Today is my character's birthday! May Day.

Yes, this is Gwen singing and Lin has issues with her mother.  But this is the movie that helped me conceive of Lin in the first place.  So there!  Now talk to me Lin and tell me more of your story, please?

March --Women's History Month

March is not just about brackets and hoops and madness.  Yes, I am caught up in that.  Go Hoosiers.  But all that aside, it is also Women's History month.  How better to celebrate than with an historical and feminist novel about a very strong woman struggling against oppresion and slavery?

So, very simple, to win an autographed copy of FIREBRAND or RECRUIT (winner's choice): 

Leave a comment here about women in history.  It could be someone from your personal history or a historic figure who you admire.  Leave a woman's name and why she's important to you.

On March 31, I'll draw a name from the entries and announce the winner.

Good luck!

FIREBRAND's 10th Anniversary Celebration

October 2012 sees the tenth anniversary of FIREBRAND's publication! My, how time has flown.  Lots has happened in the course of those ten years.  My granddaughter was about six months old then and she and I were the first people to see the wonderful cover art Trace Edward Zaber did for the book.  I cried, she grapped for the computer screen.  Then came the agonizing wait for the book to actually come out in October. 

Everything was worth it though.  Firebrand was in the top ten best sellers at Amber Quill Press for it's first year in print.  It earned nominations for the EPPIE and the Dream Realm Award, plus many stellar reviews.

Not long after it came out, my husband and I moved from South Dakota, returning to our native Indiana.  Sadly, I had to leave behind my beloved Black Hills Writers Group.  All the friends who had read and critiqued and made FIREBRAND the book that it is.  They are the best of friends.  I will always be grateful for all their love and support.  But even harder for me was having to leave the most awesome job in the universe: working for Lori Spiers at Everybody's Bookstore in Rapid City, SD.  I could write a whole blog post just on that, but I would start crying, so it would take a long time to do! 

After settling back into Hoosier land, I found the Indy Writer's Group.  Kate Chaplin, the founder of the Indy Writer, is an independent film maker.  She GETS Lin.  There has been talk about FIREBRAND the movie.  I have samples of the script in progress posted here.

2007 saw the release of book two of my House of Pendragon series--The Recruit.  It has earned several awards and loads of fabulous reviews, too.

The granddaughter who was 6 months old when FIREBRAND was published will be 10 herself in a few weeks,  She now has a four year old brother!  They are, of course, awesome!

And that brings us to today.  It has been ten years.  The time has flown by.  It may not be a huge seller, but I am glad I went with Amber Quill Press because I doubt it would still be in print for me to be celebrating. 

FIREBRAND's 10th Anniversay Celebration

October 2012 sees the tenth anniversary of FIREBRAND's publication! So I want to celebrate with my family, friends and fans! Watch this space every month for a special prizes. This month I have wall poster/2013 calendar with the Firebrand cover art.


Authors are often asked: do you have a favorite character? For me it's: Dafydd or Lin? I'd like to propose a variant of that. Which character do you admire more: Lin or Dafydd or another? Why? Which do you relate to more closely?

Or do you just have a favorite or least favorite character you want to talk about?

Just leave comment here before Saturday and you'll be in the drawing.

Episode #86--Arthur ap Morfudd

The Wheatsheaf

From the moment he set foot in the crowded and noisy ale house, Arthur regretted his decision to follow Margisia.  It wasn't the work he minded--serving ale and food to the endless ranks of customers--merchants, soldiers.  If they had coins, Margisia welcomed one and all.  It wasn't the lowly kitchen duties either; the mountain high stacks of p[ots and cups to wash and re-wash.  Arthur didn't mind working for his room and board under Margisia's roof, such as that was.  They did not lack for food, but room?  He and Sian huddled on the floor in the kitchen, trying to stay warm and quickly falling into exhausted sleep.

But Sian had been right about the woman's profession.  And Sian had been right not to trust her.  

Arthur had even wondered if they would have been better off staying with the slave trader.  Then he saw his friend nimbly dodge another groping hand at his backside.  It seemed it was the same either way.  At least they were still together.  

Arthur paused from his tasks to watch a man enter the smoke-filled alehouse.  There something different about the man.  Different from the merchants and soldiers he usually served.  Arthur immediately recognized the man's dress and adornments.  And the tattoos.  Arthur stroked the hound that had been worked into his skin and caught Sian's attention.

"Sian," he said.  "Have a look at the newcomer.  That table over there."  He had reverted to the tongue of his forebears.  What the Saesneg, the English,  around him called Welsh.  He did not wish to lose that connection to his past, so he and Sian used it whenever possible.

Sian nodded.  The boys spoke a few moments, wondering about the stranger until Margisia's shadow fell on them.

"Lazy lie-abouts!  I give you food and lodging in exchange for work, not for you to wile away time in gossip."  She thrust mugs of ale at Arthur.

He took them as she pointed to a table of merchants a few steps away.  The merchants were well-dressed, no doubt wanting to flaunt their wealth in public.  They were also already well in their cups when Arthur set the fresh mugs in front of them.  He removed the empty cups and began to turn away, when he felt a hand on his forearm.

"You have a pretty mouth, boy," the merchant said, caressing Arthur's arm.

Arthur froze, repulsed by the merchant--his touch, his words.

The merchant's grip grew firmer and Arthur reacted.  He twisted free of the merchant, holding his head proud.  He did not mind the work, but this?  This he would not allow.  He would not bebase himself in that way.

The rest happened so quickly, Arthur could bearly make sense of it.  One instant, Margisia was hissing an order into his ear and the next the newcomer with the tattos was at their side.  Whatever the man's intentions, Arthur knew better than to interrupt the man's lies.  Arthur even bowed his head when the man glared down at him in anger.  He watched, incredulous, as the man pulled out a handful of gold coins and gave them to Margisia.

The man then spun on his heel, barking an order for Arthur and Sian to make haste and follow.

Neither boy hestitated.  They had no belongings to gather.

Sian gripped Arthur's arm as soon as they were outside.  "Have we been rescued from one nightmare for another," he said in their native tongue.

"I might be your worst nightmare," the stanger said, also in Cymraeg.  "My name is Braith."

Arthur was still trembling from the ordeal.  But he was not surprised to hear the same language from the man.  Feeling unclean, he stroked his tattoo again.

"Diolch," he said, never feeling more grateful.



Finding your characters come to life while shopping

Gareth of Orkney works at our local Meijer! Well, at least as I see the character. Same shoulder-length, straight, dark blonde hair. Tied back in a ponytail, with the front strands falling free. Everything about his face was just as I see Gareth when I’m writing. I even got to see him twice while I was shopping. Makes me want to make up excuses to shop there. Oh! I need a pack of gum. Need to go to Meijer, hun!

Seeing that young man, though got me thinking, which prompted me to write this blog. As I was driving home, it was like his spirit was returning to me. His character. I sensed his smile, like when I’m on a roll writing a scene with him and Lin. I sensed him wanted to be with Lin. That’s been too long for him since we’ve been crafting the story.

I realize this third book has been nearly impossible for me to write. It has taken far too long. I think part of it is Lin’s reluctance to relate her love of Gareth with Ris listening. And it’s like she resists me. But with the return of Gareth practically in the flesh—well, neither of us can ignore the issue. If it’s a reminder to me, it must be for her, too. She cared too much for him. Maybe this is a prompt to get us both to take up the story again.

medieval-novels.com: Once Upon a Time Episode 41: Arthur ap Morfudd

medieval-novels.com: Once Upon a Time Episode 41: Arthur ap Morfudd: A Jar of Honey   Debra A. Kemp Still singing, Arthur rounded a corner.   He fell silent as he took in the sight before him.   A man on ho...