Now I’ll attempt to explain the little differences between fact and fiction in this tale, lest you be tempted to tell your history teacher he/she is wrong about their knowledge of the court of King Francis I.
Fact: King Francis I and Queen Claude did exist. They did live in the Chateau in Amboise (among other castles). They had 5 children, three of whom where boys; Francis III, Henri II and Charles.
Fiction: Francis III was the first born, not Charles. However, I personally didn’t like the name Francis for the handsome prince of my story. So I used his brothers’ name instead. But his character is really based on Francis III whom his father tried to betroth to many different women in his lifetime. BTW, do not look him up on Wikipedia. I mean you can if you really want to, but the picture of him looks nothing like Adam Levine. Fair warning. If you do look, you’ll understand why I took creative license there as well.
Fact: King Francis I was a patron of the arts and really did invite Leonardo da Vinci to come live in France. Leonardo brought the Mona Lisa with him, and art restorationists believe he still added paint to it while living in his home there. You can still visit his house, The Cloux de Luce in Amboise. And the king did build tunnels between the castle and his house. Leonardo left the Mona Lisa to the king upon his death, which is why it remains in France to this day.
Fiction: As far as I know, Leonardo did not ever try to build a time traveling portal. Also, after much time Googling the subject, I don’t think he invented a toothbrush, water bottle, spotlights nor a solar cell to charge an iPhone battery. But if anyone could invent all those things in the 16th century, I’d place my bet on him! I also had to fudge the dates of the story a bit to keep Leonardo in the story making Francis III (or my Prince Charles) older than he really was at this point in history. In reality he was born in 1518 and Leonardo died in 1519.
Fact: Mademoiselle is the correct way to address a young unmarried girl in French.
Fiction: “M’moiselle” is not the correct way to abbreviate the word. I hoped this would make it a bit easier to read since it was used quite often. It should really be “Mlle.” Personally, I like my abbreviation better. I doubt the French would agree.
Fact: iPhone batteries are notorious for depleting at a rapid rate.
Fiction: The iPhone flashlight, sadly, will not send you back in time. But hey, some day there might be an app for that.
Special Thanks
Suddenly, I feel like I’m out of words. Where to even begin to thank my amazing peeps? First of all, I’d be remiss in my thanks if I didn’t show a bit of gratitude toward all the creative writing teachers I’ve ever had who encouraged me to write and to publish. I don’t know why it took me so long. Then there’s my brother John, always encouraging, who introduced me to the MeetUp app and told me to find a writing group to join. Going to my first one felt like my first art critique in college. Scary as all get out! I read an excerpt and got amazing feedback and encouragement. So here’s a big shout out to the Newtown-Yardley Creative Writers!
Of course, where would I be without all my amazing friends as well. Beth, my biz partner in the quilty world, who read it chapter by chapter and kept on me to keep writing. My sister Christine who was one of the first to read it all the way through and texted that I’d better be writing book two in a hurry or she’d make me eat mud again like she did when I was a kid. OK, she didn’t really threaten with the mud, but she might. Huge thanks to all my beta-readers who gave me such amazing feedback and helped me fine-tune my story. Not to mention, my fantastic, wonderful, where-would-I-be-without-you copy editor, Alycia Spencer. Who went above and beyond, working tirelessly and encouragingly. And who also told me I may never start a sentence with the word “and” again. Oops. Also a HUGE I-owe-you-baked-goods-for-the-rest-of-your-life thanks to bestselling author and good friend James Andrew Miller for giving me countless tidbits of advice; and late night waffles and ice cream.
Last but not least, my parents for teaching me that anything is possible, giving me the courage to believe in myself and follow my dreams. Then finally, Doug, my hubs, and the four most amazing kiddos ever; Trevor, Sienna, Keegan and Adele. They don’t even blink their eyes anymore when I say stuff like, “Hey guys, I had this crazy dream where a girl who sings on YouTube goes back in time and ends up singing 21st century songs in the 16th century. I think I’m going to write a YA novel about it, might even make it a series.” They’re like, OK, go for it. Kind of like when I decided to paint the kitchen turqouise. Did I say they were amazing, or what? My two boys, Trevor and Keegan, share my love of history and don’t mind talking details of the past. While Sienna shares my love of art and took on the cover design with her mad Photoshop skills. Adele lets me sing Taylor Swift with her in the car at the top of our lungs, which I’ll admit, we do quite often (in the kitchen too, with wooden spoon mics). Oh dear, I hear the music playing, any minute now they’ll be pushing me off the stage (or begging me for dinner more like...) but before I go--my biggest thanks goes to my hubs Doug, who told me from the beginning of our life together that my creativity is what truly makes me beautiful. Awwww, who wouldn’t fall for a prince like that?
Playlist
Invisible - Taylor Swift
Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars
Cups - Anna Kendrick
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift (feat. Ed Sheeran)
I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
I Dreamed a Dream - Les Miserables
Bring Him Home - Les Miserables
On My Own - Les Miserables
Crazy For You - Adele
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michelson
Somebody to Love - Queen
Today Was a Fairytale - Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day Soundtrack)
Roar - Katy Perry
Royals - Lorde
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Author Bio
Liz Ann Hawkins is an award-winning author, at least, according to her third grade teacher, when she won the poetry contest and was told she’d be a writer one day. Well that day was long in coming. First she became a flautist, then an artist, then a quilt and fabric designer where she co-wrote two published craft books under Lizzie B Cre8ive. In her free time she...wait, what’s that? When she’s not doing any of the above, or at the computer writing (just another form of art, folks), she’s baking, watching movies or sitting around laughing with her husband and four mostly grown kiddos who make everything she does worth doing. Find out more about her on her website: lizannhawkins.com; twitter @lizannhawkins and facebook.com/lizannhawkins.
Rewind Page 21