Joyce DiPastena's Blog, page 2
March 1, 2024
Hug a Medievalist Day 2024 is coming soon!
It's that time of the year again, our FAVORITEST time of the year (right after Christmas), right? Hug a Medievalist Day is right around the corner. March 31st, to be exact. And I have some fantastic medieval authors lined up to celebrate with me and YOU again! If you haven't already bookmarked this page, you'll want to do so now. Information about the prizes is coming SOON!
March 31, 2023
Hug a Medievalist Day Winner ~ 2023
Congratulations to Julie.,
winner of our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway!
(Yes, there are a lot of Julies, but I have her email address and have contacted the correct one.)
Julie wanted to hug Sir Lancelot
Here are some other medievalists (historical, mythical, fictional, friends & family members) who got a hug this year:
Eleanor of Aquitaine
King Arthur
Merlin
Sir Baldwin de Solee from Courting Cassandry
Alfred the Great.
Joan of Arc
Richard III
Othello
My nephew Tyson
Edward V - one of the Princes in the Tower
John Thomas
Guinivere
Edward IV
Thomas More
Robin Hood
the Scarlet Pimpernel
Christine de Pizan – French writer (1364 – c.1430) and Gutenberg.
Sir Lancelot
Sir Galahad
Queen Matilda
King Richard the Lionheart
I would hug You Joyce DiPastena! (Teresa Scates) [Joyce:Thank you!]
Flavia, family friend and storyteller at a medieval fair
Queen Caroline
Lord Edmond of hawksford from castles and crown
Hildegard of Bingen
I like too many to choose just one!
John Aberth
Katherine Parr
Maid Marian
Cadfael, in the Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters
Anne Bolyne
Conradin the Younger King of Sicily
Sir William DeRenzy
Lady Annyn Bretanne (character from The Unveiling by Tamara Leigh)
William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson)
Rasheed
Charlemagne
Kathryn Le Veque
Glynnis Campbell
Catherine de Medici
King Edward the third of England
Katharina Luther
Maimonides
Queen Elizabeth the First
Peter Abelard – French scholar (1079-1142) and Héloïse d’Argenteuil
EB Wheeler
Luca Forelli (River of Time series by Lisa T Bergren)
Cynthia Wright
Aragorn, haha!
FitzRoger of Cleeve in Dark champion by Jo Beverley
Sir Brodrick Dougray
Lady Phillipa
Joan of Arc and a fictional one- Lady Catrin Buckley❤️
Christine de Pizan
Sian Ann Bessey
Any person who would like a hug.
Archibald Campbell
Rhiannon in Sian Bessey's Call of the Sea
Halt from Ranger’s Apprentice series
The Crimson Knight from "A Crimson Frost"
Merrick from Timeline
Steven Coombs
Margaret Grey
Tinney Sue Heath
Pat Hardy
Henry V
My daughter and my grandbabies who have dresses and tunics to wear to the Renaissance Fair
Theodora, empress of Byzantium
William DeWolfe from Kathryn Le Veque book The Wolfe
Friar Tuck
Helen of Troy
Sir Thomas Grey of Covington Cross (defunct TV show I loved) [Joyce: Oh my gosh, I remember that show!]
Chavesz Whitlock
Ashlynn
Thank you to everyone who entered our giveaway! Can't wait to do it again in 2024!
March 10, 2023
Hug a Medievalist Day Giveaway ~ 2023
Giveaway time is finally here! I hope you've read about all the prizes my friends and I are giving away this year. If you missed them, here's a quick reminder. This year's gift package includes:
Eight autographed print books:
Dangerous Favor, by Joyce DiPastena
Of Daggers and Deception, by A. L. Sowards
Born to Treason, by E.B. Wheeler
A Thing Done, by Tinney Sue Heath
The Heart of the Rebellion, by Sian Ann Bessey
Maids Of Ulaid Collection, by Kaitlynn Clarkson
The Muse of Freedom, by Jules Larimore
From Ash and Stone, by Julie Daines
BONUS PRIZES:
Of Sword and Shadow, by A. L. Sowards (Kindle copy)
The Lady and the Minstrel, by Joyce DiPastena (Kindle copy)
A Hug a Medievalist Day mug
A Hug a Medievalist Day magnet
Some medieval rabbit stickers
A replica of the official seal of Pepin the Short, father of Charlemagne
A medieval pen from the Tower of London
A bag of Hershey's Hugs
(Complete gift package worth $170)
You can read more about each of these individual prizes at
There is only one requirement: When you enter the giveaway, be prepared to answer this question on the entry form: Name a medieval person (real or fictional, dead or alive) you would like to hug on Hug a Medievalist Day. It can be someone real (like King Richard the Lionheart), someone fictional (Robin Hood, King Arthur, a medieval character from a favorite novel), or even someone alive today who likes to dress up in medieval garb and attend medieval faires (a husband, a son or daughter, etc). Just have fun with the answers.You can also earn extra entries if you share the link to this giveaway page anywhere on social media. (You can do this once a day. The more you share, the more entries you'll receive!) And earn even more entries by following or liking our giveaway authors and/or signing up for their newsletters.
This Hug a Medievalist Day Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm PST on March 30, 2023. A winner will be drawn (appropriately) on March 31st, Hug a Medievalist Day.
Due to the expense of mailing costs, this giveaway is open only to USA entries.
(If you don't see a Rafflecopter form, just click on the Rafflecopter link below)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Entrants must be 18 years old or older, or entry must be submitted by a parent. Deadline to enter is 11:59 PST MARCH 30, 2023. Winner will be selected on March 31, 2023 via Rafflecopter's random selection and have 48 hours to reply to an email notifying them of their win. OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Questions? Contact me at joyce@joycedipastena.com.
Meet our 2023 BONUS PRIZES ~ Part 2
You've met the book prizes, both print and E, but we didn't forget the swag! We've thrown in a few extras like these into the gift package:
An official Hug a Medievalist Day mug
A Hug a Medievalist Day Magnet
One sheet of medieval rabbit stickers from author Joyce DiPastena
A replica of the official seal of Pepin the Short, majordomo of the Franks in the 8th century and father of Charlemagne,
from author Tinney Sue Heath
A medieval pen from the Tower of London,from author Julie Daines
And we couldn't celebrate Hug a Medievalist Day without some actual hugs, so we've added a whole bag of Hershey's Hugs!
Now you've met ALL the prizes and the giveaway is ready to begin! So come back tomorrow or anytime between March 11-30 to enter.
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day! (This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
(Did you miss any of the prize descriptions? You can catch up on all of them by going here. Scroll down the page to meet them all!)
March 9, 2023
Meet our 2023 BONUS PRIZES ~ Part 1
Let's start with . . . more books! In addition to 8 autographed print books, the winner will receive two medieval fiction ebooks!
A Kindle copy of Of Sword and Shadow , by A. L. Sowards
Greece, 1379
She is known by many names, none of them her own. In truth, she is an unnamed slave, nothing more than a weapon in the hands of her owner in his attempts to provoke political mayhem. When she encounters a handsome young man while on an assignment, she thinks little of him—until he attempts to take what she has stolen. But in her line of work, failure is not an option.
Gillen is intrigued by the mysterious woman who thwarts his mission. But when his path crosses hers again, his intrigue turns to gratitude as the thief he comes to call Eudocia saves his life. The two form a bond of friendship and join forces to wrest control from a group of ruthless rulers. But as their camaraderie blossoms into something more, Gillen and Eudocia must fight for love even as they wage war for a better future.
AND . . .
A Kindle copy of The Lady and the Minstrel , by Joyce DiPastena
In King John's England, Robert Marcel chafes against the law that holds him bound as a villein on his lord’s manor. He tries to make a daring escape and is nearly caught by his cruel master, but a young girl helps him slip away.
Years pass and Robert takes up trade as a minstrel. Invited to play at a banquet for the notorious Earl of Saxton, he is stunned to come face to face with the girl he’s never forgotten—now Lady Marguerite of Winbourne, betrothed to the earl. Her status as a noblewoman puts her completely out of Robert’s reach, but he knows they are meant to be together. He vows to make her his wife no matter what the cost.
Lady Marguerite has often thought of the young man she helped escape. Her tender feelings for him quickly turn into much more when they are brought back into each other’s lives. She longs to be free to marry Robert, the man she loves, but that will require her to sacrifice all she holds dear.
They are tested at every turn by those bent on driving them apart and destroying what they have found together. Can their love truly conquer all?
*****That's all the books, but we have a few more non-book prizes that we're giving away. Check back tomorrow for our final roundup before our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway form opens for entries! (Click on 2023 Prizes in the right hand column under Labels to view all the prizes!)
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day!
(This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
March 8, 2023
Meet the 2023 Prizes: From Ash and Stone, by Julie Daines
This year seven author friends have joined me to provide an extra-special gift package for our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day winner! We're giving away 8 autographed print books plus some bonus prizes! We want to give you a chance to meet the prizes before our giveaway begins, so each day I will be posting a different prize and description. Here we go with:
Prize 8
An autographed print copy of From Ash and Stone, a Tudor romance by Julie Daines
Lady Margaret Grey of Hartfell wants for nothing. The daughter of a knight, she has a loving family, wealth, and even a secret romance with the blacksmith’s son. But all that is torn from her one fateful night when her home is attacked and her family killed. She is left with nothing but bitterness, an unwavering mistrust of men, and a strange and mysterious curse that allows her to feel the thoughts of anyone who touches her.
Now, after six years away, Margaret is returning home for one reason: revenge. She hopes that by avenging her family’s deaths, she will somehow be freed from her curse. But it won’t be easy. The identities of the raiders are still unknown, she has little left to her name, and traveling alone in the Northumbrian hills during the border wars is dangerous. Matters are further complicated by handsome Angus Robson, a Scotsman whose charm threatens to distract her from her plans. But the raiders are closer than she knows, and Margaret soon realizes that what she believed to be a curse may be the key to finding those she seeks. One touch will reveal the truth . . .
Now you've met all 8 of our autographed prizes . . . but there's more! Check back tomorrow to meet some of our BONUS PRIZES. (Click on 2023 Prizes in the right hand column under Labels to view all the prizes!)
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day!
(This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
March 7, 2023
Meet the 2023 Prizes: The Muse of Freedom, by Jules Larimore
This year seven author friends have joined me to provide an extra-special gift package for our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day winner! We're giving away 8 autographed print books plus some bonus prizes! We want to give you a chance to meet the prizes before our giveaway begins, so each day I will be posting a different prize and description. Here we go with:
Prize 7
An autographed print copy of The Muse of Freedom: a Cévenoles Sagas novel, a Renaissance historical fiction novel by Jules Larimore
IN THE MYSTERIOUS CÉVENNES MOUNTAINS OF LANGUEDOC, FRANCE, 1695, Jehan BonDurant, a young nobleman forcibly held in a Dominican prieuré as a child, comes of age only to inherit a near-derelict estate and his Huguenot family's dangerous legacy of secrets. While he cherishes his newfound freedom apprenticing as an apothecary, his outrage mounts over religious persecutions led by King Louis XIV's Intendant Basville, who is sent to enforce the King's will for "One King, One Law, One Faith".
The ensuing divisions among families and friends and the gradual revelation of his own circumstances lead Jehan to question his spiritual choices. He embarks on an odyssey, in pursuit of his life's purpose and the meaning of love, that unfolds in a way he least expects. Deep in the enchanting Gorges du Tarn, he discovers his muse and soul mate, Amelia Auvrey, a free-spirited, mystic holy woman who offers guidance, revealing ancient healing practices and spiritual mysteries.
Along the way, they befriend young Huguenot peasants and inspirés, a Roma couple, and the Commandeur of the Knights of Saint Jean Hospitallers, and learn of Jehan's Jewish and Cathar ancestors. Together, Jehan and Amelia quest for peace and spiritual freedom by aiding the persecuted until the Intendant's spy reports their activities and the King's dragoons are sent out after them. To retain their freedom, they must choose to live in hiding in a remote wilderness, join a festering uprising or fight against it, or flee their cherished homeland with thousands of other refugees in search of hope.
Inspired by the true story of Jean Pierre Bondurant dit Cougoussac.
*****
Check back tomorrow to meet Prize #8! (Click on 2023 Prizes in the right hand column under Labels to view all the prizes!)
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day!
(This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
March 6, 2023
Meet the 2023 Prizes: Maids Of Ulaid Collection, by Kaitlynn Clarkson
This year seven author friends have joined me to provide an extra-special gift package for our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day winner! We're giving away 8 autographed print books plus some bonus prizes! We want to give you a chance to meet the prizes before our giveaway begins, so each day I will be posting a different prize and description. Here we go with:
Prize 6
An autographed print copy of Maids of Ulaid Collection, six sweet medieval romance novellas by Kaitlynn Clarkson
This collection of short, clean novellas is set in Ireland in the days of the great kings; a time when Vikings raided, clans fought, and adventure lurked around every corner.
#1 Aeveen: Healer Of Ráith Mór
Forced to leave her village. Taken prisoner. She’s saved so many, but can he save her?
In one swift attack by the Vikings, the life that Aeveen knows comes to an end. Grieving over the loss of her beloved teacher, she is forced to flee to the fortress at Ráith Mór, home of the handsome but unhelpful Lord Neíll Mac Carthaigh.
She goes to work assisting the injured, but things go from bad to worse when she runs into conflict with the Lord himself. Only her skills save her from immediate banishment.
Her reputation as a healer grows and one day, a rival clan demands her services, threatening trouble if she fails to comply. Lord Mac Carthaigh reluctantly agrees and she leaves to attend to the sick and injured.
Soon after she arrives, the Vikings attack, kidnapping her along with several other women. When Lord Mac Carthaigh finds out, he is desperate to save her. Will he find her in time? Will he have the opportunity to tell her what’s on his heart? Or has he left it too late?
#2 Cara: Builder Of Dún DaenShe mends broken buildings. But will her own heart get broken as she tries to help him mend his?
When Cara’s father is injured, she finds herself taking on some of his building projects on her own, including renovations at the fortress of Dún Daen.
Home to Eochaid Fáelad, the fortress is unsuitable for his intended, Aoife, and he plans to make it more to her taste.
But before the work is completed, Aoife ends the betrothal. Eochaid is devastated, and Cara’s kindness helps to soothe his wounded heart.
A passionate kiss at midnight leaves Cara longing for a life with Eochaid, but will Aoife return to claim what she threw away? Can Cara come to terms with Eochaid’s apparent betrayal? Or is there still a chance for love?
#3 Iona: Abbess Of Beannchor
She’s devoted her life to God. But what if His will is different from what she thinks?
Iona loves her position as an Abbess, but it’s getting her into more trouble than she bargained for, and she finds herself caring for a group of orphans left behind after Viking raids on the nearby monastery.
But it soon becomes apparent that it’s not safe to stay so close to the coast. Iona decides that they must make the difficult journey inland to Dún Lethglaise, and they set off on foot.
On the trail of a horse thief, Olwydd is startled when he comes across a band of women and children in the countryside. When he hears their story, he feels torn between his duty to the King and their need for protection.
Iona convinces him to continue on his mission. But as soon as he has the opportunity, he returns to find Iona and the children, only to discover that they have been taken by the raiders.
Will he be able to save them in time? Will Iona see that God’s will for her life might not be what she thinks?
#4 Finola: Princess Of Dún Lethglaise
He’s her enemy. But he’s also a fellow human. Will kindness prevail? Could it turn to love?
#5 Cadhla: Judge Of Ard Mhacha
She’s a respected judge. He’s in love with her. But will his rival win all?
# 6 Eithne: Shepherdess Of Lughmaidh
He’s a warrior with painful memories. She’s not who she thinks she is. Can they face the past together?
*****
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day!
(This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
March 5, 2023
Meet the 2023 Prizes: The Heart of the Rebellion, by Sian Ann Bessey
This year seven author friends have joined me to provide an extra-special gift package for our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day winner! We're giving away 8 autographed print books plus some bonus prizes! We want to give you a chance to meet the prizes before our giveaway begins, so each day I will be posting a different prize and description. Here we go with:
Prize 5
An autographed print copy of The Heart of the Rebellion, a romantic medieval novel by Sian Ann Bessey
King Richard II of England is dead. And after three years in His Majesty's service, Rhys ap Tudor and his brother Gwilym are finally free to return to their ancestral home in North Wales. Their long anticipated homecoming is overshadowed, however, by the harsh changes they encounter in their once peaceful land. The new king, Henry IV, rules with an iron fist, and the country is ripe for rebellion. Instantly thrust into the forefront of the conflict, the proud Tudor brothers enter the fight for their freedom.
Lady Catrin Buckley is alert to the unrest swirling around her. As the daughter of an English father and a Welsh mother, she knows too well the trouble her lineage poses. Her own battle, however, is one of the heart: she is to be married to a man she neither knows nor loves. Then an unexpected encounter with the enigmatic Rhys ap Tudor changes everything. Soon, Catrin finds herself swept into a rebellion that could not only change history but also rewrite her own future.
Check back tomorrow to meet Prize #6! (Click on 2023 Prizes in the right hand column under Labels to view all the prizes!)
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day!
(This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
March 4, 2023
Meet the 2023 Prizes: A Thing Done, by Tinney Sue Heath
This year seven author friends have joined me to provide an extra-special gift package for our 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day winner! We're giving away 8 autographed print books plus some bonus prizes! We want to give you a chance to meet the prizes before our giveaway begins, so each day I will be posting a different prize and description. Here we go with:
Prize 4
An autographed print copy of A Thing Done, a medieval novel by Tinney Sue Heath
Florence, 1216: Corrado the Fool’s prank-for-hire began it, but where is it going to end? Florence’s noble families are up in arms, and Corrado is pressed into service by both sides against his will. A peacemaking marriage could still quiet the outraged factions, but that fragile alliance may crumble under pressure from an interfering woman, a scorned bride, and a demand for revenge. And only Corrado, the reluctant messenger, is in a position to see it all taking shape.
He doesn’t care who comes out on top, but he does care a lot about surviving and about protecting those he loves, and he'll do whatever he must to prevent the enraged nobles from destroying his city. Will his famous wit and ingenuity be enough? Will anything?
*****
Check back tomorrow to meet Prize #5! (Click on 2023 Prizes in the right hand column under Labels to view all the prizes!)
The 2023 Hug a Medievalist Day giveaway opens on March 11 and runs through March 30. The winner will be selected by random selection on March 31, Hug a Medievalist Day!
(This 2023 Hug a Medievalist Giveaway is open to USA entries only)
