I just released two books! This is very exciting for me even
though neither of the books are new. Well...the covers are new, and one of the
books has a new name, and I’ve done
little editing, but for the most part, Iron and Oak are still exactly what
they’ve always been: paranormal, erotic fantasy
romances set in nineteenth century Ireland.
Is that a subgenre? It is now!
These are two of the Books of my Heart, stories that, for
one reason or another, demanded to be written.
Iron, which holds the distinction of being the only one of
my books that has ever finalled in a contest, is the result of a random
question posed by a reader during an online chat. “What’s the most unlikely romantic pairing you can imagine?”
Now, I can imagine a lot, but in that moment it occurred to me that there wasn't much that was more unlikely
than a fae (for whom iron is an anathema) and a blacksmith, someone who works
with the stuff daily, whose life and livelihood depend on it. The idea took hold and wouldn’t let go. Add to
that the fact that my grandfather had worked as a blacksmith when he was a
young man living in Ireland, quite some
time ago—and the book had its
setting.
I’m sure my grandparents would both be utterly appalled to think that they’d
been the inspiration—in any way, however tangential—for an erotic romance, but
I dedicated the book to them anyway.
“Nineteenth century
Ireland. Blacksmith Gavin O'Malley is a bitter man, with a heart as hard as the
iron he forges. He wants his life back--the one that was stolen from him the
day his wife died in childbirth--taking their firstborn son with her.
When Aislinn Deirbhile, an immortal, shape-shifting fae, arrives on his
doorstep, he knows he's in luck. For Aislinn can give Gavin everything he's
been missing: A devoted-seeming wife in the image of his beloved Mairead, and
children who are sure to outlive their father. Now, all he has to do is find a
way to keep her--without losing his immortal soul in the process.
But Aislinn has an agenda of her own. On the run from a vengeful fae lord who's
vowed to either make her his or end her existence, she knows the iron that
allows Gavin to take her captive will also keep her pursuers at bay. In order
to put herself permanently beyond her enemy's reach, however, Aislinn will need
something more. She'll need to win Gavin's heart and convince him to willingly
part with a piece of the very soul he's trying to save.”
At one point, there was an editor who wanted to turn Iron into a sword and
sorcery story with a kick-ass, warrior heroine, but that’s not what this book
is about. Not that Aislinn can't or doesn't kick ass, just not on the scale she wanted.
Iron is Gavin’s story. The fae are immortal, and
yes, Aislinn goes through some changes in the course of the tale, but it’s Gavin’s life that’s completely
turned upside down. I have to admit that a few people have questioned the
ending, to which I can only quote GK Chesterton: “The great Gaels of Ireland are
the men that God made mad, for all their wars are merry, and all their
songs are sad.”
Iron is a very IRISH book, so it was going to have an element of sadness to it, that’s just the way of it—but I swear it’s still a HAPPY
ending. I know Gavin and Aislinn would agree.
Oak, which was originally titled The Oak King, is my re-framing of the Oak King and Holly
King legend. I’ve made them tree spirits, and estranged lovers who fall for the
same mortal woman.
I blame my mother for this one. Yes, the daughter of the
grandparents who inspired Iron.
My mom’s the one who taught me to love trees. When
my parents were getting ready to build the house in which they raised their
family, it was my mother who insisted that as few trees as possible were to be cut
down. As a result, I grew up in a house whose backyard that was a beautiful
shady grove of mostly oak trees.
Seriously. How could I not write this story?
“This title was
previously published as The Oak King.
Twice each year, Aine
Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the
Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more
than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help
but fall for the sexy demi-gods she's loved all her life?
From midwinter to midsummer, Fionn O'Dair rules the Greenworld as the Oak
King--a role he feels is beyond his abilities, and one that dooms him to a
loveless future, forever craving the one man he can never allow himself to
have. How can he resist what Aine offers--the sweet devotion that soothes his
aching soul, and the slim chance to live a "normal" life as her
husband, if only for half a year?
Holly King Kieran Mac Cuilenn never desired a human lover--until now. Seeing
Fionn and Aine together fills him with longing for the love he threw away and
awakens feelings he thought he'd buried with the last Oak King. Is there enough
magic in the solstice to correct the mistakes he made years ago? Or is he
doomed to be forever left out in the cold?”
And, yes, in case you're wondering, there’s a bittersweet element to Oak's ending...and
to its beginning, for that matter. But, how else are you going to get wounded
heroes if there were never any tragedies in their pasts? And, really, it all
works out in a very satisfactory, now and forever kind of way.
At its heart, Oak is absolutely Fionn’s story. Hence the
reason for the original title. The name change was necessary to bring it into
line with the other books in the series—because, yes, there are two more in the
works.
Selkie, which I'm working on currently, is the story of a wounded seal-shifter who is rescued
by a fisherman. Flight is a bird-shifter menage involving two men who grew up
together and have always loved each other, and the mysterious woman who almost
comes between them.
I am super excited to be working on these books. I'm also excited about the covers, which can be seen on my website: http://www.pgforte.com/CelticLegends.htm
These four books are all stand alone stories that don't depend at all on one another. They can be read in any order you like.
Click on this link HERE for a sneak peek at Selkie.
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