Rebecca first encountered The Book of Margery Kempe during graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and medieval literature written in Old and Middle English, Old Norse, and other fascinating languages.
A native of Vero Beach, Florida, she now lives in Ohio, where she teaches and writes about medieval topics and about children’s literature set in the Middle Ages.
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer, but it never occurred to me that it could be an actual occupation. I must have been in college before I ever saw a real-live writer or thought of them as real people.
Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Reading stories helps us make sense of our own lives. I think it also helps us have empathy for people who are unlike us. It allows us to imagine, to escape, and to re-emerge with new perspectives on the world.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Never, ever take rejection personally. (Fat lot of good that did me!)
In your new book; Peaceweaver, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
Readers who know the Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf, will recognize many allusions to the poem, but they don’t need any familiarity with it to enjoy the story of a girl from a warrior culture who believes she knows ways to strengthen her uncle’s kingdom. When her attempts go badly awry, she is sent away to marry the king of an enemy tribe. During the journey, she faces tough choices, not to mention monsters (who might make readers think of Grendelkin). Lots of action and suspense intertwine with introspection in what I hope is a story readers will enjoy.
For those who are unfamiliar with Hild, how would you introduce her?
When readers first meet her, Hild is a bit spoiled, being the sister-daughter of the king. She’s also a bit naïve. As her story unfolds, her courage, her strength, and her sense of honor became apparent to both readers and to Hild herself.
Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
At the end of The Coming of the Dragon, the character Hild is introduced, but she doesn’t get much time in the novel. I knew a lot about her at that point, but I wanted to know a great deal more, so I couldn’t resist writing her story. Each of these books is a stand-alone title, so readers don’t need to read The Coming of the Dragon before trying Peaceweaver.
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I think Hild and Katsa, from Graceling, would have a lot to say to each other about family, fighting, and honor. They could definitely learn some things from each other, and they would understand what is best left unsaid.
What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I’m working on a stand-alone companion novel to Peaceweaver and The Coming of the Dragon, currently titled Ring-Giver. It skips forward a generation and tells the story of Hild’s son. Norse mythology takes a more prominent role than it did in the previous two novels.
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
How are you? (Does “fine” ever answer such a complex question? Does anybody really want an honest answer when they ask it?)
What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
Don’t try to write to trends. Instead, tell the story that’s pushing to get out, the one about the characters you can spend a long time getting to know. Understanding those characters will help you hear their voices—which can help you develop your own voice.
Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
My best friend, which is what best friends are for.
What's the worst summer job you've ever had?
Helping a woman clean cheap rental apartments. She made me do the bathrooms. It wasn’t pretty.
When was the last time you cried?
Books make me cry all the time, Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue most recently.
What is the one, single food that you would never give up?
It’s a toss-up between chocolate and coffee—which would have made me a very bad candidate to survive in medieval Europe, when neither was available!
Rebecca Barnhouse's companion to The Coming of the Dragon is sure to appeal to younger fans of Tamora Pierce, Esther Friesner, and Shannon Hale.
The first pages of this book is rightfully gripping as Rebecca provides such beautiful descriptions of everything inside Shylfing city. The character development of Hild is simply wonderful. Although honor may not be living well within the city, Hild displayed a strong sense of honor. She demonstrates this quality throughout the book and is highly commendable for maintaining her integrity.
Rebecca has created a very magical read with a well-written historical fantasy. Readers will meet many interesting secondary characters who are uniformly pragmatic. The rich descriptive text is simply stunning and is lead by an incredible heroine who is fearless and strong-minded. Peaceweaver is an excellent fantasy that will appeal to all. Girls will love the lead female and boys will find the action entertaining.
You can purchase Peaceweaver at the following Retailers:
Love this book cover! Great to have a story to read with the kids aswell
ReplyDeleteI would wish for all violence to end!
ReplyDeleteHolly
I would wish for a cure for cancer.
ReplyDeletewish for everyone to live in peace
ReplyDeleteI'd wish for everyone to love their life and just be happy.
ReplyDeleteI would wish that nobody was hungry and that all violence came to an end.
ReplyDeleteHmm... Tough question! I guess that I'd wish that there was no greed, so that there would be no need for war or violence.
ReplyDeleteI think I would wish for the end of all the violence and war that we have today.
ReplyDeleteI'd wish to stop global warming
ReplyDeleteI would wish that everyone is equal-because if this happened, there would be no need for violence, or slavery, or any other human injustices.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
Tough question. I'd wish so many things.
ReplyDeleteSelfless: Eradicate poverty, end war, create equality
Selfish: Travel through history as an observer of events.
Stefanie McMullen
Thank you so much !!! For this Giveaway :))
ReplyDeleteI would wish for an end to cancer.
ReplyDeleteI'd wish that everyone will be happy and be contented with everything that we have.
ReplyDeleteA new car for my mom
ReplyDeleteTo become a smart person.
ReplyDeleteTo not lose my family! I know death is something natural but it hurt so bad when you lose them!
ReplyDeleteTo live in a peaceful world, where we don't see thousands of innocents get killed just because they are different!
ReplyDeletei wish to be able to meet all my wonderful fb friends i have met, and that my two baby girls never die until i do.
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaway
I would wish for world peace. And everything what wants my mum and father (:
ReplyDeleteThank you for this awesome giveaway.
And thank Rebecca for donating this giveaway (:
Tough one, I don't know probably for my children to have a happy, healthy life.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could know what will my future hold
ReplyDeleteThat's a very hard question. One wish isn't enough even though it should probably be more than enough.
ReplyDeleteI would wish for my family to live in a peaceful world and have a happy, healthy and wonderful life (that's almost two wishes but.. :P)
And now I'm curious, what would you wish for?
BTW, thank you for the giveaway~! ♥
I wish I would find my Mr Right hahah
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway