Lissa Morgan's Blog, page 2

A history and landscape weekend - with some book research thrown in!

I'm currently writing my fourth historical novel for Harlequin-Mills & Boon historical romance, which is the second in a duet of linked books. The first of these - The Warrior's Reluctant Wife - will be out in e-book, paperback and large print in August 2023. 

When I began that first book, I didn't intend to have a linked book at all, but as sometimes happens, there were two characters who refused to go away, even though I 'sent' them away early on in the book. I even had a book four waiting in the wings, but these characters kept poking their heads up, so eventually, of course, I had to give in and put the planned story aside and give book four to Llywelyn and Cristin. 

After all, not only their characters were there waiting to be fleshed out, their home was too, hence a little trip this last weekend down south to the castle of Ystrad Meurig and the Cistercian Abbey of Ystrad Fflur. Shameful to say, this was my first visit to either!

 

Head of St Bernard, part of a white marble statue that adorned the Abbey

I combined this recce with attending a history and landscape weekend course with the Ymddiriedolaeth Ystrad Fflur - Strata Florida Trust, which in itself was an eye opener and so inspiring.  Led by Professors David Austin and Dafydd Johnston, who gave so generously of their time and expertise, wonderfully organized by Carys, and with a lovely mix of people - and cake too - I could have stayed a whole week, not just a weekend!

 

The beautiful west gate which somehow survived the dissolution

From iron age burial grounds, to holy wells, to Welsh medieval poetry, as well the founding of the Abbey by the Lord Rhys, and its demise at the dissolution and its passing into secular hands, it was a fascinating weekend. The course ended with a walk up along what had been a perimeter wall and the afon Glasffrwd river, to the holy well, to see how the Abbey's sophisticated water system would have run. 

 

The ancient holy well that may have been part of an earlier Christian religious site here

 

I treated myself to a stay in a guest house and on the morning of the second day was able to visit Castell Ystrad Meurig, home of my two new characters.  First built in the early 12th century as a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, it was easy to see why that site was chosen, as it has stunning and strategic views that stretch for many miles.  It was retaken by the Lord Rhys in the Welsh resurgence of 1164, which is when my  novel is set.  

Surviving 14th century tiles from the nave

Annoyingly,  the battery on my phone ran out so I wasn't able to get any photos of the castle, but I hope you enjoy a few of the many photos I took around the Abbey. The one below is a tenth century burial slab that may mark the grave of Cadell ap Gruffudd, prince of Deheubarth and brother to the Lord Rhys, who retired to the monastery after he was grievously injured in an attack by a band of Norman and Flemish knights in 1155. He become a monk and died at Ystrad Fflur in 1179.

 

The possible grave of Prince Cadell ap Gruffudd

 

10th century slabs marking the graves of former abbots and monks

 Find out more about Ymddiriedolaeth Ystrad Fflur - Strata Florida Trust

On proud display!

I had a lovely surprise this week to see my first two books for Harlequin Historical - Mills & Boon Historical on display in Machynlleth Library.  Because these two books are only out in e-book in the UK, I gave author copies to my local libraries in Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Dolgellau, as well as to the National Library of Wales.  

My next book, The Warrior's Reluctant Wife, will be out in all formats in the UK in August but I wanted these two also to be available to local people who don't have a kindle or an e-reader, or just simply prefer to read actual physical copies, as do I.   Both books are set in this part of Wales, particularly the second, and I'm so proud to be able to write about real Welsh history and use the beautiful mid-Wales landscape as a location for the emotional journey of my characters!

A big thank you to Kate and her fellow staff at Machynlleth Library for championing my books in such a lovely way 💓 

A relaxing productive day!

Relaxing and productive could sound like a contradiction in terms but this Saturday they worked in perfect harmony for me. Having sent in my revisions for book three for HM&B - The Warrior's Reluctant Wife - a week ago, I took a few days out before starting my next book, which is linked via characters to the previous book. 

This morning, however, was the day I had set myself to begin book four! It is always difficult sitting down after a break and firing up the computer to start a new book, even when you know already who the characters are and, basically, how their story plays out. 

So I had to ply myself with lots of coffee, gently coax myself up to the moment of actually sitting down at my breakfast bar - where I always write - and get out my 'magic timer.'  This is such a valuable aid to writing when there actually aren't any words on the page yet. The knowledge that once you press 'start' and the seconds are ticking away is a fail-safe way to get your fingers tapping. 

And it worked! By lunchtime, I'd got the prologue down, in a more or less final version - now I just have to write the rest of the book!

So that was the productive bit...the relaxation came after lunch with a brisk, litter-picking walk along the riverbank, then completing some questions for a blog I'm guesting on shortly, with Frankie over at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals, which is something which I absolutely love doing, then some social media interaction and some blogging of my own. 

 All in all, a rare day, devoted totally to the business of writing 😊

 

A relaxingly productive day!

Relaxing and productive could sound like a contradiction in terms but this Saturday they worked in perfect harmony for me. Having sent in my revisions for book three for HM&B - The Warrior's Reluctant Wife - a week ago, I took a few days out before starting my next book, which is linked via characters to the previous book. 

This morning, however, was the day I had set myself to begin book four! It is always difficult sitting down after a break and firing up the computer to start a new book, even when you know already who the characters are and, basically, how their story plays out. 

So I had to ply myself with lots of coffee, gently coax myself up to the moment of actually sitting down at my breakfast bar - where I always write - and get out my 'magic timer.'  This is such a valuable aid to writing when there actually aren't any words on the page yet. The knowledge that once you press 'start' and the seconds are ticking away is a fail-safe way to get your fingers tapping. 

And it worked! By lunchtime, I'd got the prologue down, in a more or less final version - now I just have to write the rest of the book!

So that was the productive bit...the relaxation came after lunch with a brisk, litter-picking walk along the riverbank, then completing some questions for a blog I'm guesting on shortly, with Frankie over at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals, which is something which I absolutely love doing, then some social media interaction and some blogging of my own. 

 All in all, a rare day, devoted totally to the business of writing 😊

 

St Dwynwen's Day Giveaway!

To celebrate St Dwynwen's Day on 25th January, I'm giving away two signed copies of my current release for Harlequin Mills & Boon Historical, An Alliance with his Enemy Princess!

 

In Wales, Santes Dwynwen is the patron saint of lovers.  In Welsh folklore, she was a 5th century princess, the daughter of King Brychan of Brycheiniog, who fell in love with a young man named Maelon Dafodrill. But her father had already promised her to another so she prayed to God fall out of love with Maelon. 

In answer to her prayers, an angel gave her a potion that turned Maelon to ice but, luckily Dwynwen was also granted three wishes - one of which released Maelon from the ice, another that she remained unmarried all her life, and the third that God protect all true lovers. 

In thanks for these boons, Dwynwen devoted her life to God and became a hermit on a small island off Ynys Mon (Anglesey) which became known as Ynys Llanddwyn after the church she built there, the ruins of which are still visible. 

Her name means 'she who leads a blessed life.' She is also reputed to be a healer of the sick, after studying the healing properties of herbs. 

 

Giveaway Question: Santes Dwynwen is the patron saint of Welsh lovers - but she is also the patron saint of...?

 

To win a signed copy of my current book, direct message me on Facebook or Twitter with your answer. DMs are open until the weekend: https://www.facebook.com/lissamorganh...,   https://twitter.com/LissaMorganAuth.  If you don't have a Facebook or Twitter account, just leave a comment below.

Happy St Dwynwen's day and good luck in the Giveaway!!  

The ruined church of Santes Dwynwen, Llanddwyn, Ynys Mon

Background image to giveaway image (c.) Wales Online

(Photo credit of Llanddwyn: Noel.morgan2000, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...)

A New Year!

As the new year begins, I am so grateful to be celebrating 2022 as the year I finally realised my dream of writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon.  

Thank you to those who have bought, read, liked and reviewed my first two books, and have left comments here and on my social media pages to say how much you enjoyed them 

And a special thanks to my publishers, who saw the potential in my writing, and gave me so much encouraging feedback over the long journey to publication.

Wishing you all a wonderful year in 2023, and hope you have lots of lovely books to read, of course !

 

 

An Alliance with his Enemy Princess

I can't quite believe my second historical romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon is out tomorrow! It will be published on Thursday 22nd December, as an e-book in the UK, and the following week in the US and Canada, Tuesday 27th December, in e-book and in paperback. 

 

 

Some lovely early reviews are coming in already - you can read them on Goodreads - and, just to whet the appetite at bit, here are some story facts and posers:

Gwennan is sworn to avenge her dead husband and to love no other man but he.  Rolant has been fooled by a woman before, a cruel lesson in unrequited love that had tragic consequencesSince Rolant has come to take possession of Gwennan's home, in the name of his Norman overlord, how can they ever be anything but enemies?
Whose claim will King William Rufus uphold - that of a dispossessed but proud Welsh princess or that of the mighty Earl Robert of Rhuddlan?And finally, what does Gwennan Fwyn mean? And will Rolant ever find out!So, if you fancy finding out the answers to those questions, and would like to enjoy a high stakes medieval enemies to lovers story over Christmas, An Alliance with his Enemy Princess is available via the links below.   Happy reading and a very merry Christmas!    Mills & Boon | Harlequin Amazon UK | Amazon US Kobo | Barnes & Noble 
  www.lissamorgan.com
  

On hallowed shelves

I was so proud this week to give paperback copies of my books, The Welsh Lord's Convenient Bride and An Alliance with his Enemy Princess to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.  One of the six copyright libraries in the UK, it already had e-copies - much to my surprise and delight - since, sadly, these first two books weren't out in print format in this country. 

I know e-books are here to stay, and they are accessible and affordable to many more people than hardback or paperback books.  Indeed I buy and read a lot of e-books myself. But I much prefer hard copies, whether I get them from my library, local bookshops or - best of all - browsing second-hand shelves and coming across books I've wanted for a long time or books I pick up because they appeal. I've found so many precious gems in second-hand book shops!

And, of course, there is nothing better than curling up in bed or in a comfy chair with a good book, turning the pages, placing a bookmark to keep your place for the next time, and having your favourite books on your bookshelves, many of them to be taken down and re-read, time and again. 

Therefore, I was not just proud but pleased that NLW agreed to take my author copies for their shelves. It is wonderful to know that - however many (or few!) books I go on to write - those two at least will live here in Wales...forever!

My next book - The Warrior's Reluctant Wife - is actually out in three formats in the UK in August 2023 - e-book, paperback and large print! I'm really looking forward to seeing it in the shops and in my local libraries.  

The background in the photo below is the setting for this new book, which takes place in a remote castle at the edge of the Dyfi Estuary in a bitterly cold winter in 1156.  Just looking at that chilly stretch of water and the snowy salt marsh (morfa heli) beyond makes me shiver!!!

 

 

 

New book coming soon!

My next book for Harlequin Historical ~ Mills & Boon Historical - An Alliance with his Enemy Princess - is an enemies to lovers story set in Wales in 1091, a few decades after the Norman Conquest.  It's set close to home too, as was my debut, The Welsh Lord's Convenient Bride, but this time, it's almost on the doorstep, in the Dysynni Valley just over the mountain!

 

 

The cover design team at Harlequin have done a stunningly beautiful cover, which really conveys the emotions of my characters Gwennan and Rolant in the scene that changes everything for them - as well a capturing my hero's gorgeous green eyes. It is so exciting to get to share the cover with readers on my social media platforms and website this weekend. 

 

 

And this week too, just to put the icing on the cake, my author copies arrived! If I continue to be fortunate enough to write historical romance for the next decade, or even more, I don't think I'll ever lose that thrill of seeing the postman coming to the door, that distinctive Harlequin box tucked under his arm, then the excitement of opening it, and holding the book in my hands... 

There are so many wonderful facets that go with the job of author 😊

An Alliance with his Enemy Princess is a January 2023 release, on sale in December, just in time for Christmas. In the meantime, you can read an extract on my website. 

https://lissamorgan.com/

https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/products/hqnsingle-07246602

https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335723642_an-alliance-with-his-enemy-princess.html

Middles - the falling into and the getting out of them!

In my current WIP, I've been stuck, not so much in a saggy middle, but a tangled middle, spending the last two or three weeks getting more and more entangled.  This is my third novel for Harlequin Mills & Boon and, like my debut, is a marriage of convenience story, though set slightly earlier in 1157. 

The location is the lovely Dyfi Valley, more specifically the estuary and nature reserve of RSPB Ynys Hir. Here, in 1156, the Lord Rhys, prince of Deheubarth, constructed a castle to guard against attack from Gwynedd. It was abandoned soon afterwards  - possibly because of the boggy nature of the terrain. The Anglo Normans came back and Ceredigion was fought over yet again, although Rhys triumphed once again and - with the goodwill of Henry I - ruled supreme for the next half a century. The castle of Abereinion seems to never have been reoccupied, however, and today nothing is left but an overgrown and tree-capped mound where the motte and bailey once stood - and lots and lots of birds, of course. 

 

 

The aspect, for those who don't know the reserve, is absolutely stunning and one can well image why Rhys ap Gruffudd chose to build a frontier castle there, despite the potential for becoming surrounded by water. It sits right at the headland, with views across the estuary to southern Merionnydd and also northwards to the approach into what was then Powys Cyfeiliog.  

Anyway last week, in an effort to get untangled from my messy mid section, I took an afternoon out do to a recce of the site. I know the reserve well but hadn't looked at it with a writer's eyes before. As the photos show, it is a beautiful and - nowadays at least - tranquil place. From the bird hide of Domen Las, where the northern palisade wall ran, I got a real sense of what my characters would have seen and felt looking out over the water towards Gwynedd from this very same spot, almost 900 years ago. 

And my recce had results! As well as a much needed long walk and equally much needed fresh air, I made myself sit down for a solid stint of untangling afterwards. It took the whole weekend, but I'm now out the other end on the home straight, and hopefully on track to meeting my January deadline.