I know, I know: it’s been TWO months since my last newsletter, but what can I say? Life got in between, with happy, loud and wet grandchildren proving a distraction from all “musts”. I am good at flagellating myself with long to-do lists and “musts”, but this time, I decided to instead play in the
The moment I heard Elizabeth St John was writing a dual timeline story I went OOOOOO. Not because I haven’t enjoyed her pure historicals -I have, even if they have often made me cry – but because Ms St.John is a very skilled author, and I am a big fan of sual timelines. A win-win,
The Queen’s Tears – a story straddling four centuries Read More »
Today, I am hosting a stop on Janet Wertman’s Coffee Pot Book Club blog tour featuring her latest release, What love e’er meant. I give you – well, Ms Wertman does – Elizabeth I in an England rocked by religious differences and constantly threatened by Spain and France. And Scotland – although that is mostly
First and foremost a queen – Janet Wertman’s latest about Elizabeth I Read More »
For my birthday this year, I decided to treat myself (and hubby, who, fortunately, is as keen on history as I am) by visiting two places in Spain I have always wanted to see: Carmona and Ronda. Carmona is a small town about 45 minutes from Sevilla, sitting upon a high rise surrounded by a
Ticking off my bucket list – visiting Carmona and Ronda Read More »
Today, I’ve invited Tony Riches to tell us about his Tudor trilogy, a series that has us following this future dynasty from the moment Owen married a royal widow to when his grandson became king. I must admit I am not really a Tudor fan – I am Plantagenet all the way – but I
Writing the Tudor trilogy – in which Tony Riches shares insight into his inspiration Read More »
In my series, The Graham Saga, Alex Lind is the (un)lucky young woman who is thrown three centuries back in time to land at the feet of Matthew Graham. It is not exactly easy to adapt to a new existence and Alex has days when it all is very difficult. Below is a little scene
I am presently struggling with the depiction of one of my main characters in my WIP. I give you Pedro I of Castile, at times labelled “the Cruel”, at times “the Just”. (And as an aside, it is interesting to note that his uncle and namesake, Pedro I of Portugal, is also at times referred
Winners and losers – a reflection on historical depictions Read More »
A week or so ago, I had the opportunity to visit Newgrange in Ireland. Actually, I visited the Brú na Boinne complex, an area in Ireland dotted with neolithic grave mounds, of which Newgrange is probably the most famous. Built around 5 000 years ago, to this day the burial passage in Newgrange is only fully
My September newsletter – on ancient graves, faith and books! Read More »
Today I am hosting Karen Essex and her latest release, Renaissance Rivals as part of her Coffee Pot Book Club blog tour. Ms Essex has written an interesting story, featuring not only the rivals themselves, but also – however indirectly – the great masters of the period she is writing about: Leonardo da Vinci (who,
Meet our Renaissance Rivals – Lucrezia and Isabella Read More »
Today, I am delighted to welcome Tony Riches back to my blog, this time to celebrate his recent release, Queen Anna Anna was born a Danish princess, daughter to the keen amateur chemist Sofia of Mecklenburg and Fredrik II. Her mother was a big fan of Tycho Brahe, not so Anna’s brother, Christian IV, both
Queen Anna – welcoming Tony Riches and his latest release Read More »