Welcome Nancy!
Hi Sue! Thank you so much for inviting me here, so close to
the launch of Book 3 of my Celtic Fervour
Series- After
Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks from Crooked Cat Publishing - which
releases on 25th March 2014. I thought you might appreciate reading
about what I’ve been attempting in these novels which, I think, make them
slightly different and hard to categorise genre-wise. I’ve recently read, and
loved, The
Ghostly Father, so I know exactly how you’ve attempted to ensure that
any historical facts that you’ve used have been relevant and in keeping with
the era you were writing about. I too have an insatiable need to create
believable authentic fiction.
In general, if you pick up a novel that’s termed Historical
Fiction it’s crammed full of historical, factual information. The plots are
often centred on the machinations of aristocratic nobility, or are dominated by
war or politics. Often these books are on the lengthy side. I, personally,
usually love these novels since they satisfy my ravenous need to learn about
historical periods, although overly heavy descriptive passages can be tedious
to wade through. Any romantic elements in historical fiction tend to be a minor
aspect of the plot. A Happy-Ever-After (HEA) ending is not required, and the
happy couple wandering off into the sunset hand in hand does not generally
feature in Historical Fiction.
Historical Romance novels, especially those from ‘romance
only’ publishers, can veer very much in the opposite direction. The romance is
completely central to the plot and the historical aspects often form a very
scant and (it has to be said) sometimes anachronistic and inaccurate backdrop.
There must be an HEA ending for them to qualify as Historical Romance and be
accepted by some of the romance publishers, therefore the budding relationship
has to dominate the story: angst, rejection and doubt are often used to enhance
the development of the characters. I can enjoy the romantic storyline, but if
history is part of the title, brief detail of the historical background just
doesn’t suffice for me. I personally need more to really live in a past era
along with the characters.
Can there then be a compromise? I’m not sure, but what I’m
aiming for in my Celtic Fervour Series,
set in AD 71-84, is a really authentic backdrop of solid historical facts (at
least as much as is possible given my chosen era is so long ago and there is a
serious dearth of written facts available to the researcher). However, I’m also
aiming for variable degrees of romance across the series; a dash of adventure;
some intrigue; some bloody war and some mystery. Are my stories then a
mish-mash? Some purists might deem them so. Since it’s hard to please all
readers and reviewers, I’m writing in the way my heart dictates, and I’m glad
to say my publisher - Crooked Cat Publishing- is happy for me to categorise it
as Historical Romantic Adventure.
Book 1, The
Beltane Choice, has a strong
romantic theme running through it, the developing relationship of Lorcan of the
Brigantes and Nara of the Selgovae a crucial part of the whole plot and yet
their tale is set in as authentic a setting as possible. Book 1 is mainly
written from the Celtic perspective; any Roman references being what I’d term
remote. The Roman expansion into northern Britain in AD 71 affects and dictates
the actions of my Celtic characters, but there are no specific Roman characters
appearing in the first novel. I’m delighted that many of the reviews for The
Beltane Choice reflect my efforts over Celtic ‘authenticity’ and show
appreciation of my ‘believable’ Garrigill characters.
Book 2, After
Whorl: Bran Reborn, has a
romantic attachment but the plot is not driven by it. The love Brennus has for
Ineda is not necessarily fulfilled; there’s not an HEA ending to the book, but
there’s an expectation for better situations for my two main characters-
Brennus of Garrigill and Ineda of Marske. Though it’s not a war novel there are
battle references and scenes of war; there is a lot more detail of the
insidious Roman fort building in Brigantia (my version envisaged from thorough
research); and the life of the spy against Rome is central to the plot. Is it a
spy thriller? No, it’s not - though it could be said to have elements of
intrigue and aspects of the thriller as well. What about adventure? I
definitely like this aspect being attached to its description since it’s meant
to be an adventure in first century Britain, though not ‘hanging off a cliff’
on every page. Is this second novel of the series also heavily biased towards
the Celtic viewpoint? No. There are many Roman characters appearing in Book 2.
I’d say the bias is around 50/50 Roman and Celt. I’m delighted to say a
reviewer got my aims ‘spot on’ in her 5* Amazon review and mentioned the slide
away from the more traditional romance of the first book to a more solidly
historical one in Book 2.
Book 3, After
Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks continues the separate journeys through
life, literally and figuratively, of Brennus and Ineda. Fate often gets in the
way of developing relationships, and in my Celtic Fervour Series it’s the
armies of Rome, and specifically Tribune Gaius Livanus Valerius, who separate
Ineda and Brennus (also known as Bran). As with Book 2, there are romantic
attachments in the third book but those do not necessarily lead to an HEA
ending for all of my main characters - though romance readers will be heartened
by the fact that finding true love is not ruled out. There are many more minor
Roman characters in this novel and yet, I believe, the bias of Roman/Celt
perspectives is still around the 50/50 mark.
There are more tactical war aspects in Book 3, a very large
battle between amassed Celtic tribes and the legions of Rome featuring towards
the end of the story. In addition, in many ways the tale is about relentless
inevitability as my characters Celts and Romans push northwards, all the way to
my own part of north-east Scotland. My Celtic characters seem always just one
step ahead of the Roman Army as it tramps its way to the final battle scene at
the hill range named Beinn Na Ciche.
That may make it sound as though Book 3 is all about
battle-hardened soldiers? Not at all!
It’s about my Garrigill warriors and their families!
It’s Historical Romantic Adventure.
Thank you for allowing me to share my writing choices with
you and your readers, Sue.
My pleasure, Nancy.
Please call again!
Nancy
Jardine’s novels can be found in paperback and ebook formats from:
Amazon UK author page Amazon US
author page Crooked Cat Bookstore;
Waterstones; Barnes & Noble; Smashwords; W. H. Smith; and other book
retailers.
Nancy can
be found at the following places: Blog Website Facebook
Goodreads
About Me LinkedIn Twitter @nansjar
Google+
Nancy Jardine lives in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in an area
that’s steeped in ancient standing stones, tombs, ruined castles and fantastic
Scots Baronial architecture. A lover of all things Scottish, her homeland
creeps into her writing as does her fascination with history- Celtic/ Roman
Britain in particular- though keeping herself updated is a constant battle,
since history is being rewritten almost every week as new archaeological
discoveries are made. Writing time is shared with regular grandchild minding
duties, tending her large garden, ancestry research and leisure reading. She is
currently writing a family saga based mainly in Scotland, and Book 4 of her Celtic Fervour series.
Topaz Eyes (Crooked Cat Publishing) an
ancestral-based mystery, is a finalist for THE PEOPLE’S BOOK PRIZE Fiction
2014.
After
Whorl: Bran Reborn - Book 2 of her Celtic
Fervour Series (Crooked Cat
Publishing) has been accepted for THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL
FICTION 2014.
.
