Historical fiction author MarryAnn Bernal's epic tale The Briton and the Dane is now available in audio-book.
About The Briton and the Dane
King Alfred the Great has thwarted the Viking threat against his kingdom of Wessex. Signing a treaty with the formidable Danish King Guthrum, he succeeds in pushing the heathen army back to the rolling fens of East Anglia.
An uneasy peace holds sway: The King establishes a standing army under Lord Richard, who takes command of the citadel at Wareham.
Richard and his army are accompanied by his daughter, Gwyneth, an impetuous and reckless young woman - at once striking, intellectually gifted, but dangerously vain and imprudent.
While Richard broods on the Viking threat, Gwyneth falls in love with an enemy prince - only to discover that she has been betrothed to a Saxon warrior twice her age.
Refusing to countenance her grim fate, she flees the fortress, but is soon kidnapped by a Viking warrior and taken to the camp of King Guthrum while Saxon search parties scour the land.
In captivity, a hostage to fortune, and the focus of political intrigue, Gwyneth is submerged in a world of expediency, betrayal, and black treachery. Slowly, she realizes the truth is suspect, nothing is what it appears and her reality cannot be trusted.
And all the time, against this background, she desires nothing more than to be reunited with her dashing Danish prince.
Where to get The Britton and the Dane audio-book Audible iTunes
About Author MaryAnn Bernal
Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane novels, is an avid history buff whose area of interest
focuses on Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain during the Viking Age. While pursuing a degree in business administration, she managed to fit creative writing classes and workshops into her busy schedule to learn the craft, but it would take decades before her “Erik the Viking” novel was ultimately published.
Mary Ann is also a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter writing campaigns and other support programs since Operation Desert Storm. She has appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work. She has also been a featured author on Triangle Variety Radio, The Phil Naessens Show, and The Writers Showcase, and has been interviewed extensively by American and European bloggers.
Today Mary Ann Bernal joins us in the ludis to talk about her upcoming release The Briton and The Dane: Timeline. So pour a cuppa and get comfortable as we explore the latest addition to this fantastic novel series.
GP: What Inspired You to write this novel in The Briton and the Dane franchise? Mary Ann: When I first set pen to paper when writing The Briton and the Dane, the storyline was about Gwyneth and Erik’s relationship, and the problems they faced in a land ravaged by war and conquest. Gwyneth was a Christian Saxon and Erik was a pagan Danish Viking. Would their love survive the obstacles they had to face?
However, as the story evolved, the ancillary characters started demanding more representation, wishing to have to have additional “screen time.” Suddenly, there wasn’t enough room to satisfy everyone in one novel, which gave birth to the trilogy.
To me, Gwyneth and Erik shared the stage with too many players, and I do believe they felt cheated. I was toying with the idea of a standalone novel dedicated to Gwyneth and Erik, but what if fate had kept them apart, centuries apart? How would a 21st century Gwyneth fare in 11th century England?
Science Fiction and Anglo-Saxon England, two of my favorite topics in one novel. It cannot get any better than this.
Blurb:
Dr. Gwyneth Franger is a renowned expert in early medieval England who is set upon learning the truth about the death of Lord Erik, the last descendant of the powerful House of Wareham. Her quest becomes
an obsession, a condition that began with the discovery of a portrait of the tall and valiant warrior with which she forms an extraordinary and inexplicable bond.
Digesting troves of mildewed scrolls and source documentation only enhances her belief that Lord Erik was brutally assassinated by a cabal of traitors in the pay of William the Bastard, shortly before the onslaught of the Norman Invasion.
On an archeological dig in Southern England, her team unearths an Anglo-Saxon fortress, a vast citadel built during the reign of Alfred the Great, which she believes was Lord Erik’s stronghold. In the midst of her excitement, she is awakened one night from her slumbers by a disconcerting anomaly emerging from the site.
Dr. Franger finds herself transported back to the Dark Ages and at the side of the noble Lord Erik who
commands an army of elite Saxon warriors, a swift and mobile force able to deploy quickly throughout the kingdom to ward off invaders.
Witnessing the unrest firsthand, Gwyneth senses that her instincts had been right all along, and she is determined to learn the identities of the treacherous blackguards hiding in the shadows, villains who may well be posing as Lord Erik’s friends and counselors.
Will Gwyneth stop the assassins? Is she strong enough to walk away and watch her beloved Erik die? Or will she intervene, change the course of history and wipe out an entire timeline to save the man she loves with all her heart?
Excerpt
Once the passengers had disembarked, and the ship was moored, the Captain went home. The dwelling was small, with two rooms, which was ample for a man living alone. He opened the chest that had been delivered earlier, retrieving the ledger and tossed it on the table. He filled a cup with his favorite wine and sat before the fire. For some reason, his curiosity had been aroused, and he wanted to know more of Hugh and of the privileged people he was following. He had not expected his passengers to list their true names and had been quite surprised when he read the entry. Bryson, Erik and Gwyneth of Wareham. He would make discreet inquiries once he returned to Britannia, hoping to find answers to his questions. Information about Hugh, on the other hand, would not be easily obtained. The man had a malevolent demeanor, which he had found unsettling. He would have to tread carefully, lest he put his life at risk.
The Captain finished a flask of wine, drinking the intoxicating brew over the course of the evening. He was falling asleep before the fire as he did most nights, preferring the solitude. He did not hear the door open in his inebriated state, nor did his drooping eyes notice the wind-whipped flames dancing in the hearth. His assailant crept towards him, dagger in hand, and swiftly slit the Captain’s throat. The dead man slumped over, his bloodied body falling upon the floor. Hugh sheathed his wet blade as he glanced about the room searching for the ledger, which was still upon the table. He looked at the open page, which is where he had signed his name. He tossed the damning evidence into the fire and waited until the book was devoured by the raging inferno before disappearing into the night.
We welcome Mary Ann Bernal to the ludis today She has a very special treat for one lucky reader as well. You have a chance to win a signed print copy of The Briton and the Dane: Legacy. For your chance to win just leave a comment below with your email or twitter handle. On Friday we'll draw the name out of my magic chest and announce the winner!
Now refill that sweet tea and get comfortable as we chat with Mary Ann Bernal....
We’re here today to
celebrate your series The Briton and the
Dane. The books are set in ninth century Anglo-Saxon Britain. What about this period of history that
fascinates you the most?
What intrigued me was how King Alfred managed to keep his kingdom
of Wessex free from Viking rule
despite the odds of conquest. This was
also a time when Christianity was replacing pagan religions, and the role
conversion played in the political arena.
When King Alfred defeated the Danish Viking King Guthrum, one of the
terms of the treaty was baptism, which King Guthrum agreed to, having King
Alfred as his sponsor / Godfather.
Did King Guthrum willingly accept the one true faith? Probably not, but it was politically
expedient to do so. Even though this was
a time of unrest and instability, King Alfred managed to establish a standing
army while he built up his defenses, created and enforced new laws and founded
schools to ensure a competently-ruled kingdom after his death. His reign lasted 28 years, dying at age 50.
King Alfred left a legacy difficult to replicate, deserving the title Great. Yes, I am one of King Alfred’s greatest
supporters.
Tell us a bit about
the book/s..
The Briton and the Dane trilogy follows the adventures of
Lord Richard and his offspring, Stephen, David and Gwyneth. King Alfred has just defeated King Guthrum,
the terms of the treaty have been agreed to, and King Guthrum has already been
baptized. However, the Danish King still
remains onWessex
soil, making preparations to return to his lands in East
Anglia.
The story begins with Gwyneth atop the Keep in the early
evening hours, enjoying the solitude when she sees movement on the beach. Of
course she must investigate, which is how she meets Erik, who is wounded. She hides her Danish Prince from her father,
Lord Richard, who oversees a training camp for King Alfred’s recruits, aided by
his sons, Stephen and David. Gwyneth
tends to Erik’s wounds in secret, while rumors of a Viking invasion are
spreading throughout the countryside.
This epic adventure runs the gamut of deception, treachery,
intrigue, and betrayal during a time of war and conquest, requiring three
novels to complete the story. I enjoyed
every moment writing the saga.
What was your
favorite resource for historic information during your research?
“The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” and Asser’s “Life of King Alfred
and Other Contemporary Sources.”
Documentation of this era is sparse because monastic libraries were
burned during the Viking raids.
If you were to be
dropped into The Briton and the Dane
for a day what would you do?
In “The Briton and the Dane: Birthright,” we have the
Festival of the Ancient Games, which includes a Roman chariot race. Did Alexander from the Papal City of Rome
defeat Draco of Athens - you’ll have to read the story to find out, but my
champion did win.
Do you have a writing
routine or ritual you follow?
My writing routine varies.
Initially I would write in the morning but soon found myself working
eight to twelve hour days - once in Wessex,
I did not want to leave. Changing the
time to afternoon did not help much either because I found myself burning the midnight oil.
So, I followed Stephen King’s advice to write a few hours a day, every
day, and once your word count goal is reached, you are done, because life
beckons.
The ninth century is
vastly different from today from language, customs, even the every day
activities. Do you find it difficult to write in a historic period or is it
easy to submerse yourself there?
After three novels I am so immersed into ninth century Wessex
that I sometimes have to reword emails or letters, but occasionally I just keep
a favorite word. I find I have used “I
am not privy to this information” quite a bit lately, but for the most part,
when I return to this century I make a concerted effort to remain here.
What are three things
ever present in your writing space?
My children found an electronic typewriter table that is
adjustable, which is fantastic for keeping back and neck issues to a
minimum. If I sit too long, I can raise
the table and stand - how great is that!
I am also surrounded by my characters - I did cast every person in my
novels, all dressed in period clothing, all demanding more dialogue. No wonder my characters take over! My IPod constantly plays period music, which
keeps me in Wessex. Some of the soundtracks are from King Arthur,
Beowulf, The Last Legion, Centurion, The Eagle, Outlander, Tristan &
Isolde, Merlin - and the list goes on and on, and yes, I am really into this
stuff.
What do you do to get
past the dreaded “writer’s block”?
In my opinion writer’s block does not exist. There may be a day you are unsure of the
direction you wish to take in the story, which may cause a delay in writing. I think if you are staring at a blank piece of
paper, you should just write whatever pops in your head and take it from
there. If it is not needed for the
story, delete it. If you find yourself
agitated, take a mental health day. If
you are not having fun, then you need a new career.
Do you have any
upcoming releases or events?
Since I could not say goodbye to the trilogy, I am currently
writing “The Briton and the Dane: Concordia,” available 2013.
Where can we find
Mary Ann Bernal and The Briton and the
Dane?
Thank you Mary Ann for stopping by for a chat. Readers don't forget to leave your comment below (with your email or twitter) for a chance to win a signed print copy of The Briton and the Dane: Legacy!
