Please give a warm ThatsErotica welcome to B.A. Morton. B.A. is out touring the web with Bewitching Book Tours to spread the word about her terrific book Wildewood Revenge, the first in the Wildewood Chronicles series. She’s taken the time to stop by and answer some questions for us today and is offering a great giveaway during her tour. Be sure to enter after the interview.
Wildewood-Revenge
The Wildewood Chronicles Book One
B.A Morton
Genre: Historical/Fantasy/Romance
Publisher: Taylor Street Publishing
ISBN: 1480039217
ASIN: B009L88JGY
Number of pages: 310
Word Count: 105,000
Book Description:
A knight. A witch. A Secret.
When Grace, a twenty first century heroine, is accidently transported through a time portal into the clutches of an impoverished medieval knight with one eye on her ransom, we are treated to a brilliant evocation of medieval England which heaves with corruption and intrigue.
The remote and beautiful wilderness of ancient Northumberland rings out with the sound of clashing swords, the hiss of arrows, thundering hooves and the chink of coin bags changing hands in shady deals.
It is all there: a spirited and sensual romance, an action-packed adventure story, hidden treasure, revengeful and devious barons and corpulent and corrupt clergy.
Beset on all sides by danger and deception, with only their wits and a small band of loyal followers to assist them, Grace and Miles of Wildewood find their lives inexplicably entwined as they battle for justice, honour and love.
About the Author:
B.A Morton lives and writes in rural Northumberland near the Scottish Border and is working on Redemption Book two, in the Wildewood Chronicles. She also writes romantic crime fiction.
https://www.facebook.com/TheWildewoodChronicles
www.goodreads.com/author/show/5405833.B_A_Morton
The Interview:
Welcome B.A., and thank you for stopping by ThatsErotica to answer our questions!
Thanks for having me! And please, call me Babs.
Can you tell us about yourself?
I’m a mum and a very proud grandma. I live with my hubby and assorted dogs and chickens in a little cottage in rural Northumberland not far from the Scottish border. We have no public transport, no mobile phone signal and intermittent electricity in the winter. We also have ghosts! I love chocolate, hate heights and am rather partial to a bit of “Buble’” When I’m not busy writing, I work part time in the village GP surgery.
What do you enjoy in your free time?
We are blessed with most wonderful surroundings in our valley, which is in the National Park. I like to walk in the deep woods, its’ a magical place and the perfect setting for Wildewood. I also like to read, and enjoy crafts.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
That’s a difficult question, I have so many. Favourite is probably John Connelly. I love his troubled hero Charlie Parker. I also like Bernard Cornwell’s skill at weaving authentic history into marvellous tales. I enjoy the ethereal fae tales of Juliet Marillier and of course my bookshelf wouldn’t be complete with Tolkien, Daphne du Maurier and Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin’s black humour.
What is the last book you read?
I was fortunate to get a sneak peak at a book soon to be published by Taylor Street Books. Rattleman by George Shuman. Wow! A cracking tale of the hunt for a serial killer. I couldn’t put it down, stayed up all night and read it cover to cover. What a story…
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve dabbled since I was a child, but I only seriously thought it might be possible to have my work accepted for publication, when I was cajoled into a entering the Yeovil Prize competition with my debut novel Mrs Jones and to my great surprise, it won second prize.
Your bio says you write crime thrillers as well as historicals, do you prefer one over the other?
Not really. I tend to get carried away by the characters, so whether they are thwarting baddies in New York or deepest Northumberland I get the same thrill from writing about them.
Have you been tempted to cross into any other genres?
Absolutely. I like to mix them up anyway. I’d love to write a supernatural/ghost story.
What gave you the idea for the Wildewood Chronicles?
A walk in the deep woods, thick with snow, gave me my opening chapter, but the rest of the story is actually based on the medieval history of our valley. Our cottage was built on the foundations of the medieval chapel and crypt which feature in the story. It was built with stone from Ahlborett Castle and Arch baddie Gerard de Frouville was actually baptized in our ancient chapel. A skeleton was found under our drive many years ago and that did get me wondering about who he was and how he died…fodder for book two! I’ve changed the names, to protect the innocent. These baronial feuds can be very longstanding!
I really loved Miles’ character, is there a character in the story you have a soft spot for above the others?
Apart from Miles, I would say Edmund. Earnest and honourable he grows from boy to man and plays a pivotal role, both in this book and the next. I also like the obnoxious and self serving Philibutt Mayflower, the Bishop of Durham’s Aide. He was great fun to create. I modeled him on Timothy Spall a British actor.
Are the character personalities total imagination, or are they modeled after the people in your life?
A mixture of both. Grace is very much a free spirit and I admire that quality in my own daughter. So, I guess, I pick out characteristics, both good and bad from people and situations and test them on my fictional characters.
Do you already have the whole series mapped out? Do you know how many books there will be?
Yes. There are three books in the series and they encompass a fairly short but turbulent period in English medieval history. I use key historical events to place each book, but the stories are all the product of a wild imagination and the love of a tall tale.
Can you tell us a little about your other works?
My debut novel Mrs Jones is a romantic crime fiction set in New York. It follows, Tommy Connell a maverick detective as he seeks to determine the identity of the mysterious Mrs Jones who is running from the mob. It’s a fast paced adventure which came second in the Yeovil Literary Prize and has enjoyed a recent three month period in the Amazon top one hundred kindle best seller list. The sequel, Molly Brown is due for release this month in time for Christmas.
What are you currently working on? Can you tell us about it?
Next up is, Bedlam, a subtle genre blend of English gothic and crime fiction.
When detective, Joe McNeil, brings a killer’s victim back to life, little does he realise that he’s crossed a line and stepped into a world that will change his own life forever. Nell is on the run and she’ll use whatever means necessary to ensure she survives, including McNeil. Is she really the victim or merely the weapon being wielded by a much more deadly foe? As McNeil struggles against his growing obsession with the enigmatic Nell, he risks his career, his sanity and his life. But for Nell, the risk is even greater.
I’ll be working on this over the winter.
Where can our readers find your books?
https://www.facebook.com/TheWildewoodChronicles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gobtJ6u3Its&feature=youtu.be
Babs, Thank you again for stopping by TE. Is there anything you would like to add or say to your fans out there?
Thank you to all those who enjoy my work. There are many more to come, so keep reading.
Babs
3 comments
Babs Morton
December 8, 2012 at 10:33 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you for inviting me to stop and chat about Wildewood.
Thank you also for the lovely review. I’m glad you liked Grace and Miles. Rest assured the story will continue very soon.
John Holt
December 8, 2012 at 10:50 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Further insight into the life of a great author, and a good friend
Jacoba
December 10, 2012 at 10:15 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love the sound of those woods. Such inspiration for such a great story.
Great interview.
Jacoba