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DAUGHTERS OF FIRE
by the bestselling author of Lady of Hay
Competition now closed
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Who is Viv Lloyd Rees head of department?
a) Cartimandua
b) Pat Taylor
c) Hugh Graham
Use the answer form at the bottom of the page to send laterlife your
answer and Good Luck!
The competition will run until 31st May 2007.
For
other competitions click here
DAUGHTERS OF FIRE
by the bestselling author of Lady of Hay
'Barbara Erskine's storytelling
talent is undeniable.' The Times
In her unique style of part contemporary, part history, Erskine
in her sweeping new novel switches between Roman Britain and the
present day, where history dramatically impacts on the lives of
three women.
In the present day, Edinburgh based
historian, Viv Lloyd Rees, has immersed herself in the legends
surrounding the Celtic queen Cartimandua. She has written a book
and is a working on a dramatisation of the young queen’s life.
She then forms an uneasy working
partnership with actress Pat Taylor, and they become the
Daughters of Fire, a company dedicated to making dramas
about women who have made history on their own terms.
Both women become increasingly
distressed as through visions, history is being played out
before them. Cartimandua’s life takes one unexpected turn after
another. The young queen has formidable enemies – among them
Venutios, her childhood sparring partner, and Medb, a woman
whose jealousy threatens not only her happiness but her life.
But as each of these women becomes
more obsessed with Cartimandua and Medb, so Hugh Graham, Viv’s
Head of Department, is also drawn into this dual existence of
bitter rivalry competiting with overwhelming love as past
envelopes present and the trio find themselves facing the
greatest danger of their lives.
Writing has always been a passion
for Erskine. After graduating from Edinburgh University
with a degree in mediaeval and Scottish history, she worked as a
research editor for various publishers producing history and art
books, during which time she began to publish short stories.
After her eldest son was born the family moved to the Black
Mountains in Wales where she started to plan the novel which
would become Lady of Hay. This was not her first attempt.
Erskine had tried to write a novel at university but the
pressure of her studies meant she had to shelve the idea. It
wasn’t until several years later that she was able to return to
it. That novel eventually became Kingdom of Shadows.
The success of Erskine’s titles can be clearly attributed to the
unique combination of her love of history and her interest in
the paranormal. Erskine says “I constantly feel that the past
has not gone but is there within reach for those who know how to
find it!”
The interest in history came from her great aunt, who was
passionately interested in the family’s Scots pedigree and spent
years researching it. Erskine can proudly admit that she is the
descendent of two Saints! and - which is both hers and her son’s
favourite- a gentleman named Eochaid the Venomous (a King of the
Picts).
Erskine’s interest in ghost and the supernatural too came
largely from her family, as her mother’s father also shared a
passionate interest in ghosts.
Her first novel, Lady of Hay, has now sold nearly two million
copies worldwide. Other novels by Erskine are Kingdom of
Shadows, and Child of the Phoenix, which was based on the story
of one of her own ancestors. Midnight is a Lonely Place and
House of Echoes were short listed for the W H Smith Thumping
Good Read awards of 1995 and 1997 respectively and were followed
by On the Edge of Darkness, Whispers in the Sand and Hiding From
the Light the latter two both being top ten bestsellers. We have
published three short story collections: Encounters, Distant
Voices and Sands of Time. Barbara Erskine’s novels have been
translated into twenty seven languages.
She and her family divide their time between the Welsh borders
and their ancient manor house near the unspoilt coast of North
Essex.
Prizes
Prizes : 2 copies of the book
Terms and
Conditions of Entry
The draw is open to UK residents only and
entrants must be aged over 18. Only 1 entry is allowed per person/email address. Entries
must be received by the 31st May 2007. The winner will be
drawn at random from all correct entries received by laterlife.com during the term of the
competition. No correspondence will be entered into. laterlife.com accepts no
responsibility for any entries that are late, incomplete, unintelligible, misdirected,
lost due to disconnection, telephone systems or computer equipment or software failure or
data loss. The winners will be notified personally by email, to the email address provided
in the entry, within one week from the closing date. No cash alternative is
available and the prize is not transferable. Winners names may be published on the
website. Submission of an entry will be taken as acceptance of the rules. Please note the competition
is not open to laterlife.com employees,
contributors, their families or anyone connected with the competition. Laterlife reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions
at any time.
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