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

Ten things you didn't know about Kara Griffin

Adores her husband, her ultimate hero
Born/raised in the city of Philadelphia
Favorite place, any of the New Jersey beaches YO!
Is a Gemini
Wants to visit Scotland (sometime soon)
Hates shopping of any kind
Eats Doritos without guilt
Wishes she could quit her day job
Watches Ancient Aliens and has a crush on Giorgio
Is a romantic

Forensics in medieval times? TRUE or FALSE

Hello readers, it's been a while since I posted and I apologize. My excuse ... LIFE. Working full time really limits the writing life, which really saddens me. I wish I could be immersed in writing all day. I wanted to share a little about my latest book release.

A Highlander In Peril is a Scottish historical. There's an evil villain loose, one that could be portrayed as a psychopath. And that leads our hero and heroine on a perilous course. In my story, the hero's friend likes to meddle with medicinals and has an ability to see details that others might miss. With his abilities, they can figure out how lasses died and what each of the murders has in common -- which ultimately and hopefully -- will lead them to the killer.

Now I won't give anything away, but this led me to thinking about medieval times and if people had such talents. Believe it or not, but forensic science has been used since the Roman era/days. You can read more about it on Sarah Woodbury's site. She has some really incredible information there.

http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/medieval-forensics/

So the answer to the question is TRUE! There really were forensics being performed in medieval times.

Here's a sneak peek at A Highlander In Peril (the scene is where they've discovered a body)... ~Enjoy.

Excerpt:

Nearing the clearing where the men stood, Sean slowed and noticed Jacob walking the outlying perimeter. He and James dismounted, as did the two others, and they waited for Jacob to reach them.
“My lord, I found a few odd things around the body.”
“Show us. James is here to help.” Sean motioned for Jacob to lead the way.
Jacob knelt close to the body and they leaned in.
“Her undergarments are here,” he said, and displaced a bit of debris covering the cloth with a stick.
“Whoever did this took his time and placed them with care. He was undisturbed and took his leisure,” James said, assessing the area. “It’s remote.”
Sean agreed by nodding. “Why would he place them so neatly and carefully?”
“He cared about her,” this came from Jacob.
James took the stick and lifted the hem of her gown, which had risen to the base of her knees. He lifted the fabric higher and lowered his head to look beneath.
“There’s no abrasions on her legs or any indication that she’d been fleeing.” He moved to where her head was and crouched. “Her eyes were closed when she died.” James continued to study the body, and when Sean tried to ask him a question, James held up a hand.
He should’ve known better than to interrupt him when he was studying. Sean and the others waited in silence.
“She’s been poisoned. Aye, see the black roughness of her lips? I deem it was either belladonna or thorn apple seeds.” James continued to inspect the body.
Sean knelt next to him and noticed the blackened of her lips as well. “What is the significance of the stem?”
James used the stick and tried to dislodge it from her hands. When it came free, he picked it up and pieces fell away from its brittleness. “It’s from a rose, there are thorns. It was a thick flower given the width of the stem, fully grown.”
“Anything else of significance?” Sean frowned at the scene. For even though there was no evidence of blood, it was still gruesome.
“Aye, there’s a piece of her gown missing, near the bottom of the hem. He cut it away and took a piece of her garment as remembrance.”
“He loved her,” this came from Jacob, who stood a few inches behind them.
“We need to find out who she was involved with before her death. There had to be someone. Frances said Lombard’s steward, Bantrum, had a fondness for Winifred. Mayhap he killed her. We’ll have to look into it.” Sean realized none of the men showed their true regard for what they looked at. Except for the few men who wouldn’t move forward and stood afar. One of them continued to retch at the base of a nearby tree.
“I don’t see any wounds and no blood stains on her garments,” James said. He removed his tartan and set it on the ground. He started to roll the body over onto the fabric, and Sean hastened to help. James searched the back of her body for wounds or sign of death, but didn’t remark on any.
Sean helped to lift her body and set it on the tartan. James wrapped her and he helped carry and secure her to a horse. Once they returned to the spot where she’d lain, James stared, seemingly in his own mind.
“Is there anything else of note?” Sean asked him.
James nodded. “Aye, she was killed when it was cold.”
“How do you know that?” Jacob asked.
“There was no growth beneath her when she was set here. The grass had died off long before.”
“Do you deem she was killed elsewhere and placed here?” Sean realized James was right, for there nothing was beneath her and he wondered if the killer had cleared the spot. “It is isolated here. No one would have seen her unless they happened upon her as did you, Jacob.”
James held his chin, in deep thought and then spoke, “She was somewhat protected by the elements, with the large tree trunks blocking the wind from ravaging her.”
“It doesn’t appear that animals got to her.” Sean didn’t like this one bit, not one wee bit.
James grunted. “I’d say she’s been dead many months. Because of where she’d been placed, she was kept dry and safe. Her skin is decayed and yet not as much as I’d assume, unless she’d been put here in late winter. She was positioned here on purpose.”
“He wanted to protect her,” this came from Jacob.
“But he didn’t want us to find her. Let us get her home.” Sean was glad he’d kept Frances away, for she would have been deeply affected by the sight.


***
A Highlander In Peril is available now on Amazon.

I do hope you've enjoyed this little peek.

~Kara

Purchase at:
In Print $12.99
https://www.createspace.com/4891247
In eBook: B00M4IL96K $5.99
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M4IL96K


Facebook Fan Page: http://tinyurl.com/nl4ckpf
Pinterest/Inspiration: http://www.pinterest.com/karagriffin/
Website: http://karagrif66.wix.com/authorkaragriffin
Amazon Author Page

Help me in welcoming Christy Gissendaner to Castles & Kisses!

Unmasking the Wolf
Christy Gissendaner

Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Taliesin Publishing

Number of pages: 130
Word Count: 43,898

Book Description:

Gina Moretti is determined to escape her rural home of Clinton, Indiana, a place where wolves have met, married, and mated for generations. As the only daughter of the alpha, she’s lived her entire life under her father’s rule. No way is she ready to find a mate until she’s experienced more of the world. Against her family’s wishes, she goes to Boston where her scientist cousin, Dominic, has offered to give her a place to stay. She stumbles, quite literally, into her cousin’s gorgeous boss.

Lucas Mason, a Southern boy turned self-made millionaire, rose above his poverty stricken childhood and now enjoys a life of luxury in Boston. To honor his murdered sister, he hires her lab partner to continue their research. His employee, Dominic Moretti, is on the brink of creating a method to combat the scent of a wolf when his country cousin breezes in. Luke knows in an instant that Gina is his mate. The only problem is…she doesn’t even realize he’s a wolf.

As Luke and Dominic get closer to medical trials, an unknown enemy becomes determined to stop them…at any cost. Can Luke discover his foe in time to protect his research…and his mate? And what will happen when Gina finds out he’s not quite as human as he’s led her to believe?

http://youtu.be/zcyatUihuBM


Short Excerpt
“Ahhh,” she cried out as she tumbled toward the floor. A pair of strong arms clamped around her and jerked her back to her feet. Embarrassed beyond belief, her cheeks flamed with the knowledge she’d just made a fool of herself. In front of Dominic’s boss, no less. It didn’t take a brain scientist to realize the handsome, make that extremely handsome, man before her was Luke Mason.
He was sex-on-a-platter hot. Chiseled cheekbones, firm jaw, unbelievably straight nose, and a teensy weensy dimple in the center of his chin. This man was a living, breathing Greek god.
“Are you okay?” Piercing green eyes locked with hers as Luke’s grip on her arms slowly loosened.
Gina felt a jolt in the pit of her stomach. Despite Dominic’s warning to blend in, she sniffed the air. She had to. Something about this man called to her animal nature. But there was nothing. Not a trace of the wolf scent. Despite his unbelievable height and incredible physique, only the scent of sandalwood and spice came to her. Disappointment swamped her. He was human.
Luke continued to watch her. Gina knew he waited for her to speak, but her tongue refused to budge. She’d known he would be good-looking, but the newspaper article hadn’t done him full justice. Instead of a suit, he wore casual jeans and a dark blazer. He had the sort of hair that would curl in the rain. She didn’t know how she knew it. She just did. The golden-brown waves were delightfully rumpled in the middle of his head, as if he’d just risen from bed.
Gina gave a tiny moan at the thought of him rising naked from the sheets. He would be gloriously golden, with a tight belly and even tighter buttocks. Physical need rocked her to the core. What was up with lusting after a human? Was it merely the fact he was every woman’s wet dream, or something more?
His sensual lips curved into a sexy smile as he scrubbed a hand over his belly. “Hell of sharp elbow you have there.”
“Oh God, I’m so sorry.” Gina wanted to sink through the floor. Why was she always such a klutz?
“Don’t worry about it.” He drawled in a soft, slow tone.
She’d read he was originally from Jackson, Mississippi. The Southern accent was unbelievably sexy, but not nearly as sexy as the man himself. His face was a mixture of Hollywood leading man and mixed martial arts fighter. He was gorgeous, yet hard. She could easily visualize him serenading a woman one moment, and then fighting to protect her next.


About the Author:
Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes that laughter and love should go hand in hand.

Christy lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!

To find out more, please visit http://christygissendaner.webs.com

http://www.twitter.com/christygis

http://www.facebook.com/christygis

http://www.goodreads.com/christygissendaner

Want more Scots?

Coming very soon in print and ebook!

ON A HIGHLAND HILL

They were destined to meet, but they never expected to fall in love…

His tormented soul

Kenneth McInnish, guardsman for the powerful Gunn Clan, is not prepared for the tender devotion from the lass his clan steals from the king. Tricked into marrying her, he decides to make the best of it. But it’s her kisses that win him over to the fact that he just might enjoy being wedded. Beneath Kenneth’s wounded heart lies a protector. But Elisa is more than capable of taking care of herself. The only place he’s sure of himself with her is at night when he shares the most passionate experiences of his life.

Her giving nature

Elisa always thought she’d wed the ruthless warrior who abducted her. When she finds out the truth behind her abduction and is mercifully rescued, she is forced to wed for her protection. She chooses the warrior whose soul needs saving the most. Everything she does to aid him goes awry and puts him in a worse position. Faced with the possibility of endangering his clan, she risks her own safety to save him.

A dangerous encounter

When Kenneth learns of the trickery which caused him to marry her, and forces him to confront his demons, he’s not sure how to handle it or her. She’s everything he never knew he could have. As they aid all those around them, can they save each other and find the love they both need and desire?


I'll be sure to let you know when it's out.

~Kara Griffin