Interview -Ellen Margaret

CTR: Let’s welcome author Ellen Margaret to our event today!

EM: Hello, I am Ellen Margret and it’s lovely to be here!

CTR: First, please give us a bit of information about the book or books you’re sharing today. At least ISBN, Publisher and buy link please! Also the genre and heat level if applicable.

EM: My most recent Historical Romance is: ‘Lord Devilment’ Historical Romance (Highwayman), Heat Rating – 3 Flames Publisher – Dark Castle Lords Publications
ISBN 978-0-9844615-7-8

Buy link – http://www.dclpublications.biz/lord_devilment.htm

How about a little competition? The winner will get to read the whole ‘Lord Devilment’ novel!
Question – What did Saxon tell Ariadne to remove? The answer is in the excerpt.!!
Please email your answer to ellen@ellenmargret.co.uk I will randomly select a winner from the correct entries.
(Note: excerpt in next post!! AZG)

CTR: What is your favorite historical period or region and why? Did you enjoy history while you were in school or was it frankly boring? How would you suggest we teach history to kids now—(i.e.) can fiction maybe be a tool here? Do you think we can and should learn from the past or is it now irrelevant to modern times and issues?

EM: My favourite historical period has to be the mediaeval. Most of our family holidays in England (I am English) have involved going to places where we can visit castles. The atmosphere varies from castle to castle but I always get that sense of excitement and wonderment. Ruined castles are the best because I can use my imagination to put them back together whilst wondering what the lords and ladies who lived there might have been like.

I enjoyed history very much but had to give it up in the sixth form in favour of the sciences. It should never be boring especially in this day and age where such wonderful books and TV programmes are available to bring it to life. History trips are a must too. Go and see those castles, especially the Welsh castles! And not forgetting the mock jousts and the re-enactment companies. I think kids can learn a lot from the right computer games too.

I’m sure lessons can be learnt from looking at history. After all it brought us to where we are now and we can learn from past mistakes. Don’t put a baker’s shop in Pudding Lane or if you do have a fire engine or two standing by (manned by hunky firefighters, of course) LOL .
Also, if I found myself engaged to a king who had chopped off the heads of a few of his wives, I might just turn around and run off with the miller.

CTR: Do you think historical accuracy is important in fiction? How about the use of modern speech and politically correct ideas instead of those that faithfully portray the period? Do you find this good, bad, a necessary evil or something you shun?

EM: Yes, historical accuracy is vitally important. I put so much research into my book, ‘The Spy Exposed’ with Midnight Showcase Fiction. I pored over books about regimental costumes, aristocrats, the events around the Gordon Riots and much more. I like to make the reader feel like he/she has just walked into that period and that the present has disappeared for now.

One of my editors told me that my speech and way of writing is quite different when I switch from contemporary to historical. This is so very important. We don’t say ‘Ye gods’ very much now and back in the eighteenth century the hero wouldn’t have said ‘awesome’ or even ‘okay’. It’s all about being in the right mind-frame when I write.

CTR: Can you share a favorite author and title that perhaps inspired you to write in the historical genre?

EM: I have to say that I was so very impressed with Roberta Gellis and her mediaeval stories (The Roselynde Chronicles) which I read perhaps twenty or so years ago.

More recently I have been very taken with Laura Kinsale and Gaelen Foley. Both such wonderful writers!

CTR: Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving family tradition or story to share? Does the old “Over the river and through the woods to grandma’s” verse resonate with you in terms of childhood memories or stories you heard or was your family pattern quite different? How about a recipe that you associate with this harvest and thankfulness time of year? What is your favorite dish of your family or circle’s traditional feast?

EM: Thanksgiving is more of an American celebration. However we do have Harvest Festivals here too. I remember them in primary school. We would be asked to take in produce for parents to buy to aid a charity or school funds. As I recall, not too much in the way of fresh produce came in since, where we lived, folks had quite small gardens. So, lots of cans of fruit and beans came in. Not quite the thing really!

I’m not the best cook in the world but my family does like my roast turkey and stuffing. And I do grow the sage and thyme myself! I’m a better gardener than I am cook.

CTR: If there was such a thing as a time machine where would be the first place you would go once you had a ticket to ride? Do you think you’d want to stay or just look around and then come right back to today?

EM: Naturally, I’d go back to the mediaeval. Maybe the thirteenth or fourteenth century. I don’t think I would stay too long. I wouldn’t like to bring the Black Death back to present time. I’d die of guilt before succumbing to the Black Death!

CTR: Where can our readers find out more about you and your writing? Please share your web site, social network pages, blogs or any other contact areas you maintain

EM: My website is www.ellenmargret.co.uk Please take a look and leave a comment.
My books are available through Midnight Showcase Fiction www.midnightshowcase.com
DCL publications http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/, All Romance ebooks
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-torvikingmaster-402746-144.html

CTR: Thank you so much Ellen for sharing with us today! WE hope you will come and visit with us again when you have another book to share.

EM: Thank you to Coffeetime Romance for allowing me to drop by. Thank you all for reading. It’s been fun!