Today on the blog, we’re beyond thrilled to have Tanya Anne Crosby here to celebrate the release of the final book in her Goldenchild Prophecy series, Arise the Queen!

Before there was a Winter King, there was a Summer Queen—Gwendolyn of Cornwall, a warrior princess who raised an army to unite a nation.

First, give the heroine a triple blessing/curse at her birth (a la Sleeping Beauty) —three Fae gifts: a prophecy for her future, a gift of “Reflection,” and a golden mane.

Essentially, Gwendolyn’s hair turns to gold, provided it is cut by her one true love, but anyone who gazes upon her face will see his/her own heart reflected in her countenance. Depending upon their true nature, she is the loveliest woman in the land… or the most hideous—a cruel jest of the capricious Fae, for unless a man’s heart is true, Gwendolyn is destined to be coveted for her crown, yet despised for her face.

Now, give this curse to a true-life heroine, add a hot Fae into the mix, along with a few trolls and other creatures, then re-imagine them all into a true historical event, richly imbued with Celtic legend and lore, and you’ve got The Goldenchild Prophecy.

I’m SO sad to end this series, but so thrilled to have had the opportunity to tell Gwendolyn of Cornwall’s story. I first came across her during my research for another book and fell head over heels with the vision I had of her—a super-strong woman, who, even during ancient times, kicked a cheating husband to the curb, then took him for all he was worth.

As I wrote Gwendolyn’s story, despite taking a hard turn into Fantasyland, I learned so much about her and the time she lived in that it often left me with serious woo-woo. Beyond Gwendolyn’s marriage to Locrinus, here are the things that are true:

She was the daughter of “King Corineus,” who might have been a general of Brutus of Troy. He’s a renowned figure in Britain, credited with the slaying of the giant Gogmagog and there’s a statue of him displayed at Guildhall, London. Corineus is also credited with the founding of Cornwall, even as Brutus is credited with founding Britain.

So now, these two “dads” thought it would be fortuitous to join their families and Corineus offered Gwendolyn to Brutus’ eldest son, Locrinus. History says Locrinus knew and loved Estrildis (a captured slave) before he knew Gwendolyn and that he married Gwendolyn only to please the “Dads” (but also to inherit England and Cornwall). Wanting the best of both worlds (naturally), he married Gwendolyn then hid his mistress in a cave below Trinovantum (a.k.a. London). Once the “dads” are gone (dead), Locrinus leaves Gwendolyn for his mistress, and probably found reason to regret that because, feeling rejected and betrayed, Gwendolyn raised an army to ride against her cheating husband, and according to the historical record, won. These are the things that are “true” about this story, but, as I said, I took a hard turn into Fantasyland, and took a lot of my inspiration from Celtic mythology, breathing life into the Tuatha Dé Danann (the first High Kings of Ireland), creating a world that, by the end of Arise the Queen, even I felt must have existed.

Most of all, I loved the opportunity to tell the story of a strong woman during a time when women are wrongly perceived to be “less” or “weak.”  In fact, Cornwall and Wales were in many ways kinder to women than even our own modern American legal system, which didn’t provide for divorce until 1848 with the Married Women’s Property Acts.

Gwendolyn is a heroine for the ages—not just her age, but ours, too. And no doubt, raising an army to ride against her husband must have taken real courage. But to fight and win, and then to become Brittain’s first “Queen Regnant” deserves at least a statue in her behalf. Don’t you think so? I mean, if her dad can get one for offing a giant, shouldn’t she get one for this? One thing’s certain: Having lived nearly a millennia before Boudicca, it’s not much of a stretch to wonder if perhaps Gwendolyn of Cornwall was Boudicca’s inspiration, even as she was mine?

If you love British lore and ever longed to dive headlong into its beginnings…

If you hoped to meet the “tribe of the gods” who left their mark upon the British Isles…

If you’re ready to embark on a magical journey into the dawn of Britain…

Come with me.

I hope you’ll read The Goldenchild Prophecy, and that, in the end, a little bit of Gwendolyn’s story leaves you thinking… hey, maybe?

Betrayed by the one she most trusts, Gwendolyn must now find a way to defeat the Fae King, alone… To do that she must remember what she has forgotten. But time is running out, and the odds are rising against her and even The Fates appear to favor a cruel king, whose reign began with the end of all she holds dear.

Arise the Queen is the exciting conclusion of the Goldenchild Prophecy.

Tanya Anne Crosby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels. She has been featured in magazines, such as People, Romantic Times and Publisher’s Weekly, and her books have been translated into eight languages. Her first novel was published in 1992 by Avon Books, where Tanya was hailed as “one of Avon’s fastest rising stars.” Her fourth book was chosen to launch the company’s Avon Romantic Treasure imprint. She’s an award-winning author, journalist, and editor, and her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews.

You can find her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Bookbub!