MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 558
September 21, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 21, 490 BC The Greeks under Miltiades decisively defeated the army of Darius I of Persia at the Battle of Marathon. 19 BC Virgil, the great Roman poet, died in Rome at age 50. 454 AD Falvius Actius, Roman general and statesman was born.
1192 Richard I the Lion hearted was captured near Vienna by Leopold V, Duke of Austria who accused Richard of arranging the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat. 1327 Edward II of England was murdered by order of his wife Isabella, daughter of King Philip IV of France. 1435 An agreement between Charles VII of France and Philip the Good ended the partnership between the English and Burgundy in the Hundred Years' War. 1745 A Jacobite army under 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' defeated government forces at the Battle of Prestonpans.
1192 Richard I the Lion hearted was captured near Vienna by Leopold V, Duke of Austria who accused Richard of arranging the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat. 1327 Edward II of England was murdered by order of his wife Isabella, daughter of King Philip IV of France. 1435 An agreement between Charles VII of France and Philip the Good ended the partnership between the English and Burgundy in the Hundred Years' War. 1745 A Jacobite army under 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' defeated government forces at the Battle of Prestonpans.
September 20, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 20, 356 BC, Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia and one of the greatest generals in history was born. 451 The Battle of Châlons took place in North Eastern France. Flavius Aetius's victory over Attila the Hun in a day of combat, is considered to be the largest battle in the ancient world. 1187 Saladin began the Siege of Jerusalem. This act of aggression provoked the Third Crusade. 1378 Cardinal Robert of Geneva, called by some the Butcher of Cesena, was elected as Avignon Pope Clement VII, beginning the Papal schism. 1633 Galileo Galilei was tried before the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for teaching that the Earth orbits the Sun and was found "vehemently suspect of heresy", forced to recant, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
September 19, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 19, 335 Dalmatius was raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I.912 Emperor Leo VI was born. Known as the Wise or the Philosopher, Emperor Leo VI of Byzantium issued imperial laws in Greek that became the legal code of the Empire. 1356 Hundred Years' War: Battle of Poitiers: an English army under the command of Edward, the Black Prince defeated a French army and captured the French king, John II.
September 18, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 18, 96 Marcus Nerva was proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian was assassinated. 324 Constantine the Great decisively defeated Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire. 1180 Philip Augustus became king of France. Philip was one of the most successful medieval French monarchs in expanding the royal demesne and the influence of the monarchy. He broke up the great Angevin Empire(an area stretching from the Pyrenees to Ireland ruled by the Angevin Plantagenet dynasty during the 12th and early 13th centuries) and defeated a coalition of his rivals (German, Flemish and English) at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214.
September 17, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 17, 530 Boniface II was selected Pope. He was by birth an Ostrogoth, the first Germanic pope, and he owed his appointment to the influence of the Gothic king Athalaric. Boniface was chosen by his predecessor, Pope Felix IV, who had been a strong adherent of the Arian king, and was never elected. Boniface had for some time an antipope, Dioscurus, who had been elected by most of the priests of Rome. Boniface and Dioscorus were both consecrated in Rome on 22 September 530, but Dioscurus died twenty-two days later. 1745 Jacobite leader Bonnie Prince Charlie entered Edinburgh, proclaiming his father James VIII of Scotland.
September 16, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 16 335 BC Alexander the Great destroyed every building in Thebes, Egypt, except the temples and the house of the poet Pindar. 1386 St. Ambrose of Camaldoli was born.
Ambrose helped bring about a brief reunion of the Eastern and Western churches. 1387King Henry V of England was born. 1400 Owain Glyndwr proclaimed himself prince of Wales, launching the last Welsh rebellion against the English. 1494 Francisco Maurolico was born. He was a Benedictine monk, historian, and mathematician, Maurolico wrote a history of Sicily and significant works on Greek mathematics.
Ambrose helped bring about a brief reunion of the Eastern and Western churches. 1387King Henry V of England was born. 1400 Owain Glyndwr proclaimed himself prince of Wales, launching the last Welsh rebellion against the English. 1494 Francisco Maurolico was born. He was a Benedictine monk, historian, and mathematician, Maurolico wrote a history of Sicily and significant works on Greek mathematics.
September 15, 2011
History Trivia
September 15, 509 BC The temple of Jupiter on Rome's Capitoline Hill was dedicated on the ides of September. 53 Trajan, Emperor of Rome 98-117, was born. 668 Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II was assassinated in his bath at Syracuse, Italy. Constans was the last emperor to become consul in 642, becoming the last Roman consul in history. 1159 Alexander III was crowned Roman Catholic pope. He is noted for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris. 1514 Thomas Wolsey was appointed archbishop of York, the second most important seat in England. His failure to obtain an annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon led to his downfall. He built Hampton Court Palace, which Henry VIII coveted and acquired, and was one of Henry's favorite residences.
September 14, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 14, 81 Domitian became Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. 891 Pope Steven V died. The pontificate of Stephen witnessed the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire. 1523 Pope Adrian VI died. Adrian VI was the only Dutch pope, and the last non-Italian pope to be elected until Pope John Paul II in the twentieth century.
September 13, 2011
History Trivia
Sept 13, 585 BC Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, king of Rome, celebrated a trimuph for his victories over the Sabines, and the surrender of Collatia. 81 Roman emperor Titus, who was on the throne when Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, died in Rome at age 40. 122 Construction of Hadrian's Wall began. 533 General Belisarius of the Byzantine Empire defeated Gelimer and the Vandals at the Battle of Ad Decimium, near Carthage, North Africa. 604 Sabinianus was elected Roman Catholic pope. 1501 Michelangelo began work on his statue of David.
September 12, 2011
Author Interview
http://www.moonlitdreams.org/3/post/2...
Author Spotlight Mary Ann Bernal - Author Interview
Christine M. Butler MoonlitDreams
09/12/20112
I would like to thank Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane series, for stopping by and taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for her readers.
Christine: How do you find the time to juggle work, family, writing, and/or everything else you do?
Mary Ann: Since I am an extremely organized person, it is not very difficult to stick to a schedule. My first priority is to my family, everything else falls into place. I try to write at least a few hundred words a day, but have burned the midnight oil when necessary to finish a thought process or chapter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Everyone has their own story, how did you stumble into a writing career?
Mary Ann: I fell in love with medieval England after reading Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" in my sophomore year of high school, but my interests soon turned towards the Dark Ages when the formidable Vikings harassed the civilized world once Hollywood released such blockbusters as "The Vikings," "The Longships," and "Erik the Viking." Add to the mix "Alfred the Great," "Prince Valiant," and "King Arthur," and an incurable romantic anglophile was born.
As time went on Hollywood changed its venue of period movies, but I found solace with the many British programs being aired on our local PBS station. With the advent of BBC America and History International, I was able to find great documentaries such as "The Dark Ages," "Life in Anglo-Saxon Times," "Dark Age England," and "Viking Exploration," to name but a few.
During this time, Erik the Viking was hovering in the cobwebs of my creative mind, waiting to escape oblivion, waiting to tell his story, waiting and waiting and waiting, but it was not until 2008 that I was able to find the time to devote to fulfilling my lifelong dream of writing my Erik the Viking story, and "The Briton and the Dane" trilogy was born.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: What would you say inspires you the most when you are developing a new story line?
Mary Ann: I enjoy period books, movies and television miniseries, especially those titles relevant to my specific interests. The recent "Spartacus" series has me toying with the idea of exploring the lives of the ancient Britons during the Roman occupation, and the legacy left by the glorious Roman Empire on this conquered nation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Tell us about your book series...
Mary Ann: The Briton and the Dane series bring to life the tumultuous ninth century, when the formidable Vikings terrorized the civilized world. The epic adventure runs the gamut of deception, treachery, intrigue, and complicated relationships during a time of war and conquest in Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Christine: How long did it take to write?
Mary Ann: The manuscript, including multiple edits, was completed within a nine to ten-month timeframe.
Christine: What was your inspiration for the book?
Mary Ann: I have been inspired by the writings of Sir Walter Scott, Frans G. Bengtsson, and Thomas B. Costain, to name but a few, and period movies released by Hollywood and European filmmakers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Do you have plans to release more books in the near future? If so, tell us about what you have in the works.
Mary Ann: "The Briton and the Dane: Legacy" is scheduled for a 2012 release. Since "Legacy" is the final installment of the trilogy, my plan is to write another trilogy, and "The Briton and the Dane: The Beginning" is in the early stages of development.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: If you could live within the pages of your book (fantasy becomes reality) would you? and why or why not?
Mary Ann: Time travel works for me, but I would prefer to spend the day visiting, and sleep in my own bed at night. I am too much of a 21st Century person, used to life's little amenities; however, more importantly to quote from the Declaration of Independence: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," was nonexistent in the Dark Ages, and I fear I would have issues if my freedom was threatened.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: When did you start writing and what inspired the attempt?
Mary Ann: My love of writing and dabbling in poetry prompted me to enroll in writing workshops once I graduated from college. I am probably dating myself, but the Erik the Viking commercials had a profound effect on my creative mind, reminding me that I needed to tell my story. So this "bucket list" item remained on the list for a few decades, but I never gave up on the dream.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Did you have to do any research while writing your book(s)? If so, how much time was put into research and what were your topics of research?
Mary Ann: Research is very time consuming, but well worth the time, because if one is writing historical fiction, the author must have accurate facts or lose one's credibility. I did extensive research on Alfred the Great, the Benedictine Order, the Viking Expansion, the Papacy, and Dark Ages to name but a few. Initially I spent about six months researching my genre, but I continue to expand my database.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Is your long-term goal to become a working author and give up the day job or are your books more of a hobby that you like to share with people?
Mary Ann: It is very difficult for new authors to break into the business, especially in today's economy and the digital age of book publishing. My goal is to get my story "out there" so that others might enjoy not only the story but the history that inspired the series. History can be fun but unfortunately the "interesting stories" are set aside, and any student will tell you that dates and facts are "boring." My novels weave in historical facts, shedding light on how people reacted to the changes in their world, breathing life into an otherwise string of words in a history book.
Also, unless you are Stephen King or Michael Crichton, revenue from book sales will not pay the mortgage. Speaking engagements is where the money is, and until the new author builds a following, I would not recommend quitting one's day job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: What is your favorite genre of books and why?
Mary Ann: Historical fiction is my favorite genre. What better way to learn history then through living, breathing characters? Author research gives the reader interesting tidbits that never make the school's history books. For instance, the Vikings are portrayed as dirty barbarians, but in reality, they did bathe and combed their hair, and used twigs to remove particles of food from between their teeth.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to thank my fellow Literary Underground author, Mary Ann Bernal, once again for stopping by and filling us in on her writing career, her books, and dispelling some myths about those very intriguing Vikings!
Author Spotlight Mary Ann Bernal - Author Interview
Christine M. Butler MoonlitDreams
09/12/20112
I would like to thank Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane series, for stopping by and taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for her readers.
Christine: How do you find the time to juggle work, family, writing, and/or everything else you do?
Mary Ann: Since I am an extremely organized person, it is not very difficult to stick to a schedule. My first priority is to my family, everything else falls into place. I try to write at least a few hundred words a day, but have burned the midnight oil when necessary to finish a thought process or chapter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Everyone has their own story, how did you stumble into a writing career?
Mary Ann: I fell in love with medieval England after reading Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" in my sophomore year of high school, but my interests soon turned towards the Dark Ages when the formidable Vikings harassed the civilized world once Hollywood released such blockbusters as "The Vikings," "The Longships," and "Erik the Viking." Add to the mix "Alfred the Great," "Prince Valiant," and "King Arthur," and an incurable romantic anglophile was born.
As time went on Hollywood changed its venue of period movies, but I found solace with the many British programs being aired on our local PBS station. With the advent of BBC America and History International, I was able to find great documentaries such as "The Dark Ages," "Life in Anglo-Saxon Times," "Dark Age England," and "Viking Exploration," to name but a few.
During this time, Erik the Viking was hovering in the cobwebs of my creative mind, waiting to escape oblivion, waiting to tell his story, waiting and waiting and waiting, but it was not until 2008 that I was able to find the time to devote to fulfilling my lifelong dream of writing my Erik the Viking story, and "The Briton and the Dane" trilogy was born.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: What would you say inspires you the most when you are developing a new story line?
Mary Ann: I enjoy period books, movies and television miniseries, especially those titles relevant to my specific interests. The recent "Spartacus" series has me toying with the idea of exploring the lives of the ancient Britons during the Roman occupation, and the legacy left by the glorious Roman Empire on this conquered nation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Tell us about your book series...
Mary Ann: The Briton and the Dane series bring to life the tumultuous ninth century, when the formidable Vikings terrorized the civilized world. The epic adventure runs the gamut of deception, treachery, intrigue, and complicated relationships during a time of war and conquest in Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Christine: How long did it take to write?
Mary Ann: The manuscript, including multiple edits, was completed within a nine to ten-month timeframe.
Christine: What was your inspiration for the book?
Mary Ann: I have been inspired by the writings of Sir Walter Scott, Frans G. Bengtsson, and Thomas B. Costain, to name but a few, and period movies released by Hollywood and European filmmakers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Do you have plans to release more books in the near future? If so, tell us about what you have in the works.
Mary Ann: "The Briton and the Dane: Legacy" is scheduled for a 2012 release. Since "Legacy" is the final installment of the trilogy, my plan is to write another trilogy, and "The Briton and the Dane: The Beginning" is in the early stages of development.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: If you could live within the pages of your book (fantasy becomes reality) would you? and why or why not?
Mary Ann: Time travel works for me, but I would prefer to spend the day visiting, and sleep in my own bed at night. I am too much of a 21st Century person, used to life's little amenities; however, more importantly to quote from the Declaration of Independence: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," was nonexistent in the Dark Ages, and I fear I would have issues if my freedom was threatened.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: When did you start writing and what inspired the attempt?
Mary Ann: My love of writing and dabbling in poetry prompted me to enroll in writing workshops once I graduated from college. I am probably dating myself, but the Erik the Viking commercials had a profound effect on my creative mind, reminding me that I needed to tell my story. So this "bucket list" item remained on the list for a few decades, but I never gave up on the dream.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Did you have to do any research while writing your book(s)? If so, how much time was put into research and what were your topics of research?
Mary Ann: Research is very time consuming, but well worth the time, because if one is writing historical fiction, the author must have accurate facts or lose one's credibility. I did extensive research on Alfred the Great, the Benedictine Order, the Viking Expansion, the Papacy, and Dark Ages to name but a few. Initially I spent about six months researching my genre, but I continue to expand my database.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: Is your long-term goal to become a working author and give up the day job or are your books more of a hobby that you like to share with people?
Mary Ann: It is very difficult for new authors to break into the business, especially in today's economy and the digital age of book publishing. My goal is to get my story "out there" so that others might enjoy not only the story but the history that inspired the series. History can be fun but unfortunately the "interesting stories" are set aside, and any student will tell you that dates and facts are "boring." My novels weave in historical facts, shedding light on how people reacted to the changes in their world, breathing life into an otherwise string of words in a history book.
Also, unless you are Stephen King or Michael Crichton, revenue from book sales will not pay the mortgage. Speaking engagements is where the money is, and until the new author builds a following, I would not recommend quitting one's day job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christine: What is your favorite genre of books and why?
Mary Ann: Historical fiction is my favorite genre. What better way to learn history then through living, breathing characters? Author research gives the reader interesting tidbits that never make the school's history books. For instance, the Vikings are portrayed as dirty barbarians, but in reality, they did bathe and combed their hair, and used twigs to remove particles of food from between their teeth.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to thank my fellow Literary Underground author, Mary Ann Bernal, once again for stopping by and filling us in on her writing career, her books, and dispelling some myths about those very intriguing Vikings!
