Sir Walter Scott

I am currently reading, The Betrothed by Sir Walter Scott.  I had never read any of his novels before nor seen any films based on his novels but since collecting the books and doing some research I saw the film Ivanhoe with Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. It was a good film. Well, one day when I was rummaging through a hospice bookshop and found a whole collection of his novels that were printed in 1887. I grabbed about six of them, the ones in the best condition which were; The Betrothed, the Talisman, The Bride of Lammer Moor, St Ronans Well, The Surgeon's daughter and Castle Dangerous, and The Antiquary. 

Below is a picture of the Title page and a page from the book. I love title pages of old books. They are always so decorative.  And the Chapter is written as Chapter Sixth which I thought was quite different.

In case you are not familiar with the book The Betrothed. It is the story of Eveline Berenger the daughter of Thomas Berenger. Being the fairest maiden in England she becomes the object of war when her father refuses her hand in marriage to Gwynwyn, the Prince of Powys. And not to mentions the fact that he is married and she is engaged to Sir Hugo de Lacey.

The war ends with her father being killed and the de Lacey's coming to her aid. Damian de Lacey, the nephew of Sir Hugo is sent to protect her but the sparks fly and the two young ones fall in love. Lovely tale. I think it would make a lovely film. 

Medieval Tomboy

There is a young woman in the kingdom of Northumbria and she is outspoken and stubborn and has a will of iron. She has her governess bedraggled and her sister worried for she is one determined young lady who will not be given orders. She may have plans but her father has plans too, to marry her to someone of equal wealth and title.  She can ride a horse as well as any knight, she can shoot an arrow clean and swift, and her seat in the saddle is one to be praised. You won’t find this young beauty with long dark hair and sweet face sitting in the upper chambers of a castle weaving tapestries to share boredom. NO! She would be running through the fields in the heart of the day, competing in tournaments, concerned for the welfare of animals, and the kingdom. She is a medieval tomboy. She is Lady Gwendolyn Godwyn.

Read about Lady Gwendolyn in the Kingdom Of Lions, coming soon! http://annas777.wix.com/anna-st-george

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Merry Christmas

I don't know about all of you but I love candy canes at Christmas time.  I always have and I really looked forward to hanging them on the tree each year with my sister.  The tree just wasn't the tree without those candy canes.  There is actually a story behind the candy cane as to how it came about and it is known as; 

The Legend of the Candy Cane
 Many years ago a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God.

The Candy Maker made the candy in the form of a 'J' to represent the name of Jesus, who came to the earth as our Saviour. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who like all sheep have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately the candy became known as a candy cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Old Books

I find it is always beneficial to have a break in between writing projects and  I am now well into the beginnings of the next one which I am planning to be a series of books based in medieval times. 

It’s nice having a break and I am always keen to get back to writing. It’s my favourite thing to do. In between I try to spend the time doing things that are inspirational and contemplating my next project if I don’t already have an idea but I usually know what I’m going to do.  If I find a break in the winter, I usually settle down by the fire with something arty or crafty and watch

movies or TV Series that inspire. I also like to study literature and history and collect old books.  I love old books!! Maybe one day I’ll live in a castle and have a library of old books.  Dream; dream.

I recently found a couple of books in second hand shops that were like finding a gold mine. It made my day. And every time I look at them I think of how wonderful God is that he guided me to these books.  One

is a book on the castles of Scotland and the families who lived in them and the other is a book on the Social History of England.  Most wonderful of all was finding a series of books written by Sir Walter Scott and the books were printed back in 1886. Yes! I love old books! 

The Love of Castles

Every book I have written so far has a castle in it in some form or other. I love castles and have a list on Pinterest of so many I want to visit.  https://www.pinterest.com/annasmith31337/places-to-visit/ 

 As far back as I can remember I have always found them to be a subject of fascination and interest.  And I always loved movies that took place in a castle or Medieval times.  These great structures through out England and Europe were built as places of defense and as a home for the Lord and his family.  Now they are a faerie tale relic of the past and the families who lived in them. Although many castles have been sold to Trusts do to the families no longer having the finance to afford them, many castles still have the same family line living in them that dates back to the 1300’s or earlier.  

 Inveraray Castle in Scotland is one of my favourite Castles. The round towers and pointed hats give it that faerie tale look. It was originally built in the 1400s but was restored in 1877 after a fire. Definitely a must to see some day. 

 

Alnwick Castle in the North of England is another of my favourites and certainly on my list of places to visit. It's origins can be dated back to 1096 and is not deficient of myth and legend as many old castles have interesting tales to tell and has been the location of several films and TV shows including Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey.

 

Dunvegan Castle

Located in Scotland, the home of the faerie flag. You can read about the flag here at the Dunvegan Castle website. It's worth a browse. http://www.dunvegancastle.com/content/default.asp?page=s2_5

 

Ezra

Ezra is now available on Amazon. 

  Ezra is the story of a spirited young man named Ezra Cullen working as a labourer on his Uncle’s sheep station in the wild southwest of Australia in the 1960s. He is anything but your average twenty-three year old who has never had an average lifestyle growing up accommodating his father’s travelling career.  With a quirky attitude to boast and giant goanna for a pet he receives an unexpected visit out of the blue one day  from the well-esteemed Mr Cavendish.  He informs Ezra that his grandfather whom he has never met is on his deathbed and he is about to inherit a huge fortune.  Since Ezra’s father and grandfather had suffered irreconcilable differences in their relationship Ezra has never met his grandfather but now he finds himself the heir to a great estate in Ireland and his life changes overnight. But it is far more than he could have imagined or bargained for as he accompanies Cavendish back to Ireland and the conditions concerning the old house carry over straight away.  Mr Cavendish and the will state he is heir of the…old house…and in his mind Ezra imagines just that; some big old house in need of repair.  But the old house surpasses his wildest dreams as the old house is indeed more than just an old house in much need of restoration.  

St Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is approaching yet again; a day to wear green and have green drinks and green food.  For a long time I didn't really know what it was all about. I thought it was something to do with leprechauns but I was very wrong.

St Patrick was the son of a Roman Official in England in the fifth century and he was kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was only sixteen and taken to Ireland to be a slave.  After six years, he escaped and went back to England and trained in the church and one night he had a distinct dream;

I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: "The Voice of the Irish". As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us."

Patirck returned to Ireland and under much opposition from Druid priests however his faith in God would not be moved.  He saved many women and raised countless people from the dead and was the catalyst for Christianizing a pagan nation and so every year on the 17th of March he is honoured for his deeds.  

I know it's a popular time to go to the pub and have a green drink but don't forget a good read;

The Faerie Prince of Ireland is a magical Irish tale; more about it here.