Wednesday Promo-Keena Kincaid

Keena Kincaid writes medieval romances, which should explain why she sometimes spends a rainy afternoon reading the Domesday Book (a survey of land ownership in 11th century England) or the Oxford English Dictionary. After careers in journalism and public relations, she set out to write a medieval murder-mystery with a minstrel sleuth. At some point, her hero opted to woo the local innkeeper instead, and the murder-mystery transformed into an historical romance—a lucky break for the intended victims.

In addition to her debut book ANAM CARA, she’s written ART OF LOVE (the story of Abelard and Heloise the way it should have been) and TIES THAT BIND, a sequel to ANAM CARA. You can find her Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, http://keenakincaid.com/ and her blog, http://www.typosandall.com/

Why did you write this book? -- I wrote TIES THAT BIND because Aedan, my hero, wouldn't shut up. He can be very charming when he wants something, and he talked me into writing his story. It's that gift for words that he has. He can pretty much talk anyone into anything, even the author. And, as always, once I sat down to the keyboard, I found myself loving his story and enjoying how he grows and changes from the start of the book to the happy ever after.

You will shortly have a sequel out to Anam Cara. Did you have a sequel in mind while writing or did it happen afterwards? -- Not at all. Of course, a lot of things happened in ANAM CARA that I didn't intend when I sat down to write it, so I'm not surprised by the sequel. And, as I said, Aedan wouldn't be quiet. And to be honest, a part of me wanted to know how things ended up for him and Tess.

For those who haven't read ANAM CARA, Aedan is the younger brother of that book's hero, Bran. Bran breaks him out of a monastery and basically flees north with him. While Bran is falling in love with Liza (the heroine in ANAM CARA) Aedan makes up for lost time with the Liza's daughter, Tess. In his defense, he's 17, fresh from a life of prayer and celibacy, and just learning about his Druidic heritage. He's going to go a little wild, and I enjoyed exploring the consequences of his choices.

By the way, you don't have to read ANAM CARA first to enjoy TIES THAT BIND, but I think readers will find the emotional journey a tad more satisfying if they've read the first. They'll get the complete picture of Aedan's rise, fall and redemption.

What are you working on right now? -- I just started a story that in less than a week is already taking over my waking thoughts. The working title is Betrayed by a Kiss. It begins when my hero, Jude, finds an unconscious woman by the river while out riding with his cousin and daughter. Instinct tells him to let the woman lie. But, of course, he doesn't. Heroic traits will get a man into trouble every time. LOL! I don't know where the story is going, but I'm desperate to find out why his instinct says to leave her there and why he doesn't trust that inner voice and whose kiss betrays whom.

Blurb
A druid who denies himself nothing desires the only woman who believes magic and love don't mix.

Out of place in the Plantagenet court, minstrel AEDAN ap OWEN misuses his Sidhe gifts for the king's dark business. Sent north to investigate rumors of treason and dispatch the troublemakers, Aedan discovers someone is murdering monks and stealing saints’ relics. And all clues point to Carlisle.

TESS, LADY of BRIDSWELL, refuses to rekindle her relationship with Aedan. She knows his reputation as a secret stealer—and she has a secret that must be kept. But her resolve falters when her uncle promises her hand to a man she despises and Aedan hounds her steps.

A would-be king uses the stolen relics to amplify his power, wielding it like a weapon. Meeting the traitor's magic with magic will prevent war, but it will also destroy Aedan’s chance to show Tess he has at last mastered the temptation of the ancient wisdom. Can Aedan renounce his magic to win Tess' heart anew or will he choose magic over love?

Excerpt
“Tess.”
It was a single word, four letters, yet Aedan somehow imbued her name with the importance of a royal decree. He knows words, she reminded herself, quickening her steps. Life in the king's court had no doubt honed to perfection his raw talent for finding the phrase to start a quarrel or arouse passion. By now, he could likely start a waror stop onewith a single syllable. Chilled by the thought, she turned into a niche in the wall and discovered escape ended at an oak door as wide as she was tall. She fumbled for a latch. Finding only smooth boards beneath her hand, she pressed her palm against the door, prayed it would miraculously open. The steps behind her stopped. She closed her eyes. He had bathed. He smelled of Saracen soap, spicy and exotic, mixed with the brisk, earthy scent of old trees that had clung to her for days after he’d left.
“Tess.”
A tremor ran down her spine. Saints, she still loved the way he said her name. Rather than giving it a shortened, clipped feel like everyone else, he elongated it, adding depth and weight as if it were her true name.
“Tess, look at me.”
Unable to move forward or backward, she pressed her forehead against the door. Go away. Just go away, she prayed, and then hands, warm and steady, settled on her shoulders.