The Writing Desk

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Woden's Vengeance (The First Kingdom Book 3) By Donovan Cook

2026-04-29T07:58:00.002+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

450AD Britainnia: The war has begun - a war feared by both men and gods.

But will the old give way to the new?

Prince Vortimer has imprisoned his father, King Vortigern – The High King of Britain. With Woden's spear, Vortimer believes God has chosen him to lead an army south to banish the Jutes once and for all from Britain's shores. Triumphant after the first battle, Prince Vortimer lays siege to the Jutes, but the war is far from over.

In a desperate fight for survival, Octa and the Jutish warlords, Hengist and Horsa, are trapped on Thanet, their island home, as Prince Vortimer’s army surrounds them. With dwindling numbers, their only hope is to send for reinforcements, but winter is upon them, and the journey will be perilous.

In a race against time and his own wishes, Octa leads the expedition to recruit Saxon and Jutish warriors. But will they follow young Octa the Coward? To prove himself, Octa must confront his past and seek vengeance on those who wronged his family, all while being mindful of Woden's wrath.

Can Octa stand strong as the fires of war rage around him?

And will warriors pledge their allegiance to a man known as Octa the Coward?

Praise for Donovan Cook:

'Woden’s Spear is yet another shield crunching epic from Donovan Cook. Any reader who loves battle, Saxons, warriors and adventures won’t be disappointed! A spell binding tale of early Britain certain to keep pages turning and readers entertained.' - Peter Gibbons

'Cook gives you thunderous action in a tightly woven plot. An epic adventure from a crumbling empire to a mysterious mist strewn land. Not one to be missed for fans of Cornwell and Kristian.' - Adam Lofthouse

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About the Author

Donovan Cook was born in South Africa but raised in England, and currently works as an English tutor. He is the author of the Ormstunga Saga, which includes his debut novel Son of Anger and the follow up, Raid of the Wolves. His novels come from his fascination with the Viking world and Norse Mythology and he hopes that you will enjoy exploring this world as much as he did writing about it. When Donovan is not teaching or writing, he can be found reading, watching rugby, or working on DIY projects. Being born in South Africa, he is a massive Springboks fan and rarely misses a match. Find out more at Donovan's website https://www.donovancook.net/ and follow him on Facebook, Twitter @DonovanCook20 and Bluesky @donovancook.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Margery and Me, by: Maryka Biaggio

2026-04-28T07:04:00.003+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In the 1920s, Margery Crandon captivated both Boston society and psychic researchers with her astonishing seances. At her gatherings, her deceased brother Walter regularly appeared, entertaining the circle with his witty and cheeky remarks.

Margery's abilities earned her the admiration of luminaries, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William Butler Yeats. But one man stood in opposition: Harry Houdini, the legendary magician, who was determined to expose her as a fraud.

Margery and Me tells the true story of the medium who mystified scientists, challenged skeptics, and sparked a sensation across America and Europe. As Houdini and Margery clashed in a battle of wits and wills, the question remained: Could the master illusionist unmask her, or would her extraordinary powers be enough to convert even the most resolute of doubters?

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About the Author

Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor-turned-novelist who brings forgotten lives back into the light. Specializing in historical fiction inspired by real people, she crafts emotionally resonant narratives anchored in careful research. Her debut novel, Parlor Games (Doubleday, 2013), launched a distinguished career that includes Gun Girl and the Tall Guy and Margery and Me. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors' Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, and a Publishers Weekly pick. Find out more at:https://marykabiaggio.com and find Maryka on Facebook

The Tombs of Edmund Tudor, a talk by Professor Emerita Madeleine Gray in St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire Wales

2026-04-26T20:57:00.000+01:00

I attended an interesting talk by medieval historian Professor Madeleine Gray about the tomb of Edmund Tudor, in the cathedral at St David's, close to where I live in Pembrokeshire.

Professor Emerita Madeleine Gray

Edmund Tudor was the first son of Welsh servant Owen Tudor and the widow of King Henry V, the dowager Queen Catherine of Valois. Thought to have been born in 1430 in the Bishop of London’s palace of Much Hadham in Hertfordshire, Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, was his younger brother.

When his father Owen Tudor was arrested in 1436 Edmund’s mother retired to Bermondsey Abbey, where she died. Edmund and his brother Jasper were taken into the care of Catherine de la Pole, Abbess of Barking. They lived at the abbey for six years until their father brought them to the court of their step brother, King Henry VI.

Edmund was knighted by King Henry on the 15^th of December, 1449, and created Earl of Richmond and premier earl on the 6^th of March 1452, being formally declared legitimate in the parliament of 1453. The king granted him lands and a generous income, and in 1455 Edmund married his thirteen-year-old ward, the wealthy heiress Lady Margaret Beaufort.

Arms of Sir Edmund Tudor

Fighting for Lancaster in what have become known as the Wars of the Roses, he was captured in August 1456 by the Yorkist William Herbert and imprisoned in Carmarthen Castle. He was later released, but died in November of that year – possibly from the plague or an infection, possibly as a result of wounds.

There were rumours Edmund might have been poisoned and a trial was held several months later with several people accused of his murder but no one was found guilty. His death ended the threat of him becoming a 'rallying figure' for Lancastrians, so foul play cannot be ruled out.

Two months later Margaret Beaufort gave birth in nearby Pembroke Castle to Edmund’s son, who would become King Henry VII.

Edmund was buried at the Franciscan monastery of Grey Friars in Carmarthen. On the 30th March 1538 the Carmarthen priory was surrendered to the crown during the dissolution of the monasteries. In 1539, eighty-three years after his death, Edmund's remains were moved to the choir of St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire.

I'd always thought this was on the orders of his grandson, King Henry VIII, but Professor Gray outlined how the church politics of the diocese of St David’s could have been an important factor. Bishop William Barlow wished to move the institution to Carmarthen, but his connection with the diocese had come through the patronage of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. After their downfall, moving Edmund Tudor's tomb helped protect the status of St David’s as a cathedral.

Edmund Tudor's tomb of Purbeck marble was placed in the choir, in front of the high altar. The inscription reads ‘Under this marble stone here inclosed resteth the bones of that most noble lord Edmund Earl of Richmond father and brother to kings, the which departed out of this world in our lord God MCCCCLVI the third of the month of November: on whose soul Almighty Jesu have mercy.’

Professor Gray drew attention to the absence of the usual call to pray for Edmund Tudor in the tomb inscriptions. This raises questions about the source of the wording, and perhaps the motivation of those undertaking the work.

Stripped of its finery by Oliver Cromwell's army in the seventeenth century, the cathedral and Edmund’s tomb were restored by gothic revival architect, Sir George Gilbert Scott between 1864 and 1876. The restoration included an engraved brass representing Edmund Tudor by Thomas Waller (1873) and a copy of the brass edge inscription.

Professor Gray noted that there is 'infill' around the edge of the current brass, suggesting the original could have been larger, possibly with more detailed engraving.

While many questions remain about Edmund Tudor's tombs, it it hoped that visitors to St Davids Cathedral will appreciate the significance of his tomb to Wales and the history of Britain.

Tony Riches

St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire Wales

See also: Visiting King Henry VII in London

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Lucie Dumas, by Katherine Mezzacappa

2026-04-24T06:41:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

London, 1871: Lucie Dumas of Lyon has accepted a stipend from her former lover and his wife, on condition that she never returns to France; she will never see her young son again. As the money proves inadequate, Lucie turns to prostitution to live, joining the ranks of countless girls from continental Europe who'd come to London in the hope of work in domestic service.

Escaping a Covent Garden brothel for a Magdalen penitentiary, Lucie finds only another form of incarceration and thus descends to the streets, where she is picked up by the author Samuel Butler, who sets her up in her own establishment and visits her once a week for the next two decades. But for many years she does not even know his name. Based on true events.

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About the Author

Katherine Mezzacappa is Irish but currently lives in Carrara, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Katherine’s short fiction has been published in journals worldwide. She has in addition published academically in the field of 19th century ephemeral illustrated fiction, and in management theory. She has been awarded competitive residencies by the Irish Writers Centre, the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators and (to come) the Latvian Writers House. Katherine also works as a manuscript assessor and as a reader and judge for an international short story and novel competition. She has in the past been a management consultant, translator, museum curator, library assistant, lecturer in History of Art, sewing machinist and geriatric care assistant. In her spare time she volunteers with a second-hand book charity of which she is a founder member. She is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society, the Irish Writers Centre, the Irish Writers Union, Irish PEN / PEN na hÉireann and the Romantic Novelists Association, and reviews for the Historical Novel Review. She is lead organiser for the Historical Novel Society 2026 Conference in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Katherine has a first degree in History of Art from UEA, an M.Litt. in Eng. Lit. from Durham and a Masters in Creative Writing from Canterbury Christ Church. Find out more from Katherine's Website and find her on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky: @katmezzacappa.bsky.social

New Paperback Launch: Boudicca's Daughter, by Elodie Harper

2026-04-23T06:47:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Boudicca. Infamous warrior, queen of the British Iceni tribe and mastermind of one of history's greatest revolts. Her defeat spelled ruin for her people, yet still her name is enough to strike fear into Roman hearts.

But what of the woman who grew up in her shadow? The woman who has her mother's looks and cunning but a spirit all of her own?

The woman whose desperate bid for survival will take her from Britain's sacred marshlands to the glittering façades of Nero's Roman Empire…

Born to a legend. Forced to fight. Determined to succeed. Meet Solina. Boudicca's Daughter:

'Boudicca's Daughter is Elodie Harper's masterpiece.' Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia

'A beautiful, breathtaking novel... pre-order it immediately!' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

'One of the best books I have ever read.' Bea Fitzgerald, Sunday Times bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen.

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About the author

Elodie Harper is a journalist and prize winning short story writer. Her story 'Wild Swimming' won the 2016 Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story competition, judged by Stephen King. She is currently a reporter at ITV News Anglia in the East of England. Elodie is the author of The Wolf Den, the first in a trilogy of novels set in ancient Pompeii. Find out more at https://www.elodieharper.com/ and find Elodie on Twitter @Elodie_Harper and Bluesky ‪@elodieharper.bsky.social‬

Blog Tour Spotlight: Bride of the Devil: Agnes, Wife of Robert de Belleme (Medieval Babes: Tales of Little-Known Ladies Book 13) by J. P. Reedman

2026-04-23T06:36:00.004+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

She is a great heiress; he is the wickedest man in Normandy.

Known to men far and wide as 'The Devil,' Robert de Belleme terrorises France alongside his equally fearsome mother, Mabel the Poisoner. But even a Devil needs an heir, and Mabel chooses the wealthy heiress Agnes of Ponthieu to be her son's bride.

The marriage is unhappy, though the longed-for son and heir is eventually born...but when Robert is away on one of his military campaigns, Agnes flees back to her father's castle.

She is not safe; her young son William is not safe.

The Devil will seek to claim his own.

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About the Author

J.P. Reedman was born in Canada but has lived in the U.K. for over 30 years. Interests include folklore and anthropology, prehistoric archaeology (neolithic / bronze age Europe; ritual, burial & material culture), as well as The Wars of the Roses and the rest of the medieval era. Novels include the popular I, Richard Plantagenet series about Richard III, The Falcon and the Sun (featuring other members of the House of York), and Medieval Babes, an ongoing series about lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen. Find out more at https://stone-lord.blogspot.com/ and follow J.P. Reedman on Facebook, Twitter / X: @stonehenge2500 and Bluesky

Book Launch Spotlight: Mary Boleyn: The Queen's Slandered Sister, by Sylvia Barbara Soberton

2026-04-22T18:48:00.005+01:00

Available for pre-order

from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Mary Boleyn has long been dismissed as the 'great and infamous whore', her story overshadowed by scandal and myth.

But what if everything we thought we knew about her was wrong?

Drawing on newly retranslated original sources and rare archival material, Mary Boleyn: The Queen's Slandered Sister peels away centuries of rumour to reveal the true Mary Boleyn.

Far from the reckless wanton of legend, she emerges as a woman of ambition, resilience, and intelligence. Acclaimed historian Sylvia Barbara Soberton challenges outdated narratives, uncovering the real extent of Mary's relationships with Henry VIII and Francis I, her role in the rise and fall of her younger sister Anne, and her life beyond the royal spotlight.

‘Compellingly argued and meticulously researched, Sylvia Barbara Soberton brings this other Boleyn girl out of the shadows. Mary Boleyn: The Queen’s Slandered Sister presents readers with a new version of Mary, asking us to look again at the life of an important figure at the Tudor court, whose life has been linked to scandal for far too many centuries. Highly recommended.’ -- Dr Elizabeth Norton

‘Sylvia Barbara Soberton has done it again! In Mary Boleyn she weaves every known primary source into a fascinating and lucid narrative. Arguing that the black reputation of this Boleyn sister is unwarranted, Soberton reviews the evidence and presents a compelling alternative view. She also follows up on the major figures associated with Boleyn whose lives tend to vanish into history. The compact study offers a handy appendix with transcriptions of Boleyn’s letters and other relevant historical documents.’ -- Professor Tracy Adams

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About the Author

Sylvia Barbara Soberton is a writer and researcher specialising in the history of the Tudors. She is best known for The Forgotten Tudor Women book series, which concentrates on shifting the perspective from famous figures like Henry VIII’s six wives to the lesser-known, but no less influential, women of the Tudor court. Sylvia has written ten books to date, and her newest titles include The Forgotten Years of Anne Boleyn: The Habsburg & Valois Courts, Ladies-in-Waiting: Women Who Served Anne Boleyn and Medical Downfall of the Tudors: Sex, Reproduction & Succession. Her ground-breaking paper on Anne Boleyn and the accusation of witchcraft was published in the Royal Studies Journal in 2023. You can find Sylvia on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter @SylviaBSo and Bluesky @sylviabso.bsky.social

Guest Post by Helen T. Doan, Author of The Butterfly Shawl: A Passage of Time Novel

2026-04-22T06:47:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Can a timeless love survive when one partner walks away? Time traveler Kate Hunter is about to find out after a bloody shawl's powerful lure compels her to leave her husband, Nathan Walker, to continue her search for answers to questions arising from the mysterious items in her father’s bequeathed box.

Its name alone suggests authors whose genre is historical fiction must undertake a lot of research to add authenticity to their stories.

My passion for writing is often eclipsed by my passion for researching all kinds of things, and like Alice in Wonderland, there are many days when I tumble down the research rabbit hole to remain there for hours at a time. I do believe it's a kind of an addiction with me...albeit a welcome one, for the juicy tidbits I find in those rabbit holes are largely responsible for the adventures Kate and Nathan have in my Passage of Time historical romance/time travel series.

During a recent Zoom call with my British author friend, Mal Watts, I learned he does very little preliminary research because he does not want to waste time looking up things that may never see the light of day in his books. His usual practice is to research in the morning for the scenes he will be writing that afternoon. Having read his Worms in Fools' Fingers that is set around the Thirty Years War, I can attest that his method works well for him.

Each author has his or her way of doing things. For me, it entails spending several weeks researching before I begin writing. Those juicy tidbits I find not only add authenticity to my writing, but very often add turning points that create better plot lines.

To fully appreciate The Butterfly Shawl, the second book in my series that is set in the early settlements of Auraria and Denver City, it is important to know the events taking place at that time in American history.

The effects of the financial Panic of 1857 is still ongoing. It has forced thousands of businesses to close causing widespread unemployment. Those who have lost their jobs come from all walks of life, and desperate to support their families, they head west upon hearing gold has been found in the Pike’s Peak region. Here is how those research gems can add authenticity to a scene:

Where there had been only a trickle of adventurers making the journey across the plains that winter, the real exodus of emigrants began to arrive at Cherry Creek in early March. On her next trip to help Little Fawn, Kate found the streets congested with wagons, handcarts, and wheelbarrows overflowing with tools, provisions, and equipage. One man she talked to who owned no beast of burden had harnessed himself to his handcart. Those not lucky enough to have any conveyance had walked the entire way toting tent poles and their scanty supplies on their shoulders.

During the gold rush that begins in 1858 and ends with the creation of the Colorado Territory in 1861, the two lawless Cherry Creek settlements are the brief stop-off points for tens of thousands of amateur and professional prospectors heading for the mountainous gold fields. Close on their heels are prostitutes, gamblers, three-card-Monte shysters, and other seedy types, all hoping to fleece the prospectors of their money. Again, research helped flesh out this scene:

Kate lost track of the number of saloons they passed where dust-covered and begrimed men in tattered attire stumbled out of doorways. Some of the men were bare-footed and all were hairy and sun-browned. From their belts hung knives and revolvers. She saw numerous possibly peaceful men wearing goggles to protect their eyes from the glare of the prairie sun, the eye wear making them look somewhat ferocious.
They passed a couple of assignation houses, where provocatively attired women hoping to be paid in gold dust for providing professional solace beckoned to the next man waiting in line.
Passing Denver House, they heard gunshots originating from within the gambling establishment and saw several patrons fleeing out the door.

Meanwhile in the country, the slavery issue is taking centre stage, with northern states having to decide whether or not to be free. Also, Abraham Lincoln is a rising star in the newly founded Republican Party, and southern states are threatening secession if the Democrats lose to the Republicans in the next election. My research informed me Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in Leavenworth, Kansas, on Dec. 2, 1859, so I revamped the plot to use that fact as a lead-in to the third book, The Voices, which I'm currently writing and which is set during the American civil war during Lincoln's presidency.

Researching Lincoln's speech, I came across a Feb 23,1902 newspaper article in The Kansas City Star in which Col. Daniel R. Anthony detailed his remembrance of a fireside chat he was part of, which took place following Lincoln's speech. I placed Nathan in that scene to set up the following private talk between Lincoln and Nathan. This intro to the fireside chat scene takes place in Kate and Nathan's hotel room after they return from hearing Lincoln speak:

Nathan was about to help her out of her gown when someone rapped on the door. He released a frustrated groan and kissed the side of her neck. “Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back to pick up where I left off.”
Opening the door, he could not believe Lincoln was standing there.
The man nodded to Kate and addressed Nathan. “I saw your carriage pull up at the hotel and as I'm also staying here, I asked for your room number and was given it.”
Suddenly remembering his manners, Nathan stepped away from the doorway to allow the man to enter. He was as baffled as his wife appeared to be as to why old Abe would be paying them a visit.
“Some of the free-state men staying across the street from this hotel have invited my friend and I to join them for a couple of hours and I thought you might like to come,” he told Nathan.
Given how glamorous his wife looked in her new gown and how much his loins ached to remove that gown, he was about to refuse the invitation when Kate stepped in.
“My husband is thrilled to accept your invitation, aren't you Nathan?”

Unlike some historical fiction authors, I prefer to keep as close to the historical truth as possible. For example, in The Butterfly Shawl there is mention of a Swiss brand of rock-breaking hammers used by geologists. Were they first made before the timeline of the book or after? It was important for me to know that because of the time travel plot line.

Another example of keeping historically accurate concerns Kate's search for Jim Bridger, the mountain man who has crucial information she needs. History never had him within arms reach of her when I needed him to be, so I had to devise another way for her to obtain the information, but you'll have to read the book to find out how I did it.

I would explain more about my research process and how research impacts my novels, but I see another rabbit hole beckoning to me.

Helen T. Doan

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About the Author

Helen T. Doan resides in Niagara Falls, Canada, with her partner, Christopher, and their Old English bulldog, Molly. In addition to a journalism-print degree, she has a BA in sociology. She was a lifestyles editor and writer for her local daily newspaper and later taught English for two years at a private academy on Geoje Island in South Korea. Since childhood, creative writing has been her passion. Passage of Time is the initial book in her historical romance saga featuring time traveller Kate Hunter and Nathan Walker, born white but raised by the Cheyenne. The Butterfly Shawl is the second book in the series. The third book, The Voices, is currently a work in progress. Her Novel News blog, which features updates about her novels, pertinent information for aspiring authors, and posted guest author interviews, can be accessed through her author website.www.helentdoan.com and you can find Helen on Facebook, Twitter/X and Bluesky: @helentdoaninfo.bsky.social

Book Launch Spotlight: Perotine ~ Inspired by the True Story of the Guernsey Martyrs, by Dreena Collins

2026-04-21T07:50:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Abandoned, faithful and on trial for heresy.

On a bleak autumn morning in 1555, Protestant Perotine wakes to find her husband packed to leave. Catholicism has returned to Guernsey, and, fearing for his life, he abandons Perotine, her sister and mother to face increasing hostility alone.

The three women endure a challenging winter of rain, isolation, and poverty - until a dramatic series of events draws unwanted attention. When a local woman asks Perotine to hide stolen goods, what begins as a trial for theft spirals into accusations of heresy.

Secluded, steadfast, and terrified, the women face their plight with fortitude and prayers. Together. But Perotine Massey holds a terrible secret. One that could bring a reprieve, or a fate worse than death.

And she’ll do anything to keep that secret safe.

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About the Author

Dreena Collins was born in Jersey, Channel Islands. She has a background in teaching, education leadership, and Educational Needs, and.is a short fiction writer and author of a suspense novel, And Then She Fell. Published online, in magazines and anthologies, Dreena has also been listed and placed in numerous writing competitions, including The Bridport Prize. Her hobbies include eating spicy food and unintentionally waking in the early hours. She makes it a matter of principle to fall over at least once a month. Find out more from Dreena's website http://dreenawriting.co.uk/ and find her on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky @dreenawriting.co.uk

Guest Interview with Maria Jane, Author of Perfect

2026-04-21T07:43:00.002+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Chloe refuses to compromise when it comes to romance and success. Powering through her sophomore-level college business classes, she’s done with the effort of distance-dating her high-school sweetheart. But when he proposes just as she hits it off with a hunky basketball player, she worries following her heart could send her bright future to the bench.

I'm pleased to welcome author Maria Jane to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

My latest book is a contemporary romance in the Perfect romance series by Maria Jane. It follows two characters, Elle and Tanner, who meet at work. Tanner is part owner of their firm and Elle is wary of dating him. He wins her over and their connection grows fast and bright until Elle meets Tanner’s mother. Accusations fly. Old wounds split open. Suddenly, Elle is tumbling through a flood of hidden ties and painful truths, each one cracking the fragile trust between them.

What is your preferred writing routine?

I like writing every day to move a project forward. Writing every day keeps me thinking about the characters, plot, and I get immersed in the world. I prefer a quiet space and my go-tos are Diet Coke, for caffeine, and chocolate, which is always great for blood sugar! 😊I’m a semi-panster, so I have plans for where the story is going but fill-in scenes along the way. If I get stuck a walk is the perfect solution.
What advice do you have for new writers?

I think everyone has their own system that works for them. Find your system and stick with it. Some authors make detailed outlines, and others have a few plot points and the rest comes as they write. The most important thing for me is having support people like editors, proofreaders, beta readers, ARC reviewers, and a cover artist that you can trust. A good publicist is a great addition to the team as well.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

I love interacting on book platforms like Goodreads and Bookbub. Engaging readers on social media is fun too. But for nurturing those readers that will follow you and read every book you publish, a newsletter and connecting via email can’t be beat. Offering a free short story for new readers to try your work when they join your newsletter is a great way to engage readers. I have this set up as a pop-up on my website. There are also promotions through reader magnet platforms like Book Funnel that can help you build a newsletter.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

Most of my research tends to center around fantasy characters and character lore for my YA fantasy series penned under Tricia Copeland. I have found so many amazing folk stories, legends, and information about different types of characters from selkies and nix, kelpies, The Rusalka, The Borda, The Grindylows, and so many more.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

My hardest scene to write was when I had to kill one of my characters. I cried through writing the whole scene and every time I had to go back and review and edit. Then I cried again when I proofed the audiobook. It was heartbreaking for me. I get very attached to all my characters and having to lose them is very emotional for me. This particular character was important for a main character so I was grieving not only for the character themselves but for the other characters and their grief and loss.

What are you planning to write next?

I am one-third into my next book in the Perfect romance series. The book is tentatively titled “My, Not-So-Perfect, Cop” and follows another friend in the Perfect series friend group. As the title suggests, the book features a main character who is a police officer. The female MC is Dani, who’s a teacher just finishing her first year of teaching after college. Gareth is her love interest and we’ve learned a little bit about Dani and Gareth’s history in the first book of the series. I’m excited to see how the story comes together as a HEA.

Maria Jane

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About the Author

Maria Jane believes in the power of love. She sees that love may look messy and take a winding path, but there is magic in the journey. Her books are filled with fun moments, sweet gestures, surprising turns, and characters searching for their happily-ever-after. An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. Formerly writing as Tricia Copeland, find out more at mariajaneromance.com and find her on Twitter and Bluesky at @triciacopeland.bsky.social

Blog Tour Book Review: The Enemy’s Wife (Survivors of War, Book 2) by Deborah Swift

2026-04-17T06:41:00.004+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1941. When Zofia’s husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, she is left to navigate Japanese-occupied Shanghai alone. Far from home and surrounded by a country at war, violence tightens its grip on the city, she seeks shelter with her American employer, but the horrors of war and Haru’s absence begin to reshape Zofia’s world – and her heart.

The second instalment of Deborah Swift’s Survivors of War series delivers a powerful and often harrowing exploration of love, loyalty, and moral courage amid the devastation of what became the longest battle of the Second World War.

Set amid the authentic chaos of wartime Shanghai, the atmosphere is tense and claustrophobic. Threaded with moments of unexpected tenderness, Deborah Swift's storytelling is intimate yet cinematic in scale. I particularly liked the nuanced and layered characters, and how even minor players reveal unexpected back stories.

The protagonist Zofia’s internal conflict, torn between duty, survival is handled with sensitivity. Deborah Swift presents wartime choices as morally fraught, and deeply human. The relationships at the heart of the story are shaped as much by hope as fear and loss.

The Enemy’s Wife is an absorbing, compassionate novel with emotional depth and ethical complexity. It is a testament to resilience in the darkest of times—and a reminder that even in war, humanity and kindness endure. Highly recommended.

Tony Riches

See also Review of Last Train to Freedom, Book One of the Survivors of War series

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About the Author

Deborah Swift lives in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District and worked as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV. After gaining an MA in Creative Writing in 2007 Deborah now teaches classes and courses in writing and provides editorial advice to writers and authors. Find out more at Deborah's website www.deborahswift.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @swiftstory

Blog Tour Review: Fool: A Tudor Jester's Reckoning in the Court of King Henry VIII, by Mary Lawrence

2026-04-15T06:39:00.001+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Appearances are not what they seem... Kronos is a fool in the court of King Henry VIII. Jeered for his dwarfism, lauded for his juggling...and discreetly desired by noble ladies. One dangerous moment of eavesdropping nearly costs him his life. Brutally maimed and abandoned, he is rescued by an apothecary and nursed back to health. When his rescuer learns of Kronos's import, he contrives to make himself a rich man.

Mary Lawrence’s latest novel, ‘Fool’ is an epic journey from being abandoned as a malformed infant on a midden heap to the court of King Henry VIII. Told mostly in retrospect, our unreliable narrator is named ‘Kronos’ by his rescuers, with typical irony.

I enjoyed the well observed details of his early life at a monastery, although it is hard to think of a character less well suited to monastic discipline.

This story builds on the author’s excellent ‘Bianca Goddard Mystery’ series, exposing the harsh and dangerous realities of life for the lower levels of Tudor society. I also liked the inventive use of language, enough to convey an authentic sense of time and place.

Not for the squeamish, there are some disturbing details of cruelty and injustice, yet these are plausible and typical of the period.

I hope Mary Lawrence will consider a sequel, as like all the best stories, ‘Fool’ leaves the reader wanting to know more. Highly recommended.

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Mary Lawrence lives in Maine and is the author of five Bianca Goddard Mysteries set in Tudor London featuring a cast of commoners. Bianca uses her wits and a smattering of alchemy to solve murders in the slums of Southwark. Suspense Magazine named The Alchemist’s Daughter and The Alchemist of Lost Souls "Best Books of 2015 and 2019” in the historical mystery category and each mystery has been a top 100 best-selling historical mystery. Her articles have appeared in several publications most notably the national news blog, The Daily Beast. Fool is a standalone Find out more at www.marylawrencebooks.com and find her on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky @marylawrence.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: 'Fool: A Tudor Jester's Reckoning in the Court of King Henry VIII, by Mary Lawrence

2026-04-14T06:51:00.008+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Kronos is a fool--mocked for his dwarfism, prized for his juggling, and underestimated by everyone who matters. But in a court ruled by paranoia and whispers, invisibility is its own kind of power.

When Kronos overhears a secret that could destroy Queen Katherine Howard, he becomes a liability the crown cannot afford. Silenced, mutilated, and left for dead, he survives--barely.

Rescued by an ambitious apothecary, Kronos soon realizes he has not escaped danger--he has merely changed masters. His secret is worth a fortune...and powerful men are willing to kill to control it.

But Kronos has spent his life being overlooked and he's ready to use that to his advantage.

As rival factions circle and scheme, Kronos sets a plan in motion--one that could topple the mighty, rewrite his fate, and force his foes to reconsider which of them is truly...the fool.

See Book Review: 'Fool' by Mary Lawrence

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About the Author

Special Guest Interview with Melissa Addey, Author of The Flight of Birds (The Colosseum Book 4)

2026-04-13T07:02:00.002+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A dangerous emperor brings darkness close to home… Rome, 83 AD. At last, Althea and Marcus are married, dreaming of a peaceful life in the country, far from the blood and chaos of the gladiatorial Games. But Emperor Domitian has other plans. His erratic demands grow darker with each passing day, and the couple – alongside their loyal backstage team – must navigate three final tasks that test

courage, loyalty, and survival itself.

I'm pleased to welcome author Melissa Addey to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

My latest historical fiction series is the Colosseum series, four books which follow the backstage team of the Colosseum as they first inaugurate it in 80AD and then have to keep up with the demands of the emperors they serve to put on ever more spectacular events, including flooding the amphitheatre for naval battles. Each book focuses on one element – fire, water, earth and air.

The first book is From the Ashes, which got Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society. It starts with the destruction of Pompeii when Vesuvius erupts and includes a fire in Rome and an outbreak of fever which killed thousands.

Lots of hot fiery events and amongst it all they have to inaugurate the Colosseum with 100 days of Games, a bit like staging the Olympics nowadays, a huge undertaking. It’s a lot about found family and plebian life – no fancy villas, rather a shabby apartment block in a rough part of Rome.

What is your preferred writing routine?

My rule with research is – if I can write an ordinary average day in that era without looking at my notes, then I can start writing. Then I try to write 2,000 words a day over two one-hour stints, any more and my brain hurts. I use music relevant to that era to help me get in the mood. The rest of my day is marketing, research and endless life admin that seems to creep in there somehow despite my best efforts!

What advice do you have for new writers?

Read a lot in your genre – and in others. It’s enjoyable anyway, but it also constantly updates your brain with how other writers have tackled writing about certain subjects, emotions, how they have used structure and words, etc. It’ll make you a better writer – and it also makes you aware of what readers in that area enjoy, which is very important if you start writing in a new genre – you can subvert their expectations as well of course, but knowing what they are in the first place will make you better at that genre.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

A good website is a fundamental aspect. I also love making book trailers, which my readers seem to enjoy, it helps them visualise places and clothing if they are unfamiliar with a particular era, since I tend to era-hop.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

Gladiators were more like prize boxers: a lot of time and money went into training them up, so they weren’t all ‘to the death’ fights, most of them had referees involved. I spent time with a professional boxing promoter as part of my research, and his stories helped me develop two gladiator trainers – one upright and ethical, the other a real showman with very little in the way of ethical concerns! We like to think the Romans were brutal for watching gladiatorial games – but we still watch boxing, knowing full well that it can cause brain damage so…

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

For From the Ashes, a scene where two characters return to Pompeii after the eruption of Vesuvius – this hardly ever appears in fiction, it’s always the buildup and never the aftermath. I had to get myself ready emotionally, so I wrote quite a lot of the book so that I really knew and cared about the characters before returning to that point and looking at a lot of upsetting images from nuclear bombings, volcanic eruptions and other devastations. I think I wrote the whole scene in one sitting, which I rarely do for quite a long section. But I’m proud of it, I think it’s an important scene and readers have told me it made them emotional.

What are you planning to write next?

I’m working on a book set in Regency England where a young Indian ayah (nanny) is abandoned by her British family with no money to get home. This really occurred so often that eventually there was a Home for Ayahs set up in Victorian times. I was very shocked you could do that to anyone but especially someone who raised your children. I’m currently researching and having to read a lot of unpleasantly racist material, which can be a bit depressing,

I find it’s going a lot slower than usual because I feel sad or angry after reading, rather than curious and interested which I usually do when researching. I’m about to go to Amsterdam to see one of the only ships left where you can still get on board that is close to the one my characters would have used to travel from India to England (about six months on board!), so I’m looking forward to that, I’m very fond of immersive research – eating the food, wearing the clothes, being in locations. It makes history come alive for me and I hope I then transmit that to my readers.

Melissa Addey

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About the Author

Melissa Addey writes richly researched historical fiction inspired by what she calls “the footnotes of history” – forgotten stories and intriguing lives from the past. Her 15 novels span Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco, 18th-century China, and Regency England. She has a PhD in Creative Writing, was Writer in Residence at the British Library, and lives in London with her family. Discover her books (and get a free novella) at www.melissaaddey.com and follow Melissa on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky @melissaaddey.bsky.social

Special Guest Interview with Naomi Kelsey, Author of The Darkening Globe: A haunting historical thriller

2026-04-12T06:41:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1597, London. When Beatrice’s husband returns from exploring the New World, he comes home with unexpected a mysterious woman, and an enormous painted globe. As Hugh refuses to explain who their female guest is, Beatrice’s foreboding grows. The unwieldy globe now strikes her as sinister – a reminder of the world of secrets pervading her household.

I'm pleased to welcome author Naomi Kelsey to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

My latest novel, The Darkening Globe, is out now in paperback. It’s an Elizabethan psychological thriller about the so-called Golden Age of exploration and how it may not have been quite so golden for all concerned… The book emerged from a serendipitous collision of several things: firstly, I’d been wanting to write about Bess Throckmorton, intrigued by what it must have been like for her to be left behind when Raleigh sailed off on his many adventures.

Secondly, I was also teaching creative writing to my Year 10s during lockdown, using a Twitter thread between various museums sharing images of their creepiest objects as inspiration when the National Trust magazine landed through my letterbox, containing a piece on the Petworth Globe, with its intricate cartouches of mermaids and sea monsters.

Perfect, I thought, I’ll use this to model the lesson’s exercises; my students weren’t particularly keen to share their ideas via Teams without a bit of encouragement, so to avoid any silent tumbleweed moments, I’d write alongside them and share my suggestions first. I had so much fun crafting responses to the globe that I just … continued!

The themes I’d wanted to explore in that fledgling story about Bess ended up absorbed into The Darkening Globe: female independence, colonialism, resourcefulness and resilience. Bess, along with Raleigh, the Earl of Essex and his sister Penelope Rich, and Queen Elizabeth I all make appearances in the finished book, but creating my own central characters gave me far more freedom to experiment with Gothic tropes – and inflict whatever fates I wanted onto them!

What is your preferred writing routine?

I love this question for all the imaginary versions of my life I can conjure up! My preferred routine is the extremely rare one when my kids are in holiday club: drop them off, get back home, have a cup of tea, write for several hours, have a leisurely lunch, more tea, write some more, then pick them up. I had 4 days of this last summer, and finished my third novel.

However, as a full time English teacher and a mum, my writing routine is about carving out little pockets during the week, whether it’s an hour in the evening on a not-too-draining day at work, or a Friday afternoon where I take myself off to the local library at the end of school, or a spell in a coffee shop while my daughter goes to art class. I’ll have mulled over my story and characters throughout the interim periods, so I’m usually raring to go when I finally manage to get pen to paper. I always write by hand – it’s a great excuse to buy beautiful notebooks, plus it separates my creative writing from my teaching: computers feel like data and PowerPoints to me!

What advice do you have for new writers?

Persevere. During the writing itself, chipping away at your book in snippets of time, inching your way towards the ending: it’s a long process, particularly if you have other responsibilities, and you need to keep going, one word at a time. You’ll need even more perseverance when it comes to getting published too – rejection is inevitable, even for books that go on to become bestsellers.

Always keep writing: if your first book doesn’t get past the query trenches, or submission to editors, write another book. Then another book. It’s rare for a writer’s first published novel to be the first book they ever actually wrote.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

I’m not particularly social media-savvy, and I really wish I knew the answer to this. My most popular Instagram post isn’t about my books at all, but about how much I loved The Other Bennet Sister. I think it’s important to be reciprocal online though: I aim to talk about other people’s books as much as about my own. The book world is a lovely community, and I feel it’s vital to support others in their writing journeys, especially debut authors.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

I was absolutely horrified by Francis Drake’s actions. I knew him largely by his dashing, heroic reputation (I can still picture the History textbook with Elizabeth knighting him on board The Golden Hinde), but in Miranda Kauffman’s Black Tudors, his treatment of a Black woman called Maria was awful.

Somehow she ended up on board his ship after a clash with a Spanish vessel – it’s not clear whether she was a captive, an enslaved woman, or someone who came aboard semi-willingly. We do know that she was pregnant, and that Drake, rather than taking her to safe harbour, decided to abandon her on an island with two Black men. Did she know them? Were either of them the baby’s father? Did any of them survive, or make it off the island? We don’t know, and it’s appalling that he treated her so callously, and that history doesn’t give us any more record of her life.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

Emotionally, I can’t say, as it’s a massive spoiler! But I had to do some cruel things to my characters… What I found technically challenging was concealing what I knew about some of my villains: I had to write them in such a way that Beatrice didn’t guess, and the readers didn’t guess, but in hindsight, all the hints were there. That was a really tricky balance to strike.

What are you planning to write next?

My next book is out in July – Pale Mistress is a retelling of Othello from the perspective of Bianca, the only named female character in Shakespeare’s major tragedies who doesn’t die… Book 4 will be a novel about Northumbrian dragon legends set during the English Civil War. I love dragon books, and thus far (three chapters in), I’m having a great time!

Naomi Kelsey

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About the Author

Naomi Kelsey's debut novel, The Burnings, was published by Harper North in 2023, followed by The Darkening Globe in 2025. Her next book, Pale Mistress, a reimagining of Shakespeare's 'Othello', will be published in July 2026. She is the winner of two Northern Writers’ Awards and of the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Competition 2021. Her fiction has been published in Mslexia magazine and shortlisted for several further awards including the Bridport Prize and the Bristol Prize. She posts about books, history, and the chaos of writing around small children and teaching English on Instagram as @naomikelseybooks and on X as @naomikelsey_ and writes a monthly-ish newsletter on Substack at @naomikelsey

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Annie's Day, by Apple Gidley

2026-04-11T17:06:00.002+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

War took everything. Love never had a chance. Until now.

As a young Australian Army nurse, Annie endures the brutalities of World War II in Singapore and New Guinea. Later, seeking peace, she takes refuge in Berlin—only to find herself caught in the upheaval of the Blockade. Through it all, the death of a man she barely knew leaves a wound that refuses to heal, threatening to bind her to a life of loneliness.

Decades later, Annie is still haunted by what was lost—and what might have been. Her days are quiet, but her memories are loud. When a dying man’s fear forces her to confront her own doubts, she forms an unexpected friendship that rekindles something she thought was long gone: hope.

Annie’s Day is a powerful story of love, war, and the quiet courage it takes to start again—even when it seems far too late.

Praise for Annie’s Day:

"Moving and enlightening..." ~ Deborah Swift, bestselling author

"This is a story of courage and love, and it lingers long after you turn the last page." ~ Caroline James, author, 5* Goodreads review

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About the Author

Apple Gidley's nomadic life has helped imbue her writing with rich, diverse cultures and experiences. Annie’s Day is her seventh book. Gidley currently lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband, and rescue cat, Bella, aka assistant editor. Find out more at https://www.applegidley.com/ and find her on Facebook • Twitter / X and Instagram

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Crownless Queen: - a story of secrets, sacrifice and survival against the odds. by Elizabeth Chadwick

2026-04-11T07:20:00.004+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1360: Having left her days of rebellion behind, Jeanette of Kent has finally found contentment as a wife and mother. Then, she is delivered a new blow: her beloved husband, Thomas Holland, has died on duty overseas.

Though broken, Jeanette readies herself once more to fight to protect what is hers. And when Prince Edward, heir to the throne and her longtime friend, unexpectedly steps forward and offers marriage, she accepts for the sake of her family.

As their relationship deepens, love blossoms again for Jeanette, but it comes at a price. With great power comes great responsibility - not least bearing a future king - and, as the wheel of fortune climbs higher, it becomes harder and harder to hold on.

Jeanette has more to lose than ever before. But with the wolves gathering beneath her, can she survive the fall?

From the award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick comes the much-awaited second novel in the Jeanette of Kent duology, The Crownless Queen - bringing to a powerful conclusion the remarkable story of a woman who began life as a royal rebel and ended it behind the throne...

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About the Author

Elizabeth Chadwick lives in a cottage in the Vale of Belvoir in Nottinghamshire with her husband and their 4 terriers, Pip, Jack, Billy and Little Ted. Her first novel, The Wild Hunt, won a Betty Trask Award and To Defy a King won the RNA’s 2011 Historical Novel Prize. She was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Award in 1998 for The Champion, in 2001 for Lords of the White Castle, in 2002 for The Winter Mantle and in 2003 for The Falcons of Montabard. Her sixteenth novel, The Scarlet Lion, was nominated by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society, as one of the top ten historical novels of the last decade. She often lectures at conferences and historical venues, has been consulted for television documentaries and is a member of the Royal Historical Society. For more details on Elizabeth Chadwick and her books, visit www.elizabethchadwick.com, follow her on Twitter,and Bluesky

@chadwickwriter.bsky.social

Book Launch Spotlight: The Enemy’s Wife (Survivors of War, Book 2) by Deborah Swift

2026-04-09T06:41:00.005+01:00

Available from Amazon UK

A poignant story of the impossible choices we make in the shadow of war, for fans of Daisy Wood and Marius Gabriel.

1941. When Zofia’s beloved husband Haru is conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, she is left to navigate Japanese-occupied Shanghai alone.

Far from home and surrounded by a country at war, Zofia finds unexpected comfort in a bond with Hilly, a spirited young refugee escaping Nazi-occupied Austria.

As violence tightens its grip on the city, they seek shelter with Theo, Zofia’s American employer. But with every passing day, the horrors of war and Haru’s absence begin to reshape Zofia’s world – and her heart.

Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?

Review of The Enemy’s Wife

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About the Author

Special Guest Interview with Jude Grayson, Author of Blood and Bronze

2026-04-07T15:43:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The war that destroyed a world began with a single choice.

When Paris of Troy steals Helen from Sparta, he sets in motion a conflict that will pull kings and armies into a war no one can escape. Across Greece, rival rulers unite. Armies gather, oaths are sworn, and old grudges begin to surface. At the center of it stands Achilles, the most feared warrior of his age, and Hector, the prince sworn to defend Troy at any cost.

I'm pleased to welcome author Jude Grayson to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

Blood and Bronze is a retelling of the Trojan War, but with a focus on grounding the story in something that feels more real and human rather than mythologised. It is easy to think of the Trojan War in terms of larger-than-life heroes and legend, but what interested me more was the reality behind that. The decisions, the loyalties, and the consequences for the people involved.

I wanted to strip it back slightly and focus on the brutality and uncertainty of that kind of conflict, while still keeping the scale and importance of the story. It is a setting most people are familiar with, but I tried to approach it in a way that felt more immediate and believable.

What is your preferred writing routine?

I tend to start with research and spend as much time as I can building a solid understanding of the period I am writing about. Once I have done that, I create a kind of visual framework, usually timelines of key events and who was involved, so I can see how everything fits together.

From there, I map out the structure of the book chapter by chapter. Each chapter has a purpose, which characters are involved, what needs to happen, and how it moves the story forward. By the time I begin writing, I usually have a clear idea of how the whole narrative will unfold.

That said, it is not completely rigid. Things do change as I go, but having that structure helps me keep the story focused and consistent. Once I have set out this structure I move into the writing phase where I aim to set myself 2 hours every weeknight to work through and develop the chapter systematically. The challenge is balancing my writing while working full time but I still really enjoy the writing process so it doesn't feel like work, yet!

What advice do you have for new writers?

The best advice I can give is simply to get started. It sounds obvious, but it is something I had to learn myself. There is a tendency to wait for the right idea or the book you feel is worth publishing, but in reality writing is a skill you develop by doing.

Your early work will probably not be what you eventually publish, and that is completely fine. Those first projects are where you learn how to structure a story, develop characters, and actually finish something. Each one improves your ability. By the time you come to a story that really matters to you, one you want to put out into the world, you are in a much better position to do it properly.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

This is still something I am actively working on. The part I naturally enjoy is the writing itself, building the story and the characters, so shifting focus to the marketing side has been a learning curve.

Earlier on I spent a lot of time pursuing the traditional route, researching agents and submitting manuscripts. There were some encouraging signs, but it is a very competitive space and progress can be slow.

More recently I have moved towards self publishing, which has opened up a different approach. It means taking more responsibility for getting the work in front of readers, whether that is through advertising, outreach, or opportunities like this blog. I am still figuring out what works best, but each step builds a better understanding of how to connect the writing with an audience.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

One of the things that surprised me most during my research was the role of Aeneas. Going in, I expected the story to centre almost entirely around the more well known figures like Achilles and Hector, but the more I read, the more Aeneas stood out.

He is not always treated as a central character in popular retellings, but his importance grows significantly in what comes after the fall of Troy. That was something I had not fully appreciated at the start. As I developed the story, he naturally became a much bigger presence than I had originally planned, and his role has influenced how I am thinking about future books as well.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

The hardest scene to write was the duel between Hector and Achilles. It is such a defining moment of the Trojan War that it felt like it had to be handled carefully.

I rewrote it several times. I did not want it to feel like a generic duel, but at the same time I wanted to avoid over dramatising it in a way that takes away from the reality of the moment. Finding that balance took a lot of trial and error.

In the end it was about doing justice to the significance of the encounter while keeping it grounded and believable. It was probably the section I spent the most time refining.

What are you planning to write next?

Alongside Blood and Bronze, I have also self published Lion of Mali, which follows the rise of Sundiata Keita, and Tyrants and Traitors, set during China’s Three Kingdoms period. Both explore similar themes of power, conflict, and the rise of empires in different parts of the world. Looking ahead, I am currently working on a new project centred on Tamerlane, which I see developing into a longer series over time.

In the nearer term, my main focus will be a follow up to Blood and Bronze, exploring the aftermath of the fall of Troy and the journeys of those who survived. There is a lot more story to tell there, and it is something I am keen to continue building on.

Jude Grayson

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About the Author

Jude Grayson is a historical fiction author based in Scotland. His work focuses on war, power, and the rise and fall of empires, with novels set in periods such as the Trojan War, ancient China, and the Mali Empire. He is the author of Blood and Bronze, Tyrants and Traitors, and Lion of Mali.

Book Launch Spotlight: Storm of Mercia (Eagle of Mercia #9), by MJ Porter

2026-04-01T10:44:00.000+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been

her only enemy.

Wessex, AD836: The Viking raiders' devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.

King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King's bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it's not all about the seax and shield.

Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?

With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?

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About the Author

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author's writing destiny was set. MJ Porter has also written two twentieth-century mysteries. Find out more at https://www.mjporterauthor.com/ and folllow on Twitter @coloursofunison and Bluesky @mjporterauthor.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Temple of the Muses: A vision realised from one woman’s belief that knowledge belongs to everyone (The Chiswell Street Chronicles, Vol 2) by Jane Davis

2026-03-31T08:40:00.003+01:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

London, 1780. As the city smoulders in the aftermath of the Gordon Riots, booksellers James and Dorcas Lackington refuse to answer despair with charity. Instead, they place their faith in something far more radical: books.

Convinced that reading offers the surest escape from poverty, the Lackingtons launch a daring experiment—pricing books so cheaply that even apprentices and servant girls can afford them. It is a bold challenge to the rigid social order of Georgian England, and one that places them squarely in danger.

Dorcas knows that life alongside James and his unshakable optimism will never be smooth. But she is no mere helpmeet. She is his compass, his conscience, and often the sharper mind. In a modest corner of Moorfields, their bookshop ignites a quiet revolution as ordinary people encounter philosophy, liberty, reason, and love for the first time.

Not everyone welcomes this awakening. The Junto, a powerful circle of men who believe that books breed dangerous ideas in the minds of the poor, move swiftly to crush the Lackingtons’ venture. As threats and intimidation escalate, Dorcas realises that survival will not come from retreat—but from becoming too large to silence.

Her answer is audacious: to build a cathedral to literature, not for kings or scholars, but for every woman and man who has ever been told that knowledge is not theirs to claim—The Temple of the Muses.

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About the Author

Jane Davis lives in a Surrey cottage that was originally the ticket office for a Victorian pleasure garden, known locally as ‘the gingerbread house’. Her home frequently finds its way into her stories – in fact, it met a fiery end in the opening chapter of 'An Unknown Woman'. When she isn’t writing, you may spot Jane disappearing up the side of a mountain with a camera in hand, or haunting Victorian cemeteries searching for the perfect name for her next character. Find out more at Jane's website and find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @janedavisauthor and Bluesky @janedavisauthor.bsky.social

Book Launch: Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest, by Sharon Bennett Connolly

2026-03-30T07:20:00.005+01:00

Available from Amazon UK

and pre-order from Amazon US

Daughters of kings were often used to seal treaty alliances and forge peace with England’s enemies. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters from the Conquest explores the lives of these young women, how they followed the stereotype, and how they sometimes managed to escape it.

Sharon Bennett Connolly looks at the world they lived in, and how their lives and marriages were affected by political necessity and the events of the time. Almost as interesting as the marriages these girls made are the ones that were never realised.

Many English princesses were betrothed, or proposed as brides, three or more times before they were married. Their failed marriage proposals demonstrated their influence and worth on the international royal marriage market, as well as the changing allegiances between countries and the making and breaking of international friendships.

Princesses of the Early Middle Ages also examines how these girls, who were often political pawns, were able to control their own lives and fates. Whilst they were expected to obey their parents in their marriage choices, several princesses were able to exert their own influence on these choices, with some outright refusing the husbands offered to them. Their stories are touching, inspiring and, at times, heartbreaking.

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About the Author

Sharon Bennett Connolly is the best-selling author of historical non-fiction. Her latest book, Scotland’s Medieval Queens, will be published on 30 January 2025. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she also writes the popular history blog, www.historytheinterestingbits.com and co-hosts the podcast A Slice of Medieval with historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Sharon regularly gives talks on Women's History; she is a feature writer for All About History, Tudor Places and Living Medieval magazines and her TV work includes Australian Television's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' You can find out more about Sharon's books on Amazon and follow her on Facebook, Twitter/X and Bluesky

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Escape of the Grand Duchess, by Susan Appleyard

2026-03-27T06:49:00.001+00:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Rich in historical detail and driven by an unforgettable heroine, Escape of the Grand Duchess is a sweeping riches-to-rags tale of survival, love, and the strength it takes to forge a new life in the face of

unimaginable upheaval.

Unlike her ill-fated brother and his family, Olga’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and daring escape. Trapped in a loveless marriage to a reckless gambler—who harbours secrets of his own—she finds hope in the arms of a dashing army lieutenant. But before she can claim her own happiness, she must first endure the brutal realities of World War I, where she serves as a nurse on the frontlines.

As the Russian Empire teeters on the brink of collapse, the infamous Siberian mystic Rasputin tightens his grip on the imperial court, setting the stage for revolution. With the Bolsheviks seizing power and the Romanovs marked for death, Olga faces an impossible choice: risk everything to stay or flee into the unknown with her true love and their children.

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About the Author

Susan Appleyard was born in England, which is where she learned to love English history, and now lives in Canada in the summer. In winter she and her husband flee the cold for their second home in Mexico. Susan divides her time between writing and her hobby, oil painting, although writing will always be her first love. She was fortunate in having had two books published traditionally. Since joining the ebook crowd, she has published nine books, some of which have won various awards. Find out more from Susan's website and find her on Facebook and Instagram

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Queen’s Maid: Anne Boleyn in France Series: The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, by Rozsa Gaston

2026-03-26T06:28:00.001+00:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

France, 1514: After an enlightening period of training as a lady’s maid at Margaret of Austria’s court, Anne Boleyn has been sent to France.

She arrives at the Palace of Tournelles, home of ageing King Louis and his new English wife, Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII. As Anne speaks French, her main role is to serve as translator for Queen Mary.

Anne’s sister Mary is also at the French court, and Anne soon learns that not everyone is pleased about the union between the French king and his young queen.

The king’s cousin-in-law, Louise of Savoy, is desperate for Queen Mary not to fall pregnant, so that her son Francis will ascend the throne.

And with Louise and the English queen pulling Anne in two different directions, it will not be possible to appease everyone.

Can Anne successfully navigate the familial politics at the French royal court? Will she make her mark as one of the queen’s maids?

Or could her divided loyalties prove to be her undoing…?

‘Wonderfully detailed and entirely enjoyable. This is a young Anne in whom I absolutely believe, and who does much to explain the woman she’d become.’ – Sarah Gristwood, author of Game of Queens

THE ANNE BOLEYN CHRONICLES SERIES:

Book One: Maid of Honour

Book Two: The Queen’s Maid

Book Three: Queen of Diamonds

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About the Author

Rozsa Gaston is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life. She is the author of Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria's Court, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, The Queen's Maid: Anne Boleyn in France, Queen of Diamonds: The French Royal Court, Margaret of Austria, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction. Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, and Budapest Romance. Rozsa Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor, WR Capital, and as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian before becoming a novelist. She is currently working on Book Four of The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, covering Anne Boleyn's time at the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family. Find out more at her website:rozsagaston.wordpress.com/ and find her on Facebook and Twitter / X: @RozsaGaston

Special Guest Post by Eleanor Swift Hook : The Turncoat’s Revenge (Lord's Learning Book 3)

2026-03-24T06:22:00.005+00:00

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Spring 1628: England is at war with France as the rest of Europe consumes itself in increasingly bitter conflict. n Dunkirk, Philip Lord, disgraced adventurer, has a new ship and through it the chance to gain enough from his privateering to follow his guiding star. But when he must risk everything to rescue a fellow Dunkirker at sea, he and the ever-loyal Jorrit are thrown into mortal danger.

1628: A savage year for England—a year that sees the nation embroiled in three wars.

Just across the sea, Europe devours itself in a conflagration that started a decade before and is to burn ferociously for two more decades until it becomes a byword for brutality, devastation and death. The Thirty Years War. In terms of proportionate population loss, it would be more destructive than the two orld Wars of the Twentieth Century.

England was drawn into this maelstrom courtesy of the English princess Elizabeth, heir to the throne of England, and her husband the Elector Palatine, who have been at the heart of the conflagration since it began. English outrage at Elizabeth losing both her Bohemian crown and her status as Electress Palatine, brought donations of money and volunteer canon fodder. But even with English support and Elizabeth’s uncle, the King of Denmark, throwing the might of his army on the scales, it isn’t going well.

Elizabeth Stuart Queen of Bohemia

But in 1628 England is also at war with Spain.

Why?

State policy?

Or hurt feelings?

The Spanish Court snubbed King Charles and his favourite, the Duke of Buckingham, five years before when they travelled to Madrid in disguise, in a quixotic attempt to woo the Spanish Infanta. A slight Buckingham, at least, has not forgotten, and he is a man to bear grudges.

Whatever the motivation, the Spanish king is kin to the Emperor and the two are united in their desire for a Catholic Habsburg hegemony of all Europe. So yes, statecraft might argue that war against the Emperor made war against Spain a sensible choice, and by and large the English were pleased to support this war.

Spain having been the traditional enemy of England since before the Armada and memories of that Elizabethan success and ancestral pride originally fuelled enthusiasm in the breasts of true-born Englishmen! But such success was not to be repeated in this generation. An attempt to capture Cadiz, in a naval expedition organised by the Duke of Buckingham, failed completely with a third of the fleet being lost.

Francisco de Zurbarán

And the third war?

Well, even though King Charles recently married a French Princess and the French have been active allies in the anti-Habsburg Palatinate cause, England is now at war with France!

Yet only a short time ago they had been bosom pals.

Indeed, they had been such close friends that the English king agreed to provide ships to help the French king put down rebellion by his Protestant Huguenot subjects. This caused outrage amongst the English people and a horrified Parliament had objected to the notion of English forces attacking fellow Protestants. In the end it was the ships alone and not their crews which were provided.

It didn’t help Anglo/French relations that Buckingham was suspected of trying to seduce the Queen of France under the nose of her husband whilst on a diplomatic visit, and had been refused permission to return to the country as a result.

Amity with France collapsed altogether when it became clear the French had made a secret treaty with Spain, seemed to be abandoning the Protestant cause in the Empire—and were building their own navy.

George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (by Peter Paul Rubens)

So was it state policy or more of Buckingham's slighted pride that sent his man Walter Montague to France as a secret agent, to encourage and foment a Huguenot rebellion, with the promise of English support? Though how such support could be forthcoming was unclear. There was no money for third war. Least of all one with scant benefit to England’s national interests.

In the end, the promised support for a Protestant uprising in La Rochelle came in the form of an expeditionary force commanded by Buckingham personally in the summer of 1627. The intent was to seize the fortress town of Saint-Martin-de-Ré which controlled the approach to La Rochelle, thus opening a sea route to the beleaguered city.

It was another disaster, a fiasco, foundering as badly as the Cadiz debacle—if not more so. The Isle-de-Ré became ‘the Ill Array’ on English lips. Buckingham, already despised for his monopoly farms and the excessive influence he had over the king, carried the full weight of blame for the extent of its failure in the popular mind, and was hated and derided in equal measure.

Invasion of Re, 1627

So now here we are.

It is 1628 and England is embroiled in three wars.

Buckingham is licking his wounds and raising a new fleet against the French, to redeem his honour and win back the love of the nation. But it’s not going to plan. England has had enough of war and more than enough of Buckingham himself. Monopoly farms, military catastrophe and incompetence are not the only charges set against him. Rumours that he poisoned King James have been taken seriously at the highest levels. Twice now, Parliament has tried to impeach Buckingham, and been prevented from doing so by the king dismissing it. This time, though, Parliament is bringing forward a Petition of Right addressing its grievances, and taking aim at the Royal favourite, which it insists must be agreed by the king if he wants to secure ongoing finance for his three wars. And Parliament holds the purse strings.

England in 1628: A stage set for tragedy, onto which our players must stride.

A young mercenary turned privateer, condemned for treason, but driven by an overriding ambition, and a nobleman’s daughter, in the service of the English heir, the exiled Queen of Bohemia, seeking to protect her mistress and herself from the machinations of an overpowerful enemy. Each must play out their part against the blood drenched backdrop of war, politics, intrigue—and murder…

Eleanor Swift Hook

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About the Author

Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years' War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times. You can find out more about the background of Lord's Legacy on her website www.eleanorswifthook.com and find her on Twitter @emswifthook