When chaos strikes at the heart of Milan, it is up to Florentina’s alter-ego the Night Flyer to stop it. As Florentina and Madelena’s love deepens, so does the well of danger surrounding them. The race is on to discover the mysterious Shadow Guild and uncover who is behind the deadly rampage, but Florentina’s mission is threatened by a gang of assassins. Can the Night Flyer prevail, or will Maddie’s love be ripped from her arms?
Chaos in Milan is the third book in Edale Lane’s Night Flyer Trilogy, a tale of power, passion, and payback in Renaissance Italy. If you like action and suspense, rich historical background, three-dimensional characters, and a sweet romance, then you’ll want to complete the Night Flyer saga. Order your copy of Chaos in Milan today!
What was one of the most surprising things you’ve learned in writing your books?
Even with a master’s degree in history and many years of teaching the subject, I still uncover nuggets of information that surprise and amaze me. Such was the case in writing Chaos in Milan. I knew that Milan was home to a fabulous cathedral, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, and other historical buildings and works of art, but when researching for this last book of the Night Flyer Trilogy, I ran across the most bizarre church I have ever heard of and knew I must include it in the story: the Bone Chapel. The Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa has an ossuary attached that is completely covered in human bones! Look it up on the internet, or better yet, order a copy of Chaos in Milan in which I describe the macabre art and the story behind this unique chapel.
Who has been your favorite character to write, and why?
I really enjoy writing Florentina because I was a teacher for twenty-four years, and I love demonstrating excellent teaching methods. She is confident and fearless, except when it comes to relationships and social situations. There is a scene following a fight where her life was on the line in which Maddie asks her to dance. THAT is the proposition that reduces Florentina to terror. She has no idea how to dance and fears she will epically fail at the venture, but Maddie convinces her to try. To Florentina’s surprise, she enjoys it. Florentina represents all that is possible when one believes that it is.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
Being the conclusion of the Night Flyer Trilogy, my major goal was to complete the plot and subplots in a satisfactory manner. When mapping out the trilogy, I had planned book three to take our heroes to Florence, so I intended to showcase some of the most celebrated works of art and architecture that were available to see in 1503, and there were so many! The challenge was to narrow it down, and in doing so I discovered an exciting little-known fact. I wanted this one to be more action-packed as things with the chaotic Shadow Guild came to a head. I also needed to complete Antonio and Benetto’s stories. Finally, I ended Chaos in Milan in such a way that more follow-up novels could follow. I wouldn’t have published the book if I didn’t think I had achieved all these goals in the best possible way, but that is truly up to you, the reader, to decide.
Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?
My mother spent most of her life as an English and Literature teacher, but she earned her degree in history. Art, music, and history filled our home when I was growing up and my favorite movies were Ben Hur, Robin Hood (the Errol Flynn version), The Three Musketeers, and pretty much anything that included riding horses or sword fighting. History remained my favorite subject in school and later I earned a Master’s Degree in the field. I keep my similar yet divergent genres in balance by writing under two different names: Melodie Romeo for historical thrillers, horror, and heterosexual romances, and Edale Lane for exciting tales of historical or fantasy lesbian romance.
What other artistic pursuits (it any) do you indulge in apart from writing?
I was first, and am still, a musician. Starting with the piano, I moved to French horn and sang in my church choir. In high school, band was my life, and it was my dream to become a band director. I graduated with a degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1982 never to stand on the podium lifting my baton to give the downbeat before a band. Life got in the way, but I did spend many enjoyable years as a church choir director and playing my French horn in the Mississippi Wind Symphony.
Would you visit the future or the past, and why?
I’m a historian – the past, of course! The future would be cool, but I wouldn’t know things there, such as how to operate the technology, speak the jargon, etc. But by entering the past I could find out if we got it right or not. Historians are more aware than most that what we think we know about the past is probably not the way it was at all. So, by visiting the past I could discover things we only thought we knew and use it all in my next historical lesbian romance novel.
What action would your name be if it were a verb?
Fly. Some of my earliest dream memories are of flying (and I still occasionally have the flying dream). As a child I belted out “Climb Every Mountain,” and I still get tingly every time I hear Barbara Streisand sing “Piece of Sky” and “Papa can you Hear me?” from Yentl. I just long to do and be… more. There are many ways to fly, and being good at what you do is one of them. It is my intent to never stop learning, never stop growing, and never stop reaching for the stars.
What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?
I am working on promoting the six titles I currently have for sale while deciding between a dozen pre-planned storylines! Like Maddie, I have trouble making decisions. Maybe re-writing an earlier unpublished manuscript to an FF historical fantasy romance, Viking Quest. Would you be interested in high seas adventures led by a Viking warrior-princess?
Edale is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:
Her initial excitement was rekindled as she beheld Fiore change into the black silk tunic and tight leather trousers that never failed to kindle her passion. She brimmed with anticipation while Florentina laced the soft-soled footwear over the bottoms of her leggings. With no need of a mask and cowl, Maddie enjoyed a full view of her face and long brunette braid.
Eyes glowing, Maddie purred, “Seeing you in that attire takes my breath away and inspires me to… well,” she added blushing. “I promised to let you work.”
Florentina flashed her a grin. “Happy to please you, my dear.” Then she proceeded to race toward a reinforced portion of the rear wall and up it, running one, two, three vertical steps up the planks followed by a backflip, landing on her feet in the powdery dust. Maddie’s eyes flew wide as she had not imagined such a feat was even possible.
She witnessed Fiore scale ropes up the sides of walls, swing from one to another, hang upside-down with her ankle wrapped in a cord, and run, hop, leap, and climb over every inch of her lair. Observing the tall, lean frame of her children’s tutor pass from one athletic exploit to the next with the dexterity and strength of an Olympian set her heart racing with desire, but also terrified her. Maddie knew that she would do these same exercises at great heights and risk to her person. A fall here may hurt a little, but a fall from a three-story building… don’t think about it!
After a bit, a sweaty Florentina, breathing heavy from her exertion, walked over for a sip to drink. “Mi Tesoro!” Maddie exclaimed. “I knew you could do things, but you are truly magnificent. How did you ever-”
“Practice,” Fiore answered as she wiped her face with a cloth. “Much practice and determination.”
Next, Florentina withdrew her multi-fire crossbow from her shoulder bag. “You invented that,” Maddie said as a half statement, half question.
Fiore nodded. “It was Master Leonardo’s idea, in a way,” she replied with a shrug. Florentina then fired off eight shots in rapid succession at eight separate targets situated around the barn. Some were painted circles, others sets of clothing stuffed with straw, and a few burlap sacks filled with sand that hung from cords. Fiore retrieved her bolts and reloaded the weapon.
“You hit every one!” Maddie gushed in amazement.
“Yes, but I’ve practiced with these marks for months,” the skilled vigilante replied as though unimpressed with herself. “Moving targets or hitting them while I’m running is more difficult.” Florentina pushed the burlap sacks so that they each started to sway in different directions and at varying speeds, then raced across the barn, pivoted, and began to fire. She first shot at the moving targets, then fired at the dummies as she ran traversed the dirt floor. “See,” she said, motioning as she skidded to a halt in front of Madelena. “I hit that one in the knee—I was aiming for its shoulder. And that bag?” she motioned. “I was supposed to strike the green circle, not just anywhere on it.”
“But still,” Maddie replied in amazement. “You hit every target, even if not in the spot you intended. That is quite astonishing.”
Florentina smiled, bent down, and placed her lips to Maddie’s. “Grazie,” she said. “Now, I want to show you something new,” she announced, a twinkle in her bright, tawny eyes. Madelena stood and followed Fiore over to where she had set her bag; the barrel was getting uncomfortable, anyway.
Fiore withdrew a polished wooden case, set it on a rickety work table, one of the few excuses for furniture in the barn, and opened it with care. “I found these when I went into the Oriental shop to acquire more opium.”
Maddie frowned. “I didn’t know you use that drug.”
“Oh, I don’t,” Fiore assured her. “Only for medicinal purposes and to subdue city watchmen without causing them any actual harm.”
“I’ve been in that shop,” Madelena commented. “They have some unusual merchandise and a few very popular items. I purchased one of those painted silk fans that are in fashion.”
Florentina nodded. “They have nice things.” Then, from the plush black velvet interior of the box, she retrieved a silver five-pointed star about three inches long. The edges appeared sharp and Fiore held it judiciously in her gloved hand.
“What is it?” Maddie asked.
“The shop owner didn’t know,” Florentina answered with a sly grin. “But I had read about these in an obscure book on Oriental weapons. It’s a Chinese throwing star. There are five in the set.”
“A throwing star,” Maddie echoed as she moved in for a closer look.
“The Spaniard threw a knife at me in the Pantheon,” Fiore recalled. “Throwing-knives are deadlier, can do more damage than these, but it is a skill that is difficult to master. With the star, I have five small blades rather than one longer one with which to hit my target. They are good to distract or throw a foe off balance. Strikes to the eye or weapon hand are debilitating and may take an enemy out of the fight. Because the tines are short and cannot penetrate deep into flesh, only a strike to the big artery in the neck or severing the windpipe in the throat can kill. I think these will prove quite useful, but I’ve only been practicing with them for a few weeks.”
With admiration and anticipation oozing through her voice, Maddie sang, “Show me.”
Florentina removed all five stars from the box and positioned herself in the middle of the barn. “Stand behind me,” she instructed as she lifted one from her left hand. “I’ve had no teacher to instruct me, so I had to guess as to how to throw them. I have developed three techniques, hoping to perfect at least one.”
Maddie withdrew, studying her partner’s every move. Florentina gripped the object horizontally in a curled hand with her thumb on top and her forefinger beneath it. Rotating her upper body from the waist, she drew her right arm back then spun, releasing the small weapon with the motion a child may use to toss a pie pan. The star whirled through the air at an astonishing speed until it lodged into the shoulder of one of the dummies. Florentina frowned. “A nuisance hit.”
“But you hit it!” Madelena exclaimed. Florentina continued to practice the move, thrusting at different targets and from varying angles, collecting the projectiles once all five had been expended.
“Semi-successful,” Fiore admitted. “Another way I have tried is a basic overhand throw.” She demonstrated by taking a star in her right hand, holding it vertically, and throwing it as one might a ball, rock, or piece of fruit. Her first attempt landed low on the target, so she adjusted the second by releasing it sooner, gaining better results. After dozens of pitches, Fiore returned to Maddie’s side. “The third method I’ve been trying is trickier, but has far greater potential. I’ll be at this a while if you want to curl up and take a nap.”
“What? And miss witnessing an act no Milanese woman has ever seen?” Maddie exclaimed. “But if you will point them in that direction,” she indicated, “I’ll sit back down over here for a while.” On impulse, she leaned in and kissed Fiore’s lips before retreating to her stool.
She has so much focus and intensity, Maddie contemplated. She is like a force of nature.
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