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| I N S P I R A T I O N
"Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all." -- Stephen Stills, "Carry On" |
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Blythe on a writer's retreat on the South Carolina coast, works on revisions to Innocence Unveiled. Photo by Donna Myer |
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The story behind the story The Harlot's Daughter I’ve been interested in the bastard side of the English royal family tree since I read Katherine by Anya Seton in Junior High School. It’s the story of a lifelong love affair between Prince John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III, and Katherine Roet. They had four children together and in a happily ever after moment, they finally married late in life. Their children were legitimized and in just a few generations, their descendents sat on the English throne. My new book, The Harlot’s Daughter, is a “behind-the-throne” story also based on a real person. Edward III, one of the longest reigning and most successful of English monarchs, took up a mistress late in life. The woman, Alice Perrers, was notorious in her day and much hated. The chronicles that have come down to us were penned by men who universally loathed her. But she had two daughters by the King, and I was intrigued by what had happened after their protector died. What was it like for those girls to begin life as princesses and end up cast out of the court and into poverty? What would it be like to grow up being known as the harlot’s daughter? This story was my answer. Historical: The book takes place several years after Edward’s death. His grandson, Richard II is now king and the young man, whose reign began with much promise, was headed for what we would call a “constitutional crisis.” In this highly uncertain time, my heroine returns to court to make her way. (I’ll post more on the historical background on my History page.) Literary: Katherine, one of my all time favorite books, inspired my journey. In a way, it is the inspiration not only for this book, but for a lifelong interest in English history, the English royal family, and the 14th century in particular. I hope my passion will spark your interest, too. Personal: My hero and heroine live in a time of conflicting loyalties. In the worst sense, the court was “political.” My heroine in particular must discover how to live with integrity in a world in which you have no power. I hope you enjoy the journey. Most romance writers trace their roots either Jane Austen or Charlotte and Emily Bronte. I’m an Emily and Charlotte kinda girl, drawn to stories of deep passion and high drama. On my keeper shelf are books by Anya Seton, Elswyth Thane, Mary Stewart, Rosemary Rogers, Laura Kinsale, and Penelope Williamson. I can get three tale ideas before breakfast, but in order for an idea to coalesce into a book, three aspects of the story need to gel. Historical: I tend to write about turbulent times. Plagues, wars, new technologies--my characters grapple with a changing world, just as we do. The Knave and The Maiden is set in an England that has suffered through The Death (as they referred to what we call the Black Plague) and a war with France that was to continue for a hundred years. My hero has had personal experience with both. But in nooks and crannies of the country, people like my heroine are working to transform the Bible from impenetrable Latin to English that even a peasant could understand. So I search for the nuggets that tell their tale authentically without letting the facts sabotage a good story. Literary: Each book seems to collect its own literary muse. When I was a junior in high school, my English teacher made us memorize the Prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales--in the old English. Decades later, I can still recite it. So I sent my characters on a pilgrimage across England with a few characters I borrowed from Geoffrey Chaucer, the first poet to write in English. I hope the master doesn’t mind. Personal: Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way says “Leap and the net will appear.” My take on it is a little different. I say “Leap and your wings will appear.” So my heroine, and I, took a leap of faith. Blythe |
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Copyright 2003-7, W. Blythe Gifford Photo by Blythe Gifford Pages designed and maintained by Literary Liaisons, Ltd.
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