Catherine Kean is our guest on the blog today for Writerly Wednesday. She’s here to answer a few questions alongside the release of A Knight’s Reward, book two in The Knights series.
Welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into writing?
Thank you for inviting me to the blog. I read a lot as a child, and I believe this sparked my interest in writing my own stories. I would devour a book and then wonder what might have happened if a character had made a different decision at a critical moment, or if the villain had turned out to be someone else.
I wrote stories from an early age and penned my first novella at age 12, and my first full-length novel at 16. I wrote them longhand in lined notebooks, and writing longhand is still my preferred way to write, although a computer is much more convenient for revising.
A Knight’s Vengeance, my first medieval romance, was written while I was a stay-at-home mom, during my baby daughter’s nap times. I attended many conferences and workshops, learning the craft of writing, and was thrilled to be offered my first publishing contract in 2004. My books have won numerous awards, and I am working on my 23rd novel.
Even when I’m not actively writing, my Muse is still mulling ideas that will one day find their way into one of my novels. Intriguing historical articles? Filed away. Fascinating discoveries of ancient relics? Noted. Sometimes a magazine article or even a conversation over a glass of wine with friends will spark ideas. My Muse never stops.
What do you enjoy most about writing Historical Romance?
I love breathing life back into the past and immersing my readers in the Middle Ages with as much sensory detail as possible. The sights, sounds, tastes, smells, textures… I aim to include them all. I’ve visited numerous medieval sites (including still-standing castles and wind-scoured ruins). I’ve also viewed museum collections of medieval armor, weapons, furniture, coins, clothing, silver, pottery, and jewelry to try to get the details as accurate as possible.
I also explore themes that are universal to people of any era. What lengths would an honorable man, who is convinced his beloved father never betrayed the king, go to in order to avenge his sire’s murder? That’s explored in A Knight’s Vengeance, Book 1 of my Knight’s Series. What lengths would a desperate mother go to in order to protect her young son from an abusive ex? That’s explored in A Knight’s Reward, Book 2 of my series.
What inspired this book/series in particular?
I didn’t know when I wrote A Knight’s Vengeance that I was, in fact, setting up a series. I loved the characters, though, and when readers wrote to me and asked when Dominic, the witty, charming best friend of Geoffrey de Lanceau (hero of A Knight’s Vengeance) would be the hero of a book, that got me thinking about Book 2. There are currently 6 novels in the series, and I am writing Book 7.
What is your favorite aspect of Gisela Anne Balewyne’s character?
She might not wield a sword, but she is a warrior in her own right. She has experienced some horrible things, but she’s not let them crush her spirit or stop her from taking charge of her life. She will do just about anything to protect her son (whose character is loosely based on my daughter at that age) from her volatile ex. I admire Gisela’s resilience.
What is your favorite aspect of Dominic de Terre’s character?
Apart from him being swoon-worthy handsome, funny, intelligent, and heroic? Well, let’s just say that I admire a hero who is determined to win a heroine’s heart, and when Dominic is reunited with his true love, Gisela, he vows to never let her go again—despite the dangerous secrets she keeps. Their heartfelt struggle will, I hope, take readers on an emotional journey that proves just how much Dominic and Gisela were meant to be together.
Can you tell us about your writing space? Where do you do most of your writing?
I write in a small room on the top floor of the house. The room’s a cozy space that gets lots of sunlight and is filled with bookshelves, books, my refurbished Art Deco desk, a comfy chaise lounge, and usually, Pepper, the little tabby cat I rescued from the street. She loves to hang out in my top desk drawer while I work.
What are some of your favorite things? Books, TV, foods, etc.?
I love Chanel No.19 and Bulgari Indian Garnet perfumes, antique jewelry, organic Columbian coffee, milk chocolate, Twinings Earl Grey Tea, medium-rare steak, a buttery French Chardonnay, and my boyfriend’s delicious lasagna.
Want to know more about *A Knight’s Reward?*
A sweeping Medieval historical romance featuring dangerous secrets, a dutiful knight, and a reunion that could reclaim a lost love—or bring heartbreak and ruin down on them both.
Gisela Anne Balewyne is desperate. To protect her young son from a violently abusive husband, she lives a clandestine life as a small-town tailor, saving what coin she can until she’s able to flee further north. And she dares not acknowledge the handsome crusader who insists he knows her—intimately.
Dominic de Terre’s loyalty has never wavered, which is why he’s blindsided when tracking stolen silks for his lord leads him straight to the woman who once owned his soul—and she denies she’s ever known him. But when the nobleman is attacked and Gisela takes Dominic in to tend his wounds, he vows to win her back and never let her out of his arms again.
Gisela fights her own heart, certain that being together will only deepen the danger surrounding them. And as Dominic tries to pull his lady clear of harm, he finds himself struggling to protect them all—while wicked schemes drag the past into the light and toward a reckoning.
Perfect for readers who love:
– Second-chance medieval historical romance
– A hunted heroine and a devoted crusader knight
– Sweeping, sensual, danger-laced romance
–Hidden secrets, an abusive past, and a fight for a future
Preorder here: https://books2read.com/u/b612X0
Learn a little more about Catherine Kean:
Catherine Kean is a multi-award-winning, Kindle Unlimited All-Star author of captivating medieval historical and lighthearted contemporary paranormal romances. Her love of history began with visits to England during summer vacations, when her British father took her to crumbling medieval castles, dusty museums, and historic churches. Her love of the awe-inspiring past stuck with her as she completed a B.A. (Double Major, First Class) in English and History. She completed a year-long Post Graduate course with Sotheby’s auctioneers in London, England, and worked for several years in Canada as an antiques and fine art appraiser.
She started writing novels—including her first medieval historical romance, A Knight’s Vengeance—while her baby daughter was napping. Catherine’s books were originally published in paperback, and several were released in Czech, German, and Thai foreign editions. She has won numerous awards for her stories, including three gold medals in Florida Writers’ Association’s 2021 Royal Palm Literary Awards and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her novels also finaled in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the National Readers’ Choice Awards, and the International Digital Awards (twice).
When not working on her next book, Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, browsing antique shops, traveling, and get-togethers with friends.
You can find her on her website, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and Bookbub. If you want to keep up to date with what’s going on with Catherine, you can also sign up for her newsletter.
