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| Join Us Every Friday #NovConv |
To be a little different from the usual
'meet the author'
'meet the author'
let's meet a
character...
Lady Sara Kirke
from
character...
Lady Sara Kirke
Q: Hello,
I’m Helen, host of Novel Conversations,
please do make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee, wine
– something stronger? You’ll find a box of chocolates and a bowl of fruit on
the table next to you, please do help yourself. I believe you are a character in Katherine Pym’s novel Pillars of Avalon. Would you like
to introduce yourself? Are you a lead character or a supporting role?
A:
Good morning. Thank you so much for having me. I am Lady Sara Kirke, and a
leading role in Pillars of Avalon. Nothing to drink, thank you.
Q: What genre is the novel and what is it about?
A:
Pillars is historical fiction, and about my husband and I, Sir David Kirke. We
truly existed during the 17th century. I was born in London, while
David was born in France to an Englishman and vintner.
Q:
No spoilers, but are you a ‘goodie’ or a ‘baddie’? (Or maybe you are both?)
A:
I am a
‘goodie’ who will not bow down to my husband.
Q:
Tell me about another character in the
novel – maybe your best friend, lover or partner … or maybe your arch enemy!
A: David is my husband, and we knew
each other as children. He was given a Royal Letter of Marque to rampage the
coast of Canada into New France, but when he returned with prisoners and
Champlain, he was forced to return the prizes. It infuriated him, yet the king
(King Charles I of England) would not tell him why. It took many years to learn the truth.
Q:
Is this the only novel you have appeared in, or are there others in a series?
A:
The only
novel. My author made it very final, although I must say, my name continues on
to this day. I am considered the foremost North American female entrepreneur,
and an annual award is given to Canadian women in my name. This is a very proud
moment for me.
Q:
What is one of your least favourite scenes you appear in?
A: My
brother-in-law treats me very ill, yet I do not know the reason for it. Those
scenes are difficult for me, especially when he verges on the violent.
Q:
And your favourite scene?
A: Our
wedding, conducted from the Book of Common Prayer 1549. David’s growing fear
and panic before the priest and congregation were quite humorous. Silly fellow.
I don’t know what he could have been afraid of. After all, I’m not a harridan.
Q: Tell me a little about your author. Has she written any other books?
A: Katherine
Pym has written several historical fiction books set in the 17th
century. The fact she found David and me was very fortuitous. She was tasked to
produce a novel of historical Canada, Newfoundland, and through her research,
my husband’s name popped up, then my name as an entrepreneur. It was
an opportunity she could not pass by.
Q:
Is your author working on anything else at the moment?
A: Yes,
and it is very different from her other works, based on ancient Sumer 5000 BCE.
It is amazing how many scholarly papers are available, how kind the authors are
when you contact them. Ancient Sumeria a fascinating time, a time if there was
time travel, Katherine would pop into that time frame to see and feel and smell
what truly went on.
Q: If your author was to host a dinner party what guests would
she invite and why? Maximum
nine guests – real, imaginary, alive or dead.
A
: Considering her eclectic mind, she
would like to talk to a few diverse people.
Benjamin Franklin as long as he controlled himself and did not play the bloody
lecher.
Winston Churchill. Katherine would be careful what she said so that he did not
volley a cutting remark at her.
Queen Elizabeth I to see what she was really like, if she were in a constant
state of annoyance because her gowns were too uncomfortable.
Marie Antoinette during her later years, before her arrest. Katherine considers
Marie had more going on than met the eye.
Thank
you Lady Kirke, it
was a pleasure talking to you. Would your author like to add a short excerpt?
CONNECT WITH Katherine Pym
EXCERPT:
Chapter 2, Pillars of Avalon by Katherine Pym, with Jude
Pittman
The calm
waters of morning had quickly changed. David stood in his cabin with his back
to the leaded-light windows as rain pummelled the galleries. Lightning slashed
and the crack of thunder made the ship shudder. Lewis leaned against the
elaborate wall panelling while Thomas remained sullen and closed, as always.
His eyes half shuttered, he folded his arms across his chest.
David smiled
grimly. “The old devil, Champlain, is not pleased we sent fishermen to conduct
our business. He wonders at greatly where we reached the conclusion that his small
compound is in dire straits. He has plenty of foodstuffs and munitions, and
welcomes an attack on his fort if we’ve the cods to do it.”
Lewis reached
for the letter. “We don’t have enough men or gunfire to engage in a long battle
with Québec.” He read the contents and grinned. “He’s a wily old fellow. I’d
wager he’s lying.” He released the paper and it fluttered onto the table.
“What say
you, Thomas?” His brother’s silence vexed him to the gut most days. “Don’t
stand there like a damned stick. Give us your thoughts.”
“I agree with
Lewis.”
“Which part?”
David hollered. “Do you think they are in a troublesome brew or that Champlain
is lying?”
“We aren’t
equipped to fight him.”
David
growled. He pressed his hands on either side of Champlain’s letter and studied
the words. He looked for something hidden, a message that would give him a yea
or nay. “I wish we could send someone up there.”
“We do not
stink of bear fat and would be noticed immediately.”
David sliced
a glance at Lewis, a merry droll and so much different from Thomas. He could
only surmise their younger brother, who took after their grand-père and had been a difficult man, was made of the same ilk.
Frustrated
Lady Fate may have deserted him, David straightened. “Then we shall weigh
anchor and leave.” Thunder rumbled. “After this storm.”
Thomas
stepped to the table and unrolled a map. “Let us find the French fleet. Summer
is half over. They should be close.
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