Venetia Green came knocking on my country manor door!

Take a vacation in the Viking era with Venetia’s valorous heroines and heroes.
 Nothing vapid here, just vivid history, verve and beautiful verse (and a few
 villainous characters).


 
Take it away, Venetia:

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Venetia Green

Will you tell us about yourself and what genre(s) you love writing? 
 
Venetia Green was meant to be my top secret pen-name for medieval historical romances with just a pinch of naughtiness without my family finding out. Guess what – that particular secret didn’t last long! Guess I’ll just get disinherited instead. 

Ha ha, Venetia - we hear you! So glad it didn’t put you off writing though – we’d be missing out if that happened.

My first published book was launched on 23rd May. (Congratulations! That's a luscious cover too.)

A beautiful hawk-tamer enslaved by Vikings.

Ragnar Ulfsson  must find his king a concubine. His solution is Isolde, captured whilst climbing
the sea-cliffs for falcons. Enslaved in his own way, Ragnar has few qualms about
binding another to his lord for the greater good. After all, it is an honour to
  share the bed of a king.

Isolde does not view slavery so complacently. Like a hawk caged, she is frantic to escape.
But the king’s hall is a bubbling stew of political intrigue and Isolde is an
  essential ingredient in the mix. Her only hope out is Ragnar, who captured her
  but also promises to free her—eventually. But there is something strange about
  this dark Viking, oddly withdrawn and controlled, and their growing bond will
  lead her into greater danger still. 

For Ragnar doesn’t touch women. For good reason.

What writing project did you put aside to answer these questions?

 Oh man, where do I start? First of all, I’m researching a historical novel based on Chaucer’s Wife of Bath. I also happen to be editing a rather tongue-in-cheek Viking romance. (At least, the tongue is sometimes in cheek. Sometimes it’s up to some rather less G-rated activities.) (!) Oh, and I’m revising a novella set in 14th century London in my spare time. 

You have spare time? Where can I buy some?

Will you name one entity you feel supported you outside of family members? 

Romance Writers of Australia – it’s a wonderful, warm and supportive bunch of rocking romance writers!

It sure is full of ‘em!

Do you see writing as a career?

 Alright, it might be naïve and starry eyed of me, but yes – I am aiming at a writing career. (But of course you are!)I know the odds are stacked like the Himalayas against me (not necessarily), but I’m in this for the long haul. I am a writer, and I will ‘make it’. Full stop. (Yay!)

What kind of research do you do for your stories?

Lots! I have had about a decade of university training in historical research, and it has programmed me to get my details right. It’s the iceberg principle – the huge mass of research remains below the waterline out of sight, lurking and
supporting the tiny, pointy visible peak. My favourite sort of research, though, is actually going to the places I write about. I LOVED going to Norway on ‘research’ for A Hawk Enslaved.  Do you know blueberries and raspberries grow wild absolutely everywhere in Norway?

Who would you like to play you in a stage production about your life, and why?

Rupert Everett, because he plays wonderful middle-age drag, and I want to have had the sort of life that he would do justice to! Only problem is, by the time I’ve got to middle age, he’ll be in his dotage. Bummer.

What a surprising answer! Love it.

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing your current story to life?

A Hawk Enslaved is the first full length novel I’ve written, so finishing it was the first and biggest challenge. You know, it’s so easy to start a book, but get to the soggy middle and it’s even more tempting to start something entirely different. So my wonderful advice to all those would-be novelists out there is: just keep on bloody well writing it! DON’T keep on trolling over what you’ve already written and editing it, just write and write and once it’s finished THEN go back and
tidy things up.

Oh, I hear you, Venetia – I speak that language!

Thank you so much for visiting the country manor and bringing Rupert Everett with you (he is amusing company, isn’t he?)

 I know for a fact Venetia is one smart researcher – and her prose is
 delicious!  Enjoy her book, there’s more on the way.

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Here’s where you can find Venetia Green after I wave her off at my blue door:

Venetia’s website is:
www.venetiagreen.com 
 
Her book, A Hawk Enslaved, is available through: 
 
Ellora’s Cave
 http://www.ellorascave.com/a-hawk-enslaved.html

Amazon 
http://www.amazon.com/A-Hawk-Enslaved-ebook/dp/B00C0U5ZIU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370653134&sr=1-1&keywords=a+hawk+enslaved

Kobo 
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/A-Hawk-Enslaved/book-0ts46xDQ40uxkvOjM6BtKQ/page1.html?s=DtwDbf87n0SxgN0y_jiwQQ&r=1

As always, Jennie recommends readers purchase (or pre-order) the titles of their
dreams and support the writers who have taken the time to answer these
  questions. Writing is hard work and not for the faint-hearted - but so joyful
  for the reader.  What would we do without books (and writers)?

Feel free to leave a comment, we’d love to hear from you!

Jennie & Venetia