04/28/2012
EM Powell (elainemp65 on QT) has signed with agent Joshua Getzler of HG Literary.
Dear Josh Getzler,
The Canterbury Witnesses (previous title, now The Fifth Knight) is a 100,000 word mainstream medieval suspense with romantic elements.
Canterbury Cathedral 1170: one of the most infamous episodes in medieval history. Archbishop Thomas Beckett is brutally murdered by a group of knights, not for his public conflict with King Henry II, but for the explosive secret he holds. The focus of the knights’ quest isn’t Becket. It is the capture of Sister Theodosia Bertrand, a young nun cloistered by Becket in the walls of the cathedral. She is only half the prize: they also seek her mother Amélie, a widowed vowess. Their leader, the vicious Sir Reginald Fitzurse, plans Theodosia’s torture and murder to get that information. He charges one of his knights, Sir Benedict Palmer, to carry out the task. Palmer, a jobbing mercenary already doubting the mission with Becket’s slaying, can’t bring himself to comply with the depraved order. Instead, he aids Theodosia’s escape. Their only chance to save their lives is to unlock Becket’s secret. With Amélie the key, they have to find her before the murdering Fitzurse does. But what could she know that would cause the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of Henry’s church, to be cut down in his own cathedral?
The Canterbury Witnesses took first place in the Mainstream Category of the Daphne Contest 2011 (Romance Writers of America Kiss of Death Mystery/Suspense Chapter). Final round judge Michelle Vega (Berkley/Penguin USA) has requested a full MS. Her comments were: 'The writing is well done and detailed and the plot moves quickly in The Canterbury Witnesses. Theodosia and Palmer are both intriguing and sympathetic characters. And the synopsis to a strong storyline, plot development and resolution.'
The MS has also achieved first place in the Colorado Romance Writers Heart of the Rockies Contest 2011 (Mainstream/Romantic Elements Category). It is a finalist in the RWA From the Heart Chapter Wallflower Contest 2011 (awaiting placement). It has received four other RWA final placements.
About me: born in the Republic of Ireland, I’m forty-six years old, married with a daughter. My degree in English Literature was the start of my passion for Old and Medieval English culture and history.
I have been writing for seven years and am a member of the Historical Novel Society. I am also a member of Romance Writers of America and their on-line From the Heart Chapter. I achieved PRO status in 2009. I have been accepted on the Romantic Novelists' Association's (UK) 2012 New Writers' Scheme. My previous MS, a medieval historical romance, achieved seven contest placements.
Thank you once again for your time and your consideration of my work. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours
Elaine M. Powell