As I was out walking earlier this week, I found myself considering the names of the weekdays – as one does. (What? You don’t? Does this mean you don’t mull over the origins of words like “axe” either? ) Mainly, I was reflecting on the fact that the names in Swedish, German and English are …
Admit it: one doesn’t really expect medieval ladies to have names like Felicia or Joyce. They sound way too modern, don’t they? And yet today we will spend some time with two ladies with these names. Joyce was the mother of Felicia, but due to events I think we can safely say that there was …
A field unploughed – the complicated story of a medieval land disputeRead More »
Today, Mary Anne Yarde has popped by with a lovely guest post about Joseph of Arimathea, a globe-trotter around the time of Jesus who came to Britain not only with the word of God, but with a miraculous staff. Mary Anne writes books rooted in the legends of ancient Britain so it is no wonder …
So I’ve just published the first book in a new trilogy. By now, with thirteen books under my belt, one would think publication day would be no big thing. Wrong. It is always a big thing. Every book an author releases into the world is pretty much like severing an umbilical cord, that baby you’ve …
Several years ago, I saw a stage version of Franz Kafka’s short story Metamorphosis. I’d read it before—my mother kept a steady stream of classics coming my way, and rated Kafka highly. The story left me itching all over, a disturbing mix of black humour and despair—most apt when telling the story of the young …
Some weeks ago I wrote about the very tragic life of Elisabeth de Ferrers who lost husband and all her children in the aftermath of Edward I’s conquest of Wales. In passing, I mentioned that Elizabeth had a rather unsavoury brother, and today’s post is about him, the brother. Should one write a short epitaph …
One of the drawbacks about being a writer is that sometimes the brain activity is very, very high – much higher than the pace at which all those scintillating ideas can be trapped on paper or on your laptop. Usually, these moments of intense inspiration occur just prior to sleep – or just before properly …
We tend to believe that medieval rulers had a lot of time for their sons, not so much for their daughters. Leaving aside the fact that medieval kings (and queens) did not exactly sit around and act the doting parents – little princes and princesses were often set up in their own household albeit frequently …
Today I have a real treat for you, peeps. As part of her two-week swashbuckling voyage round blogosphere Helen Hollick is visiting – or dropping anchor, as she herself puts it – and what would Helen write about if not pirates? Well, she could write about King Arthur, of course. Or Queen Emma. Or Harold …
I am presently re-reading the books in The Graham Saga. For the first time since they were published, I have sat down to read them and it has, for the most part, been a fun experience. Why I am doing this? Well, blame it on Greg Patmore. No, don’t blame it on him. Blame it …
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