Medieval history at its most exciting!

[Jean]

To celebrate the third month of featuring in amazon's top 10 historical thrillers with The Troubadours Quartet (Bk 1 Song at Dawn is FREE)

I want to thank my readers by offering a mystery bundle of four of my print books, by random draw, to somebody who posts in my booth on any or all of these topics (or any other!)

1) Recommend a book to me - I love reading and range widely!
2) Tell me about your pet (my Pyreneans are famous thanks to 'Someone To Look Up To')
3) Ask me a question about any of my 18 published books or of course about my life.

The Troubadours Quartet Book 3 is on promotion during this convention at 99c instead of $3.99 so don't miss that!

If, like me, you're a dog-lover, then tell me about your dog and remember that you can feature your dog in my Readers Hall of Fame http://jeangill.com/dogs/ just by writing a brief review. and contacting me. You can also see all the details on my books and photos, plus sign up to my Newsletter for a free copy of 'One Sixth of a Gill'. http://blogspot.us7.list-manage.com/s...
Meet Sirius, the Great Pyrenees in search of love and understanding

Shorts that fit everyone - 'ideal holiday reading'.

'Laugh out loud - visit Provence in great company'.

'If I were to currently recommend a cheese book to you, I would choose this one' Samantha Milner recipes.com

A story of love, healing and second chances:

For a chance to win a bundle of 4 of my books, post your comments or questions below. I look forward to a chat!

[Jean]

I'm in the middle of The Boar War, the plumbing disaster, and dog dodgy tummy so if I sound distracted, please make allowances!

Find your way round the festival and see which authors/genres are here http://riverfiction.com/bookfair/

[Jean]

Reserved

[Jean]

Reserved

[C.C.]

Map Categories: #Historical #Thriller
Authors, learn how to set your own categories for your booth in the backstage area!

[B.A.]

Hi, Jean
What was your inspiration for your Troubadour series? Did you always intend it to be a series or did you write the first book and become so involved with the characters that you couldn't stop there?

[Sage]

Hello Jean!
1) I recently reviewed a book called "Forgotten" by Neven Carr on my blog and it is an excellent psychological based thriller. Neven Carr is an indie author and her writing is beautiful, definitely check her work out! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
2) I have two Wheaten terriers named Lala and Mel and a kitty named Tac, which is cat backwards. They are all absolutely lovely, and my kitty is my protector. Last night my boyfriend was goofing around and wrestling me and Tac came to my rescue and yelled at him.
3) Why did you choose the historical period in your novel "Song at Dawn"? (Thank you for the free copy, I will be reviewing it on my blog)

[Jean]

B.A. wrote: "Hi, Jean
What was your inspiration for your Troubadour series? Did you always intend it to be a series or did you write the first book and become so involved with the characters that you couldn't s..."

Hi B.A. (which by serendipity is the abbreviation for German Shepherd in French - Berger Allemand)

Great questions! Because I live in troubadour territory, I was reading a non-fiction book about them and this sentence hit me ''Rumour says there was a female troubadour touring the south of France with a big white dog" - how could I not write that story! I put the idea into my 'ideas drawer' and when I was ready to start my next novel, I asked my husband which idea appealed to him as a reader and he chose Estela and her big white dog so that's where it began.

You have described exactly what happened - as I wrote I became so involved with the characters that I couldn't stop there. Once I realised I was writing a series I allowed the story to open up in all kinds of ways, to be followed up in future books.

[Wordwizard]

Do you have Early Music in your book?

[Jean]

Wordwizard wrote: "Do you have Early Music in your book?"

Hi Wordsmith. Yes indeed! Do you like early music? I love it and often play medieval music (not just troubadour songs) while I'm writing. Each book in The Troubadours series has one song which is woven into the story over the whole book and there are also other troubadour songs and extracts within the story. Some I've translated from the Provencal (Occitan) and some verses I've written myself (when they're supposed to be by Dragonetz or Estela)

Real Troubadours appear in the stories as well as my fictional couple. Marcabru has a tournay versus Dragonetz (and others) in 'Song at Dawn'. For 'Bladesong' the key song was Jaufre Rudel's L'amor de lonh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWn4s...

and for 'Plaint for Provence' it was Hildegard von Bingen's O Ignee Spiritus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU7mQ... The dawnsong for 'Song at Dawn' was a mixture of Aubades. I might have found my song for Book 4 ...

[Wordwizard]

I love Early Music and polyphony and parallel 4ths and 5ths.

[Jean]

Hi Ashley,
I will add 'Forgotten' to my TBR list! Wheaten terriers are beautiful dogs - don't forget to send me a photo and description so I can add them to my Readers' Dogs Gallery. Your story of them protecting you is typical behaviour, isn't it - so sweet! Thank you so much for reviewing and blogging about 'Song' - I hope you enjoy it!

I mentioned to Wordsmith that I was reading troubadour books because I live in the south of France, and I had the inspiration for a medieval troubadour story - but 'medieval' often means 400 years! I started my research across 400 years but when I found the real character Ermengarde of Narbonne, I was able to narrow the period down and focus on 1150. I have tunnel vision when researching and really focus on that narrow window 1145-1155 and the context.

[Jean]

Wordwizard wrote: "I love Early Music and polyphony and parallel 4ths and 5ths."
Then you know all the things I have to find out in research! I gather that polyphony is in its earliest stages in 1150 Provence but I'm following a lead that suggests polyphony was evident in Wales...

[Claire]

I love Philippa Gregory's books although I thought her Cousin's War Series which started if I recall with Elizabeth Woodville began extremely well and then somehow fell flat for me in latter books. Elizabeth Chadwick is another author that springs to mind and of course Alison Weir.

I love your Troubadours Quartet series. It's excellent. Highly recommended to those who love historical fiction and a hero to fall in love with.

Also: Someone To Look Up To deserves a big mention. The MD (main dog) is a realistically painted character that all dog lovers will enjoy.

[Jean]

Claire wrote: "I love Philippa Gregory's books although I thought her Cousin's War Series which started if I recall with Elizabeth Woodville began extremely well and then somehow fell flat for me in latter books...."

Thank you, Claire. I used Alison Weir's book for my research on Alienor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine and am now reading Elizabeth Chadwick's trilogy about this amazing character - all useful background for me and interesting in its own right. I try to stay true to real history as far as possible so my fictional characters can live their wild adventures within the historical constraints.

'Someone to Look Up To' is my husband's favourite of all my books and MD suits Sirius :)

[Tiffany]

Definitely interested in checking out more. :)

[Rebecca]

Hi Jean. Great to see you at the convention. I still cringe a little when I think of your short Going to the Dogs! Great collection of poems and stories in One Sixth of a Gill.

I have Song at Dawn in my book queue. Love the updated covers.

[Jean]

Rebecca wrote: "Hi Jean. Great to see you at the convention. I still cringe a little when I think of your short Going to the Dogs! Great collection of poems and stories in One Sixth of a Gill.

I have Song at Daw..."

Hi Rebecca - good to see 'Journey of the Marked' getting the readers it deserves. Getting YA fantasy that's exciting and also has underlying values that could make the real world a better place isn't easy but I think you did a great job!

Thank you for the compliment! I have a horrible feeling that 'Going to the dogs' is autobiographical :) Hope you enjoy 'Song at Dawn'!

[Claire]

Jean wrote: "I'm in the middle of The Boar War, the plumbing disaster, and dog dodgy tummy so if I sound distracted, please make allowances!

Find your way round the festival and see which authors/genres are he..."
softy about the dog dodgy tummy - hope it's better soon

[Claire]

Jean wrote: "To celebrate the third month of featuring in amazon's top 10 historical thrillers with The Troubadours Quartet (Bk 1 Song at Dawn is FREE)

I wan..."
you're missing a catchy phrase about the cheese book

[Claire]

Jean wrote: "B.A. wrote: "Hi, Jean
What was your inspiration for your Troubadour series? Did you always intend it to be a series or did you write the first book and become so involved with the characters that y..."
Thank you John for selecting Estela and big white dog.

[Jean]

Claire wrote: "Jean wrote: "I'm in the middle of The Boar War, the plumbing disaster, and dog dodgy tummy so if I sound distracted, please make allowances!

Find your way round the festival and see which authors/..."

Thank you Claire - I think we're winning all the wars now; wild boar, plumbing and dodgy dog tummy!

[Jean]

Claire wrote: "Jean wrote: "To celebrate the third month of featuring in amazon's top 10 historical thrillers with The Troubadours Quartet (Bk 1 Song at Dawn is FREE)
[bookcover:Song at Dawn: 1150 in Provence|282..."
Added!

[Claire]

Jean wrote: "Hi Ashley,
I will add 'Forgotten' to my TBR list! Wheaten terriers are beautiful dogs - don't forget to send me a photo and description so I can add them to my Readers' Dogs Gallery. Your story of ..."

I've never met a Wheaten terrier - are they few and far between outside the UK?

[Claire]

Jean wrote: "Claire wrote: "I love Philippa Gregory's books although I thought her Cousin's War Series which started if I recall with Elizabeth Woodville began extremely well and then somehow fell flat for me i..."

I love Someone to Look Up To but would be hard put to choose a favorite amongst your books - I think each one is a favorite as I read it if that's possible.

[Jean]

Claire wrote: "Jean wrote: "B.A. wrote: "Hi, Jean
What was your inspiration for your Troubadour series? Did you always intend it to be a series or did you write the first book and become so involved with the char..."

It is hard to believe now that any other story was possible but the book that didn't get written was also historical fiction - 16th century, about a mathematician called Robert Recorde ... maybe one day!

[Jean]

Tiffany wrote: "Definitely interested in checking out more. :)"

Thanks, Tiffany - hope what you find appeals to you!

[Jean]

And the winner of a signed bundle of 4 of my books is Wordwizard! Please send me your address and let me know whether you would like a dedication in any of the books.