The Challenge of a Medieval Warrior’s Mindset

Let’s face it. When you’re a 21st century, college-educated, middle class American, writing about a common medieval teenage soldier on the battlefield poses a dilemma.

As I wrote The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar and imagined two warriors pointing spears at each other, I was surprised by how impersonal the conflict was, and it struck me again when I read Judith Starkston’s excellent debut, Hand of Fire (to be released September 10 by Fireship Press; read my review on Goodreads). Visit Judith’s blog for my guest post with the title “Nothing Personal, I Just Need to Kill You.”

Alphonse de Neuville’s 19th century interpretation of the Franks fighting the Saxons (public domain image via Wikimedia Commons).