Books are one of Mirella Patzer’s obsessions, especially those that pertain to medieval eras and with Italy as a backdrop. To fulfill a life long dream, she began writing several years ago and has never looked back. Since then she has published several short stories and completed two novels with several more novels in various stages of completion. Her fascination for women of history and Italy is often reflected in her work, blogs, and website. When she’s not immersed in research or writing or blogging, Mirella works as an editor for Enspiren Press. She writes from her home in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, surrounded by her husband, two college-bound daughters, and a rambunctious little grandson who frequently interrupts her work with a variety of unanticipated, yet humorous calamities and interruptions. For her, life couldn’t get any better.
Bloodstone Castle stands sentinel on the shores of the Ligurian Sea. Secreted somewhere in its dungeons is an ancient Roman treasure of immense value. Contessa Morena of Bloodstone Castle possesses a mysterious bloodstone pendant, the only proof the treasure exists. Since childhood, she has been promised in marriage to Duke Ernesto of Savona. Ernesto is a desperate man, a gambler who has lost his family’s fortune, a man who resorts to murder, not once, not twice, but three times to keep from paying his debts and to hide his dirty secret. Marriage to the lovely Morena will make the treasure his and restore his power and desperate circumstances. After the brutal murder of his father, Duke Amoro of Genoa swears two oaths. The first is to avenge his father’s death. The second is to honour his father’s dying wish and wed Morena of Bloodstone Castle and end the violent feud with between their two families. He severs his affair with his mistress, Laria, and departs for Bloodstone Castle to propose to Morena. But Morena refuses to marry him. Her life thrown into chaos, Morena must choose between obligation and honour, truth and lies, good and evil. She must honour the betrothal her father arranged with Ernesto. Amoro continues to try to convince Morena otherwise.
Ernesto arrives at Bloodstone Castle to claim his bride, but finds Amoro there. The two men confront each other with much animosity.
Then, when the murdered body of Morena’s father is brought home, Amoro helps her with his burial, then her and takes her to his home in Genoa. He is fiercely protective over her. This angers Morena at times because she insists upon her independence. While she is conducting an act of charity, she notices Amoro’s men following her. As she tries to escape, she falls from her horse and is taken back to Amoro. When Amoro agrees to allow Morena full independence, they set a wedding date.
Laria and Ernesto meet and together they plan to separate Amoro and Morena.
On the day of the wedding, Morena falls into the clutches of Ernesto. Amoro arrives to rescue her and the two men agree to battle each other - winner gets the girl. Ernesto cheats and Amoro is held prisoner. Morena realizes her love for Amoro and to save his life, agrees to marry Ernesto. Laria is free to pursue Amoro again. But Amoro continues to refuse Laria. When Laria learns that Ernesto plans to kill Amoro, she aids Morena in a daring rescue to Amoro and his men.
In medieval Italy, two men face each other with ruthlessness and intensity. Enter their world of splendour and depravity, of passion and wickedness. It is Italy’s most dazzling and dangerous age, and as Duke Amoro of Genoa and Duke Ernesto of Savona match wits and cunning, it is a dance the death to decide which one of them will win the hand of the beautiful Countess Morena and the hidden treasure of Bloodstone Castle.
Q & A:
Where did you get the idea for Bloodstone Castle?
I have been researching and writing a trilogy about the Ottonian Empire for several years. In all historical fiction, authors need to really stick to the facts. After a while, I felt the need for a short break to allow myself a little more creative free rein, so I began to think about writing a medieval romance that takes place in Italy. I wanted it to be about a castle so I found a picture of an Italian castle. I then used that picture of the castle and location to create the setting. Development of the plot and characters followed thereafter.
If you could sit down with any of your characters for lunch, which would it be and why?
What a fun question. I would love to have lunch with my hero, Duke Amoro Dragone of Genoa. He is a man of honor, rich, handsome, and ethical and kind. I especially admire his tenacity.
Why historical fiction stories? What is the draw to them for you that compels you to write them?
I have always loved stories of the “days of old”. The very first books I devoured as a child were fairy tales. I read every fairy tale book in the library over and over and over. I think it was the stories about princesses and princes, and romances, that captured my interest. It wasn’t until I discovered that the WWII Battle of the Moro River in Italy happened on my grandfather’s lands, that I began writing historical fiction. I’ve yet to write my family’s story, however, because I wanted some writing experience under my belt first. But in a few years, I will travel there and walk my family’s vineyards once again. In the meantime, I satisfy myself with historical fiction. I love writing about strong historical women. I’m writing about the women of the Ottonian Empire, and I find that fascinating.
What do you hope readers take with them, after reading one of your stories? What do you hope they feel, or learn?
Bloodstone Castle was written as a story for pure entertainment. I wrote it during my last two years in a 28 year career as a manager with a local police department. I wrote it as an escape, as an adventure, to sweep me away into another place or time for the sole purpose to entertain myself and escape the day to day grind of the concrete jungle and rat race. So first and foremost, I want my reader just to have fun. After that, I hope they experience a little bit of Italy and its beauty.
How long did it take you to write your first book?
I wrote my first book in a year. I worked all day and would come home every night and wrote for at least 2 hours. On the weekends I would write at least 16 hours. That’s how strongly the story captured me.
How hard is it to keep your ideas fresh in each new book?
This hasn’t been a problem for me yet because my works in progress are different. Bloodstone Castle is pure fiction, and so is Orphan of the Olive Tree which I’m currently working on. But the books of my Ottonian trilogy are about real life women and men so each story is different and the ideas are all fresh so far.
What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?
I believe that the characters themselves inspired me to write about them. especially the real personages such as Matilde and Adelaide and Theophanu of the Ottonian Empire. They were strong, dynamic women in their day, generous, loving, and kind. We have much to learn from their good work and the adversity they overcame. They make terrific role models for today’s women. That is what I’m trying to achieve with all the women characters I write about, even the fictional ones like Morena and Smerelda and Laria in Bloodstone Castle.
How long did it take for your first book to get published?
It took a year before I was published. I knew nothing about the publishing world, so it took a while for me to get finally see my work in print. Even then, the publisher was Print on Demand which made the price of the book far too high and difficult to promote, especially here in Canada. So I learned a lot. My second book, Bloodstone Castle was accepted by Enspiren Press almost immediately. They were the first publisher I submitted to. It is reassuring to know that I’ve learned enough and progressed enough as an author to achieve publication much easier than my first book.
What do you do when characters stop talking to you when writing?
As authors, we all experience moments when the creative flow is stronger or weaker than usual. On days when the creative juices just don’t want to flow, I like to critique the work of another author in my Yahoo critique group. Critiquing teaches editing, so in this way, I continue to move ahead and keep learning and honing my writing skills.
What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?
I plot meticulously. For Bloodstone Castle, I used a chapter by chapter story board that helps develop the conflict, the black moment, the resolution, etc.
For my novels about the Ottonian Empire, history is my story board. I have a chronological list of events and I write the chapters year by year creating the scenes as I go. I envy those who can sit in front of blank screen and write. I need to know the story from start to finish in order to write it.
Thanks so much for hosting me today. I really enjoyed meeting you and working with you.
