Publisher: Fireship Press (April 30, 2020) Category: Action/Adventure, Historical Romance, and Historical Thriller Tour dates: Sept 30-Nov 25, 2020 ISBN: 978-1611792775 Available in Print and ebook, 303 pages
Description Tsars Locket by Ken Czech
When Duty, Honor, and Love Collide
Julian Blunt, a former sea captain and a despised Catholic, is stunned when Queen Elizabeth proposes that he help carry a betrothal locket to Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Moscow. It means an alliance between England and Russia is brewing, and the queen warns that should the locket fall into the hands of the Pope or his minions, it could mean war.
Julian joins the queen’s messenger, the lofty and spirited Jessandra Calcross, in a perilous voyage across the Baltic Sea and into the very heart of Russia. When a papal assassin determined to prevent the royal marriage strikes, Jess turns to Julian as the only man she can trust. Although at odds over religion and station, a slender emotional bond grows. Stalked by the relentless murderer, Julian is soon torn between abandoning his mission so he can better safeguard Jess, and fulfilling his vow to the queen. If he fails the queen he’ll never captain a ship again. But if he and Jess continue on to Moscow, they face a darker peril in the mercurial and sinister Tsar Ivan–a peril that will drive courage and dawning love to the breaking point.
My Thoughts Tsars Locket by Ken Czech
Julian Blunt was a sea captain from 16th century England. However, he converted to Catholicism to marry the love of his life. Upon his return from his last voyage he discovers his wife died and his ship and crew are taken from him because he is Catholic. While visiting his wife’s grave a man approaches him and he is sure that he has come to arrest him.
However, he is taken to Queen Elizabeth in a discreet location. She asks him to perform a secret mission, bring a betrothal locket Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Moscow, to serve as an alliance between the two countries. This will also prove his loyalty to her and she promises to give his wife a better grave as well as restore his captaincy upon his return.
What could go wrong, does go wrong. The pope gets wind of the mission and wants it stopped at all costs. The ship Julian is sent on has a papal assassin among the crew who is trying to stop the mission at all costs. Also, on the ship, for the mission is the queen’s messenger, Jessandra Calcross who is disguised as a man to keep herself safe. Of course, it is eventually discovered that she is a woman. Julian discovers her secret first and vows to protect her.
It is apparent the Ken Czech did a lot of research for this book. He brought an historical event back to life with his mostly, fictional characters. The well written characters, backdrop, and adventure brought history to life. I felt like I was there in the thick of it all. I just couldn’t put the book down!
I think ‘The Tsar’s Locket’ would make an excellent movie. It not only has history and adventure but an excellent plot and of course, some romance. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction with non-stop adventure! I give it 5 out of 5!
About Ken Czech
History has been his passion since award winning author, Ken Czech was a wee lad. After retiring from a career of teaching history at both secondary and higher education levels, He turned that passion to writing historical novels. His stories combine fiction with actual events and actors taken from the past. He lives with his wife Mary on an abandoned granite quarry in Minnesota where they enjoy the wildlife and the changing seasons. That’s where his writing happens.
His latest book THE TSAR’S LOCKET has received Five Stars from Reader’s Favorite. His previous novels BEYOND THE RIVER OF SHAME and LAST DANCE IN KABUL have also received very favorable reviews.
Thanks to Hanna Pollock Lindsley of Spark Point Studio, I am giving away one print copy of ‘Wolf Den Hollow’ by Donna Murray.
Description Wolf Den Hollow by Donna Murray
It’s the dead of winter, and Sila, a bewitching Cherokee teenager, has just fled her marriage to a brutal drunk. Desperate for work, she finds herself knocking on the door of a mill office in the Missouri Ozarks. There she meets the handsome owner, Charley Barclay.
Despite the fact that Sila and Charley have virtually nothing in common and thirty years between them, a spark ignites. Their passionate love affair quickly intensifies, and for Charley, there is no going back to his loveless marriage—especially after Sila is with child. They marry, and his empire expands as they face tragedy and treachery along the way. Just as their lives seem perfect, Charley falls victim to cancer. Sila’s devastation is compounded by the onset of the Great Depression. She loses her inheritance and is faced with losing her home. As her situation grows increasingly dire, Sila—determined to protect herself and her family—is forced to make a desperate decision.
Inspired by a true story, and replete with natural healing, glimpses of the logging boom, and heartbreaking drama, Wolf Den Hollow brings to life this unlikely, captivating romance of the early 1900s.
Praise Wolf Den Hollow by Donna Murray
“Compelling from the first page, Donna Murray’s novel deftly captures a heroine who escapes her abusive husband in the dead of winter and discovers a logging mill called Wolf Den Hollow. There she meets Charley, the owner. Sila’s spiritual tale of newfound tenderness is both romantic and moving―written by a sure pen that gives us a wealth of details, not only about the forest where Sila gathers her medicinal plants but also about the logging boom in the Missouri Ozarks. Murray enlivens this long-ago world and creates a book of historical fiction that reverberates with the reader. Bravo!”―Linda Gray Sexton, author of Searching For Mercy Street: My Journey Back to My Mother, Anne Sexton and Half In Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide
“Wolf Den Hollow is a fantastic read that has it all: romance, intrigue, history, current themes of racism and intolerance―and a life-changing, life-affirming love. That it’s based on the author’s family makes it even more powerful. And this is no dry historical novel; Wolf Den Hollow is sexy―even steamy. So pour yourself a glass of wine, curl up by the fire, and get ready for a fast, exciting, and unforgettable story. I promise it will keep you up at night!”―Jane Ganahl, cofounder of Litquake Literary Festival and author of Naked on the Page
About Donna Murray
After living in Bali, Indonesia, where she designed and manufacturing garments, Donna Murray relocated back to San Francisco. She worked with the San Francisco Ballet on their Opening Night Gala in 2010, and when she left the event that rainy evening, she stepped into a deep pothole—and broke both her feet.
With months of recuperation ahead, she embraced the opportunity to write her first novel; Wolf Den Hollow. Donna has a passion for the arts and culture, travel, nature, food and wine, and living the good life in the beautiful Napa Valley.
Publisher: Fireship Press (April 30, 2020) Category: Action/Adventure, Historical Romance, and Historical Thriller Tour dates: Sept 30-Nov 25, 2020 ISBN: 978-1611792775 Available in Print and ebook, 303 pages
Description Tsar’s Locket by Ken Czech
When Duty, Honor, and Love Collide
Julian Blunt, a former sea captain and a despised Catholic, is stunned when Queen Elizabeth proposes that he help carry a betrothal locket to Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Moscow. It means an alliance between England and Russia is brewing, and the queen warns that should the locket fall into the hands of the Pope or his minions, it could mean war.
Julian joins the queen’s messenger, the lofty and spirited Jessandra Calcross, in a perilous voyage across the Baltic Sea and into the very heart of Russia. When a papal assassin determined to prevent the royal marriage strikes, Jess turns to Julian as the only man she can trust. Although at odds over religion and station, a slender emotional bond grows. Stalked by the relentless murderer, Julian is soon torn between abandoning his mission so he can better safeguard Jess, and fulfilling his vow to the queen. If he fails the queen he’ll never captain a ship again. But if he and Jess continue on to Moscow, they face a darker peril in the mercurial and sinister Tsar Ivan–a peril that will drive courage and dawning love to the breaking point.
Praise Tsar’s Locket by Ken Czech
“The vivid descriptions of the European cities, including Moscow and the Tsar’s palace, transport us to that era. An exciting and informative novel. Highly recommended.”–Waheed Rabbani, Historical Novel Society
“There were twists and turns throughout, but the climactic twist at the end really caught me off guard. If you love a really good story with action, suspense and romance, then I recommend this novel.” —Lesley Jones for Reades’ Favorite
“The historical backdrop to the tale is … fleshed out with gorgeous details and cinematic style descriptive work, enabling author Ken Czech to show off some real knowledge and a true sense of atmosphere about the period. Add to this the real excitement of a perilous journey across the sea, well-developed villains, a political versus religious thematic arc and some authentic yet accessible dialogue, and you have a truly excellent novel that readers will simply devour.” —K. C. Finn, author of the Caecilius Rex series
“I enjoyed the setting, the play-by-play of action, and the chemistry between Jess and Julian was off the charts. This is an astonishing story that had me hooked from the beginning …” —Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite
Interview Tsar’s Locket by Ken Czech
Hi Ken, thanks for agreeing to this interview.
TR: Please tell us something about ‘The Tsar’s Locket’ that is not in the summary. (About the book, character you particularly enjoyed writing etc.)
KC: I thoroughly enjoyed creating my vision of Moscow at the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Many of the original palaces and churches in the Kremlin still exist, so I tried to incorporate as much physical detail as possible without being too pedantic.
TR: What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
KC: Near the end of the book is a scene in which Julian Blunt and Jess Calcross, my main characters, are invited to a feast given by Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The feasting is dark, brooding, and gluttonous, filled with tension and impending doom. For me, this scene epitomizes the danger Julian and Jess face at the court of the tsar.
TR: How completely do you develop your characters before beginning to write?
KC: I try to paint a physical picture of my main characters first. I’ve found it easier to develop their mentality, their fears and foibles, their courage and sense of adventure after I know what they look like. Character development continues throughout as failure leads to eventual success and the characters grow (we hope!).
TR: How long did it take you to write this book from concept to fruition? Also, how intensive was your research into the real history?
KC: It took me about a year to complete The Tsar’s Locket. I had a general idea as to which direction my story would go and how the characters would interact. Then came the fleshing out as the plot progressed. The research component was rather extensive. I had to delve into details of the Elizabethan era, sailing a ship of the time, investigating the Livonian War (about which very little appears in print in English), and recreating the Moscow of Ivan the Terrible.
TR: How did you come across the real history that inspired you to write ‘The Tsar’s Locket’?
KC: As a history professor, I had known about Tsar Ivan’s desire to wed an English bride for commercial and military reasons. There was so much religious strife going on in Europe at the time that I reckoned what the dangers might be if a betrothal locket had actually been delivered.
TR: Tell us about your cover. Did you design it yourself?
KC: I was able to find the image of an Elizabethan-era locket at an auction site on the Internet. I tied the locket image to the image of St. Basil’s Cathedral, perhaps the most iconic building in all of Russia. Fireship Press, my publisher, refined the layout, created the titles, and presto—we had a cover.
TR: What writers have you drawn inspiration from?
KC: I’m a bit old-fashioned. Some of my favorite writers have long since passed away, including Andre Norton, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Robert E. Howard. Among modern authors, the writings of Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane, and Conn Iggulden have really captured my attention.
TR: Describe the room you are sitting in as though it was a scene in one of your books. – What words do you use over and over that drive your editor crazy? – Which character do you love to hate? – Using the title of your book as an acrostic, describe your work or yourself. – Using only adverbs, describe the writing process for you. – You are sitting in a coffee shop. What does your writer mind see?
KC: Wow! My writing room: The shelves are crammed with books, mostly old, some beautifully bound in leather or vellum. There are common themes among them including travel, exploration, and sport. The artwork filling the walls reflects those themes: here, a 19th-century chromolithograph of a pheasant, and by the window overlooking an abandoned granite quarry, an exotic papier mâché celebration mask given by Tibetan students once upon a time. My computer screen stares at me from my desk; I try to keep its glass face filled with words. A black chair rides on gray carpet, the latter wearing down a bit. Papers and notebooks abound.
In my first book, I used ‘he muttered’ about thirty times. Since then, I really watch dialog tags.
It was easy to hate Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a monster capable of truly horrific deeds. I had a wealth of research material to call upon in creating my version of the tsar, but what struck me was how unpredictable he was.
The coffee shop, no, my easy chair, yes. I look out the window and see the changing seasons, the panoply of colors, the rigors of winter, the visits of birds, the sunsets. The natural world plays a large part in all of my books.
TR: If you could be somebody else for a day who would you choose and why?
KC: Strangely, perhaps, president of the U.S. for a day. It would be a day to exercise common sense, choose decency toward all, and utilize my seventy years of life experiences from the real world.
TR: What do you do when you are not writing?
KC: I have been an antiquarian bookseller for several decades and continue to collect and sell books in my fields of interest. My wife and I also enjoy the outdoors, our time with grandkids, and peace and quiet.
TR: What book/s are you reading at present?
KC: I’m reading and enjoying Bernard Cornwell’s Fools And Mortals, a Shakespearean drama so different from his popular Napoleonic and Saxon England novels.
TR: When did you first have a desire to write? How did this desire manifest itself?
KC: I think I first thought about writing after reading several of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s adventure novels when I was a kid. I recall writing pastiches of his works, trying to emulate his style. I had several science fiction stories published many years ago, but then academia and academic research and writing took over. After I retired from the classroom, I started writing historical fiction and love every moment (or word) of it.
TR: What are you currently working on?
KC: Continuing my Russian saga, my new novel takes place in 16th century Siberia. An army of Cossacks invades the vast, unknown region in search of furs, land, and wealth. My protagonist is a young woman rejected by her Samoyed clan because she is a half-blood Russian. She is determined to halt the Cossack incursion. Yes, the invasion really happened.
TR: This is your third novel. What have you learned about the writing process from first to third?
KC: I think I’ve learned to create story arcs that are not only plausible but entertaining. In The Tsar’s Locket, I had to weave story arcs on the religious and political situations of the time that enhanced the experiences of my main characters.
About Ken Czech
History has been his passion since award winning author, Ken Czech was a wee lad. After retiring from a career of teaching history at both secondary and higher education levels, He turned that passion to writing historical novels. His stories combine fiction with actual events and actors taken from the past. He lives with his wife Mary on an abandoned granite quarry in Minnesota where they enjoy the wildlife and the changing seasons. That’s where his writing happens.
His latest book THE TSAR’S LOCKET has received Five Stars from Reader’s Favorite. His previous novels BEYOND THE RIVER OF SHAME and LAST DANCE IN KABUL have also received very favorable reviews.
The Tsars Locket by Ken Czech
Wolf Den Hollow by Donna Murray