Episode 27

Below, you'll find the full transcript of today’s episode, in case you prefer to read or want to reference something we talked about.

Three sisters are thrust into an uncertain future when their wealthy stepfather dies, leaving them with a small annuity to live upon. They find refuge with an aged uncle who convinces them to live in the apartments at Nottingham Castle, whose halls are shrouded in history and secrets, and whose residents watch the sisters with unsettling interest. Chief among them is the handsome property manager, Charles Rushforth, whose quiet authority conceals more than estate affairs and a brooding lodgekeeper who seems to know every hidden passage and whispered rumor…

Charlotte Fieldstone received a parting gift from her late stepfather—a set of valuable pilgrimage badges meant to safeguard them from want. But hidden hands seek the relics, and in the caves beneath the castle, a restless hunger stirs among those who trade in sacred things. At the center stands her uncle, whose charm deceives, and a Duchess, whose influence can tip scales on a whim.

As Charlotte’s uncle is swept into a dangerous quest, tensions rise. Charlotte must depend upon a stranger to shield her from a society whose motives aren’t as they appear. Will Charlotte be able to keep her sisters together as the tempest threatens to tear them apart?

Surrounded by deceit and danger, Charlotte must cling to faith and to one whose protection feels perilously like love...

Ann Elizabeth Fryer loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palms of His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she's lived in historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard archaeology. When she's not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels show a flavor of her forever-passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and three children make their home in small-town Illinois where they can hear church bells keep time and tradition.

Danielle Grandinetti: Welcome to A Spot of Story with Danielle Grandinetti. Cozy up with your favorite beverage as we chat about sweet romance, thrilling suspense, and fascinating history. Perhaps you'll find your next read in one of these stories.

On this episode of A Spot of Story, I'm chatting with Ann Elizabeth Fryer about her Gothic Regency, Storm at Nottingham Castle*, which is the first book in her Sisters of Sherwood series. Ann, welcome!

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Hey, Danielle. Thanks for having me on.

Danielle Grandinetti: You're so welcome. Ann is not only my critique partner, she loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palm of His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she's lived in historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard archaeology. When she's not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels show a flavor of her forever passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and three children make their home in a small town in Illinois, where they can hear church bells keep time and tradition.

I'm so excited to have you on! Like I mentioned, Ann is my critique partner, so we get to read each other's stories before they're really stories—hearing all the ideas while they're still in the "might not even make it into the book" stage. So I'm excited to talk about her latest series today.

Ann, my podcast loves to unite us over a love of story. What are you reading right now?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: I picked up just for fun—I think it was National Speak Like a Pirate Day the other day—Mary Lou Tyndall's book. Let me pull it up real quick on my Kindle so I get the title right: Legend of the King's Ring, Book 1, called The Summons*. A few chapters in, and it's swashbuckling from the start.

Danielle Grandinetti: That's awesome!

All right, turning to your story, Storm at Nottingham Castle, which is Book 1 in the series. Let's start with what a day in the life of your characters looks like.

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Oh my goodness. All right, which character should we start with?

Danielle Grandinetti: The series follows three sisters, so maybe start with a sister?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: This is Charlotte Fieldstone's story, and she has spent all of her life in Edwinstowe at her stepfather's estate, Piping's Cross. Her days are lived as a gentlewoman, so she's not doing laundry at all. She's not cooking. She can't even make herself a pot of tea in the kitchen, though she knows how to pour it properly, because every lady can do that!

My character and her sisters love archery. The stepfather, as a way of connecting with his new stepdaughters, made sure they were outfitted and learned how at a young age, and it comes in handy in the stories—especially as they're growing up right next to the legendary Sherwood Forest. He uses that story to capture their attention, gather them in, and endear them to him, which it certainly did. They love their stepfather dearly. But at the very beginning, he dies. Charlotte will no longer live the life of a lady in her everyday life... so maybe her no-more-laundry days are over!

Danielle Grandinetti: It sounds like we definitely have to read the story! What was your favorite scene to write in this book, and why?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: It's really hard to choose! I think one of my favorite scenes early on is when the hero walks into Piping's Cross in the middle of the storm. The door slams open, the lightning flashes, and there he is. It's dripping with romance!

Danielle Grandinetti: Yes, definitely! I love that. What was some unique research required to write this story?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Unique research—so much, because my characters are in legendary Robin Hood territory in Nottinghamshire. They travel from Edwinstowe to the city of Nottingham, and it is loaded with history. I did lots and lots of research on locations and Nottingham Castle itself.

Danielle Grandinetti: What was some of that research you wish you could have included that didn't actually make it into the book?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Goodness, trying to remember! I have lists of everything I found. There are canals in Nottingham that I didn't include because it just wasn't relevant to the story. Some other historic locations sounded really cool, but real history had the risk of overloading the story with facts, so I had to be careful to make sure the details wove in usefully. I did mention that the locals believe the entrance to the caves is haunted by a ghost at certain times, which is linked to an actual local legend, so I had fun with that!

Danielle Grandinetti: That's awesome! Backing up a little bit, what was the inspiration behind not just this book, but the series of the three sisters?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Just brainstorming about what I love about Regency, Gothic, mystery, and history. I love medieval times and Robin Hood themes, so I enjoyed mashing all those flavors together. Young Regency women enjoyed archery as a sport, so that was something I could include to add those flavors and keep it Robin Hood-like.

Danielle Grandinetti: I love that. Robin Hood is one of my favorite stories, so I love that you wove that theme into the series.

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: I love the Walt Disney Robin Hood with the fox and all the fun animal characters—they're the best!

Danielle Grandinetti: What encouragement do you hope readers will take away from your story?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: The encouragement I hope readers get from every single project I put out is that there's a God who is with them through any storm they encounter. He does not leave.

Danielle Grandinetti: That's beautiful. Ann, thank you so much for joining me today and talking about your Gothic Regency, Storm at Nottingham Castle. Book 2 comes out in October, Tempest at Rufford Abbey*, and I'm so excited about that one. Where can readers find you and your books online?

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Readers can find me at AnnFryerWrites.com, and they can find my books on Amazon.

Danielle Grandinetti: Sounds awesome! I will link to all of that in the show notes so everyone can find you. Thanks for joining me today, Ann.

Ann Elizabeth Fryer: Good to talk to you!

Danielle Grandinetti: Thank you for listening to A Spot of Story with Danielle Grandinetti. We hope you enjoyed today's conversation. Let us know by leaving a comment below, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Discover more information about today's book by visiting A Spot of Story online at daniellegrandinetti.com/podcast.

Happy reading!

To make this story accessible to everyone, an AI-assisted transcript is provided above. It has been edited for clarity to ensure it captures the heart of our conversation.

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Until next time, may your reading bring both light and encouragement.

Happy reading!
~ Danielle.