Blog Stop, Review, and Guest Post: Éire’s Viking by Sandi Layne
I’m very excited to have the talented Sandi Layne here today! You like Vikings? If so, you’re in for a treat! Read Sandi’s guest post below, my review, and then go snag yourself a copy of this outstanding read! There’s also a Rafflecopter giveaway (link below). If you haven’t read the first book in the series, you can still read this one, but I highly recommend starting from the beginning. Oh, and . . . TEAM AGNARR!
Eire’s Viking by Sandi Layne
Published by The Writers Coffee Shop
Available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS
Don’t forget to enter: A Rafflecopter Giveaway
Summary:
Ten years after Charis marries Cowan at the end of Éire’s Captive Moon, Agnarr Halvardson returns to the Green Island—this time, to stay. He wants what any man wants: To make a life for himself, wed, and have sons.
Before he can express these goals, he is injured and taken to Bangor Monastery. There, Aislinn—adopted daughter of Cowan and Charis—treats him as a patient while she ignores the immediate attraction he holds for her.
Agnarr decides Aislinn would be a good wife for him as she teaches him her language and customs. She commands his respect and wins his affection. The past is just one barrier of many between them, however.
There are new invaders to Éire. Pledging his loyalty to the new king of Dál Fiatach, Agnarr prepares to defend his new home while persuading Aislinn to be his wife.
Success or failure will affect the lives of many.
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Eire’s Viking
A Guest Post
By Sandi Layne
How did you get your start in writing historical romance and why Vikings?
Being a writer was never on my radar, as a child. I wrote short
stories for extra credit for school and I could create a terrific essay over
night at need, but writing? No. I loved to read and lose myself in stories and
that was all I wanted.
stories for extra credit for school and I could create a terrific essay over
night at need, but writing? No. I loved to read and lose myself in stories and
that was all I wanted.
But then, while researching an entirely different line of work,
I was struck by the notion that I could write a story I’d
like to read. “I’ve read hundreds of romances”was
literally what I thought. “Surely I could write one!”
I was struck by the notion that I could write a story I’d
like to read. “I’ve read hundreds of romances”was
literally what I thought. “Surely I could write one!”
Ah, what hubris. Really, that’s
what it was.
what it was.
I had read and enjoyed many Regency Romances over the years and
when I thought of writing, and had ideas about stories and plot lines and so
on, most of them were of the Regency Romance variety. Since this was before I
had access to the internet, I did research with my own books and encyclopedias,
as well as a trip to the local library. I kept copious notes in three-ring
binders and, back in those days, I printed out and re-read each page as I wrote
it.
when I thought of writing, and had ideas about stories and plot lines and so
on, most of them were of the Regency Romance variety. Since this was before I
had access to the internet, I did research with my own books and encyclopedias,
as well as a trip to the local library. I kept copious notes in three-ring
binders and, back in those days, I printed out and re-read each page as I wrote
it.
The first book I wrote originally came out to about 100,000
words. I wrote it in thirty nearly sleepless days and I have kept that
badly-written draft to remind myself that I have improved mightily since then.
See, I had no idea about how to create a story; I just tried to make mine sound
close to the ones I read and liked.
words. I wrote it in thirty nearly sleepless days and I have kept that
badly-written draft to remind myself that I have improved mightily since then.
See, I had no idea about how to create a story; I just tried to make mine sound
close to the ones I read and liked.
I’ve learned a great deal in the intervening years, thanks to many
awesome authors I have encountered along the way. I write both contemporary inspirational
romance as well as historical romance, and enjoy them both.
awesome authors I have encountered along the way. I write both contemporary inspirational
romance as well as historical romance, and enjoy them both.
Why Vikings?
Well, one of the ideas I had for an historical romance was not
Regency. It was inspired by Thomas Cahill’s
book, How the Irish Saved Civilization. I thought I could have a romance
hero who was also a learned scribe who copied codices, like the monks used to
do. I had an idea for a heroine, too, and I was all kinds of tickled about the
characters and the time (6th Century, when I was initially dreaming this up)
and so on.
Regency. It was inspired by Thomas Cahill’s
book, How the Irish Saved Civilization. I thought I could have a romance
hero who was also a learned scribe who copied codices, like the monks used to
do. I had an idea for a heroine, too, and I was all kinds of tickled about the
characters and the time (6th Century, when I was initially dreaming this up)
and so on.
But I forgot one huge point. I needed something that would bring
action to the plot. Some driving force. When I first began writing, just a story
about a guy and a gal was all I was trying to create, but that wasn’t
enough for this time, in my estimation.
action to the plot. Some driving force. When I first began writing, just a story
about a guy and a gal was all I was trying to create, but that wasn’t
enough for this time, in my estimation.
I needed drama. Action. And after some reading, I
concluded I needed Vikings. Then, it became a huge party for me, of sorts. I
wanted to get as close to my earlier timeline as I could, but I wound up
looking almost three hundred years ahead of it. Still, I found reference to a
fellow named Tuirgeis who was a Viking who claimed the High Kingship of Ireland
and everything clicked for me.
concluded I needed Vikings. Then, it became a huge party for me, of sorts. I
wanted to get as close to my earlier timeline as I could, but I wound up
looking almost three hundred years ahead of it. Still, I found reference to a
fellow named Tuirgeis who was a Viking who claimed the High Kingship of Ireland
and everything clicked for me.
And the rest is history. Well, historical fiction.
Author Bio: There are many profiles that detail the author’s lifelong dream of authorship being realized with the publication of their first novel or short story. This is not one of those profiles.
To make an exceedingly odd story moreso, Sandi Layne had no wish to be a writer, but went through a storyline bootcamp in the form of strange dreams for a month and took careful notes. Fifteen years later, she’s still writing stories that veer slightly off the beaten path, both in Christian and historical fiction.
Married for more than twenty years to a very tolerant (and brilliant!) man, she has two sons, no pets, and a plethora of imaginary friends. Her interests range from ancient civilizations to science fiction for both reading and research. With degrees in English and Ministry, she also claims Theology’s crimson Masters collar which she has been known to don on rare occasions.
If you drive by her window before dawn, it is likely she’ll have a light on for you. Or at the very least, she’ll be alert on twitter. She invites you to visit her online space at http://sandyquill.com. Bring coffee.
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@SarahAisling You’re GOOD. Thank you for your kind words. And your powers of foresight are impressive. 😉