A new segment on Castles & Kisses!

Hi Readers,

Welcome to my blog if you have not visited before. I try to keep up with it, but I am often so busy with writing books, promoting, and handling admin things to get on here and share something.

But now, I have a wonderful partner who will inspire me to write more in my blog. Meet Matilda!

Matilda was found by my husband in a pile of cocoa bean sacks in his warehouse. He knows what an animal lover I am, and so he brought her home. She's a tiny wee thing, and I have to bottle feed her. Of course, she had to be named after a famous queen, Queen Maud of Scotland. 

Matilda will share her musings with you as she learns how to be an important partner when I am writing. Let us hope that she doesn't walk across my computer, sit on it, or play with all the fascinating objects that surround me when I'm writing. We shall see.

Join us on Sunday mornings as we feature MATILDA'S MUSINGS.

Thank you, Readers, for your support and for welcoming Matilda.

Kara

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. 

Be sure to follow me on social media and my newsletter.

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/

Also, join my newsletter feed on Substack.

https://substack.com/@authorkaragriffin