Sometimes, I stumble upon my protagonists by chance. Like when I came upon the fate of Teresa while researching my post from last week, about García Fernandez and his beautiful hands. Now, when talking about Spanish history, there is one Teresa that towers over all the others, namely St Teresa, this charming and erudite holy …
The royal slave – a story of faith in Moorish Spain Read More »
Today, I am hosting a stop on the book tour for State of Treason by Paul Walker. It is a somewhat unusual book tour in that the promoted format is the audio version. Audio books is a relatively new thing for me–but I realise I am WAY behind the times here. I am also rather …
State of Treason – welcoming Paul Walker and his spying protagonist Read More »
Today, I am dragging you all the way back to the tenth century, a time when Castile was ruled by a count, when more than half of the Iberian Peninsula was controlled by the Moors. This was the time of the great Muslim caliphate, of the splendour of Córdoba, Zaragoza and Sevilla under Muslim rule. …
Having drool-worthy hands does not keep you safe from false wives… Read More »
Today, we are going to be spending some time with Sancho II of Castile. Not that his time will be all that long—at times, life (or in this case, siblings) conspire against you. Mind you, Sancho had himself to blame. Sancho’s story starts in Zamora, a fortified town on the river Duero that has been …
Siblings, sieges and assassinations – nothing unusual in medieval Spain Read More »
Today, I am proud to be hosting a stop on Ms Mount’s blogtour, featuring her recent release, The Colour of Evil. Thank you to Mary Anne Yarde of The Coffee Pot Book Club for inviting me to participate in this tour and thereby discover a new author. For those of you who’ve read Ms …
The Colour of Evil – deep-diving into medieval London with Toni Mount Read More »
Think Paris. Think violent revolutions, streets running with blood, radicals screaming for a new order while holding red banners aloft, and many of you will go, “oh, yes: Les Miserables.” Which, of course, is correct. As is “That’s right, the French Revolution.” But for Paris there was not just one bloody upheaval—not even two. Paris …
“Allons enfants…” – in which M.K. Tod tells us of the bloody destruction of Paris Read More »
Sometimes, those medieval kings surprise you. Take, for example Sancho IV of Castile. Now, he has a few black marks against him, principally the fact that he usurped the throne, thereby stealing the crown from his young nephew, Alfonso de la Cerda. Sancho, of course, did not feel he had a choice: Castile needed an …
For the love of his queen – how a medieval king set his wife first Read More »
In 1283, little Isabel saw the light of the day. This the latest fruit of the proud House of Ivrea was the first of seven siblings. At the time of her birth, her daddy, the future Sancho IV, was at loggerheads with his daddy, Alfonso X. Why? Because Sancho wanted to become king once Alfonso …
From queen to duchess – the life of a medieval princess Read More »
Hands up all of those who, as kids, wanted to play the princess. *stands up and scans the room* Huh: not that many hands. Hands up those who, as kids, wanted to play the dashing hero. *repeats scan* Wow: many, many more, and quite a few are ladies… The above is supposed to symbolise the …
I have, since some years back, a good friend called Richard Tearle. We have never met. We have never even really talked properly. We just sort of connect via social media, both of us sharing an interest and appreciation for historical fiction. Richard is a generous reader who expends a lot of time writing reviews …
A writer writing about writers – meet Mr Tearle! Read More »
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