If Mary Poppins is correct (and did you ever think you’d catch me quoting anyone so darned wholesome?) “Well begun is half done.” Actually, Aristotle said it first, but it sounds so much cuter coming from Julie Andrews. Anyway…. announcement time.
The first draft of The Deserter is done. The second draft is going to be more of a slog than anything I’ve ever written, but then the book is different. Darker. More serious. A tragedy.
In other words, fun. I am hoping to do for the Beau Geste/ Foreign Legion stories what Unforgiven did for Westerns. Honoring the tales while demythologizing them.
Stay tuned for more, but for now, me and Mary Poppins are gonna get a drink.
Hang around the writing business long enough and you’ll keep coming across the same people. One of the finer humans is Jean Roberts. She’s written some solid Historical Fiction, which I think is where we first crossed trails. She also has published some of her work with Black Rose Writing, and there we met up again.
I really enjoyed her time-travel novel The Heron. She’s back with a sequel, Now Comes the Raven. Here’s my catch-up chat with her.
Okay, lady. Tell the uninitiated who you are and what you’ve been up to.
Thank you, Wayne for asking me to be on your blog!
A little about myself, hmm. I’m older, but not old. I’ve lived in four countries and multiple states. My husband and I met in the Air Force when we were stationed in England. After moving around a lot, we settled outside of Houston, Texas, where I worked as a nurse administrator until I chucked in the job to write full-time. I started with historical fiction, then wandered into historical fantasy, and every once in a while, I take a sharp turn into murder mysteries. When I’m not writing, I’m usually in the garden, pulling weeds, watching birds, and thinking about my plot.
We actually share a fascination with birds, although they don’t (or at least haven’t yet) found their way into my work. So, what’s your new book about?
As you well know, the worst question you can ask a writer is ‘what is your book about?’ How many hours have you got? I just published (March 6th) book two in my Midsummer Woman Series, called NOW COMES THE RAVEN. The story is a dual time set in modern-day Devon and in 9th-century Wessex. The main character in each period is a witch with special skills in healing. The antagonist is called The Raven, and he makes life hell for both women. The two must come together to defeat him. It is heavy on historical fiction with a bonus of magical realism/fantasy. There is mythology, mystery, romance, and a rollicking good time. I am currently thinking of ways to torment my MC in a third installment.
You bounce around a lot. What’s your favorite period in history to write about? Why pre-Hastings Wessex?
I’ve loved every time period I’ve written about. I really enjoyed the history of Wessex as it transitioned from pagan to Christian, clinging to some of the old ways and blending it into new traditions. This was the time of King Alfred the Great and the Danish (Vikings) invasion. My MC in the past, is a young woman learning her skills from a master herbalist and healer. They are witches, but not in the hocus-pocus sense, more like cunning women who can see visions and predict the future. The emphasis of the story is woman power, building a sisterhood, coming together to help and heal.
Since apparently it’s my job to ask unfair questions, what’s your favorite scene?
What is my favorite scene? That’s like asking a mother which is her favorite child. One scene I really enjoyed was when Aelfwyn, my witch in training, calls up a storm to destroy the Danish Fleet off the coast of Exeter. This was a powerful moment for her when she realized the possibilities and consequences of her magic. BTW, the Danish fleet really did sink, and who knows, maybe it was a witch.
Maybe. Where can people find more of your work?
You can find my books on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Most of them are available as audiobooks. I am all over social media, usually lurking in the dark shadows, but if inclined you can find me in the following places:
Whether your tastes run to historical fiction or award-winning urban fantasy, check out all my work on my Amazon Author Page, and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter.
