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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Say what!? “Whit dae ye cry thon yin?”

“Whit dae ye cry thon yin?” Translates to: "What do you call that one?"

Hello Readers -

It's been a while since I posted here on my blog. Writing life has been busy but I wanted to take a moment to talk about books and reading. With my latest book release {Bride Takes a Scot} some reviewers are not too fond of my writing style. Meaning that I write more modern/contemporary in my medieval/historical romances.

There is a reason for this. I have been an avid reader since my teen years and I love Historical Romances. In devouring books, I realized that I liked books that didn't get too heavy on dialect or with political events {sometimes difficult to follow or read IMO}.

So in writing my stories, I try not to bog the reader down with dialect or drone on about what is happening politically. Imagine reading words like Shakespeare had written. Even writing Scottish words or phrases can STOP a reader. I don't want to stop and sound out the word or try to figure out what it means. I add, hopefully, enough words to add historical context or historical feel to my books without getting too intricate.

So Readers, what do you think? Do you find some names/words that are accentuated or written as they would have back in medieval times jarring? Or do you like to see such things in books?

Be sure to check out my latest book series out now at Dragonblade Publishing - Highland Vows & Vengeance, sort of like a medieval soap opera filled with family drama. Readers seem to be enjoying the first book Bride Takes a Scot, and I hope you do too.

Wishing you much love on Valentines Day! Hope you enjoy the day with people you love.

Fondly,

Kara Griffin

P.S. I have a new Instagram page. medievalromancebykara so please follow me at:

https://www.instagram.com/medievalromancebykara/

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https://substack.com/@authorkaragriffin

Places and Castles - THE LEGEND OF THE KING'S GUARD

More Places and Castles from my books! Legend of the King's Guard is a series I wrote a couple of years ago. I got the idea for the story when a TV commercial came on for the A-Team, you may or may not remember that TV show. Anyway, my heroes are mercenaries who help others, they are outlaws because they were witnesses to Robert the Bruce murdering Comyn at Greyfriars. These stories are somewhat darker-toned.

The men have defied RTB and returned to the mainland against his orders. So the places are scattered throughout Scotland in these books.

With the folklore of RTB, my heroes hide out in a cave close to Edinburgh and Stirling.

And because they didn't stay in keeps or castles, my heroes were often on the road, rescuing their heroines or saving someone from peril.

When our heroes finally do return home, it's to the open arms of their clans.

I hope you enjoyed this little insight into the places in the Legend of the King's Guard series.

Kara

PLACES AND CASTLES - The Gunn Guardsman series

The Gunn Guardsman series was the avenue to me being obsessed with Highlander romance. I wrote Highlanders in the Pith series, but the men in the Gunn Guardsman books really inspired me. They have such a connection, a brotherhood that makes them the perfect Highland heroes.

In One and Only, we meet the Gunn clan. The Gunn's clan home was built near Wick, Scotland. As you can see, the original building was destroyed by the fierce king of Norway. The Gunn's home was attacked and destroyed and many of the clan were killed.

The artistic reconstruction by Andrew Spratt shows how the castle may have looked in 1250.

In On A Highland Hill, one of my favorite stories - Kenneth and Elisa had such a turbulent relationship. There are various places listed in the book. Even though I didn't write about Fingal's cave, it is on MacQuarrie's property, Elisa's home.

In A Highlander In Peril, we visit various places as well. Our story starts with our villain. He's in Selkirk, Scotland doing his vile deeds...

We also visit Maiden's Castle, but alas, it was a wooden fort back in the day. The remains are sadly lost to us forever.

In the last book, In Love With a Warrior - we travel afar and spend some time in Wales. I must say I absolutely fell in love with Wales while writing this book. It is just as magical as Scotland. Here is a picture of the seat of Emlyn's home, long gone - but you can see how amazing it is.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the books of The Gunn Guardsman series. I loved all the books and the heroes and heroines. I love revisiting those stories when I can. I hope, if you read them, you enjoy them too.

 

Places & Castles - Claimed By A Charmer and Lass' Valor

Today in the monthly theme of Places & Castles, we look at the places in the books CLAIMED BY A CHARMER AND LASS' VALOR. These books are part of a three-book series, The Pith Trilogy.

In Claimed By A Charmer, our villain is at Fairview Asylum, trying to secure a place for his sister. He's a vile villain who has dubious plans for her. In medieval times, it was easy to place someone in an asylum. You just needed a connection and some coins. Below are examples of what an asylum might have looked like.

 

Our Heroine spends time with her relatives, the Gordons where she befriends a lass. They make promises to each other when our heroine is called home.

At the Kerr Clan keep in the Highlands of Scotland, our Hero is coerced to retrieve our Heroine from a nasty place - Fairview.

This story will take you to various places. You'll enjoy the vivid descriptions and characterization of our hero and heroine.

In Lass' Valor, we are visiting King Henry, a relative of the heroine in Warrior's Pledge. Our heroine becomes embroiled in helping a young child return home to the Highlands. From England to Scotland, we traipse the lands and end the tales of The Pith Trilogy. Below is Whitehall Castle in its latter days. It was in use during medieval times as a residence for England's kings.

Be sure to comment to be entered to win a print copy of one of my books (US only) or download. Next up, we'll be talking about the places in the Gunn Guardsman series.