It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. - Seneca

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Day 5 of Kris Tualla's Blog tour- Coming soon from Kris Tualla - A STRANDED NORSEMAN AND A SCOTTISH KNIGHT...*Contest*

A stranded Norseman and a Scottish knight.

It's true confession time.

After I wrote the Nicolas and Sydney trilogy - and ran into the "We don’t publish American historicals" and "No one can sell Scandinavia" and "We don't do westerns" debacle - I condescended to write a story set in Scotland. Now before you throw your hands up in disgust, please hear me out.

"Loving the Norseman" does take place on the northernmost coast of Scotland, but in 1354 following the Black Death which wiped out at least half of Europe's population. This particular plague was a cataclysm which shifted the European societal structure and set the groundwork for the Renaissance.

In practical terms, that meant if your village's sheriff died, someone else needed to step into the position. If an entire noble family succumbed, some remote relative claimed the estate and titles. When half or more the peasants died, the remaining peasants charged double for a day's wages - and though that practice was outlawed, they were paid it. Wheat doesn't harvest itself.

For the first time, Europeans were moving around the countryside, and moving up society's ladder. Everything was in flux. In some ways, it almost as terrifying as the plague itself.

Back to the Norseman.

In the eleventh century, Eric the Red founded a Norse colony in Greenland. It survived - barely - for three hundred years until two things happened: a shift in the climate which dramatically dropped temperatures, and the Black Death which halted supply ships.

My hero, Rydar Martin Petter-Edvard Hansen (don't blame me - his father named him) had been in Greenland twenty years, since his father dragged the family there when Rydar was ten. Smart enough to figure out what was happening around him, Rydar and his friend cobble together a boat and set sail east toward Norway - 1200 miles away.

The boat crashes in a storm on the Scottish coast. The friend dies, but Rydar is recued by the heroine, Grier, a healer who buried three fiancés in the Death. Due to the chronology of the deaths in her family, her father's estate now belongs to her cousin. When he marries, she will be homeless.

Rydar and Grier don't speak the same language, and he is unwavering in his determination to continue his journey to Norway. She wants to convince him to stay in Scotland. But neither will survive without the other.

There is a secondary character in Loving the Norseman - Lord Andrew Drummond - who is a knight and courtier to the long-imprisoned King of Scotland, David II. Lord Drummond has proven to be so well-liked, that I agreed to write his story - and have the heroine be the Hansen in this book. Loving the Knight is Drew's story.

If all goes as planned, Loving the Norseman and its sequel, Loving the Knight will be released in October of 2011.

And just wait until Brander Hansen is released in 2012: A Discreet Gentleman (of Discovery) will knock your socks off.

Thanks for reading. And don't forget to comment!


Last chance to win!!!!!!
For every 10 people who comment, I will give away one free e-copy of A Woman of Choice - the beginning of the trilogy. And, yes. Commenter #11 warrants 2 copies! Comment #21? I'll give away three.

********

A Woman of Choice - Missouri Territory, 1819
A woman is viciously betrayed and abandoned by her unfaithful husband. She is rescued by a widower uninterested in love. In desperation, she becomes engaged to his best friend. One woman, three very different men. Life is about choices.

A Prince of Norway - Christiania, Norway, 1820
American-born Nicolas Hansen has been asked to candidate for his great-grandfather's throne. His new wife Sydney isn't about to let him go to Norway and face that possibility alone. The moment they arrive at Akershus Castle, the political intrigue and maneuvering begin. Can Sydney trust anyone? Will Nicolas resist the seduction of power? Or will he claim the throne for himself? Most importantly: will their young marriage survive the malicious mischief of the ambitious royal family?

A Matter of Principle - St. Louis, State of Missouri, 1821
Nicolas Hansen has returned from Norway determined to change the world. But when he runs for State Legislator in the brand-new state of Missouri, the enemies he made over the past two years aren't about to step quietly aside. Sydney has made enemies of her own, both by marrying Nicolas and by practicing midwifery. When a newspaper reporter makes it his goal to destroy them, Nicolas must rethink his path once again. But this time, it's a matter of principle.

http://www.kristualla.com/
http://www.goodnightpublishing.com/

20 comments:

Brandy B aka Brandlwyne said...

I would just like to thank the Chicks and Kris for giving us some great content to read this week!!!

-Brandy B

Unknown said...

Hi Kris,
Great concept and wonderful execution. Nicholas and Sydney looks like your every day guy and girl thrown in turmoil. Use of History, the intrigues of monarchy make this a irresistible pot-boiler. Best of luck with your writing.

Vickram E. Diwan

Deena said...

YOu know how much I love the Hansens! I can't wait to get my hands on Drew's story. I love the way you write- so real, so intimate, and with warm humor. :)

Chicks of Characterization said...

I wanted to take a moment to THANK Kris Tualla for taking the time out of her busy schedule to be here with us all week!

Kris's Hansen series sounds ABSOLUTELY wonderful and I cannot wait to dig into A WOMAN OF CHOICE!!!

And her Norseman and Scottish Knight! SHEW, be still my heart!!!

Thanks so much Kris for being here with us! We wish you the best of luck in all your future endevours!!

And of course Many, Many sales!!!

~Andrea :O)

Chicks of Characterization said...

Awh, thanks Brandy! We do try!!! :O)

Audrey said...

Okay, I'll try again... (and I just found the winner box, which makes me really blind)

Thank you so much for the contest, it's really cool ^^

Renee Vincent said...

Oh My Goodness! Kris this Loving The Norseman is right up my alley! And personally, I think the Scandinavian warriors make the best kinds of historic heroes. I love reading and writing about Norsemen. I will definitely be getting this book (if they are indeed released in October) You better let me know! haha

Judy said...

I just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity to win this, I won Day 3. It is already on my Kindle, getting primed to read it. I have the next two on my KL (Kindle list). Thanks again everyone!!


Judy

Dana McNeely said...

Can't wait for the new book to come out. I'm impressed with your knowledge of history, Kris. Lots of fun to learn about it in novel form!

Kris Tualla said...

Thanks, everyone! I have to say, these men rock my world. And the women - they are worthy of the men they conquer.

If we are not friends on Facebok yet - FRIEND ME! Then you'll know when the next books come out.

THANK YOU Chicks of Characterization for a WONDEFUL spotlight week!

Kris :)

Miriam Newman said...

This sounds excellent, Kris! Best of luck with it.

Judy said...

Kris, you are amazing!! I'm so glad you're so tenacious and happy to share your creativity. Secondary characters can be terribly pesky about wanting their own stories. :-)

Di said...

Kris - enjoyed your synopsis. I still like a good story about a Scotland, but branching out to Norway is still a good idea. Still enjoying your tour across the web & thanks to the chicks for the extended visit.

Kris Tualla said...

THANKS ALL!

hotcha12 said...

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE AND HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!

hotcha12 said...

THANK YOU FR MY BOOK AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR LIZZIE'S TURN AS THAT WOMAN IS SO CRAZY!! LOL

hotcha12 said...

HAV A GOOD MONDAY EVERYONE, SUPPOSE TO GET 18 INCHES OF SNOW HERE, A GOOD DAY TO READ.

hotcha12 said...

A MATTER OF PRINCIBLE SINCE I'M IN ST. LOUIS. GLAD I MOVED FROM CHICAGO!! LOL GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

hotcha12 said...

AM I THE ONLY ONE POSTING? IS IT OVER?

Chicks of Characterization said...

Hi HOTCHA,

Yes the SPOTLIGHT is over! My posts and contests only run for a week (from Monday thru Friday,) with the winners are picked on the weekend. For Kris Tualla we picked the winners everyday! She still has her GRAND PRIZE at her website, which I believe ends today. Hope this helps!

Andrea

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