Times of Turmoil by Anna Belfrage #Interview #TimeTravel #HistoricalFiction #CoffeePotBookClub

Times of Turmoil is out now, and It’s lovely to host Anna Belfrage on my blog today to reveal some fascinating details about her time-travelling characters and history.

Erin Barnes sounds like a person who needs to stand up for herself. What is it about her background that enables her to do this, and does Duncan her husband understand what drives her?

I think it helps that Erin (now Melville 😉) comes from the 21^st century. She was raised in an environment where she was expected to stand up for herself, no matter that she is a person of colour. She also has Duncan’s full support. Well, okay, he would prefer it if she cultivated a lower profile at times, but God help the man—or woman—who disparages his wife!

Armand Joseph Chardon and his sons seem to be the main antagonists in the story. What is it about him and his family that makes him a bigger danger than any of the other dangers the couple face?

The Chardons have a secret weapon. I’m not about to reveal more than that, but let’s just say that Monsieur Chardon has repeatedly proven to what lengths he will go to rid himself of perceived enemies, and that weapon he has can, effectively, destroy Erin’s and Duncan’s life. Completely.

You have published several series of books. Can you say a few words about each series? Do you plan them all in advance, and if not how do you know when a series is finished?

I never set out to write a series. I always set out with the ambition that this book, this one, will be a stand-alone. And then things happen, my characters develop into larger-than-life personas who desperately want to know what happens to them afterwards—as do I—and a new series is born.

My first series, The Graham Saga, is the story of time traveller Alex Lind and her 17^th century hubby, Matthew Graham. Their life is exceedingly exciting at times with adventures both in Scotland but predominantly in the Colony of Maryland. Alex and Matthew are Duncan’s grandparents.

My second series, The King’s Greatest Enemy, is set in the 1320s and is the story of Adam de Guirande and his wife, Kit, who find themselves entangled in the political mess featuring Edward II, Roger Mortimer, Queen Isabella and a very young Edward III.

My ongoing medieval series, The Castilian Saga, is set in the times of Edward I against the background of his conquest of Wales. One little baby boy somehow slips through Edward’s attempts to rid the world of the Princes of Gwynedd, and that child ends up with my protagonists, Noor and Robert.

Other than my historical series, I’ve also published a contemporary paranormal/dark romance series called The Wanderer. Great fun to write!

And now, of course, I also have The Time Locket, with Times of Turmoil being the second instalment. There will deffo be a third (“And a fourth!” Erin yells. “No way will you leave us in the back of beyond without sorting out that mess.” Umm . . .)

You have indie published all your books. What sort of a community have you built to enable you to do this, or do you do everything yourself?

I have a great editor – every writer needs an editor! I have a great cover artist. Other than that, I do everything myself – but I also have a cheerleading team consisting of other indie writers who are there to boost my ego when so required. Because—as you well know—there are moments when being indie is being very alone.

What book / film have you read / seen that gave you a similar feeling or atmosphere to Times of Turmoil.

What a difficult question! Some of the angst in Pirate Code by Helen Hollick is deffo present in Times of Turmoil. I also suspect I may have drawn some inspiration from Belle, the movie about Dido Elizabeth Lindsay, illegitimate daughter of an English nobleman and his coloured mistress.

Thank you Anna and all the best with your new series.