BarbaraBettis

MEDIEVAL MONDAY: WELCOME THE AMAZING MARY MORGAN ON HER TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLISHING–AND A PEEK AT HER FIRST SERIES

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I am honored and very happy to host the talented and lovely Mary Morgan to Medieval Monday. A dear friend and fellow Rose, Mary is celebrating her tenth anniversary with The Wild Rose Press AND she’s celebrating the anniversary of the first book in her exciting series, the Order of the Dragon Knights. If you haven’t read that first book, Dragon Knight’s Sword, set your fingers flying to pick it up. It’s on sale for a limited time for only 99 cents.

Not only does she write like a dream, when you consider the number of books she’s published in this last decade, you’ll be convinced she also writes in her sleep! To tell us all about her first book and her first series, here’s the Amazing Mary Morgan.

Hello, Barbara! I’m delighted to be on your lovely blog to celebrate my 10-year anniversary with The Wild Rose Press! What an epic adventure it has been since I signed my first contract for Dragon Knight’s Sword (Order of the Dragon Knights, Book 1).

The Evolution of the Order of the Dragon Knights

The spark of inspiration and time-period for the Dragon Knights developed years ago. I’ve constantly had a fascination with medieval history, but I didn’t realize I would venture so far back in time with these stories.

Let me start from the beginning with a land that called out to me…

My love affair with Scotland and Ireland began decades ago. I blame it on my own bloodline—a yearning to return to the land of my ancestors. The land called out to me within the stories of Irish mythology and Scottish history. I’d close my eyes and imagine I was there.

When I finally took my first trip to Scotland twenty-three years ago, the birth of a series—the Dragon Knights—was born. While sitting on a boulder in the Highlands, I became mesmerized by the surrounding magic, and the mists of the land. However, on the second half of my trip I visited Ireland. As I wandered the soft rolling hills in various shades of green, the land spoke to my soul and urged me to place the Dragon Knights here, too. Though it would take several years before I decided to incorporate both countries (Scotland and Ireland) into the stories. A perfect solution to a problem I had been debating on for the Dragon Knights.

Obviously, there must be a castle in any medieval story, right? It doesn’t matter whether it’s real or one we’ve created either. I’ve always been drawn to Urquhart Castle and envisioned this as the home for my knights. It’s ancient, mystical, and where the Loch Ness Monster dwells within the loch. This site first appeared in historical records in the 6th century. Yet in researching the ownership of the castle, I eventually choose a time when there was a “gray” area of possession—the early 13th century. I finally had a chance to visit the ruins in 2017 and spent over four hours running my hands over the rough edges of stone, dirt, and the ground. I had returned home to where the stories began.

For a few brief moments during my time roaming the ancient ruins, I could hear the whispers of the Dragon Knights arguing, laughing, and questioning who’s next for an adventure. The knights are definitely not finished. In truth, they’re demanding more tales to be written.

Order of the Dragon Knights ~

They were an ancient order, descended from the great Tuatha Dé Danann, the Sidhe, or in simpler terms: the Fae. Half-human and half-fae, each knight blessed with mystical powers. Given to them were holy relics from the Fae and guardianship over their Dragons.

They were known as the Dragon Knights.

However, some believed the Order had too much power and they tried to possess it for themselves. They were evil and twisted, and their plan succeeded one fateful night. The brothers of the Clan MacKay—Dragon Knights, fought a battle. Blood spilled onto holy ground, bringing forth the wrath of the Fae. Their relics were taken, and the Order was banished—each name stricken from the hallowed halls of the Fae.

The Clan MacKay is no longer.

The Dragon Knights have scattered across the land.

Yet out of the darkness, they will each fight for redemption, and the women they love.

For a limited time, Dragon Knight’s Sword is on sale for 99¢ from Amazon. Grab your copy today or collect them all! Available at Amazon..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7QR2T3 )

(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7QR2 )

Book Trailer for Dragon Knights: https://youtu.be/iEruV9P6PtU

About the Author:

Multi award-winning romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic and Norse mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of fantasy, then travel back in time within the pages of her books.

Connect with Mary here ~ Website/Blog:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/

And don’t forget to check out my fellow Medieval Monday Ladies to see in they have a treat in store today;

www.anastasiaabboud.com/alittleromance

www.marymorganauthor.com/blog

MEDIEVAL MONDAY: COVER REVEAL FOR MY UPCOMING SHORT NOVELLA

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Today I’m celebrating the cover reveal for The Right Knight, my upcoming release from The Wild Rose Press. It’s a short novella, an extension of a short story that appeared a few years ago in a mixed anthology. I loved Hugh and Annis so much, I couldn’t let them languish, so I enlarged the story and TWRP is releasing the now-novella. Please pop over to N.N. Light’s Book Haven here for a glimpse of the yummy cover. https://www.nnlightsbookheave.com/post/the-right-knight-cr

Here’s the blurb:

Marry the new lord or become the king’s ward; Annis wants a third choice.

After her father dies, Annis of Roxley fears King John will award her home to one of his pet mercenaries. Still, she’s unprepared for the knight who arrives carrying John’s order: Wed the new lord or become the king’s ward. If the new lord is anything like his disheveled representative, she’s better off –elsewhere.

Rushing to claim the castle John’s finally granted him, Sir Hugh reaches Roxley looking so unkempt, Annis takes him for a servant. Before he can reveal his identity, she disappears with her cousin. Hugh knows John rejected the cousin’s claim to Roxley. Will the knight defy royal decree and force Annis to marry? Not if Hugh can help it.

More to come as soon as a release date is secured.

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/the-right-knight-cr

And don’t forget to check out my fellow Medieval Monday Ladies to see in they have a treat in store today;

www.anastasiaabboud.com/alittleromance

www.marymorgan/blog

 

MEDIEVAL MONDAY: HAPPY MAY DAY, ANOTHER CELEBRATION BASED ON ANCIENT and medieval practices

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May Day. Gathering and bestowing of flowers, dancing around May Poles. What a delightful and innocent way to welcome Summer.

Or so we might think in the 21st Century. In fact, like so many of our holiday traditions, May Day has its origins in ancient times and through several cultures. As so many of those current holidays, the Church also has a religious observance slotted for that day, as well.

A modern May Pole Dance

The feast of Sts. Phillip and James is held on May 1, honoring the dedication of a church now known at the Church of the Twelve Apostles, located in Rome. It originally was dedicated to Phillip and James.

Also from Rome—at least, from early Romans—comes the festival of Floralia, celebrating Flora goddess of flowers. That festival began April 27.

May 1 falls on an important date in other early non-Christian cultures. It coincides with the Gaelic Beltane festivities, marking the return of Summer. It celebrated fertility. While Spring was observed earlier, Summer was especially important, because the first crops were beginning to peek above the ground and the fertility was to be celebrated. Green was a color especially tied to the day, most evident in the later Middle Ages.

Beltane began the evening of April 30 and continued the following day. Huge bonfires were lit to much rejoicing, celebrating fertility. (For more details about Beltane–also spelled Beltaine– visit my friend Mary Morgan’s blog here: www.marymorganauthor.com and go to “Mary’s Tavern”.

1841 illustration of the May Pole that once stood across from St. Andrew Undershaft, London.

Early in the morning, young men and women would go into the fields and forests to pick flowers and greenery. The phrase “gone-a-Maying” stems from that (Cosman.) The day of feasting often was capped by entertainment such as that from Morris Dancers, a group of men who would perform for the villagers.

Often, villages would erect a May Pole. The original purpose of May Poles isn’t clear, but it has been suggested they may have been phallic symbols to represent fertility. Young girls danced around the poles in early such festivities. Eventually the tradition evolved, and the poles were decorated with flowers and ribbons. Some sources say any of the villagers could dance around them, although the activity was often the purview of the young. Some such poles were so tall, they had to be embedded in the earth. Those extremely tall ones were left standing year-round. Others that weren’t so tall were removed until the next year.

Just in case we think all this might only be myth, the London church St. Andrew Undershaft reportedly took its name from the May Pole that was erected across from it each year. (The May Pole there met its end at the hands of a mob in 1547, who declared it a “pagan idol.”)

In some places a Queen of May was chosen. She presided over any games and awarded prizes Madeline Pelner Cosman, in Medieval Holidays and Festivals, described Maypole dancers as stomping the ground, apparently a remnant of even earlier pagan celebrations where folks would stomp the ground to awaken it from winter sleep.

One aspect of the holiday, as mentioned, is its association with flowers. And until at least the mid-20th Century, certain remnants remained in our culture, here. I don’t know about you, but I remember my friends and I making May Baskets in elementary school art class,, usually from construction paper. On the first day of May we filled the baskets with flowers. Then we’d hang them on the handles of doors in the neighborhood, ring the doorbell (or knock), and run.

We’d hide nearby to watch the door open and the baskets discovered. The smiles of pleasure the folks had as they picked up the flowers were gratifying to us kids.

In school, we also had Maypole dances—often at recess, or at Spring programs presented for parents. Inevitably one of the dancers would drop a streamer or go under when he or she should have gone over and the resulting colorful pattern would be knotted. But that was all right. Our parents loved it anyway.

I don’t know if that’s done anymore; if not, it’s a shame. It was such a fun thing to do for others, plus we had a lot of fun making those baskets. My best friend was very artistic. She’d cut and paste pieces into lovely containers, make designs on the sides.

My talents stopped at rolling a sheet of paper into a cone. If I was lucky, I’d succeed in pasting a narrow strip on for a handle.

Children have innocent fun with those traditions. They don’t realize the traditions have roots in ancient times.

Traditions may evolve over the years, but it’s important to remember them. And what better way than with a gift of flowers in a red paper cone placed on the door of someone special.

Did you do anything special to observe May Day when you were young?

Sources:

www.medieval-life-and-times/mediecval-life/may-pole-dancing.htm

www.lordsandladies.org/middle-ages-holidays.htm

www.medieval-life.net/festivals.htm

www.medieval.net/gingerbread.htm

Cosman, Madeleine Pelner. Medieval Holidays and Festivals. New York: Scribners, 1981

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And don’t forget to check out my fellow Medieveal Monday Ladies to see in they have a treat in store today;

www.anastasiaabboud.com/alittleromance

www.marymorgan.com/blog

www.marymorgan.comblog
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