historical fiction Archives

Let us shine the light on Penda of Mercia – or more correctly, on author MJ Porter.

By Anna Belfrage / March 29, 2023 March 26, 2023 / 1 Comment / authors, Medieval times / 7th century Britain, Blogtour, British history, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, Mercia, MJ Porter, Northumberland, Pagan King

Today, I am hosting a stop on MJ Porter’s Coffee Pot Book Club tour featuring her book, Pagan King. We’re thrown back into the seventh century, a time when mighty (and Christain-ish) Northumberland is challenged by pagan Mercia and its capable ruler, Penda. Last time they clashed, Penda won. Will history repeat itself? Well, let …

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Caledon awakens – a blog tour post

By Anna Belfrage / January 26, 2023 January 26, 2023 / 4 Comments / authors, historical fiction, Writing / 18th century, blog tour, Caledon, historical fantasy, historical fiction, Jacobites, Scottish history, The Coffee Pot Book Club, Virginia Crow

Today I welcome Virginia Crow and her book, Caledon to my blog as part of her ongoing tour, arranged by The Coffee Pot Book Club. Caledon makes me think of an airline I travelled a lot with when I was a child, British Caledonian, but airplanes do not figure in Ms Crow’s book. Nope. Not …

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Welcoming a Viking and rugby aficionado! Meet Donovan Cook, author of Son of Anger

By Anna Belfrage / December 14, 2022 December 10, 2022 / 1 Comment / authors, historical fiction / blog tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, Donovan Cook, historical fiction, Son of Anger, vikings, Vikings in fiction

Today, I am pleased to welcome Donovan Cook to my blog as part of hos Coffee Pot Book Club tour. Donovan is a South African with a passion for rugby and Vikings. A rather good combo, IMO, as I believe my Viking forebears woud have thrived on the rugby field. Still, one can’t help but …

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The Fortune Keeper – intrigue in Renaissance Italy!

By Anna Belfrage / December 8, 2022 January 25, 2023 / 2 Comments / historical fiction, new release / blog tour, Coffe Pot Book Club, Deborah Swift, Giulia Tofana, historical fiction, poison, Renaissance fiction

Today, I am hosting a stop on Deborah Swift’s Coffee Pot Book Club tour, featuring her book The Fortune Keeper. This isn’t the first time Deborah visits. No wonder, as she and I share a passion for the 17th century, plus she is an intriguing lady, who has various other interests. Me, I am mostly …

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“Oh, a pirate’s life is a wonderful life” – maybe not, but Helen’s pirate Jesamiah is deffo wonderful!

By Anna Belfrage / November 4, 2022 November 1, 2022 / 6 Comments / authors, historical fiction, new release / 18th century, Gallows Wake, Helen Hollick, historical fiction, Jesamiah Acorne, naval fiction, new release, pirates, review

I have waited. And waited. I have come with heavy-handed hints to Helen Hollick, telling her we (read me) need more Jesamiah. ASAP. And now, FINALLY, Helen has published the sixth book about Jesamiah, pirate extraordinaire and his white witch wife, Tiola. Did I like Gallows Wake? Read my review further down. Now, Helen isn’t …

“Oh, a pirate’s life is a wonderful life” – maybe not, but Helen’s pirate Jesamiah is deffo wonderful! Read More »

Escaping to the Island of Dreams – of an upcoming release

By Anna Belfrage / October 27, 2022 October 25, 2022 / 2 Comments / authors, historical fiction, new release, Writing / blog tour, Cuba, Harry Duffin, historical fiction, Island of Dreams, Latin America, The Coffee Pot Book Club, WWII

Today, I am happy to welcome Harry Duffin and his upcoming release Island of Dreams to my blog as part of his Coffee Pot Book Club tour. Mr Duffin’s book is set in Cuba, and for many many peeps it was, in fact an island of dreams and future hopes, welcoming people desiring to start …

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The hidden past – in which Christina Courtenay follows in the steps of the Vikings

By Anna Belfrage / September 15, 2022 September 15, 2022 / Leave a Comment / authors, historical fiction, History, Writing / Christina Courtenay, dual timelines, Hidden in the Mists, historical fiction, Norsemen in Orkney, review, Scottish Vikings, Viking settlements, vikings

Lately, my reading has included several books set in the 9th to 11th century, a period of time that comes to us as vague echoes through the mists of time. One of my recent reads is Hidden in the Mists, Christina Courtenay’s excellent dual time line book (more of that below) Her book made me …

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When Poppa met Rollo – Cathie Dunne gives us an insight into 9th century politics

By Anna Belfrage / September 11, 2022 September 11, 2022 / Leave a Comment / authors, historical fiction, Historical People, Women in history / Ascent, Cathie Dunne, early medieval history, historical fiction, Poppa of Bayeux, review, Rollo the Viking, vikings

Some weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of reading Cathie Dunne’s book about Poppa of Bayeux and her hubby Hrolfr, a.k.a. Rollo (To us Swedes, he is Gånge-Rolf, so named because he was so big and strong no horse could carry him, hence he had to walk. Gånge means walker) Anyway: I realised I …

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On ancient Roman roads – a guest post celebrating Ms Morton’s new release Julia Prima

By Anna Belfrage / August 28, 2022 August 28, 2022 / 2 Comments / authors, historical fiction, new release, Writing / Alison Morton, ancient historical fiction, historical fiction, Julia Prima, new release, roman historical fiction, Roman road-trip

One of the joys of having writer friends who share my fascination with history is diving down their rabbit holes. As long as I’ve known Alison, she’s been fascinated by maps (well, aren’t we all!) and how people travelled back in the good old days – more specifically in Roman times. It is therefore a …

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The case of the swelling narrative – or how one book becomes three. Or four. Or ten.

By Anna Belfrage / August 25, 2022 August 25, 2022 / 1 Comment / authors, books, historical fiction, Medieval times, new release, Relationships, Writing / Castilian Saga, falling in love with my protagonists, Her Castilian Heart, historical fiction, new release, swelling stories, the art of abbreviation, Writing, Writing series

My mother always used to say that concentrating your words to a succinct few was the hallmark of a good speaker—or writer. I’m guessing she’s sighing heavily wherever she is whenever she takes a peek at my work, because dear peeps, it seems to me abbreviation is a skill I am not good at. I …

The case of the swelling narrative – or how one book becomes three. Or four. Or ten. Read More »

historical fiction

Let us shine the light on Penda of Mercia – or more correctly, on author MJ Porter.

Caledon awakens – a blog tour post

Welcoming a Viking and rugby aficionado! Meet Donovan Cook, author of Son of Anger

The Fortune Keeper – intrigue in Renaissance Italy!

“Oh, a pirate’s life is a wonderful life” – maybe not, but Helen’s pirate Jesamiah is deffo wonderful!

Escaping to the Island of Dreams – of an upcoming release

The hidden past – in which Christina Courtenay follows in the steps of the Vikings

When Poppa met Rollo – Cathie Dunne gives us an insight into 9th century politics

On ancient Roman roads – a guest post celebrating Ms Morton’s new release Julia Prima

The case of the swelling narrative – or how one book becomes three. Or four. Or ten.

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