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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Virtual Book Tour for Heir to a Prophecy by Mercedes Rochelle

Please join Mercedes Rochelle as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual book Tours for Heir to a Prophecy, December 8-30, 2014.

  02_Heir to a Prophecy Cover
Publication Date: December 12, 2014
Publisher: Top Hat Books
Paperback: 418p
ISBN: 978-1-78279-754-8

Genre: Historical Fiction
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Shakespeare's Witches tell Banquo, "Thou Shalt 'Get Kings Though Thou Be None". Though Banquo is murdered, his son Fleance gets away. What happened to Fleance? What Kings? As Shakespeare's audience apparently knew, Banquo was the ancestor of the royal Stewart line. But the road to kingship had a most inauspicious beginning, and we follow Fleance into exile and death, bestowing the Witches' prophecy on his illegitimate son Walter. Born in Wales and raised in disgrace, Walter's efforts to understand Banquo's murder and honor his lineage take him on a long and treacherous journey through England and France before facing his destiny in Scotland.

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THE REAL MACBETH BY MERCEDES ROCHELLE

Let me start by saying that Macbeth is my favorite play, hands down. But that doesn't mean I was disappointed to discover that most of it is not true! I like Macbeth (especially the Jon Finch Macbeth), even though he is pretty wicked in the play. Yes, he really existed and had an apparently successful 17-year reign starting in 1040. No, he was not killed at the battle of Dunsinane, although the battle did take place and he lost.

Did Macbeth kill Duncan? There is a good chance he did, but not in his bed. As it turns out, Duncan in his 30's was a reportedly rascally king. He fought five wars in five years and lost them all, then really got into trouble trying to claim Caithness which was rightfully ruled by his cousin Thorfinn of Orkney. Duncan met his end at the Battle of Burghead on the Moray Firth, where he faced either Thorfinn or Macbeth (or both).  It was also recorded elsewhere that Duncan was killed by his own men immediately after the battle. 

Did Macbeth have a claim to the throne? Yes, through possibly his own and definitely his wife's ancestry. It was thought that Macbeth's mother may have been the second daughter of Malcolm II, so he may have been cousin to Duncan. The stronger claim was through Grouch (Lady Macbeth). Until the early 11th century, the Scottish kings were essentially elected from a group of nobles in a Celtic tradition known as the Tannist Succession. Grouch was descended from the rightful King Kenneth III, killed by Malcolm II along with her father, who was recognized as the Tanist candidate of his branch. 

The Battle of Dunsinane took place in 1054, and it was led by the great Earl Siward of Northumbria in the company of Prince Malcolm. Macbeth escaped and retained his crown. It seems he kind of skulked around for the next couple of years until Malcolm caught up with him in Aberdeenshire at the battle at Lumphanan. After a short and bloody encounter Macbeth met his end; he may have been beheaded, or he may have expired a few days later, 60 miles south at Scone. No one knows for sure. He was succeeded by his stepson Lulach, who needed to be dispatched before Malcolm III could be declared King of Scotland.


About the Author

03_Mercedes Rochelle AuthorBorn in St. Louis MO with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they built themselves. For more information please visit Mercedes Rochelle's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads.



Heir to a Prophecy Blog Tour

Monday, December 8
Interview & Giveaway at Mina's Bookshelf

Wednesday, December 10
Review at Back Porchervations
Guest Post at Boom Baby Reviews

Thursday, December 11
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Saturday, December 13
Spotlight at I'd So Rather Be Reading

Monday, December 15
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, December 16
Review at Book Nerd
Guest Post at Queen of All She Reads

Wednesday, December 17
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Friday, December 19
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Saturday, December 20
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Monday, December 22
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Tuesday, December 23
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Friday, December 26
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, December 30
Review at Unshelfish
Review at The True Book Addict

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