I write a mix of history and fantasy called historical fantasy. There are a couple of reasons that I write in this genre. The time periods I write in””ancient and Dark Age””are steeped more in myth than recorded history and difficult time periods to find written documents and records of any kind. There is a lot of speculation and very little facts for an author to use, which I find interesting and opens up my imagination. Another reason I write in this genre is because I love fantasy””gods, goddesses, faeries and other supernatural creatures. These otherworldly creatures seem to fit perfectly with time periods that are surrounded in myth.
Though I write historical fantasy, I make sure to keep the time period setting authentic. This is done with lots of research over the years and relying mostly on archaeological evidence.
My latest series, a trilogy set in Dark Age Scotland, is a mix of history and fantasy. This is the first time I based my hero on an actual person. The hero, Aedan mac Gabrain, was a sixth century Irish king of Dal Riata (now Kilmartin Valley, Argyle). He ruled from AD 574 to 603 and proved to be a formidable king until his defeat at Degsastan at the hands of the Anglo-Saxons. The sources he is mentioned in are Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of Tigernach and Adomnan’s Life of St. Columba. A Welsh triad refers to him as ‘Aedan the Treacherous.’ It is believed that Kenneth MacAlpin (Cenaed mac Alpin), who, according to tradition was the first king of Scotland, is a descendant of the Cenel nGabrain.
I found this king fascinating, especially since it is believed he fathered a king of the Picts, but later fought against the Picts. Did he fight against his son or help his son secure his throne? This was something I pondered as I wrote the story. I decided to use a Celtic myth about Samhain and Beltaine in this story and tie a vengeful goddess to this noble clan.
From out of the mists of legend and obscure history, a series was born.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating…Sensual…Otherworldly
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A Greek vampire, Celtic kings, vengeful goddesses, an ancient faery curse”¦
All three books of my Dark Goddess trilogy are available in Print and Ebook. Set in dark age Scotland, I mixed history with a Samhain/Beltaine myth that revolves around an Irish clan and the goddesses Brigit and Cailleach.
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