Tell us, Laura, what made you write this The Secret of the Solstice Cakes?
I’ve always been fascinated with the ancient past, especially that of the British Isles. To me, it seems a mystical time and place inhabited by folk perhaps just a bit larger than life. But these were real people with hopes, dreams, faults, and longings. How did they celebrate their holy days? This little story takes place long before Christmas ever reached the shores of England. But as you will see, the sentiment is something with which our hearts can identify.
Blurb: Omens are not good at the end of AD 59 for the Dumnonii tribe in southern Britannia. There’s war in the east, and the harvest has failed again. To improve the outlook, widower Chief Allaed agrees to remarry, to the first woman of the tribe to bring him a sprig of the holy mistletoe on Solstice morning.
Catti, daughter of the high druid, has long admired Allaed from afar. Mistletoe being scarce this year, she plans a clever substitution. But when her father finds a measure of mistletoe, Catti’s favored sister demands it, determined to be first to Allaed’s door.
Can a secret kept between two hearts endure, and save their very way of life?
EXCERPT:
“Never wed a holy man,” Mother had told Catti with her rueful smile. Catti had no intention of it. Even if she had, so far the opportunity had not arisen.
And she had no time to think of such things as marriage. With the grain carefully set aside, she had other chores to do. The rest of Father’s supper to prepare and the hearth to sweep.
By rights, at least some of those duties should fall on Remi, she being barely a year the younger. But Remi chose her tasks most carefully, went where she fancied, and did fairly much what she pleased.
She also, apparently, came home bearing secrets.
Catti stifled a sigh. She might remonstrate with her sister and ask her for help getting the supper. A waste of time though, for Remi would drag her feet and make pretty excuses. Far easier to just let her say whatever she wished and get on with it.
So she gazed into her sister’s mischievous blue eyes and said, “You might as well tell me. Although, you know very well, secrets are not meant for sharing.”
“Aye, but they are.” Remi’s face glowed with enjoyment. “They would not be secrets, if they did not beg telling. Besides, I’m telling only you.”
Only me, Catti thought with a stab of consternation. Aye, was that not the way of it? Only she did the work around Father’s house and kept the slightly-mad cycle of their days flowing. Only she wove cloth and scrubbed and—and ground the grain, while Remi flitted and made merry. She, Catti, was the steady one, the practical one.
The plain one.
Why deny the truth of it? Two sisters, nothing alike. Remi had taken after Mother, with her golden curls, bright eyes, and infectious smile. Catti, rather unfortunately, looked like Father, with brown hair, mist-gray eyes, and a nose that everyone said denoted character.
It never seemed to occur to anyone that at times Catti did not want character. She wanted to dance upon dainty feet, to sing merrily. To have all the young men of the tribe follow her with longing.
***
Sounds yummy (pun intended) LOL! Where can we get a copy of The Secret of the Solstice Cakes?
Amazon US; Amazon Canada; Amazon UK; Amazon Australia; B&N and iTunes.
Wonderful! Tell us a little about yourself...
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Multi award-winning author Laura Strickland delights in time
traveling to the past and searching out settings for her books, be they
Historical Romance, Steampunk or something in between. Married and the parent
of one grown daughter, Laura has also been privileged to mother a number of
very special rescue dogs, and is intensely interested in animal welfare. Her
love of dogs, and her lifelong interest in Celtic history, magic and music, are
all reflected in her writing. Laura's mantra is Lore, Legend, Love, and she
wouldn't have it any other way.
Folks can find, follow and connect with Laura at the following places...
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