Countdown to Release Day! The Comanchero’s Bride by Kaye Spencer #westernromance

My upcoming release with Prairie Rose Publications, The Comanchero’s Bride, was originally published in 2007. 'Comanchero' was one of 24 stories included in a publisher’s project of novella-length romances that were each based on a different rune. These stories weren’t considered a series nor were they even related to each other. They were simply stories written around a topic. I was limited to 40k for this story, and by the time I was finished, I knew there was a larger story begging to be told. In 2009, I received the rights back to ‘Comanchero’, and I set about expanding it to the current full-length edition that has a planned March 17th release date.

 So what are Runes? Briefly, runes are ancient alphabets used for writing, divination, and magic. Rune names vary by alphabet, but the meanings are generally the same. Runic inscriptions have been found in North America which supports the stories of Viking presence long before Columbus. (J. R. R. Tolkien used runes in The Hobbit.)

Example: 'The Anglo-Saxon Fuþorc' runes

My rune for The Comanchero's Bride was Uruz (from the Germanic runes) also Ur and Uru. Characteristics and attributes of this rune are:**

• physical and emotional strength
• untamed potential
• energy
• passion
• vitality
• instinct
• wildness
• sexuality
• fertility
• the unconscious
• primitive mind
• irrationality
• rite of passage
• termination and new beginnings
• outgrowing the life you’ve been living so new life can develop

As you read the story, you’ll understand how I worked these characteristics into the story and into the characters’ actions, thoughts, and behaviors. Both my hero and heroine must face extreme hardship during the course of the story and, in doing so, they grow emotionally. They are able to leave behind issues from their pasts at the same time overcoming obstacles in their present lives in order to achieve their desire to be together.

Since the dominant property of Uruz is strength, I decided on two overriding themes the story:

1. Physical strength in facing hardship and adversity
2. Inner strength of remaining true to oneself while maintaining loyalty to another

To further incorporate Uruz attributes in The Comanchero's Bride, I included a herd of longhorn cattle, because Uruz is symbolized by a wild ox, or ancient and extinct animal called an auroch. I even managed to have the hero and heroine have a conversation about the similarities between the now-extinct auroch and the hero’s longhorns.

Auroch are: “...a species of wild ox, similar to a longhorn bull that was once found all over Europe, but which because extinct sometime in the 17th century. They were said to be slightly smaller than elephants, and had horns as long as six feet, which were highly prized by the Germanii as drinking horns… Uruz …also represents and awareness of death and own mortality…  The energy of this rune is raw, powerful, and distinctly masculine, in the sense that it is pure, elemental fire…”**

To add another layer to The Comanchero’s Bride, I developed the plot around the Marty Robbins song, Meet Me Tonight in Laredo, and I scattered references to Marty’s songs all through the story. (I even slipped in a reference to Lorne Greene’s song, Ringo, for good measure.)

More to follow...

 

Until next time,

Kaye Spencer

Amazon.com

 

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runes
http://www.ancientscripts.com/futhark.html
http://www.runewebvitki.com/rune%20origins1.htm
**http://sacredwicca.jigsy.com/runes