Hello to everyone,
As this is my first post to the new blog, I thought I’d introduce myself and answer some questions readers have asked me.
Why did I choose to write medieval romance? I am very interested in family tree research and over the course of the last few years I've written mostly family histories. Any fiction I wrote was contemporary, but I was working full time and didn’t think to publish any of it.
When I found myself with more time on my hands, I decided to take advantage of the changes sweeping the publishing industry and write novels.When I’m reading, my favourite genre is historical romance. Though I enjoy a good Regency, I’m more drawn to medieval.
In my genealogical pursuits I had done a great deal of research on the area of England where I was born. I stumbled across a story of a young noblewoman who had been exiled with her father. His crime was the blinding and mutilation of another baron during an argument over a piece of land.
On further investigation I learned that the woman turned out to be a very unpleasant person herself. But the seed was planted in my mind and I wondered what life would have been like for a young noblewoman cast out of her castle home and forced to wander with her irascible father. This was the initial beginning for Conquering Passion—except I made my heroine lovable!
I have traced my own family back to the late Middle Ages, but it has always been my ambition to go as far back as the Norman Conquest. So I decided to start my stories at that point in history! I became completely immersed in the details of the Conquest. It amazed me how little I knew about the period even though it had such a profound influence on the history of England—land of my birth! My interest in ancestry and roots is what led me in the direction I’ve gone with my fiction writing. My stories follow the lives of the members of one family through successive generations.
For some strange reason known only to my subconscious mind, I didn’t write the books in chronological order! So if you prefer to read a series in that order you should read Book Three before Book Two!
I also tackle issues in my books which have resonance in our modern world. Books One and Three deal with post traumatic stress, and Book Four details the long term effects of solitary confinement. Book Two deals with the issues of illegitimacy and religious hatreds. It's difficult to write romance set in the Middle Ages without describing the pitiful rights women had.Their often dire plight at the hands of the men who held sway over their lives features in all my books.
The books in my Montbryce Legacy series have proven popular, and the first three are now available on Amazon in digital and paperback formats. Book One, Conquering Passion is the longest, and the most popular, but readers who’ve read it are then buying Books Two and Three, which is of course delightful. I’m glad they are as fond of the Montbryce family as I am. Readers have told me they are particularly taken with Hugh de Montbryce in If Love Dares Enough. He’s a virgin hero, and there aren’t too many of those in medieval romance!
BTW, today (Mar. 14th) is the first day Passion in the Blood is FREE on Amazon-for a limited time
I’m also writing a novella to kick off another series, Sons of Rhodri. The Rebel Chieftain, will tell the story of Rhodri ap Owain, a Welsh rebel who first appears in Conquering Passion. Another project I’m working on is the creation of a downloadable Family Tree for the Montbryce Family.
I’m often asked how I came up with the titles of my books. Because my first book was about the Norman Conquest of England I wanted the title to reflect that. Also it’s a love story, so somehow, Conquering Passion evolved. I liked it because of the double entendre.
The title of Book Two was for a long time based on a quote from Shakespeare. But I had to change it from Kindle Fire With Snow—guess why? It’s now entitled A Man of Value, based on a quote from Einstein. It seemed appropriate because the hero is a man who discovers he is the epitome of everything he has always despised, and only love eventually leads him to see he is still a man of value.
If Love Dares Enough comes from a quote from Lord Byron. I chose it because the hero risks everything the family holds dear for the woman he loves.
Passion in the Blood came about because I wanted to continue the notion that the second generation has inherited “the Montbryce curse”—they are unlike most noblemen in that they are in love with the women they eventually marry!
In conclusion, I want to thank my readers for taking the Montbryce family to their hearts. Be reassured there will be lots more stories coming. As I mentioned, Rhodri ap Owain’s family has spawned a new series, Sons of Rhodri, and Caedmon FitzRambaud’s family will begin another one later this year. Caedmon’s daughter, Blythe FitzRambaud will be the first heroine in that series. Her adventures will take the readers to medieval Germany and introduce them to Heinrich, Holy Roman Emperor. This will be a bit of a departure for me because my stories to date have revolved around the lives and loves of the men of the family.
Readers are welcome to visit my Facebook Fan Page, Anna Markland Novels, and my website www.annamarkland.com, where they’ll find a link to my blog. I’m also a Goodreads author. My digital books are for sale in all the usual places, except Passion in the Blood which is exclusive to Amazon. Signed paperbacks can be ordered on my website, and you can enter to win one of 5 signed copies of A Man of Value on Goodreads until March 17th.
One lucky commenter on this blog will win a copy of any one of my books-yourchoice.
Tracing one's family history can lead to all sorts of things. My mother traced her family back to the sixteenth century. Very interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteHi Tarah
ReplyDeleteYes, it's the kind of thing that takes hold of you once you embark on it. Like writing! And it is remarkable how much information is available on the internet nowadays. It has made the research so much easier.
I love Medieval novels. When I did research for my first Irish vampire novel, set in Medieval Ireland, I found some interesting facts about the Irish side of my family (and no, they weren't vampires LOL!). It was a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI also discovered Irish ancestors that I never knew I had. I thought everyone came from England, but found a 2g grandmother who'd come from Ireland. However, I was never able to follow the line successfully in Ireland.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog! I love tracing family lineage. My mother has been doing it for years and had traced my dad's line back to the Jameson's, as in Jamesons Whiskey. Granted we are on the disowned side, but pretty cool. She also traced her side back to 17th century Germany. Really neat stuff!!
ReplyDeleteI love reading about Medieval times. It is like a history lesson with more flair. That is so neat that you have taken stories from your research and transformed them.
Thank you for the free read on Amazon!!
Mel
bournmelissa@hotmail.com
Yes, it can be fascinating what turns up in family tree research - whiskey barons! Wow! I agree that reading and writing about the medieval era is like visiting another planet! Hope you enjoy Passion in the Blood. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteFascinating that you used your family's geneaology as a jumping off place for your story! The only semi-famous person in my family was accused of witchcraft in Salem.
ReplyDeleteScary! Were they found guilty? I guess once you were accused, your guilt was a foregone conclusion?
DeleteI agree - what a great way to begin your series with your geneaology search! You never know what will spark an idea for a story. Your books sound great! all the best to you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kellie
DeleteIt is amazing how my story has grown from that first tiny spark.
I love Medieval stories. Some of my earliest romances were set during the period and my first attempt at writing a novel was a medieval fantasy.
ReplyDeleteI am also interested in researching my ancestors, though my family background is a little complicated, so I haven't yet been able to do much in this regard.
As for a downloadable family tree, if it is a webpage rather than a downloadable image, consider using Wiki Spaces. I haven't tried it yet, but a well-known author mentioned it last year as a great way to keep track of complex world building and you can also make it public for fans to see. It would allow you to have a bio for each character and information about different places in your story and everything would stay interconnected. There was a great article about it in Romantic Times magazine.
Hi Vivienne
DeleteFunny you should mention Wikispaces. I did in fact set one up after reading that article, but I've just cancelled it. It becomes a bit unwieldy after a while and I've found that for my own tracking purposes an Excel spreadsheet works better.
I don't do family geneology. I know how I can screw up a geometeric equation all too well. I'd end up related to the Wrong Person.
ReplyDeleteBut my journey into Ancient Rome went much like your trek. It started with King Arthur who wasn't a king but a Celtic Chief Celts came on stage. And you don't meet a Celt that you don't run into a Roman. And I'm stuck there. However, the Medieval periods are delicious. I'll have to escape theFlavian amphitheater and venture into your world. Great post Anna
Thanks for your comment Julia. I enjoy reading novels set in Roman times. For the moment I'm stuck in my medieval rut.
DeleteVery interesting post. It sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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