Eliza Knight's Blog, page 38

Video of the Week: Horrible Histories Scary Special Part 1

In celebration of All Hallows Eve (Halloween), this week's video is Horrible Histories Scary Special Part 1. Stay tuned next week for Part 2!

Dragons, Mythology, and Romance by Nancy Lee Badger

Welcome back to History Undresesd, guest blogger, Nancy Lee Badger! Nancy writers historical/paranormal romance. Today she's written a post for us on dragons and mythology! You may remember reading a couple of years ago her post on Dragons of Scotland, if not its worth a read! Enjoy! 

Dragons, Mythology, and Romance  by Nancy Lee Badger for History Undressed
I love dragons. Who doesn’t? Whether you consider them an extinct species, or mythological hokum, there is mystery to dragons that make them work in a paranormal romance novel. They fill books and songs, have been immortalized in paintings, and their stories have been passed down through folklore. I have written several books where one of my main characters is a Scottish dragon in human form. Some have chosen to change into a human while others transform into a dragon unwillingly.
If you were to open a dictionary, you might see dragons described as mythical monsters that are traditionally represented as great in size, having a lion’s claws and serpent tales. They usually have wings, some have horns, and all are covered by scales. Of course, the word ‘dragon’ is sometimes used to describe a fiercely vigilant or intractable person, or any of various lizards, such as the Komodo dragon, or a flying lizard. Representations of dragons appear in normal life since many countries have adopted them on their flags, coins, statues, and other decorations.
Why choose dragons when I could have just as easily wrote about shape-shifting wolves or cheetahs? We know wolves and big cats are real animals, and people would most likely relate to them more than to dragons, but I like that dragons are naturally surrounded by mystery. Who are we to say they do not exist? This possibility intrigued me. Unicorns give me the same warm feelings, since I love horses, but I focused on dragons. Maybe a story filled with unicorns will pop into my head next!
DRAGON Bites , my collection of several Scottish dragon tales, includes Dragon’s Curse , the story of Draco and Brianna. I searched maps and the internet for an island that would suit my story. When I came across a video of Staffa, near the island of Mull, I saw a huge cave. This cave has been the subject of paintings, and I immediately felt it would be the perfect place for my hero to hide when in his dragon form.
In Southern Fried Dragon , I chose my story’s setting after I visited Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, down in coastal South Carolina. Why couldn’t my heroine be a Scottish dragon looking for love among a fort filled with soldiers while hiding from a rogue dragon?
While researching stories about dragons for these stories, I came across a listing of Loch Ness. Folk lore says that the Loch Ness monster is a dragon? I was very surprised since I always thought it might be a trapped dinosaur. The idea formed into my award-winning short story, Dragon in the Mist . All three of these stories are available individually in ebook form, but I recently bundled them into one book that is also available in print.   
You can find more about dragons in books such as: DRAGONS by Jonathan Evans 
You can find information on dragons at websites such as: All About Dragons    The Circle of the Dragon The Serene Dragon
BOOK BLURB: Dragon BitesThis is a collection of three novellas. DRAGON’S CURSE, set on the Scottish island of Staffa in the late 16th century, features a young man cursed to transform into dragon at inopportune times and the woman he protects. SOUTHERN FRIED DRAGON pairs a Scottish dragon-turned woman and a federal soldier at Ft. Sumter on the eve of Civil War. DRAGON IN THE MIST is a contemporary love story on the shores of Loch Ness.
More About Nancy Lee BadgerShe loves chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander, the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, she moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers.  
Connect with Nancy:Blog                                Website                          Twitter                           Facebook                       Goodreads                       AmazonAuthor Page     
DRAGON Bites, a 3book Collection of Dragon TalesAmazon Ebook      Amazon Print          NOOK Ebook         B&N Print               Smashwords            iTunes                     

WIN your own piece of dragon art: Nancy is giving away this beautiful double-sided window sticker created by Jen Delyth to one person who leaves a comment. Please include your contact info. Winner will be chosen Friday Oct. 18th.

A Bit of History on Admiral Nelson by Katherine Bone

Welcome guest author, Katherine Bone, to History Undressed! She's written a bit of history on Admiral Nelson for us today. Enjoy!

As a child I held the Captain Horatio Hornblower movie with Gregory Peck in the highest esteem. Fast forward to the not so present future, inspired by movies Pirates of the Caribbean, Master and Commander, and the new BBC series Captain Horatio Hornblower with Ioan Gruffald, a splendid idea hit me. Why not write your own series? Eager to combine romance, action and adventure, I set out to do a lot of research on Admiral Nelson in preparation for a pirate series I envisioned. The novels would be set between 1800-1806, when England was battling Napoleon on land and water.
What I didn’t know, and what I think all writers discover as they flesh out story ideas, was Admiral Nelson was an ideal leading man. Fascinating, unapologetic, charismatic, he was more than a bit vain. He was also not without substance. Whatever could be said of him, he deserved acclaim. Not only did he lead England into the biggest victory at Trafalgar, he did it on his own terms after crafting seven alternatives to battle. Yes. Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was an extremely disciplined man. A tactical genius, he prevented England from being penetrated by the enemy at a time when Napoleon had already dominated surrounding countries.Intriguing facts about Nelson lead me to believe that my series, the Nelson’s Tea Series, had a factual foundation which then allowed my imagination to soar. For instance, Nelson was never without his tea. Even during battle on board his beloved ship he was known to enjoy tea time. The young son of a vicar, Nelson took to the sea under the guidance of his uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling. As the years passed, Nelson advanced through the ranks, gaining a reputation for courage and devotion to both country and his men. Prone to seasickness, he contracted Malaria in India and was a victim of reoccurring illness throughout the rest of his life. That, however, did not stop him from doing his duty.
Before 1805, and his death at Trafalgar, Nelson had already lost an eye, an arm, and had almost lost his other eye due to another head injury. His tenacity, his sheer strength of will propelled him throughout his career to continue to fight the good fight, even at the risk of his own personal health. No author could imagine a greater hero than this, eh?
But no man is without faults. Nelson was a man dealing with demons. Vanity, and the desire to be applauded, catapulted him into the spotlight so much so that even his deteriorating marriage and the love he felt for a married woman teased the gossip mills. If not for his success, he would have been shunned in early Regency society. He would have faced court martial for disobeying orders and reacting on gut instinct, instinct that provided one English victory after another.
In late 1801, Admiral Nelson returned to England to recover from another bout with recurring malaria. At that time, he was tasked by the Admiralty Board to devise a method for protecting England’s shores. In my Nelson’s Tea Series, Nelson did just that by acquiring the help of Lord Simon Danbury, famed pirate hunter. Together, they enlisted the help of first sons willing to disguise themselves in the king’s service. Twenty men were trained in mercenary tactics and sent on missions of utmost secrecy. Duke by Day, Rogue by Night and The Rogue’s Prize follow Lord Percival Avery’s and Captain Henry Guffald’s adventures in 1804 and 1805.
Heroes are not made, they are born. Heroes rise to the occasion and prove themselves time and time again. As a romance author looking for a man to base a series upon, I didn’t have to go farther than Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson of the Nile and Burnhorn Thorpe, Baron Nelson of the Nile and Hilborough. Here was a man who did his duty, valued family, loved and dared to love, but remained true to his calling—protecting England’s shores.
Are you surprised that Nelson carried on an affair with a married woman? That she gave birth to their illegitimate daughter, Horatia, while still married to her husband? That Nelson lived with both Lord Hamilton and Lady Hamilton when he returned to England in 1801?
Katherine Bone has been passionate about all things historical since she was an Army brat traveling all over the world. As a budding artist, she met and fell in love with her own Prince Charming, a dashing lieutenant vowing duty, honor, and country. Whisked away to more Army bases, castles, battlegrounds and cathedrals, it was during this time in her life that the muse called with abandon, introducing her to swashbuckling characters promising adventures that would ease the lonely hours Charming was called away on duty. No longer nomadic, Katherine and her rogue have raised four children and set down southern roots with their fluffy Maine Coon, Christine Daae. Visit her at www.katherinebone.com

Castle of the Week: Eilean Donan

I took this pic from the parking lot :) Isn't it magical?This week's castle is Eilean Donan on the Isle of Skye. I drove from Inverness to the Isle of Skye earlier this year to see this castle. The drive was amazing, and the castle well worth it!

Eilean Donan was built on an island in the middle of Loch Duich. You may have seen the picturesque castle with its stone bridge. There is a central tower and walled courtyard. Surrounded by water on all sides, the enemy had only two ways to reach the castle -- by water or by bridge. Either way, the guards would have seen them coming. The castle had the perfect defensive position.

The castle was a stronghold for the Mackenzies of Kintail. Robert the Bruce sheltered there in 1306--which was the prime reason I used the castle as his base in several of my Stolen Bride books (though I used creative license to move that date back a bit.) In 1504, the castle was captured by the Earl of Huntly, and severeal years later the MacRaes took charge. By 1539, the MacDonald's laid siege to Eilean Donan. By the 17th century, the Mackenzies had gained enough power to take back their castle. Their chief was titled Earl of Seaforth. During the Jacobite era, they had Spanish troops garrisoned there, but unfortunately for such an amazing castle, three English frigates battered the castle with canon fire. When their fire barely breached the 14 foot thick walls, they sent their men ashore, and those occupying the castle surrendered. As if surrendering wasn't enough, they lit 343 barrels of gunpowder, letting them explode within the tower, crumbling Eilean Donan.

The earl stripped of his lands and titles (which the clan later regained but the title became extinct in 1815), the castle would stand in ruins until the 20th century when it was rebuilt.

The castle as it stands today, is a rebuild. Bought by Lt Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap and his wife in 1911, he spent the next twenty years reconstructing the castle to its former glory (with a few added perks like electricity!). Eilean Donan remains a residence to this day--however it is open to visitors.

Check out the pics from my visit! We weren't allowed to take pics form inside, so I only have some from the outside.

One of my favorite pics I took of the castle--see the reflection of the castle in the water?
This is a picture I took from the right side of the bridge.
Standing at the gate and gazing down the stone bridge.
Me on the beautiful bridge to Eilean Donan!
This is a view of the castle after walking to the end of the bridge. Imposing and awe-inspiring. It really takes you back. The reconstruction really did justice to this medieval castle.
Stone stairs near the front of the castle leading down to the shore of Loch Duich.
Main doors leading to a small inner courtyard. Can you see that little square? That's about my height, so the doors were very tall.
An arrow-slit window several yards to the left of the main door.
Stairs near the back leading down to water and a large walking area.
Once we crossed through the main door, these curling stairs were to the left.
Standing at the bottom of the circular stair and looking up. That is the door into what was made into a billiard room, but in my stories, it served as hall for warriors.
At the top of those same circular stairs looking down. That arch leads to the main door.
From the 3rd story a picture out the window.
Standing behind the castle, I took a pic of the loch.
From behind the castle, a look up the imposing walls.
Again from behind. I wandered into the grassy area and took a pic.
Hope you enjoyed these pics from my visit to Eilean Donan! If you want to take a virtual tour of the castle, you can visit their website: http://www.eileandonancastle.com/

Check out my award-winning, best-selling Stolen Bride series!
Out now in ebook, print and audio from Amazon, B&N, ITunes/Books, Kobo, Sony, Audible:
The Highlander's Reward
The Highlander's Conquest

The Highlander's Lady
The Highlander's Triumph

The Highlander's Warrior Bride
and releasing later this month... The Highlander's Sin!

Visit my website, www.elizaknight.com to sign up for my newsletter and find out more about upcoming releases!

Video of the Week -- Horrible Histories Human Candles

This week's video is brought to you by Horrible Histories! Human candles made by Emperor Nero in ancient Rome...

Words to Live By -- 10/7/13

Happy Monday! And we're back with another Words to Live By list :)

In my books, I tend to let my characters be realistic, hence their use of bad language on occasion. Readers sometimes think that expletives are more modern, but they are in fact, quite old. Now, some of the words I’ve used aren’t in written documents until the later medieval days, and there is no way to know just how long they were used before recorded. So your words for this week...
                                The F -word—first written documentation in the 1400’s, so in essence could be much older than that.Shite – this is where the word shit comes from. It actually means excrement. Has been around since before 1508 when it was first documented to be used. Seen as a very taboo word however.Zounds – Actually a variation of God’s Wounds.Damn – from the late 13thcentury.Mo creach – a Gaelic exclamation, meaning Good Heavens.Bite Your Thumb -- Basically this is a gesture much like the finger or in words - F-You

 So, next time you stub your toe on the coffee table, shout ZOUNDS! It may be a fun topic of conversation :)

Research Behind the Books by Mingmei Yip

Welcome to History Undressed, historical fiction guest author Mingmei Yip! Her recent release, The Nine Fold Heaven, is a mesmerizing exotic tale set in 1930's Shanghai.  CLICK HERE for info on the book including an awesome book trailer video!

Ms. Yip is here to tell us how she researched for her book! Enjoy!


 Research Behind my Novels
In my opinion, any novel needs research, be it historical or contemporary. I’ll start with my fifth and newest historical novel, The Nine Fold Heaven.
 
Camilla, the protagonist in The Nine Fold Heaven is a nightclub singer, spy, and assassin working for a gangster. Her boss has ordered her to assassinate  his rival, Shanghai’s number one gangster Master Lung. If she fails, she’ll be killed herself. To succeed, she must seduce Master Lung, but the beautiful and cunning magician Shadow competes with her to win Lung’s affection. And Camilla must contend with he own emotions -- against her will she falls in love with both Lung’s only son and his most trusted bodyguard.
 
 In The Nine Fold Heaven and my previous novel Skeleton Women (The title refers to Chinese Femmes Fatales), I had to do research on 1930ies Shanghai with its spies, gangsters, and corrupt police, as well as its nightclubs and stage magicians. I do research online, but mainly for fact checking and minor details. It is easy to find things on the internet, but not everything one finds can be relied upon.
For important matters I rely upon books, preferably scholarly ones. For my historical novels, I also watch old movies to get a sense of the atmosphere of the time. Though books on obscure subjects like women spies in China are not easy to find, I was lucky enough to locate several on the two most famous woman spies in China and a few on spies in general, which I specially ordered from China.
Materials on gangsters are easier to find but somewhat scary to read. Sometimes I fear that if my writing is too realistic, if gangsters read it (though very unlikely) they might suspect I was trying to expose them! I do know some of their secrets, such as their mudras (hand gestures), which I found not in any books, but in Chinese newspaper clippings.  
Magic has many secrets also. Magicians, though they know how to make the Statue of Liberty disappear or walk through China’s Great wall, will keep these secrets with them to their graves. I was very persistent and did finally learn how they did some of these tricks. Now they are my secrets and you will need to read my novel to find them out.
 
My three novels, The Nine Fold Heaven, Skeleton Women, and Peach Blossom Pavilion are all set in the 1930ies Shanghai, possibly the sexiest era in history. I have long been fascinated by its larger than life characters from movie stars and the spoiled children of the rich to vicious murderers. I have used my  academic background to gather materials on this intriguing period, including such obscure matters as costumes, cosmetics, even hairdos (I found out that Chinese women wore hair extensions more than two thousand years ago!) 
For Peach Blossom Pavilion , my novel about the last Chinese courtesan, I wrote a scene about women’s hairstyles throughout China’s long history. In this scene, a group of young prostitutes go together to a salon to have their hair fixed in different styles with poetic names – weeping willow, star-studded sky, one-line bang.  
 
For my contemporary novel Song of the Silk Road , I actually went to the remote desert of Western China for my research. However, the old Silk Road was very long so I couldn’t travel to all the areas the ancient silk merchants traversed. I supplemented my travels by reading everything I could find about these faraway places, including histories, novels, travelogues, maps and guide books.
For another one of my novels, Petals from the Sky, about a would-be-Buddhist nun falling in love, I visited Buddhist temples, read its philosophy, witnessed its rituals, and listened to its chants. These give the novel its unique atmosphere. I was also inspired by my experiences growing up in Hong Kong with many friends who were Buddhist nuns.
Learning about different times and different ways of life is enjoyable. Until you sit down to write, you do not know which details you will need to fill out your story. But in the end, it is not just research but your feeling for your characters that counts.
 
Excerpt from The Nine Fold Heaven on prostitute in Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong:
 
Soon the tram reached Shek Tong Tsui and I quickly got off, leaving behind the heart-breaking melody, but not my broken heart. I walked slowly by the harbor to enjoy the salt-smelling breeze and the twilight on the waves. Along the roadside in front of dilapidated buildings, a few women leaned by doors, chatting, smoking, and throwing hopeful glances. Despite the British having recently banned prostitution in their colony, it was obvious that these gaudily-dressed and flirtatiously acting women were not here to appreciate the view, but to practice women’s oldest profession.
Among them, a fortyish one, her face plastered with white powder like a geisha’s, yelled toward me, “Hey, little beauty, if you were a man, I’d give you a big discount!”
I smiled back but didn’t respond.
Her “colleague,” another past her prime goddess laughed hilariously. “Ha! A discount? Are you joking? If Little Miss Beautiful were a man, it’ll be free!”
A third grandmother echoed. “Free? How about I pay him for it?”
The whole group burst into thunderous laughter. Of course they were joking to make the best of their lot. Business was bad and they were bored. No man would pay for these pathetic women except the equally old, ugly, and poor. But once they had been young, pretty, and highly sought after.
I felt a chill. If I didn’t start to really plan for my future, near or far, would I end up like these women? I had some money, but what would my future be?
Just then, suddenly there appeared a group of fiftyish men in rags,  smoking, stinking of alcohol, and talking loudly, their conversation mainly insults regarding each others’ parents’ sex organs. 
Once the run-down goddesses saw the even more run-down coolies, instead of running away like ghosts from daylight, they flocked to them like moths toward light. But the coolies out numbered the goddesses. So the former clustered around to wait for their turn.
I overheard one of the women say, “Three dollars for five minutes. Five for ten, and one hundred overnight.”
One coolie laughed. “Grandma, you have a mirror at home? If not, I’ll bring you one next time, on the house.”
Now all the coolies burst out laughing like there was no tomorrow. 
 

The Nine Fold Heaven Book Tour!

I'm happy to be a part of The Nine Fold Heaven book tour! This book by Mingmei Yip looks AMAZING! Check out the trailer below!!!

In this mesmerizing new novel, Mingmei Yip draw readers deeper into the exotic world of 1930s Shanghai first explored in Skeleton Women, and into the lives of the unforgettable Camilla, Shadow, and Rainbow Chang.

About THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN

Kensington Publishing
Paperback; 320p
ISBN-10: 0758273541
Publication Date: June 25, 2013

When Shadow, a gifted, ambitious magician, competed with the beautiful singer spy Camilla for the affections of organized crime leader Master Lung, she almost lost everything. Hiding out in Hong Kong, performing in a run-down circus, Shadow has no idea that Camilla, too, is on the run with her lover, Jinying – Lung’s son.

Yet while Camilla and Shadow were once enemies, now their only hope of freedom lies in joining forces to eliminate the ruthless gangster Big Brother Wang. Despite the danger, Shadow, Camilla, and Jinying return to Shanghai. Camilla also has her own secret agenda – she has heard a rumor that her baby son is alive. And in a city teeming with spies and rivals – including the vengeful gossip columnist Rainbow Chang – each battles for a future in a country on the verge of monumental change.

Book Trailer:  



Praise for The Nine Fold Heaven

A guilty pleasure....enjoy the exotic location and characters.... This is a large, luscious box of chocolates. Go on. You know you want to." -RTBook 4 star Review, June 2012

Entertaining diversion is (a strength of this book) -Publisher's Weekly

Poignant and often heartbreaking story captivatin mix of worldly and ethereal, mystery and drama kept me interested and kept me reading with her journal cum memoir style that few authors pull off. I loved how she incorporated in her narrative Chinese customs, legends, myths and beliefs and especially how she quoted from long ago texts on war and strategies, it was her characters that dominated the pages. -Bookclub.BarnesandNoble.com, June 1, 2012

What a phenomenal novel!! The characters are well-developed and the storyline is amazing and reads fast. So much is going on you won't be able to put the book down and you'll be turning the last page before you know it. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone. Great job Mingmei!!! -Bookbag Lady, June 13, 2012

Buy Links

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
IndieBound
Kensington

About the Author

When she was a child, Mingmei Yip made up stories like “how the moon reached to slap the sun” and “how the dim sum on my plate suddenly got up to tango.” At fifteen, she was thrilled that not only her article got published but she was paid ten dollars for it. Now Mingmei is a best selling novelist and children’s book writer and illustrator.

Mingmei believes that one should, besides being entertained, also get something out of reading a novel. She has now twelve books to her credit, including five novels by Kensington Books: The Nine Fold Heaven, Skeleton Women, Song of the Silk Road, Petals from the Sky, and Peach Blossom Pavilion. Book Examiner praises her novels as “A unique and enthralling style…flawless.” Her two children’s books are Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories and Grandma Panda’s China Storybook, both by Tuttle Publishing.

Mingmei is accomplished in many other fields. A professional player of the Guqin, Chinese zither, for over thirty years,  she was recently invited by Carnegie Hall to perform in “A Festival celebrating Chinese Culture” in the same program with cellist Yo Yo Ma and pianist Lang Lang. She had her solo Goddess exhibition at the New York Open Center Gallery to great acclaim, gave calligraphy workshop at New York’s Metropolitain Museum of Art, and Taichi at the International Women’s Writing Guild.

For more information please visit Mingmei’s website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Amazon.

Castle of the Week: Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle --
view from driving in at the front gateWelcome back to another rousing castle of the week! This week's castle is Dunrobin Castle in Scotland, which happens to be the setting in several of the books in the Stolen Bride series. I had a chance to visit the castle earlier this year, and I was mesmerized. It is GORGEOUS. And still a residence.

Dunrobin was built in the 13th century and has been home to the earls and dukes of Sutherland since. In THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD, my hero, Magnus, Laird Sutherland, is created earl at the end of the book. Dunrobin is situated overlooking the North Sea on the east coast of the Highlands. The sound of waves lapping at the beach can be heard from atop the hill where the castle sits, and you can see the sea for miles. The original castle was a fortified square keep--in stark contrast to what you see today, a magnificent, enchanting stone chateau. In my series, the castle is being partially rebuilt from the square keep to a grander structure. In actual history however, the square keep stood alone for about 200 years until it was added to.

The castle boasts beautiful gardens and grounds that I could sit in for DAYS, literally, without moving.

In my upcoming release, THE HIGHLANDER'S SINS, Duncan kidnaps Heather Sutherland, youngest sister of Magnus, from the family chapel at Dunrobin...

Here are some pics from my visit earlier this year. Due to the date I was in Scotland, I wasn't allowed to go inside. That is #1 on my list of must sees when I return there sometime in the next couple of years.

LOVED this sign! Captured it while driving by, hence the blurriness.

This is the view of the castle from driving in. The castle is a residence, and continues to be the seat of Clan Sutherland. I found the mix of history with the present fascinating--gorgeous medieval castle with trash and recycling receptacles and vehicles.
The left tower, and what appears to be a main door.
Loved this clock tower. Just gorgeous.
Check out this weather vane complete with a mountain cat (wildcat), which is part of the Sutherland crest.
Look at the detail work in the stone.
I thought this picture capture well the front of the castle and the back, a mix of two different eras. The front is very much medieval and the back more chateau-like.
This is a pick of the back of the castle as I walked down the hill toward the beach.

A gate into a lush park where the castle practices falconry.
Another view of the back of the castle closer to the beach. You can see the road heading back up toward the front of the castle and entrance.
A view of the gardens of Dunrobin in winter. I've seen pics of it when in full bloom, and I imagine it is just jaw-dropping in person.
Loved these stairs leading up to a huge stone-walled patio in the garden.
More of the gardens. I love all the huge trees and pathways.
More of the gardens. Ignore the long orange extension cord :)
This is a tiny tower that sits at  corner of the wall around the gardens. It wasn't very high up, you can tell by the door.
A view of the north sea, and some of Dunrobin's wall in the distance. Immediately to the right was a building I'm assuming is home of the gardener or grounds' keeper.
Look at this view! This is the beach at Dunrobin.
Those black logs poking out of the shore are from an old pier that has since collapsed.
A view to the left of the beach. Love it!
More of the shore and the wall.
Me on Magnus' beach!!! I never felt a stronger connection to my characters then when I walked on their sand.
Captured the water lapping at the shore.
A close-up of a huge stone. Loved the way time carved designs into it.
My footprints in the sand at Dunrobin.
A pic of the gates upon leaving--cool arrows, right?

Hope you enjoyed the pics of Dunrobin Castle!!! Stay tuned next week for another enchanting tour of a castle!



Check out my Stolen Bride series!
Out now in ebook, print and audio from Amazon, B&N, ITunes/Books, Kobo, Sony, Audible:
The Highlander's Reward
The Highlander's Conquest

The Highlander's Lady
The Highlander's Triumph

The Highlander's Warrior Bride
and releasing later this month... The Highlander's Sin!

Visit my website, www.elizaknight.com to sign up for my newsletter and find out more about upcoming releases!

Video of the Week: Historical Head Teachers (Spartans)

Welcome back to another video of the week! I do love my Horrible Histories :) Today's video is appropriate given kiddies are back in school! Enjoy!