Blog Tour Excerpt: Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits Of North Devon, By Helen Hollick

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile. Actually, most of them are not.

North Devon is predominantly rural, with a few towns dotted amongst scattered villages and farms, which mostly concentrate on dairy or sheep. The Exmoor coast has high, rugged cliffs, the highest, being Great Hangman, a 1,043ft hog's-back, with a 820ft cliff-face.

From Celtic to Roman, through the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans, via the Tudors, Stuarts, Georgians and Victorians North Devon has been rich in its history. And its ghosts.

Ghost, spirit, shade, soul – whatever term you prefer, unless you are a sceptic the general thinking about ghosts is that these unexplained phenomena are troubled or tormented apparitions which haunt the places where they died. They are misty shapes curling beneath trees, lurking in dark shadows or eerie cellars while oozing an atmosphere of supernatural horror. Spirits allegedly remain through spite or remorse; their only intention is to frighten living people in any and every way they can. Most of this thinking is generated by religious beliefs and enhanced by the fascination for horror novels and Hollywood movies of the paranormal. Exposing an angry poltergeist or a vengeful demon is common on the TV or cinema screen. Readers and viewers (for some unfathomable reason!) like to be scared. There are hostile spirits creating hostile environments, but outside of high drama and the movies, these are in a minority.

It is natural to have a reaction of fear if something supernatural is encountered, but there is usually no reason to stay frightened. Some, particularly the spirits of children, can be mischievous, but aggressive or malevolent hostility, despite what is depicted on TV, is rarely an intentional threat. Some lingering spirits may be confused and bewildered, or even unaware that they are dead, and may need a sympathetic nudge to move on. Quite a few drift among us because they want to stay.

Find out more – and meet a few ghosts – in Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon

Helen Hollick

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About the Authors 

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen Hollick might not see ghosts herself, but her nautical adventure series, and some of her short stories, skilfully blend the past with the supernatural, inviting readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur. Her historical fiction spans a variety of periods and her gift lies in her ability to bring historical figures and settings to life, creating an immersive experience that transports readers into the past. Her stories are as compelling as they are convincing.  Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which became a USA Today best-seller. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant. Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and, when she gets a moment, writing the next book...

When not encountering friendly ghosts, Kathy's passion is horses and mental well-being. She started riding at the age of three, had a pony at thirteen, and discovered showjumping soon after. Kathy now runs her own Taw River Equine Events, and coaches riders of any age or experience, specialising in positive mindset and overcoming confidence issues via her Centre10 accreditation and Emotional Freedom Technique training to aid calm relaxation and promote gentle healing. Kathy lives with her farmer partner, Andrew, in their flat adjoining the main farmhouse. She regularly competes at affiliated British Showjumping, and rides side-saddle (‘aside’) when she has the opportunity. She produces her own horses, several from home-bred foals. She also has a fun diploma in Dragons and Dragon Energy, which was something amusing to study during the Covid lockdown.

Find out more from Helen's website: https://helenhollick.net/ and Kathy’s website: 

https://www.white-owl.co.uk/ and for additional (and any new ghost encounters!) visit 

https://ghostencountersofdevon.blogspot.com/

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Book Launch Spotlight: Kingbreaker (III): The Red Rose, by David Pilling

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1483. John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, is now a prisoner. His allies, Warwick and Clarence, are dead. His king, Henry VI, has been murdered. Henry's son, Prince Edward, lies butchered on the battlefield. Margaret of Anjou is condemned to live in exile. The house of Lancaster is broken.

Then, the warrior-king Edward IV dies unexpectedly. His two young sons are consigned to the Tower by their uncle, who takes power as Richard III. When the princes vanish, the Yorkists start to turn on each other.

The Lancastrian cause, which seemed dead, starts to revive. An obscure Welsh exile, Henry Tudor, proclaims himself King of England and begins to assemble an army. Henry turns to the one man who can lead his army to victory against the battle-hardened Richard III. Oxford's time has come at last....

KINGBREAKER (III): THE RED ROSE is by David Pilling, author of The Bloody Hand series, The Champion, Leader of Battles, Reiver, Caesar's Sword, Edward I and Wales, and many other fiction and nonfiction works.

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About the Author

David Pilling is a writer and researcher, addicted to history for as long as he can remember. The medieval era has always held a fascination for him, perhaps because he spent much of his childhood exploring the misted ruins of castles in Wales. David also has a keen interest in the Byzantine Empire, the post-Roman period in Britain and the British & Irish Civil Wars. Follow David on Facebook, Twitter @RobeH2 and on Bluesky @robeh1979.bsky.social

A Special Guest Post by Katharine Edgar: Kentwell Hall, Where Time Travel Dreams Come True.

All photo credits Kentwell Hall and Mike Hill.

Deep in a woodland in Suffolk, a sixteenth century glass kiln blazes. Around the kiln long-skirted women and men dressed in hose carefully heat blobs of glass at the end of long pipes. They blow, turn and shape them until new-made vessels emerge. It is a magical, ancient process. 

Glass blowing 

Not far away a girl hammers brass around a mould, working it to the form of a trumpet, and the rhythmic whir and creak of a pole lathe filter through the green leaves. Chickens scratch about. In the distance comes the sound of a pipe and drum, playing a dance.

Trumpet making 

If you emerge from the woods you will see an imposing red brick Tudor manor house, and if you enter the house you will find it occupied: you will be welcomed in, and can speak with the servants and their gentlefolk, watch the brewing of ale and the churning of butter, smell the baking bread.

Brewer checks the temperature in the copper 

For people intrigued by the Tudors, travelling in time to their world is an impossible fantasy. But at Kentwell Hall the dream comes true. You won’t meet Anne Boleyn: this is no royal palace, but a country manor house not far from the famous half timbered houses of Lavenham. The house belongs to the Clopton family, country gentry who have made their fortunes in the economic powerhouse of East Anglia at the height of the medieval wool trade and whose family connections spread to court.

In actual fact, of course, there are no Cloptons at Kentwell. The house belongs to retired lawyer Patrick Phillips and his wife Judith, and the Tudor folk are volunteers. Patrick bought the house in 1971. This was a courageous act: the house, if not quite ruined, was thought by many to be beyond saving. 

Since then he and Judith have devoted themselves to gently coaxing the building back to life and creating a fabulous garden full of enchantment and curiosity. The re-creations were conceived after the couple visited a historic chateau in France where volunteers wore costumes, but were only pretending to weave, cook and make pots. At Kentwell it would be done for real. They advertised for participants. ‘Live as a Tudor!’ read the notice in the Guardian back in the 1970s. Volunteers learned to make costumes, adopt early modern speech patterns, and began a deep dive into researching and re-learning forgotten past skills.

For several decades, the Tudor re-creations were a staple of school trips for children across south-east England. Easily reachable by road from London and running for three weeks in the summer the events were visited by schools during the week and the public at weekends. 

Clopton ladies take the air 

Changes to the National Curriculum meant that school visits dropped off, but the re-creations remained popular with the public and are now held from spring to autumn, joined by other events including Magic Weekend, Dickensian Christmas and a live scare event for Halloween. The ‘history festivals’, or multi-period re-creations, showcase Kentwell’s characteristic combination of playful inventiveness and meticulous attention to historical detail. |Visitors meet characters from an unexpected range of times from the Neolithic to the 1980s: hunters, Roman soldiers, Puritans and punks.

The largest of the Tudor re-creations will take place this year for a week in late June and two in August. These feature more than two hundred Tudors and are the opportunity to see some of the more spectacular crafts, such as glass blowing, but all the Tudor events feature an astonishing range of sixteenth century activities from archery to alchemy. 

Many members of the public come back repeatedly, returning every year or even several times to the same event. Some volunteers have been coming since the 1980s. What is it that evokes such loyalty in visitors and participants?

For the Kentwell Tudors, it is a chance to be part of a community of creative people of a variety of ages and backgrounds who share the desire to know more about history and yearn to experience the past. They also get to spend time in a place that, with its shimmering moat, can be heart-breakingly beautiful in the dawn silence. Up its three quarter mile lime avenue it stands apart from the modern world.

The modern world, of course, is one where more and more of our lives are digital and the term ‘immersive’ is most often used for an audio-visual experience. But at Kentwell the immersion visitors undergo is a real, sensory one, with no digital projections or laboratory-created chemical scents, let alone anything generated by artificial intelligence. Reality means messiness and failures. Kilns have collapsed and bread burned. Reality means risk, drama, and as every writer of fiction knows, this engages.

1970s camper enjoys Smash and spaghetti hoops 

at a Kentwell History Festival 

Every year the Tudor year is a different one, and this year it will be 1536. The re-enactments will begin with Easter, on Good Friday. At the May Day weekend there will be a mummers’ play (will St George’s dragon breathe fire?) and a chance to join in the dancing. In midsummer and August the glass blowers will discover whether the new kiln they have been building this last weekend works, and by Michaelmas the harvest will be in and the spring lambs grown. The Cloptons might discuss politics. There is a new queen this year. And Thomas Cromwell’s influence grows ever stronger….

Kentwell’s 1536 Easter re-creation runs from 18th - 21st April 2025. 

For further event dates, and to book, please visit https://www.kentwell.co.uk

Katharine Edgar

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About the author

Katharine Edgar first visited Kentwell Hall in 1982. It sparked an interest in history which led to a career teaching Museum Studies at university and writing historical fiction. Her first historical novel, Five Wounds, set in the north of England during the Pilgrimage of Grace, is available on Amazon and her writing can also be heard as part of the immersive (in the modern sense!) Shakespearean Memory Parlour project at https://middlingculture.com. A re-enactor who specialises in textile work, she recently took part in the ‘total immersion’ Candlemas 1461 event at the Weald and Downland Museum with Black Knight Historical, living 24 hours a day in a house with no window glass in the depths of winter. Follow Katherine on Bluesky @katharineedgar.bsky.social and find Kentwell Hall @kentwellhall.bsky.social

Blog Tour Guest Post ~ The Tudor Queens’ Midwife, by Brigitte Barnard

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In the glamorous, glittering and dangerous court of king Henry VIII and his queen Katherine of Aragon, the desperate desire for a healthy male heir overshadows all. The Tudor Queens’ Midwife is a gripping tale of secrecy, sacrifice and religious turmoil amongst the most opulent court the world has ever seen. 

Historical Research

The Tudor era has long fascinated scholars and historical fiction enthusiasts alike. The larger-than-life reign of Henry VIII, the intrigue of his six marriages, and the religious upheaval that shaped England’s future provide a fertile ground for storytelling. However, beyond the well-documented narratives of kings and queens, there are hidden histories—stories of those who lived in the shadows, navigating courtly life while concealing truths that could mean their downfall. 

In my novel, The Tudor Queens’ Midwife, I sought to bring one such story to life: that of a secret Jewish midwife in the service of Katherine of Aragon.

One of the central elements of my research involved understanding the experience of Jews in England after the Spanish Expulsion of 1492. While England had officially expelled its Jewish population in 1290 under Edward I, there is compelling evidence that some Jews remained or later returned, living in secrecy. 

Rabbi Berel Wein, in his extensive research on Jewish history, highlights the presence of conversos—Jews forced to convert to Christianity—who fled Spain and Portugal, seeking safety in European cities, including London and Bristol. Many of these individuals outwardly practiced Catholicism while secretly maintaining Jewish traditions, a dangerous existence under both Spanish and English rule.

For my protagonist, a learned and skilled midwife, this historical context was crucial. Women in medicine, particularly midwives, were in a unique position of power and vulnerability. The ability to bring life into the world granted them a level of respect, but any deviation from accepted religious norms or practices could be fatal. This tension runs throughout The Tudor Queens’ Midwife, as my character must balance her loyalty to Katherine of Aragon with the need to protect her identity.

Primary and Secondary Sources on Henry VIII’s Court:

To authentically depict life at the Tudor court, I relied on a wealth of scholarly sources that detail the period’s social, political, and medical history. Some of the most invaluable works included:

David Starkey’s Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII – This book provides a detailed and balanced account of Henry VIII’s marriages, offering insight into Katherine of Aragon’s resilience and suffering.

Antonia Fraser’s The Wives of Henry VIII – Fraser’s work helped shape my depiction of the relationships between Henry’s wives, particularly the political and personal struggles they endured.

Eric Ives’ The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn – While Anne Boleyn does not feature heavily in my first novel, understanding her role in Katherine of Aragon’s downfall was essential.

Retha Warnicke’s The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn – Warnicke’s scholarship provided a nuanced view of gender and courtly expectations during the Tudor era.

G.R. Elton’s England Under the Tudors – Elton’s work helped contextualize the broader political and religious landscape in which my characters move. 

Brigitte Barnard

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About the Author

Brigitte Barnard is an amateur historian of Renaissance English history and an author of the trilogy The Tudor Queens' Midwife, of which the first book in the series is available. She is currently writing a non-fiction book about Tudor midwifery for Pen and Sword publishing house. Brigitte is a former homebirth midwife, and she lives at home with her husband and four children. She also raises Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Find out more from Brigitte's website http://thetudormidwife.com/ and follow her on Twitter: @TheTudorMidwife

Book Launch Spotlight - Wild Scottish Gold (The Enchanted Highlands Book 7) by Tricia O'Malley

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

She was forged in heat, and he was the hammer that struck too close to her heart.

Kaia Bissett came to Scotland for a fresh start. No entanglements. No mistakes. No mixing business with pleasure. But one impulsive, scorching night with a stranger shatters that promise—especially when the stranger turns out to be Thane Blackwood. Her new landlord, and apparently, her biggest rival.

Thane built his empire with his own hands. His forge. His rules. He has no room for distractions—especially not Kaia, the fiery metalsmith who refuses to back down. When she lands a commission for the grand iron gates at Common Gin, he steps into the ring, determined to beat her. Sparks fly—on the anvil and off.

But Kaia’s past isn’t done with her. She’s heir to an ancient order, bound to protect Loren Brae from the Kelpies that stalk its waters. Magick stirs in her blood, wild and untamed. And Thane? He won’t let her fight alone.

Steel clashes. Desire burns. But can they forge something stronger, or will the fire consume them both?

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About the Author

A NY Times, USA Today, and WSJ bestselling author, Tricia O’Malley’s infectious joy in writing romance with an added dash of magic has touched hearts around the world. With over three million books read, O’Malley’s stories have been translated into several languages and enjoy a devoted following. Tricia lives in the Caribbean with her handsome Scotsman. An avid scuba diver, Tricia spends much of her time underwater dreaming up new stories while photographing the beautiful sea life. She discovers her inspiration on the go – and you’ll find her books set in beautiful settings with characters who deserve a happily-ever-after. To see some of her underwater or island life photos visit her on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.triciaomalley.com

Book Launch Guest Post by Samantha Wilcoxson, Author of James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Born in the year of the Constitutional Convention, James Alexander Hamilton was uniquely positioned to observe the early republic era and the formation of the experimental United States government. His father, Alexander Hamilton, had been the first US Treasury Secretary, an outspoken and controversial character who was killed in a duel when James was a teenager. With a lifelong devotion to his father's memory, James advised men from Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren to Abraham Lincoln and Salmon P Chase

 on banking and constitutional matters.

I decided to write about James Alexander Hamilton during my research for a previous book. Women of the American Revolution included a chapter on James’s mother, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and I found his Reminiscences to be a fantastic resource. It also included so much more than some personal insight into Hamilton family life. I discovered that James had been an observant and active witness to seventy-five years of turbulent US history.

James was born in 1788, the year of the Constitutional Convention, and lived through the American Civil War to publish his Reminiscences in 1869. Throughout these years, James was connected with many of the people whose names we remember today, such as John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln. He followed in his father’s footsteps, studying to become a lawyer who was deeply concerned with constitutional and banking issues.

In 1829, James served as temporary secretary of state for Andrew Jackson, which has caused some historians to label him an anti-banking Jacksonian. In fact, James left behind stacks of correspondence encouraging Jackson to reform the national bank where necessary but practically begging him not to dismantle it. James warned the president of the financial panic that would – and did – occur when Jackson defunded the national bank.

Besides advising presidents and cabinet members, James was involved in the New York Crystal Palace, fighting New York’s Great Fire of 1835, and was a part of the crew that won the first America’s Cup. I felt like I was constantly discovering unique experiences and participation in historic events when researching James’s life!

James was in his seventies when the Civil War broke out, an occurrence that he blamed on the incompetence and inaction of President James Buchanan. Despite his age, James offered to put on a uniform and die honorably on the field of battle. Instead, his country asked him to serve on a board that advised President Abraham Lincoln, which James was happy to do. He even wrote a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.

I felt like I became friends with James through the writing of this biography and wish his Reminiscences included more from the post-war years. The country could have still benefitted from his wise counsel, but age caught up with the man who had strived to continue the work of his legendary father. James died in 1878, and is buried in Sleepy Hollow, a cemetery made famous by James’s friend and neighbor, Washington Irving.

Samantha Wilcoxson 

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About the Author

Samantha Wilcoxson is an author of emotive biographical fiction and nonfiction featuring history’s unsung heroes. Her first fiction series tells stories of early Tudor women, beginning with Elizabeth of York, but she has explored other eras as well. Samantha's Luminous features real life radium girl Catherine Donohue and has won several awards for its compelling, poignant storytelling. She has also written both fiction and nonfiction set during the American Revolution. Today, Samantha is excited to share her new biography of James Alexander Hamilton published by Pen & Sword History.  Samantha and her husband of almost thirty years split their time between Michigan and Florida, and they love exploring historic places together. They have three adult children, who love to gather for family time at the lake. Samantha is currently writing a Wars of the Roses trilogy for Sapere Books and looks forward to returning to the era that first inspired her to write. Find out more from Samantha's website https://samanthawilcoxson.com anf find her on Instagram and Facebook 

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Oscar's Tale, by Chris Bishop

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

'For is it not the wish of every man that his son will achieve more in life than he did?'

OSCAR'S TALE is the story of a Saxon boy who sets out to find and rescue his father who has been taken by Viking slavers. 

Set in 877 as the people of Wessex are forced to fight not just for their very lives, but for their freedom, their religion and for their right to live as Saxons, Oscar relates all that which befalls him on his all but impossible quest. 

This is set against the backdrop of King Alfred's desperate attempt to regain his kingdom which culminates in a victory at the Battle of Edington which is very much against the odds. 

But this is not just a story about bloody battles and fearsome warriors, it's about a boy struggling to live up to his father's reputation as a warrior and trying to find his place in a turbulent and uncertain world. For that, Oscar is forced to confront many dangers, earn the respect of others far above his station and even find love - albeit the cost to him is far higher than most men would have been willing to pay.

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About the Author

Chris Bishop was born in London in 1951. After a successful career as a chartered surveyor, he retired to concentrate on writing, combining this with his lifelong interest in Anglo Saxon history. He has also published numerous blogs about his work. His other interests are travel, windsurfing and fly fishing and he's a member of The Historical Writers' Association. Find out more at https://chrisbishopauthor.com/ and follow Chris on Twitter @CBishop_author