Return of the Raven by Judith Sterling – Interview
Give a warm welcome to Judith Sterling, author of Return of the Raven (The Novels of Ravenwood, Book Five). Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Judith and Return of the Raven. Let’s start with Judith.
Have you ever cried while writing a book?
I cried while writing this one! Especially the last two chapters. I can’t tell you what happens in the scenes, but I needed some long hugs from my husband—and numerous tissues—to recover.
How did you do in English as a kid?
Straight “A”s all through school and college. Other than history, it was my favorite subject. Call me a nerd, but I used to read the dictionary for fun, even in elementary school.
Before I had a family, I wrote late at night, usually from midnight until 5:00 a.m. I’m a real night owl! Once I had kids, I wrote while they were at school. Since COVID, I have to write while they’re home, and that’s a tall order. My desk is in an alcove of the dining room; basically, Grand Central Station. I need to use super focus to get things done.
How did you come up with the title?
It just popped into my head and seemed the only appropriate title. The meaning is both literal and symbolic, and it applies to more than one character. (I can’t say more, or I’d give things away!)
Who do you see as a hero/heroine in your life?
My mom. She’s strong, steadfast, loving, and intuitive.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An author. Always.
What is your favorite drink? It’s a three-way tie: sweet iced tea, hot tea with cream and sugar, or chocolate milk. If we’re talking alcohol, I’d probably go with a frozen strawberry margarita.
Do you ever wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?
No! Been there, done that. I held many secretarial and administrative assistant jobs and even worked as a reservation sales agent for Delta Air Lines. Creativity took a back seat to repetitive tasks. Now I love being an author and teaching history as a tour guide at The Witch House here in Salem, Massachusetts.
A little about Return of the Raven.
Margaret, Lady Ravenwood, is trapped in a loveless marriage and firmly entrenched in the medieval world. Along comes Griffin Nightshade, a historian from the future whose soul resonates with hers. He persuades her to return with him to the 1950s, but heeding her heart means courting danger from a curse that could spell her doom.
Haunted by his parents’ sudden deaths, Griffin knows all too well the pain born of love lost. He guards his emotions, but Margaret delves deep and goes straight to the soul. She’s hard to resist…and harder to set free.
The heart’s desire and history’s demands don’t always agree. Yet true love is eternal.
Do you have set times during the day that you write?
A peek between the pages of Return of the Raven.
Dressed in blue-striped pajamas, Griffin stood in front of his bed. His gaze shifted back and forth between two books. Usually, he was a decisive reader, but tonight was different. He’d had Margaret on the mind the entire time he perused the library shelves, and even now, the sound of her bathwater filling the tub next door plagued his focus.
Nevertheless, he’d narrowed the choice to two books: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles or Dennis Wheatley’s The Devil Rides Out. He’d read both before and enjoyed them immensely, so he couldn’t go wrong with either one.
So what’s it going to be? Murder on the moors or black magic on Salisbury Plain?
Margaret’s clear-toned voice penetrated the wall between their bedrooms. She was humming the first part of the sonata he’d played tonight. Not only did she have an ear for language; she also had one for music. She had perfect pitch, too, as did he, which allowed him to discern that she hummed the exact same notes he’d played on the Steinway. Her singing voice was just as lovely as he’d imagined it might be.
His brow furrowed. He had no business imagining anything about her, least of all her naked body slipping into a warm bath and—
Stop! He huffed and rubbed his mouth with his hand. Then he refocused his attention on the books for the umpteenth time. Come on now. Murder or magic? Magic or murder?
“Griff!” A note of panic tinged her voice.
Meg! In trouble!
He dashed into the hall and into her bedroom, then flung open the bathroom door. She stood in the bathtub, clad in bubbles whose brethren spilled over the side of the tub onto the floor. Luckily, the white foam covered all but her neck, head, and one shoulder.
“There’s too much of it.” She gestured to the mess and sent a cluster of bubbles flying through the air.
“I can see that. Are you hurt?”
“No, just unnerved. They kept building and building until I feared they might cover the entire chamber.”
“First, let’s turn off the water.” He reached into the sea of foam, found the faucets, and twisted each one in turn. “How much of the soapy liquid did you use?”
“The whole bottle.”
His eyes widened. “Well, that explains it. Only a small amount is necessary.”
“When Hannah showed me how to use it, she simply turned the bottle upside down to demonstrate pouring. I assumed all of the liquid was needed.” With a rueful expression, she looked around her. “Obviously not.”
She was adorable. And underneath those bubbles, she was nude. Time to go!
“Well, I’m glad ʼtwas nothing serious. I’ll just be going now.” With an about face, he headed for the door.
“Wait.”
Uh oh. What does she want now? He turned back around.
“I must know something, and you’re the only one who can help me know it.”
A warning bell pealed in his mind and urged his heart to quicken its pace. “What do you want to know?”
“Earlier, you called me attractive, but you haven’t seen all of me.”
Only by the grace of those bubbles! Did she intend to bare all? No…modesty would prevent that. But the look in her eye—that steady gleam of determination—made him nervous. “Surely you don’t mean—”
“I do. All of my married life, Evoric has mocked me and deemed me unappealing.”
“To him mayhap.” Or eunuchs. Otherwise…
Adamantly, she shook her head. “To all men. Or so he says.”
He is such a sleaze. “He’s just trying to make excuses for his own failure.”
“That may be, but I’ll never know for certain unless you look upon me yourself and give me your honest opinion.”
Dear God. How did I get myself into this mess? “I really think ʼtis better if—”
“Griff.” Her violet eyes pleaded with him. “I know I’ve asked a lot from you, but I need this. Otherwise, I’ll wonder about it the rest of my life.”
How could he deny her the chance to rebuild her self-confidence? He took a deep breath, pushed it out, and braced for what would come. “Very well. Show yourself to me.”
Buy Links
Amazon https://amzn.com/B08RYD2GW8
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8
Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/return-of-the-raven-judith-sterling/1138556276
Apple https://books.apple.com/us/book/return-of-the-raven/id1547199256
Author Bio
Judith Sterling is an award-winning author whose love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Whether penning medieval romance (The Novels of Ravenwood) or young adult paranormal fantasy (the Guardians of Erin series), her favorite themes include true love, destiny, time travel, healing, redemption, and finding the hidden magic which exists all around us. She loves to share that magic with readers and whisk them far away from their troubles, particularly to locations in the British Isles.
Your website: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/
Your facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judithsterlingfiction/
Twitter:
One Other link of importance: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16291161.Judith_Sterling
Title of current release: Return of the Raven
Buy link: https://amzn.com/B08RYD2GW8
Author name: Judith Sterling
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Book Five, Judith Sterling, Novels of Ravenwood, Paranormal Romance, Return of the Raven by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
Thanks so much for welcoming me back to your blog, Tena!
Enjoyed the interview, Ladies. I chuckled when you mentioned you read the dictionary when you were young. It reminded me of when my mom used to make us (4 siblings) read the encyclopedia for an hour after lunch during summer break. Fond memories…
Wishing you all the best with Return of the Raven, Judith! 🙂
Thanks so much, Mary! I think I love your mom for making you read the encyclopedia!
Great interview and review! Best of luck with the book.
Thanks a million, Jennifer!
Congrats, Judith. I love that your mom is your hero!!!!