Regan Walker's Blog: Regan's Author Blog, page 18

Of Cabbages and Kings: Medieval Gardens

In my new medieval novel, Rogue Knight, the heroine, Emma of York, helps to design a garden for the second castle William the Conqueror builds in York in 1069. What kind of a garden might it have been? Likely it would have been surrounded by a reed fence and the plants would have been separated into rectangular plots in raised wooden boxes, but what plants would have been in the boxes? Read more.

FREE... The Red Wolf's Prize!

FREE... THE RED WOLF'S PRIZE, winner of the RONE award for medieval romance... http://www.amazon.com/Wolfs-Prize-Medieval-War…/…/0615978142


"Beautifully written, perfectly paced, action packed, with a passionate and epic love affair...what more could you ask for? 5 stars!" --The Book Review

The Red Wolf's Prize wins the RONE!

The Red Wolf's Prize, book 1 in the Medieval Warriors series, has just won the RONE Award for the Best Historical Novel for 2015 in the medieval category! I was so thrilled. Get ready for Rogue Knight by reading it again!

Goodreads Giveaway for Rogue Knight!

.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }Goodreads Book Giveaway Rogue Knightby Regan Walker

Giveaway ends October 22, 2015.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter GiveawayPreorder on Amazon for your eReader but also enter the giveaway for the paperback, autographed if you are a US winner! It releases October 7th. Here's what the early reviewers have said:

"Mesmerizing medieval romance! … A vivid portrayal of love flourishing amidst the turbulence of the years after the Norman Conquest."   Kathryn Le Veque, USA Today Bestselling author

“Rogue Knight is yet another brilliant novel from Regan Walker. She is a master of her craft. Her novels instantly draw you in, keep you reading and leave you with a smile on your face.”           Good Friends, Good Books

Rogue Knight is here!

Click on the cover to order! Rogue Knight, book 2 in the Medieval Warriors series is here! You can preorder it on Amazon (just click on the cover).

"Mesmerizing medieval romance! A vivid portrayal of love flourishing amidst the turbulence of the years after the Norman Conquest."
-- Kathryn Le Veque, USA Today Bestselling Author

The story begins in York, England in 1069… three years after the Norman Conquest

The North of England seethes with discontent under the heavy hand of William the Conqueror, who unleashes his fury on the rebels who dare to defy him. Amid the ensuing devastation, love blooms in the heart of a gallant Norman knight for a Yorkshire widow.

Best Historical Romances set in Exotic Locales... The list!

OK, so it’s August and you’re home and you’re bored. Maybe the kids are going back to school. You want an adventure, an around the world trip, or perhaps an ocean voyage—without leaving your living room. And you want a good love story. But you’re tired of those set mostly in England, Scotland, Ireland and America? Well, I have just the list for you!

My mother taught me to read when I was four and told me I could travel the world through books. She was right. And were she still alive, she would love this list I’ve created just for you daydreamers out there who long to travel…historical romances by some great authors set in exotic locales. Though some might begin (or end) in England or America, they will quickly take you to another time and another place! And all have been rated 4 or 5 stars by me. See the list HERE.

Empress Josephine's Love Affair with Roses

Many of us Regency authors and readers know that Napoleon’s wife, the Empress Josephine, contributed to establishing the slim, high-waisted, chemise dress as the dominant fashion in England in the early 19th century, but did you know that Josephine is also known for her passionate love of roses? See MORE.

My next medieval romance: Rogue Knight

In case you've been wondering what I'm working on, I have been writing ROGUE KNIGHT, book 2 in the Medieval Warriors series. It should be up for preorder on Amazon in September and released in October. It's Sir Geoffroi's story (you met him in THE RED WOLF'S PRIZE).

I thought you'd like to see the brief description of the story and read of Geoff and Emma's ominous first meeting. You can also follow my Pinterest board for Rogue Knight HERE.

The description:

York, England 1069… three years after the Norman Conquest

The North of England seethes with discontent under the heavy hand of William the Conqueror, who unleashes his fury on the rebels who would dare defy him. Amidst the devastation, love reluctantly blooms in the heart of a Yorkshire widow for a gallant Norman knight.

Hardened by the cruelty she has witnessed and bound by loyalty to her noble Danish father, a leader of the rebels, Emma of York would never think to want one of the hated Normans. Sir Geoffroi de Tournai, rejected by one English widow, did not want another—until he saw Emma. Soon love blossoms in the Yorkshire summer.

War strikes again, tearing asunder the tentative love growing between them, making each the enemy of the other. Can Sir Geoffroi, convinced Emma has betrayed him, allow the woman he loves to die with the innocents? Or will he defy his king to save her?

The first time they meet... February 1069:

      Dear God.
      She crossed herself and covered her mouth, fighting the urge to spew at the sight of so much blood and so many bodies strewn about the clearing, blood congealed on their clothing, their vacant eyes staring into space. Some blood had pooled on the ground to catch the rays of the sun. The metallic scent of it, carried by the wind, rose in her nostrils.
     At her side, the hound whimpered.
     So many.
     Until the Normans had come, Yorkshire had been a place of gentle hills, forests and thatched cottages circling a glistening jewel of a city set between two winding rivers. A place of children’s voices at play, some of those voices now silenced forever, for among the bodies lying on the cold ground were mere boys, their corpses cast aside like broken playthings.
     At the sound of heavy footfalls on the snow-crusted ground, she jerked her head around, her heart pounding in her chest.
     A figure emerged from the trees, so close she could have touched him.
     She cringed. A Norman.
     A tall giant of a knight, his blood-splattered mail a dull gray in the weak winter sun, ripped off his silvered helm and expelled an oath as he surveyed the dozens of dead. The sword in his hand still dripped the blood of those he had slain. He was no youth this one, at least thirty. His fair appearance made her think of Lucifer, the fallen angel of light. A seasoned warrior of death who has taken many lives.
     Had he killed people she knew? Her heart raced as fear rose in her chest.
     Would she be next?

Copyright © 2015 Regan Walker

Ben Franklin in Paris... the key to America's victory in the War for Independence?

My newest historical romance, To Tame the Wind, is set in 1782, the last year of the American Revolution, however, it does not take place in America. Rather, it takes place in Paris and London and the waters of the English Channel. As such, it brings to the fore a part of the war not often focused on: the incredible contribution of France to American’s victory. And key to that contribution was Benjamin Franklin. See MORE.

Mary Jo Putney on Exotic Locales!

I am very excited to welcome as my guest New York Times bestselling author Mary Jo Putney, who is bringing us a fascinating look into her research on Central Asia for one of her trilogies set in that exotic locale. See MORE.