The Cross of Ciaran
The Cross of Ciaran, #1
by Andrea Matthews
Date of Publication: June 18th 2020
Publisher: Inez M. Foster
Cover Artist: Jenny Quinlan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-1-7333375-1-9
ASIN: B08BJ1QRGM
Number of pages: 362
Tagline: Can a fifth century pagan priest find love with a twentieth century archaeologist or will his secrets shatter their future together?
BLURB
When a fifth century pagan priest is unearthed in Ireland fifteen hundred years after being entombed, archaeologist Caitlin O’Connell is convinced it’s the find of the century. The body is in perfect condition, right down to the intricate tattoos adorning the Celt’s skin. In fact, if scientific data hadn’t proved otherwise, she would swear he hadn’t been interred more than a few hours.
Eager to discover more about the mysterious Celt, Caitlin accompanies the body back to the New York museum where she’s employed, but before she has time to study him, the priest disappears without a trace. Rumors surrounding the event begin to circulate and result in the excavation’s benefactor pulling the plug on the entire expedition.
The rumors are not far off the mark though. After being buried alive for betraying his goddess and his priesthood in the dawning age of Christianity, Ciarán wakes to a strange new world. Alone and frightened in an unforgiving city, he stumbles upon the only thing familiar to him and seeks sanctuary within the church walls. With the help of the parish’s pastor, Father Mike, Ciarán slowly grows accustomed to his surroundings, though he’s plagued by dark dreams and the disturbing sensation that an evil from his past has followed him into the future. But a more immediate danger lurks on his doorstep.
Caitlin is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery concerning her missing Celt, and when she meets her Uncle Mike’s new handyman, Ciarán Donnelly, she’s convinced the handsome Irishman knows more about the theft than he’s letting on. Yet, even she can’t deny the attraction between them, simmering below the surface and blurring the lines between her personal and professional life. But will Ciarán’s secrets draw them together or shatter their future forever?
Excerpt:
Ciarán stumbled along beneath the twisted canopy of blackthorn shrubs, their prickly branches entwining with those of the hawthorn to form a mystical passageway. Though only a dim grey light pierced its knotwork, intermittent flashes of lightning broke through the tangled vines to sketch eerie patterns across the moss-covered path. His robe caught on the spiny bramble, and he stopped for a moment to free his sleeve, but a sharp shove from behind thrust him forward once more, the sudden movement ripping a jagged hole in his fine linen robe.
His temper flared, and he turned to object, though it did no good. Another quick jab to his shoulder spun him back around and thrust him out into the lakeside clearing. Slender stone columns stood in a semi-circle around its perimeter, each one facing the sacrificial altar. He rested his hand against the one to his side, steadying himself as the reality of the situation washed over him in a wave of nausea. There would be no escape.
As if in agreement, a bolt of lightning ripped across the horizon, followed by a crash of thunder so loud it caused the breath to catch in his throat. The goddess was angry.
Out of nowhere, thick grey clouds had formed to conceal the morning sun and cast ominous shadows over the secluded enclosure. The urge to fall prostrate before his goddess mother gripped his innards, tearing at his stomach with a fiery knife, but he could not find it within his heart to do so. A black-robed cleric propelled him further into the temple confines, forcing him to his knees beside another of the slender gray columns. The decision to kneel had been made for him, though it was an empty gesture on his part.
Author Info
Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History, an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen-hundred-year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams Interview with . . . Andrea Matthews. . .
How would you describe you style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
Stories that involve history, romance, and a touch of the paranormal, usually involving someone with a Scottish, Northern English, or Irish background.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
Character development is one of the most important aspects of my writing. My characters need to be people I would like to know (or hate, in the case of a villain.) So, I start with the characteristics I want them to have: their temperament, their personal traits and talents, their appearance, even little habits they might have. I don’t like perfect characters, so they always have their faults as well. I even make up character sheets for each one, though I still manage to muck it up from time to time.
I employ all kinds of techniques to develop their personalities. Bits and pieces of people I’ve come across, some just in passing, but no character is ever just one person. Once I have the composite character in my head, I take them through the story, trying to have them react the way I think they would, given their personalities. Sometimes quite a struggle ensues between what they want to do and what I want them to do. Oddly enough, they usually win out.
Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?
There are quite a few new characters bopping around in my head. Sometimes it’s hard to keep my mind on the story at hand when a new hero keeps nagging to be noticed. That’s where a bit of discipline has to come in. After all, I’d never finish a story if I left just because a new protagonist appeared on the horizon. I can’t help but get excited though and look forward to the time when I can flesh the newcomers out in a story.
Right now, there are a few floating around in my head. One is Daniel O’Halleran, who I hope to introduce this summer, and another is my seductive vampire, Alasdair MacLeary. Alas he may have to wait awhile, along with a few others whose haven’t even been named yet. There are only so many hours in the day, and Ciarán and Will still have a lot to say.
Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so which one(s)?
Always, but not one in particular as it’s usually whichever story I’m writing at the time. Right now, I’m working on Book 3 in the Cross of Ciarán series, so I’m feeling rather close to Ciarán at the moment. I also love to write scenes with Father Mike in them. He’s such a character.
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
Right now, I’m working on the third book in the Cross of Ciarán series. Caitlin and Ciarán become parents, but unsettling dreams keep warning Ciarán that his children may be in danger from an ancient source.
And I’m hoping to put Daniel O’Halloran to paper this summer, but it will be a Historical Mystery, set in the early 1900s and written under the name of I. M. Foster. Of course, there will be a bit of romance. There must always be romance. Basically, a two-year-old murder results in another death. New on the job, Daniel will have to contend with the interference of the town librarian to solve it. The problem is, she’s the daughter of the latest victim and one of the suspects.
After that, I plan on finishing the fourth book in my Thunder on the Moor series, which is a time travel romance set on the sixteenth century Anglo-Scottish Border.
If you could have dinner/dinner party with 7 fictional character, who would they be?
Only seven. Let’s see, I’d have to start with Mr. Darcy, then maybe Sarah Brant and Frank Malloy. Geralt of Rivia, of course, Professor McGonagall and finally, Legolas. Thus covering the historical, romantic, and paranormal worlds.
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
I’d spend my time in Ireland, Scotland, and the North of England, doing more research for my books.
Website: www.andrea-matthews.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMatthewsAuthor
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19718311.Andrea_Matthews
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