Castles have been swirling in my mind since I was young, when I climbed trees and imagined I was a sentry, guarding the castle. During the nineteen years I (as a grown-up) lived in Europe, I saw many castles, most in ruins, and I always wondered who had lived there and what had happened within those walls. Every Saturday my husband, children and I did our weekly shopping in Windsor. Windsor Castle, part-time home to the Queen, stands in the center of town. Often I wondered what was going on inside those castle walls.
Recently, back in the States, in the small town of Mayville, New York, I was running errands. In the center of town stands the jail. I wondered how the prisoners felt and what similarities there might be between castle dwellers and prisoners, both encircled by strong walls. When I began this book, I didn't know whether it would be serious or humorous, but once I met the royals, ho! They made me laugh.
