Although I write contemporary romance, I'm a history lover and more of a historical than contemporary romance reader. So in 2009, I tried my hand at writing a historical romance. It took me at least twice as long to write as a contemporary and I loved every minute. Maybe too much. I got myself so involved in the research, that I had to stop and make myself write or I would have never finished it. My Lady Viking was released by a now-defunct small publisher in early 2010 with the cover above. I rereleased it about a year and a half later as His Lady Viking with a new cover (below)
Inside Tidbits
At the time, I was writing, my daughter and her family were very active in a Viking reenactment group. In fact, they even volunteered to walk around the mall in costume for a signing I had. I declined. I did succumb to researching Viking settlement in Scotland and elsewhere in the British Isles--along with everything I could find about 10th-century Scotland. I chose that period partly because information is scarce and I felt could better avoid making blatant historical mistakes. Not getting the facts right in a historical bothers me as a reader. Also, this book isn't a sweet romance.
Originally, I submitted the manuscript to Harlequin Historicals and received a nice rejection letter in which the UK-based editor said, "You are a quite adequate writer," before saying why she wasn't interested. That tickled me so much much that I didn't feel bad about the rejection.
The 2011 Rerelease
I changed the title when I re-released the book in Summer 2011 and had an artist friend at work redesign the cover (below). I received some criticism that it doesn't look like a romance. I love it anyway.
Aedan Hakonson spent his childhood hating the Norse and his adult life fighting them. The son of a Norse warrior and a Caithness noblewoman, he’s never forgiven his father for abandoning his mother and him. Battle-weary and heavy-hearted, Aedan is wary of relying on anyone for anything.
Kara Thorddatter is a Viking warrior. For all intents and purposes, she’s her father’s second son and better suited for the world of a Viking warrior than her studious older brother. If only her father and stepmother would acknowledge that fact and let her lead the independent life she wants.
When Kara’s brother disappears in a storm off the coast of Alba, she and Aedan are drawn together into a mutual quest for a hidden Viking hoard—a quest that reveals love is the real treasure.
The later release in in ebook for Kindle only. But you might find a paperback copy of the original online somewhere,
How interesting, Jean. I didn't know that you had written any historicals.
ReplyDelete