Another milestone - my author copies!

Yesterday ranks among one of the best days I’ve ever had. I got to hold my very first book in my hands! It was better than I thought it would be. I may have to go to work today with books strapped all over me. This is so exciting!!

I even forced my children to hold books and look happy.

I do owe several people a copy and I will get that in the mail to you this week. But just to celebrate my happy day, would anyone here like a free autographed copy? Just post a comment below and I’ll draw a lucky comment number within the next 24 hours. Good luck!

Inside the Great Chamber

Here is a close view of the inside of a 15th century tower house in Shannon, Ireland. The lord’s table is from the 15th century, and although this is later than my time period, you can get an idea of what furnishings were like. The table was simple in terms of architecture while the chairs had elaborate carvings. There was another major difference in tables I found during my research, and that is the height. Tables from the early medieval period were low and set upon the ground for guests to recline on pillows and eat.

The windows in the background were very narrow, as you can see, and I’m told in the winter they would cover them with either shutters or animal skins to try and seal out the cold. But another odd detail that I found fascinating was the color of the walls. They really were that white, from the whitewashing. There was evidence of the whitewashing still on the walls at Trim Castle, though.

This was a view of the family chapel at Trim Castle (12th century), and the white areas are part of the original white coating. I suppose I thought it would be more primitive, but the white walls probably helped keep the rooms well lit (aside from the soot of candles and fire). In this photograph, the original windows were sealed up with stone, but you can see the Gothic style. Most chapels were built facing the East, likely for both the spiritual reference (the sun rising - the son rising (ascension)) and for the practical reason of morning light for the Mass.

A few more Irish things

In 23 days, my book will go on sale at eharlequin.com. It won’t be in stores yet, but I am absolutely stoked that it will be available online. Because, you know, I have zero patience.

Anyway, in honor of the countdown (and the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day), I thought I’d share some more of my Ireland research. I shared my tour, but I left out a lot of fun facts. So, just for anyone who’s interested, I’ll post some pictures and articles about ancient and medieval Ireland.

First of all, it was fascinating to see peat still burned the way it was long ago. I drove past peat bogs where they were cutting the bricks and I saw trucks hauling it everywhere. This is a peat fire at Bunratty castle. The smell of peat is loamy and sharp, but I found it rather pleasant. There was something archaic about it, almost as though you could imagine the inhabitants of the cottages.

I took a lot of architecture pictures of castles while I was there. This is also the outer wall of Bunratty castle. It surprised me to see how tall the wall really was (about 8-12 feet high and at least 12 inches thick). Although Bunratty is a 16th century castle, I could easily imagine wooden walls this high around the ring forts. Castles were rare in Ireland, and most were built in the early 13th century and later. Only a few were begun in the late 12th century. Even then, the early structures were made of wood. When the Normans invaded, several of the noblemen began constructing early stone castles.

Not all of the stone walls used mortar. There were many stackstone structures, using the weight of the stones to support it. The interior of the early castles used a mixture of powdered limestone to “whitewash” the walls. It was amazing to me, seeing whitewashed walls that still retained the limestone coating over eight hundred years later. (Okay, so they were green and moldy, but still!)

Here’s another photo of a stone ringfort wall. This shot was taken on the Aran Islands, and it’s a larger picture of the stone walls. What’s so amazing about a wall? Parts of the structure date from 1100 BC.

The Procrastinations of a Two-Year-Old

My daughter has hit that phase where she has learned that life goes on outside of her bedtime. And she doesn’t like it at all. We have now embarked on new territory which is the Quick! Stall Mom Before She Notices It’s My Bedtime Phase. I have to hand it to her–she’s creative! The other night went something like this:

Daughter: Mom, I need a drink.
Me: You’re fine. Now go to sleep. Kiss!
Daughter: Um, I have to go to the bathroom.
Me: You just went. Goodnight.
Daughter: Mom! Mom! I have to show you something. (She jumps up on her bed and points to a needlepoint sampler). What’s that?
Me: It’s a giraffe. Goodnight.
Daughter: I need another kiss. (sloppy toddler kiss)
Me: Now go to sleep.
Daughter: Another hug?

Now toddlers are master manipulators. They know just how to mess with you and make you feel like a rotten person if you don’t give them one extra hug or kiss. They can fling themselves into a dramatic fit, sobbing that they need you to cover them up with a special blankie. And of course, I’m aware that this is all part of the Master Stalling Plot.

Do your kids have any strange bedtime routines, aka Stalling? Or what did you do when you were a kid? I used to read in bed when I wasn’t supposed to.

Excitement!

Today the April books went on sale at eharlequin which means only one month left ’til my first book goes on sale. I’ve heard that one author with a May title already got her author copies. I’m still stalking the mail lady waiting for mine to arrive. It’s this slightly terrifying feeling. For me, I mean. Of course, I’m sure the mail lady would be slightly terrified if she knew how BADLY I want those books.

And speaking of books, the winner of the February contest is Jeanne S.! Congratulations! I’m giving away three romance novels and I chose: The Vampire Who Loved Me by Teresa Medeiros, What An Earl Wants by Shirley Karr, and Every Waking Moment by Brenda Joyce. I’m also sending you a refrigerator magnet and an autographed copy of the cover of Her Irish Warrior. Hope you enjoy them! Please e-mail me your snail mail address and I’ll send them your way.

Thanks again so much to everyone for the cat stories. What fun!

I just finished Larissa Ione’s “Flesh to Fantasy” in Secrets: Volume 18 (about a computer programmer and an ambulance driver–lots of fun and very sexy). Now I’m reading Helen Kirkman’s Untamed about an Anglo Saxon warrior and an outcast healer. I bow down to Helen’s greatness. She does a wonderful job bringing a tormented heroine to life. And I could just take the hero home with me.

So, what book are you reading at the moment?