What inspired “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven” trilogy by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Ever since childhood, I’ve wanted to be a writer. I’ve always been enthralled with stories of chivalrous knights and elegant ladies, fairy tales and fantasy, Arthurian myth, and Avalon.And when I began studying the language of love, I embarked on a lifelong passion for the beautiful French language and extraordinary culture.
While earning my MA in French literature, I fell in love with the medieval legend of “Tristan et Iseult” and the dark folklore from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, birthplace of Merlin, the Lady of the Lake Viviane, and Sir Lancelot, the intrepid First Knight of King Arthur Pendragon.
I became a high school teacher and college professor of French, spending summers abroad, exploring castles in the Loire Valley, medieval sites of pilgrimage, such as le Mont-Saint-Michel, and troglodyte caves in Aquitaine. When I spent a summer in the quaint village of Lisieux-- where the French princess Aliénor d’ Aquitaine married king Henri II Plantagênet in 1152—I learned a great deal about the Viking heritage of Normandy and the subsequent influence of Norman French on the history of England.
Each year, I taught my French IV students about the Middle Ages in France, and as part of that study, we always read the legend of “Tristan et Iseult”, in which I used puppets to illustrate the story, combining music, theater, and film in a multidisciplinary study of French language and culture.
My debut novel, “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”—book 1 of my trilogy—is a paranormal fantasy, medieval romance adaptation of the legend of “Tristan et Iseult”, interwoven with Arthurian myth, otherworldly elements such as Druids, forest fairies, diabolical dwarves and Avalonian Elves, enhanced with dark, mysterious fairy tales and my lifelong love of French.
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven Book One
Jennifer Ivy Walker
Genre: Fantasy/Medieval Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: September 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5092-4568-0 Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-5092-4569-7 Digital
ASIN: B0B8XNMYBS
Number of pages: 377
Word Count: 111,565
Cover Artist: Rae Monet
Tagline: Mirror, mirror on the lake. Reveal the path the queen will take.
Book Description:
In this dark fairy tale adaptation of a medieval French legend, Issylte must flee the wicked queen, finding shelter with a fairy witch who teaches her the verdant magic of the forest.
Fate leads her to the otherworldly realm of the Lady of the Lake and the Elves of Avalon, where she must choose between her life as a healer or fight to save her ravaged kingdom.
Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of the Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his past and defend his king or lose everything. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks.
Haunted and hunted. Entwined by fate. Can their passion and power prevail?
Amazon BN
Jennifer Ivy Walker creates a magical fantasy story in The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven. This beautiful fantasy novel captured my full attention from start to finish. Jennifer Ivy Walker infuses espionage, betrayal, love, magic, and danger throughout the story. The transitions were flawless. The end of the story left me yearning to read the sequel. I recommend The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven to readers who enjoy fantasy romances full of magic and strengthened by well-developed characters.
~ Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers’ Favorite
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a captivating paranormal romance tale. The reader will absolutely become enthralled by this fascinating, exciting, and action-packed story. Walker created three plots that merged together easily. Each plot was intertwined with the others so intricately and seamlessly that the reader will be caught up completely within the pages. As each character is introduced, the author gives a solid enough portrayal to be able to visualize the character as they come to life on the pages of this book. The reader will fall in love with Issylte as she navigates her fate, beginning from her homeland of Ireland to England and then on the island of Avalon.
~ Reviewed by Teresa Syms for Readers' Favorite
Excerpt 3 from “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”
“Every tree,
plant, flower and herb has an essence. A spirit. A life force.” She gestured to
the verdant forest all around.
Issylte raised
her eyes to the lush canopy of trees overhead, the blue sky peeking through the
fluffy clouds. She inhaled deeply, the green notes of pine mingling with the
rich scent of earth and the tangy fragrance of blossoms in the early summer
breeze.
“The essence of
the forest can be beneficial. Benevolent. Essential for healing.” She picked up
a sprig of red clover and handed it to Issylte with a knowing smile. “Yet
others are harmful and deadly.” Maiwenn gestured to the alluring deep purple
flowers before them.
Issylte’s breath caught in wonder. She sensed an aura. A tingle in her veins.
Maiwenn’s
chestnut eyes bore deeply into hers. “Have you ever felt the thrum of the
forest in your veins?”
Issylte nodded,
her eyes wide with discovery and delight. She held Maiwenn’s gaze, nearly
breathless with anticipation.
“That,
Églantine, is power.” Maiwenn’s eyes were deep brown, like the nourishing earth
of the Hazelwood Forest.
“You, my dear
princess, are a forest fairy. Like me.”
With a quick
intake of breath, Issylte placed her hands over her mouth in wonder.
“The Goddess has blessed us both with a divine
gift. The ability to sense the essence of a plant. To wield its power. The
warm, soothing aura of a beneficial herb. The icy sting of a poison.”
Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.
As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.
Her debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven"--the first of a trilogy-- is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of "Tristan et Yseult", interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic.
Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.
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Thanks very much for featuring me!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven with me, Jennifer, I enjoyed reading the inspiration behind your book and I enjoyed the excerpt! Your book sounds like one that I will really enjoy and I love the cover! Good luck with your book and I hope the tour was a success!
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day!