My historical epic historical adventure, three books in the Song of Montségur epic, finally releases this fall from Kunati after 20 years of research, multiple publisher offers and a considerable buzz. Song of Montségur has history, too. Kam Wai Yu invented the animated novel trailer, the first book video (click here to play the eighties original -- then here to play the revised 2007 version!), back in the eighties for this epic adventure. It's a classic! Why the buzz? Well, aside from grand adventure, knights templars, Holy relics, holy wars, burning pagans and heretics, genuine acts of heroism and historical treasures, we have — perhaps for the first time in this fun format — a history of the Tarot told through colorful characters and events.
This is an excerpt from the introduction to The Last Troubadour, first of the books in the trilogy:
Song of Montségur recalls the rise of the brutal monastic Inquisition in the South of France, an epic story of heroes and villains of the 13th century. Rather than spin a dark tale of glory and death, I fancifully retell these momentous
vents with your reading pleasure as my goal: two cups adventure, a pound of real history, a large dollop of humor, a dash of tragedy and hopefully enough mystical juice to create a buzz, roasted over a fire of heretics and witches. Enjoy!
From The Silver Dame of Montségur to the terrible witchhunter Diableteur, all of my larger-than-life characters are drawn from history. Many legends (and half-baked histories) associate the development of the Tarot cards with the Cathar heresies and this period in history. In The Last Troubadour, you will meet my “inventor” of the first tarot deck, Nevara of the Baug Balar “circus” and the characters from history that inspired her deck. Although we know the full decks appeared around this time—the four-suited Turuq came earlier—associating Nevara with major trumps of the Tarot is pure imagination. All major characters and events are historical, fancifully dressed up here with Tarot attributions:
The Fool
Ramon, last of the Occitan’s famous heretical troubadours
The Magus
Nevara, the albino pagan sorceress of the Baug Balar “circus”
The Priestess
Dame Esclarmonde de Foix, the High Lady of the Cathar Christians
The Empress
Magba, the ever-pregnant mother of the Baug Balar entertainers
The Emperor
Hugh d’Arcis, conquering Viscount of Carcassonne
The Hierophant (Pope)
Cardinal Sinibaldo Fiesco, the future Pope Innocent IV
The Lovers
The Grand Duo, the famous rebels Doré the bastard and Osric the hammer
The Chariot
Arnot, the disenfranchised Templar
Justice (Adjustment)
Perce de Mendes, too-loyal squire of the famous Cyclops Seigneur
The Hermit
Guilhem d’Alions, the ancient Perfectus of the Cathars
Fortune
Adelais, the rebellious daughter of the conquering Viscount of Carcassonne
Strength (Lust)
Seigneur, the “Cyclops” one-eyed crusader
The Hanged Man
The suicidal Dominican monk, Brother Jaie
Death
The Diableteur, feared witch-hunter
The Devil
Archbishop Peter Amiel of Narbonne, worldly leader of the crusaders
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My latest novel is generating quite a sensation both in literary circles and in the "Tarot" community. This was somewhat deliberate on my part. I've been a "Tarot journeyer" for 35 years, since I picked up my first deck, a Waite-Smith Pixie deck in 1972. The Tarot is, perhaps, the richest source of visual archetypes, and appeals to creative people, generally, although I was never sure if a mainstream novel would appeal to broad audiences if deliberately flouting its Tarot-roots. Films and Books review seems to put that doubt to rest:
"The tarot-themed characters are inspired. An author to watch."
Statistics were on my side as well:
• 1.7 million tarot decks sold in the last year (Nielsen Bookscan stats)
• 50 million (estimated) Tarot fans worldwide (Wise Tarot Magazine)
My novel, The Last Troubadour is the first in a trilogy of historical epics focused on the founding of the Inquisition, a quest for a Holy Relic, the Cathar Crusades, and the history of the Tarot. Reviews have been stunning:
"Brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways. A writer of abundant talent." Booklist, David Pit
"Derek Armstrong is good." Michael Korda, editor in chief emeritus, Simon & Schuster
Ultimately, I wrote The Last Troubadour out of my thirty-five year passion for all things Medieval, Cathars -- and the Tarot. The Last Troubadour is first and foremost an epic fiction adventure and the quest of the hero.
"Kudos to Derek Armstrong ... this is a wonderful work of art, and I highly recommend it to all who are interested in the Tarot, in the history of the 13th century, and in a mystery that crosses many boundaries!" Bonnie Cehovet, Aeclectic Tarot Reviewer
Although The Last Troubadour is certainly mainstream as an adventure — an epic story based on real history that reshaped our entire world in the Middle Ages — I'm focusing most of my "reach-out" to the Tarot Community. Although there have been books focused on tarot-themes, they've been sporadic and certainly not enough to fulfill my own "lust" for Tarot fiction. The sequels to The Last Troubadour — The Last Quest due out Fall 08 from Kunati and The Last Stand in 09 — will continue my Tarot themes.
My new thriller, a sequel to the popular The Game — a satirical comedic thriller that "bashed reality TV" — has Bane partnered up with a new character who reads Tarot cards to help solve crimes, due out in March 08. The book, MADicine, should satisfy fans who crave more of the sarcastic and funny Alban Bane (modeled on my real-life Scot mother Anna Kane) with more Tarot adventuring. I suppose I've found my two niches:
• "Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways." Booklist
• "The Tarot-themed characters are inspired." Films and Books.
I plan to continue my "tradition" of blending satire, comedy, adventure, suspense and Tarot in most of my future projects. In fact, Kunati Books plans to published a tie-in Troubadour Tarot Deck in 2008 to celebrate. It will be illustrated by famous illustrator Kam Wai Yu who designs all of Kunati's incredible book covers and has hundreds of International Creative Awards to his credit.
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