Pam Lecky's Blog, page 11
January 31, 2023
The White Sails Collectors Edition Book Blast
You can follow the tour here: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/01/blog-tour-white-sails-series-collectors-edition.html
The White Sails Series Collector’s Edition By Emma Lombard
Award-winner, The White Sails Series, where icy winter storms, opportunistic mercenaries, uncharted lands, and a colourful crew of sailors are all lashed together by an epic love story.
This collector’s edition includes all four books in the series.
The White Sails Series: Special Hardback Omnibus
If Bridgerton and Pirates of the Caribbean had a love child.
Are you a fan of sweeping romantic adventures?
Do you fall for tall, brooding Naval Officers?
Love a feisty female lead who makes you yell aloud?
Then hop aboard Emma Lombard’s hardback Collector’s Edition of The White Sails Series, and batten down the hatches!
But why?
Well, firstly, let me tell you what my Kickstarter campaign isn’t. It isn’t a plea for donations, it’s not a beg for money, and it’s not just another retailer.
Okay, so what is it then?
Kickstarter is a wonderful way for me to give more to my fans.
It allows fans access to a special collector’s edition that is not (and will never be) available from online retailers.
It allows fans to have each and every copy personalised, which is just not doable on retailers.
It also allows fans a more intimate view of the story behind my series.
And best of all, it allows fans to get involved in my next series, whether through an exclusive sneak peek of the first draft or even having a character named after them.
Oh, and did I mention there’s an opportunity to win the original oil painting of the cover?
Where else in the world do you get all this extra cool stuff thrown in just because you bought a book?
What’s in it for you, Emma?
Without wanting to sound too cheesy, I’m beside myself to put such a pretty book out in the world. I’m mean, just look at that dreamy sunset! I’m not going to lie, I love a chunky book.
This collector’s edition fulfils my ultimate author dream—to be able to hold (and smell) a weighty tome. I’m not the only one—I’ve had folks walk up to my books at the market and pick them up just to smell them! My kind of peeps!
I know it’s taboo to talk about money, but the pledges received for this campaign will help me recoup some of the upfront expenses that I have already laid out, like editing, book cover design, audiobook narration, and it will give me the momentum I need to invest in those same services for my next series, The Gold Hills Series.
You’ll be helping keep the indie publishing ecosphere turning, which in turn lets me keep creating more stories.
So, what’s The White Sails Series about?
One of my readers described it best: If Bridgerton and Pirates of the Caribbean had a love child.
The idea for this series was born from a tiny nugget of family gossip that my grandmother shared with me. She told me how my 3x great grandmother left her well-to-do family in England to elope with an English sea captain, and live aboard his ship with him.
I took the basic concept of this story and had a blast creating an entirely fictitious imagining of what it might have been like for a woman to live aboard a ship in those days. Quite ironic considering that I get terribly sea-sick myself.
Curious? Never seen what a Kickstarter campaign looks like?
Just looking: Take a look at Emma’s campaign to see it in detail: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emma-lombard-author/the-white-sails-series-special-hardback-omnibus-audiobook?ref=9oxhwz
Note: clicking on this link will not sign you up to anything, it will simply take you to the campaign page to look.
GIVEAWAY:
Batten down the hatches, m’lovelies, for a chance to win an exclusive, personalised, hardcover Collector’s Edition of The White Sails Series:
Fill out the entry form — https://forms.gle/Be1snbRhVZzcKyKY7
Winner will be notified by email on February 18th, 2023.
Buy Links:
Exclusively available on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emma-lombard-author/the-white-sails-series-special-hardback-omnibus-audiobook?ref=9oxhwz
A Little Bit about Emma Lombard
Emma Lombard was born in Pontefract in the UK. She grew up in Africa—calling Zimbabwe and South Africa home for a few years—before finally settling in Brisbane Australia, and raising four boys. Before she started writing historical fiction, she was a freelance editor in the corporate world, which was definitely not half as exciting as writing rollicking romantic adventures. Her characters are fearless seafarers, even though in real life Emma gets disastrously sea sick.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.emmalombardauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LombardEmma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaLombardAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalombardauthor/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/emma-lombard
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Emma-Lombard/author/B08XP3Z5RC
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21214987.Emma_Lombard
January 30, 2023
Historical Fiction Author of the Month: Susie Murphy
Welcome to my new Blog Series, Historical Fiction Author of the Month.
Each month, I will showcase a different historical fiction author. Their books will range from romance to mystery and adventure, and will be from many different eras. I hope you discover a new author and their work to enjoy. Happy reading!
In this inaugural post, I am delighted to feature fellow Irish author, Susie Murphy.
Susie MurphySusie Murphy is an Irish historical fiction author. She loves historical fiction so much that she often wishes she had been born two hundred years ago. Still, she remains grateful for many aspects of the modern age, including women’s suffrage, electric showers and pizza.
Susie has published five novels in her A Matter of Class series, a sweeping romance saga which begins in Ireland in 1828. A Matter of Class has achieved acclaim from the Historical Novel Society which selected her third book, A Class Forsaken, as an Editors’ Choice in spring 2021 and praised her fourth book, A Class Coveted, as ‘strongly recommended’ in summer 2022.
She is currently working on her sixth book, A Class Inherited. This story was originally intended to be just one book but Susie’s characters have insisted that there will now be at least eight volumes in the series.
I’m sure readers are curious to know what enticed you to write in this genre in particular, Susie?I was drawn to historical fiction because I am fascinated by history, particularly the 19th century. I get goosebumps about all facets of it, from the fashion to the architecture to the social customs of the time. I’m highly aware of the danger of romanticising the past, however, so I find it intriguing to seek a balance between creating an idealistic version of history while including the less savoury aspects as well. On top of this, I have a soft spot for love stories so a romantic element is an absolute must too!
A Matter of Class
Can an English landowner’s daughter and an Irish stable hand’s son find a way to be together when society says they shouldn’t fall in love?
Historical Novel Society Review:
‘Fast-paced and full of obstacles and adventure. Highly recommended for fans of historical romance and Irish history.’ Editors’ Choice, Historical Novel Society (February 2021 issue Historical Novels Review)
A Class Forsaken (A Matter of Class)
Buy Links:
A Class Apart: https://getbook.at/apart
A Class Entwined: https://getbook.at/entwined
A Class Forsaken: https://getbook.at/forsaken
A Class Coveted: https://getbook.at/coveted
A Class Reunited: https://mybook.to/aclassreunited
You can find out more about Susie and her work by checking out her social media links below:
Website: www.susiemurphywrites.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/susiemurphywrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/susiemwrites
Instagram: www.instagram.com/susiemurphywrites
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@susiemurphywrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/susiemurphywrites
I’m delighted to share that next month’s author is Tony RichesJanuary 24, 2023
The Yanks Are Starving by Glen Craney: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour
You can follow the full tour here:
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2022/11/blog-tour-the-yanks-are-starving.html
THE YANKS ARE STARVING: A Novel of the Bonus Army
Two armies. One flag. No honor.
The most shocking day in American history.
Former political journalist Glen Craney brings to life the little-known story of the Bonus March of 1932, which culminates in a bloody clash between homeless World War I veterans and U.S. Army regulars on the streets of Washington, D.C.
Mired in the Great Depression and on the brink of revolution, the nation holds its collective breath as a rail-riding hobo named Walter Waters leads 40,000 destitute men and their families to the steps of the U.S. Capitol on a desperate quest for economic justice.
This timely epic evokes the historical novels of Jeff Sharra as it sweeps across three decades following eight Americans who survive the fighting in France and come together fourteen years later to determine the fate of a country threatened by communism and fascism.
From the Boxer Rebellion in China to the Plain of West Point, from the persecution of conscientious objectors to the horrors of the Marne, from the Hoovervilles of the heartland to the pitiful Anacostia encampment, here is an unforgettable portrayal of the political intrigue and government betrayal that ignited the only violent conflict between two American armies.
Awards:Foreword Magazine Book-of-the-Year FinalistChaucer Award Book-of-the-Year FinalistindieBRAG Medallion HonoreePraise for The Yanks are Starving :
“[A] wonderful source of historical fact wrapped in a compelling novel.” — Historical Novel Society Reviews
“[A] vivid picture of not only men being deprived of their veterans’ rights, but of their human rights as well.…Craney performs a valuable service by chronicling it in this admirable book.” — Military Writers Society of America
Buy Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/Yanks
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Yanks-Are-Starving-Novel-Bonus-ebook/dp/B00G8OZ3MM
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00G8OZ3MM
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00G8OZ3MM
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00G8OZ3MM
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-yanks-are-starving-glen-craney/1117253154
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-yanks-are-starving
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-yanks-are-starving/id726771775
An Excerpt from The Yanks are StarvingAs a blood-pressure cuff tightened around his arm, President Herbert Hoover thumbed through that morning’s edition of the Washington Star. He paused at a cartoon lampooning him on a whimsical fishing expedition to catch enough trout to feed a nation of Hoovervilles. That distasteful epithet, coined by wags to describe the thousands of shantytowns sprouting up around the country, never failed to roil his stomach. Disgusted, he looked away from the editorial page, only to be assaulted by the same oppressive drab green that closed in on him here every day. He had wanted to repaint the walls of the Oval Office white after a fire destroyed the wing two years ago, but Lou, feeling the mood of the country was not right for such an innovation, had prevailed on him to restore the place exactly as Taft had first modeled it.
I cannot even govern my own household.
The gyrating hand on the blood-pressure gauge finally settled, and Admiral Joel T. Boone, his reedy, mustached White House physician, regarded the result as if he had just been dealt a bad poker hand. He adjusted the cuff for another attempt, but the president shook his head and ripped it off, refusing to be clamped again.
Hoover didn’t need to be told the numbers were too high. The tightness in his chest and numbness in his hands were evidence enough. He glanced at his reflection in the glass of Lou’s framed picture on the desk. His graying hair had thinned and his eyesight was so weak now that he had to squint even with the spectacles. Each day seemed to bring more bad news, sapping his vitality drip by drip. Born a year after the Panic of 1873, he had witnessed fourteen recessions come and go, but none had lasted as long as this latest downturn sparked by the stock market crash in October of 1929. The food riots in the cities were now becoming more frequent. Just last month, hundreds of women had been reported sleeping in Chicago’s Grant Park.
Desperate for a respite from these burdens, he searched the mail, hoping for a letter from his son, Bert Junior. Instead, his gaze landed on the heel marks that his predecessor, Cal Coolidge, had left on the desk during his daily naps. He glared a silent curse at those infernal scratches. They had become his personal version of the Latin reminder whispered centuries ago by Roman servants to keep the emperors grounded in reality.
Memento mori… Remember, you are mortal.
This moribund economy was that snoozing New Englander’s fault! How many times had he warned Coolidge against the evils of easy money and speculation? But the obstinate man had refused to listen to him, choosing instead to escape during his last year in office to the Black Hills, where he had spent more time watching rodeos than dealing with falling farm prices. Now he knew why Woodrow Wilson had deteriorated so rapidly during his second term. On mornings like this, he yearned to be back at Stanford, far away from politics and taking care of his neglected—
“Mr. President, I cannot get an accurate reading if you don’t relax.”
He returned to the newspaper and flipped its pages to a report of a speech given earlier that week by that Tammany Hall puppet, Franklin Roosevelt. His mouth soured as he read the New Yorker’s vitriol glazed with sugary patrician eloquence. “Why is it, Joel, that when a man is on this job as I am, day and night, doing the best he can, that certain men seek to oppose everything he does just to be ornery?”
“Few people understand the stress of your job, sir.”
He knew what the editors of the Washington papers would say to that: At least he has a job. He tossed aside the Star and, hoping for more empathy from the Midwest, picked up the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Yet on page five, a two-paragraph notice below the fold sparked his ire again. He barked at the story, “Peel them for donations, why don’t you!”
Mystified by the president’s outburst, the admiral asked, “Sir?”
Hoover chastised himself for the indiscretion. More and more these days, he caught himself mumbling defences at the cascade of criticism about his national stewardship. He ruffled the newspaper in frustration—as if the confounded stories might be shaken from the page—and displayed for the admiral’s inspection the latest horror in print. It was an item tucked between accounts of the marriage of Amelia Earhart and the congressional push to have The Star Spangled Banner designated as the national anthem. “Look at this, Joel. They’re building a church in St. Louis out of orange crates.”
The physician felt his pulse. “How have you been feeling lately, sir?”
“As if I’m trapped in my own skin. Why is my face so puffy?”
“The swelling is edema. It’s caused by lack of sleep. Let’s try the other arm.”
A Little Bit About Glen…
Glen CraneyGlen Craney is an author, screenwriter, journalist, and lawyer. A graduate of Indiana University Law School and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he is the recipient of the Nicholl Fellowship Prize from the Academy of Motion Pictures and the Chaucer and Laramie First-Place Awards for historical fiction. He is also a four-time indieBRAG Medallion winner, a Military Writers Society of America Gold Medalist, a four-time Foreword Magazine Book-of-the-Year Award Finalist, and an Historical Novel Society Reviews Editor’s Choice honoree. He lives in Malibu and has served as the president of the Southern California Chapter of the HNS.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.glencraney.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/glencraney
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlenCraneyAuthor
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/glen-craney
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Glen-Craney/e/B002C1VQZ8
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/1516207.Glen_Craney
January 18, 2023
His Castilian Hawk by Anna Belfrage – AudioBook Blast
You can find out more about this tour here: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2022/11/blog-tour-his-castilian-hawk-audio-book.html
For bastard-born Robert FitzStephan, being given Eleanor d’Outremer in marriage is an honour. For Eleanor, this forced wedding is anything but a fairy tale.
Robert FitzStephan has served Edward Longshanks loyally since the age of twelve. Now he is riding with his king to once and for all bring Wales under English control.
Eleanor d’Outremer—Noor to family—lost her Castilian mother as a child and is left entirely alone when her father and brother are killed. When ordered to wed the unknown Robert FitzStephan, she has no choice but to comply.
Two strangers in a marriage bed is not easy. Things are further complicated by Noor’s blood-ties to the Welsh princes and by covetous Edith who has warmed Robert’s bed for years.
Robert’s new wife may be young and innocent, but he is soon to discover that not only is she spirited and proud, she is also brave. Because when Wales lies gasping and Edward I exacts terrible justice on the last prince and his children, Noor is determined to save at least one member of the House of Aberffraw from the English king.
Will years of ingrained service have Robert standing with his king or will he follow his heart and protect his wife, his beautiful and fierce Castilian hawk?
Buy Links:
The Kindle ebook of this title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Link: http://myBook.to/HISHAWK
Audible Amazon: https://www.audible.com/pd/His-Castilian-Hawk-Audiobook/B0BLPXJL8M
Bingebooks : https://bingebooks.com/book/the-castilian-hawk
NOOK (Barnes and Noble): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-castilian-hawk-anna-belfrage/1137734133
Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/his-castilian-hawk-by-anna-belfrage
Libro: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9789198507249
Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/se/sv/books/3555095
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/600535465/His-Castilian-Hawk
Kobo & Walmart: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/his-castilian-hawk
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Anna_Belfrage_His_Castilian_Hawk?id=AQAAAEBCAX5BLM
Audiobooks: https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/his-castilian-hawk/640346
Author Bio: Anna BelfrageHad Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.
Anna has also published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients.
Her Castilian Heart is the third in her “Castilian” series, a stand-alone sequel to her September 2020 release, His Castilian Hawk. Set against the complications of Edward I’s invasion of Wales, His Castilian Hawk is a story of loyalty, integrity—and love. In the second instalment, The Castilian Pomegranate, we travel with the protagonists to the complex political world of medieval Spain. This latest release finds our protagonists back in England—not necessarily any safer than the wilds of Spain!
Anna has also authored The Whirlpools of Time in which she returns to the world of time travel. Join Duncan and the somewhat reluctant time-traveller Erin on their adventures through the Scottish Highlands just as the first Jacobite rebellion is about to explode!
All of Anna’s books have been awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion, she has several Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choices, and one of her books won the HNS Indie Award in 2015. She is also the proud recipient of various Reader’s Favorite medals as well as having won various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards.
Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website, www.annabelfrage.com
Social Media Links:
Website: www.annabelfrage.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abelfrageauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabelfrageauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/annabelfrageauthor
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anna-belfrage
Amazon Author Page: http://Author.to/ABG
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6449528.Anna_Belfrage
January 16, 2023
Spotlight on New Release from William Todd: A Summer with the Hermit King
A little bit about A Summer with the Hermit King
A Summer with the Hermit King
1888. Sixteen-year-old Auggie Rose runs away from an orphanage for the bliss of the idyllic Presque Isle along the shores of Lake Erie. Will the witness of a murder turn his dream into a nightmare?
I have been asked more than once what made me write this book. I am not a YA author. My wheel house is Sherlock Holmes pastiches and gothic horror. Although it shares the same time period in which I usually write, this is completely different from anything I have ever undertaken before. Although I have never ‘written’ YA I enjoy reading YA. And given the popularity of shows like Enola Holmes, The Irregulars, and Anne with an E, YA in this time period has become extremely popular. I got the idea out of the blue based on a local legend, Joe Root, a hermit who called Presque Isle, the peninsula at Erie, PA, home in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
When I did some initial research, I found out some rather interesting little-known tidbits about Erie around that same time. Since I was already in the middle of another book, I sort of put this off to the side and tried to forget about it. But characters seemed to be creating themselves ex nihilo from that lump of information in my brain and soon, I just could not get the idea out of my head. It consumed most of my waking day. Auggie, Maisy, Joe, Will, and Julia, it seems, had a story to tell, and when characters have a story to tell, there is little an author can do to thwart them. They take over your life. Truly, they do! Try as he might to ignore it, unless he can live off of one or two hours of sleep a night, an author is helpless but to take that inevitable seat at his laptop and write their story. That was the painful beginning of A Summer with the Hermit King. Admittedly, it initially came in fits and starts—after all, I had never written YA before, and it proved a bit daunting, at first. I was learning on the fly. Family hardships took me away from my writing for a time, and for the better part of five months not a single word was written. But Auggie and his tale would not leave me alone.
Finally, fifteen months later (two years if you count the multiple rewrites during editing) and A Summer with the Hermit King was complete. I had decided early on to use some real people and real events in the book because Erie has an interesting history, and when I found out these little tidbits, I knew I just had to weave them into the story. I cannot go into detail as to what they are here because they are integral to the plot. Suffice to say, I give an explanation at the end of the book. If I had to describe it in general terms, it is part YA, part coming-of-age, part cozy mystery (sorry, it’s in my blood!), and wholly historical. If you like the Enola Holmes’s and the Irregulars’s and the Anne with an E’s and heck, maybe throw Tom Sawyer in there too, I think you would also like A Summer with the Hermit King!
A little bit about WilliamWilliam Todd has been writing for over 20 years, primarily gothic horror stories in the style of Lovecraft, Poe, and Shelley. Loving all things Victorian, he was inspired to read, and later to write, by Arthur Conan Doyle. The first book he ever read cover to cover was Hound of the Baskervilles, which also fed his appetite for horror. William Todd has written two short story compilations of gothic horror, Dead of Night and Beyond the Gossamer Veil and one sci-fi/horror hybrid genre Something Wicked This Way Comes. He has also written multiple Sherlock Holmes pastiches, Murder in Keswick, A Reflection of Evil, Mystery of the Broken Window, and Elementary—a short story compilation, which were picked up for republish by Spellbound Publishing, Ltd.
William ToddThree of his short stories were part of MX Publishing’s New Sherlock Holmes Stories with proceeds going to a charity for special needs children housed in Undershaw, the very home Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles. Writing for the books was a special privilege because his daughter, Alina, has Down Syndrome.
In 2022, he has just published his first YA/historical novel A Summer with the Hermit King, which is an Amazon #1 New Release, and has started yet another Sherlock Holmes compilation. When not writing (which isn’t often!) William spends his time walking the trails and beaches of Presque Isle in his home of Erie, Pennsylvania and spending time with his family.
January 6, 2023
New Release from Marcia Clayton
A little girl, lonely and abandoned, is entrusted with a secret she must carry for a lifetime.
1820
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.
Thomas Fellwood, a young gentleman, 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.
Universal Link: https://mybook.to/Betsey
Available on Kindle Unlimited
A Little Bit about Marcia …Marcia is a wife, mother and grandmother and loves nothing better than to curl up with a good book. She enjoys researching her family tree, and it was her love of genealogy that inspired her to write The Hartford Manor Series. Living in Devon in the South West of England, Marcia also enjoys walking in the picturesque countryside.
Although Betsey is Marcia’s fourth book, it is also the prequel to the other three books in The Hartford Manor Family Saga:
The Mazzard Tree
1880
Annie Carter is a farm labourer’s daughter, and life is a struggle for survival. When her father dies of consumption, her mother, Sabina, is left with seven hungry mouths to feed. To save them from the workhouse, Annie steals vegetables from the Manor House garden, risking jail or transportation. Set against the harsh background of the rough, class-divided society of Victorian England, this heart-warming novel portrays a young woman who uses her determination and willpower to defy the circumstances of her birth in her search for happiness.
The Angel Maker
1884
When Fred Carter, finds a young woman in dire straits by the roadside, he takes her to the inn where she gives birth to a daughter. Charlotte is unmarried and has run away from home. A few days later, Fred takes Charlotte to her aunt’s house and does not expect to see her again. However, when their paths unexpectedly cross, Fred finds Charlotte distraught as her aunt has arranged an adoption behind her back. Charlotte is desperate to find her baby and Fred promises to help but they are unprepared for the sinister discoveries that lay before them.
The Rabbit’s Foot
1885
Set in the small seaside village of Hartford, this book tells the tale of how an old man, who has spent his life with barely a penny to his name, suddenly finds himself rich beyond his wildest dreams. However, there is only one thing that Sam Fellwood truly wants, and that is to be reunited with his son, Marrok, whom he abandoned at the age of five.
Find out more about Marcia and enjoy her monthly newsletter, plus a variety of blogs on her website: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
You can also download a FREE short story which is a spin-off from The Mazzard Tree. Amelia, a little orphan girl of 4, is abandoned in Victorian London. To find out what happens to Amelia, download the story here:
Amelia – Free Download
Social Media Links:
Website: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarciaC89111861
Facebook: Marcia Clayton – Author | Facebook
Instagram: Marcia Clayton: Instagram
Amazon Author Page: http://viewauthor.at/MarciaClayton
Goodreads: Marcia Clayton: Goodreads
Excerpt from Betsey“Hello Betsey, what are you doing out on such a cold morning? You need a thicker coat, this morning. Aren’t you cold?”
The child’s nose was red and she was shivering violently. “Aye, sir, I am cold, but these are the warmest clothes I have. I’m on my way to see Gypsy Freda; I’m hoping she might spare some food for me and my brother, Norman.”
“I see. Well, I’m not going all the way to the gypsy camp, but I can take you part of the way. Would you like to ride up here with me, again? I can wrap my cloak around you, and warm you up a bit.”
“That’s kind of you, sir. Yes, please.”
Thomas dismounted and lifted the child onto the horse, then clambered up behind her. He pulled his cloak open and wrapped it around her, and they set off, Betsey enjoying the warmth of his body and that of the horse below her. A little of the feeling began to return to her icy feet, making them hurt as they thawed, and she hastily brushed a few tears from her face, hoping he hadn’t noticed.
“I know your mother died, Betsey, but does your father not provide food for you?”
“No, not much, sir; he’s at work most of the time, and he doesn’t always come home, so we’re on our own a lot. I’m trying to look after my little brother, Norman, as best I can, but it’s difficult. Aunty Kezzie, from next door, has been looking after us since Mum died, but Dad had an argument with her last week and said she can’t come to our house anymore, so things are worse than ever at the moment. I’ve had to leave Norman at home on his own this morning because his shoes are even more worn than mine, and he can’t come out in this cold weather. It’ll be all right, though, I’m sure Gypsy Freda will help; she’s always been kind to me.”
Thomas could not believe a father could be so neglectful of his children and resolved to have a word with his own father to see if anything could be done. However, while he was perusing the matter, they heard a sharp scream from up ahead.
“Hold on, Betsey, I think we’d better find out what’s happening; it sounds like someone’s in trouble.”
December 14, 2022
In Conversation with Michael Ross
Michael Ross is a lover of history and great stories. He’s a retired software engineer turned author, with three children, and five grandchildren, living in Newton, Kansas with his wife of 42 years. Michael graduated from Rice University and Portland State University with degrees in German and software engineering. He was part of an MBA program at Boston University. He was born in Lubbock, Texas, and still loves Texas. He’s written short stories and technical articles in the past, as well as articles for the Texas Historical Society.
Across the Great Divide now has three novels in the series, “The Clouds of War”, “The Search”, and “The Founding”. The series has won many awards and positive reviews, including Silver Medal Book of the Year from the Coffee Pot Book Club (The Search), Honorable Mention Book of the Year (Clouds of War), Five Star Firebird award, Five Star Chanticleer International Book award, shortlisted for the Chanticleer Laramie award 2021, and Publisher’s Weekly positive review. Clouds of War was an Amazon #1 best seller in three categories in 2019. Most recently, The Founding has won a five-star review from The Historical Fiction Company.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?Historical Fiction, specifically biographical fiction. I love to tell the stories of real, but little known people, especially when the themes and events parallel what is happening today.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?Yes, I read constantly. I do read mostly in historical fiction, but I love a good thriller or mystery as well. Favorite authors include Kate Quinn, Pam Lecky, Anne Perry, Robert Crais, and Trish MacEnulty
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?Hybrid – my first book was published by Harper Collins, the rest have been self published. I’ll be back in the query trenches soon, but will also continue to self publish some titles.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?I grew up with an English teacher for a mother – that’s where it all started. Aside from her, I’d have to say my editor, Jenny Quinlan, and a few days’ encounter via email with Tom Clancy, when he was alive.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?Yes, very much so. I love all history, but American history has been the rich background for most of my writing. America is a grab bag of cultures and regional customs, and it’s fascinating to explore them.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?Editing is always the most difficult, but necessary to have a story with the correct pacing and character development. I outline, but invariably quirks pop up, things I hadn’t considered, or characters that demand attention or a different treatment. For example, in The Search, one of the principal characters was Dove, a young Shoshone woman. Half way through the book, she simply demanded to be re-written, which was about the time I encountered Darren Parry, Chief of the Northwestern Shoshone in real life.
That is largely how I deal with the problem – I back off and get outside input, from an editor or an expert.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?The old chestnut is to write what you know – but Tom Clancy advised me to write who I know – learn your character so thoroughly that you know them inside out, how they would think or react in a given situation. Occasionally, that may mean writing autobiographically. Tom said that Jack Ryan was basically Tom Clancy. If based on a real person, know that person intimately, even if you have to make parts of it up.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?I love early morning quiet. My best writing time is four to seven am.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?Teaching, writing code, or both. It’s what I did before becoming an author. Writing code pays better 
It’s still creative. Code has been described as “thought stuff”. It is rewarding to make things or make tools to make things. My code has been in airplanes, run databases, and been used as a tool to write MORE code that controls dams, medical devices, and other mission-critical software.
I would love to see Josh Young, my narrator, cast in the lead role as Will Crump. He’s a Broadway actor and simply nails the part.
If you could live the life of a historical figure for one day, who would you choose and what would you get up to?I think Abraham Lincoln is my favorite historical person. I would increase the pace of emancipation and civil rights for black people, Native Americans, and women.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?Difficult to choose, but since we’re dreaming, why not two? I would love to go to what is now Israel and watch the ministry of Jesus in person, and to 1859 Kentucky to meet my main character Will Crump in the flesh – might drop by Abraham Lincoln in the process. Did you know that Spencer, the man that invented the Spencer repeating rifle, simply waltzed into the White House with his rifle to show to Lincoln, after being rejected by the Secretary of War? Lincoln went out on the White House lawn, tried the rifle, and ordered them to be placed in the hands of the troops. Perhaps I could gain an audience without an appointment.
You have been chosen as a member of the crew on the first one-way flight to Mars – you are allowed to bring 5 books with you. What would they be?The Bible, C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, The Lord of The Rings, Practical Chemistry by Lyman Newell,
Amazon Link: The Founding [Book Three in the Across the Great Divide Series]
Two men, two dreams, two new towns on the plains, and a railroad that will determine whether the towns—one black, one white—live or die.
Will Crump has survived the Civil War, Red Cloud’s War, and the loss of his love, but the search for peace and belonging still eludes him. From Colorado, famed Texas Ranger Charlie Goodnight lures Will to Texas, where he finds new love, but can a Civil War sharpshooter and a Quaker find a compromise to let their love survive? When Will has a chance to join in the founding of a new town, he risks everything—his savings, his family, and his life—but it will all be for nothing if the new railroad passes them by.
Luther has escaped slavery in Kentucky through Albinia, Will’s sister, only to find prejudice rearing its ugly head in Indiana. When the Black Codes are passed, he’s forced to leave and begin a new odyssey. Where can he and his family go to be truly free? Can they start a town owned by blacks, run by blacks, with no one to answer to? But their success will be dependent on the almighty railroad and overcoming bigotry to prove their town deserves the chance to thrive.
Will’s eldest sister, Julia, and her husband, Hiram, are watching the demise of their steamboat business and jump into railroads, but there’s a long black shadow in the form of Jay Gould, the robber baron who ruthlessly swallows any business he considers competition. Can Julia fight the rules against women in business, dodge Gould, and hold her marriage together?
The Founding tells the little-known story of the Exodusters and Nicodemus, the black town on the plains of Kansas, and the parallel story of Will’s founding of Lubbock, Texas, against the background of railroad expansion in America. A family reunited, new love discovered, the quest for freedom, the rise of two towns. In the end, can they reach Across the Great Divide? The Founding is the exciting conclusion to the series.
Social Media Links:
Website: HistoricalNovelsRUS.com
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/michaellross7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historicalnovelsrus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ross-87505026?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HistoricalNovelsRUs
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michael-l-ross
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Ross/e/B07PTB7WMK/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19005014.Michael_L_Ross
December 8, 2022
Son of Anger – Book Spotlight: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour
I am delighted to bring you news of Donovan Cooks’s new release, Son of Anger, book one of the Ormstunga Saga series.
You can follow this blog tour here: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/09/son-of-anger-ormstunga-saga-book-1-by.html
Son of Anger b
y Donovan CookUlf is like a storm, slowly building up its power, he grows more dangerous with each passing moment. And like all storms, he will eventually break. When he does, he will destroy everything in his path.
Ulf is one of a long line of famous Norse warriors. His ancestor Tyr was no ordinary man, but the Norse God of War. Ulf, however, knows nothing about being a warrior.
Everything changes when a stranger arrives on Ulf’s small farm in Vikenfjord. The only family he’s ever known is slaughtered and the one reminder of his father is stolen – Ulf’s father’s sword, Ormstunga. Ulf’s destiny is decided.
Are the gods punishing him? All Ulf knows is that he has to avenge his family. He sets off on an adventure that will take him across oceans, into the eye of danger, on a quest to reclaim his family’s honour.
The gods are roused. One warrior can answer to them. The Son of Anger.
Buy Links:
This book is available on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Link (if you have it): https://books2read.com/u/m2dMOr
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NCNQPLH
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NCNQPLH
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08NCNQPLH
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08NCNQPLH
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/son-of-anger-donovan-cook/1137982445?ean=9781838300814
A little bit about Donovan Cook
Donovan Cook was born in South Africa but raised in England, and currently works as an English tutor. He is the author of the Ormstunga Saga, which includes his debut novel Son of Anger and the follow up, Raid of the Wolves. His novels come from his fascination with the Viking world and Norse Mythology and he hopes that you will enjoy exploring this world as much as he did writing about it.
When Donovan is not teaching or writing, he can be found reading, watching rugby, or working on DIY projects. Being born in South Africa, he is a massive Springboks fan and rarely misses a match.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.donovancook.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonovanCook20
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonovanCookAuthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donovan-cook
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Donovan-Cook/e/B08PC3BDRX
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20887374.Donovan_Cook
December 6, 2022
Her Castilian Heart: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour
Anna Belfrage is on the blog today to tell us a little about her new release, Her Castilian Heart, and to share an excerpt [see below].
You can follow the blog tour here: Tour Schedule: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/08/blog-tour-her-castilian-heart-by-anna.html
Her Castilian Heart By Anna BelfrageBlood is not always thicker than water…
At times a common bloodline is something of a curse—or so Robert FitzStephan discovers when he realises his half-brother, Eustace de Lamont, wants to kill him.
A murderous and greedy brother isn’t Robert’s only challenge. He and his wife, Noor, also have to handle their infected relationship with a mightily displeased Queen Eleanor—all because of their mysterious little foundling whom they refuse to abandon or allow the queen to lock away.
Eustace is persistent. When Robert’s life hangs in the balance, it falls to Noor to do whatever it takes to rip them free from the toothy jaws of fate. Noor may be a woman, but weak she is not, and in her chest beats a heart as brave and ferocious as that of a lioness. But will her courage be enough to see them safe?
Trigger Warnings: [There is some sexual (consensual) content. Also some violence]
Buy Links:
Is your book on Kindle Unlimited? YES
Universal Link (if you have it): http://myBook.to/HEART
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3cj9TIq
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3dVZuCE
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3KfqvgF
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3AIBfks
A Little Bit about Anna …Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.
Anna BelfrageAnna has also published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients.
Her Castilian Heart is the third in her “Castilian” series, a stand-alone sequel to her September 2020 release, His Castilian Hawk. Set against the complications of Edward I’s invasion of Wales, His Castilian Hawk is a story of loyalty, integrity—and love. In the second instalment, The Castilian Pomegranate, we travel with the protagonists to the complex political world of medieval Spain. This latest release finds our protagonists back in England—not necessarily any safer than the wilds of Spain!
Anna has also authored The Whirlpools of Time in which she returns to the world of time travel. Join Duncan and the somewhat reluctant time-traveller Erin on their adventures through the Scottish Highlands just as the first Jacobite rebellion is about to explode!
All of Anna’s books have been awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion, she has several Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choices, and one of her books won the HNS Indie Award in 2015. She is also the proud recipient of various Reader’s Favorite medals as well as having won various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards.
Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website, www.annabelfrage.com
Social Media Links:
Website: www.annabelfrage.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abelfrageauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabelfrageauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/annabelfrageauthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anna-belfrage
Amazon Author Page: http://Author.to/ABG
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6449528.Anna_Belfrage
Excerpt from Her Castilian HeartIn which Robert is given suggestions as to how to handle his brother
It was not quite noon the next day when Sir Piers de Geneville rode into their bailey, having first had to wait while the sentries unbarred the heavy gate.
“It has become a disconcerting habit of yours to keep your gates barred to me,” Sir Piers said in jest as he dismounted.
“Never against you, my lord,” Noor replied. “Against Eustace de Lamont.”
“He’s not here. He’s in Gascony to do homage for his lands. Now that his dear sire has done him the courtesy of finally expiring, he must hasten to do what must be done for him to come into his own.” Sir Piers preceded them up the stairs to the hall and settled himself in the large armchair that was usually reserved for Robert. “I’d do the same had it been my sire who passed. Fortunately, dear Papa is as hale as a fiddle, and as he is happier in Ireland and I am happier here, I have the best of it: wealth and independence and a living father.” He smiled affectionately. “A good man, my father.”
“Some wine, my lord?” Noor asked, already pouring from the pitcher of hippocras.
Sir Piers sipped. “Ah yes, nice and sweet.”
Too sweet in Robert’s opinion, but he didn’t say as much. Instead, they made small talk about the weather and the recent events in Gascony, Piers listening with interest as Robert outlined the conditions of the Treaty of Canfranc.
“Seventy-six hostages? Where on earth did our liege find that many?” Sir Piers bit into a chickpea fritter.
“Mostly in Gascony—and the local lords were none too pleased by it.”
“I imagine not. Should Charles of Salerno defect, then they’re stuck.” Sir Piers chuckled, extending first one booted leg, then the other. Bright blue hose matched the colour of his open surcoat, the tunic underneath a soft grey of wool so fine it shimmered. “Something tells me our king would be very, very displeased should that happen.”
“Aye. But our king says his cousin’s word is his bond, so he is not overly concerned.” Not entirely true. Until all the hostages were safely back with their families, the king would not relax.
“Mmm.” Sir Piers held out his goblet for more, Noor hastening to replenish it. It irked Robert to have his wife act the page like that, but for the conversation they were about to have, the fewer ears the better. “So.” Sir Piers reclined. “About Eustace.”
Once Robert had finished telling him, he gave his overlord an expectant look. Sir Piers steepled his hands.
“Not good,” was all he said. “And we all know the word of a ruffian will carry no weight in a court of law.”
“There must be something we can do to stop him,” Noor said.
“Other than killing him, you mean?” Sir Piers asked. “And no, Robert, that would not be wise.”
Robert shot to his feet. “He threatens me and mine!”
Sir Piers gave him an irritated look and waved him down to sit. “If you kill him while he is, in fact, threatening you, it is fine. But Eustace is far too wily for that, and he has the resources required to hire others to do his dirty work for him.”
“So we live in constant fear?” Noor asked, clasping her hands as if in prayer.
“You could go to the king and ask him to allow a trial by combat,” Sir Piers said.
Robert snorted. “The king does not hold with such. He calls it old-fashioned. A man should be tried by his peers.”
“It still happens among the common people,” Sir Piers said. “We all know Bishop Swinefield keeps a champion or two on retainer.”
Champions? Likely, the bishop employed men like the ones who’d ambushed them to do his combatting, men who’d long since left the life of true soldiering behind.
“We do?” Noor asked. “Why would he need a champion?”
“To sort all those minor legal disputes that otherwise cost far too much money and effort. Lawyers do not come cheap,” Sir Piers replied. “But that is neither here nor there, is it?”
“I still say the king would not allow it.” Besides, he was not entirely convinced the king would find any merit in their case. They had no witnesses; no one had as much as mentioned Eustace’s name. All of it was conjecture—damned convincing conjecture, but Edward Plantagenet was a firm believer in the rule of law, more specifically, his law.
“You could ask him,” Sir Piers said. “And if the king says aye, Eustace will have no choice but to fight you.” Sir Piers’ brows rose. “I take it you are confident you’d win?” he drawled.
“Against Eustace? With one hand tied behind my back.”
Sir Piers pursed his lips, a deep wrinkle between his brows. “Beware, FitzStephan, pride goes before fall.” He stood. “Another thing: I’d recommend you take seisin of those lands as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the harder for Eustace to try and claim them back.”
November 10, 2022
Skull’s Vengeance: The Coffee Pot Book Blog Tour
Today on the blog, I am delighted to share an excerpt from Linnea Tanner’s Skull’s Vengeance, book four in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series.
You can find out more about the blog tour here: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/01/blog-tour-skulls-vengeance-curse-of.html
Skull’s Vengeance By Linnea TannerA Celtic warrior queen must do the impossible—defeat her sorcerer half-brother and claim the throne. But to do so, she must learn how to strike vengeance from her father’s skull.
AS FORETOLD BY HER FATHER in a vision, Catrin has become a battle-hardened warrior after her trials in the Roman legion and gladiatorial games. She must return to Britannia and pull the cursed dagger out of the serpent’s stone to fulfill her destiny. Only then can she unleash the vengeance from the ancient druids to destroy her evil half-brother, the powerful sorcerer, King Marrock. Always two steps ahead and seemingly unstoppable, Marrock can summon destructive natural forces to crush any rival trying to stop him and has charged his deadliest assassin to bring back Catrin’s head.
To have the slightest chance of beating Marrock, Catrin must forge alliances with former enemies, but she needs someone she can trust. Her only option is to seek military aid from Marcellus—her secret Roman husband. They rekindle their burning passion, but he is playing a deadly game in the political firestorm of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to support Catrin’s cause.
Ultimately, in order to defeat Marrock, Catrin must align herself with a dark druidess and learn how to summon forces from skulls to exact vengeance. But can she and Marcellus outmaneuver political enemies from Rome and Britannia in their quest to vanquish Marrock?
[Trigger warnings: Sex, Slave trafficking and abuse, Violence, Childbirth]
Buy Links Skull’s Vengeance:
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/bao09y
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skulls-Vengeance-Curse-Clansmen-Kings-ebook/dp/B0BC2GCFGG/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Skulls-Vengeance-Curse-Clansmen-Kings-ebook/dp/B0BC2GCFGG/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Skulls-Vengeance-Curse-Clansmen-Kings-ebook/dp/B0BC2GCFGG/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Skulls-Vengeance-Curse-Clansmen-Kings-ebook/dp/B0BC2GCFGG/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skulls-vengeance-linnea-tanner/1142034153?ean=2940185587164
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/skulls-vengeance/id6443334037
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/skull-s-vengeance
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CTSDEAAAQBAJ
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/skull-s-vengeance-linnea-tanner/book/9781733600200.html
Chapter 24 EscapeBrutius’s Villa, Rome, 22 March, 28 AD
The plan was set into motion. Falco was at the entrance of Brutius’s villa, waiting to deliver the false message to Brutius. Marcellus had ridden off to his father’s home with the hope that Brutius would take the bait and ride there with Adonis. Cynwrig and Falco were next to Catrin, on the hilltop overlooking the villa, as she scanned the area for a small animal that could easily enter undetected as soon as Brutius opened the door to take the summons.
Since Catrin’s last gladiatorial contest in Lugdunum, at which time she had summoned lightning from the sky to destroy Decimus in the stands, she had hesitated to use her druidic powers. The ramifications of using these forces were unpredictable. She had decided it was too risky to shape-shift into an animal’s form. Previously, she had lost consciousness during the transition from one form to another and often felt drained afterward, both physically and mentally. Seeing through the eyes of a small animal might be easier, though she had only previously done so with a raven.
She had difficulty concentrating, a sudden sadness weighing her heart down as she worried that Marcellus’s farewell kiss could be their last. Struggling to rein in the shroud of gloom, she spotted a yellow-necked mouse scampering nearby. She focused her eyes on the rodent. Her thoughts floated in and out of the creature’s mind until, finally, a flash of light blinded her—a signal she had entered its mind. Seeing through the mouse’s eyes disoriented her at first. She had anticipated that a mouse would have sharp visual acuity, but everything was a blur around her. The wooded landscape appeared as black shadows with hues of blue and purple. Even so, her other senses were heightened. Various odors of moss, pine needles, and urine assaulted her nostrils. Any light touch on her whiskers and fur, she discovered, helped orient her to her immediate surroundings. She directed the mouse to jump on its hind legs and squeak to alert Falco and Cynwrig that she had successfully entered the rodent’s mind. She saw her human form leaning against a tree, motionless as a corpse. As long as she was in the mouse’s mind, she knew her human form would be vulnerable. There was no time to practice the mouse’s movements. She had to scurry now!
Catrin leapt from rock to rock until she felt the cobblestone beneath her paws. Seeing only the shadow of the villa straight ahead, she scurried on the open road, despite her instincts to hide. Finally, she saw a bleary human figure and surmised it was Falco. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw the door closing. With a burst of speed, she slid through the narrow opening before the door slammed.
She heard a man shout, “What just came in?” Then, she ran close to the vestibule’s wall, the touch on her whiskers helping her to maneuver down the hallway to the main quarters. Though her vision was blurry, she could look in different directions for a housecat that might pounce on her.
Scrambling from chamber to chamber on the side of the atrium, she searched for Selena. Most of the rooms were empty except for a handful of slaves scrubbing the floors. Near the back of the atrium, she heard footsteps and a man yelling, “Get my horse ready.”
Catrin’s heart raced with anticipation that Brutius had taken the bait. Staying in the shadows along the wall, she sniffed at the man’s slight urine odor and followed him outside into the colonnaded peristyle. Gut-wrenching screams from the far end of the central garden blasted into her ears. She felt the mouse’s rapid heartbeats roll like a drum as she scurried behind the man’s sandaled feet through the garden. Her paws hurt from pounding on the sharp, pebbled pathway as she tried to keep up. The man halted in front of what looked like an enclosed stall. In the adjacent corral were two skittish horses prancing back and forth, snorting. To her right, she glimpsed a shadowy man’s figure coming out of a back room onto the portico. A blurry stableman pulling the reins of a horse came into her right eye’s view.
“Is Adonis going with you?” the man standing under the peristyle’s roof called out.
“No. You can be my escort,” the sandaled man, whom Catrin surmised to be Brutius, replied. “Adonis is busy punishing a slave.”
“Who will transport the slaves tomorrow?”
“Gaius will transport them by wagon to Capri. I may need to stay the night at my father’s house.”
The sound of the stall unlatching drew Catrin’s attention. She turned and saw the shadowy figure of a woman against the wall through a door-way. Liquid was flowing down her legs. Unable to discern the red color, she nonetheless smelled the metallic odor of blood. The pit of her stomach dropped like an executioner’s axe. She closely watched the two fuzzy men, astride their horses, riding through an open gateway. After they left, the stableman latched it shut.
With the urgency to save Selena, Catrin forced herself out of the mouse’s mind. A flash later, she found herself in her human body, but she felt woozy from the quick transition.
Trying to clear her head, Catrin said, “Selena is in there.”
“Where, exactly?” Falco asked in Celtic.
“At the back of the villa. In an enclosed stall,” Catrin answered.
“Is there a way we can get in?” Cynwrig asked.
“A gate at the back. But it’s latched,” Catrin said, picturing what she had seen through the mouse’s eye.
“Any guards?” Falco asked.
“One guard, for sure. A handful of house slaves.” Catrin closed her eyes, trying to recall what the guard had said about other slaves. “There may be others I didn’t see that are to be transported tomorrow.”
“I’ll boost you over the wall,” Cynwrig told Catrin, “so you can let Falco and me in. Everyone ready?”
A Little Bit About Linnea…
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. Of particular interest are 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).
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.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.linneatanner.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/linneatanner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinneaTannerAuthor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnea-tanner-a021932b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linneatanner/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/linneatanner/_created/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linnea-tanner
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-Tanner/e/B01N6YEM04
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16474282.Linnea_Tanner
