Heroes on horseback, derring-do, and deeds of honor. The Middle Ages appeal to my love of romance.
Oh wait—were you thinking I meant the Wild West? The two eras share a lot of similarities. Medieval people lived near castles the same way western settlers made their homes close to forts. You could hardly blame them. During times of attack (by Vikings or Native Americans), they could shelter in large buildings protected by soldiers. In both cases, the common folk might be called upon to fight.
The Wild West and Middle Ages were times of feudalism when people inhabited frontiers and relied on one another for survival. Law and order did not hold full sway, so the populace stepped in with codes of conduct. It’s interesting to note that different versions exist of both the code of chivalry and the cowboy code. This indicates to me that standards of honor and integrity were held in high regard. That makes me smile.
The Wild West and Middle Ages were times of feudalism when people inhabited frontiers and relied on one another for survival. -@JanalynVoigt Click To TweetThe code of chivalry originally belonged only to knights, but in the 14th century, the general populace adopted it. Both the code of chivalry and the cowboy code eschewed evil, revered women, and protected the weak. They called for faithfulness, fear of God, obedience to authority, charity, loyalty, humility, selflessness, purity, and the willingness to defend neighbors. Violators could expect dire consequences. A knight feared God would smite him, and a cowboy dreaded being ostracized by his friends.
Both the code of chivalry and the cowboy code eschewed evil, revered women, and protected the weak. -@JanalynVoigt Click To TweetAs an author, I’m intrigued by dramatic times when anything can happen. I find it fascinating to put my characters into situations that test their mettle. I do this in the Tales of Faeraven medieval epic fantasy series, and for my western historical romance novels.
As an author, I'm intrigued by dramatic times when anything can happen. -@JanalynVoigt Click To TweetThe heroes and heroines of Montana Gold face many dangers. Adventure arises quickly for Maisey Wilcox, heroine of the newest book in the series, The Forever Sky. Maisey’s peril has a profound effect on others in the community, including Rob Walsh, the hero. Previous Montana Gold characters return in this book, including Preacher Shane Hayes from Hills of Nevermore. We see Bry and Nick from Cheyenne Sunrise, plus Con and Elsa from Stagecoach to Liberty. I couldn’t leave them out. Western settler’s lives were deeply entwined, just as they were in the Middle Ages.
Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read classics to her as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with her own made-up tales. Her sixth-grade teacher noticed her love of storytelling and encouraged her to become a writer. Today Janalyn is a multi-genre author. Janalyn writes the kind of novels she likes to read – epic adventures brimming with romance, mystery, history, and whimsy. She is praised for her unpredictable plots and the lyrical, descriptive prose that transports readers into breathtaking storyworlds. Janalyn Voigt is represented by Wordserve Literary. Learn more about Janalyn and her books at http://janalynvoigt.com.
The Forever Sky Released December 1st!
Can a young widow with no faith in love hope for a future with the man who broke her heart?
Maisey isn’t about to give Rob another chance to reject her love. Why should she believe that the man who left town without a backward glance three years ago cares about her? Life had taught her all about broken dreams, and she didn’t want to hope again. If only her young daughter would stop adopting Rob as a father, ignoring him—and her own emotions–would be a whole lot easier.
Thoughts of the woman he’d left behind haunted Rob for three long years. It wouldn’t have been fair to ask Maisey to wait while he mined a gold claim. After making his fortune, he has returned to his family in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Rob is ready to settle down, and he’d rather do so with Maisey. But after their first encounter, it is clear that he’s lost her forever…or has he? When circumstances force Maisey and Rob into one another’s company, they learn, through hardship and loss, that the only way to one another is to surrender first to God’s love.
