Summer Warrior (The Clan Donald Saga #1) by Regan Walker-Dual Review & Interview

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2020

Somerled’s parentage was noble, of the Kings of Dublin, the royal house of Argyll and the great Ard Ri, the High Kings of Ireland. But when the Norse invaded Argyll and the Isles, his family’s fortunes fell with those of his people. All hope seemed lost when he rose from the mists of Morvern to rally the Gaels, the Scots and the Irish.

Sweeping across Argyll and the Isles like a fast-moving storm, brilliant in strategy and fearless in battle, Somerled began retaking his ancestral lands, driving away the invaders and freeing the people from the Norse stranglehold. In doing so, he would win the title Somerle Mor, Somerled the Mighty, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne and, eventually, Lord of the Isles.

This is the unforgettable story of his path to victory that forged the Kingdom of the Isles and won him the heart of a Norse king’s daughter.

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Sandy’s REVIEW: SUMMER WARRIOR is the first instalment in Regan Walker’s THE CLAN DONALD SAGA historical fiction series.

Lord Somerled MacGillebride, the new leader of the Gaels in the aftermath of an attack against the MacInnes Clan, and the resulting death of their Chief, must undertake a journey to stop the advance of, and the raping and pillaging by the Norse pirates along the coastal waters of Scotland and the Kingdoms of the Isles. Born of a Norse mother and a Gael father, Somerled, of the royal house of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne, set about to reclaim his family’s fortune, name and ancestral lands where he will come face to face with his future in the guise of Ragnhild, the Princess of Man, daughter of Olaf the Red, King of Man. But a potential war between England and the Scots is on the horizon, and Lord Somerled had previously pledged his support to King David and the Scots, and with the promise comes the likelihood and implied call to duty.

Meanwhile, Ragnhild Olafsdottir, the Princess of Man, chatelaine and daughter of King Olaf the Red, has fallen for our story line hero but King Olaf has bided his time in offering his daughter’s hand in marriage. With more than one suitor vying for her affection, Ragnhild must abide by her father’s wishes but secretly pines for a man whose duty first is to another king and people. Ragnhild is a beautiful, independent and strong willed female who knows her time with her father’s family may be coming to an end. Hoping to reclaim the lands for his son Prince Henry, King David’s call to arms gathers the Chiefs and clans, many of whom will not survive the war.

SUMMER WARRIOR, inspired by historical accounts, is the fictionalized retelling of Lord Somerled MacGillebride, Ragnhild the Princess of Man, and the war between King David and the Scots. Regan Walker’s world building is beautiful, magical and intricate; lifelike and credible. The romance between Ragnhild and Somerled takes a backseat to the wondrous imagery, yet, the attraction is tangible and unmistakable. A captivating and delightful story SUMMER WARRIOR is a fantasy for the mind.

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Georgianna’s REVIEW: Summer Warrior is a story of historical fiction. The research for this story is excellent and detailed. The author really delves into the time period and marries research with the ability to weave a unique storyline.

The story begins in summer of 1135 A.D. off the coast of the Isle of Man. Somerled MacGillebride, a noble in the royal house of Argyll whose father and many warriors had been defeated by the Norse pirates, sailed near the Isle of Man on his way home. He spotted a white horse galloping across the plain above him and wondered at the rider. A girl with flaming red hair rode like the wind. His brother told him she was the daughter of King Olaf. He thought her spirit was one to be coveted, but he had lost all his lands and had nothing to offer the king for her hand.

Ragnhild, King Olaf’s daughter rode like the wind, running from the hint of marriage to Rognvald Kolsson, Earl of Orkney. She thought he was an evil man and that he’d murdered or had murdered his cousin to gain the title. He looked at her with lustful looks, and she knew he would ask her father for her hand. Her stepmother had just given birth to a male child and wanted her gone.

Okay, that’s pretty much the set-up, except that Somerled was approached by the MacInnes men after their chief had been slain by Norse pirates. They wanted him to lead them all in driving out the pirates and freeing them from Norse oppression.
This is a well-researched saga of the Clan Donald, its founding and recapturing the isles from the Norse. There are battles, wars, and castle building. The romance is light, with only one stolen kiss, but many thoughts of each other as Somerled gains titles and lands to gain the hand of the princess.

If you enjoy historical period adventures and world building, this is a fantastically bold story. The two are meant for each other, but there are no love scenes of stolen moments or anything like that. The love is chaste and yet fulfilling. The isles are well described, the characters are unique and the conversations realistic. The adventures are fierce and many.

Copies supplied for review

TRC:   Hi, Regan and welcome back to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of SUMMER WARRIOR.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

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I am a lawyer turned writer (though I still practice law on a part time basis). I love reading stories set deep in history and that led me to write my first novel, a Regency, in 2011. Since then, more Regencies followed and then I ventured into other eras. First it was the Middle Ages with the Medieval Warriors series set in England and Scotland and then it was the Georgian era (late 18^th century) with dashing sea captains. I am just beginning a new series, The Clan Donald Saga. Book 1 is Summer Warrior.

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

I was always a writer but I didn’t always write fiction. I suppose my good friend, Judy, influenced me to go in that direction. She urged me to write one. That led to Racing with the Wind, my first Regency. Ultimately, my love for the ocean led me to write seafaring stories. Every morning, my dog, Cody, and I take walks on the beach. It is very soothing to the soul.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first book?

There weren’t many, really. I had to get used to being inside a character’s head but I discovered I loved storytelling. Some of my books have given me pains in the middle when I’m not sure where they should go. Since my books are all based on real history, that usually helps guide me. I love research, so that is not a problem.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of SUMMER WARRIOR?

Since Summer Warrior is the first in the series and sets the foundation for all that follow, its central character is Somerled, the acknowledged founder of Clan Donald. The heroine, Ragnhild, daughter of the King of Man and the Isles, was a beauty and Somerled was smitten. He was, for all I could learn, a handsome charismatic leader, respected by the people of Argyll and the Isles. He built an independent Kingdom of the Isles and freed the people from the Norse stranglehold. When you are writing about the 12^th century, there is a dearth of original sources. I read all the ones I could get my hands on and got all the books that spoke of the clan’s history (I have over 40 books for the series and that’s doesn’t account for my Google Books searches and my Internet research). The Internet sources conflict and are not reliable in all cases, however.

TRC:  What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning SUMMER WARRIOR?

I did research for weeks before I wrote anything. And the research didn’t stop after that. Often, I had to look up something while I was writing. I’m very visual so it’s important for me to know what things look like (there is a Pinterest storyboard for Summer Warrior: https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/the-clan-donald-saga-by-regan-walker/). I don’t plot but I do follow a historical timeline.

TRC:  Do you believe authors have a responsibility to be historically accurate when writing an fictional historical story line?

Let me put it this way, stories that are historically accurate are the ones I want to read. I know some readers don’t care. I do.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Absolutely. Covers will make me want to read a book and they will make me not want to read a book. Titles are also important. Titles that are flip or too cute tell me the author isn’t committed to historical authenticity. I always design my cover very early in the process, when I’m just beginning to write and then I write to the cover.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Both. I get them in the place and in the scene and then they surprise me. One editor told me I was easy to work with because I knew my characters so well. I think that I do.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

We must bring our characters to life, showing their hopes and their dreams along with their failures and fears so readers can identify with them. I like to make my heroines inspiring but realistic and my heroes noble of heart and drool-worthy. (I wrote a post on Rogues Who Make Readers Sigh: https://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/rogues-who-make-readers-sigh.html.) We fail if we make our characters superficial or trite.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Yes and the music changes based on the era in which my book is set. For Summer Warrior, I listened to Nordic music and some medieval playlists depending on the scene. Music puts me in the era. And when I begin to play that music, it also brings me into my story. I don’t change the music for the characters but I do change the music for fight scenes and sea battles.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Oh gosh. That’s a difficult one to answer. I know one of my friends told me she envied me my sex life (many of my Regencies have a graphic love scene or two). I laughed and told her that was all imagination. So, I suppose some readers think we have lived what we write about; not so.

TRC:   What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Here’s the short list: I was the football team mascot in high school (a dynamite stick). I learned to ride a motorcycle on an antique Velocette bike. I own a hand gun and shoot well. As a lawyer, people would be surprised to know I am a romantic, though you can see it in my stories. I have also served at high levels of government and some of that helped me understand the role of the Crown in my novels.

Antique Velocette:

TRC:  Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

I have a list on my blog; it’s pretty long. For historical romance, the short list would include Virginia Henley, Kathleen Givens, Jan Cox Speas, Penelope Williamson, Joanna Bourne, Victoria Holt, Elizabeth Stuart, and Laurie McBain, to name a few. For historical fiction, it is probably Elizabeth Chadwick, who always has a love story or two in her novels.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

Now that Summer Warrior is launched, I’m doing research for the next in the series, which I expect will be set in 13^th century Scotland.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

I have an award-winning blog, Historical Romance Review: https://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: seafood

Favorite Dessert: chocolate or coffee ice cream

Favorite TV Show: I don’t watch TV, only Amazon Prime and Netflix and those would be historical series or movies; I get my news on the Internet

Last Movie You Saw: Outlaw King

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark 70%

Secret Celebrity Crush: Sean Connery (at any age)

Last Vacation Destination: The Scottish Highlands (and I hope to go back next spring)

Do you have any pets? Yes. My dog, Cody, a 3-year-old wirehaired pointing griffon. He’s wonderful.

Last book you read: Sharon Kay Penman’s Time and Chance

Thank you Regan for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of SUMMER WARRIOR. We wish you all the best.

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