Monday's Musings - In Love With A Warrior

Hello Readers! Welcome back to Monday's Musings. This week we talk about In Love With A Warrior. SO James Gunn is probably one of my most tortured heroes. I just love him and his braw (strong). He's definitely a hero to sigh over. And Emlyn, I wanted to smack her throughout the book, because she tried to thwart the relationship with James. I won in the end, lol.

James fell in love with Emyln at first sight. He's a man who knows what he wants, but unfortunately, he has to go through hell to get it. Emlyn is a woman who is ahead of her time, but when she risks losing James, she must figure out how to be herself and give in a little.

This was my first foray into medieval Wales and let me tell you, the stories I could write...which I plan to. It's as beautiful, stark, and magical as Scotland, and I am completely drawn to it. In researching for this story, I always try to bring actual historical figures into the tale. William Marshall, the son of the most famous knight of all time, was my villain. I had to make him a little chivalrous because his father would've had an impact on his behavior. He was somewhat gentle when it came to dealing with Emlyn.

I wanted Emlyn to have a pet (because you know how I love to include animals in my stories) and in my research for the kind of dog she would have, I cam across weird but true animal friendships. There was a dog and owl in Wales that befriended each other. I thought they'd make the perfect duo for our heroine. You can find out more about them here:  http://www.today.com/pets/magical-mates-owl-hitches-ride-dogs-back-739540

In Welsh mythology and literature, the Pair Dadeni (The Cauldron of Rebirth) is a magical cauldron able to revive the dead. I couldn’t resist including it in the story. I hope to one day explore Wales’ realms and see the awe-inspiring places that have enriched the folklore of that land. Additionally, Llywelyn is said to be the last great chieftain to rule Wales. David, the chieftain’s son, was unable to keep Wales from the powerful English king’s army and was executed for treason in 1283 by Edward I of England.

Ending a series is like breaking up with your hero. I was sad to leave the Gunns and sometimes I reread the stories because they're every Historical Romance lover's dream.

Join me next week and we'll begin delving into the remarkable tales of the Legend of the King's Guard, a series that takes place during the Wars of Independence.

Happy Historical Reading,

Kara Griffin

Monday's Musings - A Highlander In Peril

Hello Readers! So we continue our musings with A Highland In Peril. Confession here, as I was writing this story it gave me such contention. I wasn't sure I liked the story or the hero or heroine. By the time I finished it, I fell in love with them. Sean Gunn is such a gentle warrior and Frances, a spirited lass. It's funny, but readers really enjoyed their chemistry. I pulled my hair out to make them fall in love, lol. But it was worth the torment in the end.

As to the historical elements, I always try to enrich my stories with historical facts. I also love adding old tales or stories in them. The Fox and the Goose story was found on Electric Scotland and is a Scottish children's story. And if you've read the book, you probably enjoyed Mistress Ina's antics. I came across the story of Finn Mac Cool and the ballad 'Am Bròn Binn' on EducationScotland.gov.uk. She's a saucy woman for sure.

With Sean and Frances' story, I had to mix in a little drama on the part of Scotland's queen. Alexander married Joan when she was only eleven years old. Imagine that, marrying a man at such an age. Poor Joan, right? But Joan was close to her brother Henry, the king of England, at the time. She didn't have a strong position in Alexander's court. And Alexander was plagued during his rein with wanting the lands that were promised to him when he married her. The two kingdoms settled their disputes with the Treaty of York, which finally defined the boundary lines between the countries -- and which still stands today. So perhaps it's a good thing Alexander married Joan.

I loved that the characters all meet up again at the Gunn keep on Saint Swithin's Day. That holiday is endeared to me and I couldn't resist adding it again.

This book is probably the darkest Scottish romance I'd written. The villain is deceptive, but you get a sense of why he does what he does... During this time, people were fearful of superstitions and our villain uses such to get notoriety. He's truly a knave.

I hope you read the story if you haven't, and if you have, loved the story. In the end, it's truly a romantic tale worth your time.

Happy Historical Reading,

Kara Griffin

Monday's Musing - On A Highland Hill

One of the most wonderful things about writing fiction is weaving in historical details. I often find tidbits of history to include. In researching for this book, I investigated the live of Alexander II who was the king at the time and read that he'd been the first to use a royal standard (flag) for Scotland. I thought, hmmm, how did he come up with the idea, which sparked a heroine for our hero and her family saga.

Other historical bits I loved about this story is that the Scots had a tradition to bury the placenta beneath a tree. They believed if the tree weakened and died, the child would as well. Yet if the tree thrived, so would the child. I just love the old wives-tales. I think this one is linked to the Picts or ancient worship to the Gods, which may or may not have been carried out into the future. In my story, the Gunns would do so.

Sometimes as a writer the timeline of events doesn't match up, but it's enough to inspire the historical element into the story. I had to tweak just a little. As to the western lands of Scotland, it's true that Domhnall mac Raghnaill tried to keep the lands from both Haakon, the King of Norway, and Alexander II, the King of Scotland, though the fighting didn't really begin until around the year 1244 when Alexander tried to buy the lands from Norway without much success. Scotland invaded Norway's territories in 1249. We know how it ends and fortunately the western territory is part of Scotland's beautiful great nation.

If you've read on A Highland Hill you know that poor Kenneth is a warrior who is haunted by his past. Elisa does everything to save him. In the story, his horse ails and they spend the night in the stable, a round stable with more than one floor. In my research, I found that clans that had armies often had such large stables. I suppose the roundness of them was for a purpose, but what ??? I had to make Elisa a veggie lover in this book, which was inspired by my 2nd daughter. And of course, Elisa had to torment Kenneth to get him to realize how much he cared for her.

I absolutely loved writing this story and hoped you enjoyed reading it.

Happy Historical reading,

Kara Griffin

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 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

 

Monday's Musings - Author Notes

Hi Readers! So I was wondering if anyone ever reads the author's notes in the back of the book? I always include a note with some tidbits I've learned or researched while writing the book. As a reader, I love to find out how the author came to include certain themes/elements in the story.

For me book research is one of my favorite things about writing. I love when I find something that I can include in the story or to enrich a scene. Each Monday I will post a Monday's Musing post which will feature an Author's Note from one of my books and discussion about it. Also, I'll delve a little into the themes that are prevalent in the story.

I look forward to hearing what you think about it and want to see your comments, so PLEASE don't be shy - let me know!

I'm going to post the first Monday's Musing on 6/15/20.

As a treat, I think I'll pick a contributor/commentor to win a print copy of my new book release The Seduction of Laird Sinclair. So be sure to enter with your comments.

http://castlesandkisses.blogspot.com/

Happy Historical Reading,

Kara Griffin

Attack of Inspiration!

Often I get asked where do you get the inspiration for your books? For my historical novels, I do a lot of research and often come across a piece from the past that inspires a scene or a character. During my research I often find little tidbits that make me stop and make a note of a fact or historical figure. I can't help wanting to add or even find out more about such events or people.

In Claimed By A Charmer, I was watching BookTV and saw an interview about the movie The Magdalen Sisters. The author was speaking about real events that were shared in the story. One of the themes centered around the movie was how young girls were sent to the asylum by their parents. It inspired me to have Isabel being sent to an asylum and where she's saved by the hero. The asylum where she's sent is just as horrid as that depicted in the movie, and there are some dark events that take place.

In One And Only, I was researching medieval festivals and read about St. Swithin's Day. Of course I had to use it as the festival day when Bree goes missing as a small child. And I just loved the ditty about the festival too, and had her sing it.

In my newest story, On A Highland Hill, I wanted to put something historical in my story and was researching pinsels and found out that Alexander II was the first to use a royal standard of Scotland. In my story, a woman (of course fictitious) was sewing a banner for him and used some of the images in her pinsel for Alexander. There's also a little bit about what it means to be born on a certain day. Monday's child is ... You'll have to read the book to see :) but it's a fun bit of inspiration I got from research.

I know that many authors, like me, do try to be accurate about historical events, and so I try to weave them into my stories without compromising history too much.

Hope you enjoyed this little insight into where I get my inspiration.

Fondly,
Kara Griffin