Sneak Peek Sunday - Sandi Layne

The final book of the Éire's Viking Trilogy will be out in the spring!

Éire's Devil King

Summary:
An ambitious man, Tuirgeis Erlingrson has nurtured the desire to carve a place of leadership on Éire. Having connections with his adopted brother, Cowan, and Agnarr, his former countryman, Tuirgeis feels he has the support he needs to make his claims strong.
Agnarr and Aislinn—though she is heavy with child—sail with Cowan and Charis to join Tuirgeis as he battles one final summer to seek the High Kingship. Charis finds that her Otherworldly gifts are needed by a man she considers her enemy.
In addition, Tuirgeis wants to establish his father-line. He has one son; he wants another to be born of Éire. Will the woman he desires accept him?
Tuirgeis knows his time is limited; the Danes are coming in greater numbers than before. If he wants to be the High King, he’s going to have to prove that he is more than a Viking.

Excerpt:
Though still leery of bodies of water, Charis never forgot that they bore life and that was precious to her. The water crept gently up the slope with careful fingers, as if knowing she was hesitant to approach such a large amount of it. When there was a stiff wind the waves furled whitely, rows upon rows of them; just then, however, there was peace and calm.
She stared out over the lough, about to bend down to dig the roots from the rushes there, when a stirring within her kept her upright. There, to the northwest, something moved above the water. A small flock of grebes were nearby, their stuttering caws high pitched and active before they splashed out of the water. Scowling at them, she focused again on the distant object and, with a sudden start, she realized she knew exactly what it was.
“Cowan . . .” Her whisper traveled no farther than her own ear. They shouldn’t be coming this way. The Northmen came by sea, not through a lake. Of course, there would be tributaries, but surely . . . “Ide? We have to go. Right now. Back to the rath.”
The younger woman ran to her, her feet slipping on the muddy grass near the water. “What is it, Charis?”
Pointing, Charis didn’t have to say a word. Ide knew. “Northmen. From the Danes? King, King Horik?” The names were familiar now, after seasons of stories and preparations. All color drained from her face, leaving freckles to stand in sharp relief.
“I don’t know,” Charis said, backing away while keeping an eye on the longship that was growing closer every few moments. “But the men must ready themselves. As I must.” She wondered, as they hurried back to the safety of the village, if the one safety tunnel was yet deep enough to hide all the children of Tuaim Rithe.

Praise for the Éire's Viking Trilogy:

Compelling, three-dimensional characters who are interesting, imperfect, and very intriguing make the story pop and grab the reader’s interest as they each journey through their own adversities towards their ultimate destinies. – Great Historicals

…a wonderfully written story of war, love, loss and dealing with emotions and learning forgiveness. – Fire & Ice

Prepare for the invasion and read the rest of the trilogy:

Find Éire's Captive Moon from any of these retailers here.
  Find Éire's Viking here and read the first chapter of this romance here.

Sneak Peek Sunday - Sandi Layne

Coming in 2015

The final novel of Sandi Layne's Éire's Viking Trilogy:  Éire's Devil King

 

 Currently a work in progress, this final book completes the telling of one way that the Northmen—the vikingr—came to settle in Éire and how one of their number, Tuirgeis, claimed the title of High King of that island.

 Based in history, Tuirgeis's story will complete the story Sandi Layne began to tell when Tuirgeis captured Cowan and Agnarr captured Charis the healer in Éire's Captive Moon.

Blurb Idea:

A man of ability and ambition, Tuirgeis has nurtured the desire to carve a place of leadership for himself on the Green Island, Éire, that he has raided multiple times. After the death of his wife, he takes his surviving son to Éire and comes to learn that there is more to claiming a kingship than merely overpowering the locals.

While he is attracted to an Éire-woman for his new wife, Tuirgeis seeks to find ways to not only settle in this new land but also to learn to live with the people there, not just overthrow them.

Having connections with his adopted brother, Cowan, and Agnarr, his former countryman, Tuirgeis feels he has the support he needs to make his claims strong.

Bloodthirsty tyrant? Overly ambitious leader? Prideful warrior? The histories tell one tale of Tuirgeis, acknowledged usurper and High King of Ireland; I am telling another.

 

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Sneak Peek of the Work in Progress:

Ide spoke. “The Ostmen will be gone in the morning.”

 “Well, perhaps,” Charis murmured as the sweet scents of mead and ale wafted through the evening air ahead of Cowan and Tuirgeis. She did not care for ale, but did find mead to be a pleasant beverage. It never interfered with her senses as it did with others, but she liked the mellow flavor. “They might be leaving closer to midday if their heads are as heavy as the smell of their drinks.”

 The women chuckled softly just as Cowan called, “What is it, wife?”

 “We came to spend time with Aislinn and the baby,” Charis replied, moving toward Cowan until she could look him squarely in the eye. “Why are you away from the fire?” she asked in Gaeilge. Cowan translated.

Tuirgeis shook his head and rolled his shoulders as if he felt stiff from inaction. “I have spent enough time with men,” he stated through Cowan. “I wished for other, softer company.”

A challenge was in his gaze as it clashed with Charis’s and she felt as if her spine was iron. Cowan drew her to him and she allowed herself to sidle away from the Northman. After dropping a kiss to the top of her head, her husband blew out a breath. “Softer company, Tuirgeis? Well, you remember my daughter Aislinn, of course.”

 Against her will, Charis took it upon herself to translate the tongue for Ide and Aislinn. If there was any luck in her world, she would not have to spend another evening doing so. Tuirgeis snorted to hear her, a smile in his eyes before they moved to Aislinn.

“Ja. Aislinn. How many children do you have?”

 Aislinn understood him to an extent. “Two.”

 “And this is Ide. She used to live on the west coast, a bit north of where Muiredach recommended you go,” Cowan said, nodding to the red-haired woman.

 Tuirgeis’s smile widened. “I remember you,” he said while Charis moved to stand next to Ide. Cowan translated; Charis refused to do so for the moment. “I saw you when Agnarr wed.” He indicated Ide’s rich curls with a quick gesture of his hand. “Your hair. I like red hair.”

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About the Author:

Award winning author of short Celtic fiction, Sandi Layne is the creator of the Éire's Viking Trilogy, as well as works of contemporary Christian romance.

She began by self-publishing her novels in 2000, garnering a loyal group of readers whom she continues to appreciate to this day.

Married for more than twenty years to a very tolerant (and brilliant!) man, she has two sons, no pets, and a plethora of imaginary friends. Her interests range from ancient civilizations to science fiction for both reading and research. With degrees in English and Ministry, she also claims Theology’s crimson Masters collar which she has been known to don on rare occasions. 

If you drive by her window before dawn, it is likely she’ll have a light on for you. Or at the very least, she’ll be alert on twitter.

Find her on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

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The first two books in the trilogy are already available. Click on the book covers here to be taken to Sandi's website where you can link up to purchase Éire's Captive Moon and Éire's Viking editions.

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

November 6, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

Using Strange Words

This is part two of a three-part series on Researching and Writing Historical Fiction originally written in 2012.
 

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How to Best Use Appropriate Terminology in Historical Fiction

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As a child, I was taught to use proper terms for everything.  When I had a question about what a word meant, my mother would send me to (drumroll, please) The Dictionary.  This 1935 dictionary was about five inches thick and weighed…well, I don’t know how much it weighed, but it was heavy. And it was my best friend all the way through my undergrad studies.

 

When I began writing fiction (in my thirties, but early training can stick with one) the insistence upon using the proper terms, with full knowledge regarding their appropriate application, was important to me.  But, like most any nerdy know-it-all, I tended to overuse all that I knew at first.

Don’t Overwhelm

Readers of historical fiction want to have a flavor for the era in which they find themselves. An historical tale about the Scottish Highlands, for example, should definitely mention men in kilts.  They will want to hear a bit of an accent, too.  Some “braw shoulders” would not go amiss. Nor do “yon brogues” in the mention of footwear.  Readers want to know if the claymore is the weapon of choice in a battle. They might even be interested to know it is sometimes more accurately written as claidheamh mòr.

 

Terms like these are enough to flavor the historical fiction story.  Using too many, however, is like adding far too much cumin to your curry, garlic powder to your stuffing, or gravy to your mashed potatoes. The essence of the story is overwhelmed by the accents.  This is not a good idea.

Speaking in Tongues

Hard and fast rules about characters speaking in their “native tongues” are not to be found, but there are some common sense notions on this subject.  Remember, as a writer, that your first priority is to share a story with your readers.  To that end, your narrative should flow and dialogue (internal and external) should suit the characters.  You should endeavor not to draw a reader out of the story if possible.

 

It is fun to hear a character speaking the occasional word in “their” language.  An occasional word of Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge) or Old Norse or Latin is flavorful.  Readers will enjoy knowing that a woman’s long tunic/dress is a léine, but they probably don’t need to hear an entire conversation about pulling teeth in Gaeilge.

 

Another concern some authors might find is when to use native languages. Should the reader only read the words as “foreign” when the characters speak or should the words be sprinkled throughout unspoken narrative?  This is purely author’s choice (at least until your editors get a crack at your manuscript), but remember that if one is hearing a “foreign” word, it isn’t always comprehensible.

Keep it Real

As I mentioned earlier, I tended to be a nerdy know-it-all when I first started writing historical pieces. (Some might argue that I still am!) For history geeks like myself, there is a certain kind of joy in sharing the minutiae one encounters during research.  Words that were hard to find to suit a situation, a rare term or expression indigenous to a people or place, newly-discovered slang—these things can make the true history geek giggle gleefully as they seek paths where the new information can be shared.

 

Which is fine, when it works.  A scene can be structured to include the new findings, true, but as a writer, you want to make sure (again) that the focus is on your story rather than the accents you bring to it.  Keep the flow organic, natural, not forced just to include the new information.  Historical fiction is storytelling.  Educational? Sure.  But remember that the goal is not to teach a college course in, say, Koine, a Greek language.  The goal is to tell the story about people that might speak that language.  Make sure the terms and language usage are “real” for that time and purpose, not forced to conform to some new—and extremely cool!—information you found in your research.

 

When your readers reach “The End” you want them to come away satisfied, intrigued about a different time and place.  You want them to feel as if they’ve been immersed in a new experience, but not uncomfortably so.  Bring them with you, but don’t overwhelm them with details.

 

If you find that, after your story is complete, you still have a lot you want to share?  Blog it! Because there are history geeks out there just like me who will want to read what you’ve found.  We’ll all benefit and have a good time, which is really what it’s all about.

 

By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Sandi Layne. You can learn more about Sandi on her website, http://sandyquill.com

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Ninety-Nine in November

Author L.V. Lewis has put her first book in the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy on sale for 99 cents the entire month of November! If you are a Fifty Shades fan and would like an exciting twist from a cultural perspective, then this book is for you! Check it out! http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Jungle-Ghetto-Romance-Quadrilogy-ebook/dp/B009ZL7DJQ

 

Author Lindsey Gray's Cover Reveal

Lindsey Gray has revealed the cover to her upcoming new release, Not The Same Season. Take a look at her blog to see this fantastic cover and read an excerpt! http://lindsey-gray.blogspot.com/?zx=6b126e5e8f412c90

 

T.M. Franklin to Release The Guardians TOMORROW!

The highly anticipated sequel to MORE will be available for purchase tomorrow! Stay tuned to T.M.'s website for the buy links or to preorder a signed copy! http://www.tmfranklin.com/

Andrea Goodson to Reveal Cover for To Be Loved

Join author Andrea Goodson on Thursday, November 26th as she reveals the cover to her upcoming YA new release, To Be Loved! You can also enter for a chance to win a signed paperback! All bloggers are invited to participate. Contact Andrea via her website for more information. www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com. *Note: Cover Reveal date has been changed from 11/7/13 to 11/26/13*

Wednesday's Weird Word

Cabotage

Definition: coastal navigation; the exclusive right of a country to control the air traffic within its borders


Origin: Greek/ French

Savvy Savings

Love in Disguise

7 Romance Novel Set on Sale for 99 cents!

By Multiple Authors, take a look!

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Disguise-Romance-Boxed-ebook/dp/B00FQMZB1A

Thank you for reading this week's edition of Author to Author's, The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!