Drum roll please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm utterly thrilled and humbled to announce that A Land Beyond Ravens has won the Colorado Book Award for historical fiction! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

This is part of a press release my publisher is sending out:

Longtime Colorado resident Kathleen Guler has won the Colorado Book Award in historical fiction for her novel, A Land Beyond Ravens. Guler accepted the award in Aspen on Friday (June 25, 2010).

Reviews have hailed the book as “one of the most historically realistic Arthurian novels ever written, a thoroughly mature work...” The book tells the story of a spy and master of disguise in fifth century Britain who, while being squeezed between the politics of two powerful kings, accidentally sparks off what becomes the quest for the holy grail.

“Twenty years ago today, I adopted Colorado as my home, and now I feel like Colorado has adopted me back,” Guler said in her acceptance speech. She then read a brief passage from her book.

The prestigious Colorado Book Award is sponsored by Colorado Humanities’ Center for the Book, established as the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

A Land Beyond Ravens, as well as the other books in the Macsen's Treasure Series are available by order from any book store or online venue. It is also available in ebook format at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/15861

Still dancing on the table tops here!! :-)))

And one more award!

While waiting for the final results on the Colorado Book Award (won't know until June 25) I received word that A LAND BEYOND RAVENS has won First Place in the Historical Fiction category in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards! Here is the entire list:

http://indieexcellence.com/indie-results-2010.php

The sponsors have also made a video of all the winners' book covers:

http://indieexcellence.com/winners-2010.htm

Shortlist!

A Land Beyond Ravens has been shortlisted in the Historical Fiction category of the 2010 Colorado Book Awards! This is the most prestigious statewide award in Colorado, where I live. Woo-hoo!!!! Prior to the Awards ceremony, I'll be joining other finalists for books signings and readings throughout the state, including a book fair at the downtown Denver Barnes & Noble, May 14-16. More info on this soon. Final results of the Awards will be given Friday, June 25 in Aspen during the Aspen Summer Words Literary Festival. Fingers crossed for luck!

Another award for A Land Beyond Ravens!

Woo-hoo! A Land Beyond Ravens took 2nd place Fiction at CIPA (Colorado Independent Publishers Association) Book Awards banquet Saturday night! The novel has been nominated for several more awards--should hear more starting in April.

The National Best Books 2009 Awards

Great news! A LAND BEYOND RAVENS finaled in The National Best Books 2009 Awards, in the Fiction & Literature: Historical Fiction category!

http://www.usabooknews.com/2009bestbooksawards.html

Announcing...Blog Tour!!!

I will be on a virtual book tour for my new book A Land Beyond Ravens, starting 5 October. Here are the stops I'll be making. Please stop by and feel free to leave some comments!

5 Oct: The Plot http://theplotline.wordpress.com/

5 Oct: Historically Obsessed http://historicallyobsessed.blogspot.com/

6 Oct: The Plot http://theplotline.wordpress.com/

7 Oct: Book Madness http://bookmadness.wordpress.com/

8 Oct: The Review From Here http://www.reviewfromhere.com/

9 Oct: Marta's Meanderings http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/

12 Oct: The Fantasy Pages http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com/

13 Oct: The Book Connection http://www.thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/

14 Oct: In My Youth http://inmyyouth.wordpress.com/

14 Oct: HistFic Chick http://histficchick.blogspot.com/

15 Oct: Historical Novel Reviews http://historicalnovelreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/land-beyond-ravens-by-kathleen.html

16 Oct: The Writer's Life http://www.thewriterslife.blogspot.com/

19 Oct: Zensanity http://zensanity.blogspot.com/

20 Oct: Just Me http://jenerahealy.com/2009/09/25/a-land-of-ravens-by-kathleen-cunningham-guler/

21 Oct: Divine Caroline http://divinecaroline.com/

21 Oct: American Chronicle http://americanchronicle.com/

22 Oct: The Hot Author Report http://www.thehotauthorreport.blogalogues.com/

23 Oct: The Hot Author Report http://www.thehotauthorreport.blogalogues.com/

26 Oct: Book Tours and More http://booktoursandmore.blogspot.com/

26 Oct: Historical Tapestry http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/

27 Oct: Scribe Vibe http://www.scribevibe.blogspot.com/

28 Oct: Café of Dreams http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/

29 Oct: The Tome Traveller http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/

30 Oct: The Story Behind the Book http://thestorybehindthebook.wordpress.com/

Review by Historical Novel Review

Posted by Mirella Sichirollo Patzer

In 5th century Britain, High King Uther Pendragon is old, frail, and sick. He has no known heir and must name one before he dies. Lesser king, Cadwallon, waits impatiently to take his place. But Uther Pendragon does indeed have an heir, his whereabouts a secret even to him. A son named Arthur who has been hidden away since birth under the guidance of an old, wise wizard. Almost no one knows of his existence. Soon, Arthur will be acknowledged as Uther Pendragon’s sole heir and high king. But until then, doubts swirl about his existence.

Marcus is a fallen confidant of Uther Pendragon. Over the years, he served as the high king’s spy. But now, he knows too much and he is no longer favoured or trusted by the king. He struggles to keep the peace between Cadwallon and the Christian Church, both desirous of increasing their power.

Marcus’ beloved wife, Claerwen is gifted with “fire in the head” (the ability to see the future). She was also a trusted servant of the king, having protected Uther’s daughter by taking her to Avalon. When her sister, Drysi, and a strange monk, Gwion, seek shelter with Marcus at their fortress, trouble mysteriously ensues. A Land Beyond Ravens is the 4th and final book of the Macsen’s Treasure Series. Even though I had not read the preceding novels, I was easily able to follow the plot and relevant backstory through clever, brief snippets throughout the story. The reader follows the numerous twists and turns of the story through the point of view of the two main characters, Marcus and Claerwan, created completely from the imagination of author Kathleen Cunningham Guler. As such, this keeps the story fresh and unique from the actual Arthurian Legend. Guler writes with a strong voice and vibrant prose. Her use of Welsh and Celtic names and words adds realism to the skilfully woven tale. She is a master at creating unique, unusual characters which draw the reader deeper into the story in anxious desire to unlock their secrets.

I highly recommend this book to afficionado’s of the Arthurian legend. The previous books in the series are Into the Path of Gods, In the Shadow of Dragons, and The Anvil Stone.

Historical Novel Review Blog