Want a little medieval with your mystery?

I'm excited to share with you a little about my new writing project. I often include a mystery element in my books and I thought why not focus on a mystery series.

I have begun the research, plot elements, the murders, the heroes, heroines, villains, romance! I cannot wait to get started with the first book which I'll be working on nearer to summertime.

I am such an avid murder mystery tv buff and I love cozy mysteries. Of course, I will be featuring some medieval Scottish villages, quirky villagers and people, horrid murders, and BONUS -- a romance.

Can't wait to share more with you as I get closer to beginning this great series. 

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Monday's Musing - One & Only

Hi Readers! Welcome back. Today we look at the research/inspiration for One & Only, the first book in the highly rated and acclaimed book one in the Gunn Guardsman series.

It's funny how I always begin my books with an idea and it rolls into a series. That was the case with this series. I wanted to write Graeme's story and more stories formulated for the other men in the story. But first...let's start at the beginning. So I got the idea thinking about a young lass who was troublesome and the lad she tormented because we know girls always bother the boys especially at young ages. I always pestered my brothers and the boys who played outside on our street, but that's me...a minx.

The beginning of the story was inspired by the idioms don't throw the baby out with the wash water dates back to the 1500's. In medieval times, people shared bathwater and by the time the baby was bathed in it, the water was so murky the baby was in danger of being tossed out. Most believe this idiom means don't do something which you'll regret. 

Also, I loved the spare the rod, spoil the child idiom. Since Bree was a little vixen and because she was so cute and adorable no one wanted to punish her when she did wrong (which was often.) The meaning: children would become weak or vulnerable if not chastised, physically or otherwise, for any wrongdoing. Perhaps that is true, but no spoilers here :)

I think it's fun to include sayings from earlier time periods, especially those that no longer exists or known today. And I loved King William in this story. In researching him, I found that he had some illegitimate children and I thought hmmm.... So Aubrey/Bree was born to him.

A lot of the scenes in this story was inspired by images I found on the web or those on the Pinterest board. Check them out here: https://www.pinterest.com/karagriffin/one-and-only-gunn-guardsman-1/

And a song that played on repeat while I was writing it was Mayday Parade's "We Were Kids In Love" Quite inspiration. 

Also I have never been a good cook. I can be when I want to be, but I though I would make my heroine a great cook and everyone loves her food. The theme can be found throughout the book because it is Bree's "go to" when she's upset or needs something to distract her.

If you've read the book or may want to there are a good many researched themes within. For example, medieval people had many festivals and feasts in honor of all sorts of things. There is a wonderful holiday the ancients celebrated called Saint Swithin's Day. It coincided with the harvest festival. I find it sad that some of our ancestor's holidays fell by the wayside. Saint Swithin's Day is like America's Ground Hog Day in that it foretold the weather as an 'old wives tale.' There's a cute song that goes with it:

St. Swithin's day, if thou dost rain,

For forty days it will remain;

St. Swithin's day, if thou be fair,

For forty days 'twill rain na mair.

In the story there are two lords who are featured: MacHethe and MackWilliams, who were indeed after King William's crown and then his son, Alexander's. There was a lot of turmoil embedded within their trying to usurp the kings, but all were squelched by the growing strength of the Scottish kings.

There's also reference regarding executions. In those times many people were mainly executed with men by hanging and women by drowning (pit and gallows). The Scots were superstitious and continued to practice Norse law (especially north and in the Highlands) where the men were sent to Woden (hanging by wood) and the women were given to Ran (a sea goddess, drowning.)

This was a fun series to research and I was like a kid in a candy store when I found bits of history to add to the story. If you've read One & Only, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Tune in next week and we'll talk about On A Highland Hill. Two of my favorite people - Kenneth and Elisa!

Happy Historical Reading,

Kara Griffin

Monday's Musing - Lass' Valor

Inspiration for Brendan MacKinnon 

Today we delve into the backstory and inspirational research for Lass' Valor, the 3rd book in the Pith Trilogy. The 13th century is my favorite historical time frame to write in. I don't know why it appeals so much to me. Perhaps it's because it's been romanticized so much with courtly love, chivalry, knights in shining armor... 

In the last book of the Pith Trilogy, I thought of a lass who could take care of herself and yet hopes to find love. Kaitlin's father has left her an orphan and her guardian means to use her to gain the wealthy possession her father sent her from the crusade. She's taken to the guardian's home and finds a wee lass there. Kaitlin loves children and she can do nothing but rescue the child.

Brendan is probably the fiercest warrior in the clan. He's superstitious and has prebattle rituals (which is a throwback to his ancestors). Researching the warrior's rituals was inspiring, especially because the Scots were fearless in their pursuit of war. They fought with passion and typically for something that meant a great deal to them. They were dedicated to their clansmen and country and resigned to fight to the death for their sovereign or lord or even for the ideal of an important matter.

Kaitlin has a cat who was inspired by my own sweet kitty Trixie. I got to enjoy 19 years with my persnickety feline. She passed to kitty heaven in 2008, and sadly not a day goes by that I don't think about her. But I found a cat Princess Pearl who greatly resembles Trixie in her mannerisms. Yeah, she's a bitch too. lol. But I still love her. I told you animals were a typical thing in my stories, and I hope they add a sweetness to the characters.

I couldn't help but make Brendan a cantankerous sort of fellow. He's been a quiet sort in the previous books and keeps to himself mostly, until his story comes to light. Though he's close to his brothers, he's kind of an outsider within his clan. Then he meets Kaitlin and everything changes for him. But he must be accepting or else he'll lose all.

I find in life sometimes it is hard to accept life's choices or to even make them. The fear is what if it's a mistake, what if what I hope happens, doesn't? I suppose that's how life is...to go forth and not look back. Make the most of the situation you're in and follow your heart, right? I kept telling my characters that and fortunately in the end, they listened.

Happy Historical Reading,

Kara Griffin

Monday's Musings - Claimed By A Charmer

Hi Readers, welcome back to Monday's Musings. Early on in writing my books, I didn't include an Author Note, but I will discuss some of the elements in the second book in the Pith Trilogy. In case you didn't know Pith means love. So the books are really the love trilogy :)

Today I'm talking about Claimed By A Charmer (one of my favorite books) although, I love all the stories I've written. This book is kind of dear to my heart. The heroine Isabel is probably the character I most identify myself with.

Her backstory - she has a terrible home life and gets to go to her uncles where she meets a friend. They have a lifelong friendship and Isabel falls hard for her friend's brother. Unfortunately, Isabel has an unruly father, a despicable brother, and a brother who she loves dearly.

Douglas is every lass's dream. He's ever the charmer and captures Isabel's affection (well not really) from the moment they meet.

SO the musing -- This story came to me on a Sunday morning as I was watching some book related show (can't remember the name now, but it was on PBS) and they were discussing a movie The Magdalene Sisters. If you don't recall it, it was about {Three young Irish women struggle to maintain their spirits while they endure dehumanizing abuse as inmates of a Magdalene Sisters Asylum.}

Isabel's story instantly came to me while I listened to some of the horrible things the girls endured in the movie. Though the movie was set in Ireland, my story takes place in Scotland -- and also the asylum Isabel is sent to is one that is ruled by an awful caretaker, not nuns. So there are vast differences. I just imagined what would my heroine do if she was sent to such a place and the story wrote itself.

Isabel makes me want to be courageous, to face the world head on, and win. She's a gentle woman faced with dark moments. But she also is kind and wants to save the world.

Douglas is a swoon-worthy hero, although he saves Isabel a few times, he's also saved by her. Mentioned in the story is Douglas's stepmother who has a tattoo. People have been putting images on their bodies forever - going back to ancient times of the Picts etc. So that she had one wasn't really a stretch. I love that element of the story because Douglas needs it to prove to Isabel he loves her. No spoilers here lol.

Poor Douglas unfortunately makes an enemy who hexes him throughout the book. But he doesn't know who is causing the trouble. When he finds out, he's relieved he made certain choices in his life. The mystical element is underlying and not the focus of the book, but it make for an interesting twist to the story. I had a great time researching potions, hexes, and mystical chants.

The themes of this book are rich with friendship, family, courage, and love.

I hope you enjoyed this insight into the book and its research.

Stop back and we'll take a look at Lass' Valor next week.

Happy Historical Reading,

Kara Griffin

Monday's Musings - Warrior's Pledge

Warrior's Pledge was my first book. I will never forget the love and heart that went into that book. Unfortunately, I hadn't included an author note, but below, you'll find some of the ideas and research that went into the story.

The inspiration for Warrior's Pledge came about from a dream I had while I was sleeping in the car on the way home during an 18 hour drive from Chicago. Of course I'd been an avid Historical Romance reader at the time and was devouring books at least one per day then.

When I got home, I got on the computer and started writing. The name Julianna was inspired by my Great-great-grandmother. Of course I had to add a little magical element in the story which is where Julianna's friend Bleeth comes in. The heroine's story came to me and I researched King John's life and learned his father King Henry II had many mistresses and children out of wedlock (but didn't they all!) I wanted her to be related to John and so I made her his sister via his father. Her story begins as a young girl who witnesses her mother's death - but as all children of a young age, memories are hard to decipher. 

{This actually is a personal connection for me. My father died when I was four. Through my life memories have come to me of him. When I spoke of them to my mom, she clarified the actual situation. Of course I had a different view as a child so it was nice to find out the reality of my memories.}

Colin's life was filled with turmoil with the dysfunction of his family (his parents had a terrible relationship - but no spoilers here lol). He has a good relationship with his brothers and clan, but doesn't think he's capable of love. Perhaps Juliana will prove him wrong on that matter.

In this book, I enjoyed the descriptive scenes of the Scottish landscape. Because I was landlocked here in the US I did extensive research and fell in love with its stark beauty. It's said that during Pangaea Scotland was connected to North America around the north eastern part of the US. I have lived in Pennsylvania and there are many similarities of the land there, rocky mountainous places, streams, lakes, etc. When the Highland clearances happened in the 1600's many Scots found their way to Pennsylvania. I like to think they settled there because it reminded them of home.

George, the goat in the story, was inspired by a dog we once had that was such a trouble-maker. He wouldn't stay out when he was supposed to or in. I love adding animals/pets to my story. Animals have always been a part of human's life and adding them makes characters more interesting and lifelike.

That's it for now :) Be sure to check back next week when I share inspiration/research bits about Claimed By A Charmer.

Happy Historical Reading!

Kara Griffin

 

The final book in the Legend of the King's Guard series is finally here!

A besotted heart cannot be denied ...


Brodin Grant is sent to serve the imminent King Robert after he’s embroiled in a downtrodden affair, one he wishes he’d never favored. Now mistrusting of women, he’s must aid the bonny lass who searches for the King’s Guard.


Dallis Buchanan never envisaged her sojourn to England would bring her and her deaf grandmother such turmoil. In the hands of one of England’s most daunting warlords, she is sent to bring the renowned King’s Guard to their knees or to his dungeon. For her compliance, she’ll gain the freedom of her grandmother and safe passage back to her clan. But there’s one wee problem with this mission, and that is the undeniable feelings she has for the blue-eyed Highland guardsman.


As Scotland’s wars intensify to win their freedom, Brodin loses his heart to the winsome beauty. Battles ensue, bringing about Brodin’s alliance with the Buchanans. Unfortunately, it also brings him the misfortune of having to accept Dallis as his own. Their undeniable hearts cannot withstand the love that has joined them forevermore. Will they resist the inevitable?





Get it now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MP9PPLS


Reviewers, please reach out if you would like a copy for review. Thanks!


Fondly,

Kara Griffin

A little history goes a long way

Adding intrigue and history to romance ~

One of the things I love about writing fiction is that you can pretty much improvise wherever you wish in the book. BUT and that's a big but, historical romance readers often know their history and adding things in the story that really couldn't have happened, can often bring some negative comments from readers. I know as an author, I want to ensure the accuracy of the historical elements that I add. I will sometimes tweak them to suit my character's needs, but will remark on it at the end of the book in an author's note.

I absolutely love research. Some authors may hate it, but for me it inspires. I often get ideas from reading historical webpages, books, and articles. Doing this research helps to flavor the story with an accuracy of the time, which is extremely important to the reader.

In One & Only - Gunn Guardsman Series (book 1), the king, King William of Scotland was reputed to having many bastards. I of course used that to my advantage by making the heroine one of them. And I wanted William seen in a good light, so I had him be caring and thoughtful of the child. I think William is one of the most wonderful kings of Scotland and I enjoyed my research of him.

In On A Highland Hill - Gunn Guardsman Series (book 2), the king, King Alexander (in my research) I learned he was the first to use a standard of Scotland (flag). That fact inspired me to have the heroine's sister create a pinsel for the young Alexander. The king did indeed have some rough years there and I weaved that in, along with the creation of the pinsel to bring about a little mystery.

A Highlander In Peril - Gunn Guardsman Series (book 3), I loved reading about court life in Scotland. It probably wasn't as vicious a place as England's court, but ladies did have to be careful. Our heroine (must like myself) wouldn't want to be embroiled in the political drama. Again, King Alexander makes a showing, and must ensure the villain is the culprit before enacting his punishment. Although I think the king probably would've just had him hanged or beheaded without proof, I trust that King Alexander was a reasonable king.

In In Love With A Warrior - Gunn Guardsman Series (book 4), I take you to Wales. The rich and wonderful history of that country filled my heart. I am sure going to have to consider writing a series there! Llwyelen Iorwerth, the unofficial king of Wales, one of the Princes, was a great leader and did indeed meet in battles against Sir William Marshall's (the greatest knight that ever lived) son. I would've loved to have made the younger Marshall more villainous, but I couldn't do so. He had to have taken on some of his father's gallantry and so how he deals with our heroine must be considered. The Wales king was indeed one that I enjoyed getting to know.

So readers, when you're immersed in a historical romance, please know that many of the fiction your reading is woven with some historical fact. I know many historical authors take pride in ensuring the places, time, people are as accurate as we can make them.

Happy Reading,
Kara Griffin

What kind of character would you be?

After writing my last book, One & Only (and truly being sad to leave the characters) it got me to thinking, what kind of character would I be if I were written into a story?

For me, I would have to say I'd be an elegant lady in medieval times. I would have to be from a wealthy family, because let's face it - unless you were born of a noble household or married into one, life was pretty darn difficult (and dirty) lol. I would have to have servants, who I would treat kindly, because an elegant lady treats everyone with kindness. I am not sure though that I'd be amiable to the obey thy lord. I have never obeyed anyone, lest of all my husband (who I adore, and he knows all he has to do is ask...) I dislike being commanded. That would probably be the only flaw in choosing that character. I suppose I would have to be extra sweet to my lord, laird, or king so he would purchase me fabulous material for my gowns.

So who would you be? Would you be a villain? What era would you want to be in? Contemporary? Whose author's characters do you relate to? For me it would have to be Julie Garwood's because she writes such elegant medieval ladies. If I had chosen contemporary, I would have to say Lizzie T. Leaf's characters are pretty awesome, and if I wanted to be kick-ass or vampish, I'd have to say Marie Treanor's characters would suit me.

Writing characters can be fun, but oftentimes it is difficult for writers to let them go. The good news is, for the next couple of months, I'll be sharing my story, One & Only with you, and hope you enjoy it.

Fondly,
Kara Griffin



Image credit: aspenphoto / 123RF Stock Photo

Love and courtship

As Valentine's Day approaches, it got me to thinking of courtship and love -- and of how men treated women in medieval times. I'd like to think men have always respected women as they deserved, but alas, that is not the case. Back in medieval times women were property, plain and simple. They were either "purchased" if they were of noble birth or subjected to the rule of men in their family or those of higher nobility.

Women were the heart of the family in all things. Times haven't changed much in that regard, have they? We're still the heart -- taking care of our men and handling all matters.

Then came the crusades. I suppose we women should be thankful for them (though they certainly did not attain what the church had set out accomplish)... Men learned much on the long journey to fight for what they believed religious salvation. What they learned and what women learned upon their return was their men missed them. And so began the rights of courtship.

Men began their objective of winning the hand of their fair lady. To risk one's life in a joust, in a duel to death, in political dealings...men wagered much back then. Perhaps women (I'd like to think) made them try a little too hard. Many a men sent a verse of prose, revealing their heart's desire (or hired someone to write it for them). Times haven't changed much. I doubt most men have a flair for writing love notes.

Declarations of love were assuredly for more purposes than pleasure. And boy did we women fall for it. I suppose the gallantry would have won me over.

And so as this Valentine's Day approaches and the thought of love comes to our minds, I hope with all my heart that what those poor men subjected themselves to was and still is today -- cherished.

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Find out how a medieval warrior attests his love and how she brings him to his knees in One and Only, a Scottish romance, a new book by Kara Griffin. Coming soon.

Kara Griffin
www.karagriffin.webs.com
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