Behind the Scenes: The Silent Blade--part 2

So. . .I didn't get this post up last Friday *sheepish smile* I'm so sorry! It completely slipped my mind. . . I really should start using a planner, that way I'll have all the things I have to do organized in one way or another.

Also, I have gotten The Silent Blade back from all but one of my test readers! Just as soon they're finished, I'll go over the notes from all my test readers and do the final (hopefully) edit! After that I'll order the proof copy! I'm hoping for a late March/early April release date, so we'll see how it all goes! :) 
Anyway, here's the next Behind the Scenes post!

The Setting.

Every story, fictional of non fiction, fantasy or historical, the story has to have a setting. A place where the characters live and where their story is told.
The Silent Blade is set in tenth century Ireland. In the city of Dromiskin, Ireland, to be more exact.

View of the Irish Sea from the coast of Dromiskin.  Picture found via the internet.

 Dromiskin is one of the most historical towns within the county Louth. For hundreds of years it was home to a monastery, which tradition says was once visited by Saint Patrick. During the ninth and tenth century, Dromiskin was plundered and raided again and again, both by the Vikings and the Irish. The raids and plundering eventually destroyed the monastery and dispersed the monks. The city was eventually destroyed in 1043.

Ruins of Dromiskin, Ireland. Picture found via and internet.

Close up of the monastery tower. Picture found via the internet.

To this day the ruins of the monastery can be seen in Dromiskin, including one of the ancient Celtic crosses.

Irish sea. Picture found via the internet.

So. . .there you have it! This beautiful place is where The Silent Blade is set. I've found out so many fascinating things about the city, and one of my dreams is to visit it sometime. :)

What do you find most fascinating in a story setting? If you write, where is one of your stories set?

Behind the Scenes: The Silent Blade--part 1

     Okay, so when I asked the questions quite a few of you wanted to hear some "Behind the Scenes" stories. Well, in all honesty, I'm not sure I could actually write out the story behind Dark Storm Rising in a way you could understand. It was all sorta a mix of a few ideas I had, a friend who teased me to no end, and a very interesting character named Finch. Make sense? Haha, yeah. Didn't think so. ;)
     So instead I'm going to give you a behind the scenes of The Silent Blade. This is quite a bit easier to explain because it actually has a rational story behind it.
Around December of 2014, my family watched The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time. Needless to say, after I watched them everything about fantasy and a medieval-like world completely captured my attention! In January or 2015, a friend did a fun writing assignment on her blog. I listened to the music she had given us and immediately I pictured a medieval world. I sat down and within a few minutes I wrote my entry, which was:

Eira crept slowly through the dark corridor. What I wouldn't give to be home! she thought, as she reached and touched the saber that hung at her waist. The smooth metal felt cool to her clammy hands. She grasped it tightly as she felt along the rock wall leading deeper into the cavern.  Suddenly she stopped. She wasn't alone. There was someone else in the cavern as well. Before she could react, a hand was placed over her mouth. She pulled the saber, but before she could get it up, a fist hit her hand knocking it to the ground.

“Relax, Eira. It’s just me.” a voice whispered close to her ear.

Eira nearly collapsed in relief. It was only Casimir, her brother's friend.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered, frantically trying to locate the fallen saber.

Casimir reached past her and picked up the saber from where it had fallen, dangerously close to the edge of the path.

“I’m here to help you. And also to let you know there isn’t much time. Willem sent me to tell you they’ve arrived.”

“What about Willem? He has to get out!”

“Your brother will be fine.” Casimir reassured her. “But we must hurry.”

I had no ideas to turn this into a longer story, so it got buried in my documents folder. In April, a different friend loaned me a few fantasy books by Nicole Sager. I started them and then finished them a few days later. They are all so amazing! After that I really wanted to write something fantasy/medieval, and I remembered the piece I had written back in January. I want back and read it and wrote a rough outline of what I pictured the story to be. Well. . .this scene never made it in the actual book and the outline changed drastically, but the idea and characters had formed for what would eventually become The Silent Blade.

And there you have it! Between The Chronicles of Narnia and an amazing fantasy series, I was inspired to write a story set in a medieval time period. (because I honestly CANNOT write fantasy!) Come back next week for. . .Part 2: The Story Behind the setting of The Silent Blade

New Year, New Priorities...

     Hey everyone and welcome to 2016! (Just in case you haven't been properly welcomed. ;))How is the first day of the new year coming for you? Relaxing and enjoying a good book, perhaps?
     Okay, well lets get down to the real reason for this post. I started using this blog a lot this past year as I worked on getting Dark Storm Rising published and then began work on The Silent Blade. Well, as you all know Dark Storm Rising is now published and The Silent Blade will be out in a few months as well.
     I have done my best to post something every Friday, however, since No Greater Love, The blog story I was working on has been put indefinitely on hold and school work is pilling up, I'm not sure how much time I can dedicate to continue to write my short blog stories.
     I do plan to keep you all updated on my writing and how The Silent Blade is coming, so I'm not disappearing. :)
     I had the idea of doing a blog series about Battle of Britain, just because I've been studying it like crazy and I've found out so many interesting things. It's really quite fascinating!  Each post would have some facts about the battle, some background on it and, if I feel so inclined ;), maybe a paragraph or two from  A Question of Honor. Is that something you all might be interested in?
     So now I have some questions for you! As we're starting a new year I'd love to know what you would like to see on the blog as well as may ideas you might have.

--1. Which posts do you most enjoy? Writing updates, short stories, random posts?
--2. Is there any posts you'd like to see more of?
--3. Any posts you'd like to see less of?
--4. What would you like to see a post about?  

     So please, comment below and let me know! I'd love to hear any ideas you guys have!