Beguiling her Enemy Warrior
Kidnapped by the warrior
Tempted by the man…
Captured by the infamous Lord Rhys, a Welsh prince intent on revenge against her family, Viking healer, Helga, must keep her wits about her if she’s to be freed. Easier said than done when she desires him rather than fears him! Helga senses there’s good inside Rhys and feels compelled to reach his heart. First she must make him see there’s more to her than just his enemy…
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Q&A
What was your favourite book as a child? What’s your favourite book now?
The worst witch by Jill Murphy, I loved these books about a young girl and her friends at a boarding school for witches. Funny to think that these books were around before Harry Potter.
I don’t have a favourite book, but I really enjoyed The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare, and Circe by Madeline Miller this year.
What drew you to your chosen period as your setting?
I absolutely love Old Norse mythology and the TV show Vikings. I love all the drama and angst you can include in stories set in the dark ages. The world was still so unknown, and I imagine it was an exciting and terrifying time.
What is about the period, do you think, that readers find so enticing?
I think they like the life or death situations that were a very real part of daily life in that time. It’s an exciting time period full of mystery, drama and fantasy. There’s also something very romantic about wild warriors fighting for their honour and glory.
Can you tell me a little bit about your research process?
I read plenty of non-fiction books on the dark ages and viking times. It gives me a general idea of the political landscape of that time. While the Icelandic sagas and tv shows help give me an idea of the atmosphere of the time. The internet is really helpful for more specific details like herbal medicine, which I had to research quite heavily for this book as my Norse heroine is a healer.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever discovered during research for your writing?
So much! But I’d say the most interesting thing about researching this book was discovering that some abortives were made using a flower called Penny Royal, and the first known recipe was created by a nun, Hildegard von Bingen. Although abortion was considered a sin, it was interestingly not seen as a terrible one, with only 3months penance for those who take an abortive before the ‘quickening’ (foetal movement). Also, if the loss of a fetus saved the mother’s life it was considered to be an acceptable price to pay to save the woman’s life, and would not be punished by the church at all.
It makes me sad to think that we still have strict abortion laws in some countries that are not as progressive as a medieval nun.
What would be your top three tips for writers of historical fiction?
- Read non-fiction books on the period of time you wish to write about, just to give you a feel for the era.
- Read the fiction of the time (if there is any) to give you an idea about the concerns of that society, I read the Icelandic sagas and about the old Norse religion.
- Remember that you are not writing a history book. People want the fantasy and atmosphere of the time, so don’t get too bogged down in the details…I have to remind myself of this, otherwise I’d end up describing all the different types of Viking ships instead of just telling my reader the character stepped off a longship!
What are you working on at the moment? Can you give us a teaser at all?
I am currently researching Icelandic Vikings to inspire me for a ‘mail order bride’ romance. I was inspired by an advertisement a farmer made for a bride (not in Viking times) where he proudly stated he was young and strong, with a lot of land and some fine cattle.
Who could say no?
About Lucy
Lucy Morris has always been obsessed with myths and legends. Her books blend sweeping romance with vivid worldbuilding to whisk you away to another time and place filled with adventure. Expect passion, drama, and vibrant characters.
Lucy lives in Essex, UK, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She has a massively sweet tooth and loves Terry’s chocolate oranges and Irn-Bru. In her spare time, she likes to explore castles with her family, or drink bubbly with her friends.
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Jennifer C. Wilson 