Book Brief: The Alhambra Decree

The Alhambra DecreeThe Alhambra Decree
by Lilian Gafni
Genres: historical fiction
Word Count: 120,000

The year is 1491, and sixteen-year-old Isabella Obrigon is kidnapped from her privileged life. When told she isn’t of Spanish noble blood, but rather the child of a Jewish woman who died in childbirth, Isabella becomes personally embroiled in the terror of the Inquisition. She finds herself imprisoned in the famed fortress of Alhambra, where an encounter with mysterious Miguel Costa impels her to accept having been adopted and to vow to find her birth parents.

The Spanish monarchs fight to unify Spain as a Catholic nation; as soon as the war is over, the Queen Isabella must fulfill her vow to the grand inquisitor to rid Spain of all heretics. She decrees the Jews’ exile.

Isabella Obrigon must decide whether to follow her heart and join her endangered brethren seeking exile, or stay and live a lie.

The Alhambra Decree: Flower from Castile Trilogy Book One is available from Amazon.comAmazon UK, and all major online retailers.

Lilian, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
I wanted to show that a thing of beauty could also be detrimental. For example, Isabella’s mother called her my flower. When Spain expelled its Jews from Castile they lost their finest ‘flowers’ consisting of artisans, workers, traders, carpenters, farmers, smiths, jewelers, etc., and consequently draining their economy for the following centuries. Continue reading “Book Brief: The Alhambra Decree”

Paid Memberships for Author Groups: Worth It?

credit-squeeze-522549_640Sometimes we writers have tough decisions to make. We want (need) all the information, support and promotion we can get. But most of us have limited funds. Or – let’s be honest and admit that most of us are broke. If you’re not one of “us” then thank your lucky stars, kiss your wallet, and knock on wood that your good fortune may continue. We’re not jealous, but do envy you just a tad. The rest of us have to think carefully about where we spend our cash. One of those decisions may be about which promo, support and author help sites will be the most advantageous and whether or not paying for a membership will benefit us in the long run. Today, I’m taking a look at some sites, both paid and free.  You can decide which ones are the best fit for you. Continue reading “Paid Memberships for Author Groups: Worth It?”