A Gothic
Historical Romance from Kelli A. Wilkins
www.KelliWilkins.com
Hi everyone,
Today I’m sharing a look at the making of my Gothic
historical romance, Redemption from a
Dark Past.
When I sit down to write an historical
romance, I never know where (or when) my story will take me. I’ve written
romances set in the Old West, the Minnesota wilderness, Colonial Pennsylvania,
and Celtic Scotland. Redemption from a Dark Past takes place in another unique
locale, the Kingdom of Hungary.
For me, the setting conjures up images of brooding
castles perched on treacherous mountaintops, tiny villages, medieval stone
cities, vampires, and Prince Vlad. Although the book does not take place in
Transylvania specifically, this atypical location appealed to me. It seemed
like the perfect place for a Gothic novel filled with secrets, danger,
deception, and superstition.
Right from the start, we meet Lord
Sebestyen Adrik and learn that he’s a troubled hero who has hidden himself away
in his isolated castle. He’s depressed, guilt-ridden, has an unsavory
reputation, and is the subject of nasty rumors spread by superstitious
villagers.
The heroine, Katarina, is feisty, clever,
and anything but superstitious. She dismisses tales of evil spirits and ghosts,
and doesn’t have time for old wives’ tales. She’s ambitious and wants to leave
her pathetic job on the goat farm for better things. When she learns that she’s
about to be forced into marriage to a much older man, she jumps at the chance
to be Lord Adrik’s companion—despite all the terrifying stories she has been
told. Katarina’s boldness and intelligence make her the perfect person to free Sebestyen
from his dark past.
When I set about creating the mysterious
Lord Adrik, I wanted to make him a flawed and sympathetic hero. He has two
physical ailments (one most romance heroes never have – sorry, no spoilers!) as
well as several psychological scars. And as if they weren’t enough problems, he
also has a reputation as a murderer (among other things). At the start of
the book, he has just about given up on life and any hope of being happy. By
giving Sebestyen all this “baggage” I made him vulnerable and provided him with
lofty goals to reach.
As I wrote, I added layers of secrets,
built suspense, and created numerous plot twists and turns. Readers follow
Katarina’s adventures and are not sure what—or who—to believe. Can Magda the
surly, gossiping cook be trusted? How did Lady Adrik die? Is the castle really
haunted? What happened to Lord Adrik’s previous companions? Are the rumors
about him true? Katarina is left alone with Sebestyen every night, should she
fear for her safety? Everyone says she should!
Over the course of the book, Katarina
draws Sebestyen out of his shell, and just when she thought she knew him, she
uncovers a disturbing secret he’s been hiding from her. Katarina tries to make
sense of it all, while following her heart.
Not everyone in this story is exactly what
(or who) they seem to be, and this adds another level of mystery and intrigue
to the book. Combining all these elements into a sensual, Gothic romance was a
lot of fun, and I hope readers will enjoy this trip into “the Dark Lord’s
lair.”
Here’s the book summary, a short excerpt, and the
buy link:
Redemption from a Dark Past
Lord Sebestyen Adrik has an unsavory
reputation as a madman, murderer… and worse. Lonely and searching for love, he
seeks the companionship of local young women, hoping one of them will ease his
torment and bring him the happiness he longs for. Katarina is his last
chance—but will she fear him like all the others? Or is she the one who can
lift his curse?
Desperate to avoid a forced marriage,
Katarina agrees to become Lord Adrik’s latest companion, despite the rumors she
has heard about him. She discovers the “Dark Lord’s” secret past and realizes
he’s not the monster everyone thinks he is.
As their love blossoms, she renews his
passion for life—yet they cannot escape the ghosts of the past.
When a meeting of the nobility goes
horribly wrong, Sebestyen’s world unravels, and his enemies plot to destroy
him. As all seems lost, a mysterious stranger arrives at the castle. Sebestyen
must decide if he is a friend or a foe…and if he can find redemption in his
love for Katarina, or lose her and everything else that he holds dear.
Read an Excerpt:
Katarina
stood in the parlor doorway, clutching her skirts. The large room was lit with
three candles, and firelight cast long shadows on the walls. One story about
His Lordship seemed to be true; he did live in the dark. She heard a low
growling noise coming from the corner. What was that? Did Lord Adrik have a
vicious dog?
She
stepped into the parlor and spotted a figure slumped in the throne-sized chair
near the fire. A white ruffled sleeve hung over the armrest. A moment later,
she realized the noise was coming from Lord Adrik. He was fast asleep and
snoring.
Had
she kept him waiting too long? She had eaten her fill of meat and potatoes and
even tried the greens and biscuits. His Lordship hadn’t been interested in
talking to her before, so why he had summoned her here?
She
touched his arm. “Lord Adrik?”
He
jerked awake. “What is it?”
She
reeled back. “I finished eating and—”
“Your
name again?”
“Katarina.”
Had he forgotten about her already?
“Yes,
Katarina.” He blinked up at her. “Sit here, next to me. I wish to ask you
questions.”
She
balanced herself on the padded arm of the chair as he instructed. Even from her
perch, she couldn’t see him clearly—he was still cloaked in shadows. Why did he
hide himself? Was he deformed or disfigured in some way?
“Are
you afraid of me?
How
should she answer? She wasn’t afraid, but she was nervous. The last thing she wanted was to make a mess out of
things and displease him. “No. I’m not afraid, merely curious. I’ve never met a
lord before, and I haven’t been around such finery, My Lord.” She hoped her
answer would satisfy him.
“Tell
me about yourself. Where do you come from? How old are you? Are you a virgin?
How many lovers have you had?”
“What?”
The questions surprised her, and she spun toward him. As she did, she lost her
balance, toppled off the arm of the chair, and fell into Lord Adrik’s lap. She
yelped and gazed up at him.
“From
the expression on your face I imagine I’m not what you envisioned. What did the
villagers tell you? That I had horns? That I was a troll?”
“No,
nothing like that. Nobody ever mentioned your looks.”.
Lord
Adrik was anything but malformed. In fact, he was the most handsome man she’d
ever seen. His black wavy hair hung to his ruffled white collar, his
clean-shaven face was long and lean, and his green eyes sparkled in the
firelight.
“Do
you wish a glass of wine or brandy? It may settle your nerves.”
“No,
Your Lordship. My… my… nerves are fine,” she stammered.
“For
now,” he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pinning her close to
him. “But in a little while you may wish you had a healthy dose of liquor in
you. It would dull the torment of being sacrificed to the Dark Gods.”
What
did he mean by that?
* * *
Order
Redemption from a Dark Past and read reviews here:
https://www.kelliwilkins.com/redemption-from-a-dark-past
Amazon
I hope you enjoyed this inside look at the making of Redemption from a Dark Past.
I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to follow my blog for
the latest updates and visit me on social media!
Happy
Reading,
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror
ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare
readers with her horror and mystery stories.
Her
twenty-fourth romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic
historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.
In 2024,
she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything
can—and does—happen in this anthology.
Kelli also released her fourth gay
romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in 2024. This tender contemporary
romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while
seeking love and acceptance.
She published The Route 9 Killer, a
mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in 2023. Look for a follow-up story coming
in 2026!
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.
