My next book, My Favorite Countess, is partially set in the lovely market town of Ripon, in North Yorkshire. Ripon is also an old Cathedral City, and has been the home of monasteries since the 7th Century. The cathedral itself was founded in the second half of the 7th Century by St. Wilfred, whose festival is celebrated every year to commemorate the event. Usually held in August, there’s a parade with floats, bands, and mummers, all to honor the saint and his founding of the cathedral.
The saint even takes to the streets on his white horse, accompanied by his faithful monks.
Rumor has it that in days past, the procession used to take quite a long time, since St. Wilfrid and his monks made a habit of stopping by the local pubs on the parade route. After all, processions are hard work and a little liquid refreshment just might be in order!
In My Favorite Countess, my heroine is visiting Ripon and finds herself attending the local festivities. As she waits in the hot sun for St. Wilfrid to appear, she discovers that she has a great deal of sympathy for the tradition of hoisting a pint at various stops along the way. Fortunately, the handsome Dr. John Blackmore soon appears and whisks Bathsheba off for some of his own special brand of rest and relaxation!
And since we’re now only a few weeks away from the release of My Favorite Countess, I’m running another ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) contest. All you have to do is “like” my new Facebook author page. I’ll pick a winner this weekend. And if you’ve already “liked” my page, don’t worry. You’ll still be eligible to win.
Also, you might want to check out my website. I’m offering a free bonus read – a prequel chapter to My Favorite Countess. Just click on the link on my home page or Books page to download the PDF chapter, or read it directly on your computer.