Please help me welcome today’s guest, Beth Ford…
What would really happen if a medieval knight landed in the 21st century? That was the question that prompted me to write this book. I had seen other media where a medieval knight shows up but there is no language barrier and he immediately understands modern conveniences. That’s now how it would be! I wanted to shout.
So I wrote my own story. When Thomas shows up in the modern day from the 14th century, he can barely make himself understood because the language is so different. I also wanted to capture how the frame through which people saw the world was different. For example, rather than understanding automobiles as mechanical inventions, he sees them through the medieval worldview of god vs. the devil. This of course sets up plenty of conflict between Thomas, the new world he finds himself in, and Ashley, our modern-day heroine.
Part of this idea stemmed from my fascination with the history of the English language. It’s not very often I get to name drop the Great Vowel Shift in a novel. I had a lot of fun writing this book. I hope you will have just as much fun reading it.
Blurb:
When Ashley’s conventional 21st century life falls apart, she returns to England to write the book she shelved years ago, determined to take control of her life.
Meanwhile, in 1377 Wiltshire, Thomas fights his family’s desire that he become a priest and plots to chase his dream of knighthood instead. While Ashley and Thomas search for answers, Thomas suddenly appears in the modern day.
Unable to communicate, his first encounter with Ashley ends with the police demanding his immigration papers. All Thomas wants is to return to the world he understands, but he and Ashley are drawn together again and again. How will they find the answers Thomas needs before the authorities close in without losing each other forever?
Excerpt:
Neither of them said a word. They stood in shock, each assessing the other.
Ashley stared at the young man’s strange clothes. He wore a long, blue shirt over—were those tights?—and oddly shapeless leather boots. Everything he wore appeared homemade. The leather crossbody bag he wore was the only thing he had of decent quality.
She lifted her gaze to his face. His eyes immediately captivated her. They were the most gorgeous shade of blue she had ever seen. His face wasn’t bad either. His hair was thick and a bit long. Even beneath the beard she could tell he had a strong jawline and fine cheekbones. He appeared her age or a bit younger.
Snapping back to herself, she took a few steps backward to put some distance between them. “Sorry,” she said nervously.
The man cocked his head at her like a curious cat trying to figure out what the game was.
“Are you all right?” she finally asked.
He said something that she couldn’t interpret. It was her turn to look confused.
“Are you going to Salisbury?” she asked, since he was headed in the opposite direction she was. Then tried again, “Salisbury?”
“Sarisbury,” he said firmly, correcting her. The middle sound held more of a “r” shape in his mouth instead of an “l.” She couldn’t tell where he was from. The words he had said to her sounded like nothing she had heard before.
But they were getting somewhere. She pointed down the hill toward the city. “Sarisbury,” she said, mimicking him.
He nodded, satisfied. His gaze tracked in the direction she pointed. When his eyes lit on the city, he took a few inadvertent steps back and stumbled over a tree root. Once he was steady on his feet again, he glanced wildly along the horizon. Her eyes darted between him and the view, trying to guess what had surprised him so. Between them and the city, a stretch of highway trailed along the horizon. Nothing particularly remarkable about that. But the man turned pale and crossed himself. When that didn’t improve things in his mind, he pulled a necklace out from under his tunic—she had decided that was the best word for what he was wearing. The necklace was a simple leather cord holding a wooden cross. He rubbed the cross fervently and his lips formed a prayer she couldn’t interpret.
“Are you okay?” she asked again.
He glared at her before he turned and dashed back into the forest.
Ashley hesitated, then followed after him. Despite the fact that running into the woods after a potentially crazy man sounded like a setup for a horror movie, she had to make sure he was okay. She couldn’t just leave him here.
Buy link: https://books2read.com/lovebetweentimes
About the Author:
Beth Ford is a historical fiction author living in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. In addition to Love Between Times, she is the author of the novel In the Times of Spirits and the Cassie Woods, Reporter novella series. Her work has also appeared in a variety of literary journals.
Website: http://bethfordauthor.com
X: @bethfordauthor
Author Alicia Dean 