The Prophetic Mayan Queen: K’inuuw Mat of Palenque by Leonide Martin

Publisher:  Made for Success Publishing/Made for Wonder (Dec 1, 2018)
Category: :  Historical Fiction, Ancient World, Caribbean & Latin American, Historical Romance/ Ancient World
Tour dates: Feb-Mar, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64146-365-2
Available in Print and ebook, 350 pages

Description Prophetic Mayan Queen: K’inuuw Mat of Palenque by Leonide Martin

She was born to serve the Goddess Ix Chel. But K’inuuw Mat is destined to continue the Palenque (Lakam Ha) dynasty by marriage to Tiwol, fourth son of famous ruler Pakal. Trained in prophetic arts, she uses scrying to foresee the face of the man with whom she will bear the dynastic heir—but it is not her husband’s image. She is shocked upon arriving at Palenque to recognize that face as her husband’s older brother, Kan Bahlam. They are immediately attracted, sharing deep interest in astronomy. Though she resists, the magnetic force of their attraction propels them into forbidden embraces, until Kan Bahlam designs a bold plan that would solve his inability to produce a son—if he can gain his brother’s cooperation.

Set in the splendor of Lakam Ha’s artistic and scientific zenith, royal family conflicts and ambitions play out in a tapestry of brilliant Mayan accomplishments in calendars, astronomy, architecture, arts, and secret language codes that will astound people centuries later. As K’inuuw Mat contends with explosive emotions, she must answer the Goddess’ mandate to preserve Mayan culture for future generations. Her passion with Kan Bahlam leads to a pale daughter and bold son who carry this out as their civilization begins the decline and eventual collapse her prophetic vision foresees.

One great cycle rolls into the next . . . Contemporary Mexican archeologist Francesca and her partner Charlie, a British linguist, venture into Chiapas jungles to a remote Maya village, seeking to unravel her grandmother’s secrets. The hostile village shaman holds the key, but refuses to share with outsiders the scandal that leads to foreign blood and ancient Palenque lineages. Only by re-claiming her own shamanic heritage can Francesca learn the truth of who she is, and bring her dynasty into the present.

My Thoughts Prophetic Mayan Queen: K’inuuw Mat of Palenque by Leonide Martin

A queen in waiting. A forbidden love. A destiny that must be fulfilled. All of these things are elements to Leonide Martin’s book ‘The Prophetic Mayan Queen: K’inuuw Mat of Palenque.’ 

The main character, K’inuuw Mat is a young girl embarking on a journey to discover her destiny on the Mayan island of Cuzamil. For generations, one daughter from every family in K’inuuw Mat’s line has been chosen to serve the goddess Ix Chel as a seer. Since K’inuuw Mat’s elder sister was not chosen, she assumes that she will be the one to fulfill this role. She’s excited by this, as it seems a fitting life for her. But an oracle on the island informs her that the goddess Ix Chel has not chosen her to be an acolyte and that she is instead destined to marry one of the royal sons of Lakam Ha.

Things rapidly become even more complicated for poor K’inuuw Mat when her own scrying reveals that she is destined to fall in love with her soon-to-be-husband’s brother, Kan Bahlam. I don’t want to reveal too many spoilers—because you should really read this one– but the love story between K’inuuw Mat and Kan Bahlam was powerful in a way that I don’t often really come across in historical novels. 

I had a lot of trouble putting this one down and whenever I did I kept finding myself mentally back in Lakam Ha in 600-something BCE hearing K’inuuw Mat’s voice.  I can’t remember a time when I’ve had a book pull me in and stick with me as much as this one and because of that, I have to give it 5 shiny and golden stars. I learned a lot and had a great time doing it! I fully recommend this to any and all readers! 

 Mists of Palenque Series Awards

The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik’nal of Palenque (Mists of Palenque Series Book 1) received the Writer’s Digest 2nd Annual Self-Published eBook award in 2015.

The Mayan Red Queen: Tz’aakb’u Ahau of Palenque (Mists of Palenque Series Book 3) received a Silver Medal in Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards for 2016.

Interview With Leonide Martin

-Please tell us something about the book that is not in the summary.  (About the book, character you particularly enjoyed writing etc.)

One dominant character is Kan Bahlam II, the oldest son of famous ruler Janaab Pakal and heir to the throne of Palenque. Creating this complex persona was ripe with opportunities to portray the mixture of admirable and abhorrent qualities that many people have. He is a “black sheep” in the hallowed Bahlam dynasty, a man larger than life with gargantuan appetites and burning ambitions. Maya scholars consider Kan Bahlam II a creative genius due to his many astrological, numerology, and architectural accomplishments. In my story, he is also a womanizer, power-monger, schemer, and impatient inheritor of the splendor of his city. I started building his character in the prior book that relates the story of his mother, Tz’aakb’u Ahau (The Red Queen), wife of Pakal. In the current story, I get to progress his character arc and show how he changes once he realizes his love for K’inuuw Mat. He becomes a hero by saving her life, after he exploits the need for a male heir to gain access to intimacy with her. Creating this powerful, impressive, and ultimately honorable man was a particularly satisfying experience. 

-How much time and effort went into your research for the book?

A great deal of time went into research for this and all my books about the ancient Mayas. I’ve now spent over 20 years studying their history, culture, spirituality, and archeology and amassed a large library. Over 150 years of archeological excavations and anthropological investigations have produced droves of publications, and the pace of discovery is accelerating. I focused on research about Palenque in writing the Mists of Palenque series, and have become deeply familiar with their history. I drew on knowledge acquired over many years while writing the first three books for this, the fourth and last in the series. However, new publications became available, better translations of glyphs gave new insights, and I needed to familiarize myself with the characters and events of the time period this book covers. I always keep my sources handy and consult with the internet while writing.

-What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

I actually have a few “favorite scenes” for different reasons. Some of these appear in excerpts during the Virtual Book Tour. The scene set on Cozumel (Cuzamil) during which K’inuuw Mat develops her skills in scrying was among the most fun to write. The first chapter takes place on this island of Goddess Ix Chel, and I relished being immersed in that world. Another favorite scene is the wedding feast when K’inuuw Mat and Kan Bahlam first meet. She had done scrying to see the face of Pakal’s son with whom she would continue the dynasty, and realized it was not that of her husband, Tiwol. She thought her vision was inaccurate. At the feast she is shocked to recognize his brother Kan Bahlam as the man she saw in scrying. This sets up themes for forbidden passions and conflicts of loyalty. The most intense scene is the birth of K’inuuw Mat’s twins during which she almost dies, and Kan Bahlam acts heroically to save her life.

-Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

K’inuuw Mat – my first choice would be Salma Hayek, Mexican actress who portrayed Frida Kahlo in the 2002 movie. Other choices are Julia Margulies, portraying Morgaine in Mists of Avalon movie; and Kate Winslet, famous for numerous roles, especially striking in Titanic and Sense and Sensibility.

Kan Bahlam – my first choice would be Colin Firth, British actor known for Jane Austen movie adaptations. Another top contender is Tom Selleck, American actor talented for dark and brooding portrayals. Perhaps the most visually suited would be American TV actor J. W. Cortés, whose strong Latin features, physique, and background as a marine and NYPD officer add authenticity.

-How completely do you develop your characters before beginning to write?      

 write character sketches for all the main ones and some minor ones. These sketches are a few paragraphs, capturing the essence and most important traits. Preliminary character arcs are planned for the protagonists. As writing progresses, I may add additional details and important turning points. Then I let the characters take off, seemingly on their own, and write as inspiration flows. Not infrequently, they “come up” with qualities or reactions I hadn’t anticipated.

– Using the title of your book as an acrostic, describe your work or yourself. Well, I just learned a new word! Acrostic, or word puzzle built upon first or last letters of each line. Using the first letters of my book title I got:  TPMQKMOP. I broke this into three “words” to read: TPM – temporal, passing of time.  QK – quickly.  MOP – Mists of Palenque. So, I can describe my work as “temporality, the passing of time, goes quickly, dissolving with the Mists of Palenque.” 

About Leonide Martin

Award winning author, Leonide (Lennie) Martin: Retired California State University professor, former Family Nurse Practitioner, Author and Maya researcher, Research Member Maya Exploration Center.

Dr. Martin’s books portray ancient Maya culture and civilization through stories about both actual historical Mayans and fictional characters. She studied Maya culture and history from both scientific and indigenous viewpoints.

While living for five years in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, she apprenticed with Maya Elder Hunbatz Men, becoming a Solar Initiate and Maya Fire Women in the Itzá Maya tradition. Other indigenous teachers in Guatemala included Maya Priestess-Daykeeper Aum Rak Sapper and Maya elder Tata Pedro. The ancient Mayas created the most highly advanced civilization in the Western hemisphere, and Martin’s work is dedicated to their wisdom, spirituality, scientific, and cultural accomplishments through compelling historical novels.

Martin’s interest in ancient Mayan women led to writing the Mayan Queens’ series called The Mists of Palenque. This 4-book series—each book stands alone—tells the stories of powerful women who shaped the destinies of their people as rulers themselves, or wives of rulers. These remarkable Mayan women are unknown to most readers. Using extensive research and field study, Martin aspires to depict ancient Palenque authentically and make these amazing Mayan Queens accessible to a wide readership.

Presently Dr. Martin lives with her husband David Gortner and two white cats in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, where she enjoys reading, gardening, nature walks, classical music, and wine tasting.

Website: https://mistsofpalenque.com/
Blog:   http://leonidemartinblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonide.martin
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lenniem07
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/leonide-martin
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lenniem07/

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Giveaway Prophetic Mayan Queen: K’inuuw Mat of Palenque by Leonide Martin

This giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to Canada and the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends February 28, 2019, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter onlly.
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