Monday 21 January 2013

$20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr

Original Title: Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr
Author: N. Gemini Sasson
Publisher: Cader Idris Press
Release Date: November 4th 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Smashwords



For centuries, the bards have sung of King Arthur’s return,
but is this reluctant warrior prince the answer to those prophecies?

In the year 1399, Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndwr is living out a peaceful gentleman’s life in the Dee Valley of Wales with his wife Margaret and their eleven children. But when Henry of Bolingbroke, the Duke of Lancaster, usurps the throne of England from his cousin Richard II, that tranquility is forever shattered. What starts as a feud with a neighboring English lord over a strip of land evolves into something greater—a fight for the very independence of Wales.

Leading his crude army of Welshmen against armor-clad columns of English, Owain wins key victories over his enemies. After a harrowing encounter on the misty slopes of Cadair Idris, the English knight Harry Hotspur offers Owain a pact he cannot resist.

Peace, however, comes with a price. As tragedies mount, Owain questions whether he can find the strength within himself not only to challenge the most powerful monarch of his time, but to fulfill the prophecies and lead his people to freedom without destroying those around him.

EXCERPT


Owain leaned against the bedpost, gazing at Margaret, who was swept away in a sea of exhaustion. For a long time he studied her, worshipful of her, thankful and yet gripped with a fear that paralyzed him. Lamplight flickered upon her face, pale and sparkling with perspiration like a fine dusting of crystal. He glanced at the physician, who was packing his instruments and washing his hands as if there were nothing more he could do.

His voice tremulous, Owain probed, “Will she... will she be well soon?”

“More likely so than not,” the physician said. He was a Jew named Abraham that Owain had brought to Sycharth from London to attend to his large family. He wiped his hands on a cloth and then gathered the bag that contained his mysterious tools. “But there were complications. If she were to deliver another child, she could die. Do you understand?”

The strong cries of his new son and daughter filled his ears with the assurance that they had gained their place in the world and were not letting go.

Owain nodded dully. Then he knelt beside his love and wrapped his large hands around one of hers. He kissed her knuckles, and then pressed them to his whiskered cheek. “Marged, the children need you. I need you.” And he buried his face in the sea of down coverings that surrounded her and wept more tears than he had ever in his life shed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

N. Gemini Sasson is the author of six historical novels set in 14th and 15th century Scotland, England and Wales, including The Bruce Trilogy and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist in Historical Fiction). Her latest release is Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr. Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella, Sasson learned she is a descendant of both.

AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Facebook | Blog

GIVEAWAY



N. Gemini will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift certificate to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a a $20 Amazon gift certificate to a randomly drawn host.

Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!

28 comments:

  1. Is there a special topic or genre that you'd like to write about but haven't yet?

    galaschick78(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Contemporary literary fiction and ... dogs. Absolutely loved The Art of Racing in the Rain and A Dog's Purpose, so once I work my way through some other ideas, I'll probably do something similar. After 20+ years of raising and competing with dogs, I have so many real-life stories I could incorporate already.

      Delete
  2. Love the time and setting for this novel. A must read, for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the setting as well, it must have been fun to research this epoche?

    moonsurfer123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. How do you decide to name your characters?

    chelseawoodring at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since most of my characters come straight out of the history books, luckily that's already done for me!

      Delete
  5. The book sound pretty good, does the book has a happy end?

    shadowrunner1987 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's hard to say without giving things away, Ami. So I'll just say 'yes' and 'no'.

      Delete
  6. Sounds like a good read, I have added it to my read list.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I loved the blurb and I really loved the excerpt.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Do you have times when the Muse isn't speaking?

    emiliana25 at web(dot)de

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sad to say, but yes. Recently she seems to have fled the country. If I have to, I'll lasso her and chain her to the desk with me.

      Delete
  9. Sounds good

    amysmith98@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the excerpt. Sounds like a good book.

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Enjoyed the excerpt, sounds like a fantastic book!
    oddball2003 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. How interesting that you found that you are a descendant of Robert the Bruce & Queen Isabella. Did you do your own genealogy research or did someone else in your family?
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both, Catherine. Many years ago my mom paid someone to research records and trace our family tree back to the 1700's. That got me started in the right direction. There are still a lot of dead ends to delve into, though. Who knows where they might lead?

      Delete
  13. I just finished reading Uneasy Lies the Crown. I enjoy reading historical fiction and found this book exceptional. I look forward to reading more of your work. lindyteep@gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm just at the beginning of the story, looking forward to reading more.

    lyra.lucky7 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm very interested to see where this excerpt fits into the story.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for hosting and the excerpt. Adding into my read list.

    ReplyDelete
  17. thanks for a fun post and congrats to N. Gemini on the new release! Sounds fantastic :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for sharing this promising book! The idea of a blurb tour is amazing. Makes us more eager to read.

    chrysrawr@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for hosting and the excerpt. Adding into my read list.

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. oooo--i'm sucked in at the idea of an arthurian novel! nice! going to have to add it to my list!

    bashashhazbaz(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really enjoy the cover of the book.

    junerlisle at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...