Holiday Greetings! Book Updates and an Excerpt from the Work-in-progress

Greetings, friends! And to those who celebrate - Merry Christmas!

Believe it or not, it’s December. That sounds insane. Last year I was in Washington State for the holidays, so this is my first Christmas in Louisiana. Christmas lights and greenery decorate the mantle, Santa mugs have been pulled out for coffee and tea, the ceramic snowman is on the table, and lighted wreaths hang on the doors. The tree is up, decorated with the help of my 5 year old grandson.

FOLSOM BOOK FESTIVAL

Get on over to the Giddy Up Coffee Shop in Folsom, Louisiana, for the Folsom Book Festival on Dec. 16, from 10am-5pm(CT). Writers (including me) from the Northshore Writers Group and other local authors will be reading fiction, poetry, and childrens’ stories, and selling and signing books. A percent of the sales proceeds will be dedicated to the acquisition of a Bronze Historical Marker to be placed on the The Old Folsom Library and Museum. The Museum was accepted on The National Registry of Historic Places in 2022. The old library has quite a history.

BOOK UPDATES

ROGUE

Rogue is now available from multiple ebook platforms - Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and more: https://books2read.com/RogueTRH It will also be available through a few of the library systems in the USA.

And Rogue and Echoes of the Storm are available in print from the local bookstore where I live so that’s exciting. (FYI… we indie writers rarely make it into the big chain stores like B&N.)

HISTORICAL STORIES OF EXILE

With author/editor Helen Hollick leading the charge, our anthology Historical Stories of Exile was successfully launched in mid-November and hit the #2 spot on Amazon UK for Hot New Releases in Historical Fiction Short Stories. As my Brit friends say, we were chuffed!

If you are interested in more of the research related to some of the stories, Alison Morton has been featuring several of the contributors on her blog. Check out the posts by Annie Whitehead, Marian Thorpe, Anna Belfrage, Cryssa Bazos, Amy Maroney, Helen Hollick, and J.G. Harlond. (From Annie’s post you can navigate forward through the others.)

THE WORK-IN-PROGRESS

I am plugging away on Rogues and Kings, probably about 1/3 of the way through the story. Here’s an excerpt - a rough draft - of an early chapter in the novel. At Lincoln Castle in late September 1216, Henry de Grey and Marian seek the help of their old friend, the castellan, Nichola de la Haye.

Excerpt - chapter 8

“The king has taken my youngest son as a hostage.”

“It’s an unfortunate but common practice. Isn’t he of an age to be a squire…” Nichola’s voice trailed off, and then she frowned. Her eyes met Marian’s. “Your son.”

Marian nodded and cleared her throat. “The king does not know he is Robin’s son.” She explained John le Grand’s role and his accidental meeting with the king. “He believes Richard is Sir John’s son. Not Robin’s, not mine. And it must stay that way.”

Nichola rubbed her brow. “You put me in a dire position, Marian.”

“Only if King John learns Richard is the son of the man he despises. Even then, you can claim you did not know.” Henry clenched his fist. “As far as the king knows, Robin is but ash in a cold grave somewhere.”

Nichola exhaled. She clasped her hands in her lap. “I have maintained the king’s trust.”

“But you’ve kept your knowledge of Robin’s whereabouts, his family, in your heart. We are forever grateful,” Marian said. “As is Lady Bea.”

Bea, Nichola’s dear friend, a long-time confidant. Marian was as good a negotiator as any man Henry knew.

Nichola knew it too and shook her head, incredulous. “You know the right words to speak, Marian,” she said, and turned to Henry. “A wise choice, sir.”

Henry smiled to himself. Surely he’d have thought to mention his own sister’s role in keeping Robin and his family from the king’s eye. If loosed, that information would destroy so many, and could leave his brother-by-marriage imprisoned, or worse, executed for harboring John’s enemy. Bea and her children could lose everything. Lady Nichola knew that. Her silence all these years proved she would withhold notice from her good friend King John.

“Can you help us?” Henry asked.

“I want no quarrel with the king.”

“You and your knights held out against the rebel siege. The men could use more than a shilling in their pockets and food and drink in their bellies.” Henry could have added and a woman to bed, but didn’t think the ladies would appreciate that suggestion. “More squires to serve them would be a boon.”

“It’s one or two boys King John could get by without, not well-trained and disciplined knights,” Marian added with a wry grin.

Nichola laughed. “Disciplined? You know most of his men are hired. Mercenaries with little loyalty. Ready to flee to whoever pays the most.”

Through a grimace Marian was nodding. Henry suspected she had heard plenty of politics and armies. How could she not as Robin’s wife?

“Not a good example to set for squires.” Nichola shook her head. “I might convince the king that his future lay with these young men, but not when they are in the company of soldiers the likes of these.”

Henry was impressed. “It would be a good argument, my lady.”

“King John is not a dull-witted man. He might agree, but do not get your hopes up.” Nichola eyed Henry. “This message you bring from the king?” She held up a finger and then held her hand out to Henry before he could wave away her next thought. “Of course it’s a forgery…perhaps to be burned?”

Studying the words on the parchment after she cracked the seal, Nichola shook her head. “It’s very good. Is it your friend Allan’s work? A shame he made an enemy of the king. You, Robin… The king could use soldiers like you.”

Henry tipped his head. “The king does not believe in forgiveness.” He sipped at the wine. “And even if he did, would he ever trust any one of us?”

**end of excerpt**

I wish you all good books, good health, and a Happy New Year.

Until next month, happy reading!

—Char