Free for the holidays PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE - by Vijaya Schartz

Yay! free in kindle for the holidays

PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE

Curse of the Lost Isle Book 1
Medieval Fantasy Romance

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007K1EGAM/ 

"The story is filled with action and danger and there are many interesting secondary characters that help drive the plot forward. I particularly like Gwenvael, Pressine's brother." Romance Junkies.  

Also #99cts for a few days:

PAGAN QUEEN

Curse of the Lost Isle Book 2

A few other titles may still be discounted, but hurry, don't miss it!  Find the entire series in kindle Here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1QKDC4

Vijaya Schartz
 Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
 http://www.vijayaschartz.com
 Amazon - Barnes & Noble

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Writing the last book of the Curse of the Lost Isle series - Vijaya Schartz

Vouvant walls - Postern gate

As I start writing the last book (#8) in the Curse of the Lost Isle series, I realize this project has been twenty years in the making. Twenty years? Where did the time go?

That summer of 1996, I was vacationing in my mother's village, in western France, a tiny place named Vouvant, voted one of the most beautiful villages in France. As I walked through the local museum, a silver and blue tapestry in a special exhibit piqued my curiosity. The scene of a noble wedding between Melusine the Fae and Sigefroi of Ardennes, first Count of Luxembourg. I did a double take. The date on the label: 963 AD.

You see, in Vouvant, Melusine the Fae is the local celebrity. Cursed since childhood to become a mermaid on certain days, she nevertheless married knight Raymond of Forez, with whom she started the famous and infamous family of Lusignan. Among her descendants are Eleanor of Aquitaine, Guy de Lusignan, Robert of Lusignan (Kings of Jerusalem and Cyprus) even King Richard the Lionheart. She built fortresses to protect the entire region and is said to have built the castle of Vouvant with the tower that bears her name in one night... to protect the village against invaders... but that was in the late eleventh or early twelfth century. So how could she be in Luxembourg in 963, even less marrying its founder, Count Sigefroi?

I could never resist a mystery, so I started digging. I went from local castles to museums, asking questions, visiting libraries, finding old accounts of ancient legends, translations and studies of medieval myths, gathering historical details. To my great surprise, Melusine the Fae appeared at different times in history in different places in Europe, with a similar curse and a different story. First in Luxembourg, then in Forez, and later in Lusignan near Vouvant.

I learned that her mother was Pressine the Fae, who married King Elinas of Alba (ancient Scotland) during the Viking invasions in the early 800s. Melusine also had two sisters, Palatina and Meliora. All of them cursed for abusing their powers in childhood. The only problem was, their story spanned too many centuries. From their birth in the 800s in Scotland during the first Viking invasions, all the way to the Crusades in the 1200s.

Melusine, Castle of Lusignan

The early accounts of the legends, written in the 1300s and the 1400s varied greatly. I found genealogies, scholarly studies of the myths, and a host of historical facts. The writer in me saw an opportunity. A series... a family of Fae... persecuted for their powers, roaming the medieval world in search of redemption from a curse... and they had to be immortal!

I wasn't published yet, but I had three manuscripts with an agent. When I returned home to Arizona, I told my agent about my idea and she gave me her blessing with great enthusiasm. So I started writing.

My agent shopped the idea for the series. No one wanted to hear about it. It was a mix of several genres, historical, fantasy, and romance. I didn't have a following to guarantee booming sales. No one wanted to take a chance on such a series... especially from an unknown author.

Melusine's tower in vouvant still stands today

In 2000, my first contemporary novel came out, then two science fiction novels. Many other sci-fi and romance novels followed with various publishers, but still no interest in my immortal ladies. My agent retired. I kept pitching the series to other agents and publishers. No dice. I put them on the back burner but kept writing and researching in my spare time. Over the next ten years, each trip back to Europe became an opportunity to research a different location where the legends occurred.

In 2010, I signed up with Books We Love Ltd, a Canadian publisher who was reissuing my back list of out of print books. They liked my writing and asked me if I had any original works for them to publish. I sent them the first book of my immortal ladies and they loved it. The rest is history. Seven books are now published in the Curse of the Lost Isle series. The latest, DAMSEL OF THE HAWK (the story of Meliora) came out last month, and I'm just starting the very last novel in the series, ANGEL OF LUSIGNAN, which should come out in December or January.

It boggles the mind that this series has been my obsession for the past twenty years. I hope the readers enjoy the experience I created for them. I'm going to miss these wonderful characters when I write "the end" on this last novel.

DAMSEL OF THE HAWK
Curse of the Lost Isle Book 7
in kindle and paperback: https://amzn.com/B01CH93SNM

1204 AD - Meliora, the legendary damsel of Hawk Castle, grants gold and wishes on Mount Ararat, but must forever remain chaste. When Spartak, a Kipchak warrior gravely wounded in Constantinople, requests sanctuary, she breaks the rule to save his life. The fierce, warrior prince stirs in her forbidden passions. Captivated, Spartak will not bow to superstition. Despite tribal opposition, he wants her as his queen. Should Meliora renounce true love, or  embrace it and trigger the sinister curse... and the wrath of the Goddess? Meanwhile, a thwarted knight and his greedy band of Crusaders have vowed to steal her Pagan gold and burn her at the stake...


The complete Curse of the Lost Isle series includes:
Book 1 - PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE (early story of Pressine)
Book 2 - PAGAN QUEEN (later story of Pressine) still 99cts?
Book 3 - SEDUCING SIGEGROI (early story of Melusine in Luxembourg) still 99cts?
Book 4 - LADY OF LUXEMBOURG (later story of Melusine in Luxembourg)
Book 5 - CHATELAINE OF FOREZ (story of Melusine in Forez)
Book 6 - BELOVED CRUSADER (story of Palatina First Crusade)
Book 7 - DAMSEL OF THE HAWK (story of Meliora exiled in Turkey)
Book 8 - ANGEL OF LUSIGNAN (last story of Melusine late 2016 or early 2017)

There is also a boxed set of the first 4 novels in kindle for a friendly price. CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE boxed set

HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

99cts PAGAN QUEEN - Curse of the Lost Isle Book 2

99cts in kindle for a few days only:
PAGAN QUEEN
Curse of the Lost Isle Book 2
https://amzn.com/B007Z8F7IA 
5-star medieval fantasy historical romance. 

810 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland) -  Queen at last, Pressine brings victory to her beloved Elinas and prosperity to their growing kingdom. Still, she has to contend with the intrigues of Charlemagne's bishops, spurred by her Christian stepson. While Elinas, on the battlefield, remains unaware of his son’s machinations, Pressine fends off repeated assaults against her life. She also fears the curse that could bring her downfall. For the love of Elinas, she will tempt fate and become with child. But when her indomitable passion challenges the wrath of the Goddess Herself... can she win that battle?

"Schartz is an accomplished writer, whose pacing, conflicts, and goals are always complex and whose good characters are always likeable, and whose villains are evil incarnate. You have to like her villains as much as the good guys! Mattacks is a magnificent example of this!" Manic Readers

"...attention to the details of the period makes that long ago era of history feel alive and vibrant. She's able to weave in the mystical in a manner that appears natural, without overwhelming what else is going on. I enjoyed learning more about Pressine and Elinas, but Mattacks and his diabolical plans play an important role... his character flaws are eye-opening... watch for interesting twists and turns... unexpected happenings totally caught me off guard... I want to know more..." Romance Junkies

Other books in the series:

Book 1 - PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE
Book 2 - PAGAN QUEEN (99cts)
Book 3 - SEDUCING SIGEFROI (still 99cts)
Book 4 - LADY OF LUXEMBOURG
Book 5 - CHATELAINE OF FOREZ
Book 6 - BELOVED CRUSADER
Book 7 - DAMSEL OF THE HAWK
Book 8 - ANGEL OF LUSIGNAN (Dec.2016)

There is also a boxed set of the first 4 novels in the series:
CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE

Happy reading! 

Vijaya Schartz
Swords, Blasters, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com 

FREE in kindle PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE

PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE, Book 1 in the Curse of the Lost Isle medieval fantasy romance series is free until April 10 in kindle. Hurry and get it now at: 

http://amzn.com/B007K1EGAM

806 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland)
As the Vikings raid the coast of Alba, Pressine of Bretagne sets out to seduce King Elinas of Dumfries, chosen by the Goddess to unite the tribes against the foreign invader. Elinas, still mourning his departed queen, has no intention to remarry. Head strong and independent, Pressine does not expect to fall for the very attractive, wise and noble ruler... Furthermore, her Pagan nature clashes with the religious fanaticism of the king’s Christian heir, who suspects her unholy ancestry and will stop at nothing to get rid of her. 

"Schartz paints a realistic picture of life in a medieval castle, with all its smells, tastes, visuals, and feelings, and as always, all the primary, as well as the secondary characters are well-developed and interesting. I'm looking forward to the others in this series." Manic Readers

"The exciting battles and period details also drew me in as did the intrigue surrounding Elinas' son trying to prevent him from marrying Pressine... I'm very much looking forward to finding out what's next for Elinas and Pressine when the series continues with the release of Pagan Queen." The Hope Chest Review 

Here are the books in the CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE series published so far:

Book 1 - PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE
Book 2 - PAGAN QUEEN
Book 3 - SEDUCING SIGEFROI
Book 4 - LADY OF LUXEMBOURG
Book 5 - CHATELAINE OF FOREZ
Book 6 - BELOVED CRUSADER
Book 7 - DAMSEL OF THE HAWK

CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE BOXED SET: This volume comprises the entire first FOUR novels in the Curse of the Lost Isle series above, for a very friendly price.
 

HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz
 Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
 http://www.vijayaschartz.com
 Amazon - Barnes & Noble - All Romance eBooks - Smashwords - iBooks - Kobo

The Curse of the Lost Isle wins hearts and ribbons

The reviews keep pouring for PRINCESS of BRETAGNE. This one is a 4-ribbon from Romance Junkies. it says:

“Her attention to the harsh conditions of this violent time period is spot on, and starting with a brutal Viking raid caught my attention immediately. She brings the world of Pressine to life with vivid details of daily life, clothing, customs, manners, Celtic history and the conflict between the early Christian church and the old pagan beliefs of the goddess.

This story is filled with action and danger and there are many interesting secondary characters that help drive the plot forward. I particularly like Gwenvael, Pressine’s brother, who has extensive scenes in his own viewpoint scattered throughout. Look for the just released, PAGAN QUEEN, to continue the saga of these two lovers.”

You can read the entire review at:http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Princess_of_Bretagne.shtml

This review certainly made my day.

Vijaya Schartz
Swords, Blasters, Romance with a Kickhttp://www.vijayaschartz.com
Vijaya on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz

CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE Book 2 - PAGAN QUEEN is out! by Vijaya Schartz

CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE SERIES:

From history shrouded in myths, emerges a family of immortal Celtic Ladies, who roam the medieval world in search of salvation from a curse. For centuries, imbued with hereditary gifts, they hide their deadly secret... but if the Church ever suspects what they really are, they will be hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake.

Find both novels and more titles from Vijaya's other series in Amazon kindle HERE

PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE:

806 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland) - As the Vikings raid the coast of Alba, Pressine of Bretagne sets out to seduce King Elinas of Dumfries, chosen by the Goddess to unite the tribes against the foreign invader. Elinas, still mourning his departed queen, has no intention to remarry. Head-strong and independent, Pressine does not expect to fall for the very attractive, wise and noble ruler... Furthermore, her Pagan nature clashes with the religious fanaticism of the king’s Christian heir, who suspects her unholy ancestry and will stop at nothing to get rid of her.

Find both novels and more titles from Vijaya's other series in Amazon kindle HERE

PAGAN QUEEN:

810 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland) - Queen at last, Pressine brings victory to her beloved Elinas and prosperity to their growing kingdom. But she has to contend with the intrigues of Charlemagne's bishops, spurred by her Christian stepson. While Elinas, on the battlefield, remains unaware of his son’s machinations, Pressine fends off repeated assaults against her life. She also fears the curse that could bring her downfall. For the love of Elinas, she will tempt fate and become with child. But when her indomitable passion challenges the wrath of the Goddess Herself... can she win that battle?

Find both novels and more titles from Vijaya's other series in Amazon kindle HERE

Many other books are coming out soon, but these two form a whole because they have the same hero and heroine. The next novel will skip a generation and feature new main characters.

Vijaya Schartz

Swords, Blasters, Romance with a Kick

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

 

A brand new medieval series - THE CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE - by Vijaya Schartz

This novel is available for only $2.99 in kindle HERE go ahead and give it a thumbs up if you feel like it.

CURSE OF THE LOST ISLE SERIES:

From history shrouded in myths, emerges a family of immortal Celtic Ladies, who roam the medieval world in search of salvation from a curse. For centuries, imbued with hereditary gifts, they hide their deadly secret, stirring passions in their wake as they fight the Viking hordes, send the first knights to the Holy Land, give birth to kings and emperors... but if the Church ever suspects what they really are, they will be hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake.

BOOK ONE - PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE:806 AD - Alba (Ancient Scotland)

As the Vikings raid the coast of Alba, Pressine of Bretagne sets out to seduce King Elinas of Dumfries, chosen by the Goddess to unite the tribes against the foreign invader. Elinas, still mourning his departed queen, has no intention to remarry. Head-strong and independent, Pressine does not expect to fall for the very attractive, wise and noble ruler... Furthermore, her Pagan nature clashes with the religious fanaticism of the king’s Christian heir, who suspects her unholy ancestry and will stop at nothing to get rid of her.

Other books will follow in the coming months. PAGAN QUEEN (April 2012) and many others. Check out the layout of the entire series on my website at: http://www.vijayaschartz.com/medieval.html

Hope you enjoy this new series as much as I enjoyed writing it. Click on the links below to find my personal page with plenty more books at:
AMAZON   -   B&N  -  ARe

Wishing you the very best.

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

Mists of Time Viking Series.

Series blurb: Four Dark Age brothers, a leader, a trader, a farmer and a warrior. Loyal Norsemen destined to find love in extraordinary places and Times...

Review snippet:

Long and Short Reviews

           Tami Dee draws the reader into her beautiful world and keeps you enthralled until the end.

Book one: Under A Viking Moon

Buy link: http://www.tamidee.com/id48.html

Book two: Dawn of A Viking Sunrise

Buy link: http://www.tamidee.com/id49.html

Book three: Beyond A Viking Horizon

Buy link: http://www.tamidee.com/id50.html

Book four: Through A Viking Mist

Buy link: http://www.tamidee.com/id51.html

My web site: www.tamidee.com