Gwyneth (G): Please call me Gwyneth, and I
appreciate this opportunity for my fans to know the “real me.”
C: Let’s start with where do you live?
G: London, but the year is 2066. It is an
exciting city, rich in history but also progressive, blending the old with the
new. One challenge, however, is recruiting talented men and women to study the
past, not only in the classroom but on archeological sites. There is nothing
more exciting than discovering ancient artifacts buried in rubble after
spending hours, days, or even years, removing centuries of dirt and debris.
C: You appear passionate about history.
Did you always feel that way?
G: Since I was old enough to hold a shovel. I
would spend hours in the park, “excavating” possible sites. It didn’t bother me
that I never discovered a relic. I was learning my craft. One day I struck an
object; you can imagine my excitement when I unearthed pieces of Roman pottery.
Of course, I didn’t learn until much later that my parents were behind my first
find.
C: What is your favorite
archeological site?
G: The ruins of the Wareham
citadel. Thankfully, the fortress had been reinforced with stone since the
wooden structures suffered the effects of time and natural disasters, such as
fire. The Keep, which is the tower, still stands as it once did during the
reign of Alfred the Great. The view is breathtaking, and I never tire of summer
evenings watching the waves crashing gently upon the rocks below.
C: Has your belief in God helped or
hindered your investigations?
G: I believe in Divine Intervention. There is no
other way to explain how I was transported, unscathed, back in time to the
eleventh century. My life definitely changed from the experience, and without
this Divine Intervention, I would not have returned to my timeline, and we
wouldn’t be having this conversation.
C: What was it like living in the
eleventh century?
G: It was quite a challenge, and I was very
concerned about doing something that would change the course of history. I had
seen the old Star Trek television shows and was very aware of the dangers of interfering.
I found having to take a submissive female role disconcerting, but I threw
myself into the role of my character. What helped was having studied drama one
summer at Stratford-upon-Avon with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
C: Who provided for you during that
time?
G: Lord Erik of Wareham, my husband. Again, this
is where Divine Intervention comes into play. The night I arrived in Wareham,
Erik was waiting for me in the chapel; yes, we were married that evening. He
had been expecting me, which I found unnerving. However, he didn’t know at that
point that I was from the future. I need to interject that I have been obsessed
with him since I stumbled upon a rare painting at a Renaissance Fair. The
portrait is still on the wall in my office.
C: Fascinating. When did you take Erik
into your confidence? And were other people privy to your true identity?
G: It was disturbing, initially. However, Erik’s
belief and trust in God were strong; everything he could not understand was
attributed to Divine Intervention. Remember, religion played an essential role
in everyday life. While Erik accepted I was from the future, he never pressed
me for information about how events turned out. A select few were taken into
our confidence, but as far as everyone else was concerned, I was Lord Erik’s
wife, who was not from these parts.
C: Would you change anything if you could
revisit the eleventh century?
G: The thought is tempting; how different would
the world be if William the Conqueror had been defeated at the Battle of
Hastings? Oh, my gosh, we could discuss what-ifs for hours on end and still be
unhappy with the results. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to live
during a time that people can only read about in history books, and I count my
blessings every day that I have been so blessed.
C: Thank you, Gwyneth, for your candor.
We look forward to reading about your adventures in The Briton and the Dane:
Timeline.
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Award-winning author, Mary Ann Bernal, attended Mercy
College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she received a degree in Business
Administration. Her literary aspirations were ultimately realized when the
first book of The Briton and the Dane novels was published in 2009. In addition
to writing historical fiction, Mary Ann has also authored a collection of
contemporary short stories in the Scribbler Tales series and a science
fiction/fantasy novel entitled Planetary Wars Rise of an Empire. Her recent
work includes Crusader’s Path, a redemption story set against the backdrop of
the First Crusade, and Forgiving Nero, a novel of Ancient Rome.
Since Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has been a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter-writing campaigns and other support programs. She appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work. She has been a featured author on various reader blogs and promotional sites.
Mary Ann currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Connect with Mary Ann:
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