Linda Acaster is a mainstream published UK novelist, with a host of short fiction and non-fiction to her credit, who is digitally indie authoring her backlist as a springboard to launching the first of a trilogy of contemporary thrillers as original ebooks.
Hostage of the Heart is a Mediaeval romance set on the English-Welsh borders in 1066. With the northern militia gone to support the new king, Rhodri ap Hywel sweeps down the valley to reclaim lands stolen by the English, taking the Saxon Lady Dena as a battle hostage. But who is the more barbaric: a man who protects his people by the strength of his sword-arm, or Dena’s kin who swear fealty to a canon of lies and refuse to pay her ransom? Dare she place her life in the hands of a warrior-knight shielding dark secrets of his own?
What will e-readers like about your book?
It’s a fast-paced adventure offering a different perspective on an era of British history, not the courtly lives of the powerful, but the ordinary people on the ground who always bear the brunt of others machinations. Dena might be a ‘lady’ but she’s a poor relative accepted into her uncle’s household to gain him prestige by marriage. When events turn, she becomes first disposable, then a bargaining tool. What price integrity? What price truth?
Why did you go indie?
Hostage of the Heart, and my other historical romance Beneath The Shining Mountains, were originally mainstream print novels. I’ve had their rights reverted for some time and as indie ebook publishing on Amazon has opened to non-USA citizens I decided to bring them to a different readership, and use the experience as a dry run for my contemporary Torc of Moonlight. It’s been a fascinating learning curve.
Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
Rosemary Sutcliff’s novels showed me how history could be made both exciting and educational, and it’s something I always try to emulate. No matter what the genre, readers should be able to leave a novel having been intrigued by something factual. Modern authors in the Medieval romance genre include Lindsay Townsend, a UK writer who has had better success in the USA than in her own country, which says a lot more about publishers than it does readers.
Amazon US Kindle page http://tinyurl.com/3a2dyz5
Amazon UK Kindle page http://tinyurl.com/24xbekn
Smashwords page https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/14120
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Gentle nudge: it was Rosemary Sutcliff (without an E) whose novels showed Linda Acaster that history could be exciting and educational ... see others who got the spelling wrong at http://www.rosemarysutcliff.wordpress.com. And more importantly learn more about Rosemary Sutcliff ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Anthony! Please spread the word about Indie Books Blog so we can all learn together.
ReplyDeleteScott
Hi Anthony, and thanks for taking me to task (hangs head in shame). Rosemary was way ahead of her time and an inspiration in her life as well as her writing.
ReplyDeleteScott: thanks for having me across. It's appreciated.
Regards to everyone, and in the USA especially, as I am across here at present on holiday in the South West. Beats damp England!
Linda
Linda, I bought Hostage of the Heart and found it very enjoyable, and I've long been a fan of Lindsay Townsend's medievals, as well. Good luck to you in your new venture!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, I look forward to reading your books! They're on my list.
ReplyDeleteSuper interview, Linda! I'm a fan of Rosemary, too - loved her novel about Alcibiades!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a fan of your books, especially 'Beneath the Shining Mountains'.
Thanks, too, for your kind comments.
Thanks, Miriam!
I'm a huge fan of Indie publishing!
This story sounds amazing and so true! It's going into my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks, Miriam, that's kind of you. And thanks to everyone for stopping by. I'll be calling back later to chat with anyone who wants to, either on writing on my great indie adventure.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Hi Linda, good luck to you. Keep us posted on how indie publishing works for you. There's a whole world out there full of great books that are NOT mass-market.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, thanks for dropping by. I was in a supermarket (guess which) and a chain bookstore yesterday doing some research while I'm over here and it was interesting to see what was on the shelves, and what was not.
ReplyDeleteI think writers are going to have to embrace indie authoring whether they want to or not, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised by the response. I am also awed by those who have trodden the path before me and those, like Scott, who have set up book blogs. I certainly get more exposure being an indie than I ever got being published mainstream. A toast to Scott and all bookbloggers!
It sounds like an awesome adventure and learning curve. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading about it.
ReplyDeleteI've read Linda's Torc of Moonlight and found it a tremendous piece of writing with an intriguing story cast in a setting where both place and time were clearly thoroughly researched. It was a very good read, holding the attention from start to the final word. I happily recommend her writing.
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