RACHEL MCDONOUGH
Rachel McDonough was born and raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She is an avid ballad scholar with a degree in History from Rutgers University. In addition to writing, she is also an actress, musician, and singer/songwriter.
She is an amateur rock climber and crossword puzzle writer. You can find her every summer, working at the New York Renaissance Faire. She has also been featured on NPR’s “This American Life” and has a youtube series, “The Child Ballad Challenge", where she sings and illustrates the history of traditional British folk ballads. She currently lives in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with her pet guinea pigs, Mavis and Rosita. |
The Famous Flower of Serving Men
Just hours after giving birth, Lady Helen of Wallingford is convinced that her daughter, Elinor, has been replaced. Certain that the child is a changeling brought upon her by a Romani caravan traveling through their lands, she casts her aside, leaving her to be raised by her chambermaid. From a young age, Elinor finds that she has the ability to transform into a white deer at will.
After her father dies in a tragic accident, Lady Helen suspects foul play. Meanwhile, when the Romani return to Wallingford, Elinor comes to realize that she is not the only one touched by magic. King Andrew wakes to find a strange young man asleep in his stables. Taking the boy, William, on as a serving man, the king finds himself bewitched and an illicit romance blossoms. Blinded by desire, King Andrew does not see that William is not what he seems. William has been witness to unimaginable horrors, turning to deception to avoid facing the reality of his past. But he can only go on hiding for so long before he is forced to seek vengeance. The Famous Flower of Serving Men is released on 12th November 2019 |