Media Kit

Book Title: The Queen’s Scribe

Series: Sea and Stone Chronicles

Author: Amy Maroney

Publication Date: April 25, 2023

Publisher: Artelan Press

Page Length: 388

Genre: Historical fiction

Twitter Handle: @wilaroney @cathiedunn

Instagram Handle: @amymaroneywrites @thecoffeepotbookclub

Hashtags (optional): #HistoricalFiction #TheQueensScribe #RoyalHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page:  https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/03/blog-tour-the-queens-scribe-by-amy-maroney.html

The Queen’s Scribe

Amy Maroney

Blurb:

A broken promise. A bitter conflict. And a woman’s elusive chance to love or die.

1458. Young Frenchwoman Estelle de Montavon sails to Cyprus imagining a bright future as tutor to a princess. Instead, she is betrayed by those she loves most—and forced into a dangerous new world of scheming courtiers, vicious power struggles, and the terrifying threat of war.

Determined to flee, Estelle enlists the help of an attractive and mysterious falconer. But on the eve of her escape, fortune’s wheel turns again. She gains entry to Queen Charlotta’s inner circle as a trusted scribe and interpreter, fighting her way to dizzying heights of influence.

Enemies old and new rise from the shadows as Estelle navigates a royal game of cat and mouse between the queen and her powerful half-brother, who wants the throne for himself.

When war comes to the island, Estelle faces a brutal reckoning for her loyalty to the queen. Will the impossible choice looming ahead be her doom—or her salvation?

With this richly-told story of courage, loyalty, and the sustaining power of love, Amy Maroney brings a mesmerizing and forgotten world to vivid life. The Queen’s Scribe is a stand-alone novel in the Sea and Stone Chronicles collection.

Praise for the Sea and Stone Chronicles:

“Island of Gold is a nimbly told story with impeccable pacing.”

—Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice Review

“Sea of Shadows is stunning. A compelling tale of love, honor, and conviction.”

—Reader’s Favorite Review

Amy Maroney is the author of the award-winning Miramonde Series, the story of a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern day scholar on her trail.

Author Thoughts:

The remarkable Queen Charlotta of Cyprus, a forgotten medieval heroine

Three years ago, I began researching a series of books (the Sea and Stone Chronicles) set in medieval Rhodes, Greece. My plan was to feature strong, talented women caught up in the extraordinary events of the era. I never intended to write about a queen, nor did I think for a moment I’d write anything about Cyprus.

But when I stumbled across the extraordinary story of Queen Charlotta of Cyprus, my plan changed in a heartbeat.

In 1458, Charlotta ascended the throne, already a widow at just 15. Her half-brother, Jacco, vowed he would seize her crown. He proceeded to gain the favor of the Sultan of Egypt, raise an army, and attack his sister’s kingdom.

As Jacco’s army swept over the island, Charlotta hustled her court to the seaside fortress of Kyrenia, where they survived a massive siege. Her second husband, Louis of Savoy, proved a weak and disinterested leader, more enthusiastic about chess and backgammon than strategizing for war. Convinced the only way to save her kingdom was to drum up support in the West, Charlotta left Louis behind in Cyprus and voyaged across the Mediterranean, entreating allies for help.

This courageous queen’s story just had to be told. So I resolved to bring her to life with a novel, The Queen’s Scribe.

Though her father, King Jean, was a Frenchman born into the Lusignan dynasty, Charlotta’s mother, Eleni Palaiologina, was a Greek woman with a forceful personality. She dominated her husband’s court and raised her daughter to be a thoroughly Greek girl.

The Lusignans had ruled the Kingdom of Cyprus for centuries and took great pride in their French heritage. But Queen Eleni brought in powerful Greek supporters and poured money into Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries all over the island. Tension began to build between Greek and French factions within the court and the churches, and violence followed.

When Charlotta was married to Prince João of Portugal as a young teen, she was suddenly required to use French (their common language). Yet, by all accounts, her French was terrible. Her need for trusted interpreters would only grew stronger when her husband was killed and she was married for the second time to a French-speaking nobleman. Things got even more dire when she was under siege and forced to seek assistance from Western allies such as the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, the Pope, and the King of France. Everything hinged on Queen Charlotta’s ability to communicate in French.

I chose to tell Queen Charlotta’s tale through the eyes of fictional Estelle de Montavon, daughter of a French falconer. I first wrote a story starring her in an anthology a few years ago, and she plays a minor role in my novel Island of Gold.  In The Queen’s Scribe, Estelle, a talented scribe and skilled interpreter, offers unique value to the Lusignan court of Cyprus.

In the novel, Estelle’s language skills become as valuable as gold when the royal court retreats to Kyrenia Fortress and civil war breaks out between the queen and Jacco. As Queen Charlotta voyages across the Mediterranean Sea beseeching allies for help, Estelle is at her side, witnessing every triumph and disaster along the way.

Although Queen Charlotta only reigned for a short time, she displayed breathtaking ambition, courage, and tenacity. Her story has been lost in the mists of history for too long. I hope The Queen’s Scribe plays a role in bringing Charlotta of Lusignan’s extraordinary tale back to life.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link (if you have it): https://mybook.to/QueensScribe

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queens-Scribe-Sea-Stone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0BX8857Z5/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Queens-Scribe-Sea-Stone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0BX8857Z5/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Queens-Scribe-Sea-Stone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0BX8857Z5/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Queens-Scribe-Sea-Stone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0BX8857Z5/

Author Bio:

Amy Maroney studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading.

Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, an Amazon-bestselling historical mystery trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Amy’s award-winning historical adventure/romance series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus.

An enthusiastic advocate for independent publishing, Amy is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and the Historical Novel Society.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wilaroney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-maroney-582636b4/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Maroney/author/B01LYHPXEO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney