marcia Clayton is available to read on #Kindle, in paperback and hardback, and can also be read with #KindleUnlimited. Pick up your copy HERE.

A farmer’s daughter, Marcia Clayton, was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. When she left school, Marcia worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul, and David. 

As the children grew older, Marcia worked as a Marie Curie nurse caring for the terminally ill and later for the local authority managing school transport. Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is a keen researcher of family history, and this hobby inspired some of the characters in her books. Marcia and Bryan are keen gardeners and grow many of their own vegetables. 

An avid reader, Marcia can often be found with her nose in a book when she should be doing something else! Her favourite genres are historical fiction, romance, and crime books. Marcia has written five books in the historical family saga, “The Hartford Manor Series”, and is working on the sixth. Besides writing books, Marcia produces blogs to share with her readers in a monthly newsletter. 

Connect with Marcia:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

A Story of Love, Courage, and Legacy: Introducing 'Tho I Be Mute by Heather Miller

Today I am thrilled to welcome author Heather Miller, whose novel 'Tho I Be Mute weaves together history, love, and legacy in a powerful exploration of voice and belonging. Through richly drawn characters and a deeply personal lens, Heather brings to life a story rooted in the past yet resonant with questions that still matter today.

✔ A historically inspired novel rooted in early nineteenth-century America

✔ A story of love that crosses cultural and social boundaries

✔ Told through the reflective voice of a daughter looking back

✔ Explores themes of home, heritage, identity, and legacy

Check out the blurb:

Home. Heritage. Legacy. Legend. 

'Tho I Be Mute is the captivating true love story of John and Sarah Ridge unfolding through the eyes of their adult daughter, Clarinda. As an interracial couple in early 19th century America, a time of deep prejudice, their journey is one of resilience and determination.

Daughter to the Foreign Mission School Steward, Sarah Bird Northrup lives a simple life in Cornwall, Connecticut, but finds her quiet world shaken when an ill Cherokee student is brought to her home. Despite the disapproval of her parents, Sarah and the young Cherokee fall deeply in love. However, their bond is tested when Sarah's parents force two years of separation. Love conquers all, and they eventually marry and settle at John's family home in Cherokee country.

Once an outsider himself, John watches as Sarah struggles to adapt to a foreign culture and language. With the help of Honey, a girl half Cherokee and half African, Sarah finds the strength to overcome the unfamiliarity surrounding her. After the birth of their unique daughter, Clarinda, Sarah discovers her own voice and embraces the power of her husband's culture and heritage.

John, now an attorney for the Cherokee Nation, fights tirelessly against to force the American government to recognize Cherokee sovereignty and that of his people's Creek neighbors. Alongside his friend David Vann and cousin Elias Boudinot, editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, John confronts his own privilege and haughtiness, standing up for his Cherokee family, their home, and their rich land. But, the path to justice is uncertain. 

'Tho I Be Mute is a poignant and inspiring tale that reminds us of the strength of love, the power of home, and the courage it takes to fight for what is right. Through daughter Clarinda's journal, we are transported back to a time of struggle and temporary triumph, where the bonds of family and the pursuit of justice shape a legacy.

The strength to fly comes from courage alone. 

Buy 'Tho I Be Mute today and step into a story of love, legacy, and voice. Pick up your copy HERE.

History is better than fiction.

We all leave a legacy.

As a veteran English teacher and rookie college professor, Heather has spent nearly thirty years teaching her students the author’s craft. Now, with empty nest time on her hands, she’s writing herself, transcribing lost voices in American history. 

Website

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Pinterest

A Journey Across a Fractured Empire: The Quest for the Crown of Thorns by Cynthia Ripley Miller

 

In The Quest for the Crown of Thorns, Cynthia Ripley Miller continues the sweeping Long-Hair Saga with a powerful blend of history, faith, danger, and devotion.

✔️ A sweeping historical adventure set in the aftermath of Attila the Hun

✔️ Newlyweds drawn from peace into peril

✔️ A sacred relic that could alter the course of history

✔️ Political intrigue, betrayal, and imperial corruption

✔️ A dangerous journey across a fractured Roman world

✔️ A marriage tested and strengthened by faith and loyalty

✔️ Ruthless enemies and a secret cult determined to seize the Crown

✔️ Meticulously researched fifth-century setting

Check out the blurb:

AD 454. Three years after the Roman victory over
Attila the Hun at Catalaunum, Arria Felix and Garic the Frank are married and enjoying life on Garic’s farm in northern Gaul (France). Their happy life is interrupted when a cryptic message arrives from Arria’s father, the esteemed Senator Felix, calling them to Rome. At Arria’s insistence, but against Garic’s better judgment, they leave at once.

On their arrival at Villa Solis, they are confronted with a brutal murder and a dangerous mission. The fate of a profound and sacred object—Christ’s Crown of Thorns—rests in their hands. They must carry the holy relic to the safety of Constantinople, away from a corrupt emperor and old enemies determined to steal it for their own gain. But a greater force arises against them—a secret cult who will commit any atrocity to capture the Crown. All the while, the gruesome murder and the conspiracy behind it haunt Arria’s thoughts.

Arria and Garic’s marital bonds are tested but forged as they partner together to fulfill one of history’s most challenging missions, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns.

The Quest for the Crown of Thorns is available now in eBook and paperback, inviting readers to experience an epic journey of faith, danger, and devotion at the heart of the Long-Hair Saga. Pick up your copy HERE.

Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first-generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages, and books. She has lived, worked, and traveled in Europe, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. As a girl, she often wondered what it would be like to journey through time (she still does), yet she knew it could only be through the imagination and words of writers and their stories. Today, she writes to bring the past to life. 

Cynthia holds two degrees and has taught history and teaches English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry and The Scriptor. A Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist for her novel On the Edge of Sunrise, she has reviewed for UNRV Roman History and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus and on her website. 

Cynthia has four children and lives with her husband, twin cats, Romulus and Remus, and Jessie, a German Shepherd, in a suburb of Chicago. On the Edge of Sunrise is the first in the Long-Hair Sagas; a series set in late ancient Rome and France and published by Booklocker.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Enjoy a Free Short Story: The Spring Ball Promise by Maddie Smith

 

There’s something utterly irresistible about a spring ball—the music, the candlelight, the stolen glances, and the promises whispered beneath crystal chandeliers. Today, I’m delighted to share a free short read from Maddie Smith’s The Spring Ball Promise, now available to enjoy right here on the blog.

Perfect for readers who love elegant romance, tender moments, and the thrill of a connection sparked in a single unforgettable evening, The Spring Ball Promise offers a charming glimpse into a world where love blooms amid society’s glittering expectations. Settle in, pour yourself a cup of tea, and step onto the ballroom floor…

***

The Spring Ball Promise

Lady Eleanor Harcourt had never intended to cause a stir at the Mayfair Spring Ball, yet the moment she glided through the gilded doors, fans snapped open like butterfly wings and whispers fluttered from corner to corner. Draped in periwinkle silk and wearing the serene expression expected of a proper young lady, she appeared the very model of obedience. But beneath her composed exterior flickered a spark of mischief—one she intended very much to indulge.

Lord Nathaniel Ashbury, newly returned from his years abroad, spotted that sparkle at once. He had been described by society as handsome, aloof, and entirely uninterested in the endless parade of eligible ladies. Yet the moment Eleanor entered the room, Nathaniel felt an unfamiliar tug of curiosity. Rumours swirled about him like a well-tailored cloak, but none of them prepared him for the simple elegance of a young woman who seemed utterly unmoved by the spectacle around her.

When he approached and requested the first waltz, the room fell into an eager hush. Eleanor accepted with graceful composure, though her heart beat with a thrill she refused to admit. As they took to the floor, the orchestra swelled, chandeliers glittered overhead, and all of Mayfair seemed to watch them with bated breath. Nathaniel’s hand found the small of her back with a confidence that made her pulse skip.

“I must warn you, my lady,” he murmured, his voice warm enough to melt even the iciest resolve. “I have been accused of stealing hearts.”

Eleanor raised her chin, meeting his gaze with unwavering poise. “Then allow me to warn you in return,” she replied. “Mine does not surrender easily.”

Their waltz turned effortlessly graceful, their steps aligned so perfectly it felt as though they had danced together in another lifetime. Nathaniel found himself smiling—truly smiling—for the first time in years. Eleanor, for her part, found her carefully tended composure slipping into something far more dangerous: delight.

Over the next weeks, their paths crossed far too often to be a coincidence. Stolen glances at garden parties, lively debates in drawing rooms, quiet walks where society could not intrude—all of it fed the growing connection between them. Yet with affection came uncertainty. Nathaniel, burdened by the secrets of his past travels, feared he was unworthy of a woman as sincere as Eleanor. Eleanor, pressured by her mother to make a “strategic” match, questioned whether she dared follow her heart when duty demanded otherwise.

The ton watched their unfolding story with ravenous interest, wagers placed daily as to whether it would end in scandal, heartbreak, or triumph.

At last, on a soft June evening in Hyde Park, Nathaniel stopped beside the lake, the glow of twilight painting him in shades of gold. “Eleanor,” he said quietly, “you deserve a man with an unblemished reputation… one who offers certainty. I cannot promise such things.”

She stepped closer, her expression gentle but unyielding. “Lord Ashbury,” she replied, “I have no use for perfection. But I do value honesty. And I believe,” she added, placing her hand over his, “you are far braver and kinder than you allow yourself to believe.”

For a moment, the world held its breath.

Nathaniel lifted her hand to his lips. “Then if you are willing,” he said, voice barely above a whisper, “I would like to offer you my imperfect heart.”

Eleanor smiled—radiant, sure, and utterly disarming. “I accept.”

And so the whispers of society turned from speculation to celebration, for nothing delighted the ton more than a romance that defied prediction. Lady Eleanor Harcourt and Lord Nathaniel Ashbury became the season’s most enchanting match—not because of fortune or title, but because, in a world ruled by expectations, they had chosen one another freely.

Their story, as the ladies of the gossip columns later insisted, was proof that even in the most glittering ballrooms, the rarest treasure was a heart won honestly.

©maddiesmith2025

Maddie Smith is a passionate book blogger and reviewer behind Oh Look, Another Book!, where she shares thoughtful reviews and celebrates stories across a variety of genres. A lifelong lover of literature, Maddie brings warmth and enthusiasm to her writing, connecting with fellow readers through her engaging and personable style. She is also the author of her debut short story, The Spring Ball Promise, a Regency-inspired tale that captures the romance, charm, and elegance of the era. Whether reviewing novels or crafting her own historical fiction, Maddie’s work reflects her deep love of storytelling.