BLOG TOUR--WIN YOUR COPY HERE!
GIVEAWAY ENDEDCAPTURED BY DESIRE
BY KIRA MORGAN
In 16th century Scotland, young Miss Florie Gilder runs away from her drunken foster father to find her real father and her noble heritage. Along the way, she is accused of theft, becomes a fugitive hiding in a forest, and is accidentally wounded by a handsome local huntsman. The huntsman--a Robin-Hood figure who poaches wild game from the landowner's estate to feed the starving poor--carries the beautiful maiden to a church where she is guaranteed 40 days of sanctuary from the law. During that time, he learns her true story, falls in love with her, and helps her in her quest, at the risk of his own life.
Kira Morgan is a third-generation California girl who is an avid traveler, the wife of a rock star, the mother of two fascinating children, and the beloved master of a pug named Worf.
AUTHOR GUEST POST:
When I asked, "Can you write about some of the enjoyable things you encounter in research for this book and what came of it?", here is what Kira said. "My best and most enjoyable research comes from touching, smelling, tasting".
And here is the rest of Kira Morgan's Guest Post...thank you, Kira!
I had some great adventures doing research for CAPTURED BY DESIRE, and I’d be delighted to share them...
My mom once said that if you’ve got a pen and a clipboard, you can ask anyone anything and usually get an answer. If you tell people you’re an author, they’ll spill their guts!
People are an invaluable source for research--especially reenactors. When I needed to know what Tudor-period bow and arrows looked like, I talked to a hunting reenactor, who showed me his weapon and let me fire off a few arrows. To investigate the costumes of the 1500s, I contacted a couple who gave me a personal fashion show, allowing me to inspect their garments. My author friend, Lauren Royal, used to own jewelry stores, so she showed me various gold pieces my heroine might create. People are generally excited to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the most offbeat subjects, particularly when they know it might appear in your next book.
Places are also a rewarding source of history and sensual imagery. For CAPTURED BY DESIRE, I was lucky enough to be able to commandeer Roslin Castle in Scotland with a couple of friends! Besides being a haunted castle, it was located in the heart of a forest not far from Selkirk, where my book is set. I was able to explore Roslin Glen, absorbing the natural surroundings as they might have been in the time of Mary Queen of Scots. I drank in the woodsy scents, felt the muted crunch of the mulch beneath my feet and the dewy air of the morning, listened to cheery birdsong and gurgling water, and recorded in photos the lush colors of the countryside. (If you’d like to see the photo diary from my Scotland trip, visit my website at www.glynnis.net/kiramorgan or www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor .)
From Roslin, I took a side trip to a museum that contained a Renaissance goldsmith shop, which is where I learned about Florie’s craft. Another museum contained fabric swatches with dyes that had been used in Tudor times, which was useful. And I spent an afternoon climbing hundreds of slippery steps to seaside Doune Castle in the pouring rain, an experience that inspired the raging storm near the end of CAPTURED BY DESIRE.
Sometimes a perfect place can be relocated to fit a book’s purpose. I’d discovered an ideal church for Florie’s sanctuary--St. Mildred’s of Canterbury, England--on a previous trip and moved it to Selkirk, Scotland. (I didn’t tell St. Mildred’s caretaker--I’m afraid he wouldn’t approve!)
Perhaps the most enjoyable adventure in research is dining on the local fare. Traveling through the Scottish countryside, I stopped at many a pub and sampled meat pies and thick stews, oatcakes and hard ciders, which haven’t changed much in hundreds of years. Sitting in the dimly lit corner of a tavern, I could stare into the flames of a medieval hearth, savor the hearty flavors, listen to the thick accents around me, and study the sweet and weathered faces of the natives, immersing myself in their rich culture.
Research is half the fun of writing, and writing has taught me to absorb my surroundings, to pay attention to details, to be inquisitive. Even if you don’t write, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy life. So grab a pen and a clipboard, and let your journey begin!
Your first assignment? Research and describe the area around your computer. Is it messy or neat? Do you have scented candles? A cup of coffee? Music playing? A copy of CAPTURED BY DESIRE waiting to be read?
THANKS TO ANNA AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE 5 COPIES OF THIS THRILLING
ROMANCE BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!
THE RULES:
--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:
+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY
+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW THIS BLOG.
+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING IN THE "FIVE FUN FACTS" FROM HACHETTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR BY GOING HERE
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 24!
GOOD LUCK!
