Nicole Locke - A Medieval Feast...Sort Of.

My latest release, The Knight's Scarred Maiden, involves the heroine, Helissent, who is obsessed with cooking and baking. To understand her, I tried some of her recipes. Today, I'd like to share the Medieval Feast I, and my cousin, made (under no circumstances do I recommend trying this alone).
 
For the guests (I actually invited people over--or should I say: people actually came!), we made:

Fish with Sauce Verte

Roast Chicken with Peynreguson (raisin paste)
Fennel Soup
Rastons Bread (an egg bread, that is twice baked)
Dessert of Chardewardon (pear sauce) and Herbed Fritters

So how did it turn out?

The Sauce Verte (parsley, mint, betony, pellitory, and bread soaked in vinegar) tasted like vinegar and herbs. To save the day, my cousin added mayonnaise. It was yummy.

The Peynreguson (raisins, pepper, ginger, breadcrumbs, white wine), was ugly before and after it was cooked, but it was delicious with chicken. When I wasn’t looking my cousin added butter and champagne...as you do.

Then there was the fennel soup (water, fennel, and onions). It tasted like water, fennel, and onions. Asiago cheese was added to that.

Raston’s bread fascinated me because after the first bake, you’re required to slice off the top, scoop out the middle, saturate that in butter, put it back in, and reassemble it to bake again. I didn’t know how this would work without falling apart when you cut it. Guess what? It fell apart when I cut it. But at no time did the extremely buttered bread not taste good.

There was the delicious Chardewardon pear sauce that was supposed to be a burgundy broth with a jewel-like clarity. It looked and tasted liked spiced applesauce and the kids ate it all.

 

As for the Herbed Fritters. Out of everything, I doubted these the most. Flour, water, salt, herbs (thyme, sorrel, parsley, marjoram), fry, and slather with honey.  I was concerned the herbs would make it taste soapy. But I was wrong. The little dough balls could have handled a lot more herbs, and they were devoured by the pickiest eater.  

Will I do it again? Yes, but I won’t tell my family what they’re eating next time. Using the word Medieval made the children suspicious.

More importantly, did it give me a good idea of what Helissent shared with the hero Rhain in the story? Maybe. But I suspect she is a better cook than me….

 

You can read my other misadventures on different recipes on the Harlequin Blog May 25, June 2^nd and June 13th. http://harlequinblog.com. I've also shared recipes on my website. http://nicolelocke.com

Nicole

Nicole Locke is the author of Harlequin Lovers and Legends series. For more information about her and her writing, check out her website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.



 

My Heart Is In the Highlands

Later today, I will be returning to Scotland for the first time in NINE years. I can't believe it's been so long since my last visit and I cannot wait to get there. For years, since the first time I visited in 2002, I have felt like it is the place I need to be. It feeds my soul and refreshes my spirit and I cry when I leave. But today I'm going back --

 

  This is the quintessential song about Scotland and missing it that I wanted to share it with you...

I'll be visiting places I know I like and seeking out places I haven't yet been - all to inspire me to write stories of the history and wonder and people of the Highlands. I'm really excited that I'm going during the Blas Festival - a festival of Gaelic music and storytelling that is held across the Highlands. This year - although Dougie won't be there - I'll be seeing the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Aly Bain& Phil Cunningham and going to the big finale show in Inverness. 

Could there be anything more magical than Gaelic songs and stories being sung and told in castles and keeps and schools and churches all over Scotland? 

I think it's my connection to this place that inspires me to write Scottish historical romances. I've always been called to it and when I need to tell a story, it's the place that usually appears to me. I shouldn't be surprised, really, because during a past-life regression I learned that I lived in medieval Scotland. . . in the Highlands. I could hear it, feel the wind, smell the air and when I opened my eyes I WAS there. 

So, I'm off to the Highlands today. Maybe someone should warn all the men-in-kilts that I'm on my way? Maybe.... 

Have you ever been to Scotland? Or have a place that calls to your soul? Tell me about it - I'll pick a couple of commentors and send out a souvenir of my trip to them! 

Terri is thrilled to be part of an upcoming Celtic ghost anthology about haunted castles in....Scotland!  ONCE UPON A HAUNTED CASTLE is available for pre-order now! Visit her website for more info! 

What if?

Happy Saturday everyone!

My name is Kimberly Killion and I write Sexy Medieval Romance. My debut book, HER ONE DESIRE, came out in July from Kensington/Zebra books. It is the story of a Scottish spy and his quest to protect the executioner’s daughter.

Those last two words were the only words I needed to sell that book: executioner’s daughter. Where did I get the idea, you ask?...

While in the midst of brainstorming ideas for my next book, I found myself searching for inspiration. I looked in the mirror and thought if I keep staring I would be able to find something in my brain to trigger an idea. Unfortunately, my reflection hollered, “What the hell are you looking at?”

I didn’t find what I was looking for there so I went outside and looked at the fields of corn, the gravel driveway, a blade of grass. Nothin’. So I looked up and said, “Give me an idea, pleeeeease.”

Yes, I was asking for the supreme being of all creation to take time out of His busy day and give me an idea for my next book. That was selfish when you think about it. I mean, He has more important things to do, right? So, I thought long and hard and what did I come up with? Lunch. Yep. Lunch. So I fixed myself a little southern fired something and flipped on the TV. A documentary was on about the lives and families of the executioner. It was really quite fascinating. So then I started playing that game…you know the one…the ‘What if?’ game.

What if I wrote a story about the executioner? Oh, he started out as my villain, then I mixed it up a little and he became the hero. It still wasn’t right, so I said the word’s that practically wrote HER ONE DESIRE for itself…What if the heroine was the executioner’s daughter. And there is was. An idea was born.

You know how long it takes the Road Runner to sneak up on Wile E. Coyote? Well, that’s how long it took me to google a few keywords: executioner, occupation, medieval, torture … This went on and on, and before I knew it I had educated myself on every form of torture between hung, drawn, and quartered to peine forte et dure (Pressing to death)

Curiosity leads me to ask, ‘What if?’ So, as I sit here trying to develop my next story idea, I’m also curious to know how other writers develop ideas. Do you play the ‘What if?’ game? Do you get on your knees and pray for inspiration? Does whiskey help? Please, do tell…

How the Magic trilogy came to be ...

I love reading history books. I'm particularly fascinated by anything written about Medieval or Victorian England, or about the U.S. Civil War or Old West. Which means I can as easily curl up with a book by Francis and Joseph Gies or Peter Cross as I can with an historical romance.

My interests have made it very easy for friends and family to buy me gifts. If they don't know exactly what book to buy, they know I'll be thrilled with a gift card from any of the local bookstores. On one such buying binge I found a couple of books on King Arthur, then spent the next couple of weeks delightedly immersed in the ancient legends.

I know you've all heard of Arthur and Merlin, and probably saw Camelot or one of the other movies about their adventures. You likely know that after Arthur was mortally wounded he was carried off to the magical Isle of Avalon. Merlin, that wonderful sorcerer, then proclaims that at Britain's time of most dire need, King Arthur will return – presumably to set things right.

This is where I scoffed. Think about it. Arthur is off on this magical isle, probably seated in a comfy chair and being waited on hand and foot. By the mid-1100's, he's been enjoying the cushy life for several hundred years and hasn't given Britain a thought for an eon. I figure this man is going to need a nudge. But by whom and how?

Thus was born Gwendolyn, the heroine of Midnight Magic. She's the guardian of a spell, fashioned by Merlin and handed down through the female line of Pendragon, to call King Arthur from Avalon at the time of Britain's most dire need. Naturally, there are a few complications!

Gwendolyn has two sisters who have nothing to do with her problem with the spell. The thing was, I figured that since both Emma (Twilight Magic) and Nicole (Magic In His Kiss) were also princesses of Pendragon they should have some special abilities of their own. More on that in my July blog.

Is there a particular period in history that fascinates you? If we had a time machine, where and when would like to visit?

Shari Anton
MAGIC IN HIS KISS, July 2008
Visit my web site

danger's kiss

Hello, dear readers...

I have a book coming out this week (woohoo!), and there’s nothing that excites an author as much as the arrival of their “baby.” My little bundle of joy, DANGER’S KISS, will arrive on May 1st. I hope you’ll forgive me if I gush like a new mother.

If you’re as much as fan of medieval romance as I am, you know the plots often involve Lady So-and-So being forced to wed Lord What’s-His-Name for political gain. But what about the rest of the folk--the butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker--the commoners who were free to marry for love?

Sometimes, instead of Brad and Angelina, I’d like to hear about the courtship of John the trucker and Mary the Kindergarten teacher. That’s what inspired me to write DANGER’S KISS. I wanted to weave a tale I could relate to, where the hero and heroine don’t live in an ivory tower, don’t dine on sweetmeats, and don’t always play nice.

DANGER’S KISS is sort of a Sheriff of Nottingham meets The Artful Dodger adventure in which Nicholas Grimshaw, upstanding officer of the law, living happily alone in his thatched cottage, makes the mistake of taking mercy upon a beautiful scam artist by the name of Desiree and, instead of hanging her for her thievery, indentures her as his servant.

Sleight of hand and sleight of heart ensue as the two clash over what’s right versus what’s just, and moral lines become blurred as lawman and outlaw fall recklessly in love. Yet in the end, these two simple folk prove more honorable than their superiors as they work together to foil a nefarious noblewoman’s treacherous scheme.

To research DANGER’S KISS, I mingled with a great bunch of peasants--medieval reenactors with fascinating “lives” who were delighted to share their stories. In fact, a marvelous magician named Silvermane showed me the clever sleight of hand tricks that Desiree uses in the book!

Here’s my trailer. Turn up the volume, and enjoy:



I hope you find DANGER’S KISS an earthy, refreshing glimpse into medieval times, and I’m wagering the romance and adventure will keep you up all night! Let me know if it did at www.sarahmckerrigan.com.



Sarah McKerrigan...
Stories to keep you up all night!
LADY DANGER - Riding to the rescue April 2006
CAPTIVE HEART - Coming for you October 2006
KNIGHT'S PRIZE - Stealing your heart April 2007
DANGER'S KISS - Flirting with trouble May 2008