Five Fun Facts from Behind the Scenes of The Grail, Book One of The Guard Series (Part One)
I’m excited to announce a guest post from author MB Saul. We had such a great time discussing the books in The Guard Series during my interview with her on Author to Author, I asked her to contribute a post. This is part one of a two part blog post.
Nine years ago, I had a persistent scene in my head of a boy with magical abilities running out of an enchanted cabin after a girl who happened to be passing by and who he had not yet met, but he knew in his soul, he was infinitely tied to her. Thus, the premise for The Grail unfolded, further developing through my natural interest in Arthurian legends and from the many Irish fairy tales told to me by my grandmothers. This was never intended to be a traditional fairy tale. This is about connection, friendship, love, loyalty, discovery, embracing your whole self and standing up for what you believe in. The Grail is a world where anything goes – a place of magic and hope and temperamental fey. It’s a story that begins with violent betrayal, and how it ends is yet to be seen
- The Thirteen Treasures of the Isle of Britain are relics found in medieval Welsh mythology. One mentioned in the book is the Chariot of Morgan the Wealthy. Morgan, according to legend, was the king of Glamorgan who is thought to have ruled Welsh kingdoms somewhere between 400 and 600 AD. His magical chariot was able to deliver its rider(s) to wherever they wished to go very quickly.
- Annwn was inspired by Welsh mythology, where it is known as the “Otherworld” and identifies with Christianity’s portrayal of heaven. In both Welsh and Irish mythology, it was thought to be located either on an island or underneath the earth. Both Merlin and King Arthur have literary ties to the location.
- Caroline’s POV begins on Lughnasa – the marker of the harvest season and one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Beltane. This day is significant for her since she is a half-dwarf of the Unseelie court – fey who are particularly in tune with nature and the seasons. The celebration is typically held around August 1, or about half way between summer solstice and autumn equinox.
- The ashes Merlin spreads during his incantation in the Preface are the ashes of King Arthur, whose virtues he wishes to secure in the boy being born that night across the ocean in the United States. That boy is Rowan Hamilton.
- Archimedes is able to communicate and be understood by Merlin and each member of the guard. He is watchful, protective, and, of course, wise, though the truth of his identity and source of his intellect is still a mystery yet to be revealed 😉
The Romance of Caroline and Rowan
When Caroline first sees Rowan upon arriving at Annwn, she has an immediate physical response to his presence. The intensity is unexplainable. The absolute need for more of him – a physical and soul-deep longing for him – doesn’t scare her as much as it should. Instead, she seeks it out as a source of comfort as she is thrust into the dangerously complicated world of the fey, and innately recognizes it as something safe and reliable and good.
Rowan, on the other hand, is not meeting Caroline for the first time. He has met her before, only it was two years ago, and it wasn’t the same Caroline that arrives at Annwn. It was a Caroline that had been traveling through time, and upon that meeting awakened their mate’s bond. Since their separation, Rowan has been in grievous pain, living life for more than two years in wait for her to join them. Only things don’t turn out as he’s hoped once she’s there, adding fresh torment to an already fraying bond.
The Grail is available now on Amazon.
Read the next blog post (Part Two) for the behind the scenes look at the Rose, Book Two of The Guard Series, where Rowan meets Caroline for the first time.