I’m happy to welcome author Katerina Dunne to the blog today for a look behind the scenes at her exciting new novel of medieval Hungary, Return to the Eyrie. Read on for details about the book as well as an intriguing interview with the author.
Honour, revenge, and the quest for justice.
Belgrade, Kingdom of Hungary, 1470:
Raised in exile, adolescent noblewoman Margit Szilágyi dreams of returning to her homeland of Transylvania to avenge her father’s murder and reclaim her stolen legacy. To achieve this, she must break the constraints of her gender and social status and secretly train in combat.
When the king offers her a chance at justice, she seizes it—even if it means disguising herself as a man to infiltrate the vultures’ nest that now occupies her ancestral ‘eyrie’.
Plagued by childhood trauma and torn between two passionate loves, Margit faces brutal battles, her murderous kin’s traps and inner demons on her quest for vengeance. Only by confronting the past can she reclaim her honour—if she can survive long enough to see it through.
Return to the Eyrie is an epic coming-of-age tale of a young woman’s unwavering pursuit of justice and destiny in 15th century Hungary.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bz8gJL
What’s the tagline or ‘elevator pitch’ for your book?
In 15th century Hungary, a young noblewoman must break the constraints of her gender to avenge her father’s murder and reclaim her stolen inheritance.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Return to the Eyrie is the sequel to my first novel, Lord of the Eyrie, but can be read as a standalone. The two make up a family saga set in 15th century Hungary. The idea was born out of my love for both Hungary and history. As I did my Masters in Medieval History, I realized how little the English-speaking world knows about the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. So, I combined my studies and my interest in Hungary by writing a novel that would introduce English-speaking readers to this fascinating era.
What inspired you to write about that particular era or character?
I admire the two main historical figures of this period in Hungary: János Hunyadi (a lesser nobleman whose military successes and political skills elevated him to the position of Regent) and his son, Mátyás (nicknamed Corvinus) who was elected King in 1458. They both faced the ever-increasing power of the Ottoman Empire and are considered heroes in Hungary and neighbouring countries.
What fascinated me most though was the men who fought under their command and particularly, the border lords of Transylvania. Against the backdrop of a rough and mountainous terrain, those men had to protect their own lands from attacks by other nobles and barons, but also take up arms to defend the kingdom against the Ottoman threat. Their lives must have been hard. The hero of my first novel was one of them. Although a fictional character, he represented those warrior-noblemen of the Borderland. The heroine of the second book is his daughter, Margit. A strong-willed young woman determined to punish those who wronged her as a child, she fights against the constraints of a male-dominated world. But the women of the Kingdom of Hungary were as hard and brave as their men. They were usually left behind to manage their estates in their husbands’ absence. In some cases, queens and noblewomen participated or waged wars themselves.
The statue of János Hunyadi in Budapest’s Heroes Square (author photo)
How did you create a realistic setting for your story?
By doing detailed research and having real historical figures and events as the backdrop. My heroes take part in battles and are involved in the politics of the time. Primary and secondary sources helped me ensure events are described as accurately as possible, the weapons, armour and clothes are true to the period, the language as well. I studied itineraries, for example, to ensure the historical figures are where they are supposed to be at the particular time of a certain scene. I have of course taken some liberties for the sake of the storyline, and I explain these in my Author’s Note. But the most fun part was that I even trained in medieval combat in order to understand how the soldiers fought at that time.
What surprised you in the course of your research?
I was fascinated by the personality of King Mátyás. Although only fifteen when he became king, he took control of the country straight away and pushed aside anyone who wanted to rule in his stead. Apart from being a warrior (he was actually injured in battle in 1467), he was also a true “Renaissance Man”: educated with the ideals of Humanism, spoke many languages, promoted arts and sciences, and hired Italian masters to renovate his palaces. He is also famous for his extensive Corvina Library, one of the biggest in Europe.
The Royal Palace of Visegrád. It was expanded and renovated by King Mátyás (author photos)
Do your research findings guide the plot, or do you plan out the plot first and flesh it out with research? (Or perhaps both?)
First, I plan out the plot in general terms. Then, I do some broad research before I start writing the first chapter because this “puts me in the zone”. The more detailed research comes later when I want to refine the storyline or specific scenes.
Name three historical facts or events that helped bring your main character to life.
No.1: The siege of Szabács in Serbia: Margit’s first real-life battle, where she puts her fighting skills to the test. It’s a turning point because she realises she can go into the world on her own.
No.2: Buda Royal Palace: Margit meets the King early in the story to request his assistance, and also towards the end when she receives his judgement on her father and on her own case to reclaim her inheritance. Famous for its spectacular architecture, the palace was a magnificent setting for those scenes. When you read the novel, you can see how the palace works as a reflection of Margit’s emotions, which are completely different each time she visits.
No.3: The Ottoman raids: The Ottomans engaged in a war of attrition against the Hungarian borderlands. Armed mounted raiders attacked unexpectedly, ravaging the land and taking hundreds of people prisoner to sell as slaves. The destruction of farmland, property and manpower led to the depopulation of vast areas near the border. Coming across a brutal raid and consoling the grief-stricken inhabitants of a destroyed village reveals a compassionate and caring side of the heroine in the novel.
As historical novelists, we are often left wondering about tantalizing mysteries that can’t quite be solved with our research. If you could invite your main character(s) to dinner, what questions would you ask them, and what lingering mysteries would you hope to solve?
Not really a mystery, but I would like to ask Margit how a woman could cope in a dangerous world of constant upheaval. Unfortunately, Hungarian primary sources are not concerned with women, except in the rare cases of queens and higher nobility. But even those women are either portrayed negatively or are given masculine attributes when they are mentioned in a positive way.
Do you completely plan out your cast of characters before writing, or do you sometimes add new characters as you go along? What are some of the reason you’ve added new characters to a story?
I create the characters as I outline the story in my head. Then, while writing the scenes, I insert minor characters as I go along. The reason I would add a new character is if the plot requires it.
Do you have any tips for other writers about keeping track of your historical fiction research?
I am not terribly organized, so I don’t think I can give good advice! My research items are in book and electronic format. I keep the electronic ones in a computer folder. As I read them, I take notes by hand on interesting points, which I can skim through later. I believe each writer should follow what feels right for them.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with background music? If music, what kind and why?
I prefer silence because I need full concentration. But I use music for inspiration. While listening to Hungarian music (obviously!) I can visualize certain scenes, which later helps me bring them to life.
What do you have planned for your next writing project?
Staying on the general theme of Medieval Hungary, my next novel will go back to the 13th century during the Mongol invasion in 1241-42.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
Watching sports and historically-themed series and movies. I am a great fan of Korean period dramas. They have a lot of fighting scenes, as well as lovely costumes.
Katerina Dunne is the pen-name of Katerina Vavoulidou. Originally from Athens, Greece, Katerina has been living in Ireland since 1999. She has a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Athens, an MA in Film Studies from University College Dublin and an MPhil in Medieval History from Trinity College Dublin.
Katerina is passionate about history, especially medieval history, and her main area of interest is 13th to 15th century Hungary. Although the main characters of her stories are fictional, Katerina uses real events and personalities as part of her narrative in order to bring to life the fascinating history of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, a location and time period not so well-known to English-speaking readers.
Return to the Eyrie (published April 2024) is the second book in the Medieval Hungary series, a sequel to Lord of the Eyrie (published in February 2022).
Website (publisher): https://www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/hp-authors/katerina-dunne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076818802721
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katerina-vavoulidou-07962a85/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Katerina-Dunne/author/B09R4P733K
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22196953.Katerina_Dunne
Thanks so much for featuring Katerina Dunne today, with such a brilliant post.
Take care,
Cathie xo
The Coffee Pot Book Club
My pleasure, Cathie!