One of my favorite characters and one I enjoyed killing off
September 4th 1199 was the death date for one of my favorite female characters, Joanna, Queen of Sicily and Countess of Toulouse, the daughter most like her celebrated mother. Joanna really put me through the wringer; not that it was much fun for her, either. It always seems so sad to me when my characters die of ailments that could be treated in the 21st century. It doesn’t seem fair that they are doomed for the sin of being born in the wrong century.
It is also the birthdate in 1454 of the Duke of Buckingham; any reader of Sunne knows my opinion of him. A pity his mother did not practice birth control.
It is also the birthdate in 1454 of the Duke of Buckingham; any reader of Sunne knows my opinion of him. A pity his mother did not practice birth control.
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Therese
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Sep 04, 2015 02:25PM
I really liked her and was hoping she would live even though I knew it wasn't going to happen. You have such a way of doing that to me when I read your books! However I don't understand why you enjoyed killing her off?
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Not Joanna, Therese! I hated that. I enjoyed killing Buckingham.
I recall it was so wretched for me when she died in "A King's Ransom." She'd just found happiness with Raymond of Toulouse, another I liked in the novel.
I am glad you liked Raimond, too, Marquise. As I explained in my AN, he has really gotten a raw deal, his reputation unfairly smeared by those attempting to justify the land grab that was the Albigensian Crusade. At least Joanna was spared knowing what her husband and son would endure.
Sharon wrote: "I am glad you liked Raimond, too, Marquise. As I explained in my AN, he has really gotten a raw deal, his reputation unfairly smeared by those attempting to justify the land grab that was the Albi..."I can't wait to visit Rouen where they were married and Fontevuard Abbey in Oct! Loved your depiction of their characters!
Thanks, Rio. Have you been to Fontevrault Abbey before? If not, you are in for such a treat. It is a wonderful site.
Okay, I got that wrong and am happy I did.Still I get a kick out of you happy to be killing someone off LOL
Sharon wrote: "Not Joanna, Therese! I hated that. I enjoyed killing Buckingham."
Oh, there have been a few. Definitely Buckingham and Brother George. Geoffrey de Mandeville. The Earl of Chester, the one who wed Robert's daughter Maude (I liked his grandson, who became a stout ally of Llywelyn Fawr. I only wish I could have written a death scene for Edward I or Henry Tudor!
You still can, Sharon. For Edward I at least.I live in the hope that you'll someday be inspired to write something set in the periods you've not yet, this covering the whole Plantagenet dynasty. A girl can dream! :D
No hope for the early 15th century, Marquise, but I will venture into the 14th century--assuming I live long enough. :-)
Great! The 14th century means Edward III too. ;)
Joanna is my favorite after Eleanor, and I admit I haven't read how you handled her death scene in A King's Ransom. It would be too sad... and she will figure in the third of my Battle Scars series. There are no biographies of Joanna, are there? Did you find other Angevin biographies or primary sources that were most helpful to you in writing about her?I've ordered a copy of Strayer's book that you recommended on Albigensian Crusade to learn more about her husband and son.
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