Please make welcome a sister Rose (from The Wild Rose Press), Mary Gillgannon. We're celebrating her new release, Lady of Steel, Medieval Ladies Series Book 1. The Tavern is serving mead, ale, and plum tarts. Gather around the hearth and let's find out what Mary has to say...

MM: Welcome to the Tavern, Mary! So happy you could join us today. Congratulations on your new book. I'm looking forward to reading this story. Describe a typical writing day. Are you a morning, afternoon, or night-owl writer?

MG: I usually write in the mornings before I go to my day job. It’s funny because I’m worthless at everything else at that time of day (I can barely feed my pets, which is almost the first thing I do in the morning), but I can write. I think it’s because the creative process flows naturally from the dream state of sleep.

MM: How fascinating! Can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

MG: I’m currently writing LADY OF FLAME, which is the second book in the medieval series. This one takes place in the Welsh Marches, a region of contention between the Welsh and the Norman-French/English nobility for several hundred years. My heroine is a Welshwoman and my hero English, so the sparks definitely fly between them.

MM: Great news! I'm happy to hear there will be more in this series. What inspires you when you’re writing?

MG: I enjoy looking out my office window at our backyard and catching a glimpse of the birds in the bare trees in the winter, the flowers in the spring and summer and the fall colors of the foliage in autumn.

MM: I call this my "break time" when I look out into my backyard garden. It's soothing. Yours sounds wonderful. What’s your favorite item on your writing desk?

MG: When he’s on it, my cat Benjamin! Otherwise its my succulent “garden” next to the window.

MM: Perfect! Now for the fun questions. Do you prefer...

Champagne or Beer? Champagne. Although I rarely indulge because of the terrible hangover it can give you.

Southern drawl or Scottish burr? Scottish burr. Love all things Celtic and Anglo.

Kilt or Leather pants? Tough one. Nobody was sexier than Jim Morrison in leather pants, but since he’s gone I love men in kilts.

First romance you read? Not exactly a romance, but I was enthralled with THE HORSE GODDESS by Morgan Llywelyn, which has a very satisfying love story. (I loved that story!)

Print book or e-reader? Print mostly. I work in a library and order fiction, and there’s a lot more selection in print for libraries. But when I travel I dig out my tablet and read ebooks.

Wishing you all the best, Mary!

Blurb for Lady of Steel ~

One rapturous hour sparks unforgettable passion between Lady Nicola and Fawkes de Cressy. The memory of that time together enables Fawkes to survive the horrors and perils of the Crusades, and gives Nicola the hope and strength to endure her brutal marriage.

Three years later, Fawkes returns to rescue the woman of his dreams, and finds Nicola enmeshed in a dark web of castle intrigue. Fawkes is also changed, so altered by the hardships and cruelties of war that Nicola fears to trust him with her secrets or her heart.

Surrounded by enemies, the battle-hardened knight and the aloof, wary woman must rebuild the bond between them. Only if they dare to let the soul-stirring magic their bodies share grow into love can they escape the sinister plot that threatens to destroy them both.

Excerpt for Lady of Steel ~

The tower room seemed much too small. It was like being caged with a wild creature.

Fawkes left the table and approached her. Nicola fought the urge to draw back. He seemed to sense her apprehension, for his fierce expression softened. “I don’t want you to fear me, Nicola. Unlike some men, I don’t believe in striking women. Or children. Or anyone smaller and weaker than myself. If I were ever to feel the need the discipline you, I would choose other, more civilized means.”

Discipline her? What did that mean? His words sounded reasonable and reassuring, but there was an edge of warning there. She must find some way to convince him she wasn’t his enemy. She must make it clear she would never deal with him as she had with Mortimer.

Body rigid, her heart pounding wildly, she said, “Milord, you must understand. Mortimer was a brute. There were many times I feared for my life at his hands. Whatever you may have heard of me…” Her hands trembled as she gestured and this time she was glad he saw. “I did what I had to do to survive.” And for Simon to survive.

His expression softened. His dark eyes again flared with violent emotion. “You forget. I knew Mortimer. He tried more than once to kill me. I have no sympathy for him. None at all.”

She let out her breath. Perhaps now they could begin again, and he would stop playing this game of cat and mouse with her. She nodded. “I’m very grateful you understand. I’d worried you might have heard tales of me, stories meant to portray me as wicked and manipulative.”

He watched her intently. “Aye, I have heard tales. ’Tis good you saw fit to reassure me. Perhaps now, perhaps we can…” He let his words trail off and the atmosphere between them shifted. His dark eyes no longer seemed stern and implacable, but smoldered with frank sexual desire. The tension between them changed, erupting with blazing arousal.

Fire started in her loins and spread outward, making her skin ache for his touch. She tilted her head, awaiting his kiss.

He hesitated, as if even now he feared to take this final step and give into what his body obviously desired. Observing his forbearance, she thought for the dozenth time of how different he was from Mortimer. Mortimer had been a slave to his emotions. This man sought control at all times.

But at last he brought his lips to hers. The blaze took them both.

Buy Links: AMAZON | THE WILD ROSE PRESS

More about the Author ~

Mary Gillgannon is the author of seventeen novels, including romances set in the dark age, medieval and Regency time periods. She’s married and has two children. Now that they’re grown, she indulges her nurturing tendencies on four very spoiled cats and a moderately spoiled dog. When not writing or working—she’s been employed at the local public library for twenty-five years—she enjoys gardening, reading and travel.

Social Media Links ~

Website: http://marygillgannon.com Blog: http://marygillgannon.blogspot.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryGillgannonAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryGillgannon ​