Author Interview - Lisa Yarde

Biography

Lisa Yarde is passionate about history and writing. Her love of the past inspires her to write historical fiction. Her favorite period is medieval, an interest which began in her childhood. Since she crafted her first stories about knights and castles in junior high school, she has not stopped writing. She loves to travel, and research on her books has taken her to England, Spain, and Barbados. She currently lives in New York. On Falcon’s Wings is her first published novel.

You can find more information about Lisa and her writing on the website http://www.lisayarde.com/ or on her blog at:  http://thebrooklynscribbler.blogspot.com./

An Interview with Lisa Yarde

A warm welcome to Lisa Yarde, author of On Falcon's Wings.  Lisa has a wonderful insight and talent for writing about strong medieval women, so I thought it would be interesting to learn more about Lisa and her writing and test her knowledge about medieval women. 

Welcome to History and Women, Lisa.  Can you tell us a little about your novel?

Thank you for hosting me. On Falcon’s Wings is a medieval story, the intertwining lives of two lovers, Avicia and Edric, and their struggles to preserve their love in the face of great obstacles. Through her ties to Matilda of Flanders, Avicia becomes part of the court of Matilda’s husband, Duke William of Normandy. Her lover Edric is a distant relative of Harold Godwinson, who would be the last Saxon King of England. When William and Harold vie for the English throne, their clash threatens to drive Avicia and Edric apart forever.

What inspired you to write a novel about a woman in this period of history?

I have always had a "thing" for strong but sympathetic heroines. When I was researching this story, I found many examples of that type of character. Strong women existed in my favorite historical romances, but one consistent idea about them always annoyed me. The medieval woman was portrayed too often as a damsel in distress, waiting on the knight in shining armor for her rescue, yet there are so many instances in history where real medieval women have proven just how resilient and capable they were. It was very important to me in my portrayal of Avicia, that she should be passionate and dedicated to her beliefs, and unwavering in her love for Edric, despite the pain it brought her at times. I also wanted her to be sympathetic; the kind of heroine I would care about. She also had to have her match in a hero who would always love her, despite the difficulties and distance between them, a man willing to prove himself worthy of her.

What hardships did women face in this particular century and what lessons can today's woman learn from it?

Medieval history has been a long-time favorite of mine. I’ve always been fascinated by the combination of social upheaval, religious fervor and brute violence in that time. The commonplace view seems to be that women had very few freedoms, but prior to the Conquest, Anglo-Saxon women enjoyed protection from forcible marriage under King Cnut and disposed of their property through wills. With the coming of the Normans and the imposition of feudalism on English society, women’s roles as daughters, wives, mothers or wards dominated their lives. In On Falcon’s Wings, Avicia endures such an existence but it doesn’t keep her from pursuing her love with Edric. Medieval women were not all wilting wallflowers, at the mercy of men. I hope modern women will look to their sisters of the past as inspiration as role models, and recognize the inherent strength of womanhood has long existed, even in a time that doesn’t often credit the fortitude of women.

Where do you get your inspirations for a novel?

Inspiration comes from my love of a particular period and fascination with its people; not just those who affect history, but the people who are altered by their actions. When I write, I like to immerse myself completely in a period: the societal customs, religious views and politics of the day. It’s the only way I know how to bring the past to life. I found an immense number of sources for the late Anglo-Saxon period. The rivalry between Edward the Confessor and the Godwinson family, the great battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings are the big events in that history, and well documented in the period chronicles. I’ve often wondered, how the Norman invasion changed the lives of people like Edric and Avicia, both swept up in the intrigues of their rulers. I wanted to write a story that showed how the consequences of the invasion extended beyond Harold and William and the destiny of a nation.

Can you describe a typical writing day?

My days are anything except typical! At times, the muse is right on my shoulder and others, I wonder where she has gone and more importantly, when she will come back.

Would you believe I used to wake up at 5am every morning to write a few paragraphs of On Falcon’s Wings? My writing is very important to me, but with a demanding, full-time job, it is not always easy to focus. Still, it’s what I love to do and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I do my best writing in the morning, after a good night’s sleep, when ideas are fresh. During the week, that may mean for an hour before I leave for work, or an hour during my daily commute. If the weekday proves too difficult, I reserve the weekend for my writing, typically on Sundays. The big challenge is incorporating my research in a way that’s not glaringly apparent. I constantly remind myself that while the history is important, I want readers to care as much about the characters.

Can you tell us about any other novels you are working on?

I'm writing The Rule of Love, the sensuous journey of the author of the Kama Sutra, told through his experiences of life in an ancient Indian brothel. When I’ve finished it, I’ll return to writing The Burning Candle, another medieval about Isabel de Vermandois, who was the wife and lover of two Anglo-Norman earls, and Renegade, in which a seventeenth century Dutch privateer turns to the life of a Barbary corsair, sacks an Irish village and sells four hundred of its inhabitants into slavery in North Africa. I’m also editing my first manuscript, Sultana, the story of the last Moorish dynasty to rule southern Spain in the thirteenth century. As you can probably tell, I have varied tastes and write about interesting characters.

Thanks very much for stopping by and visiting, Lisa.  It was great fun reading your novel and learning more about you.