Behind the Scenes: Redemption from a Dark Past (A Gothic Historical Romance)
By Kelli A. Wilkins
This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a
series examining my romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote
the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I
loved most (or least) about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain
spoilers.
Hi everyone,
When I sit down to write an historical
romance, I never know where (or when) my story will take me. I’ve written
romances set in the Old West, the Minnesota wilderness, Colonial Pennsylvania,
and Celtic Scotland. Redemption from a Dark Past takes place in another unique
locale—the Kingdom of Hungary.
For me, the setting conjures up images of brooding
castles perched on treacherous mountaintops, tiny villages, medieval stone
cities, vampires, and Prince Vlad. Although the book does not take place in
Transylvania specifically, this atypical location appealed to me. It seemed
like the perfect place for a Gothic novel filled with secrets, danger,
deception, and superstition.
I enjoyed creating the cast of unusual characters
and setting the stage for the drama that’s about to unfold. Right from the
start, we meet Lord Sebestyen Adrik and learn that he’s a troubled hero who has
hidden himself away in his isolated castle. He’s depressed, guilt-ridden, has
an unsavory reputation, and is the subject of nasty rumors spread by superstitious
villagers.
The heroine, Katarina, is feisty, clever,
and anything but superstitious. She dismisses tales of evil spirits and ghosts,
and doesn’t have time for old wives’ tales. She’s ambitious and wants to leave
her pathetic existence on a goat farm for better things.
When she learns that she’s about to be
forced into marriage to a much older man, she jumps at the chance to be Lord
Adrik’s companion—despite all the terrifying stories she has been told.
Katarina’s boldness and intelligence make her the perfect person to free Sebestyen
from his dark past.
I wanted to make the mysterious Lord Adrik
a flawed and sympathetic hero. He has two physical ailments (one most romance
heroes never have) as well as several psychological scars. And as if they
weren’t enough problems, he also has a reputation as a murderer (among other
things). At the start of the book, he has just about given up on life and
any hope of being happy. By giving Sebestyen all this “baggage” I made him
vulnerable and provided him with lofty goals to reach.
As I wrote, I added layers of secrets,
built suspense, and created numerous plot twists and turns. Readers follow
Katarina’s adventures and are not sure what—or who—to believe. Can Magda the
surly, gossiping cook be trusted? How did Lady Adrik die? Is the castle really
haunted? What happened to Lord Adrik’s previous companions? Are the rumors
about him true? Katarina is left alone with Sebestyen every night, should she
fear for her safety? Everyone says she should…
In time, Katarina draws Sebestyen out of
his shell, and just when she thought she knew him, she uncovers a disturbing
secret he’s been hiding from her. Katarina tries to make sense of it all, while
following her heart.
Not everyone in this story is exactly what
(or who) they seem to be, and this adds another level of mystery and intrigue
to the book. Combining all these elements into a sensual, Gothic romance was a
lot of fun, and I hope readers will enjoy this trip into “the Dark Lord’s
lair.”
Redemption from a Dark Past
Lord Sebestyen Adrik has an unsavory
reputation as a madman, murderer… and worse. Lonely and searching for love, he
seeks the companionship of local young women, hoping one of them will ease his
torment and bring him the happiness he longs for. Katarina is his last
chance—but will she fear him like all the others? Or is she the one who can
lift his curse?
Desperate to avoid a forced marriage,
Katarina agrees to become Lord Adrik’s latest companion, despite the rumors she
has heard about him. She discovers the “Dark Lord’s” secret past and realizes
he’s not the monster everyone thinks he is.
As their love blossoms, she renews his
passion for life—yet they cannot escape the ghosts of the past.
When a meeting of the nobility goes
horribly wrong, Sebestyen’s world unravels, and his enemies plot to destroy
him. As all seems lost, a mysterious stranger arrives at the castle. Sebestyen
must decide if he is a friend or a foe…and if he can find redemption in his
love for Katarina, or lose her and everything else that he holds dear.
* * *
Order
Redemption from a Dark Past here:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DL1FXYW/
All
other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/3R1aYD
Read
reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/redemption-from-a-dark-past
I made a Facebook page for my historical romances.
Check it out here:
https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1703805359922371/
I hope you enjoyed this look at the making of Redemption from a Dark Past. I welcome comments and questions from
readers. Be sure to follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on
social media!
Happy
Reading,
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins
is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20
romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 3 horror ebooks. Her romances span
many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror
stories.
She
released Journaling Every Week:
52 Topics to Get You Writing in early 2021. This fun and innovative guide to
journaling is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking prompts designed to get
you writing about your feelings and emotions.
In 2020 Kelli
published Love, Lies & Redemption, a western romance set in 1877
Nebraska. This novel blends a sensual love story with mystery and danger.
Kelli posts on her
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.
Visit her
website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and to find all her social media
links.
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