Take 5 with Anna Elliott

“Steeped in the magic and lore of Arthurian legend, Elliott paints a moving portrait of a timeless romance, fraught with danger, yet with the power to inspire heroism and transcend even the darkest age.”

Valued contributor Anna Elliott is celebrating the release of her second book in her Twilight of Avalon historical fantasy series.  We asked Anna to tell us a little bit about DARK MOON OF AVALON, and she obliged.  Enjoy!

Q: What is the premise of your new book? 

AE: In Dark Moon of Avalon, Isolde is the former High Queen of Britain. Trystan, her friend and protector, is a Saxon mercenary and outlaw. The villainous Lord Marche has been ruthless in his attacks on King Madoc and the British kingdom. He has identified Trystan as his son  and greatest threat. Five months after a hard-fought but tenuous victory, Isolde and Trystan are reunited to aid King Madoc again. Both the targets of Marche’s wrath, they are dispatched on a diplomatic mission through unstable and warring lands to persuade rulers of the smaller kingdoms surrounding Britain to join forces to protect the throne.  Brought together under dire circumstances, Trystan and Isolde must confront their growing love for each other and face a battle that will test the strength of their will, their hearts, and the lives of all those in Britain.  

Q: What would you like people to know about in this story? 

AE: I fell in love with the Trystan and Isolde legend in college, and it was such a joy and privilege to get to write my own retelling of it.  But I did try to make sure that anyone at all can read (and hopefully enjoy) my version–you don’t have to be familiar with the original Arthurian stories to understand Dark Moon of Avalon.  This is the most romantic of the three books, I think, which I of course loved writing.  And while the plot of Dark Moon does build on the events of Twilight of Avalon, I did intend Book 2 to somewhat stand on its own;   you don’t have to have read Book 1 to understand Trystan and Isolde and their journey. 

Q: What problems and challenges do your characters have to overcome in this story? 

AE: My Trystan and Isolde do have to overcome quite a bit.  Dark Moon of Avalon centers around a very dangerous mission that Trystan and Isolde undertake together, and the 6th century in Britain was quite a dangerous, brutal time.  Then, too, both Trystan and Isolde have suffered past emotional trauma that makes it very challenging for them to open themselves to the possibility of love.  My poor characters!  I bribe with happy endings, quite honestly.  Like, Look, here is where you will end up, if you will just agree to go through this plot I’ve worked out for you . . . 

Q: What unique challenges did this story present you, if any? 

AE: Twilight of Avalon, the first book of the trilogy, was almost exclusively from Isolde’s point of view.  But in Dark Moon, Trystan and Isolde share the narration of this story. So that was a bit of a challenge, alternative point of view and getting each of their voices just right.  But I think, especially when there’s romance involved, that it adds so much to be able to see what both protagonists are thinking, for the reader to see exactly what’s in each character’s mind, to know how they see each other, what they reveal to each other and what they’re each holding back.  And luckily for me, Trystan and Isolde each talked to me from the first in a very individual way, which I hope comes across on the page. 

Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of this book?

AE: I truly loved everything about writing this story. But if I had to pick, I’d say the most rewarding part for me was watching Isolde work hard to heal her own broken heart and open herself up to the possibility of love.  She’s both very courageous and very selfless (much more so than I could ever be) and I found it so inspiring to watch her grow in response to challenge every day.

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