ENEMY OF THE KING by Beth Trissel

Beth Trissel is the author of two paranormal romances, SOMEWHERE MY LOVE and DAUGHTER OF THE WIND, and two historical romances, ENEMY OF THE KING and THROUGH THE FIRE

Beth Trissel lives on a farm in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, children and multiple animals.

The beauty of the valley and uniqueness of rural life has led her to write a collection of atmospheric personal essays compiled into a work of nonfiction, in addition to several historical paranormal romances.

I had the pleasure of meeting, Beth Trissel, two years ago on the Pink Fuzzy Slippers blog and we finally “saw” each other last year at RWA in San Francisco. Beth’s historical THROUGH THE FIRE was nominated for a Golden Heart Award in 2008.

A year later her first book, SOMEWHERE MY LOVE, a paranormal romance published by the Wild Rose Press, won first place in the 2008 Preditors and Editors Readers Poll for Best Romance Novel and is still collecting good reviews.

Her third novel, DAUGHTER OF THE WIND, was released a week ago and welcomed with a standing ovation. Now, we are impatiently waiting for Beth’s historical romance, ENEMY OF THE KING, to be released tomorrow, on May 8th, by the Wild Rose Press.

Let’s welcome Beth Trissel and read the stories behind the story of

this historical romance, ENEMY OF THE KING.

Beth: My absorption with early America extends to the high drama of the Revolution and ancestors who fought and loved on both sides of that sweeping conflict. My research into the Southern face of the war was partly inspired by my great, great, great grandfather, Sam Houston, uncle of the famous Sam, who kept a journal of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, 1781, used by historians today.

One illustrious tie to the past for me is my grandfather, seven greats back, Sir George Augustus Elliott. A British general and Governor of Gibraltar during the American Revolution, he was given the title Lord Heathfield, Baron of Gibraltar, in honor of his bravery in its defense during the attack by the Spanish and French. While Sir George was giving his all for king and country, his grandson was fighting under George Washington as a commissary officer. There must have been quite a rift in that family.

ENEMY OF THE KING, coming to the Wild Rose May 8th, grew out of my passionate interest in the American Revolution.

Mona: Here is a picture of the Hanging Moss Tree that is pictured on her book cover. Sorry for the interruption, Beth. Keep on, please.

Beth: Years ago as I was researching my early American Scots-Irish forebears I often came across references to a battle fought during the Revolution called King’s Mountain. The name alone drew me. I vowed to go back later and research it more in depth and uncovered fascinating fodder for the imagination. I learned about the gallant, ill-fated British Major Patrick Ferguson who lost his life and Loyalist army atop that Carolina Mountain called King’s back in the fall of 1780. Ferguson is buried there beneath a stone cairn, possibly along with his mistress who also fell that day. He had two, both called Virginia. But it’s believed one mistress made her escape on a horse by betraying his whereabouts to the advancing Patriots.

Speaking of which, I discovered the hardy, sometimes downright mean Overmountain men of Scots heritage didn’t take kindly to Ferguson’s warning that they desist from rebellion or he’d bring fire and sword upon them and hang all their leaders––all these enemies of the King!
‘Book title,’ I said to self. And Enemy of the King sounds much cooler than The Patriot. So I began what came to be my version of that famous movie, though I started my novel before it even came out. The Battle of King’s Mountain, a mega conflict that altered the course of a nation, plays a prominent role in this fast-paced historical romance.

The year is 1780, one of the bloodiest of the American Revolution. The entire Southern garrison has been captured and Lord Cornwallis is marching his forces deep into South Carolina. ‘Bloody Ban’ Lieutenant Major Banestre Tarleton and his infamous Legion are sweeping through the countryside. Revenge is the order of the day on both sides and rugged bands of militia are all that stand between crown forces and utter defeat.

ENEMY OF THE KING: HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVEL
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Blurb: 1780, South Carolina: While Loyalist Meriwether Steele recovers from illness in the stately home of her beloved guardian, Jeremiah Jordan, she senses the haunting presence of his late wife. When she learns that Jeremiah is a Patriot spy and shoots Captain Vaughan, the British officer sent to arrest him, she is caught up on a wild ride into Carolina back country, pursued both by the impassioned captain and the vindictive ghost. Will she remain loyal to her king and Tory twin brother or risk a traitor’s death fighting for Jeremiah? If Captain Vaughan snatches her away, he won’t give her a choice.

• finalist, 2005 Jasmine Contest


• finalist, 2006 Emily Contest


• top five of fifty historical entries, 2006 Four Seasons Contest


• semi-finalist 2006 Molly Contest


• finalist, 2007 Golden Gateway Contest