The Warrior Poet

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The warrior poet is a great hero archetype.  Authors and readers spend much creative time with him!

His roots are in the Irish Fianna, an ancient society of professional protectors of the poor and voiceless. A man was not taken into this society until he not only proved himself in battle but also was a prime poet. He had to work with his mind, heart, and strength, with his courage leading all.  In his Fianna trials, he had to run through a gauntlet of nine fellow soldiers. His weapons could not quiver in his hand, nor could he crack a dry stick underfoot, or disturb a hair out of its braiding. This guy not only needed to be in balance, he had to have finesse!

Fionn mac Cumhaill of the Irish Fianna

 From legend and lore, you’ll find warrior poets like larger than life Robin Hood, King Arthur, Ossian, St. George (who, after slaying that dragon, helped in the birth of his children). The heroes of Shakespeare's comedies qualify, as does Romeo, but not Hamlet or MacBeth (out of balance guys!).  Jane Austen abounds in warrior poets, from proud Mr. Darcy to Colonel Brandon, the loving suitor of the sensual Miss Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility.  

Who could forget Alan Rickman in the role of Col. Brandon?

The balanced and decent Navajo policemen in Tony and Ann Hillerman's mysteries or Dave Robicheaux in James Lee Burke's tales are more modern warrior poets, as is the cheerful Australian POW Joe Harman in Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice.

One cheerful POW: Joe Harman in A Town Like Alice

An essential component of heroism is sacrifice. Much can be forgiven a person who has this kind of courage, who is willing to sacrifice his own life for another. This can mean battle. The Warrior Poet, either modern or historical, does not seek out a fight, but when it's an unavoidable part of the defending himself and others, he's good at it. Whether in the Scotland of the Outlander series, the Cornwall of the Poldark novels or 19th century America, our heroes don't shirk.  In contemporary settings, this passion can be seated in the hero's profession of fireman, police officer, FBI operator, but can also stem from plain, competent courage in the face of teaching in a ghetto school or being an honest accountant.  

Warrior Poet has the shell of his confidence protecting the core of his compassion. Sensitivity? Yes, the Warrior Poet has it. It is not a source of weakness, it's part of his strength and intelligence. Children open up a world of contrasts- fierce protection of the softest members of societies: baby cheeks and steel. Children provide a way to show our hero's softer side.  So do animals in need.  These guys are fierce warriors with a soft, compassionate side. We, as readers and authors alike, revel in their complexity.

Illustrator Eleanor Brickdale (1871-1945) knew how to mix baby cheeks and steel!

Charming medical professionals of Janet Lane Walters’ romances (Romancing the Nurse, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Heart Throbs)  The vet of Nancy M. Bell’s Christmas Storm, Gilbert of Nancy Scott Lewis’s On A Stormy Primeval Shore: New Brunswick are all wonderful examples of this archetype.  

My own heroes include Luke Kayenta, the warrior of my Code Talker Chronicles.  As a member of the Dine (Navajo) people, he has been taught to respect and honor women and their wisdom, treasure children and elders, and fight in World War II for the land he loves.  I hope you’ll enjoy his adventures.

Book 1 of my Code Talker Chronicles

Book 2 of my Code Talker Chronicles

BWL Publishing Launches first French Language Edition

The Twelve book in the Canadian Historical Brides collection featuring one book from every province and territory in Canada (with NWT and Nunavut combined in one volume) will be released in both Canadian Official Language. 

The first book to be released in French is His Brother's Bride, by Nancy M. Bell, translated by Marie-Pier Deshaies.  Following is the French translation of the book description.

 

 

 

Purchase links for the French edition at

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078VFHVT9

 

Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/776964

 

 

La cadette du médecin local et pasteur évangélique, Annie Baldwin devait travailler dur et ce, sans protester. La vie sur une ferme de pionniers était difficile, alors les voisins s’entraidaient.

George Richardson, l’orphelin mineur qui avait été envoyé dans les maisons du Dr Barnardo, avant d’être expédié au Canada quelques années plus tôt, fut prêté aux Baldwin pour aider à récolter le foin. Son frère cadet, Peter Richardson, avait été placé avec un autre voisin, alors les frères étaient restés en contact. La Grande Guerre apporta beaucoup de changements, même pour la vie dans les forêts éloignées de l’Ontario. Malgré leur différence de rang social, George et Annie tombèrent en amour.

Quand George quitta pour la France, ils avaient une entente et il avait promis de lui revenir une fois la guerre terminée. Hélas, le destin en aura décidé autrement. Après un long silence, Annie reçut la lettre tant attendue. Mais elle ne provenait pas de George, mais de son frère, Peter. Lui aussi dans les tranchées en France. George avait été tué durant l’assaut final le 8 août 1918 à Marcelcave, près d’Amiens. Les deux personnes qui l’aimaient créèrent un lien à distance via des lettres censurées. Quand Peter fut renvoyé au Canada, plutôt que de retourner dans l’est, là où il s’était enrôlé, il quitta pour Vancouver.

Malade des empoisonnements au gaz moutarde et sans le sou, Peter trouva du travail à Fraser Mills. Une fois qu’il aurait économisé assez d’argent, il planifiait de retourner à la petite ferme dans la brousse du nord de l’Ontario, mais un peu avant, il envoya à Annie une boîte de chocolats par la poste. À l’intérieur de cette boîte se cachait une bague de fiançailles. Liés ensemble par leur amour pour George, ils trouvèrent du réconfort l’un dans l’autre. Mais est-ce que ce sera suffisant ?                       

 

 

 

 

Tanayia from Connie Vine - Newest Release from BWL Publishing - Native American Historical

AVAILABLE FROM YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER

Apacheria, 1880.

Tanayia is alone in the world.  Her village destroyed and her people murdered by a group of revolutionaries who now hold her hostage.  A daring escape on the edge of Cochise’s stronghold saves Tanayia’s life, but she discovers her ordeal is only beginning.

Forced to live in a government run boarding school, Tanayia is stripped of her identity.  The headmistress is bent on destroying Tay, but Jacob Five-Wounds stands in her way.  Jacob urges Tay to run away with him—but diphtheria strikes the school.  Now, Tanayia must make a choice, a choice she knows may cost her both, Jacob and his love.

Editorial Review

“This well-researched novel is taunt with all the tensions and passions of any tale in which the characters are trapped.  That Sister Enid eventually gets her comeuppance (and from a native doctor, too) is only just and satisfying, and an epilogue tells of both the compromises and the triumphs of Tay’s marriage to Jacob Five-Wounds (once a fellow inmate of the school.”  A-!  ~  The McQuark Review

Married with two grown sons, Connie Vines resides deep in the quirky suburbs of southern California. She has published over one hundred short stories and non-fiction articles, ten novels, and has ghost-written two literary novels and one screenplay. The president of GothRom (Gothic Chapter of Romance Writers), Connie participates in local literary events and judges national and international writing contests.

http://www.bookswelove.net/authors/vines-connie/