Hello! Happy Autumn to all of you! I can't believe another season has flown by and that my latest book, A Bride Unveiled, is now out. I had terrific fun doing the research. Kit, the hero, is an outcast who befriends the heroine, Violet, when she is a young girl. They meet again years later after Kit rises in society to become a celebrated swordmaster.
As I was writing the synopsis I decided that I wanted to learn more about swordfighting than was possible from research books. The sword is a powerful symbol. I ended up taking training from actor, stuntman, choreographer, and swordmaster, Anthony De Longis. You might have seen him on Star Trek: Voyager. He's worked in many of my favorite movies, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Lost Skull, and Batman Returns. He trained Michelle Pfeiffer with the bullwhip in her unforgettable turn as Catwoman.
To no one's surprise I didn't suddenly become a swordmaster. My knee was killing me too much to lunge. But it was an experience. The best part of the training was sitting down with Anthony to brainstorm character -- he's also a writer. I think when you look at great swordfighting scenes in literature, you realize that the tension is built more on emotion than technique.
I never thought I'd enjoy throwing knives or a tomahawk. But I did. Next time I'm going back for bullwhip lessons. Or so I'm threatening my family. . .
