Christy English

Missed Posts and Musings

Thursday, May 20th, 2010 | The Writing Life | 4 Comments

Ah, I missed my post yesterday…I was away from my computer all day. I am taking a few days off from my writing, so I let the ball drop and the computer lie silent. I think it’s good to let my brain lie fallow. Perhaps my words will flow better once I begin to work again.  Here’s hoping…

The Queen’s Pawn on Books by the Willows

Monday, May 17th, 2010 | Reviews, The Queen's Pawn | No Comments

A charming review of THE QUEEN’S PAWN was posted on Books by the Willows this Saturday. Thanks Marie!

http://booksbythewillowtree.blogspot.com/

The Queen’s Pawn on Fiction Nation

Friday, May 14th, 2010 | Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Queen's Pawn | No Comments

I was fortunate enough to do an interview with Kim Alexander from Fiction Narion today…one guess as to what we talked about…You’re right! Eleanor of Aquitaine. We also talked about Princess Alais, of course.  I had a great time. Tune in here and I’ll let you know when the interview will go on the air, and online.

What an exciting and charming experience…

Constantinople and Istanbul

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 | Eleanor of Aquitaine, To Be Queen | No Comments

Eleanor traveled through Constantinople on her way to meet her uncle Raymond in Antioch. Constantinople was truly the gateway to the East in the 12th century, just as it is today. My agent spent part of her honeymoon in the lovely city, now named Istanbul, and the photos she sent back are inspiring. From the beauty of those deep blue waters of the Bosporus, and from the city that rises on both banks, one side Asia, the other, Europe, made me catch my breath.

It was when Eleanor reached Constantinople that she re-evaluated her life, and began to think in terms, not just of crowns and power, but of the power freedom brings. Eleanor got her first taste of what freedom might be in that great city. She stepped into that city, and saw a larger world.

The melding of East and West made her see that she could live a different life. Her uncle Raymond was living proof. He re-created himself in the Holy Land, and Eleanor decided that she would, too. Why stay in a loveless marriage when you can be free?

Beauty and Inspiration

Monday, May 10th, 2010 | Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Writing Life, To Be Queen | No Comments

The verdant beauty of North Carolina has been inspiring me. I am on a small break from TO BE QUEEN, and so is Eleanor, as we wait for my editor’s notes. Eleanor does not get notes, but I get many.  I need them, believe me. But as we wait, I sit on a borrowed porch and take in the beauty of the South. I find myself very happy to be here.