Upcoming blog tour for The Du Lac Chronicles

I am very excited to announce that The Du Lac Chronicles is going on a virtual blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. 

Click HERE to find out more!

Have a sneak peek between the covers of The Du Lac Prophecy (Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles)

Two Prophesies. Two Noble Households. One Throne.

Distrust and greed threaten to destroy the House of du Lac. Mordred Pendragon strengthens his hold on Brittany and the surrounding kingdoms while Alan, Mordred’s cousin, embarks on a desperate quest to find Arthur’s lost knights. Without the knights and the relics they hold in trust, they cannot defeat Arthur’s only son – but finding the knights is only half of the battle. Convincing them to fight on the side of the Du Lac’s, their sworn enemy, will not be easy.

If Alden, King of Cerniw, cannot bring unity there will be no need for Arthur’s knights. With Budic threatening to invade Alden’s Kingdom, Merton putting love before duty, and Garren disappearing to goodness knows where, what hope does Alden have? If Alden cannot get his House in order, Mordred will destroy them all.

Excerpt

The Abbey of Glastingberie.

“I think you are wasting your time. There is no need for relics and ancient weapons. We have God.”

“Well then the next time you are speaking to God could you ask him to send us an army of angels and several legions of knights on horseback,” Pert replied.

Everyone turned to look at Pert for his words were bordering on blasphemy and his tone was disrespectful.

Pert tore at the bread he had been given with his teeth and began to chew slowly.

“Your tongue is as sharp as the serpents,” the Abbot stated with contempt. “With the passing of the years and the hardships you have faced I would have thought you would have learnt by now when to keep your opinions to yourself.”

Pert scoffed and carried on eating.

“He and I never did see eye to eye,” the Abbot explained to Alan and Bernice. “Even as a young knight, he was always opinionated.”

“Pert was a knight?” Alan asked, but the Abbot ignored him.

“Arthur never complained that I was opinionated,” Pert replied.

“No, I don’t suppose he did.”

Pert scoffed again, but the Abbot ignored him.

“Were you there when Arthur died?” Bernice asked.

Alan stood up straighter. He was interested in the Abbot’s answer. Even Pert, he noticed, had stopped chewing and was looking at the Abbot.

“Yes. Bedwyr brought him here. I tried my very best, but the wound was fatal. There was nothing I could do but make his last moments as comfortable as I could. He didn’t want to die. He said there was too much still to do. He breathed his last in this very room.”

“Where is he buried?” Alan asked.

“I am afraid that is a secret,” the Abbot replied. “There are those who would desecrate his grave and steal his body away. Only myself and one other knows where Arthur rests. When will you retrieve the Shield?” The Abbot turned to Pert when he asked this question.

“Tonight, after the castle has fallen asleep.”

“The castle?” Alan asked.

“That is where the Shield is,” Pert stated.

“That is where Percival… I mean that is where Wihtgar said it was as well.”

“Everyone in Wessex knows it is there. They just don’t know where it is,” Pert said matter-of-factly. “Believe me, they have looked. They would kick themselves if they knew where it really was.”

“The best hiding places are the ones in plain view,” the Abbot replied thoughtfully.

“Well you should know, my Lord,” Pert said, rising to his feet and brushing the breadcrumbs from his clothes. “You buried Arthur after all.”

If you would like to find out more, or even, maybe, grab your copy of The Du Lac Prophecy you can find it over on Amazon If you subscripte to #KindleUnlimited then you can read for FREE!

Join me over on The Bowman Of The Yard Podcast - Exhibit J where I find myself locked up in the cells at Bow Street!

 

Join me over on The Bowman Of The Yard Podcast - Exhibit J where I find myself locked up in the cells at Bow Street!

You can listen to the Podcast HERE.

Looking back on 2017

Writing, Knights, and Chasing Dreams

2017

Here we are again. Another year is coming to an end, and once again I am looking back.

2017 has been the most extraordinary year.

For me, it has been a year of awards.

I thought, when I had finished writing The Du Lac Devil (Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles), that it could be something special, but I wasn't expecting this...

Readers' Favorite Finalist 2017

IAN Book Of The Year Award Finalist 2017

Golden Quill Award Winner 2017

Chill with a Book Readers' Award 2017

BooksGoSocial Readers Choice Award Shortlisted 2017

I have just found out that The Du Lac Devil has also been awarded a Discovered Diamond Award. Very exciting!

Not to be left out. The Du Lac Chronicles has also been awarded a Discovered Diamond Award this year as well.

Research. Research. Research.

I have spent many hours researching the fabulous Dark Ages this year. I decided that I really need to go to Cornwall, for research purposes of course — that is what I told my husband anyway. I had an absolute fabulous time. I love Cornwall.

Tintagel

The Hurlers ~ Bodmin Moor

I published The Du Lac Princess (Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles) back in October, and it went straight into number one in its genre and got that coveted orange bestselling badge from Amazon, and it kept it for two days! I was very emotional when I saw that.

I can't express how thankful I am to all my lovely readers who are on this incredible journey with me.  Your support has meant so much over the last few years. You are the best! Thank you!

In other news, this blog has continued to grow, and I am astounded by how many pages read I have each day. Thank you to everyone who supports this blog, and I hope in the coming year, you will continue to enjoy it. I have some wonderful and very talented authors lined up for next year. It is going to be fabulous. Make sure you come back often and check it out.

Back at home, we had the excitement of a new puppy. I am a little bit biased, but I do think he is the best dog in the world.

We named him Aramis, after the Musketeer. We have our very own Muskehound!

Like the Musketeer Aramis, our Aramis is overflowing with love. He loves everybody, apart from the vet. He doesn't like her. He did, but then he got an ear infection, and now he is not so keen. Putting that aside, Aramis is such a happy little fellow who follows me around everywhere. I call him my little shadow. He is actually lying on my feet as I type.

My daughter asked me if we can have an Athos, Porthos, and D'Artagnan as well, but I think one Springer Spaniel is enough... For now!

So what are my plans for next year?

I am currently writing Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles, and I am loving where it is going at the moment. Merton du Lac is fighting me for creative control, as he always does! Some things never change. There may be one or two surprises — my lips are sealed and I am not telling. I have yet to give this book a name, but I am sure I will come up with something sooner or later. I am hoping to publish it sometime in the latter half of 2018, it really depends if Merton behaves himself!

All that is left for me to say is I hope you have a wonderful new year and a prosperous and peaceful 2018.

All my love,

Mary Anne

Researching The Du Lac Chronicles ~ my trip to Cornwall

“You don’t need another book on the Saxons and the Celts.”

I could argue with you, but I won't. What I do need to do is head back to Cornwall!

Writing isn’t just about locking yourself in a room, sitting down in front of a computer and typing a story — if only it were that easy. No, that is not how it works at all because at some point a writer, no matter what genre they write in, is going to have to do some research. I spend more time researching that I do writing and sometimes it is about really obscure things ~ the history of cobblestones is one thing that immediately comes to my mind. I am still waiting on that pub quiz! But, sometimes, I find, I have to get out of the house and actually visit the places that I am describing. I am lucky because I write about Britain in the Dark Ages and I live in Britain — England to be exact.

Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles, which I am currently writing, is, for the most part, set in Dark Age Cornwall. I love Cornwall, I mean who doesn't? I had come to a point in the story where I really wanted to go back to Cornwall so that I could soak up the atmosphere.

"It is for work purposes," I told my husband. 

I don't think he was fooled. I love Cornwall. Any excuse to visit. 

So I packed the kids, and the husband, in the car and off we went to Tintagel. Tintagel, it is said, was where King Arthur was conceived. Of course, with all things Arthur, it most likely isn’t, but Geoffrey of Monmouth said it was, so it must be right…?!

This sculpture of Arthur is a whopping 8 feet — maybe Briton really was once ruled by giants. Who knew?!

Anyway, I thought I would share some pictures. Tintagel is quite the tourist attraction, so we got there for opening, and although there were a few people around, it wasn’t too busy. It did mean we had Merlin’s Cave to ourselves for at least five minutes!!

Isn't it great?! At high-tide the cave fills with water.

Despite having an opening either end of the cave, it is still pretty dark and I must admit, I turned my phones torch on because yes, that is right, I don't like to be in a cave in the pitch dark!

The beach, where the cave can be found, is equally impressive!

Then we braved the steps up the castle itself. There are a many steps, be warned, they are not even, but the higher you climb the greater the views are!

I felt the need for a black horse so I could go galloping across the cliff face like Poldark does!!

I came back feeling refreshed and ready to crack on with my story. But I think I may need another trip down to Cornwall soon. Bodmin Moor is calling me!!!

There are times when reviewers go above and beyond. Check this out...!

I just had to share this amazing review of The Du Lac Chronicles by Cranky The Book Curmudgeon  ~ it quite literally brought tears to my eyes! Check it out, it is awesome!!

Links for Purchase
Amazon US
Amazon UK 

 

Cornwall ~ a forgotten history?

What springs to mind 

when you think of Cornwall?

Poldark?

Mining?

Nice beaches?

The Eden Project?

King Arthur?

 

Cornwall has a long and interesting history with regards to Arthurian Legend. It was the kingdom of King Mark — the cuckolded king in the legend of Tristan and Isolde. Cornwall is also home to Tintagel Castle, which is where Geoffrey Monmouth and his great work The History of the Kings Britain, gave as Arthur's birthplace.

If you are a reader of The Du Lac Chronicles series, then you will be familiar with my interpretation of what Cornwall was like back in the year 495 AD.  I think Cornwall is a very special place with a remarkable history and one that is often overlooked.

Let's go back in time and take a look at Cornwall during the Roman occupation...

The Roman occupation of Cornwall is very intriguing. It has been suggested that the Roman's stopped at Devon. There are a few milestone and evidence of Roman occupation in Cornwall, but not on the scale of the rest of the country. The stories of Hadrian's Wall and Scottish rebellion against the Romans is renowned, but nothing is said about Cornwall. Why didn't the Roman's colonise Cornwall like they did to the rest of England?

Let's take a closer look at Cornwall's history. Cornwall was very much its own kingdom, separated from the rest of Britain, not only by her language — Cornish — but by an independent spirit that refused to bow down to imposed authority. Was this why the Roman's overlooked her to some extent? I am not so sure.

With the departure of the Romans, Briton had to contend with a new and very aggressive invader — The Saxons.

If the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles are to be believed, then Cerdic of Wessex and his Saxon army landed in Hampshire in 495 AD. By 419, Cerdic had conquered the south of England, with the exception of Cornwall. Curious, isn't it? 

Why? What made Cornwall different?

There are many reasons, but I think trade had a lot to do with it. The Cornish could be independent because they knew what they were doing when it came to commerce. They had trade agreements with Brittany, Wales and Ireland. Perhaps that is why the Roman's didn't feel the need to invade Cornwall as they did with the other kingdoms in England and Wales. Maybe Cornwall was a good trading partner — one that they had no need to upset.

Cornwall had something everyone wanted. Tin. The history of mining for tin goes way back, and one thing they were good at was mining for it. Silver has also been found in Cornwall. The land is rich with treasure for those who know where to look. Kingdoms who trade fairly are an asset. Why would you want to upset the apple cart, so to speak, by invading? But for Cornwall, trade meant something else as well. It meant money, and money meant they could afford the arms to defend their kingdom if need be.

It wasn't until the Battle of Hingston Down, in 838, when Cornwall lost her independence to Wessex – they repelled the Saxons for over 400 years. Now, that is impressive. I wonder why it isn't remembered?

What bravery, what spirit this little kingdom had.