Welcome to the NBtM virtual tour for Princes & Kings by Sydney Williams. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a fantastic guest post from the author. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
--
Title: Princes & KingsSeries: A Rose in a Thorn Bush #1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author: Sydney Williams
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Publication Date: August 13th 2021
Print Length: 266 pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy
~
In the year 1240 AD, the land of Gwynedd Wales found themselves without a leader when their king, Llywelyn the Great, died at a ripe old age. The natural successor to the king was his son Dafydd, who took on the job of ruler after his death. Soon after taking on the job he was forced to sign a treaty with the king of England and send his brother Gruffudd and his nephew Owain to England to be imprisoned in the Tower of London in exchange for keeping his land and title. His other nephew, Llywelyn, became the new head warrior after his father's imprisonment, travelling the country and patrolling the borders to the north and the south.
After four years imprisonment in the Tower of London, Gruffudd died while attempting to escape from his tower cell, and his son Owain was released by the king himself. He wanted Owain to help him start a civil war in Gwynedd. Meanwhile, after finding out about his brother's death from a letter sent by his nephew Owain, Dafydd declared war on England, prompting Owain to escape Winchester Castle, where he had been recovering from his time in prison to find his brother Llywelyn and help him in the war between England and Gwynedd. During the course of the war, Dafydd was killed in battle, leaving the Welsh army without a leader. Being the brave and noble man that he was, Llywelyn called the men to him and, with his leadership, they managed to send the English packing.
With the new weight of responsibility thrust upon his shoulders, Llywelyn rode home at the head of the army to find that his world had changed. Now not only was his father gone but his mother as well, and the land of Gwynedd was once again without a leader. It became clear that the best man for the job was Llywelyn himself, and he decided that there was nothing else to do but become the new ruler. He would do anything to keep his people safe, even if that meant taking on a responsibility that he felt he was too young for. He would never abandon his people for anything and let the English take everything from him.
Goodreads * Amazon * Apple Books *
IndieBound * Indigo * Kobo * Smashwords
---
EXCERPT:
Chapter 1: A Funeral to Remember
The town of Aberfraw Castle in the Valley of Clwyd Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales in the year 1240 AD
As the royal party moved through the streets, one of the young street urchins darted up to Lord Owain, the eldest son of Lord Gruffudd, and attempted to slip his hand into his pocket. Owain quickly grabbed the boy and shook him roughly. “Have some respect,” he snapped.
Hearing the altercation, Gruffudd turned his head and smiled at the boy. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin, tossing it to the boy.
“Run along now and remember to have more respect for your superiors in the future,” he said, giving him a cuff to the arm. The boy, red-faced nodded his head in thanks and ran back into the crowd.
“Why did you do that?” Owain asked.
“Because now he will go on his way and not bother us again,” Gruffudd explained.
Owain simply shook his head in disgust, and with a surly look towards the crowd, rubbed his hands on his tunic. The boy’s clothing had been so filthy that he could feel the dirt coating his fingers.
His brother, Llywelyn, Gruffudd’s second eldest son turned to his brother Owain and cuffed him on the shoulder. “Lighten up,” he said with a smile.
Owain gave him a dirty look. “Will you ever grow up and act your age?” he asked grumpily.
“I think I am doing just fine. Why don’t you grow up?” Llywelyn said, giving his brother a playful shove. Owain shrugged and shoved him back, causing Gruffudd to turn his head and look at his two sons.
“That is enough from the two of you! This funeral procession is not a party,” he scolded and turned his head around to the front once more. Sanena squeezed her husband’s fingers lightly and smiled at him with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
“They are just getting out their nerves,” she said calmly. “Remember they were both very close to their grandfather.”
“I know that,” Gruffudd said. “But that doesn’t mean they are allowed to act like a couple of children.”
“You need to relax,” she said, giving his fingers another light squeeze. “Everyone is a little tense right now. I am sure, after the funeral, we will all feel much better.”
---
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sydney Williams has a big imagination and has been writing and performing from a young age. After going blind from Leukemia at the age of three, she found release from the medical part of her life through her music and her writing. In high school she excelled in English and history and after she left school she continued to write and to create her music. She formed her band, The Undercurrents with her best friend and drummer, Alex Nacci at the age of 22 and has been playing music with the band ever since.
Her book, Princes and Kings, is her first professional novel and it is book one of the historical fiction series she is writing titled, A Rose in A Thorn Bush about the last king of Wales. She was introduced to her main character in high school and with the encouragement of her Business Abilities coach she finely decided to write his story. Splitting the story into three books. Sydney has always enjoyed reading historical fiction and has found it an interesting genre to write in. After her series is finished she plans to continue writing about different historical British characters for as long as she can. Being Welsh on her father's side and Scottish and English on her mother's Britain is a place that interests her greatly and she has enjoyed writing about one of its characters. Giving her a chance to explore her heritage in a fun and exciting way and she looks forward to sharing her passion for the genre and the history of the British Isles with the world.
---
GUEST POST:
- If you could time travel to any other era in time, which one would you choose and why?
If I had a time machine and I could go visit anywhere in time I think I would want to go back to 13th century Wales when my main character, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was alive. To meet the man and talk to him would be amazing. Back then they spoke in a very ancient form of Welsh. Over the years Welsh has evolved to what it is today. I have been taking a course in the language and I think if I had a chance to go back and talk to Llywelyn in Welsh it would be something I would never forget. But alass we don’t have time machines and so I can only get to know the man through my writing. It has been so wonderful writing about the man and his life and I am so happy I finely decided to do it. I do wonder sometimes what it must have been like to rule back then. I can only imagine as an author what it must have been like to have all that weight of everyone counting on you to make the right decisions and do the right thing. The Middle Ages was such a turbulent time in history with different countries and kingdoms at each other’s throats all the time. I just feel fortunate that through my writing I can get a glimpse of the lives of different historical figures and try to bring them to life once more on paper and in the minds of those who read my book.
---
GIVEAWAY:
Sydney Williams will be awarding $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions assumes all responsibility with this giveaway.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt - the book appears very interesting....
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDeletethanks this sounds like an interesting book
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds interesting, thanks.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a great read
ReplyDeleteSeems like a wonderful read
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a great day
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
Sydney, I enjoyed the guest post and excerpt and your book sounds like a great read for me to enjoy! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a spectacular holiday season!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great day
ReplyDeleteI like everything about this read - genre title & cover!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this with us.
have a great night
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite holiday cookie?
ReplyDeleteAbout how many books do you write in a year?
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great weekend
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take to edit your book?
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great monday
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like a great read & I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great day :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Winter Solstice!
ReplyDeleteYour trilogy sounds like it is very well researched and it would be fascinating reading!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
This is an interesting book - sure to keep me reading.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Eve!!!
ReplyDeleteI usually comment on the author or book.
ReplyDeleteToday I am going to say Merry Christmas!
Does your family do anything to celebrate Bpxing Day?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I hope your Christmas was fun :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really good read.
ReplyDeleteDo you take time off from writing over the holidays?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite soup that you like to eat when the weather is cold?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I hope you had a great day
ReplyDeleteDo you enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" of after Christmas clearance shopping online?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I hope you had a smooth day
ReplyDeleteWhat are you doing New Years?
ReplyDeleteDo you enjoy having holiday leftovers? I do. I use some ham leftovers Christmas week and freeze some for use later.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
what is your favorite movie?
ReplyDeleteDo you have any entertaining or special traditions for celebrating New Year's Eve?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you read yourself & if so have a favorite author?
ReplyDeleteI hope that you and your friends and your family and all the readers here have a happy, healthy and safe 2022!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Are you glad when a book is finished?
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading the excerpt - well done!
ReplyDeleteHave a fun and safe night!
ReplyDeleteOn New Year's Day, do you ever eat foods that are considered "lucky"?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you have any plans for new books for 2022?
ReplyDeleteDo you always make New Year's Resolutions at the start of the new year?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you ever hit road blocks when writing a book?
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a relaxing day
ReplyDeleteDid you have a good New Year's Eve?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite soup that you love to eat? I am cooking a white bean with ham soup today.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteYou are so wonderful
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book I would enjoy
ReplyDeleteDo you have a breakfast that you especially enjoy? I like an omelette with lots of vegetables, crisp bacon, and a biscuit with jam.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite character in Princes and Kings? I can understand how an author could get very fond of some of their book's characters.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I really enjoyed the chapter I read! I would love to read more.
ReplyDeleteIf you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
ReplyDeletethank you for a chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting story. It was fascinating watching everything unfold, and following Llewellyn as he reluctantly took up the mantle to lead his people.
ReplyDeleteDoes it snow at your home? One day of snow is what we have seen so far this year.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
You are so talented
ReplyDeleteWhat is your all time favorite book that you have read.
ReplyDeleteDo you enjoy eating oatmeal when the weather is cold? I like oatmeal with butter and brown sugar!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like one I would love to read this winter season.
ReplyDeleteheather
hgtempaddy
keep up the great work
ReplyDeleteWhere is your favorite place to write?
ReplyDeleteyou are awesome
ReplyDeleteIf you had a choice between grits or oatmeal for breakfast, which one would you pick? I alternate between those choices.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
ReplyDeleteHow do you like your bacon cooked - regular or extra crispy? I like
ReplyDeletevery crispy bacon!
Nancy
I hope your day is going amazing
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get your ideas for writing?
ReplyDeleteDo you have characters living in your head?
ReplyDeleteDo you do anything special to treat yourself after finishing a book?
ReplyDeleteWould you rather have a home made biscuit or toast with breakfast?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
thank you for a chance to win
ReplyDeleteWhat advice do you have for writers?
ReplyDeleteyour book looks neat
ReplyDeleteWhat part of the book was the most fun to write?
ReplyDeleteyou rock!
ReplyDeleteDo you remember to get up and stretch when you're writing?
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading the excerpt- well done!
ReplyDeleteDo you get lots of snow where you live? We had a big snow today.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Have you ever been out sledding on a cold and snowy day?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I am adding this book to my to be read soon list!
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great day
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed that the days are getting longer?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the first book that made you cry?
ReplyDeleteIs there snow and ice in your area this week? We have snowy conditions here.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What’s the best way to market your books?
ReplyDeleteI love the book details sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteDo you take a daily walk to clear your head?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book to read. I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteWhen you were a kid, did you ever build a snowman?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteDo you have any advice for new writers?
ReplyDeleteThis so sounds like my kind of read and I love the cover too.
ReplyDeleteheather
hgtempaddy
What's your New Year's Resolution?
ReplyDeleteThe front cover of Princes & King in the series: A Rose in a Thorn Bush #1 has a very classic design.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you ever write long hand?
ReplyDeleteThe roses on the cover of your book are very nice. Do you have a favorite flower that you especially enjoy?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
How many hours a day do you write?
ReplyDeleteEver been to the casino?
ReplyDeleteEver won a giveaway?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite kind of music that you enjoy?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you think about your next book while writing the current one?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite female character in history?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
How do you select the names of your characters?
ReplyDeleteDo you enjoy taking a ride on a boat or are you a fan of dry land?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What kind of books do you read?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great read that I would really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHow long on average does it take you to write a book?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do when you're stuck?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway. Best of luck with the publication.
ReplyDeleteWhat part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
ReplyDeleteAre you having a snowy weekend where you live?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Are you looking forward to Spring? I know I am.
ReplyDeleteI think I would have a hard time putting this book down after starting to read it.
ReplyDeleteDo you enjoy camping and roughing it out of doors or do you prefer indoor life?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteAre you more a fan of sweet or savory treats, in general?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What's your drink of choice when you're writing?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a morning routine?
ReplyDeletesounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteIf you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteDid you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite dessert that contains chocolate?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What did you want to be when you grew up?
ReplyDeleteDo you like the snow?
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting read
ReplyDeleteDoes writing energize or exhaust you?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever met a Karen?
ReplyDelete