Today I have the great pleasure of hosting a special guest, author Debbie Lynne Costello, who writes Historical fiction. She will be interviewing the protagonist, Penelope, from her latest book Sword of the Matchmaker. I am so excited to be a part of her blog tour!
Welcome Debbie and Penelope!
Penelope, tell us a little bit about
yourself. Where are you from? How did you get to Hawkwood?
I am no’ your typical Scottish lass. Yes, I am from Scotland.
I have lived most of my life being the son my father always desired. He’d
wanted a boy but only had me. At a fairly young age I decided tae be the son my
father dinna have. I had to make decisions and sacrifices but I dinna regret
it. Me father and I had a guid relationship. I came tae Hawkwood looking for
Hamon Godfrey—I dinna find Hamon, but I did find Thomas, his son.
When you first met Thomas you mentioned loathing the man. Can you tell me
why and what changed?
When I first met Thomas I had the impression everything was
a jest tae him. I found it vera irritating because I dinna feel like he took my
problem seriously. But I found out that Thomas has a vera big heart and really
does care. I have seen some different sides tae him. He can be a tough
Master-at-Arms that is a straightforward man, but he also has a fun side tae
him that I find rather interesting.
If you could change anything about you what would that be?
If you would have asked me that question a few months ago,
before I lost most of my clan, I would have said who I am. I would have changed
from Penelope to perhaps Phillip. I would have been born the son my father
always wanted. However, God’s plan for my life wasn’t being a son but being a
daughter. After meeting Thomas I have tae say I like God’s plan much better
than mine.
Why did you not want to marry?
Let me clarify that misunderstanding. It was no’ so much
that I dinna want tae marry. But when I decided tae be the son my father never
had, I dinna think any man would want me. And none was interested in me for
many years. Look at me. I am 25 years old. There wasn’t any man who approached
me. But I dinna hold that against any of them, what man wants his wife fighting
by his side? No, I understood what I was doing when I made that choice.
I’ve heard some ask why you didn’t disguise yourself as a boy when you came
to Hawkwood, why didn’t you?
Those seeking me ken what I looked like. ’Twould have no’
been of any use to pretend I was a lad. And that would be your next story, the
sequel to Sword of Forgiveness. Dinna
get me wrong, I think I’m going to like Audrey of Sword of Trust but that is no’ who I am. I came tae Hawkwood tae
call in a favor owed my father. I dinna come tae deceive anyone. If I came with
deceit how could I expect them tae trust me when they realized that I was a
woman? And I am pretty sure it wouldno’ take long before they figured that one
out as I am no’ built like a boy. After all I am 25 years of age. Nay, I do
believe I made the right decision.
You’re a warrior, so do you wear armor?
(Penelope
chuckles) Armor? You are jesting with me? I am no’ a knight. I am a woman
warrior. And though I am a pretty guid shot with a bow or a knife, I dinna
think I could shoot, throw, or wield a sword as I carried all that weight
around on meself. And do you ken how expensive Armor is? ’Tis vera costly. I
dinna come from a wealthy family or clan. I would have had tae give up eating
for a year or more tae buy armor.
What do you like to do for fun?
You mean besides annoying Thomas? I still love tae hone my
skills with my bow and also with my knife.
’Tis even more fun these days practicing. Did you ken that I can beat
Thomas? ’Tis true. I can best him and all his men with my bow and my knife. He
tells me he lets me win but you and I both ken the truth.
Thanks for visiting with us today, Penelope.
’Tis me that wishes tae thank you. I’m looking forward to
meeting your friends. If they have any questions for me happy I’d be to answer
them.
GIVEAWAY:
On top of the rafflecopter giveaway I’ll give
away a copy of Sword of the Matchmaker (if you have purchased the book you can
choose one of my other books) if we have 10 different commenters. Leave a
comment or answer one of the questions I’ve asked Penelope or ask me a question to be
entered.
PLUS
Don’t forget to enter in the rafflecopter,
too! There will be lots of ways to earn points. I’ll be giving away a kindle
fire with Sword of the Matchmaker, $15 Amazon gift card and much more!
RAFFLECOPTER:
Tomorrow's stop for the blog tour can be found here:
Purchase link:
Blurb:
Penelope Beatty made up her mind long ago she
would live and die a Scottish warrior not a wife. But when nearly all her clan
is killed and she is betrayed, she loathes doing the unthinkable, but must seek
the help of an Englishman who owed her father his life.
Thomas Godfrey never married, but when a Scottish warrior lass shows up needing
his aid, he finds her both annoying and irresistible. But the last thing he
wants is to marry a woman who fights alongside him. If he was going to
marry—which he isn’t—it would be to a soft, submissive woman. But when the Lady
Brithwin meets the Scottish lass, she’s sure she’s found the perfect match for
Thomas and nothing is going to stop her from seeing a summer wedding.
Sword of Forgiveness
blurb:
After the death of her cruel father, Brithwin
is determined never again to live under the harsh rule of any man. Independent
and resourceful, she longs to be left alone to manage her father’s estate. But
she soon discovers a woman has few choices when the king decrees she is to
marry Royce, the Lord of Rosencraig. As if the unwelcome marriage isn’t enough,
her new husband accuses her of murdering his family, and she is faced with a
challenge of either proving her innocence or facing possible execution.
Royce of Hawkwood returns home after setting down a rebellion to find his
family brutally murdered. When all fingers point to his betrothed and attempts
are made on his life, Royce must wade through murky waters to uncover the
truth. Yet Brithwin’s wise and kind nature begin to break down the walls of his
heart, and he soon finds himself in a race to discover who is behind the evil
plot before Brithwin is the next victim.
Purchase link:
Bio:
Debbie
Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She
raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories
that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and
live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church
and is currently the Children's Director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised
Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In
their spare time, she and her husband take pleasure in camping and riding their
Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.
Media links:
