Cecelia Mecca's Blog, page 24

Twenty Years in the Making: Debut Historical Romance Novel Coming in March

It's been a more than twenty-year journey, starting as a historical romance reader in college. After being introduced to Kathleen Woodiwiss and Johanna Lindsey, I was hooked. An English major who has always had a passion for reading and writing, I was convinced I too could pen a tale to enthrall readers.

Then . . . nothing.

At least not in terms of writing. A job, kids, a marketing business, a PhD, another job . . . it would be more than twenty years before I picked back up my research on medieval England and a story written on a legal pad now yellowing with age.

In 2015 I decided my dream of writing a romance novel had been put on hold for too long. I'm pleased to say my debut romance, The Thief's Countess, is coming March 2, 2017. In addition, the prequel to the Border Series, set thirty years before book one also set along the Anglo-Scottish border in the 13th century, will be coming in February FREE to all CM Insider Members.

Thanks for stopping by to share this journey with me!

Celebrating The Thief’s Countess with an Instafreebie Giveaway

With the release of The Thief’s Countess cover and it’s free preview, I am officially in the world as a romance author. As I mentioned on my Facebook page in a live video, this is a dream twenty years in the making. You can read a bit more about that on an Everyday Life Perseverance on the Path to Publishing.

To celebrate, I’ve partnered with twelve other romance authors for an instaFreebie Giveaway to help fill your e-reader with free books and previews including my own sneak peek. Enjoy!

Welcome Insiders: Getting to Know You

Thank you for declaring your allegiance.

Whether you joined for a free book preview, the promise of a free novella, to be notified of future projects, for fun giveaways or because you love historical/medieval romance . . . thank you.

In addition to researching my favorite time period and creating stories with alpha males and strong women for them to clash with, my favorite aspect of being a romance writer is interacting with readers. To get to know you a bit better, mentally mark your answers to each “This or That” and leave a comment introducing yourself and/or your answers below.

Taking a stab at this myself, I will start with the trick question and answer, both! And while I’d love to head to Scotland to actually find Sam Heughan in person, if I was forced to choose, I am an Anglophile at heart. Answer: England. And as evidenced by the location of the “seat” of the Border Series, the one location that pops up in each book, Kenshire Castle, I think it’s obviously that I just love the ocean, especially as a setting for my stories. Which brings us to another impossible choice. The deep brooding eyes of a hero like Jon Snow, or the piercing, enigmatic ones of alpha-male Tommy Shelby.How could I possibly decide? Passing on this one too.

Who came up with these questions anyway?

OK, now it’s your turn to weigh in. Leave a comment below and let me know what brought you here, how you would answer each “this or that” (including the trick questions).

Top 8 TV Shows to Get Your Medieval Fix

 

Game of Thrones

The one to rule them all, HBO has taken incredible source material and made it almost as spectacular. People who don’t watch Game of Thrones are not really my friends.

 

Outlander

Thank the heaves Outlander returns to Starz this April. While not quite medieval, any show this well-done with castles and horses (and Sam Heughan) is a-ok in my book.

 

World Without End and Pillars of the Earth

Adaptions of Ken Follett’s books, I was lucky enough to catch these miniseries on Netflix at one point, but that ship has sailed. But they’re both absolutely worth a rental.

 

The Tudors

Originally on Showtime, I binged-watched The Tudors on Netflix and sorely miss the antics of our favorite king of many wives, Henry VIII. Ok, I may miss Jonathan Rhys Meyers a tad too.

 

Marco Polo

This Netflix original is set in the 13th century, smack dap in the middle ages perfect for medieval fans like me. I was thrilled the series renewed; it’s a visual masterpiece and highly entertaining. *Update* Season 3 canceled. UGH!

 

The Last Kingdom

Ah, BBC, what would I do without you? Based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom Series (formerly The Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories) this show set in 872 England is a-mazing.

 

Poldark

I have a fellow writer to thank for this gem. Set in 18th century Cornwall, England and based on the first two Poldark novels by Winston Graham, this show has it all (including Aidan Turner!)

 

Which of your favorite Medieval/Renaissance historical shows did I miss?