The Tapestry Shop

The Tapestry Shop is an award winning historical fiction by Joyce Elson Moore about the thirteenth century French poet and trouvère, Adam de la Halle of Arras. Moore takes the few facts known about this real life historical figure, and several fictitious characters, and weaves a magical story of romance and adventure. Her writing is eloquent and the characters so real they elicit strong feelings from the reader as we instantly take on the emotions of her characters.

As a master of descriptive imagery, Moore transports us to France in the Middle Ages as in this example where she seamlessly describes the landscape Catherine surveys as she leaves Vitry to join the Crusades. "Herds of game milled near the water, escaping the heat of early July which settled on northern France like a woolen cape." Further proof of such beautiful prose can be found as Moore describes the scene laid out before Catherine and her entourage as they approach the fair taking place in the city of Troyes. "The sun sent slivers of light between the shops, narrow gold rectangles spilling onto the road like priceless bullion. Smoke curled skyward from numerous braziers where cooks basted fowl and pork on turning spits and shouted at stray dogs." Every scene Moore lays out before us is described in an equally poetic fashion.

The story of The Tapestry Shop is centered on the love affair between Adam de la Halle and the beautiful Catherine Durant, a strong-minded and determined young woman whose father owns a tapestry shop in Vitry-en-Artois. However their conflicting principles and religious beliefs take them in opposite directions as they struggle to ultimately reconnect.

Adam de la Halle is said to have written the very first version of the Robin Hood legend on record, entitled Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion (The Play of Robin and Marion). Moore includes this in a later chapter in the book where she describes Robin et Marion being performed for the King's nephew and his court amidst praise and accolades.

Moore has won numerous awards for her published novels, including First Place winner of the 2009 Royal Palm Literary Awards for best published romance for "Jeanne of Clairmonde" and 1st runner-up in the First Coast Writer's Festival for "The Tapestry Shop under the earlier title "Adam de la Halle, the Hunchback of Arras." In addition, she has won awards for her unpublished novels, including First Place in the Do It! Write contest for her historical novel "The Glass Partridge" and Third Place in the same contest for "The Captive Queen."

The Tapestry Shop is published by Five Star/GALE/Cengage Learning and was released in October 2010. You can purchase it through Five Star/GALE/Cengage Learning, Amazon, Barnes and Noble , Borders , Poe House Books, and at other select bookstores. Along with the Tapestry Shop, Jeanne of Clairmonde was published in early May 2009 by The Wild Rose Press, and both The Venetian Affair and The Glass Partridge are completed historical novels awaiting publication. Moore is currently working on a new biographical, historical novel tentatively entitled Wagner's Mistress, set in nineteenth century Paris.

Joyce Elson Moore lives on the west coast of Florida with her rescued boxer dog and other furry creatures on her three acre property. She has a passion for all things French and a background in music, both of which are beautifully woven into The Tapestry Shop. Moore is an ardent traveler, and often presents workshops on topics, such as the craft of writing, and researching for historical novels. She is a member of the Florida Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and Romance Writers of America.

Visit Joyce's website at http://www.joycemoorebooks.com/books.htm.