The Hawk's Lady

Genesis of The Hawk's Lady--" Back in the dark ages when Reagan was president, I followed with interest his conflict with Libya and Gaddafi. For awhile, Gaddafi exacted what amounted to tribute from various nations to leave them alone while of course denying involvement in any of the terrorism being funded against western nations. I've always been a student of history and I remembered from early American history that we've had problems with countries in that area of the Middle East since we formed our first Navy back in the late 1700's. In fact the famous warship, the USS Constitution, participated in battles against the Barbary States. The debate was the same then: tribute and armed peace or outright war? The famous Marine Corps hymn even mentions this area, "to the shores of Tripoli..." So I got the idea of having an American sailor agitating with other newly American conservatives over the need for a navy. He voluntarily goes undercover as a Barbary pirate to prove the dey of Algiers is behind much of the piracy going on in the area and to find his sister who has been kidnapped and put in a harem. In the process, he comes across the yacht of a willful British heiress. She takes him at face value at first, as a golden barbarian who has divested himself of any attachment to king or country in the quest for power and riches. She doesn't remember him as the awkward American heir come to London for some polish, or that he admired her and she cut him short with contempt. The roles will be reversed now as she's his captive. He remembers her well, however, and at first, at least, not fondly: He plays his own games with her, but cannot break her spirit and admires her for it. He finds he still loves her and no matter whether she wears chains at his feet, it's he who is her captive. I bring in many historical aspects here such as the debate against a strong federal government and a navy, Washington's death, the details of xebecs (the Barbary pirate preferred sailing ship) and the famous battle of the USS Constitution in the Mediterranean. While this book is a bit more flowery and detailed than what I'd write today, I am proud of the way I brought an interesting slice of history to life against the emotional backdrop of star crossed lovers fighting their love for one another while they fight for freedom. It's classic old fashioned romance if you still hunger for that kind of thing."