Guest Post - 'Author's Inspirations" Jayne Castel @JayneCastel #amreading

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I welcome Jayne Castel back onto the blog again. Jayne write the most beautiful Anglo-Saxon romances. I reviewed one of her novels, The Breaking Dawn, earlier on in the year and I absolutely loved it. You can read the review here.

Today, Jayne is going to tell us about the inspirations behind her latest novel...

Darkest Before Dawn

Let's check out the book...

BRITAIN - 655 A.D.

Princess Alchflaed of Northumbria is a spirited young woman who wishes to choose her own path. Unfortunately, highborn women in Anglo-Saxon England have no say in their choice of husband, and her father promises his daughter to the son of his bitterest enemy.

This attempt at 'peace weaving' is not what is seems. Alchflaed's father orders her to murder her new husband. Charged with this treacherous task, she journeys south to her new home in Mercia.

Maric – a seasoned warrior with a dark past – leads her escort. Princess and warrior find themselves strongly drawn to each other, but they must deny their feelings. Both bound by loyalty, neither can choose their own fates.

Alchflaed's father has given her a terrible choice: to earn her freedom, she must kill a king.

Could you tell us about your inspirations behind your latest book...

I have always loved Anglo-Saxon England. The myths, the language, the history – all of it.

When choosing a period within this era to set my stories in, I was particularly drawn to 7^th Century Britain. This was a crucial century. It was just before the Vikings began raiding the British coast, and long enough, after the Romans had left, for a true local culture to emerge.

During the 7^th Century, Britain was split into rival kingdoms. The Kingdom of the East Angles dominated at the beginning of the century, before the Kingdom of Mercia rose in power. Then, the Kingdom of Northumbria emerged as a real force over the final years.

DARKEST BEFORE DAWN is Book #2 in the Kingdom of Mercia series and, like my other stories, it is based around actual historical figures. What makes this novel different to all the rest is that I have used a real female historical figure in this book. The historical records of this period largely come from the writings of monks, who apart from mentioning female saints, wrote little about the women of the time. 

However, Princess Alchflaed of Northumbria was different.

She was the daughter of Oswiu of Bernicia, a 7th Century king of Northumbria. In order to ‘peace-weave’ between Northumbria and Mercia, Alchflaed’s father arranged her marriage to Mercia’s new king, Paeda of Mercia.

Now, I can’t reveal anything else about what happens to Alchflaed (as I risk spoilers!) but let’s just say that the story’s plot is also based on actual historical events – with a bit of artistic licence from me thrown in!

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

Amazon.com – Kindle edition

 

Amazon.com – Paperback edition

Amazon.co.uk – Kindle edition

Amazon.co.uk – Paperback edition

Grab a free copy of Castel's, Dark Under The Cover of Night.

 

http://www.jaynecastel.com/home/sign-up

About the author.

JAYNE CASTEL writes Early Medieval Historical Romance and Historical Fiction set in 7th Century Anglo-Saxon England.

Two of her novels DARK UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT and NIGHTFALL TILL DAYBREAK, reached the quarter finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2013 and 2014. 

Jayne writes historical romance adventures about warrior heroes and strong-willed heroines. She weaves powerful love stories into meticulously researched stories about honor, valor, loyalty and vengeance. 
 

Useful links.

Read Jayne's blog.

Connect with Jayne on Facebook.

Follow Jayne on Twitter: @JayneCastel

Email Jayne at: contact@jaynecastel.com

Follow Jayne on Pinterest

 

Guest Post - "Author's Inspirations" Eric Schumacher @DarkAgeScribe

Today I welcome fellow author, Eric Schumacher to my blog to talk about the inspirations behind his latest book, God's Hammer.

 

It is 935 A.D. and the North is in turmoil. King Harald Fairhair has died, leaving the High Seat of the realm to his murderous son, Erik Bloodaxe. To solidify his claim, Erik ruthlessly disposes of all claimants to his throne save one: his youngest brother Hakon. Erik's surviving enemies send a ship to Wessex, where Hakon is being fostered in the Christian court of King Athelstan. Unable to avoid his fate, Hakon returns to the Viking North to face his brother and claim his birthright. Armed with his dream of becoming the first Christian king of his father's realm, yet confronted with the limitations of his youth and the hostility of the Northmen he would rule, Hakon soon learns that victory might come only by sacrificing that which he holds most dear.

***

 How much would you sacrifice to rule a kingdom?

That is the central question that Hakon Haraldsson must answer in God’s Hammer. It is not an atypical question for the Dark Ages. There are countless stories of warlords and kings dying in their pursuit of the throne, or dying to protect it. Yet Hakon’s story stuck a cord with me because Hakon was not the typical Viking leader.

According to Heimskringla (Snorre Sturlason’s “The Lives of the Norse Kings”), Hakon Haraldsson was born around 920 A.D in the west of modern day Norway, the youngest son of an aging Harald Fairhair, who at that time was the most powerful king in the North. Hakon’s mother, Thora Mostertang, was a “servant-maid” of good lineage, though it is unclear whether she was ever married to Harald. When Hakon was roughly eight years old, his father sent him to be fostered in the Wessex court of King Athelstan, who ruled most of what was becoming England. While fostering was commonplace among nobility, just why Hakon was sent there and not to another nobleman’s home in the North is a mystery. It is also unclear why Athelstan would accept to foster a bastard, if indeed Hakon was a bastard child. Regardless, King Athelstan did accept the responsibility and raised Hakon in the Christian faith.

Before King Harald died, he gave the High Seat of the realm to his son Erik. In the sagas he is called Erik Bloodaxe, and by all accounts, he lived up to his name. In short order, Erik killed off two of his brothers to secure his grip on the realm. Fearing for their safety, Erik’s enemies sent for Hakon, the only remaining brother with any claim to the High Seat. This much we know from historical texts.

Even if marginally true, Hakon’s story has so many of the elements of the great sagas – intrigue, bloodlust, fratricide, sibling warfare, religious fervor – yet is also filled with unanswered questions. How could a Christian boy gain enough support to rival his brother? Who supported him in his efforts and why? What did he have to sacrifice to succeed? The historical texts provide few answers, which gave me the opportunity to dream up a plausible reality.

I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say this: Hakon’s story is the tale of kings and armies, chieftains and battles, Christians and “pagans” – the gritty stuff of legend and truth as seen from the eyes of a boy who would be king. Yet God’s Hammer is just the beginning of Hakon’s journey.

 

  Where can I buy this fabulous book?
 

 Amazon US    Amazon UK 

About the author.

Eric Schumacher was born and raised in Los Angeles with an inexplicable passion for Dark Age history and writing. As a 20-year veteran of PR, marketing and copywriting, Eric has told the story of numerous companies, products and individuals. God's Hammer is his first novel. For more information on his recent endeavors, follow him at @DarkAgeScribe or here: http://amzn.to/20TAJUG.

 

Guest Post - author E.S.Moxon talks of her inspirations @word_seeker

Today, I welcome fellow Dark Age Historical Fiction author, E.S. Moxon, onto my blog.

 

Blood, betrayal and brotherhood.

An ancient saga is weaving their destiny.

A treacherous rival threatens their fate.

A Seer’s magic may be all that can save them.

WULFSUNA.

 Where did the inspiration behind your book come from?

I’ve had many things inspire me as a writer. I have several childhood memories of visits to prehistoric sites whilst on various holidays around the British Isles. Those sparked my interest in archaeology and history. And then there was my Italian grandfather, to whom I have dedicated ‘Wulfsuna’, who was rather a rogue in his youth and would regale us many times over with his exploits. These adventures invariably involved a wild boar, snakes or snow, all of which are in abundance in the Dolomites. I’m certain he influenced my yearning to tell tales!

As for specific influences for my ‘Wolf Spear Saga’ series, the purchase of some Rune stones and the coverage of the discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard were major factors. I wanted to know who the treasure belonged to and who had buried it (not necessarily the same people?). I tried to imagine who might have owned a particular sword and how many generations it had been passed down through before it was hidden beneath the ground. As for the Runes, the symbols and their individual meanings attributed to various gods and powers gave me insight into the people who wrote with them and divined their future with them. They also gave me the title of my book series, which is based on the Runic symbols for Thor and Tiw.

I would have to say that research and contact with archaeological artefacts continue to inspire me. Research can throw up fascinating articles on subjects I would not have specifically read in relation to my novels, leading me in new and exciting directions. Sometimes the things you stumble across become the best parts of your writing. And holding or using ancient objects can change or greatly enhance your view of the past.

Finally, I must mention other authors. For all the times you feel like giving up or that your writing lacks worth, other authors have been there to support me. You might not always share your worries, but on seeing another author’s achievement you can be inspired to keep going. And with the wonders of the web, these authors can be hundreds of miles away, but their problems are the same as yours and together you solve them.

Where can I buy this fabulous book?

SilverWood Books
Kobo
Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

About the author.

Elaine writes historical fiction as ‘E. S. Moxon’ and is a member of the Historical Novel Society. Her debut ‘WULFSUNA’ was published by SilverWood Books in January 2015 and is the first in her ‘Wolf Spear Saga’ series. A Seer and one named ‘Wolf Spear’ are destined to meet throughout this series of Saxon adventures.

She is currently writing her second novel, set once again in the Dark Ages of 5th Century Britain. You can find out more about book 2 from Elaine’s website where she has a video diary charting her writing progress. She also runs a blog of her own, as well as being a regular posting author on the English Historical Fiction Authors blog. Elaine lives in the Midlands (UK) with her family and their chocolate Labrador.

 

E S Moxon Website

E S Moxon Blog
EHFA Blog