Game of Thrones Characters A-Z #AtoZChallenge #GoT #GameofThrones

Game of Thrones is coming back!  To say I’m excited is an understatement.  This series of books has long been a favorite, and watching the show has become a treasured family event in a stage where convincing two teenage boys to spend time with me can be difficult.  A few years ago, I did a GoT version of “TheA-Z Blog Challenge”, something many authors participate in during the month of April.  The idea is to post a new topic every day, using the alphabet for inspiration, but instead, I made one big post highlighting one GoT character for each letter of the alphabet. It has been so popular, I decided to do it again with a new list.  I tried to find characters included in both the books and the show if possible, and if you’ve watched the show up to the latest season, you won’t find any spoilers.

A is for: Aerys II, the last Targaryen to rule the Seven Kingdoms.  He became known as the Mad King after grief and imprisonment contributed to his downward spiral of cruelty and paranoia.  When his eldest surviving son, Rhaegar, allegedly kidnapped Lyanna Stark, the eldest Stark brother, Brandon, rode to King’s Landing.  Aerys arrested Brandon for threats against the crown, and executed both Brandon and his father, Lord Rickard Stark, in a horrific manner.  When he then demanded the heads of Eddard (Ned) Stark and Robert Baratheon, Lyanna’s fiancé, the war known as Robert’s Rebellion began.  Aerys was killed by Jaime Lannister, a member of his own Kingsguard.

B is for: Balon Greyjoy, the Lord of the Iron Islands.  Shortly after Robert’s Rebellion and ascension to the throne, Balon declared Greyjoy’s Rebellion, seeking the title of King of the Iron Islands.  The revolt failed, and Balon was forced to send his only surviving son, Theon, to live as a ward of the Starks.

C is for: Catelyn Stark, wife of Eddard (Ned) Stark.  Cat grew up a Tully at Riverrun, where Petyr Baelish lived as her father’s ward.  She was betrothed to Brandon Stark but was later married to Ned when Brandon was executed.

Michael Huisman as Daario Naharas
on HBO's Game of Thrones

D is for: Daario Naharas, one of the captains of the Stormcrows, a mercenary company hired to defend Yunkai from Daenerys’ invading army.  When Daario meets Daenerys, she invites him to switch allegiance, and after killing the other captains, he brings the Stormcrows to her side.  Eventually they become lovers.

E is for: Ellaria Sand, a paramour of Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne.  She is the father of several of his illegitimate daughters, a group known as the Sand Snakes. 

F is for: Free Folk, the term those who live north of (or “beyond”) the wall use to describe themselves, because they do not recognize the authority of a royal king.  Those in the Seven Kingdoms refer to the Free Folk as Wildlings because of their more primitive lifestyle.

G is for: Gilly, one of women held at Craster’s Keep.  Craster, a Wildling who married his daughters and granddaughters, sacrificed all his male babies to the White Walkers (The “Others”).  When the Night’s Watch sheltered at the Keep, Gilly begged one of the brothers, Samwell Tarly, to help her escape in order to protect her male child.

H is for: High Sparrow, the name taken by the current High Septon, or head, of The Faith of the Seven, the religion followed by the majority of the Westeros (the exceptions being the north and the Iron Islands).  The term “new gods” refers to the “Seven Who Are One” worshiped in The Faith: Father, Mother, Warrior, Maiden, Smith, Crone, Stranger.

I is for: Ilyn Payne, whose tongue was removed with hot pincers by the Mad King when he repeated a rumor that Tywin Lannister, the King’s Hand at the time, was really running the Seven Kingdoms.  He was later named the King’s Justice, or the royal executioner, under King Robert Baratheon.

J is for: Jaqen H’ghar, one of the Faceless Men who worship a god of death known as the Many-Faced God.  He was imprisoned in a cage on a trip north to join the Night’s Watch, and when Arya Stark saved his life, he gave her a coin and a phrase to give to any man of Braavos should she need help in the future.

K is for: King Tommen, the young, newly crowned ruler who became king when King Joffrey was poisoned at his own wedding.  While Tommen inherited the Iron Throne through his Baratheon name, his claim is disputed since he appears to be the son of Cersei and Jaime Lannister and thus both illegitimate and the child of an incestuous relationship.  He married Margaery Tyrell, the bride of his deceased brother.

Dean-Charles Chapman and Natalie Dormer as King Tommen
and Queen Margaery on HBO's Game of Thrones

L is for: Loras Tyrell, the Knight of the Flowers and Queen Margaery’s brother.  He is a handsome and skilled knight and the former lover of Renly Baratheon, one of the three claimants of the Iron Throne during the War of the Five Kings.  The two other “kings” involved were the leaders of separatist groups, Robb Stark as the King of the North and Balon Greyjoy as the King of the Iron Islands.

M is for: Missandei, a handmaid and confidant of Daenerys Targaryen.  Originally from Naath, or the Isle of Butterflies in the Summer Sea, she was captured and sold into slavery in Astapor.  She serves as a translator when Daenerys buys the Unsullied, and is then offered employment once Daenerys sets all the slaves free.

N is for: Nissa Nissa, the wife of the hero Azor Ahai in legends.  According to followers of R’hollor (the Red God, the Lord of Light), Azor Ahai was chosen to fight the darkness blanketing the world, and in order to create the sword he needed, he sacrificed his wife Nissa Nissa, driving the blade through her heart so her soul melded with the steel.  Followers of R’hollor believe Azor Ahai will return to stand against the Others.

O is for: Osha, a wildling woman captured by the Starks during an assault on young Bran.  Although forced into servitude in exchange for her life, she formed a strong bond with the Stark children remaining in Winterfell, and along with Hodor and the direwolves, helped them escape a siege.

P is for: Podrick Payne.  Pod is a distant cousin of Ser Ilyn Payne and served as Tyrion Lannister’s squire.  At the Battle of the Blackwater, he intervened when a member of the Kingsguard attacked Tyrion.  As a result, Tyrion survived the assassination attempt, although he suffered a terrible wound to his face.

Q is for: Qyburn, a former maester stripped of his chains and title for performing unethical experiments on live patients.  He attends to Jaime Lannister’s severed limb at Harrenhal and then returns to King’s Landing with him.  After Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain, is gravely wounded fighting Prince Oberyn Martell, Qyburn conducts extensive experiments and possibly dark magic on the poisoned knight.

R is for: Ramsay Bolton, a former bastard of Roose Bolton known as Ramsay Snow.  He is a cruel sadist who enjoys hunting humans and the Bolton tradition of flaying enemies alive.  When the Boltons attack Winterfell, Ramsay takes Theon as his prisoner, renames him “Reek” after a former servant, and tortures him extensively.  After Ramsay’s wedding, which gives him a claim to Winterfell, King Tommen I grants a decree of legitimization to make Ramsay a Bolton.

S is for: Samwell Tarly, a member of the Night’s Watch and Jon Snow’s best friend.  He was forced to “take the black” by his father, who felt his timid oldest son did not deserve the position of inheritance.  With Jon’s support, Sam grows braver, and eventually earns the nickname Sam the Slayer after killing an Other with a piece of dragonglass.  Sam’s dream is to become a maester, and after Jon is made Lord Commander, he allows Sam—with Gilly and her baby—to leave for Oldtown to begin his studies.     

T is for: Tysha, a peasant girl saved from a group of men by Jaime and Tyrion Lannister.  A 13-year-old Tyrion fell in love with her and quickly married her.  When his father Tywin found out his son had married a crofter’s daughter, he instructed Jaime to lie to his brother, telling Tyrion she was a whore, paid to sleep with him; he then forced Tyrion to watch the guards gang rape her.  

  

U is for: the Unsullied, slaves chosen at a young age to train as soldiers in Astapor.  The Unsullied are treated brutally, castrated, and stripped of any individuality.  Those who survive become disciplined and highly skilled fighters.  While Daenerys is in Astapor, she buys every Unsullied from the slaver and then orders her new army to kill all the Good Masters and other supporters of the slave trade.

The baby dragons in a scene
from HBO's Game of Thrones

V is for: Viserion, one of the three dragons born from the eggs gifted to Daenerys for her wedding to Khal Drogo.  They hatch when Daenerys burns the eggs in Drogo’s funeral pyre in the Dothraki Sea.  Viserion is named for Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys’s older brother.  The ancient connection between House Targaryen and dragons dates back to the Doom of Valyria, which left only five dragons in existence—the five House Targaryen had brought to Dragonstone when they went into exile. 

W is for: Walder Frey, Lord of the Twins (also called the Crossing)—identical towers on either side of the Trident river connected by a stone bridge.  He is almost 90 years old and has many offspring, both legitimate and illegitimate.  A deal is struck to marry two Freys to Robb and Arya Stark when Robb Stark’s host requires the bridge during the War of the Five Kings, but Robb breaks his promise and marries another.  “The Red Wedding” is Frey’s revenge.  

  

X is for: Xanda Qo, a female warrior and princess who lived on the Summer Isles.  Once a slave herself, she put an end to the “Years of Shame” by uniting the islands under her rule and eventually ending slavery there.  Current lords from the Summer Isles attended Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s wedding, and dancers from the Summer Isles performed at the royal wedding of King Joffrey and Queen Margaery.

Y is for: the Yunkai’i, citizens of the city of Yunkai in Essos.  Yunkai sits on the coast of Slaver’s Bay and the Wise Masters participate in slave trade.  After Daenerys attacks and defeats Yunkai, she sets all the slaves free before continuing on to Meereen.

Z is for: Zamettar, a ruined city on the coast of Sothoryos, which is one of the four known continents in the A Song of Ice and Fire world (the others being Westeros, Essos, and Ulthos).  Nymeria, a Princess of the Rhoynar, led her people into exile after defeat by the Valyrian Freehold and settled briefly on Zamettar before continuing on to Dorne, where she married a Martell.  Their allied forces conquered the remainder of Dorne, and previous kings were sent to the wall.

There you have it, my A-Z wrap-up--hope you enjoyed!  See my first A-Z Game of Thrones Characters here for more.  And if you’re a fan of spooky suspense and steamy romance, grab one of my books to help pass the time to premier day!

SILVER LAKE – A haunting, an old flame, and secrets from the past…

GULL HARBOR – A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await Claire…

DIVINE FALL – (Young Adult) Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel…

Sources: A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin and A Wiki of Ice and Fire. 

A #Supernatural Binge - How was I not watching this?

Admittedly, I don't watch all that much TV, because I often just don't have the time (or patience) to get into a new show.  Reading is my #1 favorite pastime, and then I have to find time to write, then there are the other part-time jobs and of course family members and pets who want attention.  But I do have some favorite shows that I always make time for (or at least time to DVR episodes for later), and they usually involve the things I like best: some romance, hot heroes, some paranormal elements or magic, and plenty of conflict and tension.  I've blogged about several that fit the bill:  Outlander, Vikings, Game of Thrones, The Vampire Diaries, Reign, etc.  In addition, I'm a big fan of spooky movies.

So when a friend recently found out I didn't watch Supernatural, she couldn't believe it.  She had just recently begun watching it, and she suggested I do the same, but I resisted at first.  Too busy to try another show, I decided.  But she convinced me (and made me laugh) by telling me that it was like a "show designed specifically for me".  She went on to say that if a group of writers got together and said, "Okay, how can make the perfect show for this woman who loves hot guys, ghosts, Nephilim, demons, and other paranormal mysteries?", the result would be something like this show.  How could I resist that pitch?

Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester

Well, she was right.  I love it.  I'm only on the first season, but Dean Winchester already has my heart.  (I also enjoyed the actor, Jensen Ackles, on Days of Our Lives, but Dean is a much better character than Eric, even if he was a Brady!)  Don't get me wrong, Sam's cute as well...but I'm definitely Team Dean.  Aside from just looks, I absolutely love the actor's facial expressions and the character's personality.

So far the early part of the show has been heavy on ghosts and spirits, which is absolutely my thing, and I'm enjoying the chemistry between the brothers as they begin to work together to find their father.  There's some strong motivation for what they're doing (which is important to me as a writer), since their mother and then Jessica were killed by an evil entity.  In addition, they want to find their father and battle any evil they encounter along the way (take up the family business of "hunting").

Two hot hunters!  Dean and Sam Winchester

I especially enjoyed the "Dead in the Water" episode, as the entire premise followed a theme I often use in my novels: a desperate spirit, unable to rest, seeking...something.  I won't say what here, to avoid spoilers.  But the ghost has motivation as well, as opposed to just haunting/killing for no reason beyond a creepy plot device.

In a few other funny coincidences, the hero of my current manuscript is named Dean.  And I also remembered another tie I have to the show when I began watching...when writing Divine Fall, my Young Adult paranormal romance, I had to come up with some rules about angels and Nephilim (half-angels, half-humans), and my "research" led me to a post about an episode of Supernatural. That post led me to seek more information on an ancient perfume used by Egyptians that supposedly could kill an angel, and eventually the substance, qeres, became part of my plot.  So I look forward to a future episode where Dean and Sam tackle some bad angels (I think it's S4), and to 11 more seasons of my new favorite show!

How Many Events Can I Fit Into One Month? #amwriting

Answer: A LOT!  October is over, and I am exhausted...but in a good way.  The month of Halloween is really big for me, since all three of my novels have a paranormal element.  Two are spooky ghost stories mixed with romance, and my young adult novel has supernatural secrets entwined with forbidden love.  Not only did I brainstorm some promotions of my own, but I also received some amazing requests that I certainly would never refuse.  All this combined to make a very busy month!

With the wonderful host
of Off the Shelf

First off, I was invited to be interviewed on the television program Off the Shelf, which airs on community access channels throughout Massachusetts.  Although I had to take off work and drive two hours, I of course jumped at the chance.  This was my third time on television, and while it's stressful having a conversation in front of the camera, it really does get easier every time.  We filmed this show on October 3rd, but it won't air for a few more weeks.

Lunch was delicious!

On Oct. 7th, I was the guest speaker at a member luncheon at The Hyannis Yacht Club.  I planned out a 25-minute presentation, which of course I had to memorize.  I spent time every night practicing, and it went really well.  I was thrilled that some of the guests read my books in advance after they signed up to attend.

The it was on to SpookLit night, a special "spooky literature" event organized by another local author.  Seven Cape Cod authors of both nonfiction and fiction books dealing with supernatural elements participated in readings.  We were each allowed 11 minutes to speak a little bit about our book and read from a scary passage.  I put together a new, brief presentation and read from GULL HARBOR, since this ghost story/romance is set on the Cape.  We had a huge crowd and almost everyone dressed up in costume, so it was a lot of fun.

Two days later I was at the historic Hyannis Library on Main Street, giving a presentation on writing romance and changes in the publishing industry.  One couple who had attended SpookLit came to hear a little bit more about my books, which truly made my night.  Everyone there had really great questions, and it was a lively discussion.

Banner for our Facebook Event

Online, I organized a Romance & Ghosts giveaway with the help of fellow authors Kelly Moran, Joya Fields, and Denise Moncrief.  We each donated copies of romances we've written that also involve ghost stories.  This Facebook event went on for two weeks, with a final drawing on Halloween.  In addition, I participated in the Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop, and completed an author interview for a college student majoring in Creative Writing.  I ran a 99 cent sale on my new YA DIVINE FALL as well as a Goodreads giveaway for a signed print copy.

Finally, I published extra blog posts on paranormal topics (as opposed to my usual four posts per month), including one on the premier of the scary movie Annabelle, one on the Origin of Superstitions, one on the creepy show Ghost Within My Child, and one for the Halloween Blog Hop on Graveyards.


Whew!  It was a lot of stress and preparation, but reading and writing are my passions, and I love to let readers know about my books.  Of course, my head was spinning toward the end of the month (not like the Exorcist girl, don't worry), when I realized on the day before Halloween I didn't even have a pumpkin, much less supplies and costumes for everyone!  Something had to give, right?  I ran out and found pumpkins at bargain basement prices (one advantage of waiting till the last minute), and my younger son reminded me we had a costume from last year that had arrived after Halloween (I must have been busy last October too, lol)--so he'll wear that.  I even found the box I'd packed it away in!

My older son informed me he'd like to have his birthday (16 - gulp!) sleepover on Halloween as well, so that took some scrambling to organize.  All in all, while October is one of my favorite months, I'm ready to welcome November!

My 2nd TV Interview - #amwriting #romance

Last year, I filmed my very first television interview--I was invited to discuss SILVER LAKE on Books and the World, a local cable program.  The first link takes you to the post with the actual interview, but this one explains how nervous I was!  So why, one might ask, did I ask to go through it again?



Because I'm passionate about my books, and I constantly push myself beyond my comfort zone in order to connect with readers.  As an avid reader myself, I know I'm always looking for recommendations.  When I find a book I can't put down, I'm truly transported...it's my absolute favorite form of entertainment.  My hope is that my books provide that type of enjoyment for fans of romance, suspense, and the paranormal. 

So...I finally sent the email to the producers of the show, telling them about my latest release, GULL HARBOR.  I was invited to return for another interview, and we filmed on June 13 (Friday the 13th, but that's okay, I'm a big fan of the number 13).  This time, I found I was much more relaxed as I waited in the conference room.  I was introduced to my interviewer, an amazing WWII veteran who said he enjoyed my paranormal romance immensely.  That set me at ease, until he further stated that we would not discuss any questions in advance.  We'd just have a conversation, in front of the cameras.

*Gulp* 

I'm a plotter.  I like to be prepared.  My nerves fired back up into overdrive.  But it was fine, and I found myself actually forgetting about the camera this time, and just focusing on answering the questions and discussing my passion.

So, here's the interview, should anyone care to watch.  And here's part 2, because for some reason Youtube won't load the whole half hour program.  Finally, here's the way putting myself out there led to even more exposure:

The producers informed me that although the show only airs in certain towns, the episode would be available on a statewide access website.  Any town could pick it up, if requested to do so.

Again, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.  I emailed the cable stations in both my hometown and my husband's hometown.  And guess what happened?  One of those stations invited me to come in for THEIR author interview program, which airs in 44 towns with a potential reach of one million viewers!  The authors who've appeared on the program include some very big names.  Since DIVINE FALL releases this summer, we'll be focusing on my new YA paranormal romance.

Of course, I'm over the moon to have this opportunity.  Once again, I'll have to push my anxiety aside for the sake of my passion.  And while being interviewed in front of a camera is not yet something I feel completely comfortable doing, I've got to admit, each time gets a little easier.  Here's hoping I don't make up any words this time!

Television, Talks, and Teaching - #amwriting - Kathryn Knight

Lately I’ve been coming way out of my comfort zone, all for the love of my books.  Self-promotion is hard—very hard—and I’m always looking for new ways to connect with readers.  After all, no one can consider reading a book if they’ve never heard of it!  So I continue to try to take new steps to push my career to the next level.

Last month, before my annual trip to the Delaware beaches, I contacted an independent bookstore located near the boardwalk and requested a book signing event.  Although this was my “vacation”, I figured a few hours devoted to meeting new readers would be a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  And wow, am I glad I took the chance!  Not only did the bookstore agree to host me, the employees did a phenomenal job promoting my event.  I came into town to see my books displayed in the front window on a shelf with bestselling titles like Gone Girl and Cuckoo’s Calling!  Prominent signage along the sidewalk attracted shoppers.  And of course I did my part, sending out press releases to all the local papers and radio stations.

 

GULL HARBOR & SILVER LAKE
had nice real estate!

 

The lighting is bright on set!

In April of 2013, I did my first television interview for a local cable show on books and authors.  The interviewer and I discussed my first novel, SILVER LAKE, and although I was quite nervous, I thought it was a fantastic opportunity.  So, I placed a call a few months ago, asking if I might be invited back to discuss my second novel, GULL HARBOR.  I did that interview on Friday, and although I have not seen it yet (it should air in two weeks), I do know I was a lot less nervous this time around.

 

 

My day job involves teaching fitness classes, and I have many loyal women who come to my classes and enjoy my books as well.  A few of them have gone the extra mile to help me with promotion.  As a recent example, one gym member contacted the manager of a local Cape Cod club she belongs to—and now, I will be giving a presentation at a luncheon in the fall.  I also connect with library support groups, which often hold author lunches to raise funds and serve as social functions.

Finally, I recently contacted the local community college, which is always open to suggestions for continuing education classes for adults.  I sent in my resume and a course proposal on writing fiction and getting published, complete with a syllabus—and I’ve been asked to teach the class!  I’m very excited to share the knowledge I’ve gained over the years…I worked so hard for that initial publishing contract, and along the way I rewrote, revised, got rejected, tried again…and eventually it paid off.  I’ve now branched out to writing in the Young Adult genre as well, which has its own set of challenges.  Many people dream of writing a novel; I hope to help people take that first step, and perhaps face the tasks involved armed with some advanced understanding of what to expect.    

Amidst all this, I am of course devoting time to my first priority, taking care of my family.  Then there’s gearing up for the release of DIVINE FALL, plus trying to squeeze in more work on my 4^th manuscript.  Coffee, anyone?

 

What would I do without you?

 

 

A-Z #GameofThrones Characters - My #AtoZchallenge #GoT

A lot of authors are doing April's A-Z Challenge, which involves aiming for a blog post a day using that day's letter as inspiration.  It definitely sounds challenging to me, in terms of time...aside from teaching classes, I have to work on my fourth manuscript, get my older son to regular PT appointments, get my younger son to baseball and soccer, and just keep up with life in general.

But it also sounds kind of fun, so I came up with my own way to participate.  I've written about how much I enjoyed the A Song of Ice and Fire series in the past, on my favorite books list.  When my teenage son broke his leg in February, he and I started watching the Game of Thrones television series together to help keep him occupied during those days on the couch.  And I was happily back in George R. R. Martin's world, hooked all over again.

So my twist on the A-Z Challenge was to see if I could find a character name or nickname for each letter of the alphabet.  One post, with a long list.  Some letters had so many popular characters, it was difficult to choose who to profile!  But here's what I came up with.  If you're just watching the shows, you won't find any spoilers here.  If I included a name only mentioned in the books, I only gave basic background information.  Overall, I tried to stay away from major plot points and just list history and interesting facts.  I thought I knew the series fairly well, but I learned a lot from my A-Z Challenge!

Arya Stark of
Winterfell

A is for: Arya Stark, the only character to have POV (point of view) chapters in all 5 of the published novels.  She is the third of five children of Catelyn and Eddard Stark of Winterfell.  Also known as Arya Underfoot, she’s a fiery, spirited girl who shuns the proper behavior of a noblewoman to pursue adventure and sword fighting.

B is for: Brienne the Beauty, a sarcastic nickname for Brienne of Tarth which refers to her unfeminine appearance and demeanor.  Brienne’s height and strength allow her to become an adept swordfighter, and she is allowed to join Renly Baratheon’s Rainbow Guard.  Later she pledges her service to Lady Catelyn Stark of Winterfell.

C is for: Cersei, the eldest child of Tywin Lannister, born seconds before her twin brother Jaime.  She became Queen of the Seven Kingdoms when she married Robert Baratheon. 

D is for: Drogo, a Khal of the Dothraki nomadic tribes.  Drogo led the largest khalasar on the Dothraki Sea, and his long braid symbolized his status as an undefeated warrior.  Drogo is given Daenerys Targaryen as a bride in exchange for providing an army for Viserys Targaryen to take back the Iron Throne.

E is for: Edmure Tully, the son of Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun and the younger brother of Catelyn (Tully) Stark and Lysa (Tully) Arryn.

Worth her weight
in silver

F is for: Fat Walda, a granddaughter of Walder Frey, Lord of the Twins.  The heavy-set Walda is selected by Lord Roose Bolton as a bride when Lord Frey offered a dowry equal to the chosen bride’s weight in silver.

G is for: Gendry, a blacksmith apprentice who, unbeknownst to most, is also the bastard son of King Robert Baratheon.  His mother died when he was young, and an anonymous patron paid double the customary fee for his apprenticeship at a King’s Landing blacksmith.  Gendry is later sold and leaves King’s Landing with Yoren, a recruiter for the Night’s Watch, the men who guard the Wall.

H is for: Hodor, the nickname of Walder, a mentally challenged stableboy at Winterfell.  He says only one word: “Hodor”.  Because of this, the Stark children believed this to be his name.  His is kind and loyal, and his superior size and strength allow him to carry the injured Bran Stark on his back.

I is for: the Imp, a nickname, along with the Halfman, for the dwarf Tyrion Lannister, third child of Tywin.  Tyrion’s birth resulted in the death of his mother, Joanna Lannister; his father blames him for this and abhors his deformity.  But Tyrion makes up for his lack of height and respect with a clever mind and a quick wit.

J is for: Joffrey Baratheon, the son of the Queen Regent Cersei, who claims the throne as a young boy when King Robert dies in a hunting incident.  Joffrey is the eldest Baratheon child and is known for being spoiled, cruel, and temperamental.  He is twelve years old at the start of the books.  Nicknames include Joffrey the Illborn, the Young Usurper, and Aerys the third.

K is for: Kingslayer, the nickname earned by Jaime Lannister when, as a member of the Kingsguard, he drew his sword on the king he vowed to protect and killed the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen.  Jaime was knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne at the age of fifteen, and joined the Kingsguard as the order’s youngest member in history, partly in an attempt to avoid a marriage to Lysa Tully. 

L is for: Lord Snow, the nickname of Jon Snow, a bastard (and therefore not likely to ever be a lord) apparently fathered by Ned Stark of Winterfell.  Jon is fourteen years old at the start of the books; his true-born brother, Robb, was only slightly older.  Growing up among nobles, Jon is constantly made aware of his diminished status and prospects.  Eventually this leads to him follow his Uncle Benjen’s path to the Wall to join the Night’s Watch.

M is for: Melisandre, the Red Woman, a priestess of R’hllor originally from Asshai.  Melisandre, a former slave sold at auction, came to Dragonstone because she believed Stannis Baratheon was Azor Ahai reborn.  Ancient prophecy claims that Azor Ahai, a legendary hero who forged a sword of fire, defeated the Others (White Walkers) thousands of years ago and will return to fight them again.  Conflicting legends give credit to the first men of the Night’s Watch for defeating the Others in the Battle for the Dawn.

A gray direwolf is
the sigil of House Stark

N is for: Nymeria, a huge wolf belonging to Arya.  Nymeria was one of the six direwolves found orphaned in the woods and adopted by the five legitimate Stark siblings and Jon Snow, the bastard sibling.  Although now rare, the direwolf is the sigil of House Stark.

O is for: the Onion Knight, the nickname of former smuggler Davos Seaworth.  Davos began as a lowborn child in Flea Bottom, but eventually came to command his own ship, the Black Betha.  When a blockade had the men at Storm’s End starving during Robert’s Rebellion, Davos snuck through with onions and other food, thus sustaining Stanis Baratheon’s garrison there until help arrived in the form of Eddard Stark.  As a result, Stannis knighted Davos, but cut off the fingers of his left hand to exact payment for the Onion Knight’s past crimes.

P is for: Lord Petyr Baelish, known as Littlefinger.  Petyr was born on the Fingers, which are rocky strips of land in the Vale of Aryyn which protrude into the narrow sea.  A friendship between his father and Hoster Tully resulted in Petyr being fostered as a child at Riverrun; the Tully children gave him his nickname in reference to his family’s small land holdings.  Petyr fell in love with Catelyn, although the feelings were not returned.  He challenged Brandon Stark to a duel when their engagement was announced, and Cat begged Brandon not to kill him.  At the opening of the books, Littlefinger has risen to the court’s small council, serving as Master of Coin.

Q is for: Queen of Thorns, a nickname given to Lady Olenna Redwyne based on her clever, sharp comments.  She is the mother of Mace Tyrell and the grandmother of Margaery.  She is quite loyal to House Tyrell, which she married into long ago, but that does not stop her from making her trademark sarcastic criticisms of its members as well.

R is for: Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the eldest son of the Mad King Aerys II and an heir to the Iron Throne.  His alleged abduction of Lyanna Stark, who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, triggered Robert’s Rebellion and consequently the end of the Targaryen rule.  Although the Targaryen custom was to wed brother to sister to maintain a pure bloodline, Daenerys had not been born when it was time for Rhaegar to marry; he was eventually married to Elia Martell, a Dornish princess.  They had two children, a daughter Rhaenys and a son Aegon.  However, at the Tourney of Harrenhal, Rhaegar crowned Lyanna the “Queen of Love and Beauty” instead of his wife; he kidnapped Lyanna a year later and died at the Battle of the Trident, killed by Robert.

S is for: Sandor Clegane, known as the Hound because of his family’s crest of three dogs as well as his size and demeanor.  His older brother, Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain, shoved Sandor’s face into a brazier when they were children; as a result, the Hound’s face is horribly scarred, and although he became a fierce warrior, he fears fire.  Although he refused to take a knight’s vows, Sandor was named to the Kingsguard when Ser Barristan Selmy was dismissed.

T is for: Theon Greyjoy, last living son of Lord Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands.  Following the Greyjoy Rebellion, Theon became a hostage as a ward of Lord Stark of Winterfell.

Daenerys Stormborn

U is for: the Unburnt, one of the many nicknames of Daenerys Targaryen, the last known survivor of House Targaryen.  Having been born in exile, she has no memory of the kingdom her father, the Mad King Aerys II, once ruled.  Her mother, Rhaella, the wife and sister of Aerys, died as she gave birth to Dany while a terrible storm lashed the walls of Dragonstone.  The infant Dany and her brother Viserys were then smuggled to the city of Braavos with the help of men loyal to the Targaryen House.

V is for: Lord Varys, a eunuch known as the Spider; he is part of the court’s small council as the Master of Whisperers.  Born a slave in Lys, he ended up in Pentos, and his reputation as the leader of a spy network earned him the notice of the Mad King Aerys II, who was sinking deeper and deeper into paranoia.

W is for: Wymen Manderly, Lord of White Harbor, also known as Lord-Too-Fat-To-Sit-A-Horse.  He is often mocked for his size and subsequently dismissed as an ineffectual leader; this is a label Lord Manderly uses to his advantage.  He is the warden of the north’s primary trade port and a loyal supporter of House Stark.

X is for: Xaro Xhoan Daxos, a member of the Thirteen of Qarth, a group of influential merchants.  When Daenerys and her small group arrive in Qarth, desperate and exhausted, Xaro allows them into the walled city and offers them respite in his palace.

Y is for: Ygritte, a wildling from north of the Wall.  While the wildlings embrace their freedom from “kneeling”, they chose to follow their elected leader, Mance Rayder, “The-King-Beyond-the-Wall”.  Ygritte encounters Jon Snow when a wildling scouting party is ambushed by members of the Night’s Watch.

Z is for: Zollo, known as Zollo the Fat, a Dothraki member of the Brave Companions, a sellsword company also referred to as the Bloody Mummers.  The Brave Companions are a particularly vicious group of mercenaries comprised of criminals and outcasts from other nations, led by Vargo Hoat, The Goat.  

Hooked on #GameofThrones - Kathryn Knight

I read all five books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series in 2012, and when I did my round up of favorite books of the year, they were on top of the list.  High fantasy is not my usual go-to genre, but a friend recommended the series, and at that point the television show had already premiered.  I didn't watch--I don't even have that channel--but I figured all the buzz had to mean something.



When I started the first book, A Game of Thrones, I was almost ready to give up after the first few chapters.  The writing was incredible, but the many characters, their relationships, houses, and siguls were confusing, to say the least.  Throw in the fact that each character has about 5 different names, and things get overwhelming fast.  I wish I'd had the sense to check the back of the book, because I later discovered handy "cheat sheets", with characters, nicknames, and relationships arranged by house. 

Before I gave up, I reminded myself that I'm a fairly smart person (despite my failure to find the charts in the back), and if so many others could figure all this stuff out, so could I.  And I did.  It took a lot of paging back at first to connect each character to multiple nicknames, but it also made everything more colorful and realistic--the characters were starting to come off the page.  "The Kingslayer" reveals so much more about Jaime Lannister than just his birth name alone; the same can be said about Tyrion Lannister's unkind nickname "The Imp".  "Arya Underfoot" really sets the tone for what that character represents, and where her journey will lead.

The world building in the books is incredible as well.  I truly felt as though I could picture each land, village, castle, keep, and ocean.  Descriptions of The Wall made me shiver.  King's Landing felt dirty and desperate beneath the shadow of The Red Keep.  The Iron Islands stood by the merciless sea, bleak and damp.

I didn't feel like I needed to watch the shows, because I could see the characters and settings so clearly in my head.  Besides, I knew exactly what was going to happen--and some of it was so brutal, I wasn't sure I needed a visual to compete the picture.  The biggest factor, though, was the fact that we don't have HBO.

But then my brother-in-law gave us the season 1 DVDs as a gift, and I was incredibly impressed.  The casting could not have been closer to what I imagined, the costumes and settings were brilliant, and the writers and actors truly captured the essence of the first novel.  Most importantly, to me at least, the show stayed true to the events in the book.  And even though I knew what was coming, I still felt the suspense, laughed at the clever dialog, and enjoyed the breathtaking views of the lands in my head.



Shae looking down over King's Landing

After my husband and I had watched the first season, though, we were stuck--no HBO, and no season 2 DVDs available yet.  While I felt like I was missing out, I told myself eventually I could go back and watch the entire show with no painful wait between seasons.

Then, my teenage son broke his leg.  He had emergency surgery and could not go to school for over a week.  He was laid up on the couch, and since he's unfortunately not the reader my other son is, he spent most of his time watching TV.  I tried to keep him company, but eventually I thought I might scream if I saw one more silly, raunchy sitcom.

So I pulled out the DVDs.  Yes, I know, some scenes are fairly graphic in terms of sex.  But I'm not a mom who pretends sex doesn't exist--after all, I'm a romance writer.  A few scenes were a little uncomfortable to watch together, but I also knew which scenes could be fast-forwarded through without losing necessary information.

My son loved it.  We were both hooked, and even after he could return to school, it became our "thing" to do together.  Which is fun, because other than watching this and The Walking Dead, there aren't many activities we can't wait to do together.  I ordered season 2.  We finished that.  I ordered season 3, which we just started watching.

Last night, around 8:00 pm, my son came to me and suggested we get HBO.  "Why?" I asked.  "We just started season 3.  It's season 4 that's premiering tonight."

"We're going to want to watch season 4 right away.  We're not going to want to wait until the DVDs come out.  We could record the episodes so we have them."

I opened my mouth to argue that the last thing we needed was more television channels, but I realized he was right.  At 8:30, I was on the phone, holding for a Comcast customer service rep.  At 8:45, we were going over pricing plans.  Somehow, we were able to get all the premium channels for not much more than we already pay, for one year anyway.  By 8:59, HBO was no longer a blue screen with access denied.  That fantastic music began to play, and I had to set up the recording and turn it off.  For now.

I imagine we'll be caught up soon, and then Sunday night will become our night, and we can watch with the rest of the world.  And I'm so glad, because after last week's The Walking Dead finale, I felt a little sad--we wouldn't have our show together for another seven months or so.  Now we have this.  Unless the show catches up to the fifth book before the sixth one is finished.  I know a series like this can't be rushed, but I hope George R.R Martin is making progress on The Winds of Winter.  What a book release day that will be!

40 Years of #Days of Our Lives - #Daysofourlives Addict #DOOL

While my son is home recuperating from his broken leg, he has the newfound pleasure of hanging out with me on the weekdays.  He's managing to attend a few hours of school in the morning at this point, but I pick him up and bring him home by 11:00.  The couch is his preferred spot, and he gets to pick the television shows for the most part, with one exception: from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., it's my turn.  Cue the familiar hourglass heralding Days of Our Lives.

This is when my son grabs his phone and puts in his ear buds.  But he did watch a few minutes one day, and he asked, "I don't understand...what kind of show is this?".  I answered, "It's a soap opera."  But all I got was a blank look in return. 

So I looked up the definition, which describes a "soap" as a serial drama featuring intertwined story arcs involving the lives of multiple characters.  Emotional relationships tend to be the focus, and the open narrative promises a continued story line spanning multiple episodes.  What I found fascinating is that the name is derived from the original radio broadcasts, which were obviously aimed at housewives.  Apparently many of the producers and advertisers of these shows were soap manufacturers.

All that is way beyond my teenager's level of interest in my guilty pastime.  But what I did want to share with him was why I began watching Days of Our Lives, and how it had grown into a 40-year habit fueled by sentimentality and comfort.

I started watching for a simple reason--my mother watched it every day on NBC.  The earliest clear memory I have of watching with her takes place in the family room of the first house we owned, which we moved into when I was about 5 years old.  Of course, the melodrama of adult relationships was not particularly interesting to a pre-schooler.  But I did find one character I could identify with: Hope Williams, who was also a little girl.  She had beautiful black hair and cute dresses. 

When I was about 7, another little girl came onto the scene: Melissa Horton.  But of course I only saw episodes sporadically, either during the summer, school vacations, or when I was home sick.  Still, because a single day can stretch out into weeks in soap opera time, I became familiar with a lot of the characters and relationships: Marlena and Roman, Anna and Tony, Mickey and Maggie, and of course the amazing Tom and Alice Horton.

Since I'm passionate about writing and reading,
I needed to have all the books, too :)
A few from my collection.

Then the Betamax was invented in the mid-seventies, and by the time I was a freshman in high school, we were taping the show every day.  At that point, Bad Boy Pete Jannings had shown up in Salem, and he was in a gang called the Vipers.  Even my younger brother became interested in this plot.  Pete kidnapped sweet Melissa, and of course a romance eventually ensued.  But what I remember clearly is my mom, my brother, my sister, and myself, all gathered together in front of the television, eagerly watching each afternoon's recorded show together.

By college, I was hooked enough to take "my show" into consideration when planning my class schedule.  I had all my roommates hooked as well by the end of the first year.  Another memory I can clearly picture: sitting right in front of the TV with one of my roommates, junior year, bouncing on our chairs in anticipation as Shane Donovan returned from the dead to find his wife in bed with another man.

After college, I could afford my own VCR, and I developed a routine of watching the previous day's Days while getting ready for work in the morning.  A few years later, when I was 25, my mom lost her battle with cancer.  It was a terrible time in my life, and nothing was normal for a long time.  But suddenly Days of Our Lives had renewed sentimental value--a connection to my mother, and our memories.  To this day, some of the characters we enjoyed together--Hope, Marlena, Sami, Jennifer, Maggie, Victor, Stefano--are still on regularly.  Twenty years later, the show is a daily reminder of my beautiful mom.

When my boys were babies, we'd snuggle up on the couch at 1 p.m. and drift into naptime as the drama played out quietly on the television.  It was my favorite part of the day.  And it is still my sacred quiet time these days, if my schedule permits.  And now that I'm a romance writer, I can label it as research; writing romance is all about creating chemistry between two characters, and then keeping them apart as the tension builds.  Sounds a lot like the soaps, right?  Supercouples like Bo and Hope, Melissa and Pete, John and Marlena, and Carrie and Austin certainly didn't travel an easy road to be together.  After all, that wouldn't be very interesting!

I've even used one of the cute actresses as inspiration for what one of my characters looks like.  If you enjoy reading, check out the supercouples I've brought to life from my imagination - Rain and Jason in SILVER LAKE, and Max and Claire in GULL HARBOR.  Both couples share a painful past, and once reunited, they have plenty of obstacles to overcome in their future to get to their happily ever after.

Days of Our Lives, also known to some as DOOL or simply Days, is one of the longest-running scripted television shows in the world.  It debuted in 1965, and has recently been renewed until 2016.  It's now NBC's only soap, and its longevity is a testament to the outstanding writing and acting, as well as the continued support of loyal viewers.

If you're a longtime Days fan like me, feel free to share your favorite memory below!  Mine is easy--the time Bo stormed the church and interrupted Hope's wedding to Larry Welch.  Clad in his black leather jacket, he grabs the beautiful bride and throws her on his motorcycle.  The whole time she's fighting against him, even though she truly loves him; when she gets a chance, she runs away from him, her white dress billowing behind her.  Of course, he catches her...and they kiss...oh, yeah, that's a scene that will always stick with this Days of Our Lives addict.

Bo kidnaps Hope from her wedding, circa 1984