Please welcome the multi-talented Miriam Newman. I've only met Miriam recently but found she's one of those kindred spirits one is lucky to come across in a lifetime. She's a lovely woman with wide-ranging talents and interests, many of which include helping those in need through social work and animal rescue. She's also an avid traveler and voracious reader.
My first introduction to Miriam's work came with her historical romance called The Comet, which is the story of a Norman knight who's wounded at the Battle of Hastings and nursed back to health by Saxon woman, as is her Christian duty. But her growing love for the Norman scares her, as does her sudden marriage to the man, and she runs home to her family across the Borders for protection. She doesn't expect her new husband to come for her. Lots of action and intrigue here!
My first introduction to Miriam's work came with her historical romance called The Comet, which is the story of a Norman knight who's wounded at the Battle of Hastings and nursed back to health by Saxon woman, as is her Christian duty. But her growing love for the Norman scares her, as does her sudden marriage to the man, and she runs home to her family across the Borders for protection. She doesn't expect her new husband to come for her. Lots of action and intrigue here!
Miriam's newly released book, The Eagle's Woman, is book one of The Eagle series. Ari is the son of an impoverished Norse chieftain. Why his father lays dying, Ari takes to raiding as a means to support and feed his people. Ari develops a notorious reputation, someone whom is feared beyond measure. He's a Pagan and therefor a heathen in the eyes of the Church, yet he spares priests during his raids, and any Christian woman who falls in love with him will be committing a sin in the eyes of God. Which is fine with Ari, as his life as a warrior doesn't have time for women or love.
During a raid to Ireland, Ari abducts Maeve from the peaceful fishing village where she lives, and from that moment, every belied he had in himself is called into question the moment he's alone with this woman.
Something tells me Miriam relishes a great, action-packed historical!
I had the pleasure of chatting with Miriam about life behind the pen. She lets us into her sanctuary for a peak.
Hi Miriam. Thanks for visiting with us today. Please, describe your writing space.
In my little two bedroom Victorian cottage, I have turned one of the bedrooms into my office. A nice solid desk sits tucked into an alcove beneath a picture of a steeplechase race in Aiken, S.C., to the side of another picture representing a typical Chester County foxhunting scene. Would you guess that I live in Horse Country? On the right-hand wall is a picture of my husband on the 37 horse farm where we lived just after we were married. The remaining walls are splashed with framed book covers—all 14 of them! It looks like a romance Rogues’ Gallery. Finally against the fourth wall an overloaded bookcase is on the point of collapse, suffocating under the weight of research books. If it over-balances, it will fall on the FAX machine roosting on its spindly stand. Eek! Oh, yes, and my pit bull puppy is asleep on my feet after an altercation with the cat that wore her out. Meanwhile, I am attempting to write.
Sounds like you're a nester . . . collecting all your best-loved items around you and making a comfortable environment for your writing.
What is your daily writing routine like?
It usually happens in the middle of the night because I work two jobs and write when I should be sleeping. Everything looks as described above except that at that point the puppy has despaired of my coming to bed and gone to sleep on it! She will wake again at 5 a.m., when I have been asleep for three hours.
So, you're a night writer too! You're one busy lady! I don't know how you fit it all in. What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
Sleeping! There is so little time for it and some of my best ideas come in dreams. I also love to travel and will be going to Ireland on vacation at the end of September.
How wonderful! You'll be on my turf soon. Maybe we can hook up for a face-to-face! Thanks for stopping by today.
So, here it is . . . an excerpt for The Eagle's Woman. You can tell by the cover, Ari is one sexy Norseman!
“What?” Ari asked, reaching with his free hand to take her chin in it. His thumb caressed her bottom lip and she thought she was not out of danger with him, no matter how disheveled her appearance. This man wanted her, no doubt of it. Not enough to commit violence on her, apparently, but she thought gentleness held its own dangers. If she was not careful, it could weaken her will. He was not unattractive—with fair skin, strong angular features and striking eyes—though just then he looked like a drowned rat as all of them did. It did not obscure the strength of his body or the keen intelligence in those eyes. She turned her head to the side, dislodging his thumb.
“I have not seen tears from you before,” he said thoughtfully, “though many of the others are crying. What has finally broken you?”
“I am not broken,” she spat, “only mourning two good people who raised me. But I am sure you know nothing of such feelings.”
He sat back on his heels. “Do I not? Two good people raised me as well. One lies crippled in his sickbed and the other waits for me to bring coin to buy things a sick man needs.”
Maeve was silent, surprised and momentarily chastened. She had never seriously supposed he had motives other than greed.
“Do you think raiding is worthy of a fighting man?” he persisted. “I would rather face an army than hungry children.”
She stifled an impulse toward sympathy. “Ours are dead or captive. You seem to have no trouble facing that.”
Abruptly, he set both feet beneath himself and got up, undaunted by the motion of the ship which made such things impossible for Maeve. She had not noticed a wineskin hanging from the rigging, but she saw him reach for it then. “I cannot help your children.” He took a fulsome swig. “Just mine.” Wiping the neck with his wet tunic, he held the wineskin out to her.
It was decent wine, probably from their monastery, tasting of strength and summer. She needed strength to remember that summer would come again, so she drank.
Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been Miriam’s passion for as long as she can remember. She was published in poetry before catching the romance writing bug. She brings that background to her writing along with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where she nurtures her muse. Her published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance. Currently she lives in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals. You can view her books at www.miriamnewman.com.
For more information on The Eagle's Woman and Miriam Newman, readers are invited to visit these sites. Miriam loves hearing from her readers, so drop her a note --
Miriam's website - http://www.miriamnewman.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/miriam.newman1
Dark Castle Lords Publications - http://thedarkcastlelords.net/?page_id=502
---} And if you want to buy a copy of The Eagle's Woman, you can find a copy on Amazon Kindle
, or drop over to Fictionwise or All Romance Books.
During a raid to Ireland, Ari abducts Maeve from the peaceful fishing village where she lives, and from that moment, every belied he had in himself is called into question the moment he's alone with this woman.
Something tells me Miriam relishes a great, action-packed historical!
I had the pleasure of chatting with Miriam about life behind the pen. She lets us into her sanctuary for a peak.
Hi Miriam. Thanks for visiting with us today. Please, describe your writing space.
In my little two bedroom Victorian cottage, I have turned one of the bedrooms into my office. A nice solid desk sits tucked into an alcove beneath a picture of a steeplechase race in Aiken, S.C., to the side of another picture representing a typical Chester County foxhunting scene. Would you guess that I live in Horse Country? On the right-hand wall is a picture of my husband on the 37 horse farm where we lived just after we were married. The remaining walls are splashed with framed book covers—all 14 of them! It looks like a romance Rogues’ Gallery. Finally against the fourth wall an overloaded bookcase is on the point of collapse, suffocating under the weight of research books. If it over-balances, it will fall on the FAX machine roosting on its spindly stand. Eek! Oh, yes, and my pit bull puppy is asleep on my feet after an altercation with the cat that wore her out. Meanwhile, I am attempting to write.
Sounds like you're a nester . . . collecting all your best-loved items around you and making a comfortable environment for your writing.
What is your daily writing routine like?
It usually happens in the middle of the night because I work two jobs and write when I should be sleeping. Everything looks as described above except that at that point the puppy has despaired of my coming to bed and gone to sleep on it! She will wake again at 5 a.m., when I have been asleep for three hours.
So, you're a night writer too! You're one busy lady! I don't know how you fit it all in. What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
Sleeping! There is so little time for it and some of my best ideas come in dreams. I also love to travel and will be going to Ireland on vacation at the end of September.
How wonderful! You'll be on my turf soon. Maybe we can hook up for a face-to-face! Thanks for stopping by today.
So, here it is . . . an excerpt for The Eagle's Woman. You can tell by the cover, Ari is one sexy Norseman!
• • •
“What?” Ari asked, reaching with his free hand to take her chin in it. His thumb caressed her bottom lip and she thought she was not out of danger with him, no matter how disheveled her appearance. This man wanted her, no doubt of it. Not enough to commit violence on her, apparently, but she thought gentleness held its own dangers. If she was not careful, it could weaken her will. He was not unattractive—with fair skin, strong angular features and striking eyes—though just then he looked like a drowned rat as all of them did. It did not obscure the strength of his body or the keen intelligence in those eyes. She turned her head to the side, dislodging his thumb.“I have not seen tears from you before,” he said thoughtfully, “though many of the others are crying. What has finally broken you?”
“I am not broken,” she spat, “only mourning two good people who raised me. But I am sure you know nothing of such feelings.”
He sat back on his heels. “Do I not? Two good people raised me as well. One lies crippled in his sickbed and the other waits for me to bring coin to buy things a sick man needs.”
Maeve was silent, surprised and momentarily chastened. She had never seriously supposed he had motives other than greed.
“Do you think raiding is worthy of a fighting man?” he persisted. “I would rather face an army than hungry children.”
She stifled an impulse toward sympathy. “Ours are dead or captive. You seem to have no trouble facing that.”
Abruptly, he set both feet beneath himself and got up, undaunted by the motion of the ship which made such things impossible for Maeve. She had not noticed a wineskin hanging from the rigging, but she saw him reach for it then. “I cannot help your children.” He took a fulsome swig. “Just mine.” Wiping the neck with his wet tunic, he held the wineskin out to her.
It was decent wine, probably from their monastery, tasting of strength and summer. She needed strength to remember that summer would come again, so she drank.
• • •
Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been Miriam’s passion for as long as she can remember. She was published in poetry before catching the romance writing bug. She brings that background to her writing along with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where she nurtures her muse. Her published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance. Currently she lives in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals. You can view her books at www.miriamnewman.com.
• • •
For more information on The Eagle's Woman and Miriam Newman, readers are invited to visit these sites. Miriam loves hearing from her readers, so drop her a note --
Miriam's website - http://www.miriamnewman.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/miriam.newman1
Dark Castle Lords Publications - http://thedarkcastlelords.net/?page_id=502
---} And if you want to buy a copy of The Eagle's Woman, you can find a copy on Amazon Kindle
, or drop over to Fictionwise or All Romance Books.