.....Hugh,
Lord Seacrest confounds all who know him. He refuses to marry without
a meeting of minds and hearts, and no lady has even approached his
ideal…until Ardyth. But she's an odd one, with unique skills,
shocking habits, and total conviction she needs no man. She also
harbors secrets, and in the midst of rumors, plots, and murder, trust
is fragile.
.....A
woman outside of her time. A man ahead of his. They must take a leap
of faith to forge a bond that will shape history.
Wild
Women Authors is pleased to welcome author Judith Sterling as
she celebrates [her wedding anniversary it appears] as well as the
release of Night of the Owl, a time travel romance, published
by the Wild Rose Press. With Judith is Ardyth Nightshade, a time
traveling graduate student. As is our practice, Ardyth will go first.
Where
are you from? I was raised in one of Chicago’s historic
neighborhoods, close to the University of Chicago, where my dad was a
professor of Medieval Studies.
Tell
us a bit about Night of the Owl. It’s the story
of my journey back to the England of AD 1102. I’d landed a job as a
research assistant in the summer of 1986 and was staying at my
family’s ancestral estate in Northumberland when I experienced a
time slip that changed my life forever.
What
did you think the first time you saw Hugh, Lord Seacrest? I
thought he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen, with a
dangerous amount of sex appeal.
What was
your second thought? He seemed
to be hiding
something.
Was
it love at first sight? Not love but a magnetic attraction.
What
do you like most about Hugh? He’s as passionate about history
as I am, but he also focuses his passion on me.
How
would you describe him? A good and loyal man, though intense at
times. He’s medieval but learning to accept more modern
viewpoints…mine in particular!
How
would he describe you? As the woman he was waiting for.
What
made you choose academia for a career path? I come by it
naturally. Both of my parents love history, and my dad wasn’t just
a professor before his retirement; he was also a department head.
I’ve admired him all my life.
What
is your biggest fear? Losing those I love. Also high on the list
is false accusation.
How
do you relax? I enjoy reading, swimming, and spending time with
friends and loved ones.
Who
is your favorite fictional character? It’s a tie between
Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet and Stoker’s Van Helsing.
What
is the best piece of advice you ever received? To follow my
intuition. (Thanks, Mom!)
Thank
you, Ardyth, for spending time with us. Now it's time to put Judith
in the spotlight.
What
movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer?
Movies: Rebecca, The Uninvited, Gone with the Wind,
Margie, and Sense and Sensibility. Books: anything by
Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, Whitney, My Love by Judith
McNaught, Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine, and Pride and
Prejudice by Jane Austen.
What
event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and
how do you feel it impacted the novel? There’s no single event
that impacted the story, but my relationship with my husband
definitely influenced it. History brought us together, just as it did
Ardyth and Hugh. There’s a lot of both of us in Night of the
Owl, so when the release date fell on our wedding anniversary, it
seemed meant to be. Not only that, but I wore my hair like the cover
model’s on my wedding day. Neither my publisher nor the cover
artist knew about either coincidence.
Tell
us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what
influenced your decision to submit to them? I happened upon one
of The Wild Rose Press’s books online, and it was the first I’d
heard of them. I did a little research, liked what I read, and
submitted my first medieval romance right away.
What
book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? A Demon’s Witch
by Tena Stetler, Love is Lovelier by Donna Simonetta, and
Dragon Knight’s Medallion by Mary Morgan.
Lastly,
what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves?
The Sword Unsheathed,
the third book in my young adult paranormal series, Guardians
of Erin, is moving
toward publication. I’ll reveal the cover soon, and it should be
released in the first quarter of 2020. I’m also writing Return
of the Raven, the fifth
and final book in The
Novels of Ravenwood
series, which should be released before the end of the year.
Judith
brought an excerpt from Night of the Owl with her:
Ardyth
looked from one tunnel entrance to the next, and then the next. The
ledge in front of them was substantial. It ran along the rock wall
to the right, all the way to the mouth of the cave, winding around it
to continue along the outer cliff.
Again,
she pointed. “Where does that lead?”
“Shouldn’t
you be doffing your clothes?”
Her
eyes narrowed. “In other words, you don’t intend to answer my
question.”
He
grinned. “Clever, aren’t you?”
She
returned his smile. “I like to think so.”
“If
you’re stalling because you cannot swim—”
“Oh,
I can swim.” She could hardly wait to feel the cool water on her
skin.
He
folded his arms, and his intense, gray eyes held a dare. “Then
show me.”
“Hold
this.” She handed him the folded smock. Get
ready to eat crow, buddy!
Quickly, she removed her boots, hose, and tunics. When only her
thin, white chemise remained, she stole a peek at her skeptical host.
He stared at her bare feet.
She
sighed. “I know. My feet are hardly attractive. In fact, I’ve
always thought my toes resemble…”
He
raised his eyebrows. “What?”
Astronauts.
But I can’t tell you that.
“Nothing.”
His
eyebrows settled again, but the orbs beneath them seemed to glow with
a new light. “I beg to differ with your opinion. Your feet are
quite…lovely.”
She
almost laughed, until heat flooded her cheeks. I’m
blushing? “Thank
you,” she muttered. With an inward groan, she started toward the
water.
For crying out
loud! He only complimented your feet. Your pale, crazy,
NASA-evoking feet. Get a grip!
The
ocean breeze caught the hem of her smock as she stepped into the
surf. Foamy water—colder than she would’ve liked—enveloped her
feet. Thank God for the
heat of the sun! But
this was the closest she’d come to a bath in days, and she was
determined to prove her skills to the man who underestimated her at
every turn. She waded forward, and the brisk, undulating water
swallowed her calves, knees, thighs, and hips.
“Lady
Ardyth!”
She
turned. Her dry smock in his hands, Hugh stood with feet well apart
on the wet sand.
“You
needn’t prove your courage further!” he called above the lapping,
swishing voice of the sea. “Come back before—”
“Courage
isn’t the point! Swimming is!” The level of the surrounding
water lowered to her thighs, signaling a coming wave.
She
turned just as it crested and dove headfirst into it. Completely
submerged in the chill, rushing water, she headed left and allowed
herself to rise to the surface. She swam freestyle for several
strokes, then flipped onto her back and floated with abandon. After
a minute or two, she flipped over, and swam in the opposite
direction. Then she stood with the water at her ribs, waited for the
next wave, and indulged in body surfing, which carried her with a
whoosh back toward shore.
Satisfied,
she straightened, knee-deep in the water. Her wet chemise clung to
her frame, and she knew Lord Seacrest was getting a lordly eyeful.
Her nipples were rock-hard from the cold.
She
rolled her eyes toward the bright, blue sky. My
kingdom for a bra! And throw in a pair of underwear, too!
But both articles of clothing were back at Nihtscua and not likely
to appear anytime soon. For the first time since plunging into the
surf, she regarded Hugh.
Eyes
wide, her dry smock clutched in his hands, he stood as if frozen.
Only his gaze moved, traveling from her breasts to the apex of her
thighs.
She
pulled the smock away from her flesh as best she could and advanced
toward him, stopping an arm’s length away. “I told you I could
swim.”
He
blinked. Then his full, sensual lips curled into a smile. “Indeed,
you did.”
“And?”
“And
what?”
“You’ve
doubted me twice already. Perhaps you owe me an apology.”
His
eyes widened, then relaxed. “Perhaps I do. Pray…forgive me.”
The
words couldn’t have come easily, and the fact he’d said them made
her grin. “I forgive you. This time. But I ask respectfully that
you not underestimate me again.”
For
two seconds, he hesitated. “ʼTis a reasonable request, and I
shall endeavor to honor it.” He gave her a quizzical look. Then
he shook his head and chuckled. “Is there anything you cannot do?”
She
thought for a moment. “I’ve never ridden aside. If I’m going
to ride something, I spread my legs.” The instant the words left
her mouth, she cringed inside. Good
God. That came out all wrong!
Humor
curved his lips, but his eyes smoldered. Did his thoughts mirror
hers? He took a step closer, and his masculine aura invaded her
personal space. “Tell me more.”
To
purchase Night of the Owl, go to:
To learn
more about Judity Sterling and the stories she creates, go to:
Website
– https://judithmarshallauthor.com/
Thank you so much for featuring NIGHT OF THE OWL today. It's an honor and a pleasure to be here!
ReplyDeleteNight of the Owl sounds like a great read. Love your TBR pile. You're in good company. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind words and support. Yes, I'm in great company!
DeleteI enjoyed the excerpt very much! Sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kara! I truly enjoyed writing it.
DeleteLoved the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alina! You just brightened my day.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Andrea. Best of luck with Always on My Mind!
ReplyDelete