Kat Henry Doran/Veronica Lynch: The Return of the Raven

Margaret, Lady Ravenwood, is trapped in a loveless marriage and firmly entrenched in the medieval world. Along comes Griffin Nightshade, a historian from the future whose soul resonates with hers. He persuades her to return with him to the 1950s, but heeding her heart means courting danger from a curse that could spell her doom.

Haunted by his parents' sudden deaths, Griffin knows all too well the pain born of love lost. He guards his emotions, but Margaret delves deep and goes straight to the soul. She's hard to resist…and harder to set free.

The heart's desire and history's demands don't always agree. Yet true love is eternal.

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Return of the Raven (The Novels of Ravenwood, Book Five) by Judith Sterling. First up is Griffen Nightshade.

Good morning, Griff. Thanks for joining us. Where are you from? Chicago, Illinois

What did you think the first time you saw Margaret? I thought she was beautiful. Her violet eyes, in particular, captivated me. What was your second thought?

What was your second thought? She seemed strangely familiar.

Did you feel it was love at first sight? No, but there was something about her, some hidden connection that made me want to befriend her.

What do you like most about her? Her intelligence.

How would you describe Margaret? The closest to Heaven I’ve ever come.

How would she describe you? She’d say I was part of her soul.

What made you choose teaching history for a career? I love history, particularly the medieval period. Once I got my PhD, I wanted to inspire students to love it as well.

What is your biggest fear? That those I love will leave me.

How do you relax? I enjoy reading and playing games like Clue/Cluedo. I sometimes play the piano, too.

Who is your favorite fictional character? It’s a tie between Sherlock Holmes and the Duc de Richleau in Dennis Wheatley’s works.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? To climb Woden’s Stair. Quite literally, a little bird told me.

Thanks for spending time with us, Griff and thanks for bringing an excerpt from The Return of the Raven:

Held in the ballroom of a nearby hotel, the after-party boasted a band of musicians, savory food, a variety of drinks, and a three-tier, white-frosted cake. After consuming a sizeable portion of said cake and a goodly amount of fruit punch, Margaret sat beside Griffin against the wall, watching the other guests and the happy couple interact.

The bride and groom took to the dance floor and moved as though they were one body, which in essence they now were. Frank and Hannah also danced, talking and laughing as they often did around the manor.

Oh to be so happily joined with another. If only…

There it was again: the recurring, inevitable “if only.” Her nights were full of them. She lay in bed staring up at the darkened canopy, wishing he were there beside her. Perhaps ʼtwas wanton and wrong, or by some standards, ridiculous.

But the heart wants what it wants. Hers wanted Griffin. Not just for a day or even a year but forever. She loved him. ʼTwas as simple—and as complicated—as that.

He turned to her now, and his warm, brown eyes sparkled with an invitation. “Shall we dance?”

Her stomach dropped. “I don’t know how.”

He gestured to the dancing couples. “Look at the other women. And see that little boy and girl? If they can do it, so can we. You’ll put your left hand on my shoulder, and your right hand will hold mine. Then you’ll move your feet when I do. Don’t worry. I’ll guide you.”

“Well…” The need to touch him, to feel his hands on her again, outweighed her doubt. “I’ll try.”

He led her to the dance floor, and she did as he instructed. Leisurely, they began to move.

Always the teacher. What might I learn in your bed?

Heat flushed her cheeks. Thankfully, the dance was slow; perfect for a beginner such as she. But the gentle pace enfolded them in a mantle of intimacy.

“This song is called ‘When I Fall in Love.’” His voice was soft and low.

“Fall?”

He nodded in silence.

Aye, ʼtis very much like falling. Like stepping off the side of a cliff. Once you take that step, there’s no turning back and no stopping what’s to come.

Now a few questions for Judith, beginning with what movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Pride and Prejudice (the book). The Lion in Winter (the movie).

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Like Margaret, I’ve taken many “spirit journeys” while sleeping. I hope my own experiences made Margaret’s more real and relatable.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I noticed a book by The Wild Rose Press online and did a little research about the company. I liked what I read, so I submitted Flight of the Raven. Return of the Raven is my eighth book with them.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Let the Dead Lie by W. L. Brooks.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m currently writing The Spear Alight, the final book in my YA paranormal fantasy series. It’s due to my editor on April 1, 2021. After that, I’ll start writing the first book in a gothic mystery series I’ve outlined.

A bit more about our feature author:

Judith Sterling is an award-winning author whose love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Whether penning medieval romance (The Novels of Ravenwood) or young adult paranormal fantasy (the Guardians of Erin series), her favorite themes include true love, destiny, time travel, healing, redemption, and finding the hidden magic which exists all around us. She loves to share that magic with readers and whisk them far away from their troubles, particularly to locations in the British Isles.

Her nonfiction books, written under Judith Marshall, have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons.

To learn more about Judith Sterling, go to:

Website – https://judithmarshallauthor.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/judithsterlingfiction/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16291161.Judith_Sterling

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-sterling

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01MT3KB7L

The Wild Rose Press – https://www.thewildrosepress.com/authors/judith-sterling

To purchase the Return of the Raven, go to:

Amazon https://amzn.com/B08RYD2GW8

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8

Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8