A Reckoning in the East: An Exclusive Character Interview with Robert, Duke of Normandy

 The desert wind carries the scent of dust and memory, whispering through the remnants of a crusader camp where banners once flew and prayers once echoed. In the shadow of Jerusalem’s walls, Robert, Duke of Normandy, reflects on a journey marked by blood, betrayal, and the burden of legacy. Fresh from the events of Crusader’s Path, he sits down with us to speak of vows made, battles fought, and the soul-searching that follows a war waged in God’s name.

Interviewer: Duke Robert, thank you for joining us. For those unfamiliar with your role in the Crusades, how would you describe your purpose?

Robert: Purpose is a slippery thing. I left Normandy not with a clear mission, but with a need to escape, to reclaim something lost, perhaps even to outrun my own reputation. The call to arms came at a time when my coffers were thin and my conscience thinner. I answered not as a saint, but as a man seeking distance. Whether I found redemption or simply distraction is for history to decide.

Interviewer: You’ve been described as both a noble leader and a man of indulgence. How do you reconcile those sides of yourself?

Robert: I don’t. I live with them. I’ve worn the mantle of Duke, but I’ve also worn the weight of jealousy, rivalry, and regret. My youth was spent chasing pleasure and prestige, and I’ve paid dearly for it. The Crusades stripped away the silk and left only steel. In the fire of war, you learn who you are or who you’ve failed to become.

Interviewer: Etienne plays a central role in Crusader’s Path. How did your relationship with him evolve?

Robert: Etienne came to swear fealty after his father’s death, and I saw something rare in him, honesty without arrogance. I invited him to court, and he followed. We rode together, fought together, and in many ways, he became my conscience. He gave me counsel I didn’t always want but often needed. I leaned on him more than I ever admitted. He reminded me of the cost of neglect, even when I was too blind to see it.

Interviewer: The Crusades tested many. What challenged you most?

Robert: The silence of God. We marched under banners of faith, yet the answers came in blood and betrayal. Disease struck our camps, treachery brewed in our ranks, and every step toward Jerusalem felt heavier than the last. Leadership is not glory, it’s a burden. And in war, that burden grows with every soul lost.

Interviewer: What do you believe the Crusades accomplished?

Robert: That depends on who pens the chronicle. Some will say we reclaimed holy ground. Others will say we desecrated it. I believe we revealed the fragility of men who claim divine purpose. The Crusades tested our faith, yes, but more than that, it exposed our humanity. And our failings.

Interviewer: What’s next for you, now that the campaign has ended?

Robert: I returned to Normandy with fewer men and more ghosts. My duty now is to remember, to ensure that the lessons of this war are not buried with the dead. Redemption is not found in conquest. It is found in reflection, in humility, and in the stories we choose to tell.

Interviewer: Duke Robert, thank you for your candor. Is there anything you’d like to share with our readers before we close?

Robert: Only this: history is not forged by swords alone. It is shaped by the choices we make when no one is watching. And if you ever find yourself at the gates of Jerusalem, ask not what you’ve won, but what you’ve lost to get there.

Purchase Links

Amazon Global Link

http://mybook.to/CrusadersPath

Universal Link

https://books2read.com/u/3yNPen

Mary Ann Bernal is a distinguished alumna of Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she earned her degree in Business Administration. Her literary journey began with the 2009 publication of her debut novel in The Briton and the Dane series, marking the start of a richly diverse body of work that spans historical fiction, contemporary short stories, science fiction/fantasy, and fast-paced adventure novellas.

Her recent publications include Crusader’s Path, a poignant redemption tale set during the First Crusade; Forgiving Nero, a compelling exploration of familial bonds in Ancient Rome; and the award-winning AnaRose adventure series, chronicling the daring escapades of a museum curator-turned-relic hunter. Mary Ann’s work has been honored by the Independent Press Award, the NYC Big Book Award, Chanticleer International Book Awards, the B.R.A.G. Medallion, and the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Her short fiction anthologies have likewise earned distinction, most notably from the American Legacy Book Awards. She was also recognized with the Editor’s Choice Award for Literary Excellence by Reader’s House magazine.

A dedicated supporter of the United States military since Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has actively engaged in letter-writing campaigns and related initiatives. Her advocacy has been featured on KMTV’s The Morning Blend and in the Omaha World-Herald. As a celebrated author, she has appeared on numerous reader blogs and book promotion platforms. Mary Ann currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she continues to craft stories that inspire and endure.

Connect with Mary Ann

Website: http://www.maryannbernal.com/

Whispering Legends Press: https://www.whisperinglegendspress.com/

Blog: https://maryannbernal.blogspot.com/

Amazon author page  https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ann-Bernal/e/B003D2DPZ4

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maryannbernal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannbernal

Linked-In:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ann-bernal-a9a05b33/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/maryannbernal

BookBub  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-ann-bernal

X: https://x.com/BritonandDane

Threads:  https://www.threads.com/@maryannbernal

BlueSky:  https://bsky.app/profile/maryannbernal.bsky.social

Book Spotlight: Inês: The Queens of Portugal Trilogy, Book #1 by Catherine Mathis

An heir to the throne, a gorgeous blonde lady-in-waiting, the king's trusted advisor. When a father and son don't understand each other, the son pays an outrageous price.

Love, jealousy, loyalty, and revenge roil the court of 14th century Portugal.

In this engrossing launch to the Queens of Portugal trilogy, Catherine Mathis gives a fresh take on the tale of Pedro and Inês, Portugal's real-life Romeo and Juliet. Pedro's father would not have been king if not for his trusted advisor, Gonçalves. Once king, he wants no part in neighboring Castile's royal convulsions though his son, Pedro, befriends powerful Castilians.

The all-consuming drive of the king is to ensure his line rules Portugal for centuries to come. He needs legitimate, strong heirs. The Infante Pedro loves a woman not deemed worthy to wear the crown as queen. Between father and son is Gonçalves, the king's powerful, unquestioned counselor who is mentor to the son. Both Gonçalves and Pedro seek the attention of Inês.

There is a horrific cost to winning the love of Inês. She will not release her grip on Pedro until he keeps the two sworn oaths he made to her. Can Pedro do the impossible to satisfy Inês?

Inês is based on real people and events, exploring a cultural touchstone of Portuguese history.

Praise for Inês:

“Mathis masterfully weaves emotional depth into the narrative, creating a deeply engaging experience that leaves a lasting impression and invites readers on an unforgettable journey through the grandeur and intrigue of Portugal’s past.”

~ Mary Anne Yarde, The Coffee Pot Book Club 5* Review

 

“This exciting start to the Queens of Portugal trilogy describes the legendary love story of Pedro and Inês, and I was amazed at the excellent storytelling and how the author brings the courts to life. There is a lot of drama and intrigue, and the characters' emotions are beautifully captured in this engrossing tale.”
~ Readers Favorite 5* Review

 Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link:   https://books2read.com/u/br8OBY

 

Catherine Mathis was born in Berlin, the daughter of an American spy. As she grew up in Washington, D.C., her spy father turned into a drug enforcement agent. His career change wrecked any chance at high school popularity. She graduated from Sewanee | The University of the South with a degree in history focused on the medieval period. After a career in finance, she returned to her first love of medieval history to ‘Share Iberian Tales.’ Outside of writing, spare time joys are family, friends, reading, collecting folk/outsider art, and travel.

 Author Links:

 Website:      www.catherinemathis.com

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007239702480

Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/cmathisauthor/

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Catherine-Mathis/author/B0F7FZHJ9T

Goodreads:      https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6987876.Catherine_Mathis

 

 

 

Book Spotlight: The Wanderer and the Way (Cuthbert’s People, Book 4) by G. M. Baker

 

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela, now the most famous pilgrimage route in the world,
was founded in the early ninth century, largely due to the efforts of Bishop Theodemir of Iria
Flavia. As with most people of this period, nothing seems to be known of his early years.
What follows, therefore, is pure invention.

Theodemir returns footsore and disillusioned to his uncle’s villa in Iria Flavia, where he meets Agnes, his uncle’s gatekeeper, a woman of extraordinary beauty. He falls immediately in love. But Agnes has a fierce, though absent, husband; a secret past; another name, Elswyth; and a broken heart.

Witteric, Theodemir’s cruel and lascivious uncle, has his own plans for Agnes. When the king of Asturias asks Theodemir to undertake an embassy on his behalf to Charles, King of the Franks, the future Charlemagne, Theodemir plans to take Agnes with him to keep her out of Witteric’s clutches.

But though Agnes understands her danger as well as anyone, she refuses to go. And Theodemir dares not leave without her.

Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/thewandererandtheway

 

Born in England to a teamster's son and a coal miner's daughter, G. M. (Mark) Baker now lives in Nova Scotia with his wife, no dogs, no horses, and no chickens. He prefers driving to flying, desert vistas to pointy trees, and quiet towns to bustling cities.

As a reader and as a writer, he does not believe in confining himself to one genre. He writes about kind abbesses and melancholy kings, about elf maidens and ship wreckers and shy falconers, about great beauties and their plain sisters, about sinners and saints and ordinary eccentrics. In his newsletter Stories All the Way Down, he discusses history, literature, the nature of story, and how not to market a novel.

Author Links:

Website: https://gmbaker.net

Substack: https://gmbaker.substack.com/

Twitter / X: https://x.com/mbakeranalecta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmbaker

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/g-m-baker

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/G.-M.-Baker/author/B09WZK7MD4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4259382.G_M_Baker

 

 

Book Spotlight: Sister Rosa's Rebellion - The Sixth Meonbridge Chronicle by Carolyn Hughes

 

How can you rescue what you hold most dear, when to do so you must break your vows?

1363. When Mother Angelica, the old prioress at Northwick Priory, dies, many of the nuns presume Sister Rosa – formerly Johanna de Bohun, of Meonbridge – will take her place. But Sister Evangelina, Angelica’s niece, believes the position is hers by right, and one way or another she will ensure it is.

Rosa stands aside to avoid unseemly conflict, but is devastated when she sees how the new prioress is changing Northwick: from a place of humility and peace to one of indulgence and amusement, if only for the prioress and her favoured few. Rosa is terrified her beloved priory will be brought to ruin under Evangelina’s profligate and rapacious rule, but her vows of obedience make it impossible to rebel.

Meanwhile, in Meonbridge, John atte Wode, the bailiff, is also distraught by the happenings at Northwick. After years of advising the former prioress and Rosa on the management of their estates, Evangelina dismissed him, banning him from visiting Northwick again.

Yet, only months ago, he met Anabella, a young widow who fled to Northwick to escape her in-laws’ demands and threats, but is a reluctant novice nun. The attraction between John and Anabella was immediate and he hoped to encourage her to give up the priory and become his wife. But how can he possibly do that now?

Can John rescue his beloved Anabella from a future he is certain she no longer wants? And can Rosa overcome her scruples, rebel against Evangelina’s hateful regime, and return Northwick to the haven it once was?

  

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bWaYM0

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

CAROLYN HUGHES has lived much of her life in Hampshire. With a first degree in Classics and English, she started working life as a computer programmer, then a very new profession. But it was technical authoring that later proved her vocation, word-smithing for many different clients, including banks, an international hotel group and medical instruments manufacturers.

 Although she wrote creatively on and off for most of her adult life, it was not until her children flew the nest that writing historical fiction took centre stage. But why historical fiction? Serendipity!

 Seeking inspiration for what to write for her Creative Writing Masters, she discovered the handwritten draft, begun in her twenties, of a novel, set in 14th century rural England… Intrigued by the period and setting, she realised that, by writing a novel set in the period, she could learn more about the medieval past and interpret it, which seemed like a thrilling thing to do. A few days later, the first Meonbridge Chronicle, Fortune’s Wheel, was under way.

Seven published books later (with more to come), Carolyn does now think of herself as an Historical Novelist. And she wouldn’t have it any other way…

 Author Links:

 Website: https://carolynhughesauthor.com

Twitter: www.x.com/writingcalliope

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarolynHughesAuthor

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/carolynhughes.bsky.social

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carolyn-hughes

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Carolyn-Hughes/author/B01MG5TWH1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16048212.Carolyn_Hughes

Book Spotlight: Return to the Eyrie by Katerina Dunne

 

Honour, revenge, and the quest for justice.

Belgrade, Kingdom of Hungary, 1470:

Raised in exile, adolescent noblewoman Margit Szilágyi dreams of returning to her homeland of Transylvania to avenge her father's murder and reclaim her stolen legacy. To achieve this, she must break the constraints of her gender and social status and secretly train in combat.

When the king offers her a chance at justice, she seizes it—even if it means disguising herself as a man to infiltrate the vultures' nest that now occupies her ancestral ‘eyrie’.

 

Plagued by childhood trauma and torn between two passionate loves, Margit faces brutal battles, her murderous kin's traps and inner demons on her quest for vengeance. Only by confronting the past can she reclaim her honour—if she can survive long enough to see it through.

 

Return to the Eyrie is an epic coming-of-age tale of a young woman's unwavering pursuit of justice and destiny in 15th century Hungary.

Triggers: battle violence (moderate), love scenes (moderate), character suffering from childhood trauma (molestation).

Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bz8gJL

 

Katerina Dunne is the pen-name of Katerina Vavoulidou. Originally from Athens, Greece, Katerina has been living in Ireland since 1999. She has a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Athens, an MA in Film Studies from University College Dublin and an MPhil in Medieval History from Trinity College Dublin.

Katerina is passionate about history, especially medieval history, and her main area of interest is 13^th to 15^th century Hungary. Although the main characters of her stories are fictional, Katerina uses real events and personalities as part of her narrative in order to bring to life the fascinating history of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, a location and time period not so well-known to English-speaking readers.

Return to the Eyrie (published April 2024) is the second book in the Medieval Hungary series, a sequel to Lord of the Eyrie (published in February 2022).

Author Links:

Website (publisher): https://www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/hp-authors/katerina-dunne

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076818802721

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katerina-vavoulidou-07962a85/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Katerina-Dunne/author/B09R4P733K

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22196953.Katerina_Dunne

 

 

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

.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨) ✮ ( ¸.•´✶

 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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