THE BREAKING DAWN - at a glance...

Available now on Amazon!

How to create historical romance heroines that readers love

Readers tastes have changed. It used to be that a swooning, simpering heroine who lacks backbone, was not only commonplace in historical romance, but also acceptable to readers.

These days, that just won't fly.

Modern women are independent, self-directed and increasingly focused on interests beyond finding romantic fulfillment and Mr Right. Many just aren't interested in reading about women who lack spark - these days feisty is in, passive is out!

For historical romance, the challenge for authors is to create a female lead who is both true to the time, and someone modern readers can actually relate to. No easy task.

I write historical romance set in a brutal age - 7th Century Anglo-Saxon England. I don't shy away from the grittier details of the time, or the fact that women in that period were the property of men. My readers demand realism, they don't want stories tied up with a pretty bow. However, at the same time, they don't want to read about subjugated, abused women who have no rights, freedom or autonomy.

It's a challenge I enjoy...

I love creating believable female leads that my readers can relate to... and here are three guidelines that help me do just that.

• USE ARCHETYPES NOT STEREOTYPES: women have been women throughout the ages. Just because our heroine lives in a time where women didn't have many rights doesn't mean she's a doormat. Feisty females have always existed - it's just that many didn't make it into the history books! Write about women you feel you could know. It doesn't matter what time she lives in, most women want friendships and a sense of fulfillment in life. Most of them want to love, and to be loved in return. Many have insecurities about their looks, weight or intellect. Stay away from cliche and make your women real.
• FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE WANTS: whether she lives in a castle or a hovel, your heroine is not going to exist in a vacuum.What are her hobbies and her pet-hates? What are her goals, aspirations and dreams?  How do events, other characters, and the hero conflict with them?
• DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS: it's not just about the love story between the heroine and hero that matters. We learn a lot about someone by seeing how they relate to those around them. Siblings, friends, servants and pets - ensure your heroine has a network around her, so that the reader sees her as a 3D character.

I write about women who rarely get to choose their husband - yet none of my heroines are wimps. Even if it appears that our female lead has few choices at all in life. she still can retain her emotional and intellectual independence. Sometimes, she can also rebel.

Every time I pick up a historical or fantasy romance, I want to read about a heroine I can relate to on some level. Grace Draven, who writes fantasy romance, does a great job of this - I love her heroines. Sure, we live in completely different worlds to the heroines in these stories, but we're all women. Are we really that different?

And since, the majority of romance readers are also women, it makes sense to write for them!

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The Battle of Winwaed - the defeat of Penda

On 15 November 655 A.D., Penda of Mercia met a grisly end. 

I'm a bit sad about that as Penda has been my favorite 'bad guy' over the past four books. He's cold and ruthless, and a warmonger, but I'd become fond of him. But, since my novels are following actual historical figures and events, I cannot avoid his death.

The Battle of Winwaed took place on the 15th day of blod monath, or Blood Month - the month we now recognize as November. It was the date that marked a shift in power between Mercia and Northumbria. After decades of tension and battles between the two kingdoms - Northumbria finally prevailed.

Penda had been attacking the northern borders that autumn, and had refused to accept treasure from the Northumbrian king, Oswiu, as a bribe in order to leave them in peace. After his campaign, Penda had headed for home. Unfortunately, he had left it too late, for winter was approaching and the weather had taken a turn for the worse. Instead of heading across the marshes, which had flooded due to heavy rains, Penda was forced to take his army east on higher ground - and that's where it all started to unravel...

Things went pear-shaped when he reached the River Winwaed.

Historians aren't really sure where this river actually was, although many think it was a tributary of the Humber, possibly somewhere near Leeds. Penda had been planning to cross the river, but found it a raging torrent, and impassable.

King Oswiu of Northumbria had been waiting for this moment.

Unbeknown to Penda, the Northumbrians had been tracking his army south, biding its time. With the river at their backs and the higher ground before them, the Mercians were in a terrible position, strategically.

They had a significantly bigger army. Penda had a fyrd (a king's army) of 30 warlords, but the Mercians had some significant desertions upon the eve of battle: Gwynedd, a welsh ruler who would be hence-forth known as the 'battle-shirker;, and King Oswiu's nephew, Aethelwald, who had sided with the Mercians but then pulled out of the battle at the last moment. It's thought that Penda's own son - Paeda - also sided with the Northumbrians - the ultimate betrayal.

On the morning of battle, it was pouring with rain, and the two armies would have fought in mud and soft clay. The Northumbrians pushed the Mercians back into the river, where many of them drowned.

Why is the Battle of Winwaed important in my novel?

This battle is vital to DARKEST BEFORE DAWN because it signifies the agreement that Oswiu of Northumbria makes with Paeda of Mercia. He agrees to allow Paeda rule over southern Mercia, and also agrees to led him wed his daughter Alchflaed - the heroine of our story.

The hero of this novel, Maric, is a Mercian warrior who survives the Battle of Winwaed but is forced to follow Penda's treacherous son. Paeda instructs him to travel north to collect Alchflaed from Bebbanburg (now Bamburgh Castle) and escort his bride-to-be home to Tamworth.

Hence, this battle sets in the entire plot of DARKEST BEFORE DAWN in motion!


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Work on the next novel begins...

The Breaking Dawn has been available on Amazon for over a month now, so it's time for me to start on the next book in The Kingdom of Mercia series: Darkest before Dawn. 

I like to use a common word in the title of each series, which bring all the books together. My first series (The Kingdom of the East Angles), used the word 'night' in each of the four titles - and the first three books of the Mercian series will include the word 'dawn'.

Here's the quote, from Longfellow, which inspired the title of my next novel.

“The nearer the dawn, the darker the night.”

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

They say truth is stranger than fiction 

These novels are set in 7th Century Anglo-Saxon England - and it seems that with each book I write, I draw increasingly closer to real history and further from fantasy. Right from my first novel (Dark Under the Cover of Night), I centered by story around a famous historical figure: King Raedwald of the East Angles. After that, a number of historical events and figures have cropped up in my stories, including King Penda of Mercia - who has appeared in three of my books so far!

So, there have plenty of famous men featuring in my books, but I've not yet based a story around a famous woman.

That's all about to change!

My current novel (set in 655/6 A.D.) focuses on the life of Queen Alchflaed of Mercia.

Who was Alchflaed?

She was the daughter of Oswiu (King of Bernicia), and sister of Alchfrith (King of Deira). Her father and brother arranged for her to marry King Penda of Mercia's eldest son, Paeda, in order to settle peace between Northumbria and Mercia.

All of the above isn't that remarkable, or story-worthy, but wait. What makes Alchflaed's tale unique is that history blames her for the assassination of her husband, a few months after their marriage.

There is no historical record of what happened to her afterwards.

This blog post gives a detailed overview on Alchflaed's life and the historical records we have about her.

A historical romance is born...

Reading about Alchflaed, I was inspired to base Darkest before Dawn around her.

Alchflaed, a pawn in her father and brother's game, agrees to wed the young Mercian king: Paeda. Her father also instructs her to poison her new husband, as soon as the time is right.

Charged with this dangerous task, she travels south with a Mercian escort. However, along the way she develops a bond with one of her betrothed's most trusted retainers, Maric of Tamworth.

Tough, embittered, but fiercely loyal to his lord, Maric is a seasoned warrior who swore off love after his wife betrayed him years earlier. Initially, he resists the allure of the proud, willful Northumbrian princess - but events on the journey back Tamworth, the seat of the Mercian king, bring them closer than either expects... or wants.

Will the Northumbrians carry out their plot to kill the King of Mercia?

Will duty or love determine Alchflaed and Maric's futures?

Watch this space for more details on Darkest before Dawn!


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THE BREAKING DAWN BOOK LAUNCH #3: Author interview

THE BREAKING DAWN has been available for pre-order for the last week - but as of today (10 April), the Kindle edition is live for purchase!

Over the last few days I have had a few giveaways running on Amazon and Goodreads - four paperback copies up for grabs, to celebrate the launch.

If you'd like to know more about the historical romance, and what inspired it, read on below:

Interview with Jayne Castel about THE BREAKING DAWN

1. What inspired you to write the BREAKING DAWN?

Like all of my historical romance novels set in Anglo-Saxon England, THE BREAKING DAWN is based on real historical figures and events. As it's a romance, I keep the focus on the developing love story - however, it's fun to use real events to drive the plot forward.

THE BREAKING DAWN begins with the Battle of Maserfield (Maes Cogwy in Welsh), in the summer of 641 A.D., a famous battle in which the united strength of Mercia and Wales defeated the Kingdom of Northumbria.

The hero of my story, Prince Cynddylan of Powys (Wales), was a real historical figure. 'Dylan' was the catalyst for the entire plot. I really enjoyed bringing him to life, and developing his character. Read about 'Dylan' in another one of my blog posts.

The heroine, Merwenna, was a character I had wanted to write about for a while. I had already introduced her in a previous story; she is born at the end of NIGHT SHADOWS -  the novella that began my Kingdom of the East Angles series.

2. How is THE BREAKING DAWN different from your previous novels?

Each of my novels has a different feel - and I let the developing story dictate the novels unique atmosphere. It's what makes writing so much fun. What makes THE BREAKING DAWN quite different from the other books I've written so far is the 'epic' feel to this novel. The first half of the book is set in the Kingdom of Mercia, and the second half is set in Wales. The characters don't just undertake an emotional journey, but a physical one.

3. How would you describe the love story between this novel's hero and heroine?

Each of my historical romances takes on a difference 'theme'. From 'second chances' and 'forced marriage' to 'forbidden love'. Cynddylan and Merwenna's love story is all about 'different worlds'. He is arrogant and ambitious. She is innocent and grieving the loss of the young man she was supposed to marry. They come from opposing world's and classes. How can a Welsh prince and a young woman from a quiet Mercian village make their love work?

Intrigued?

Buy yourself a copy of THE BREAKING DAWN on Amazon!

Kindle edition: $3.99.
Paperback edition: $12.99


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Sign up to Jayne's monthly newsletter and receive a FREE copy of NIGHT SHADOWS (PDF format). Newsletter subscribers will also get sneak previews of upcoming novels, behind the scenes 'extras', snippets about Anglo-Saxon England, and podcasts from Jayne!

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THE BREAKING DAWN - BOOK LAUNCH #1

As part of the launch of my latest novel - THE BREAKING DAWN - I'm running giveaways on both Amazon and Goodreads. Four lucky winners will receive paper back copies of the novel.

THE BREAKING DAWN is a historical romance set in 7th Century Anglo-Saxon England. It tells the unforgettable love story between Cynddylan and Merwenna -  a Welsh prince and a Mercian village girl.

First up is the Amazon Giveaway - click here to get the chance to win one of two paperback copies of THE BREAKING DAWN.

The Goodreads Book Giveaway will also be live in a few hours. Enter below and get the chance to win one of two paperback copies of THE BREAKING DAWN. The contest ends on 10 April so enter now so you don't miss out!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Breaking Dawn

by Jayne Castel

Giveaway ends April 10, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

The Breaking Dawn - Sneak Preview #2

After a year of hard work - which also involved moving country and buying a house - my latest historical romance, THE BREAKING DAWN, is now available on Amazon.

THE BREAKING DAWN is the first novel in the Kingdom of Mercia series, following my Kingdom of the East Angles novels: Dark Under the Cover of Night, Nightfall till Daybreak and The Deepening Night. Set in 7th Century Anglo-Saxon England, these novels blend epic romance, adventure and rich historical detail.

Kindle edition - available on 10 April 2014 
Pre-order a Kindle copy.

Paperback edition - available now for US$12.99
Buy a paperback copy.

What's the novel about?

You cannot fight fate 

A Mercian village girl and a Welsh prince. When two worlds collide, an unforgettable love story unfolds. 

It is the summer of 641 A.D., and the Kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria are about to do battle. 

Merwenna of Weyham accepts the hand of a young warrior who is about to march to war. But when her betrothed does not return, she takes matters into her own hands and goes in search of him. 

Welsh battle lord, Prince Cynddylan, leads a host of warriors to help Mercia fight Northumbria. In doing so, he forms a fragile alliance with one of Britannia’s most ruthless warlords – King Penda of Mercia. 

In the wake of the Battle of Maes Cogwy, the lives of many will change. 

Merwenna travels to Tamworth, the seat of the Mercian King, in search of Beorn, her betrothed – only to discover the bitter truth. 

Cynddylan and Penda return to Tamworth from battle, victorious – but fall out in its aftermath. 

From the moment Merwenna and Cynddylan meet in the Great Tower of Tamworth, their paths are entwined. 

In a journey from Tamworth, through the green heart of Mercia, and into the woods and mountains of Wales – Merwenna struggles between grief for the man she has lost, and her powerful attraction to this battle lord who appears to love only power and glory. 

Cynddylan is also torn. With each passing day, he finds himself increasingly captivated by this courageous young woman. Merwenna makes him question the world, and his place in it. Suddenly, he is not so sure what is worth living, or dying, for. 

Can two lovers from such different worlds, ever be together?  

Intrigued?

Read the Prologue for THE BREAKING DAWN - and step back over 1,300 years to Anglo-Saxon England...

Prologue

The Promise

The village of Weyham, Kingdom of Mercia – Britannia

Spring 641 A.D.

“Will you marry me?”

Merwenna’s breath caught. Had she heard correctly – had he really uttered those words?

“Excuse me?”

“Merwenna,” Beorn stepped close to her, his gaze longing, his voice tender. “Will you be my wife?”

The young couple stood alone in the woods, surrounded by skeleton trees.

Warmth had not yet returned to the world, although it was early spring, and nature still lay dormant. They had both donned heavy fur cloaks for their walk, as the morning air held winter’s bite – yet Merwenna did not feel the morning’s chill. Joy bathed her in warmth as if she stood next to a roaring fire.

A smile broke across her face and she flung herself into his arms. She had not been dreaming. The moment she had longed for had finally come.

“Of course I will!”

Beorn laughed, his relief evident. His arms tightened around her and he pulled her close. “Thank Woden – for a moment there, I thought you would refuse me.”

The feel of his young, strong body against hers made her pulse quicken.

Beorn pulled back slightly and met her gaze. As always, she was struck by the blueness of his eyes, and the beauty of his chiseled features.

“Refuse you?” Merwenna stared at him, incredulous. It had taken her nearly three years of gentle encouragement to reach this point. “I was beginning to think you would never ask!”

Beorn flushed slightly, embarrassed, and looked away. They both knew he valued his freedom highly. Like her father, Beorn served Weyham’s ealdorman. They were warriors who farmed the land around the village by day, but would ride to war with the ealdorman, if commanded. However, unlike her father, who had lived a warrior’s life for many years before wedding her mother – Beorn was young, and chafed at the thought of spending the rest of his days in Weyham.

Merwenna gazed at her betrothed, drinking him in. Wavy blond hair fell over his shoulders and since autumn he had worn a short beard, which suited him.

She waited for him to say something else. She expected an excuse for making her wait so long. Yet, he remained silent.

“Beorn?” she said finally, realizing that he was still avoiding her gaze. “Is something the matter?”

The young man looked up, and shook his head. “The thing is…,” he began hesitantly, “the handfasting itself will have to wait.”

A chill stole over Merwenna at these words, and her joy dimmed.

“Hwaet?”

“The king is gathering a fyrd,” Beorn continued, the words rushing out as he gained momentum. “He intends to march north and face King Oswald of Northumbria. I’ve decided to join his army.”

Merwenna stared at him. Her shock turning to upset.

When she did not respond, Beorn’s face grew serious. “Merwenna?”

“You ask me to marry you,” Merwenna replied, her voice quivering as she struggled to stop herself from crying, “and then in the next breath announce that you are going to war. Why did you even bother to propose?”

“Because I love you,” Beorn took hold of her hands and squeezed gently, his gaze earnest. “I want us to be married. It’s just that we shall have to wait a little.”

Merwenna took a deep breath, cursing the tears that stung her eyelids. She always cried too easily; it made her look feeble. “And I love you,” she answered, blinking furiously. “But, I have just passed my twentieth winter. At this rate, I shall be an old maid before we wed.”

“Just a little longer,” Beorn replied, squeezing her hands once more. “Then, I will return to Weyham and we shall be handfasted. I promise.”

“You’re going to war,” Merwenna’s tears spilled over as desperation seized her. “You can’t make that promise!”

She ripped her hands from Beorn’s. Then, she turned, her cloak billowing, and started to run in the direction of Weyham. Dead leaves squelched underfoot and the chill air burned her lungs, but Merwenna paid it no mind. She had almost reached the outskirts of the village when Beorn caught up with her.

“Merwenna, wait!’ he grabbed her arm and pulled her up short.

She turned, tears streaming down her face, and tried to shrug him off. “Let me be!”

“I made you a promise and I intend to keep it,” Beorn insisted, his gaze imploring. “I will return to you!”

Merwenna’s tears flowed without restraint now. Sobs welled up and she had to choke them back. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do,” he set his jaw stubbornly.

“Men die in battle,” she reminded him, “and when two king’s armies meet there will be a great slaughter, surely you realize the danger.”

“Penda’s the greatest king Britannia has ever known,” Beorn countered with the supreme confidence that only young men possess. “His fyrd will be mighty. The Prince of Powys is also sending a large company of warriors to join our army. The Northumbrians won’t withstand our combined might.”

Merwenna wiped away her tears and shook her head wordlessly. She cared not if the whole of Britannia was rallying at Penda’s side. The thought that Beorn would go off to battle and might never return made her feel as if she was being buried alive.

“Penda is a mighty king,” Beorn insisted, staring down at her with fire in his eyes. “He will be victorious.”

Merwenna stared back at him. Her cheeks stung from the salt of her tears and it took all her self-control not to start sobbing uncontrollably. This was folly – why could he not see it? However, it was clear Beorn’s mind was made up.

“When will you leave?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Tomorrow morning.”

Merwenna stared at him. If he had punched her in the belly, it would have hurt less. Suddenly, her world was crumbling around her. Just moments ago, her heart had been bursting with joy. Now, her future looked bleak.

The man she loved was riding to war, and there was nothing she could do to prevent it.

***

Beorn of Weyham struggled to tighten the saddle’s girth. He nudged his shaggy pony in the belly with his knee, until the stubborn beast exhaled. Then he tightened the girth another notch. The last of his preparations dealt with, Beorn turned to the small group of kin and well-wishers who had gathered to see him off.

He had not been looking forward to this. Good-byes were not something he had a lot of experience in. His mother and sisters were all weeping, a sight which upset him. His father, at least, was stoic.

“Serve the king well, my son,” Horace stepped forward and clasped Beorn in a bear-hug. “Make me proud.”

“I will, fæder.”

Behind him, Beorn could hear the other warriors gathering; the low rumble of their voices, the snort of their horses. It was just after dawn. A light frost covered the ground and the lightening sky promised a day of good weather ahead. They stood in Weyham’s common, a stretch of grass in the center of the village. A collection of squat, wattle and daub homes with thatched roofs surrounded them. It was the only home he had ever known, and shortly he would be leaving it – perhaps for a long time.

Beorn stepped back from his father and took a deep breath. He was anxious to be off. Saying goodbye was harder than he had anticipated.

Yet, first, he had to see Merwenna.

She stood a few yards away, patiently waiting. When he turned to her, Merwenna stepped forward to speak to him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but that did not detract from her loveliness. In her build and coloring, she resembled her winsome mother – small and brown haired with startling blue eyes. However, there was a seriousness to her face that gave her some of her father’s look. One of her most startling features was her beautifully molded, rose-bud mouth.

Beorn had always been captivated by her lips, and her breasts, which were impressively full for such a small female. They gave her a womanly look on an otherwise girlish frame.

 “Farewell, my love,” Merwenna spoke, her voice quivering from the effort it was taking her to hold back tears. Despite that she was swathed from neck to shin in a heavy rabbit-skin cloak, he could see she was trembling. Suddenly, Beorn felt as if his heart had lodged in his throat. She was not making this any easier.

Although Beorn was eager to ride south-east to Tamworth and join the king’s fyrd, he was also sorry that he and Merwenna could not be handfasted first. He longed to bed her, to tear the clothes off that delicious body. He could have wed her before leaving, but she deserved better. When he returned to Weyham, victorious, their joining would be all the sweeter. He wanted to make her proud of him; he wanted to come back to Weyham sporting silver and gold arm rings, prizes from the king for his valor. He wanted to be worthy of her.

 “Goodbye, sweet Merwenna,” he pulled her against him and hugged her tightly. “Wait for me. I shall return.”

Drawing back from his betrothed, Beorn cupped her face with his hands and stooped to kiss her, not caring that half the village was looking on.

“I must go,” he murmured. “Wait for me, my love.”

“I will,” she whispered back, her eyes huge on her heart-shaped face.

Beorn moved over to his pony and prepared to mount it. He was too big for the beast, but fortunately the pony was sturdy, and it had been the only horse his family could spare. Frankly, he was fortunate to be riding at all – most of the kings’ fyrd would arrive inTamworth on foot.

His mother started wailing then. She broke free from her daughters’ embrace and rushed toward her son. Beorn enfolded her in his arms as she sobbed.

“My boy! Don’t go – I’ll never see you again!”

“Enough, Arwyn!” Horace hauled his wife back. “You’re embarrassing the lad. Control yourself!”

“Farewell, mōder,” Beorn said hoarsely, struggling to hold back tears of his own. He had never seen his mother so upset. “Don’t worry – you will see me again.”

His assurances only made his mother sob even louder. Turning away from his parents, Beorn mounted his pony and quickly adjusted the stirrups. He rode away feeling wretched; his mother’s heart-rending wailing was almost more than he could bear.

It was a relief when he could no longer hear her.

Beorn joined the throng of men leaving Weyham, glad to be finally on his way. His hamlet sat on the heavily wooded western fringes of the Kingdom of Mercia. It was nestled at the end of a long valley, in the shadow of dark hills that rose to meet the sky. Beorn rode through his village, passing the ealdorman’s timbered hall along the way. He listened to the crunch of frozen leaves underfoot, the creaking of leather and jangling of horses’ bridles, and felt his skin prickle with excitement.

A warrior had to be able to say goodbye without shedding tears. He had done well this morning, yet it was nothing compared to what lay ahead. He rode toward battle and glory – toward his future.

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Get yourself a copy of THE BREAKING DAWN

Kindle edition - available on 10 April 2014 
Pre-order a Kindle copy.

Paperback edition - available now for US$12.99

Buy a paperback copy.