A SPECIAL VALENTINE

Anglesey moat and castle in the heart of town- Wales. Think St. Valentine’s Day has a lock on love? For most of us, this holiday does, but not for the Welsh. If you visit reading her compelling story, you’ll understand why.   Dwynwen, a 5th century Welsh princess, was the most beautiful of King Brychan Brycheiniog’s twenty-four daughters. She fell head over heels in love with a handsome local young man named Maelon Dafodrill and the pair hoped to marry. Tragedy, however, soon shattered their dreams when they learned they could no longer be together. It seems that King Brychan had already arranged for the princess to marry another man, a prince. Maelon, of course, took the devastating news to heart; Dwynwen, broken-hearted and hoping to avoid this arranged marriage, fled into the woods to weep and pray to God for guidance. An angel visited her during her sadness giving her a sweet potion that would make her forget momentarily about Maelon while this same angel froze him in a thick block of ice. God then answered her prayer and conferred on the princess three wishes. For her first wish, she asked that Maelon be thawed. Her second wish pleaded for God to help all true lovers; while the third asked that she never marry. Once all of her wishes were granted, Dwynwen, whose name means “she who leads a blessed life”, was so grateful, she became a nun and set up a convent on Llanddwyn Island, a scenic tidal island off the coast of Anglesey in North Wales. The picturesque ruins of her church remain on this small island and are visited by lovers of all ages during the year. They remember her favorite saying “Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness.” St. Dwynwen’s Day is by far the most romantic day in Wales, more so then Valentine’s Day which the Welsh celebrate as well. There are special cards, romantic dinners, and many hoping to propose present a most unique gift to their intended, a love spoon. The tradition of the love spoon is an old one, many think going back to men of the sea, who carved their beloved spoons of wood each with a specific intricate design on the handle. Keys, for example, are symbolic of a man’s heart. They then gifted the love spoon on St. Dwynwen’s Day to the woman they hoped to marry. This lovely tradition still holds true today with gifts of intricately carved spoons and spoon jewelry.  A few years back, I was fortunate to visit the beautiful island of Anglesey where my husband gifted me with a lovely love spoon necklace with a heart on its handle. Most recently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received love spoons during a recent royal visit to Cardiff, Wales. As we approach Valentine’s Day, let’s remember the date matters little, the gifts differ, but it’s the love in our hearts that really counts.                                                        *** Prior to visiting Anglesey, I visited my friends in Darbyshire, England. They took me to the most beautiful royal residence in Derbyshire called Chatsworth, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The manor house, surrounded by gardens, boasts over thirty rooms all furnished with valuable antiques and works of art. As we toured this lovely estate, my mind wandered wondering what life as an 18th century duchess would have been like. A few years later, I began to write THE DUCHESS’ NECKLACE. Of course her fictional manor was influenced by my visit to Chatsworth.  My duchess, Amelia, does not fit the role of a royal woman of her time. She is feisty refusing to marry and relinquish her royal authority to a husband. She soon meets and seduces a handsome young Time Traveler who steals her jeweled necklace, proof of her royal title. He Travels to the present to sell the jewels; she, with the help of a gypsy seer, follows hoping to find the scoundrel, kill him, and retrieve her title, but something called love gets in her way. Amelia is faced with the most difficult decision of her life. Love in the present or wealth and power in the past? Love Spoon Buy Now Forward Share Tweet Copyright © 2018 Mariah Lynne Author, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at MariahLynne.com or in person at an appearance. Our mailing address is: Mariah Lynne Author PO Box 193 Branch 1 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

       MARIAH LYNNE 

WHO NEEDS PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES?

A great story, a vivid imagination, and strong characters can transport you to distant times and beautiful places without ever leaving the comfort of home. Time Travel is better than air miles, has no screeners rummaging through your luggage, and no uncomfortable seats. Just open the first page and off you go!

I became hooked on Travel when I first saw the Way Way Back machine on Mr. Peabody and Sherman. How wonderful to be able to visit ancient Rome or medieval England perhaps  meeting strong warriors and benevolent kings. I love history and writing a story with part of it in the past gives me the opportunity to research and learn about local customs, ways of life, and even the rules of romance at that time.

In THE DUCHESS’ NECKLACE (Satin Romance-release date May 31, 2017), my duchess, Amelia Augusta Ethrington, Her Grace the Duchess of Abbington, is fourth in line for the British throne. 18^th century royal marriages were less about love and more about standing and property. Amelia refuses to marry not wanting to relinquish a smidgeon of power to a husband. Because of this, she has one night stands with traveling nights and younger men seeking favor to quench her desires. She’s too modern a woman for 18^th century rules and needs a modern man who will accept her for her intelligence, independence and feistiness. She needs a man from the present. When circumstances in her life go awry, she finds one by chance through Time Travel.

Her Time Travel, however, began not for finding love but for seeking revenge and settling a score. A deceptive Traveler from the present romances her only to steal her necklace, her sole claim to title and standing before returning to the present. She Travels to get her necklace back: finding love is a side benefit but with that benefit comes a choice. Will she choose love in the present or her life of wealth and privilege as a duchess?

The character of the Duchess evolved from a trip to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England. As I walked through the long hallways and visited the regal rooms, I wondered what life as an 18^th century royal was like. I then imagined what kind of woman my fictional duchess would be. I prefer my heroines to be independent and feisty like homicide detective Brianna Breeze in my first novella THE LOVE GYPSY (The Wild Rose Press). I imagined how she would react to murder, a man from the past, and romance. In SHADOWS ACROSS TIME (Satin Romance), the character of the wizard was inspired by a visit to Chenenceau Castle in France. The castle boasts an apothecary also used as a poison room; it seemed a most delightful place for a villain to frequent. The heroine, Danielle, is kidnapped and taken back in time only to meet a handsome knight she hopes can save her from her destiny.

Hope you Travel to meet Brianna, Danielle, and now Amelia.

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