Court of the Hawk by Debbie Peterson (VNBtM, guest post, excerpt and GIVEAWAY)

I have the pleasure of having a guest post by author Debbie Peterson...

For this exciting tour stop, my lovely hostess asked me an interesting question. She wanted to know if any of my hobbies has in one way or another, enriched my writing. Now there’s a loaded question if I ever saw one!

Let me answer it like this…

For those who know me--have followed any of my previous book tours, or read my bio on the back of any one of my books--know that I have a PASSION for genealogy and family history. This passion goes way beyond looking for the names, dates, and locations one might find on a grave stone in an old cemetery, creepy or otherwise. No, I have to have so much more than just that. Way more. I want to know who they were! I want to know everything about their lives and their families. What did they do for a living? Farmer? Merchant? Fisherman? Sailor? Inventor? What historical events were taking place while they lived? Did they participate in those events or merely witness them? As far as my colonial ancestors go, what made them leave everything they knew behind, cross a temperamental ocean and settle themselves in an unknown land, the dangers of which they couldn’t even begin to comprehend?

After years and years of research, I’ve been able to answer some of those questions for many of my ancestors. Each tidbit I discovered along the way was like winning the lottery! Especially if I could find a recorded history about them personally in a dusty old library or courthouse.

In turn, I used some of that knowledge in my books. Spirit of the Rebellion, I took a page pertaining to America’s Civil War from my own family history. My great-great granduncle, William Confer, met his death at the age of nineteen during the battle of Chickamauga. You’ll find parts of his life intertwined in the characters of both Beau and Chauncey. I also patterned a letter that Shae (the heroine) reads to Tristan (my ghostly hero), from several letters that a civil war ancestor penned to his wife.


In my novel Spirit of the Revolution, Jolena uses her knowledge of the “how-to’s” of genealogical research to help Mathias solve the enigma of his last earthly mission. A mission that involves a mysterious letter written to General George Washington.


The castles spoken of in both Spirit of the Knightand Court of the Hawk are based on real castles that a couple of my ancestors (bearing the title of “Sir Knight”) occupied or fought to defend. Also included in Spirit of the Knight, are the genuine steps one must take to obtain knighthood. Steps all of these ancestors had to have taken.


So, at least in my way of thinking, this particular hobby of mine has definitely enriched and will continue to enrich, my writing!



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Court of the Hawk

by Debbie Peterson

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BLURB:



Epigraphist Dr. Essie DeSpencer travels to an ancient Welsh castle in order to decipher an Ogham inscription discovered by the handsome and enigmatic, Garreth ap Daffyd. But the journey is not what she expects. She doesn’t plan to fall for the Lord of the castle, or to find herself deeply entrenched in legends, myths, and magic. Real legends, and real magic, that have devastating consequences.



Garreth didn’t plan for Essie to stay any longer than it took her to decipher the pictograph. Instead, he finds himself falling in love for the first time in his very long life. Now the Lord of

Llys y Gwalch must find a way to attain the heart of his soul mate and keep her safe from the dangers that threaten them both.





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EXCERPT


“How old are you?” She held her breath and waited. In fact, she waited so long she wondered if he’d answer the question at all.

Finally, he dropped his gaze and returned a slow nod. He made the gesture more in response to an inner resignation than directing it toward her. “First, if I might ask, what gave rise to your curiosity?”

She combed the windblown hair away from her face and shrugged. “Does it make any difference as to how you’ll respond?”

He considered that for a time before he spoke. “No, I suppose it doesn’t. Still, I’d like to know.”

“All right, I don’t have a problem giving you the answer.” She cleared her throat. “The quake disturbed several portraits hanging along the hallways. I found one of them on the floor after leaving my room. So, I picked the antiquated thing up with every intention of replacing it, but the subject stole my attention. You see, if asked under oath in a court of law, I would swear you posed for the portrait at least two, maybe even three centuries ago.”

“And you didn’t stop to consider whether or not the man in the painting might be a distant ancestor to whom I bear a great resemblance?” he asked.

She extended a finger to his face, gently traced the scar that did naught but enhance his looks, and shook her head. “Not when the artist painted him with this.”


Buy Links:

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Debbie is an author of paranormal and fantasy romance because she has a soft spot for fairy tales, the joy of falling in love, making an impossible love possible, and happily ever after endings. She loves music, art, beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and thunder storms.



When she is not busy conjuring her latest novel, Debbie spends time with the members of her very large family within the lovely, arid deserts of southern Nevada. She also pursues her interests in family history, which she also teaches, mythology, and history.



Connect with Debbie:

Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest


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GIVEAWAY







a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here