30+ Multimedia Reasons to Read SEVEN NOBLE KNIGHTS

Seven Noble Knights is chock full of great historical tidbits. During the run-up to its new debut from Encircle Publications on December 11, I've been participating in lots of fun new multimedia experiences you can find links to in this post. I'll add new material as I do more cool events. I'll also include some oldies but goodies because Seven Noble Knights is nothing if not historical. 

Seven Noble Knights is available for Kindle preorder for only 99 cents. Grab it before the price goes up on December 11! It's also available for preorder in softcover. Order it now and it will probably arrive on release day. If you're trying to avoid the 'Zon, try directly from the publisher, or Bookshop.org, where you can order, and it will come to you from your favorite (or closest) indie bookstore. Or, if NetGalley is your groove, snag it there in exchange for a review. 

Perhaps the most important reason to read Seven Noble Knights is that it would make "a great TV series." 

Audio

• A short and sweet interview on Chat and Spin Radio about Seven Noble Knights and the importance of artists in trying times 

• An interview with All Classical Portland's book guru Ed Goldberg, crammed with noble knights, devious ladies, and ominous auguries! Check it out and download it at the station's site. Or try listening here, at the top of the page. 

• A lively chat about battles and authenticity with author friend and elegant narrator Seymour Hamilton 

Reviews

“Let Seven Noble Knights welcome you to historical fiction! …it’s a rich saga populated with characters you will grow to love (and a few you will love to hate). The ancient empires of Spain are a beautiful backdrop to the struggles of humankind across all generations of all lands: romance, revenge, war, and adventure.”

—Pushcart Prize nominee Reneé Bibby, The Writers Studio

• Seven Noble Knights is endorsed by a discerning reader in the Historical Novel Society Review. 

• Author Seymour Hamilton observes medieval bathing habits. 

• Author Kim Rendfeld discusses love and vengeance in medieval times. 

• A fan in Spain admires Seven Noble Knights. 

• Nancy at Goodreads says Seven Noble Knights kept her awake at night! 

• Grab it at NetGalley and review it yourself! 

About the Author

• A thrilling romp at Much Medieval Mayhem hosted by Anna Belfrage: The Princess Bride, Cantigas de Santa Maria, and the multicultural, multiethnic Middle Ages. 

• At Historical Fiction Blog: What's my writing process? What do I have in my refrigerator? 

• Writing Superheroes with Author Maria Grace: My surprising secret life, with polka dots. 

• At the Huffington Post with The Book Doctors: They mention a blog post about the Pitchapalooza where we met in person, and that's here. 

• At Unusual Historicals: Legends of medieval Spain, history, and fantasy. (Unfortunately, the giveaway mentioned is no longer active.) 

• An appearance in the St. Helens Chronicle gives my opinion on ebooks and the lure of historical fiction. 

• 10 Questions in 10 Words with Author Linda Sands: Seven Noble Knights as well as Boston, The Invisible Library, and a sweet roll with Nutella. 

History and Legend

• "My Characters Lived in Tenth-Century Spain" at Historical Fiction Reader: The complexities of tenth-century life couldn't help but produce a legend. 

• "How the Seven Noble Knights Survived One Millennium ... and Counting" with Author Kristin Gleeson: A story so good, you can't tell it just once! 

• "A Medieval Ritual of Rebirth" with Author Kim Rendfeld's Outtakes of a Historical Novelist with an excerpt sure to squeeze the breath out of you 

• "Fertile Fields, Fields of Blood": Exploring the site of the novel's big, bad battle 

• A different version of Seven Noble Knights from the 1800s 

• "The Seven Noble Knights in Modern Life": Living with the legend in my characters' hometowns today 

Characters: Inspirations and Interviews

• That time I stumbled upon my characters near their hometown  

• "Salas de los Infantes, Where the Seven Noble Knights Lived": A delightful visit to Salas de los Infantes to share a copy of Seven Noble Knights and see the casket inside the Romanesque-Gothic transition church 

Lambra: The Villainess

• “Vengeful Ladies and Bloody Cucumbers: J. K. Knauss on Seven Noble Knights” with Author J. L. Gribble and the pivotal bloody cucumber scene! 

• “When Does a Blood-Soaked Cucumber Solve Your Problems? J. K. Knauss interviews Doña Lambra, Villainess of Seven Noble Knights” with Author A. J. Culey 

• Meet the Villains 

• Blanca Flor, Lambra's daughter 

• Long-Suffering Justa, Lambra's maid 

Heroes

• Meet Gonzalo González, the youngest of seven noble knights.  

• Meet Mudarra, the conflicted hero of Part Two.

• “J. K. Knauss Interviews Mudarra González ibn Zaida, Hero of Seven Noble Knights” at History Imagined with the shocking ending of a medieval game of chess.

• “Every Hero Needs a Sidekick: Mudarra and Yusuf” with Author Cara McKinnon

Book Clubability

Seven Noble Knights was the official February 2017 pick of the St. Helens Literary Divas Book Club. The author made a special appearance and good times were had! Contact the author to arrange a virtual or in-person visit for your book club.

Virtual Events and Video

A release day message to my readers! 

Your truly and some engaged readers celebrated Seven Noble Knights with this entertaining virtual launch experience! We talked about men, women, monuments, cucumbers, honor, and the writing process. Catch the recording here or in the box above. 

Many thanks to Susan Wands of the NYC Historical Novel Society for making this possible. 

Lands of Legend: On December 5, 2020, I gave a photo- and excerpt-filled a virtual tour of Spain, medieval and modern, courtesy of the New York Public Library. The event was well-attended and the audience was engaged and asked thoughtful, interesting questions. There was no recording, but a special encore presentation has been recorded in four parts. 

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Facebook page 

On May 3, 2017, I gave a reading of Seven Noble Knights and did a book signing at the Harvard Book Store, fulfilling a lifelong dream. 

Check out this intimate reading of Part One, Chapter I. 

Watch the colorful trailer with art by Ayal Pinkus.

In October, I joined the other wonderful authors of We All Fall Down to talk about hope in hard times. 

Excerpts

• The siege of Zamora (at the bottom of the page)

• A very tense wedding, with DelSheree Gladden

• When you can't kill 'em, throw a blood-soaked cucumber at 'em, with J. L. Gribble. 

• "Fertile Fields, Fields of Blood"

• Think chess is a slow, intellectual game? Check this excerpt out and think again, at History Imagined. 

• The hero is almost literally reborn, with Kim Rendfeld. 

The World of Seven Noble Knights

Research and sudden dramatic transport from the 21st century to the tenth:

Weddings • Mozarabic Art • Pre-Romanesque Art in the Middle of Nowhere • Battles • The Traitor Countess • The Bloody Cucumber • Visigoths in Palencia • A Recipe for Blancmanger • Bullfighting • More Mozarabic Art • Coins • Source Materials • Spain as a Great Melting Pot • Medieval Spanish Male Names • Medieval Spanish Female Names