What's Next?
I knew you'd ask!
The next book will be called Joanna and the King — or something like that. This story is set in 1830. So . . . why then?
Well, I'll tell you. Do you happen to recall meeting the future George IV in Dreams Within Dreams? The meeting occurred during the first birthday party held for Alexandra’s and Richard’s toddling son, Edward Berkeley. His great-grandmother, The Duchess of Wessex, hosted it at her London home in Kensington Palace. Yes — George was a small boy at that time.
Do you know that none of the Georgian kings particularly liked their sons? It's true. George II had even banished his eldest son, Frederick, from the Court. But Frederick died anyway, before he could be crowned king. Ergo, the monarchy and people of England were saddled with dear old George III, George II's grandson by Frederick. In true Georgian form, George IV was not beloved of his father, either. The boy eventually grew into a man — with huge appetites — for art, architecture, food, fashion, liquor . . . . In fact, the only person or object he seemed to loathe was his wife. Anyway, you get the picture. Needless to say, George IV wasn't loved by his people. As it happened, he died in late June of 1830. And the succession to the British throne was none too secure.
So what if a man who had known George all his life decided to change the foreseeable future . . . so to speak? Young Edward Berkeley eventually became that man. Do you also remember that, near the end of Dreams Within Dreams, Edward had been named the Marquess of Trowbridge, a courtesy title given him by his great-grandfather, The Thirteenth Duke of Wessex, near the end of Dreams Within Dreams? Edward eventually became a man to be reckoned with — and the results will surprise you.
Joanna should be ready to roll off the presses, so to speak, by late 2019 — so don't forget to stay tuned.
Now . . . on to the last book in the series. Cool!
I'm planning a prequel to all the Dreams of Oakhurst stories, called Pale Dawn, a tale set a very, very long time ago—fifty generations from Alex Campbell, to be exact. The heroine is named Gwenlliant. She was Alex Campbell's ancestress. Gwenlliant was the only surviving child of a once great king — his name was Arthur.
Gwenlliant was a Brittonic princess, born at the great castle of Ehangwen, from the part of the British Isles we now know as Wales. She meets a man whose name is Cynric (pronounced Ken-rick). He, too, is a Briton, the son of Cerdic — the first king of the West Saxons. So-o . . . how did that happen?
Before the worst king of all, the monstrous Maelgwyn, could reach Ehangwen, meaning to kidnap Gwenlliant, to burn the castle and raze it to the ground, Cynric and his men saved her and salvaged a few of her belongings, including a book — a very precious one. It had belonged to her father — and now it belongs to her. The monk, Gildas had handed the De Excidio et Conquestu Brittaniae to Arthur as an indictment for his supposed crimes. The book contained a foreword page naming Arthur the third king — the one he'd called Vortipor — the Protector — accusing him of rape and murder, and of failing to protect his people and kingdom — the bad son of a good king. As if there had ever been anything good about Uther Pendragon. Yes, the book had belonged to Arthur — but he, and his great dream for Britain, now lay dead — his blood soaking the terrible battlefield of Camlann.
And now the book is hers. What will become of her — much less of her father's book? It is all that remains of him — and she will vow to protect it with her life.
There's much more to come about this couple. Yes, they finally become one. After a lot of trials and tribulations, of course.
The next book will be called Joanna and the King — or something like that. This story is set in 1830. So . . . why then?
Well, I'll tell you. Do you happen to recall meeting the future George IV in Dreams Within Dreams? The meeting occurred during the first birthday party held for Alexandra’s and Richard’s toddling son, Edward Berkeley. His great-grandmother, The Duchess of Wessex, hosted it at her London home in Kensington Palace. Yes — George was a small boy at that time.
Do you know that none of the Georgian kings particularly liked their sons? It's true. George II had even banished his eldest son, Frederick, from the Court. But Frederick died anyway, before he could be crowned king. Ergo, the monarchy and people of England were saddled with dear old George III, George II's grandson by Frederick. In true Georgian form, George IV was not beloved of his father, either. The boy eventually grew into a man — with huge appetites — for art, architecture, food, fashion, liquor . . . . In fact, the only person or object he seemed to loathe was his wife. Anyway, you get the picture. Needless to say, George IV wasn't loved by his people. As it happened, he died in late June of 1830. And the succession to the British throne was none too secure.
So what if a man who had known George all his life decided to change the foreseeable future . . . so to speak? Young Edward Berkeley eventually became that man. Do you also remember that, near the end of Dreams Within Dreams, Edward had been named the Marquess of Trowbridge, a courtesy title given him by his great-grandfather, The Thirteenth Duke of Wessex, near the end of Dreams Within Dreams? Edward eventually became a man to be reckoned with — and the results will surprise you.
Joanna should be ready to roll off the presses, so to speak, by late 2019 — so don't forget to stay tuned.
Now . . . on to the last book in the series. Cool!
I'm planning a prequel to all the Dreams of Oakhurst stories, called Pale Dawn, a tale set a very, very long time ago—fifty generations from Alex Campbell, to be exact. The heroine is named Gwenlliant. She was Alex Campbell's ancestress. Gwenlliant was the only surviving child of a once great king — his name was Arthur.
Gwenlliant was a Brittonic princess, born at the great castle of Ehangwen, from the part of the British Isles we now know as Wales. She meets a man whose name is Cynric (pronounced Ken-rick). He, too, is a Briton, the son of Cerdic — the first king of the West Saxons. So-o . . . how did that happen?
Before the worst king of all, the monstrous Maelgwyn, could reach Ehangwen, meaning to kidnap Gwenlliant, to burn the castle and raze it to the ground, Cynric and his men saved her and salvaged a few of her belongings, including a book — a very precious one. It had belonged to her father — and now it belongs to her. The monk, Gildas had handed the De Excidio et Conquestu Brittaniae to Arthur as an indictment for his supposed crimes. The book contained a foreword page naming Arthur the third king — the one he'd called Vortipor — the Protector — accusing him of rape and murder, and of failing to protect his people and kingdom — the bad son of a good king. As if there had ever been anything good about Uther Pendragon. Yes, the book had belonged to Arthur — but he, and his great dream for Britain, now lay dead — his blood soaking the terrible battlefield of Camlann.
And now the book is hers. What will become of her — much less of her father's book? It is all that remains of him — and she will vow to protect it with her life.
There's much more to come about this couple. Yes, they finally become one. After a lot of trials and tribulations, of course.