Rachel Rossano's Blog, page 12
July 29, 2013
New Interview and Review Site
More Than a Review is a great review site for those of us who are picky about what we read. I encourage you to check it out. They also are being very kind and interviewing me this morning. Please stop over and check it out.
July 24, 2013
Medieval Word Wednesday - Prey
So, I have discovered that medieval noblemen and noblewomen enjoy an exciting hunt, whether running the prey down as a group or shooting it down after it has been conveniently cornered in an enclosure. But what did they hunt, and how did they hunt each animal?
Barthélémy d'Eyck (fl. 1444-1469) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Apparently on of the better questions would have been, what didn't they hunt? I found a nice list of the game they enjoyed tracking down and was surprised on some of the animals on it, like otter and lynx. Apparently they did not eat otter, but hunted it regardless.
Game and recommended method of hunting according to The Boke of St Albans, a text from 1486
The Stag - Bow and Stable (see last week's entry for explanation)
The Deer, Hart or Roebuck - Bow and Stable
Boar - At Force
Foxes - Bow and Stable (not for eating)
Rabbits - Usually hunted by sending dogs down their holes
Otters - Also hunted using dogs, but not for eating
Game birds (geese, ducks, pheasant, partridge, grouse etc.) - Bow and Stable
Source: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/medieval-hunting-history.htm
Another source lists some additional animals including ibex, bear, wolf, badger and wild cat.
I wonder if they ate the wild cat.
Barthélémy d'Eyck (fl. 1444-1469) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsApparently on of the better questions would have been, what didn't they hunt? I found a nice list of the game they enjoyed tracking down and was surprised on some of the animals on it, like otter and lynx. Apparently they did not eat otter, but hunted it regardless.
Game and recommended method of hunting according to The Boke of St Albans, a text from 1486
The Stag - Bow and Stable (see last week's entry for explanation)
The Deer, Hart or Roebuck - Bow and Stable
Boar - At Force
Foxes - Bow and Stable (not for eating)
Rabbits - Usually hunted by sending dogs down their holes
Otters - Also hunted using dogs, but not for eating
Game birds (geese, ducks, pheasant, partridge, grouse etc.) - Bow and Stable
Source: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/medieval-hunting-history.htm
Another source lists some additional animals including ibex, bear, wolf, badger and wild cat.
I wonder if they ate the wild cat.
July 17, 2013
Medieval Word Wednesday - Methods of Hunting
As part of writing my current hero's past and present, I have been doing research on Medieval hunting techniques. I found all kinds of interesting information that I would love to share with you. :)
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsAs I noted in a previous entry, much of the nobleman's diet was comprised of game meat like wild boar, venison, pheasant, and such. The process of procuring the meat for such a diet was not simply the duty of the nobleman's underlings. Many noblemen killed and brought in a sizable amount of the largess himself. Many noblemen (and noblewomen) were notorious for their love of the hunt.
There were two kinds of hunts. The first was the one that came to mind when I first began my research.
At Force Hunting involved a group of fight and active hunters on horseback or foot setting out into field and forest to seek out, corner, and kill their game in the game's natural habitat. The hunting party (with the help of their dogs) would chase the prey to near exhaustion before going in for the kill. The dangerous Wild Boar was the usual prey in these kinds of hunts.
Bow and Stable Hunting involved herding the prey into an enclosed area for the not-so-active hunter to kill. The usual prey for these kinds of hunts were deer.
Source: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/medieval-hunting-history.htm
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsAs I noted in a previous entry, much of the nobleman's diet was comprised of game meat like wild boar, venison, pheasant, and such. The process of procuring the meat for such a diet was not simply the duty of the nobleman's underlings. Many noblemen killed and brought in a sizable amount of the largess himself. Many noblemen (and noblewomen) were notorious for their love of the hunt.There were two kinds of hunts. The first was the one that came to mind when I first began my research.
At Force Hunting involved a group of fight and active hunters on horseback or foot setting out into field and forest to seek out, corner, and kill their game in the game's natural habitat. The hunting party (with the help of their dogs) would chase the prey to near exhaustion before going in for the kill. The dangerous Wild Boar was the usual prey in these kinds of hunts.
Bow and Stable Hunting involved herding the prey into an enclosed area for the not-so-active hunter to kill. The usual prey for these kinds of hunts were deer.
Source: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/medieval-hunting-history.htm
July 13, 2013
#SweetSat - Honor
Lord Dentin has been giving Elsa and me headaches. Thankfully neither of us are giving up on him. Here is part of a recent chapter from Lord Dentin's POV.
~~~~~
Once confident that Rathenridge wasn’t about to toss Merrill bodily through his vargar gates, I confronted Elsa again. “Why didn’t you come to me immediately? Surely you could see he was playing you. Didn’t you realize he would never forgive such a debt?”
Indignation flared in her dark eyes. “Approach the Bulldog of Rhynan with only a cryptic statement and a hunch? You are not well known for being kind or generous with your attention, my lord. Besides, when you confronted Merrill, he would’ve laughed it all off as if it was a joke, leaving my family and I completely at his mercy. What possible motivation, my lord, would I have had to speak to you?”From sardonically arched eyebrows to tightened jaw, she was a warrior again.
“I would have listened.”
She didn’t respond, but her doubt was clearly written in her frown.
“See that it doesn’t happen again. Inform me of every word he speaks to you.” I bowed to Rathenridge and left.
~~~~~
Do you think she will comply?
Thank you for stopping in for a visit. For more Sweet Saturday Samples visit http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/
~~~~~
Once confident that Rathenridge wasn’t about to toss Merrill bodily through his vargar gates, I confronted Elsa again. “Why didn’t you come to me immediately? Surely you could see he was playing you. Didn’t you realize he would never forgive such a debt?”
Indignation flared in her dark eyes. “Approach the Bulldog of Rhynan with only a cryptic statement and a hunch? You are not well known for being kind or generous with your attention, my lord. Besides, when you confronted Merrill, he would’ve laughed it all off as if it was a joke, leaving my family and I completely at his mercy. What possible motivation, my lord, would I have had to speak to you?”From sardonically arched eyebrows to tightened jaw, she was a warrior again.
“I would have listened.”
She didn’t respond, but her doubt was clearly written in her frown.
“See that it doesn’t happen again. Inform me of every word he speaks to you.” I bowed to Rathenridge and left.
~~~~~
Do you think she will comply?
Thank you for stopping in for a visit. For more Sweet Saturday Samples visit http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/
July 12, 2013
500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art
I love this video! The transition of one face to the next creates the illusion of all the women being the same woman with different faces. :)
July 11, 2013
Discounted and Autographed books--Win! Win!
Discounted autographed paperback copies of Wren, Duty, The Crown of Anavrea, and The Mercenary's Marriage are now available on my new Etsy store! This is the cheapest I have been able to ever offer them.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RachelRossanoWrites
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RachelRossanoWrites
July 10, 2013
Interview with E. Kaiser about her new release "The Traitor's Knife"
Welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay with us and visit often. Today, I brought a guest and fellow author, E. Kaiser. She released her first novel, Jeweler’s Apprentice,December 2011 and introduced the next installment in the series yesterday, July 9th2013.
Welcome, Elizabeth, I am so glad you can join us today. Why don’t you tell my readers something about yourself?
Ah! The hard question first. Well, I’ve lived an un-normal life, have had some experienced a childhood akin to a gypsy’s and due to that I spent time in eastern and western mountains, the snowy north, the prairies and even a little stretch in the desert… which I did not enjoy. I do not do heat very well. Still, it’s amazing the long list of things I’m been exposed to in my life so far, settings, actions, & characters, and I definitely think that it all combines to flavor the stories I have to tell.
Some things in my life have been very hard; which actually turns out to be good. Difficult financial situations, interpersonal relationships, the death of close family members… everything traumatic at the time was merely deepening my understanding of reality, I am awestruck by the Lord’s amazing power to bring flowers from ashes. I guess that might be a big theme throughout my books; that despair is exactly where hope is waiting.
The Lord is amazing that way.
I have three little ones and we are homeschooling them so my writing fits in the cracks between the craziness. When you are not writing, what are you doing?
I live and work on a farm/ranch with my three grown siblings and our parents. Our lives are a lot like rural American farm life in the 50’s; except we don’t sell eggs, so no egg-money. ;-) Big garden, canning, dehydrating, sew our own clothes, just old fashioned thriftiness and a willingness to delay gratification. It is incredibly hard to make a living in agriculture these days, unless you inherit a good chunk. We only inherited the dream from our parents; the Lord has blessed us, and we’re piecing that dream together as He allows. It’s always tough where the rubber meets the road, but it’s like Tim McGraw says, “How bad do you want it?” (And no, I actually am not a “fan” of country music. ;-) )
We have been blessed with a gift for working with animals, and my other siblings have majored in it by taking horse training into a family business. So we’ve got horses all over the place, my younger sis and I have a small herd of top quality Alpine dairy goats, (been breeding them since 1991) Of course there’s the chickens and the turkeys, the barn cats and our newest additions, the lovely Tervuren Shepherd dogs that are my special pride and joy. (I’m a dog lover; they are always first in my heart.)
I was reading your book’s blurb. I would love to hear more about your main character. What kind of person is she?
Almost seventeen year old Fia Brithin is somewhat shy, bookish, very polite, loves the jeweler’s craft and is slightly nervous around horses after an accident in the woods near her childhood home. She loves her large family and is devoted to her king and country; misses her elder brothers who went off to help the neighboring kingdom’s loyalist forces against the Ten Barons that have overthrown their government and caused havoc on the other side of the Gerardel mountains.
She is not at all the type who actually wants to go on an adventure; unlike her next younger sister who is always pining for one thing or another. Yet it is this sister that sets Fia herself on the path toward adventure, and that terribly uncomfortable thing called growing up.
When we were chatting before, you mentioned that your novels take place in a fantasy world that is similar to history. What historical periods and locations do the settlings of the books most resemble? How are they similar and how are they different?
I’ve made Fia’s home kingdom of Lorsia from my ideal world… rolling countryside with scattered trees, it falls down from the foothills of the Gerardels and slopes away to the main river where the palace sits.
The mountains are very much drawn from the ones I lived in, but I’ve made them a little softer than the Rockies tend to be. And there are jewels in them, which dwarves mine. I love that part.
The time frame is harder to pin down; they have diamond paned windows and magnifying glasses, elegant carriages and siege workshops. I guess you could say Europe in the decades before the Industrial Revolution… no engines, guns, or gas/hydro/electric power.
How many books are you planning for in this series? Do you have the titles already picked out?
My younger sister, Abigail, is heavily involved in conspiring on these books with me, and we have five planned for Fia’s journeys so far. (Three to go!) If one of them becomes too full, than it might need split, but I think we’ve got the plots pretty much scoped.
Titles, titles…. No, we do not have the titles nailed down. We have working titles; Erlandia, White Castle, and Verrizia/City of Water. Both Jeweler’s Apprentice and Traitor’s Knife were mostly written under working titles, so I’m not sure how far along in the process we will be before we find the perfect title for each upcoming book. I like to tie the title in with something; perhaps small but significant, in the storyline.
I would love to hear about how you work. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in the great space between?
I am a dream-catcher type, so I sit down to write and find out what I have after it comes out. Terrible for scheduling, but the results are always so fun and interesting! That being said, it takes a tremendous amount of discipline for me to complete a whole novel, so I have to buckle down and grab that impudent muse out of the cloud where she likes to sit and throw plot bunnies at me.
But I CANNOT plot down every little detail like so many writer-advisors say. It totally kills the fun, and my writing becomes dull and boring.
So I try to mix and match, like making a salad. Toss in a little of this, a little of that… I brainstorm with my in-house editor, (Abi) and chart out the major turning points of the plot, then I throw down every scene that shows up in my brain. After a while I start getting to pull themes out and links between the scenes I have and more scenes present themselves; and then I have Abi read it and tell me what I’ve forgotten to put in. (Because at this point my brain’s pretty much mush.) Then I go back through and add those points that were missing, and then it’s time for edits.
Sometimes I take breaks in between, or whenever something in real life crashes my creative muscle. I try to get a lot of sleep and maybe read a book, and make sure I’m up on iron supplementation. ;-) Of course Pinterest is a beautiful way to capture essences of ideas, and my Fia’s Journeyboard is pretty full. ;-)
I can completely relate to not being able to plan out all the details. My writing grows laborious if I know all the interesting bits and pieces beforehand. Besides, it never turns out as I planned when I get it on the page. My characters tend to surprise me. :)
Please tell us about the coming book.
The first book pushed Fia way out of her comfort zone, and she had to step up and hold down a supporting role in a place that she was not prepared to be. She has grown from that, and is much more confident as a person, though in Traitor’s Knife she still has a lot to learn about the world and what lives in it. In Jeweler’s Apprentice she was a fish-out-of-water with nothing to lose, but she made friends and earned respect and now in Traitor’s Knife that is all threatened.
“When the loyalist cause enlists the mountain house into a weaponry, apprentice Fia is confronted with three refugee children, a disturbingly upstart former messenger, and accidents happening everywhere. Are saboteurs out to nix the weapons works, or is it the incognito crown prince they're after?”
If the theme from Jeweler’s Apprentice was “Mistakes happen even when you try your best, but that’s okay and can work out better than you thought.”
…Then the theme with Traitor’s Knife might be “Be careful who you trust.”
Where can we find your books?
I’m on Amazon here, E.-Kaiserand folks can find Jeweler’s Apprentice here. Traitor’s Knife is now available, too!
My author site: EKaiserWrites.webs.comBlogger: E.KaiserWrites-A-Blog Twitter: @EKaiserWrites(though I confess it still intimidates me a little!) Facebook: E Kaiser writesGoodreads: E. KaiserGoogle : E. Kaiser Writes(just new on here, so if anybody wants to connect, I’m open!)
I’m very much an off-grid girl setting sail into the roiling waters of the internet, so I am open to friending and connecting with anyone on any of these sites! Anyone that will have me, that is, of course. ;-)
Thank you so much for visiting with us today. I would love for you to come back again when your next book is ready to debut.
Thanks so much, Rachel! I appreciate the opportunity to be here! I’d be delighted to come back when we’ve got Erlandia ready for the great reveal. Abi is already so excited about it that she can hardly sit still in her chair, which is wonderful.
I’m still thinking I need a little sleep. ;-)
But it’ll be great to be back here when that comes around!
Welcome, Elizabeth, I am so glad you can join us today. Why don’t you tell my readers something about yourself?
Ah! The hard question first. Well, I’ve lived an un-normal life, have had some experienced a childhood akin to a gypsy’s and due to that I spent time in eastern and western mountains, the snowy north, the prairies and even a little stretch in the desert… which I did not enjoy. I do not do heat very well. Still, it’s amazing the long list of things I’m been exposed to in my life so far, settings, actions, & characters, and I definitely think that it all combines to flavor the stories I have to tell.
Some things in my life have been very hard; which actually turns out to be good. Difficult financial situations, interpersonal relationships, the death of close family members… everything traumatic at the time was merely deepening my understanding of reality, I am awestruck by the Lord’s amazing power to bring flowers from ashes. I guess that might be a big theme throughout my books; that despair is exactly where hope is waiting.
The Lord is amazing that way.
I have three little ones and we are homeschooling them so my writing fits in the cracks between the craziness. When you are not writing, what are you doing?
I live and work on a farm/ranch with my three grown siblings and our parents. Our lives are a lot like rural American farm life in the 50’s; except we don’t sell eggs, so no egg-money. ;-) Big garden, canning, dehydrating, sew our own clothes, just old fashioned thriftiness and a willingness to delay gratification. It is incredibly hard to make a living in agriculture these days, unless you inherit a good chunk. We only inherited the dream from our parents; the Lord has blessed us, and we’re piecing that dream together as He allows. It’s always tough where the rubber meets the road, but it’s like Tim McGraw says, “How bad do you want it?” (And no, I actually am not a “fan” of country music. ;-) )
We have been blessed with a gift for working with animals, and my other siblings have majored in it by taking horse training into a family business. So we’ve got horses all over the place, my younger sis and I have a small herd of top quality Alpine dairy goats, (been breeding them since 1991) Of course there’s the chickens and the turkeys, the barn cats and our newest additions, the lovely Tervuren Shepherd dogs that are my special pride and joy. (I’m a dog lover; they are always first in my heart.)
I was reading your book’s blurb. I would love to hear more about your main character. What kind of person is she?
Almost seventeen year old Fia Brithin is somewhat shy, bookish, very polite, loves the jeweler’s craft and is slightly nervous around horses after an accident in the woods near her childhood home. She loves her large family and is devoted to her king and country; misses her elder brothers who went off to help the neighboring kingdom’s loyalist forces against the Ten Barons that have overthrown their government and caused havoc on the other side of the Gerardel mountains.
She is not at all the type who actually wants to go on an adventure; unlike her next younger sister who is always pining for one thing or another. Yet it is this sister that sets Fia herself on the path toward adventure, and that terribly uncomfortable thing called growing up.
When we were chatting before, you mentioned that your novels take place in a fantasy world that is similar to history. What historical periods and locations do the settlings of the books most resemble? How are they similar and how are they different?
I’ve made Fia’s home kingdom of Lorsia from my ideal world… rolling countryside with scattered trees, it falls down from the foothills of the Gerardels and slopes away to the main river where the palace sits.
The mountains are very much drawn from the ones I lived in, but I’ve made them a little softer than the Rockies tend to be. And there are jewels in them, which dwarves mine. I love that part.
The time frame is harder to pin down; they have diamond paned windows and magnifying glasses, elegant carriages and siege workshops. I guess you could say Europe in the decades before the Industrial Revolution… no engines, guns, or gas/hydro/electric power.
How many books are you planning for in this series? Do you have the titles already picked out?
My younger sister, Abigail, is heavily involved in conspiring on these books with me, and we have five planned for Fia’s journeys so far. (Three to go!) If one of them becomes too full, than it might need split, but I think we’ve got the plots pretty much scoped.
Titles, titles…. No, we do not have the titles nailed down. We have working titles; Erlandia, White Castle, and Verrizia/City of Water. Both Jeweler’s Apprentice and Traitor’s Knife were mostly written under working titles, so I’m not sure how far along in the process we will be before we find the perfect title for each upcoming book. I like to tie the title in with something; perhaps small but significant, in the storyline.
I would love to hear about how you work. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in the great space between?
I am a dream-catcher type, so I sit down to write and find out what I have after it comes out. Terrible for scheduling, but the results are always so fun and interesting! That being said, it takes a tremendous amount of discipline for me to complete a whole novel, so I have to buckle down and grab that impudent muse out of the cloud where she likes to sit and throw plot bunnies at me.
But I CANNOT plot down every little detail like so many writer-advisors say. It totally kills the fun, and my writing becomes dull and boring.
So I try to mix and match, like making a salad. Toss in a little of this, a little of that… I brainstorm with my in-house editor, (Abi) and chart out the major turning points of the plot, then I throw down every scene that shows up in my brain. After a while I start getting to pull themes out and links between the scenes I have and more scenes present themselves; and then I have Abi read it and tell me what I’ve forgotten to put in. (Because at this point my brain’s pretty much mush.) Then I go back through and add those points that were missing, and then it’s time for edits.
Sometimes I take breaks in between, or whenever something in real life crashes my creative muscle. I try to get a lot of sleep and maybe read a book, and make sure I’m up on iron supplementation. ;-) Of course Pinterest is a beautiful way to capture essences of ideas, and my Fia’s Journeyboard is pretty full. ;-)
I can completely relate to not being able to plan out all the details. My writing grows laborious if I know all the interesting bits and pieces beforehand. Besides, it never turns out as I planned when I get it on the page. My characters tend to surprise me. :)
Please tell us about the coming book.
The first book pushed Fia way out of her comfort zone, and she had to step up and hold down a supporting role in a place that she was not prepared to be. She has grown from that, and is much more confident as a person, though in Traitor’s Knife she still has a lot to learn about the world and what lives in it. In Jeweler’s Apprentice she was a fish-out-of-water with nothing to lose, but she made friends and earned respect and now in Traitor’s Knife that is all threatened.
“When the loyalist cause enlists the mountain house into a weaponry, apprentice Fia is confronted with three refugee children, a disturbingly upstart former messenger, and accidents happening everywhere. Are saboteurs out to nix the weapons works, or is it the incognito crown prince they're after?”
If the theme from Jeweler’s Apprentice was “Mistakes happen even when you try your best, but that’s okay and can work out better than you thought.”
…Then the theme with Traitor’s Knife might be “Be careful who you trust.”
Where can we find your books?
I’m on Amazon here, E.-Kaiserand folks can find Jeweler’s Apprentice here. Traitor’s Knife is now available, too!
My author site: EKaiserWrites.webs.comBlogger: E.KaiserWrites-A-Blog Twitter: @EKaiserWrites(though I confess it still intimidates me a little!) Facebook: E Kaiser writesGoodreads: E. KaiserGoogle : E. Kaiser Writes(just new on here, so if anybody wants to connect, I’m open!)
I’m very much an off-grid girl setting sail into the roiling waters of the internet, so I am open to friending and connecting with anyone on any of these sites! Anyone that will have me, that is, of course. ;-)
Thank you so much for visiting with us today. I would love for you to come back again when your next book is ready to debut.
Thanks so much, Rachel! I appreciate the opportunity to be here! I’d be delighted to come back when we’ve got Erlandia ready for the great reveal. Abi is already so excited about it that she can hardly sit still in her chair, which is wonderful.
I’m still thinking I need a little sleep. ;-)
But it’ll be great to be back here when that comes around!
July 6, 2013
#SweetSat - Duty
Sorry about the delay. In all the commotion of preparing for my first signing, I forgot to set this post up ahead of time.
The defeated appeared at dawn as we gathered up our gear for the day’s travel. They arrived in a cloud of dust white with sleepy sunlight. The healer plowed into the fray seeking wounded. The leader rode straight to Irvaine. Not bothering to dismount, he inclined his head. “My lord, Quaren has deserted.”
“What?”
“After sending Kuylan ahead, he ordered us to find you. He took only a water skin and three day’s rations. Last we saw him, he was moving south.”
“Wise man,” Irvaine muttered. “He intends to intercept the supply caravan. Someone needed to do it. I wouldn’t have chosen Quaren to accomplish it, but he most likely needs a task to occupy his mind.”
“My lord?”
“Nothing of consequence, Ryon. You have been granted a temporary promotion until Quaren returns. Go see to your men.”
Ryon bit down on a protest and saluted with two fingers to his left brow. He then prodded his horse back to his company.
Irvaine resumed his interrupted task, lifting me onto my horse.
“You don’t consider Quaren’s action desertion, do you?”
“Going up.” He hoisted me up into the saddle.
I settled myself. He handed me the reins.
Once mounted himself, he guided his horse to my side.
“No, Brielle, I don’t consider Quaren a deserter. He saw to it that his men were safe. Once accomplishing his duty, he turned his energy to his more important duty of protecting his daughter and our resources. We don’t want our rations and loved ones riding straight into the enemy’s waiting arms. I hope he reaches them in time.” The distant focus of his gaze planted a revelation in my mind.
“You have someone in that caravan too.” My tone accused more than I intended. His back tightened and his shoulders came up. He didn’t meet my gaze.
~~~~~
Who do you think is traveling with the caravan?
Thank you for stopping by. For more excerpts, go to http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/.
Have a great weekend!
The defeated appeared at dawn as we gathered up our gear for the day’s travel. They arrived in a cloud of dust white with sleepy sunlight. The healer plowed into the fray seeking wounded. The leader rode straight to Irvaine. Not bothering to dismount, he inclined his head. “My lord, Quaren has deserted.”
“What?”
“After sending Kuylan ahead, he ordered us to find you. He took only a water skin and three day’s rations. Last we saw him, he was moving south.”
“Wise man,” Irvaine muttered. “He intends to intercept the supply caravan. Someone needed to do it. I wouldn’t have chosen Quaren to accomplish it, but he most likely needs a task to occupy his mind.”
“My lord?”
“Nothing of consequence, Ryon. You have been granted a temporary promotion until Quaren returns. Go see to your men.”
Ryon bit down on a protest and saluted with two fingers to his left brow. He then prodded his horse back to his company.
Irvaine resumed his interrupted task, lifting me onto my horse.
“You don’t consider Quaren’s action desertion, do you?”
“Going up.” He hoisted me up into the saddle.
I settled myself. He handed me the reins.
Once mounted himself, he guided his horse to my side.
“No, Brielle, I don’t consider Quaren a deserter. He saw to it that his men were safe. Once accomplishing his duty, he turned his energy to his more important duty of protecting his daughter and our resources. We don’t want our rations and loved ones riding straight into the enemy’s waiting arms. I hope he reaches them in time.” The distant focus of his gaze planted a revelation in my mind.
“You have someone in that caravan too.” My tone accused more than I intended. His back tightened and his shoulders came up. He didn’t meet my gaze.
~~~~~
Who do you think is traveling with the caravan?
Thank you for stopping by. For more excerpts, go to http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/.
Have a great weekend!
July 2, 2013
A Week of Firsts!!!
Today I participated in my first radio interview! The topic of the show was romantic love versus arranged marriage. You can listen below. I would love to hear what you think. :)
Listen to internet radio with WLUV Radio on BlogTalkRadio
The other first for this week is my first public appearance and signing event this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, a group of local authors and I will have a table as part of the Enfield, CT's July 4th festivities, meeting readers, showcasing our books, and socializing. If you are in the area, please stop by!
~ Rachel Rossano
Listen to internet radio with WLUV Radio on BlogTalkRadio
The other first for this week is my first public appearance and signing event this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, a group of local authors and I will have a table as part of the Enfield, CT's July 4th festivities, meeting readers, showcasing our books, and socializing. If you are in the area, please stop by!
~ Rachel Rossano
June 29, 2013
#SweetSat - Passing the Mantle
For an author known for writing happily ever after (HEA) endings, I have sudden taken a turn toward penning tragedies, at least in the short form. my recently finish short story, The Sword of Korma Monroe, is a tragedy. Now I am up to my ears in yet another tragedy from even earlier in the same character's life. These short stories give a fuller picture of one man's life.
Why?
Because I need to understand him and his past in order to write his future and his happily ever after. Yes, he gets one, but it is at least a decade off at the beginning of Passing the Mantle.
~~~~~
The twisting corridors of my childhood home echoed with Alexter and Father’s raised voices. It was a season of celebration and the two of them refused to make peace. Nigel joined me in the alcove off the curve of the main staircase. He grimaced as he sprawled on the bench that spanned the Eastern side of the recess. The red glow of the setting fell across his youth-rounded features as he glanced out the window at the bailey below.
“Whose idea was it to not have visitors for the Kurios birth celebration?”
I grunted. “Father’s, I believe.”
“Ah, right.” Nigel snorted softly. “He said something about family time.”
Alexter’s voice rose and fell, growing in volume as he drove home his point for the sixth time that evening.
“Do you think Alex is going to convince father to take up arms for King Trentham?” Nigel asked.
I tilted my head and listened to my older brother’s speech for a moment. “I doubt it. Three generations of this house have opposed the Trenthams’ familial need for conquest. I doubt Father is going to break with that tradition.”
We listened in silence as the sunlight dimmed toward twilight. Servants tread the stairs, lighting the strategically placed lanterns along the passages between the great hall and the sleeping chambers above us. One of them left a burning lantern on a step near the alcove.
The argument below ended with a crash and Father ordering Alexter to bed. Neither of Nigel or I moved as the heavy door from the hall opened and closed. Alexter took the stairs two at a time only to stop abreast of our perch.
“Nice of you two to support me.”
~~~~~
Who do you think won the argument?
Thank you for reading. For more excerpts,
go to http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/.
Where can you meet this man in print?
He is a secondary character by the name of Lord Dentin
in Duty the first of the novels of Rhynan.
Kindle - Nook - Kobo - Diesel
Smashwords
Why?
Because I need to understand him and his past in order to write his future and his happily ever after. Yes, he gets one, but it is at least a decade off at the beginning of Passing the Mantle.
~~~~~
The twisting corridors of my childhood home echoed with Alexter and Father’s raised voices. It was a season of celebration and the two of them refused to make peace. Nigel joined me in the alcove off the curve of the main staircase. He grimaced as he sprawled on the bench that spanned the Eastern side of the recess. The red glow of the setting fell across his youth-rounded features as he glanced out the window at the bailey below.
“Whose idea was it to not have visitors for the Kurios birth celebration?”
I grunted. “Father’s, I believe.”
“Ah, right.” Nigel snorted softly. “He said something about family time.”
Alexter’s voice rose and fell, growing in volume as he drove home his point for the sixth time that evening.
“Do you think Alex is going to convince father to take up arms for King Trentham?” Nigel asked.
I tilted my head and listened to my older brother’s speech for a moment. “I doubt it. Three generations of this house have opposed the Trenthams’ familial need for conquest. I doubt Father is going to break with that tradition.”
We listened in silence as the sunlight dimmed toward twilight. Servants tread the stairs, lighting the strategically placed lanterns along the passages between the great hall and the sleeping chambers above us. One of them left a burning lantern on a step near the alcove.
The argument below ended with a crash and Father ordering Alexter to bed. Neither of Nigel or I moved as the heavy door from the hall opened and closed. Alexter took the stairs two at a time only to stop abreast of our perch.
“Nice of you two to support me.”
~~~~~
Who do you think won the argument?
Thank you for reading. For more excerpts,
go to http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/.
Where can you meet this man in print?
He is a secondary character by the name of Lord Dentin
in Duty the first of the novels of Rhynan.
Kindle - Nook - Kobo - Diesel
Smashwords
