Lusignan, a real place and a real family, with its legend of Melusine the Fae

Since the Curse of the Lost Isle medieval fantasy series is based upon authentic legends, I get to see the places where my characters may have roamed a millennium ago. 

As I am revising ANGEL OF LUSIGNAN for publication in January 2017, I feel very excited about this last novel in the series.

One might believe because Melusine is an immortal Fae, that she did not exist. When you visit Lusignan, however, she seems very real. The entire region of northern Aquitaine is called "Melusine country" and traces of the ondine with a scaly tail is still alive there.
I can see my hero and heroine in this terrain, under the walls of the castle. In Lusignan and all around, in Vouvant and Mervent, you find her name on the many shops.

She is on the facade of official buildings, sometimes discreet, and sometimes flaunting her scales or her dragon wings to whomever is passing by.

 

 

 

 

 

Moreover, Melusine founded the very real family of Lusignan, a royal house of French origin, which ruled much of Europe and the Levant, including the kingdoms of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia, from the 12th through the 15th centuries during the Middle Ages.

Out of this family came not only the royal family of Lusignan, but later, through Eleanor of Aquitaine, the royal families of England, and the Valois and the Bourbon royal families of France.

Does this mean the angel blood running in Melusine's veins a thousand years ago still runs in her descendants? I want to believe it. After all, there is always a kernel of truth at the heart of every legend.

Learn more about the legend of Melusine, her mother and her sisters, in the Curse of the Lost Isle medieval fantasy series HERE

Catch up with the series for the best price, with the boxed set of books 1-2-3-4 HERE 

From history shrouded in myths, emerges a family of immortal Celtic Ladies, who roam the medieval world in search of salvation from a curse. For centuries, imbued with hereditary gifts, they hide their deadly secret, stirring passions in their wake as they fight the Viking hordes, send the first knights to the Holy Land, give birth to kings and emperors... but if the Church ever suspects what they really are, they will be hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake.

HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz
  Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
  http://www.vijayaschartz.com
  Amazon - Barnes & Noble

CHATELAINE OF FOREZ is out!

It's official, CHATELAINE OF FOREZ is out in kindle!

Only $2.99
http://amzn.com/B00I3T9VYG

The winner from my website contest already received her prize.

This is a medieval fantasy romance, with lots of action and accurate historical details, based on authentic legends from the center east region of France called Lyon and Forez. In those days, it was an independent state, and religious persecutions threatened Pagans and Jews, as well as anyone deviating from the accepted Christian views, even among the monks of the period. The punishment was to be burned at the stake.

My heroine is Pagan and immortal, and her powers as a Fae could reveal her as evil in the eyes of the religious authorities.

The theme of this particular book (#5 in the series) is religious tolerance.

I hope you enjoy it immensely.

I certainly enjoyed writing it.

HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz

Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz 

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FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz  

Researching Medieval Times in pictures - by Vijaya Schartz

Castle in Forez

The Curse of the Lost Isle is an ongoing series that will include many installments.

I am currently writing Book 5 - CHATELAINE OF FOREZ, to come out this winter, but as I research small details, I come across fodder for my future novels in the series. 

This book will again feature Melusine the Fae, a princess of Strathclyde, former lady of Luxembourg, but a few decades have passed.

The Curse of the Lost Isle series
4 books published so far - in kindle only

 

Arms of Forez

This is the banner of Forez, and the golden dolphin represents Melusine the Fae, a water creature. As many of you know, Melusine is immortal, but cursed to become a water serpent from the waist down one day each month. At the start of the 11th Century, she roams the swamps, lakes, springs, and rivers of Forez, where she meets Count Artaud, a Pagan knight, who might be the reincarnation of Melusine's very first love, Sigefroi of Luxembourg.

During research, I'm often distracted by facts and images that pop up in my searches. I'm very visual, so images bring up a slew of ideas.



Book 6 will cover the first Crusade, and it became difficult to remain focused on the book I'm presently writing, so I decided to stash away pictures and information for the future books in the series. Here are some of my precious finds I stashed on Pinterest for my next novel. 

Godfrey of Bouillon 1st Crusader

Godfrey of Bouillon (in Belgium) will be a character in Book 6. He initiated the first knights' Crusade, which will serve as the backdrop for that novel.

But right now, I have to get back to writing Book 5, CHATELAINE OF FOREZ, so you can enjoy it during the holidays.

Wishing you all HAPPY READING.

Vijaya Schartz
Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz 

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz 

LADY OF LUXEMBOURG IS OUT - Vijaya Schartz

Finally, the long awaited Lady of Luxembourg, Book 4 in the Curse of the Lost Isle series, is out in kindle!

Find it today at:

http://amzn.com/B00BO0MYX6

978 AD Melusine the Fae, immortal and cursed Lady of Luxembourg, managed to hide her Pagan nature from mortals for many years. She fiercely protects her handsome Count, Sigefroi, but in their princely bliss, neither of them seems to age, and a few suspicious bishops take notice. Then an ondine wreaks havoc during a battle, luring enemy soldiers into the river.
Betrayed, Sigefroi reflects on his many sins from the depths of a rat infested dungeon. Under torture, will he reveal her deadly secret? And when her beloved turns into a devout Christian, can Melusine salvage her happiness? Can love truly redeem her curse, or will she burn at the stake?

This gritty, edgy, realistic medieval romantic series is not for the faint of heart. If you like realism in your medieval novels, this series is for you. Reviewers gave it five stars and called it “bloody and bloodthirsty in places.” So beware!

The books in the Curse of the Lost Isle series can be read separately, but if you are like me you’ll want to read them in the right order. Here they are:

BOOK 1 – PRINCESS OF BRETAGNE

BOOK 2 – PAGAN QUEEN

BOOK 3 – SEDUCING SIGEFROI

BOOK 4 – LADY OF LUXEMBOURG.

There is also a special edition including the first three books in the Curse of the Lost Isle in one kindle download, for a bargain price.

Find the entire series as well as my other books on my Amazon page, HERE:

Vijaya Schartz

Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz 

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz

 

Cursed Lady of Luxembourg - by Vijaya Schartz

A cursed immortal lady, a gorgeous knight, medieval fortresses, enraged bishops, sightings of ondines in the rivers... and if the lady is caught in mermaid shape or discovered as an immortal... the consequences will be dire. For her, and for those she loves.

The dangers never discouraged Melusine of Luxembourg, especially when she has the support of her beloved count, Sigefroi. But she never ages, and the Church is watching...

Betrayed in battle, Sigefroi reflects on his many sins from the depths of a rat infested dungeon. Under torture, will he reveal her deadly secret? When her protector turns religious, what is a Fae to do?

As destiny never relents, can Melusine salvage her happiness? Can love truly redeem her curse?  Or will she burn at the stake?

Lady of Luxembourg, Book 4 in the Curse of the Lost Isle medieval fantasy series, is coming soon from Books We Love. Don't miss this gritty historical romantic series. The first three novels are available in a special set for a very attractive price:
http://amzn.com/B0091HX7EE

All previous titles are also available individually with all my other kindle titles HERE

Vijaya Schartz
Swords, Blasters, Romance with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

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