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DK Marley
14 hours ago0 min read
A Brutal Rivalry Between Two Fascinating Women - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Renaissance Rivals"
BOOK EXCERPT The Vatican, 1501 Lucrezia entered the room swiftly, the pope’s attendants blurring in her peripheral vision. Without looking at them, or even at her father, she knelt before him and lowered her head to kiss the immense ruby set in gold upon his outstretched hand, lingering there so she would not have to meet his eyes. At last he lifted her chin, forcing her gaze upward toward his own dark eyes, twinkling with far too much vitality for a man of seventy. Known for
DK Marley
5 days ago6 min read
DK Marley
6 days ago0 min read
Her Life and Civic Leadership in a By Gone Era - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Marie Conner - A Leading Lady"
BOOK EXCERPT Chapter 13 Polly Potter (1950-51). “Our children are our future!” –Marie Conner, 1951. Two short excerpts from this chapter to use together. (In 1950) The Christmas party for Santiam Unit 51 was on Sunday, December 17, and again with a turkey dinner. Marie attended that, as did several district officers. Gold Star Mothers were the unit’s honored guests on that night. For music, Mrs. Lois Abrell led group singing while Marie played the piano. Two young girls with
DK Marley
Aug 43 min read
DK Marley
Jul 310 min read
Guiding a Young Catalina of Aragon - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Duty of Daughters"
BOOK EXCERPT The queen dropped her spindle onto her lap, now swinging her approval to her third daughter. “My Joy,” she said, using María’s nickname. Queen Isabel used it so often her siblings had taken to using it, too. “You’re right to remember well the teachings of the church. But God places us in a peculiar position – a position where we serve Him by offering up ourselves. That is the duty of our royal blood.” “But will not our husbands be our heads, Mother?” Infanta Marí
DK Marley
Jul 233 min read
DK Marley
Jul 160 min read
A Land Torn by Crusade and Rebellion - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Soldiers of Christ"
BOOK EXCERPT Gorodische, Novgorod Republic, June 1242 Prince Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky was angry. He paced around the hall ranting at the dozen or so assembled courtiers and aides who shuffled uncomfortably, staring at the ground in an attempt to evade his ire. At one of the tables the monk Miroslav rebandaged my wounded shoulder, which seared like hot coals, fresh blood coursing down my arm. I clenched my teeth together, watching the prince to distract my mind from the sh
DK Marley
Jul 104 min read
The Untold Story of a Californian First Lady and Playwright - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Mrs R Pacheco"
BOOK EXCERPT During the eighteen-seventies, Californians took risks everyday. Molly and Lizzie rode up Filbert Street in a horsecar packed with shoppers. It was winter, and the day was miserably wet and cold. Molly shivered, pulled her wrap tight against the wind, and listened to her sister complain about life in San Francisco. “I don’t know how much longer I can put up with it,” Lizzie said. “I’ve repeatedly told Henry how I worry about living here, and now we have our baby
DK Marley
Jul 63 min read
Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Spirit of the Times"
BOOK EXCERPT CHAPTER 1 The Mirror of Fate The town of Balasagun in Moghulistan district, Central Orient 4th of October 1336 in the Year of the Rat The soft rays of the autumnal afternoon sun shone through the crown of the ger onto the Mirror of Fate. There it was, facing Karia on the table, a lit candle on either side of it. A short time ago, as custom dictated, the newlyweds had stared into it, revealing their future. She had yearned to gaze into the oval-shaped mirror and h
DK Marley
Jul 63 min read
The Complex Moral Struggles of WWII German Women - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Fables and Lies"
BOOK EXCERPT Chapter Five Berlin, Sunday, 27 August 1939 The Adlon’s lobby was vast, with vaulted ornamental ceilings and a gigantic chandelier. The bannisters of the sweeping staircase were inset with bronze reliefs. Potted palms and Persian rugs added an exotic atmosphere. Well-heeled people bustled past, greeting friends, or headed for the reception desk. Freyja felt like an impostor. The Silesian girl masquerading as a society woman. Voigt was sitting on a leather Chester
DK Marley
Jul 33 min read
For Fans of Kristin Hannah and Kate Quinn - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Making of Marigold McGrath"
BOOK EXCERPT “Mr. Murrow?” “Yes Marigold.” “Before I came here, I worked for a relief agency at Woburn House. Uh, in light of the news last week, I was hoping sir, you might give me this Friday.” Ed Murrow leant forward and put out his cigarette. “What do you have in mind?” “I’d like to photograph the children’s arrival, sir. I could photograph it, sir.” He studied her for a moment and then smiled. “We work in radio, Marigold. Radio.” Marigold straightened her back. “Well, th
DK Marley
Jul 14 min read
Where No One is Quite Sure Where They Belong - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Unbelonging"
BOOK EXCERPT To help clear the way, Frank Sasaki obtained permission to return to Seattle in April to check on the status of their restaurant and their home on Fourteenth and Yesler. He was relieved to learn about a drop-off in violence against Japanese. But with war still raging in Asia at that time, anti-Japanese sentiment was ever present. At the invitation of his pastor at the Japanese Congregational Church, he’d attended a public hearing at Seattle City Hall on resettlem
DK Marley
Jun 293 min read
She Yearned for the Sun - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Queen of Shadows"
BOOK EXCERPT Alma felt safer the moment she entered her city. One of the guards at the city gate recognised her and asked her to give his regards to her mother. She slowed her pace along the familiar streets, passed by the huge cathedral just as the bells in the Giralda rang out the noon hour, and came to an abrupt stop at the sight of her childhood home. The gates stood wide open, people spilling out from the courtyard within to stand in the street. She pushed her way throug
DK Marley
Jun 243 min read
Passing Through History Without a Trace - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Lost Voices"
BOOK EXCERPT A city is not a place you enter, but a series of experiences closing around you. You only realise how far in you are when it’s too late. Leeds greeted them with noise, filth, and ceaseless movement. Houses pressed in, streets thick with smoke, dung, and bodies—beggars, thieves, merchants, wounded soldiers moving without distinction. Robert’s coin vanished before nightfall—lifted cleanly, without witness. Gone as if it had never been his. After Robert’s loss, they
DK Marley
Jun 221 min read