featuring
The Dark Lady
All this week I've featured Blogger Book Fair authors and their books, and today we have Dawn Chandler, so here she is!
Jacquie: Give us a brief bio and tell us what has driven you to write in your genre.
Dawn: I grew up on Murtaugh Lake and spent most of my days in the water. I wrote my first full length novel in middle school, no surprise it was about a mermaid. I have been writing for most of my life, but just recently thought about getting my work published, at the encouragement of my husband. I have always loved doing research and England is my favorite place to research. Knights have a special place in my heart. They are ferocious barbarians, with a strong sense of loyalty and honor.
Jacquie: Please tell us a little about your book.
Dawn: Van’s mother, in an act of revenge steals Van away from her father when she is only one. To keep her hidden she forces her to pretend to be a boy. She excels in her charade and soon garners the attention of the king, and is thrilled to receive her knighthood. But after three years of living as a dangerous knight, she must follow her mother’s dying wish. Leave the knighthood behind and become a wife.
Van must leave the dark secrets of her past behind her or risk losing all she cares about.
Jacquie: Why do you write in the historical romance genre? What aspect of life in this genre intrigues you the most? Did you work that into The Dark Lady?
Dawn: I have always enjoyed research. I read extensively and history is one of my favorite genres. I think I enjoy historical the most, especially when it comes to romance because of the role that women play in society. England, London in particular, was a fascinating time. Contemporary romance does not hold the appeal for me, because modern women can do what they want, say what they want and society does not frown upon marrying who you want. In old England, women were bought and sold, traded and married off to the highest bidder. It was a struggle to make it through the day to day life, let alone find that perfect man to spend the rest of your life with. And yes, that is worked into The Dark Lady, and most all of my romances.
Jacquie: If you lived in 12th century England what would you visit first? Is there something you’ve been curious about that you can’t find in your research sources?
Dawn: I would just like to meet the knights face to face. They are such complex people. I do not understand how such a rough and dangerous group can also be so loyal and so full of honor.
Jacquie: If a person who had never read a historical romance asked you for a recommendation, what novel or movie would you recommend and why? What did the author do to bring the story alive for you?
Dawn: I would have to recommend Catherine Coulter. I don’t think I can pinpoint one thing that she did to make the story come alive. I can narrow it down to her characters. They are vibrant and I always cringe when I come to the ending pages. I don’t want to put it down.
Jacquie: Why must Van take this particular story journey? What does she have to prove? How does Peter affect her journey?
Dawn: Her mother’s dying wish throws Van’s life into a tailspin, but it is more than her honor that forces her to leave the knighthood behind. She knows that her days as a “man” are numbered. She feels she has no choice but to become a wife. She expects to go to her new husband with the knowledge that if things go badly she can leave him. When she realizes Peter is her new husband, she is bound by feelings that she cannot explain. She wants to go to him, but is unsure if he feels anything for her besides anger. She is also unwilling to trust him with the secrets of her past for fear that it will turn out disastrous.
Jacquie: And now for the excerpt! Please set the scene for us.
Dawn: When Van’s friend is hurt, Van puts aside the fears of her secret past being exposed and goes to her rescue.
Excerpt
The Dark Lady
by Dawn Chandler
Vanessa grasped the material and pulled. Peter heard the long tear as the skirt fell open completely on the side, baring her leg from thigh to ankle. During it all, she never broke her stride.
Peter called out as her huge destrier thundered past him, screamed for her to watch out. Beast began to slow until Vanessa whistled again. He regained his speed, tearing straight for her. Peter’s breath caught in his throat as he knew he would not be able to save her.
She reached out a long arm, gripping the coarse waving mane as the animal thundered past, and smoothly swung herself onto his massive back.
Peter felt a jolt of fear as she wobbled slightly on the racing stallion, one creamy white leg glistening in the dim sunlight. Shadows played off the thick muscles as they rippled in her effort to stay on the unsaddled mount.
Jacquie: Sounds great! What’s next? Is The Dark Lady a part of a series?
Dawn: Yes. The Dark Lady is book one of The Dark Books. As it sits now it is a five book series. The second in the series is From Under a Dark Shadow. How do you deal with growing up as a young and proud man when the dangerous Dark Knight…is your mother?
Jacquie: Anything else you’d like to add?
Dawn: For anyone interested in learning more about Van’s adventure you can go to my website and read the first three chapters.
Thank you for having me. I enjoyed it.
Jacquie: Give us a brief bio and tell us what has driven you to write in your genre.
 |
| Dawn Chandler |
Jacquie: Please tell us a little about your book.
Dawn: Van’s mother, in an act of revenge steals Van away from her father when she is only one. To keep her hidden she forces her to pretend to be a boy. She excels in her charade and soon garners the attention of the king, and is thrilled to receive her knighthood. But after three years of living as a dangerous knight, she must follow her mother’s dying wish. Leave the knighthood behind and become a wife.
Jacquie: Why do you write in the historical romance genre? What aspect of life in this genre intrigues you the most? Did you work that into The Dark Lady?
Dawn: I have always enjoyed research. I read extensively and history is one of my favorite genres. I think I enjoy historical the most, especially when it comes to romance because of the role that women play in society. England, London in particular, was a fascinating time. Contemporary romance does not hold the appeal for me, because modern women can do what they want, say what they want and society does not frown upon marrying who you want. In old England, women were bought and sold, traded and married off to the highest bidder. It was a struggle to make it through the day to day life, let alone find that perfect man to spend the rest of your life with. And yes, that is worked into The Dark Lady, and most all of my romances.
Jacquie: If you lived in 12th century England what would you visit first? Is there something you’ve been curious about that you can’t find in your research sources?
Dawn: I would just like to meet the knights face to face. They are such complex people. I do not understand how such a rough and dangerous group can also be so loyal and so full of honor.
Jacquie: If a person who had never read a historical romance asked you for a recommendation, what novel or movie would you recommend and why? What did the author do to bring the story alive for you?
Dawn: I would have to recommend Catherine Coulter. I don’t think I can pinpoint one thing that she did to make the story come alive. I can narrow it down to her characters. They are vibrant and I always cringe when I come to the ending pages. I don’t want to put it down.
Jacquie: Why must Van take this particular story journey? What does she have to prove? How does Peter affect her journey?
Dawn: Her mother’s dying wish throws Van’s life into a tailspin, but it is more than her honor that forces her to leave the knighthood behind. She knows that her days as a “man” are numbered. She feels she has no choice but to become a wife. She expects to go to her new husband with the knowledge that if things go badly she can leave him. When she realizes Peter is her new husband, she is bound by feelings that she cannot explain. She wants to go to him, but is unsure if he feels anything for her besides anger. She is also unwilling to trust him with the secrets of her past for fear that it will turn out disastrous.
Jacquie: And now for the excerpt! Please set the scene for us.
Dawn: When Van’s friend is hurt, Van puts aside the fears of her secret past being exposed and goes to her rescue.
Excerpt
The Dark Lady
by Dawn Chandler
Vanessa grasped the material and pulled. Peter heard the long tear as the skirt fell open completely on the side, baring her leg from thigh to ankle. During it all, she never broke her stride.
Peter called out as her huge destrier thundered past him, screamed for her to watch out. Beast began to slow until Vanessa whistled again. He regained his speed, tearing straight for her. Peter’s breath caught in his throat as he knew he would not be able to save her.
She reached out a long arm, gripping the coarse waving mane as the animal thundered past, and smoothly swung herself onto his massive back.
Peter felt a jolt of fear as she wobbled slightly on the racing stallion, one creamy white leg glistening in the dim sunlight. Shadows played off the thick muscles as they rippled in her effort to stay on the unsaddled mount.
♥ ♥ ♥
Jacquie: Sounds great! What’s next? Is The Dark Lady a part of a series?
Dawn: Yes. The Dark Lady is book one of The Dark Books. As it sits now it is a five book series. The second in the series is From Under a Dark Shadow. How do you deal with growing up as a young and proud man when the dangerous Dark Knight…is your mother?
Jacquie: Anything else you’d like to add?
Dawn: For anyone interested in learning more about Van’s adventure you can go to my website and read the first three chapters.
Thank you for having me. I enjoyed it.
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