As I wrote my story, I made some investigations when I decided to have the gemstone feature in the treasure hunt for the Mughal gems that appeared to vanish around 1910, scattered amongst the progeny of Geertje Hoogeven.
My hero, Teun Zeger, is very taken with a particular topaz stone but telling you why might be too revealing. Keira Drummond finds she’s also quite partial to topaz…again a mystery you’ll resolve in Topaz Eyes when you read it.
Topaz
The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire. My
novel Topaz Eyes didn’t start out with a name; I was well through the
writing when the name hit me like a sledgehammer. I knew very little about the
gemstone called topaz, though I once-upon-a-time owned a gold ring that had a
beautiful, rectangular, amber topaz. Sadly, that ring was stolen during a house
break-in many years ago, but I’ve not forgotten the hue of it.
This image was taken from Wikimedia Commons – the
photographer Gery Parent.
The colours of the beautiful amber coloured topaz are
perfect for my use of the gem in Topaz Eyes, though when I went
trawling the internet for descriptions I found topaz stones come in many
variations.
Topaz is a fairly common gemstone. It has won
accolades for the beauty of its well-formed crystals; and the fact that it is
of sufficient hardness, and general clarity, make it popular. A silicate mineral
of aluminium and fluorine, Topaz is one of the hardest minerals in nature and
can be found in massive sizes. Topaz can be colourless, white, yellow, pale
gray or reddish-orange, and blue brown.
 |
| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Azotic_topaz.JPG?uselang=en-gb |
Some gemmology experts claim the December birthstone is also
topaz - but of the blue varieties. Treatment can be done to topaz to enhance
the colouring - heat treatment, or irradiation, in particular being used often
to produce a darker blue topaz.
 |
| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TOPAZE8.jpg |
More associations for topaz state that it’s a
talisman for the sign of Sagittarius. When it comes to those anniversary gifts
some would tell you a topaz is appropriate for the 4t, 19th or 23rd
year of marriage. Other lists for celebration items might tell you different,
of course!
 | |
| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Topaz-251152.jpg?uselang=en-gb |
One of the world’s finest topaz collections is in the Green Vault in Dresden. A very good reason for me to base a lot of my novel in Germany, and Dresden gets a mention, too, in a round-about ancestral way!
Various myths and legends abound about topaz stones. It was
thought constructive in healing both physical and mental disorders during the
Middle Ages, and in some texts it was even credited with preventing death from
occurring! How that would be, I have no idea. Do you?
Greek myths are extremely interesting, too. Ancient Greeks
thought it increased strength and made the wearer invisible. Roman thought, on
the other hand, was that it improved eyesight-exactly how that happened I have
no idea either, but would love to know since my eyesight is steadily deteriorating
from staring at a computer screen all day long! Ancient Egyptians claimed it
was coloured with the golden glow of the sun god and wore it as protection from
injury.
All in all, topaz is a very good all- round stone to dazzle
the day with!
My hero, Teun Zeger,
is fairly dazzled in Topaz Eyes by Keira Drummond, but you’d need to read the novel to learn more…
A peculiar invitation to Heidelberg
embroils Keira Drummond in the search for a mysterious collection of extraordinary
jewels once owned by a Mughal Emperor; a hoard that was last known to be in the
possession of Amsterdam
resident, Geertje Hoogeveen, in 1910.
Who among the progeny of Geertje – hitherto unfamiliar third
cousins brought together for the quest – can Keira rely on? Distrust and
suspicion among them is rife.
Which one is greedy, and determined enough, to hire thugs to
tail her… and worse… as she travels to Vienna
and Minnesota? Can Keira even trust Teun Zeger - a
Californian she is becoming very drawn to – as they pair up to unearth the
jewellery?
As they follow a trail of clues, will they uncover the full
collection before the hired gun kills them? Details remain furtive and
undisclosed until danger and death forces their exposure. And who harbours the
ultimate mystery item that is even more precious than the Mughal jewels?
Greed, suspicion and murder are balanced by growing family
loyalty, trust, and love.
Excerpt:
“Would you ditch the mystery, Jensen, and just enlighten me
as to what you think I have that interests you? And tell me why you couldn’t
have asked for it in the letter you sent to me? I came here of my own free will
– granted – but I’m not hanging around any longer if you’re going to drag this
out, for I’m damned sure I’ve no idea what you’re referring to.”
Jensen’s
reply lacked emotion, his face a blank screen, his gaze focused on Teun as
Keira regarded the by-play.
“Teun. It
may come as a surprise to you, but you actually know more about this invitation
than Keira. At least you knew from my letter I had something of family interest
you might be glad to take back to the USA with you. Keira had no such
suggestion made to her.”
Tension
rose in the room, which didn’t only radiate from Teun.
Keira sat
uneasy, also unwilling to be in the dark any longer. “Would you please explain
why you think I may have something you want, Herr Amsel?” She found herself
reluctant to use his first name, considering the antagonism now mounting.
“All in
good time, Keira. And please call me Jensen. I don’t set out to be anyone’s
enemy. I believe each of you can provide access to items belonging to the
collection. All the pieces are likely to vary in monetary value but, viewed as
a complete entity, it will make an impressive display. It’s a historic set… and
unique.”
Author bio:
An ex-primary teacher, Nancy Jardine, lives in the
fabulous castle country of Aberdeenshire – Scotland. Her husband mans the
kitchen, her offspring only an hour’s drive away. When time permits, ancestry
research is an intermittent hobby. Neglecting her large garden in favour of
writing, she now grows spectacularly giant thistles. Activity weekends with her
extended family are prized since they give her great fodder for new writing.
A lover of history, it sneaks into most of her writing along
with many of the fantastic world locations she has been fortunate to visit. Her
published work to date has been two non fiction history related projects; two
contemporary ancestral mysteries; one light-hearted contemporary romance
mystery and a historical novel, The
Beltane Choice, also published by Crooked Cat Publishing
Author and buy
details: http://nancyjardine.blogspot.com
http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com
http://facebook.com/nancy.jardine.56
Twitter @nansjar
Topaz Eyes is available in e-book formats and print from Amazon
UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Topaz-Eyes-Nancy-Jardine/dp/1908910585/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1, and e-book formats from www.crookedcatbooks.com
Book
trailer Youtube video for Topaz Eyes can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgPf5kTAyi4&feature=channel&list=UL
Other
books by Nancy Jardine can be seen on her amazon UKpage: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nancy-Jardine/e/B005IDBIYG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
And amazon.com http://amzn.to/wwaGCv
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