Jessica Knauss's Blog, page 3

Announcing Our Lady's Troubadour, Historical Fiction from My Heart, with Cover Reveal

I've been pounding away at the keyboard, seriously. You can hardly see the letters anymore, my nails have been scraping them off so much! This has been almost all to bring you a book that's really important to me: Our Lady's Troubadour and Other Miraculous Tales from the Cantigas de Santa Maria in Honor of Alfonso X, el Sabio. 

Alfonso X is my favorite king because he has a reputation for loving learning. His legacy includes histories, astronomy, legislation, and his masterwork, the Cantigas de Santa Maria, which is the largest collection of Marian miracles ever set to music. They survive in four deluxe manuscripts that emphasize how important these songs were to the king. 

November 23, 2021, marks 800 years since the birth of Alfonso X. There are a few conferences, concerts, and plays scheduled in places such as Toledo and Sevilla, but for a while there, the pandemic made it seem none of that would be possible. So I ramped up a project I'd started years ago, adapting some of the stories from the Cantigas into a short story collection. 

With a last push during confinement (lockdown), and the go-ahead from my publisher, Encircle Publications, years of love, devotion, writing, and editing, have resulted in Our Lady's Troubadour, ten short stories set in an ideal medieval Spain with problems and perils, but always happy endings. It will release on November 17, 2021, in hardcover, paperback, and ebook. 

November 17 was the birthday of my beloved husband, Stanley, so I'm touched to be able to add that small tribute to this project that's so important to me. 

The cover is based on one of the miniatures in the most important Cantigas codex. In it, Alfonso X himself points out to St. Mary and attendant saints and an angel all the wonderful ways he's sung her praises. Alfonso is shown to have direct access to St. Mary many times in the Cantigas, and this (unorthodox, bordering heretical) close relationship is unique in medieval European art. I always love something wonderful that much more if it's unique. 

More about this joyful new book coming soon!

Este tributo desde el fondo de mi corazón sale el mismo día 17 de noviembre en castellano con el título de Trovador de Santa María. El 3 de diciembre, habrá en Zamora una presentación del libro con música, y con un poco de suerte, también en Toledo.

(This heartfelt tribute will appear simultaneously in Spanish as Trovador de Santa Maria, and I'm planning an in-person book launch in my medieval city of Zamora, hopefully with an appearance to follow in Toledo.) 

Announcing The Atwells Avenue Anomaly with Cover Reveal

The act of writing is very important in Awash in Talent, which is a novel made up of a journal required by a therapist, a young firestarter's secret diary, and a psychic therapist's case log. As I was finishing up the second section, Waterfire, I had an idea to explain where the manuscripts from that world populated with Talented people and those envious of them came from. I was going to frame the novel with the story of a down-on-his-luck Brown University professor stumbling onto a portal to another universe. In the end, I didn't use that text, but there may be a reference to a certain house on Atwells Ave in Providence at the end of Awash in Talent that has its origin in that idea. 

That idea, in turn, came about because of the long drop awaiting anyone walking out this door on Atwells Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island. I took this photo way back in 2008. 

In 2017, after Awash in Talent had been published, I took up the story of the dumb-luck professor in Providence as a kind of lifeline during the first year after my beloved husband passed away. The first part was well-received at the Tin House Summer Workshop that year, but it wasn't yet complete. 
Four years later, the story has become a novella that undermines every expectation a reader might have, The Atwells Avenue Anomaly. 
Here's the description and a first look at the cover (my newsletter subscribers got the first look):

A lonely English professor falls for a physics genius. His only chance to be with her might be in an alternate universe populated by flipper-footed birds and cats covered in rose petals. It's not only the low atmospheric oxygen that makes them lightheaded. 

When the happy couple is separated by chance, the physics genius must raise their brainy daughter with no other humans to ask for advice. Are scientific curiosity and the memory of love enough for mother and daughter to create their own unique world?

In this unique novella, the author of Awash in Talent and Unpredictable Worlds brings you a fast science fantasy read about isolation and belonging, which the editors of Hybrid Fiction have called "sweet, imaginative," and "engaging." 


The Atwells Avenue Anomaly will appear in ebook and paperback in August with exclusive illustrations by Shirley MacKenzie. Catch a small glimpse of the artistic wonders below. 
"Something of Monumental Proportions" by Shirley MacKenzie, 2021
Part of The Atwells Avenue Anomaly series. 

The Atwells Avenue Anomaly will debut at a low price so my devoted readers can save a few dollars. Don't miss it!

My First Unboxing Video for the First Hardcover Edition of Any of My Books!

 I never really imagined Seven Noble Knights would come out in hardcover. 

It used to be that every top-tier new book release would be available only in hardcover for sometimes a whole year. "I'm waiting for the paperback," could be heard in the houses of frugal readers. After the advent of ebooks, even a paperback is a luxury, and hardcovers have lost their financial relevance. 

You can never have too many copies. 
Except for those wonderful collectors who prefer the solid feel of a hardcover book in their hands. And except for libraries. As I mention in the video, I was a catalogue librarian for a sweet time in my life, so I know all too well the steps involved in acquiring a book for the stacks. A paperback will not last the same way a hardcover will, and there are many steps in the decision about what to do with a paperback. A quality hardcover like this takes all of that headache away. 

And my goodness, does it ever look good on a shelf! 

Thanks so much to Encircle Publications for making this wonderful phenomenon a reality. 

I'm going to look into the financial practicality of doing a giveaway to my loyal readers, so look out for that! 

Amazon | ABE Books | Alibris | Barnes and Noble | Better World Books | Book Depository | Encircle Publications | Indiebound |  Indiebound hardcover | Your favorite indie bookstore

Loads of News for Everyone's Favorite Month, March!

 I'm going to jump right in with all the bookish gossip.

The fine folks at Encircle Publications surprised me by releasing Seven Noble Knights in hardcover! This initiative to encourage library purchases makes me very proud. I honestly never dreamed that in this day and age, I would be the author of a book in hardcover.

If hardcover is your preferred format, Seven Noble Knights is discounted at Amazon. If you prefer to support your local bookstore, try Indiebound or Bookshop.org for the human touch (taking all pandemic precautions, of course). 

I'm working overtime on my next medieval project. It's a short story collection with no unhappy endings, and it's guaranteed to be released in time for November 23, 2021. (Hint, hint.) More on this passion project very soon. Sign up for the newsletter to get the dirt before anyone else! 

You read this blog because you know here will you find unpredictable stories that will entertain you anytime you have a moment. Great news in that regard! I'm now on the writers' platform Vocal, and I already have my first story up! 

"The Bloody Landing: Or, Reginald and Me" starts out as a thriller and quickly moves into an impossible love story. I let myself fantasize about a lot of cash and a Moleskine notebook, and this is the result. Reader response has been very positive, always asking for more, but there was a word limit! 

It's free to read, and if you scroll all the way down, I will get paid eventually, so feel free to share with your friends. If you're feeling very generous, Vocal has even made it easy to leave a direct tip, but don't feel obliged. Just your visit makes me incredibly happy. 

In other news, Awash in Talent is on sale in Kindle for only 99 cents this week only, March 4 through 10. This quirky, engaging fantasy is "better than X-Men" and will have you questioning everything at the end.

To celebrate the sale, I've released a slightly out-of-season short companion story for free!

"Awash in Christmas Spirit" is the first chance to see into the point of view of multi-Talented Beth, who's pivotal in every story in Awash in Talent. No one has more Christmas spirit than Beth! The magic of Christmas in Rhode Island seems undeniable to everyone but her surly sister, Emily. 

Get it in .mobi, .epub, or .pdf for free at ProlificWorks, or in .epub (still free) at these exclusive retailers. And check my Vocal profile. It will likely make an appearance there. 

I hope you enjoy these writings from the bottom of my heart. More great stuff coming soon! 

The End of the Pandemic

The Cruz de la Carne in its deluxe silver holder or monstrance, 
in a photo grabbed from ZamoraNews.
The Middle Ages came together with the present day in a spectacular way today, Ash Wednesday, in my history-soaked Zamora. 

Onlookers like me and the paparazzi prepare for the new rite.
This and all following photos and video 2021 Jessica Knauss 

As I'm sure you're aware, we're in a global viral pandemic. As the strangely prescient release of We All Fall Down emphasized, this is not the first such health crisis, not by far. 

The bishop processes from the main altar and reads a prayer. 
The legend says that during the first run of the Black Death through Spain, in about 1350, a monk named Ruperto poured his heart and soul into praying for the end of the pandemic. An angel appeared to Ruperto and gave him the relic now known as the Cruz de la Carne (Flesh Cross), saying that as long as this cross was worshipped, there would never be a pandemic in Zamora. 

I guess the Cruz de la Carne fell out of Zamora's devotion, in spite of its prominent placement in one of the chapels in the cathedral, because we've had our share of COVID losses, like everywhere else. Before the pandemic, the Bishop of Zamora passed away and is now buried in the floor behind the choir in the cathedral. 

Just last December, Zamora finally got a new bishop. He came to us from Murcia, and apparently, is looking to make his mark. He learned about the legend of Ruperto and declared that every Friday during Lent this year, the Cruz de la Carne would be the protagonist of a special prayer at the north door. They decided to start observing this rite today, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Today, I didn't attend mass, as I didn't want to occupy one of only 25 spots because I'm not Catholic and wouldn't want to get the ashes on my forehead. That spot should go to someone else. But I went to the cathedral door to witness the rite and absorb the medieval atmosphere. It felt a little like the old days, arriving at a beautiful, historical spot in Zamora to wait for an event, like Holy Week, but with social distancing. 

The Bishop himself said prayers asking for the end of the current pandemic and displayed the Cruz to all the cardinal points, thus reestablishing the worship of the Cruz de la Carne in Zamora and keeping the legend alive. 

Personally, I don't find the relic itself pretty to look at--what kind of flesh is it?--but I do feel the pull of history when I'm in its presence. 

As readers of this blog know, I'm passionately devoted to medieval Spanish history, and get a particular frisson of delight when I come across medieval legends or miracles. I hope this kind of devotion suffices. If so, we have already officially kicked this pandemic's butt. 

Happy Holidays

The Feliz Navidad sign always makes the
Plaza Mayor look like a postcard. 

This year, there doesn't seem to be much holiday cheer. So here are some photos of the cheeriest things in my city and a video of one very enthusiastic author talking about the thing she loves most (my book launch party). 

It's not the holidays without certain treats. My favorite variety tray of
the "most expensive turrón in the world." It's not that pricey.  I found a Yule Log! I used to find these at Italian bakeries
in the United States, though the word "yule" suggests
 a Celtic origin... This Spanish version is so good. 

The fine folks at Kindle Press are gifting you a trip to magical
Providence, RI, for only 99 cents this December! 

The street lighting this year is even more subtle than usual.
But with the native beauty of Modernist and
Romanesque architecture, you don't need to add much. 
Afternoon strolls down the shopping street.

The old town hall. 
Down Balborraz Street, one of the oldest
and most beautiful streets in Zamora. 
The "umbrella" in the Plaza Mayor with the sign
so you don't forget where you are! 


My city has "love" in it! 
I wrote this book to curl up with and get lost in. 
Heading toward the oldest part of the city. 
The theatre, for plays and events.
(People from elsewhere often ask me if it's a movie theatre,
which seems to be the fate of many old theatres.)
On the side of the Parador. 



The store with the weird costumes for parades has a tree! 
The Renaissance convent and a Modernist balcony. 
The palace from the time of Ferdinand and Isabella 
How can you not follow the advice of Holiday Rhino? 
Holiday Rhino is from a complete zoo in Winterhaven,
Tucson, Arizona, 2011.
As this year comes to a close, let's be grateful it's over! And certain that 2021 will be much, much better. Stay safe, everyone. 

Seven Noble Knights on the Loose! and a Secret

Happy book birthday to the love of my writing life, Seven Noble Knights ! 

It's out today from Encircle Publications. Let's hope this is just the start of unimaginably great things! 

Tons of great photos, videos, interviews, and excerpts await you here. 

My author copies haven't arrived yet, so this is the closest thing to a photo of the author with her book I can get for now. Can you believe nobody asks me about my supercool mask when I walk down the street??

My city has reopened the bars and restaurants just in time to go celebrate! With masks on. Stay safe, everyone! 

And check out my message for readers on release day! 

Seven Noble Knights on the Loose!

Happy book birthday to the love of my writing life, Seven Noble Knights ! 

It's out today from Encircle Publications. Let's hope this is just the start of unimaginably great things! 

Tons of great photos, videos, interviews, and excerpts await you here. 

My author copies haven't arrived yet, so this is the closest thing to a photo of the author with her book I can get for now. Can you believe nobody asks me about my supercool mask when I walk down the street??

My city has reopened the bars and restaurants just in time to go celebrate! With masks on. Stay safe, everyone! 

My Cinematic Novel Just Got That Much Closer to Cinema

Devoted to the TV! 
via Life.com 
Seven Noble Knights (Indie preorder) (Amazon preorder) has made it into the quarterfinals of the Road to Development Contest. I won't mention the website hosting it because I'm including below the highlights of their feedback, which I think they would prefer to remain anonymous. But come on, so many nice things about my book! I have to share! 

The Road to Development Contest is just that, a competition to be picked for development into a movie or TV show. I always thought Seven Noble Knights would do well as a series, either for streaming or on a cable network, or even, in the best of all possible worlds, on Masterpiece Theatre. The contest seems to agree (see comments below). 

via Life.com

There is no social component to this contest. Seven Noble Knights has made it this far on its own merit, which makes me proud. But it also stands to reason that if my dear readers shared this news and the book made it to the top of internet searches, such exposure could influence the judges. I would be ever so grateful for such sharing. 

Seven Noble Knights would be an expensive proposition, so from a practical standpoint, I'm not sure what chances it really has at this skint point in human history. But no one can deny that it would be really super awesome to have a Seven Noble Knights series! 

via Life.com
Feedback

Primary Hook of Story

A story of betrayal and revenge similar to some of the occurrences of Game of Thrones.

Fanbase Potential

It could, especially those interested in medieval stories, with knights, gorgeous ladies, tragic love, and sword fights.

Awards Potential

If well adapted, it could manage to earn some technical accolades, since the story would have to recreate an entire period.

Lead Characters

Most of them are brave, but some are cunning, some horribly hot-headed and some simply honest and honorable, which means that they are different, complex and well-established in the narrative.

Uniqueness of Story

The story is very well-written and developed. With a top-notch adaptation, it could become a great TV series or film.

Possible Formats

Film - Studio, TV Series - Cable, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series, TV Series - Streaming

Comments

The narrative is good and compelling, and the author has great writing skills, which makes the book interesting throughout most of the reading, no matter what character you are following. In fact, the structure is also very well-developed. By following different characters and getting to know their needs and aspirations, no matter which side of the main issue they are on, we learn more about their personalities and realize there is no one completely right or wrong in the matter. The ending is particularly good, creating a reflection about how many of these people's struggles, grudges, sorrows and acts of revenge are based on actions that cannot be undone and lives that can't be recovered, creating a spiral of violence that seems to have no valid origin or reason to exist. All these things could be very well explored in a miniseries, especially if it would use each chapter to follow one of the characters, more or less like the book does. 

30+ Multimedia Reasons to Read SEVEN NOBLE KNIGHTS

Seven Noble Knights is chock full of great historical tidbits. During the run-up to its new debut from Encircle Publications on December 11, I've been participating in lots of fun new multimedia experiences you can find links to in this post. I'll add new material as I do more cool events. I'll also include some oldies but goodies because Seven Noble Knights is nothing if not historical. 
Seven Noble Knights is available for Kindle preorder for only 99 cents. Grab it before the price goes up on December 11! It's also available for preorder in softcover. Order it now and it will probably arrive on release day. Or, if NetGalley is your groove, snag it there in exchange for a review. 

Audio

• A short and sweet interview on Chat and Spin Radio about Seven Noble Knights and the importance of artists in trying times 

• An interview with All Classical Portland's book guru Ed Goldberg, crammed with noble knights, devious ladies, and ominous auguries! Check it out and download it at the station's site. Or try listening here: 

• A lively chat about battles and authenticity with author friend and elegant narrator Seymour Hamilton 

Reviews

“Let Seven Noble Knights welcome you to historical fiction! …it’s a rich saga populated with characters you will grow to love (and a few you will love to hate). The ancient empires of Spain are a beautiful backdrop to the struggles of humankind across all generations of all lands: romance, revenge, war, and adventure.”

—Pushcart Prize nominee Reneé Bibby, The Writers Studio

• Seven Noble Knights is endorsed by a discerning reader in the Historical Novel Society Review. 

• Author Seymour Hamilton observes medieval bathing habits. 

• Author Kim Rendfeld discusses love and vengeance in medieval times. 

• A fan in Spain admires Seven Noble Knights. 

• Nancy at Goodreads says Seven Noble Knights kept her awake at night! 

• Grab it at NetGalley and review it yourself! 

About the Author

• At Historical Fiction Blog (link goes live December 11): What's my writing process? What do I have in my refrigerator? 

• Writing Superheroes with Author Maria Grace: My surprising secret life, with polka dots. 

• At Much Medieval Mayhem hosted by Anna Belfrage (link goes live December 15): The Princess Bride, Cantigas de Santa Maria, and the multicultural, multiethnic Middle Ages. 

• At the Huffington Post with The Book Doctors: They mention a blog post about the Pitchapalooza where we met in person, and that's here. 

• At Unusual Historicals: Legends of medieval Spain, history, and fantasy. (Unfortunately, the giveaway mentioned is no longer active.) 

• An appearance in the St. Helens Chronicle gives my opinion on ebooks and the lure of historical fiction. 

• 10 Questions in 10 Words with Author Linda Sands: Seven Noble Knights as well as Boston, The Invisible Library, and a sweet roll with Nutella. 

History and Legend

• "My Characters Lived in Tenth-Century Spain" at Historical Fiction Reader: The complexities of tenth-century life couldn't help but produce a legend. 

• "How the Seven Noble Knights Survived One Millennium ... and Counting" with Author Kristin Gleeson: A story so good, you can't tell it just once! 

• "A Medieval Ritual of Rebirth" with Author Kim Rendfeld's Outtakes of a Historical Novelist with an excerpt sure to squeeze the breath out of you 

• "Fertile Fields, Fields of Blood": Exploring the site of the novel's big, bad battle 

• A different version of Seven Noble Knights from the 1800s 

• "The Seven Noble Knights in Modern Life": Living with the legend in my characters' hometowns today 

Characters: Inspirations and Interviews

• That time I stumbled upon my characters near their hometown  

• "Salas de los Infantes, Where the Seven Noble Knights Lived": A delightful visit to Salas de los Infantes to share a copy of Seven Noble Knights and see the casket inside the Romanesque-Gothic transition church 

Lambra: The Villainess

• “Vengeful Ladies and Bloody Cucumbers: J. K. Knauss on Seven Noble Knights” with Author J. L. Gribble and the pivotal bloody cucumber scene! 

• “When Does a Blood-Soaked Cucumber Solve Your Problems? J. K. Knauss interviews Doña Lambra, Villainess of Seven Noble Knights” with Author A. J. Culey 

• Meet the Villains 

• Blanca Flor, Lambra's daughter 

• Long-Suffering Justa, Lambra's maid 

Heroes

• Meet Gonzalo González, the youngest of seven noble knights.  

• Meet Mudarra, the conflicted hero of Part Two.

• “J. K. Knauss Interviews Mudarra González ibn Zaida, Hero of Seven Noble Knights” at   History Imagined with the shocking ending of a medieval game of chess.
• “Every Hero Needs a Sidekick: Mudarra and Yusuf” with Author Cara McKinnon

Book Clubability

Seven Noble Knights was the official February 2017 pick of the St. Helens Literary Divas Book Club. The author made a special appearance and good times were had! Contact the author to arrange a virtual or in-person visit for your book club.

Virtual Events and Video
Lands of Legend: December 5, 2020, join me courtesy of the New York Public Library for a virtual tour of Spain, medieval and modern! Sign up for the Google Meet full of pretty photos, legends, and anecdotes at the bottom of this page. 

On May 3, 2017, I gave a reading of  Seven Noble Knights  and did a book signing at the Harvard Book Store, fulfilling a lifelong dream. 

Check out this intimate reading of Part One, Chapter I. 

Watch the colorful trailer with art by Ayal Pinkus.

In October, I joined the other wonderful authors of We All Fall Down to talk about hope in hard times. 

Excerpts• The siege of Zamora (at the bottom of the page)
• When you can't kill 'em, throw a blood-soaked cucumber at 'em. 
• "Fertile Fields, Fields of Blood" 
• Think chess is a slow, intellectual game? Check this excerpt out and think again. 
• The hero is almost literally reborn. 

The World of Seven Noble Knights

Research and sudden dramatic transport from the 21st century to the tenth:

Weddings • Mozarabic Art • Pre-Romanesque Art in the Middle of Nowhere • Battles • The Traitor Countess • The Bloody Cucumber • Visigoths in Palencia • A Recipe for Blancmanger • Bullfighting • More Mozarabic Art • Coins • Source Materials • Spain as a Great Melting Pot •