Today we have a guest post by author Amanda Tero! She is releasing her new book, Protecting the Poor, later this month. And she is here today to talk about historical occupations in the town of Abtshire, where her story takes place.
Occupations in Abtshire
“I cannot help every moment. I work in the candle maker’s shop during the day.”
“Protecting the Poor” is all about the villagers in Abtshire. Every individual was occupied in some way or
another. This not only fits the history, it fits the turmoil of Abtshire very well. You have Lydda, a
candlemaker. Noel and Philaon, stable workers. Patey, a weaver. A group of lads and lasses working to
erect the barracks while others (like Dumphey) specially selected for the lord’s service in the army. In
“Protecting the Poor,” the danger of having talent is that as soon as Lord Feroci discovered it, he claimed
it as his own. Which is why you have characters, such as Betin, who hid out in the woods.
another. This not only fits the history, it fits the turmoil of Abtshire very well. You have Lydda, a
candlemaker. Noel and Philaon, stable workers. Patey, a weaver. A group of lads and lasses working to
erect the barracks while others (like Dumphey) specially selected for the lord’s service in the army. In
“Protecting the Poor,” the danger of having talent is that as soon as Lord Feroci discovered it, he claimed
it as his own. Which is why you have characters, such as Betin, who hid out in the woods.
Lord Feroci dealt with weapons such as swords, spears, and javelins. Dumphey had never known of a bowyer in Abtshire.
“Bow material doesn’t cure in mere days. It takes years—three years, four—before it is ready.”
A bowyer had to stay on top of his work. Use wood too green, and your bow wouldn’t last long. Wood
too brittle and it would snap at first or second use. The bowyer had to know the perfect conditioning for
his wood. Added to that, he had to know how to shape his bow in order to get the best shot, the most
consistency, and longevity of use. Watch a video about bowmaking here.
A bowyer had to stay on top of his work. Use wood too green, and your bow wouldn’t last long. Wood
too brittle and it would snap at first or second use. The bowyer had to know the perfect conditioning for
his wood. Added to that, he had to know how to shape his bow in order to get the best shot, the most
consistency, and longevity of use. Watch a video about bowmaking here.
He and Dumphey had lived in this room since before Mother passed—and she was a
distant memory. Yet Noel could remember her stroking his head at nighttime when he was afraid in this small, dark room above the cooper’s shop.
A cooper is a wooden barrel-maker. Just like in bow-making, one had to cure the wood and know every
bend and potential break. Hoops held the barrel together and didn’t use other binding material (such as
glue). Read more about it from this helpful article.
Candlemaking—a chandler—was another vital occupation. It was a hot and smelly job that had to be kept
on top of in order to supply the number of candles needed. Watch an informational video here.
Other occupations, such as baker, miller, blacksmith, and weaver were all important to the running of any
city (read a list of medieval occupations here). Today, we see these crafts as hobbies. Back then, they
were necessary for living.
Do you enjoy any hobby that was prevalent during the medieval era? Have you researched into any of
them?
The clock is ticking until the release of “Protecting the Poor!” This is the third and final month of Tales of
Faith 3-month tour. We’ve spent a month on “Befriending the Beast,” a month on “The Secret Slipper,”
and now, are looking at a month digging into “Protecting the Poor”—the history behind it, behind-the-
scenes of writing and editing, the messages threaded through it, and more. Amanda will link to each blog
on With a Joyful Noise, so check in every week and see what blogs have a special Tales of Faith feature!
Pre-Order Protecting the Poor on Amazon
About Amanda
Amanda Tero began her love for words at a young age—reading anything she could get her hands on and
penning short stories as young as age eight. Since graduation, she has honed her writing skills by
dedicated practice and study of the writing craft. She began her journey of publication with a few short
stories that she had written for her sisters and continued to add to her collection with other short stories,
novellas, and novels. It is her utmost desire to write that which not only pleases her Lord and Savior, but
also draws the reader into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Connect with Amanda
Email: amandaterobooks@gmail.com
Website: http://amandatero.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandateroauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amandaruthtero/
Blog: www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero
Hobbies from the olden days always interest me. I've been to a few places where they do reenactments. I think my favorite places are the blacksmith and pottery shops.
ReplyDelete~Ashley
I love going to reenactments, that is where I first got to try my hand at spinning on a spinning wheel. That was one of the best days ever!
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