A giveaway and two posts in one week. Where will it end?
The Novel Approach were kind enough to interview me about The Reluctant Berserker, so I am over here today explaining why Viking helmets did not have horns and why I like the Saxons so much – hint, it involves elves 
If you would like to read an excerpt and possibly win a copy, hie thee over there and say hello!
Mirrored from Alex Beecroft - Author of Gay Historical and Fantasy Fiction.
To say I’m pleased with this one would be an understatement. Particularly as I know how hard the artist worked to get something that was in-period, when I kept sending the mockups back. “It’s lovely, but they didn’t wear plate armour in those days.” “I love it, but I’m sorry, we can’t have a castle because they didn’t build them yet.” “It’s gorgeous, but the heater-shield didn’t come in until the 13th Century and has to go.”
I felt like a real diva. All the more so because I know exactly how hard it is to get stockphotos which are right for any historical period. I was trying not to nitpick, but on the other hand, I also knew that anyone who knew anything about the 8th Century would look at that shield and immediately think “Whoa, 500 years out of date, I bet that author doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Either that or they have no respect for their history/readers/own work.” So I just couldn’t let it go.
However, they put up with me. They changed the shield, they changed the helmet to make it look more like a spectacle helm, and eala! I am overjoyed.
All the kudos and praise to the artist, Kanaxa 
Mirrored from Alex Beecroft - Author of Gay Historical and Fantasy Fiction.
Eeee! I have cover art for Too Many Fairy Princes! Or at least, I have seen a mock up of what the cover art will be like when it has finally been made. I didn’t really have a clear idea of what I wanted to see on this cover. Maybe a view of London with the two heroes on top of it? But I didn’t see how they would manage to get a good photo of anyone sufficiently elf-like to stand in for Kjartan (who looks a bit like this:)
Click on the picture to get to Ulrike’s gallery
But they did! I can’t reveal it yet, but I’m ever so pleased. Samhain’s art department goes from strength to strength.
~
A second cause of squee is that I’ve also had the edits back on the manuscript of Too Many Fairy Princes, and in the “Coming Soon” section it says The Reluctant Berserker.
I hadn’t announced that The Reluctant Berserker had been accepted for publication by Samhain, because I haven’t yet had the contract, but I think that having it announced in the back of the book I’m working on now counts as official enough confirmation for me to go public with it. So look out for that one either late 2013 or early 2014 
Mirrored from Alex Beecroft - Author of Gay Historical and Fantasy Fiction.
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