Debbie Lynne Costello -- Character Interview with Heroine Avice

Photo credit of Natalie Portman, pictured above, is from Flicker. This beautiful actress is who Debbie Lynne's heroine, Avice, resembles. Welcome back to OWG blog, Debbie Lynne, and welcome to Avice as well!

DLC: Carrie suggested an interview with Avice, my heroine, and I loved the idea. So instead of us asking the questions I turned to Facebook and asked readers what they wanted to ask the medieval heroine. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Avice can you tell us what's the latest palace gossip?

A: Although I am no’ at the King’s palace and never have been there, it happens that my cousin stopped in last week after visiting London and rumors are everywhere. Richard is off again on one of his trips, this time to campaign in Ireland. It does seem that the nobility has had enough of his exorbitant taxes to fund his extravagant lifestyle. However, the real issue is Richard’s lust for revenge against all The Lord’s Appellant. Some say he helped along John of Gaunt’s death. Yes, if the rumors be true we could have a new king by next year. But my understanding is we will learn more about that in book 2, Sword of Trust coming out this fall.


DLC:What do you dream of accomplishing in your lifetime?

A: My first dream is marrying my best friend who doesno’ seem to ken that I am no longer a child but a woman. I would like to have children and raise them in a godly way that they would grow up to serve our Lord. I dinna have grand ideas of seeing the world, gaining riches, or becoming a woman warrior. I love the life the Lord has given me and will be happy with a simple life.


DLC: As a retired RN I am interested in what medieval herbal remedies (medicines) were used and how the herbalists were trained. Do you know anything about that, Avice?

A: I do ken a wee bit. Many times it is the cook that learns the healing herbs but no’ always. Millicent is our healer and Nog, the cook has learned much from her. The information is passed down. The best way to learn is to help and assist. We have many herbal remedies. I am blessed to live at the end of the 14thcentury. It is a time when medicine has advanced. We have stonecroft for pain as well as mandragora to dull one’s pain or put one to sleep for surgery. Licorice root works well for chest pain, and yarrow helps to stop bleeding. We have doctors who went to school at Salerno Italy Bologna Italy, and Montpelier France. Much of their knowledge was learned much from the Arabs. Barbers and doctors both do surgeries. We even have dentist who will fill holes in teeth and make false teeth out of oxen bone. However, ʼtis only the rich that afford the services of such learned men.

DLC: How do the women of your time find the courage to defy husbands and fathers to become the persons they were?
A: I am blessed and have a good father and husband. ʼTis like many things, we tend to accept our lot in life. But no’ all men are cruel in this time, ʼtis a myth that they are. There are strong woman who dinna cower to men, but believe they are as good as any man. I suppose if it does no’ break them it makes them stronger. ʼTis something you must dig down deep and find within you.

DLC: Do you really like mutton?
A: Oh yes, roasted leg of mutton is delicious and a favorite of the wealthy and poor alike.

DLC:Do you consider bathing bad for your health?
A: Nay, we dinna believe such things. There have been times in the past, such as during the plague people feared that the water spread the disease, but we dinna believe that. I enjoy a bath, though they are cold and many times I choose to wash in a river. The wealthy can afford warm water in their bath.

DLC: How does your faith influence/motivate what you do?
A: Though most dinna own the Bible, we have mass and ken where our blessings come from. There are some who believe in superstitions, but I suppose my faith influences my actions much as it does people of your time. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins. We as a human race either respond to that prompting and grow closer to the Lord or we reject it and choose to walk in sin.

DLC: Who do you admire and why?
A: Christine de Pizan a French writer of poems and prose. She wrote poetry of lost love after the tragic death of her husband. She became quite famous and used her writing to support her children, mother and niece after her husband’s death.

The Perfect Bride

Avice Touchet has always dreamed of marrying for love and that love would be her best friend, Philip Greslet. She’s waited five years for him to see her as the woman she’s become but when a visiting lord arrives with secrets that could put her father in prison, Avice must consider a sacrificial marriage. 

Philip Greslet has worked his whole life for one thing—to be a castellan—and now it is finally in his grasp. But when Avice rebuffs his new lord’s attentions, Philip must convince his best friend to marry the lord against his heart’s inclination to have her as his own. 

You can join in on Debbie Lynne's Book Launch of The Perfect Bride by visiting these blogs"

April 30^THAnne Payne Blog

http://annepayne.blogspot.com/  

May 2^ndCross Romance

http://crossromance.blogspot.co.uk/

May 4^thAmy Booksy 

https://amybooksy.blogspot.com/

May 7^th  The Sword and Spirit

http://theswordandspirit.blogspot.com/

May 9^thSinging Librarian Books

https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/adults

May 12^thStitches Thru Time 

http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

May 15^th- Heroes, Heroines, and History- Mid Month Madness

http://www.hhhistory.com/

May 17^thJodie Wolfe Blog

https://www.jodiewolfe.com/blog

May 21^st  Sunnie Reviews

https://sunniereviews.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-mothers-gift-blog-tour-guest.html?spref=fb

Bio: Debbie Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children's Director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In their spare time, she and her husband take pleasure in camping and riding their Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.

Connect with Debbie Lynne:
on her website
The Sword & Spirit blog
Heroes, Heroines, and History blog

Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus

Pinterest

Purchase The Perfect Bride on Amazon 

GIVEAWAY: We're giving away a copy of Debbie Lynne Costello's newest release this week here on OWG blog. Leave a comment for a chance to win!