Spotlight on Elizabeth R. Andersen, author of The Scribe (The Two Daggers, Book 1) and The Land of God (The Two Daggers, Book 2)

 

The Scribe (Book 1)

All Henri of Maron wanted was to stay with his family on his country estate, surrounded by lemon groves and safety. But in 13th century Palestine, when noble-born boys are raised to fight for the Holy Land, young Henri will be sent to live and train among men who hate him for what he is: a French nobleman of an Arab mother. Robbed of his humanity and steeped in cruelty, his encounters with a slave soldier, a former pickpocket, and a kindly scribe will force Henri to confront his own beliefs and behaviors. Will Henri maintain the status quo in order to fit into a society that doesn’t want him, or will fate intervene first?

The first book in The Two Daggers series, The Scribe takes readers on a sweeping adventure through the years and months that lead up to the infamous Siege of Acre in 1291 CE and delves into the psyches of three young people caught up in the wave of history.

The Land of God (Book 2)

Pain. His sister’s screams. And a beautiful face in the jeering crowd. When Henri of Maron woke, he had only a few memories of his brutal flogging, but he knew the world had changed. He had changed.

Now, as he grapples with the fallout from his disastrous decisions, war with the Mamluk army looms closer. To convince the city leaders to take the threat seriously, Henri and the grand master of the Templars must rely on unlikely allies and bold risks to avoid a siege.

Meanwhile, Sidika is trying to find a way to put her life back together. When she is forced to flee her home, her chance encounters with a handsome amir and a strangely familiar old woman will have consequences for her future.

The Land of God weaves the real historical figures with rich, complex characters and an edge-of-seat plot. Readers who enjoyed the Brethren series by Robyn Young and The Physician by Noah Gordon will appreciate this immersive tale set in the Middle East in the Middle Ages.

Trigger warnings:

Torture, violence, sexual assault, sexual content.

 

Buy Links:

 (The Scribe, Book 1)

Universal Link

(The Land of God, Book 2)

Universal Link

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 Elizabeth R. Andersen

Fun Facts

(Stuff you may or may not already know.)

I travel…a lot

In my corporate life, I have always had jobs that required a lot of international travel, and so I’ve spent a lot of time living and working outside of the US.  Although I no longer work in big tech, I still travel frequently, although COVID has definitely dampened my globe-trotting.  I am planning a research trip to Marseilles, Conques, and Colmar in the summer of 2022 (some of that is related to The Two Daggers series and some related to another series that I am starting this fall).

I ran a non-profit for child refugees in Thailand

When I was in my early twenties, unsatisfied with corporate life, I decided to quit to do something more meaningful (this became a pattern in my career).  Three months after I made that decision, I was living in a remote part of Thailand near the Myanmar border and running a non-profit that housed and educated children fleeing the ongoing conflict.  I was only twenty-five years old and utterly unprepared for the challenges involved in working with refugees.  I spent a lot of time teaching the children to speak English, but we also gave them vocational training so they did not end up in prostitution or other unsavory jobs.  I created fundraising campaigns, community outreach programs, partnerships with the other NGOs, and advocated for the kids to go to the local public schools.  I also oversaw the medical treatment for our kids who were HIV positive.

 I used an Oculus 3D headset to do my Acre location research for The Scribe

I had a business trip to Malta planned for September of 2021, which would give me a chance to take some personal time and head over to Acre to research the location for The Scribe.  Like everyone else on the planet, COVID-19 squashed my plans, so I took the trip from my home instead.  Using an Oculus 3D headset and an app called Wander, I walked the streets of Acre, looked inside the stunning Hospitaller citadel, and gazed across the ocean toward Cyprus.  It cannot replace an actual in-person visit, but it was the best I could do.

I am a classically trained pianist

I started playing the piano at age five and performing at age ten.  Although I was quite good (I still love to sit down and hammer out some feisty Rachmaninov when I’m feeling frustrated), I developed carpal tunnel syndrome at the age of fifteen and completely burned out on the hours of practice.  I only play the piano rarely now, but I have been enjoying learning the hammered dulcimer lately. 

I am a mountain and outdoor addict

This writer is extremely fortunate to live in the stunning Pacific Northwest of the US because we have stunning mountains everywhere!  I’ve enjoyed hiking in Washington, California, Oregon, Hawaii, Montana, Colorado, British Columbia, Alberta, Switzerland, Thailand, Laos, China, and Singapore (yes, there are hikes in Singapore), but Bolivia and Patagonia are my ultimate dream hiking locations.

 FOLLOW THE TOUR HERE

 

Elizabeth R. Andersen

Elizabeth R. Andersen's debut novel, The Scribe, launched in July of 2021. Although she spent many years of her life as a journalist, independent fashion designer, and overworked tech employee, there have always been two consistent loves in her life: writing and history. She finally decided to do something about this and put them both together.

Elizabeth lives in the Seattle area with her long-suffering husband and young son. On the weekends she usually hikes in the stunning Cascade mountains to hide from people and dream up new plotlines and characters. Elizabeth is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Social Media Links:

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