Author Spotlight: Leigh Ann Edwards Is Back with More Magic!

We have a winner! Cheri J, you are the winner of Leigh Ann’s giveaway. She will be in touch with you. Thanks so much to Cheri and everyone for stopping by to check out Leigh Ann’s newest release!

Today is the day book 4 in Leigh Ann Edwards’s Maidens of the Mystical Stones releases and I’m so pleased she’s here with us today for the big launch, and she has a fun giveaway, so be sure to check it out and comment to win!

Leigh Ann Edwards’s fascination with history, romance, magic, time-travel, and Ireland sparked her interest in creating the Irish Witch Series and her expanding collection of published novels. Growing up in a Manitoban village on the Canadian prairies left lots of time to create stories and let her imagination soar.

An author for thirty years, Leigh Ann has almost completed writing her fourth series with Tule Publishing and started a fifth. Besides writing, she loves spending time with her four grandchildren, reading, traveling, doing intuitive readings, and reiki. Leigh Ann and her husband, their two cats, one large dog, and a Boston Terrier puppy, live in a small town near Edmonton Alberta, Canada.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Take it away, Leigh Ann…

I’m thrilled to be back on your blog, Nan. As always, I really appreciate you being so willing to help other authors promote their books, so thanks again.

My husband, Mark, and I will be breaking out the wine for lots of celebrations this month. Besides this June book birthday for Summer’s Celestial Plea, book four in my Maidens of the Mystical Stones series, my birthday is also this month as well our tenth wedding anniversary.

On this milestone anniversary we’d hoped to return to Gretna Green, Scotland–– where we were married. However, since Mark traveled back to England three times last year–– twice to visit his father who was ill and once to attend his father’s funeral, our travel budget was stretched thin and he really wasn’t keen on traveling again so soon. I was excited about possibly going to the Tule author retreat next month and he agreed I should go.

I’m so excited about the upcoming trip to California next month. I think it’s really cool Tule was established the same year Mark and I were married. I can’t wait to meet, Jane, the Tule team and many other Tule authors.

During my recent author drop-in at the Tule Book Club, I talked a little about admitting your age or at least not hiding it as a lot of people do. I’ll be 66 on June 15. I don’t know how that happened. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was 16. My mother was 66 when she passed, so I admit that does frighten me a little. It makes you question your own mortality.

I never had a problem with turning 30, 40, or 50, but I admit 60 was a bit harder. Maybe because Mum never reached 70 ––or maybe because to 16 year old me, 60 seemed pretty damn old. But as my paternal grandmother used to say, the older you become the faster time goes.

I remember wondering how that could be possible, but Grandma Edwards was definitely right. As a child I remember waiting for something maybe a month away and it took forever to arrive, now the days, weeks, months, and even years just fly by. Growing old is certainly a privilege denied to many so I intend to celebrate this birthday and every other I’m blessed with.

I’ve never been good with remembering names, but I’ve always had a great memory for dates. They just seem to stick with me. Maybe that’s why I loved history class when a lot of my peers didn’t. I even took extra classes on British and European history and opted out of accounting. That hasn’t aided me with balancing a checkbook, but it did help spark my interest in writing about historical times. Besides, we have apps for doing accounting.

Now, to talk a bit about Summer’s Celestial Plea. Because the books in this series are not stand alone, the series continues to build with several plot twists and character arcs. I won’t go into too much detail or I’d create spoilers for those who are new to the series or readers who wait for all the books to be released so they can binge read.

I tend to create strong female characters who live during times when speaking up or being opinionated usually brought opposition and sometimes harsh consequences. I love developing backstories that often explain why a character behaves how they do or why they’ve become the person they are. Secondary characters are always key to the story, too.

In book one, Autumn’s Magical Pact, four very unlikely young female friends–– a healer, a harlot, a castle servant and a princess, agree to live one season in each of the other women’s lives. In Summer’s installment, lots of issues have arisen even before the third transformation takes place and the four friends’ troubles are only getting worse.

Rhianwyn, the main heroine and the woman we follow throughout the series, always ends up having to help her friends out of messy or dangerous situations. She’s often torn between her relationship with her husband, Broccan and her friendships. She’s protective of Selena, who’s like a gentle, naïve little sister and the true reason why Rhianwyn agreed to the pact in the first place.

GIVEAWAY: Leigh Ann is offering up a signed copy of Summer’s Celestial Plea. Or if you prefer to start at the beginning of the series, you ask for a signed copy of Autumn’s Magical Pact.

Summer’s Celestial Plea

The curse is almost over but the stakes have never been higher…

Still bound by a magical pact, the lovely Rhianwyn Mulryan has had enough. With each soul transfer, her marriage to her one true love Broccan becomes further eroded, and she must still endure the final transformation and live as her friend, Lilliana, a Welsh princess. Above all, Rhianwyn must do everything in her power to squash Broccan’s suspicions. For if he learns the truth, a wicked old crone has promised his death.

The handsome and valiant Sir Broccan Mulryan thought he was going mad but is convinced he’s finally discovered why his beautiful wife and her friends have been behaving peculiarly. With the knight’s jousting and weaponry tournament about to begin, he’ll need to focus on staying alive long enough to confront Rhianwyn.

Rhianwyn will contend with cursed princes and former foes while she waits to hear whether Broccan has prevailed. When her friends delve into danger, she must decide whether to assist knowing it betrays a promise to her late mother. If they manage to live through the pact, will any of their relationships survive?

Amazon | B&N Nook | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo | Tule Bookstore

Excerpt

Here is a snippet from Summer’s Celestial Plea. To set it up Broccan has begun to suspect the women must have undergone some type of magical switch and he’s trying to make them reveal their true identities.

What the hell did that mean? Did Broccan know about Cassian going to Lady Brockwell’s chambers?

“Since you were called to the village late last night, just tell us what you know of Godric!”

Rhianwyn winced. Never would she sound that forceful.  Elspeth must try harder. She’d just warned her about that.

Broccan removed his crossbow then placed it and the sack he carried, on the floor. He sat down, leaned back on his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. Then oddly, he placed his muddy boots upon the table and crossed his long legs. How strange, Rhianwyn thought. He always left mud-caked boots by the door or wiped them. He liked a clean home and would never put soiled boots near a table, much less on it.

Elspeth cringed. As a servant responsible for cleaning, she despised messes. She stared hard at the mud, unable to hide her revulsion.

Broccan was watching closely. Rhianwyn kicked Elspeth under the table. He was assessing their every move, trying to catch them behaving unlike themselves.

Elspeth jumped and recovered herself. “That’s very rude, Broccan,” she said calmly. But her fists were clenched and Rhianwyn guessed she was biting her tongue not to rebuke him.

“Quit being so damn inconsiderate of servants who’ll have to clean up your sarding mess!” Rhianwyn scolded, crossing her arms as Elspeth would.

He shrugged. “Our servants are generously recompensed for their services.”

Broccan wasn’t typically unthoughtful or commanding of those in his employ. He obviously enjoyed seeing their reactions to his uncharacteristic behavior.

“Well, are you going to tell us what you know about Elspeth’s inglorious husband?” Elspeth asked.

Even after all this time it was odd to hear them speak of themselves in third person.

“It’s true, Godric’s not dead. He was found unclothed wanderin’ the village streets mumblin’ incoherently. I suspect it might be a ruse to avoid bein’ made accountable for what was done to you, Elspeth. Yet he does appear to have no recollection of where he was or what happened.”

“Where is he now?” Rhianwyn asked.

“Dungeoned.”

“Why would he be held in the dungeon?” Selena looked confused.  “He’s the sheriff’s son and usually escapes punishment no matter what he’s done.

“Why are you here, Princess?” Broccan eyed her closely, too. “Do your father and husband now permit you to wander freely without guards?”

“My husband has not yet arrived in Hengebury and my father is unaware I took a horse from his stables. I dislike always being accompanied by others.”

“That may well be,” Broccan replied. “Still, it wouldn’t be unheard of for a princess to be taken for ransom, especially with the number of people and strangers gatherin’ for the tournament. Best be cautious.”

Selena shrugged trying to appear unaffected, thought Rhianwyn noted fear in her eyes. “Attired in these garments I shouldn’t attract would-be captors.” Selena gestured to her plain kirtle and worn cloak she must have borrowed from a servant.

“At any rate Godric is in the dungeon. Perhaps his father believes he’s safer there just now. He’s suffered a beatin’ and the physician Dorsett and his assistant are apparently assessin’ him.”

Rhianwyn rolled her eyes like Elspeth would. “Maybe if we’re lucky they’ll kill him with their sarding ineptness.”

Lilliana pointed to the sack Broccan had with him. “What do you have there?”

Seeing movement within, Rhianwyn wondered, too.

“Ahh, yes, I’ve shot some fine rabbits. I thought you might make some of your delicious rabbit stew, dear wife.”

Broccan moved his feet leaving a trail of mud. Elspeth’s face contorted. She looked ready to pitch a fit. Lifting the sack, Broccan pulled out two plump dead rabbits and dropped them upon the table.

Elspeth’s scowl deepened as blood splattered. Selena jumped and moved away, looking suddenly squeamish. Blood nauseated her. Lilliana turned up her nose at the dead animals. Rhianwyn watched each reaction. As did Broccan. By God, he’d be sure he was on to something.

“I overdrank.” Elspeth held her head. “I don’t want to think about food.” She looked convincingly queasy. “Get Haesel to cook your damn stew.”

“You used to enjoy cooking for me. Yours was the best stew I’ve tasted. At least inform Haesel what herbs you use to make it so tasty.” Broccan looked at Elspeth and Rhianwyn.

“Why is that sack moving?” Rhianwyn asked.

Selena twisted a stand of Lilliana’s hair anxiously, something the princess, who was vain about her shiny dark tresses, would never do. Rhianwyn cleared her throat, and then she stopped.

“I brought something else for you my wife.” Broccan reached inside the large sack to produce a smaller one. He gingerly untied it. “Better stay alert, ladies.”

He opened it, stepped back and a large, black snake slithered out…