Carol Townend writes medieval novels set in England and Europe - romantic historicals and a couple of darker sagas. Born in Yorkshire, she went to a convent school in Whitby and studied history at Royal Holloway College, London. She loves research trips, never quite knowing which castle, church, palace or city will fire her imagination next. Her first novel, Sapphire in the Snow, won the RNA New Writers' Award. For more about Carol and her writing, please visit her blogsite: http://caroltownend.co.uk Carol's non-fiction writing includes dozens of articles for Writing Magazine and Writers' News, and a portrait of the Romanovs which introduces family portraits from the Imperial albums. Carol lives in London with her husband and daughter. Latest novels: **Her Banished Lord** - 2010 **Bound to the Barbarian** - 2010 (Hardback)