Synopsis

At the dawn of the Renaissance, Alfred – the eponymous second son – must discover the special destiny foreseen for him by his grandfather. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Alfred’s brother is king. And it isn’t long before everyone’s worst fears are realized. Traditional allegiances are shattered under a style of rule unknown since the grand bargain that formed the kingdom was struck over two hundred years ago. These will be the most dangerous years of Alfred’s life, forcing him to re-examine his duty to personal honor and to the kingdom, while the threats posed by his brother constantly remind him of his father’s final words of advice. What choices will he have to make to try to protect the things he holds most dear?

Guest Post

Today we welcome author Pamela Taylor to StoreyBook Reviews and she shares with us what it is like to live with Corgis.  I’m a dog lover and know that dogs have a mind of their own sometimes but their love is unconditional.  Plus they play a role in Pamela’s new book.

Corgi Inspiration

“A dog walk, Mom. That’ll get your creative juices flowing. Definitely a dog walk. Like, maybe a dog walk right now?”

I’m pretty sure that’s what Maggi is saying when she comes into the office and contrives to knock my hand away from the mouse or the keyboard. Clearly, she’s thought about this, ’cause she’s pretty short and has to put her forefeet up on my leg to be able to nudge my arm. But she’s a Corgi, so she knows how to get much larger animals to do her bidding. And I have to admit, most of the time, she’s right 🙂

Once you know what to look for, you can see their herding behavior in a lot of the things they do. My other Corgi, Marlo, is really good at telling me where she wants us to go on that dog walk. She gets on the opposite side of me from the direction she wants to go and slowly moves me toward her desired path. If I don’t show signs of cooperating, she’ll circle around me and try again. It’s actually rather fun to watch her do her Corgi thing.

Without the breed being explicitly named, Corgis figure in the Second Son Chronicles. Not just their herding abilities, though that’s how they came to be the denizens of the Royal Kennel, and it’s the role they play in the broader society of the kingdom. Many of their other characteristics feature in the story as well.
They are very loving. They want nothing more than to be with their people – on a walk or sitting on the sofa or playing with a favorite toy or sharing their human’s bed. And they really do smile.

Like some Corgis, Maggi occasionally needs a good FRAP (Frantic Random Activity Period). For her, this means a mad dash around the house, out the back door, circle the yard, back through the house, and back out again, all at top speed. And you’d be astonished how fast a Corgi can run.

They all love belly rubs – and since they often sleep on their backs, there are plenty of opportunities for that. They do shed – they’re double-coated, so they do a major undercoat shed in spring and fall. Marlo says, “No, Mom, we do not shed. We emit magical fibers of joy and love.” They bark when they think something is wrong – lawn-mowing equipment is a frequent demon. But I know they would let me know if something was truly amiss.

And then there’s food. “All kinds of food, Mom. Any kind of food, Mom. We like to eat.” My girls enjoy their kibble, but they also love things like pumpkin, bananas, butternut squash, spinach, cauliflower, cheese, sweet potatoes . . . and, of course, peanut butter. I have to watch their calories or they’d look like little barrels on four legs.

But, best of all, they are just incredibly cute and sweet. Big dog personality in a package you can pick up and cuddle. I love my Corgis.

About the Author

Pamela Taylor brings her love of history to the art of storytelling in the Second Son Chronicles. An avid reader of historical fact and fiction, she finds the past offers rich sources for character, ambiance, and plot that allow readers to escape into a world totally unlike their daily lives. She shares her home with two Corgis who frequently reminder her that a dog walk is the best way to find inspiration for that next chapter.

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