Dobrenica
The origin of this series was Ruritanian romance--castles and swords in modern times, set in Eastern Europe. I read Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda as a teen, and also watched the black and white film, loving the panache, but resenting the fact that as usual, men got all the active roles. I also really disliked the ending. Come up a few years, and one night, when I was listening to a Eastern-European-inspired bit of folk music, Coronets and Steel unfolded like a movie in my head, and I wrote it down by hand as fast as I could. Adding magic seemed to be a necessary requirement, after I read about Maria Theresia, Empress of Austria, sending a deleration deep into that mountainous region to investigate the continual reports of vampires. . .
I have trade paperback copies of these, which I am happy to sign and send for 15 bucks apiece (includes postage), but only continental USA while postage costs are so insane. PayPal me @ sherwood@sherwoodsmith.net, with an address to send the signed book, and if you want it personalized, the name, and I'll do my best to get it in the mail within three to five days of receipt.
