Blog Tour Excerpt: The Queen's Sister: A vivid historical novel of a life among the wives of King Henry VIII. by Carol McGrath

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

At nineteen, Elizabeth Seymour is already a mother, has been recently widowed, and seen her Queen, Anne Boleyn, lose her life. Against the wishes of her father, she heads North, away from Wulf Hall and the court in London to Yorkshire, determined to establish a new beginning as a landowner and business woman. 

Prologue

I am Elizabeth Seymour, sister to the Queen. My second marriage to Gregory Cromwell is barely a month old, yet to my surprise, my portrait has already been commissioned by my father-in-law. As Lord Privy Seal, Thomas Cromwell has both affluence and influence; it is the celebrated Master Hans Holbein who is to paint me. He enjoys King Henry’s patronage and has recently completed a likeness of my sister.

    ‘Master Holbein,’ I say, after he arrives at Mort Lake, and I am looking at a selection of drawings he has displayed on a table in the great parlour.

    ‘I do believe you truly capture the humanity of your subject.’ I look up at his eager round face and thoughtful brown eyes. ‘This is all I ask for, since I wish to appear human and not merely portrayed as a stiff poppet in her best gown.’

    One by one, I lift sketches he had drawn of my sister Queen Jane before painting her. These are fine drawings and capture her serenity. I consider them for some minutes. ‘They look like Jane but there is something intangible and sad too. She looks as if she will never reveal her true feelings.’

    ‘Her mystery,’ the painter says. ‘Everyone has secrets, and their public face can guard that which is unknown. I hope my work permits a glimpse of the sitter’s soul.’

I hold the sketches at arm’s length to study them closely again and tilt my head enquiringly. ‘My sister, does she have secrets, for I think her guileless?’

    I smile, but my gaze is steady. Holbein returns my smile. ‘My lady, your sister is the perfect Queen. Besides she is with child and very happy,’ he says. ‘Her secret is her awareness of her responsibility as Queen, and she was hopeful for the future when I painted her. Women are by nature lovely and mysterious creatures. The Queen was confident that she would conceive the King’s child. And now, the good Lord has granted her wish.’

    I nod, my face composed and serious. ‘Yes, Master Holbein, and I am to be aunt to a future prince or princess of England. That is a responsibility too. So, Master painter, I give you carte blanche. You have my trust.’  I replace the drawings of Jane on top of the polished walnut table.

    ‘These drawings have truth. I see a sister who is dignified, human, guarded and calm.’ 

    Yet also, I cannot forget the shy, timid young woman Jane was before she won the King’s heart.

    ‘Queen Jane remains reserved rather than diffident and I see that you are too, my lady. You seem serious minded and educated, noble and patient, practical, yet creative and you are already a mother. You are a clever handsome woman and, in your portrait, I hope to capture the keen intelligence behind your bright eyes.’

    I’m flattered by Master Holbein’s recognition of me as an intelligent woman and I warm to him. ‘Come next week, Master Painter, and you can begin your sketches,’ I say. ‘But mind, my sister will go into seclusion by the calends of September so I cannot sit for you after that.’

    ‘We can at least make a beginning, my lady,’ he says, bows and gathers up his drawings.

 

Carol McGrath 

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About the Author

Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece.  Find our more from Carol's website: www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk and find her on Facebook, Twitter @CarolMcGrath and Bluesky @swanneck.bsky.social

Book Launch Spotlight: Caesar's Nemesis (The Mark Antony Series) by Alex Gough

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A hero will fall. An emperor will rise.

Mark Antony is Caesar's successor, victor over Caesar's murderers Brutus and Cassius, and the most powerful man in the world.

Yet he cannot be complacent. Octavian, Caesar's heir, is ambitious, intelligent and ruthless. Antony must prove himself with a great military victory to hold onto his position, and marches against Rome's old foe: the Parthian empire. But this is a formidable opponent; the bones of many legions lie on the battlefields of the East. And with the beguiling Cleopatra distracting him, can Antony come out on top?

Antony's final years are a whirlwind of shifting alliances, betrayals and war. In the end, the Battle of Actium will decide the fate of the empire, and set the course of history for the next two thousand years.

From Alexandria to Actium, this clash established a dynasty and struck down one of Rome's greatest heroes.

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About the Author

Alex Gough has a decades long interest in Ancient Roman history, and the Carbo Series (Watchmen of Rome, Bandits of Rome and the short story collection Carbo and the Thief) is the culmination of a lot of research into the underclasses of Ancient Rome. His  second series, The Imperial Assassin, is set in the reign of the Severan dynasty which is a very under-examined period of Roman history. His latest series is based on the larger than life character of Mark Antony, the warrior, the commander, the politician and the lover. I would love to interact with readers. Find out more at history www.romanfiction.com and find Alex  on Twitter/X @romanfiction and Bluesky @alexgoughauthor.bsky.social

Blog Tour Interview with Ellen Rachlin, Author of Enheduanna's Song From The Sands

Available for pre-order from 

Amazon UK and Amazon US

Discover the untold story of Enheduanna, the world’s first named author, as she navigates power, betrayal, and divine destiny in ancient Mesopotamia. A mesmerizing fusion of history, myth, and female leadership that challenges how we see the past—and ourselves.

I'm pleased to welcome author Ellen Rachlin to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your book.

It’s about a little-known ancient world that lasted for about 2,000 years, a high priestess who happens to be the world’s first named author, a life-or-death struggle that shaped the course of literature, and revenge.

Enheduanna is one of the most notable historical figures of ancient Mesopotamia. She wielded a great deal of power, but paid a steep price for assuming such authority. She was the daughter of Sargon the Great, a prominent high priestess, and the world’s first named author. There is attestation in one of the hymns attributed to her that she was forced into exile by a rebel king, but later reinstated. That’s all we know. My story imagines her rise to power, her fall, and her restoration.

The remarkable works attributed to her make her extraordinary, whether or not she was their actual author. We don’t know which is true, but both possibilities help explain why she stands out as one of the most memorable figures of this long chapter in ancient history. That uncertainty gave me the freedom to create a rich narrative around an extraordinary woman’s life.

What is your preferred writing routine?

I enter a state of slight panic that I can’t channel my characters deeply enough. That’s when I’m most alert. Then I calm down and write, ideally every day.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Study with teachers who know what they are doing. Learn craft first. Without structure, it’s much more difficult to communicate your story. Without knowing the basic elements, it’s impossible to know how the rules can be changed, if one chooses to do so. Then keep studying and reading. I’m still learning.

After that, focus on the story you wish to tell and on creating it. There’s a more commercial approach in which a writer studies the market and embraces where readership is concentrated. If one can write quickly, I suppose that’s a viable process, but tastes change, and it takes a long time to bring a book to readers.

If you write what you are passionate about, you’re more likely to make your characters come alive.

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

There are so many outlets. I don’t think anyone knows what works best. Writers I know try everything, and there are lots of people willing to help. But at the heart of raising awareness is the author’s willingness to stand behind their work and champion it. Authors are the best spokespeople for their work.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

Ancient Mesopotamian myths echoed mortal life experiences. Their gods were neither solely good nor solely evil, but complex beings possessing elements of both. They were subject to errors in judgment, human-like weaknesses, accountability for their actions, and judgment by other gods. This is quite different from modern notions of divinity.

Because of these qualities, the myths offered natural parallels to the Enheduanna of my imagination. She is a woman of remarkable agency for her time. She is also targeted by rebels and even by her own brothers. She is victimized, but refuses to be a victim. At first, this makes her ruthless, just as the gods can be in the myths. Yet, as in the myths, power has its price.

The myths themselves became my inspiration, along with Enheduanna’s mysterious and largely unknown life.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

Every scene has challenges; the most difficult one in Enheduanna’s Song From the Sands was the first chapter. I couldn’t tell her story without telling her father’s story. Enheduanna didn’t make enemies; she inherited generational ones. Sargon’s story needed to be told without interruption, so I began there rather than with Enheduanna. Slowing down and choosing to open with Sargon as a young cupbearer (one responsible for food and drink for a king) was a difficult choice.

What are you planning to write next?

At the moment, I’m writing a literary novel set in modern times, but I plan to return to ancient Mesopotamia, as there are so many figures from that era who fascinate me. By then, I hope that more readers will be curious about ancient Mesopotamia.

Ellen Rachlin

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About the Author

Ellen Rachlin’s poetry has appeared in American Poetry Review, Comstock Review, Granta, Court Green, Literary Imagination, and various anthologies.  She has published two collections of her poems, Until Crazy Catches Me (Antrim House, 2008) and Permeable Divide (Antrim House, 2017), winner of the 2018 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award.  She is also the author of two chapbooks, Waiting for Here (Finishing Line Press, 2004), a finalist in the New Women's Voices series, and Captive to Residue (Flarestack Publishing, 2009).  She received her MFA from Antioch University.  She serves as Treasurer of The Poetry Society of America and is a partner at Blue Leaf Ventures.  Other writing genres include numerous textbook and journal articles on the subject of finance and investing with various publishers including Wiley. Find out more at Ellen's Website: https://www.ellenrachlin.com/  and find her on Facebook and Instagram

Blog Tour Spotlight: Rise of the Pale Moon, By Patricia Brandon

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Forced to navigate complex relationships with each other and the master’s family in colonial South Carolina, three young women (an indentured servant, a chattel slave, and a Catawba Indian) must choose between remaining in servitude or risk a dangerous escape that could change their lives – and the course of the Revolution. 

In the heart of coastal South Carolina, during the Revolutionary War era, a profound narrative unfolds in Rise of the Pale Moon. This captivating tale is set on a plantation, where three young women of strikingly different backgrounds are held captive - a humble indentured servant from London, a resilient chattel slave, and a resourceful Catawba Indian. Their lives are intertwined, bound by the chains of their circumstances, and deeply impacted by the Master and his family.

These women, each bearing a unique perspective, must learn to navigate their relationships with each other and their captors. As they grapple with their brutal reality, their courage is put to the ultimate test. Will they risk a daring escape, knowing full well that it could result in their demise? Or will they remain, hoping to influence their fate and possibly alter the course of the war in the American South?

Rise of the Pale Moon explores the intricacies of loyalty, sacrifice, and love amidst harsh adversity. The characters' relentless pursuit of hope is a testament to their determination and resilience, offering an inspiring portrayal of human spirit. As the birth of a new nation unfolds around them, their journey reveals the transformative power of unity and friendship.

This riveting narrative is more than just a historical fiction; it is a timeless exploration of the human condition, capturing the essence of shared struggles, shared dreams, and the shared determination to survive. The characters' journey serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of hope, even in the darkest of times.

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About the Author

Patricia Brandon is a winner of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Award (South Carolina Writers’ Association). Her first novel, THE CENTER OF GRAVITY, earned a Coffee Pot Book Club (UK) “Highly Recommended” 5-Star Award. It recently was awarded a bronze medal (fiction-mystery-historical category) in the Readers Favorite International Book Contest. Her second novel, A RULE OF LIFE, was selected as a gold medal (YA, Historical Fiction category) 2021 Book of the Year by The Coffee Pot Book Club. It also was recently selected as a bronze medal (YA Mystery category) winner in the Readers Favourite International Book Contest. Fibd out more at https://patriciabrandon.com/  and find Patricia on Twitter / X, Facebook and Instagram

Patricia’s interview at Meet The Author: 

Special Guest Interview with Sam F Hutchins, Author of Boudica’s Shadow

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

61AD: After Keara and her sister, Caitlyn, are brutally attacked by Roman officers in their own home, their mother's rage knows no bounds. Queen Boudica of the Iceni raises an army of oppressed Britons

who will defy Rome.

I'm pleased to welcome author Sam F Hutchins to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

Boudica’s Shadow is a Roman Britannic adventure set in 61AD. Full of action, mystery, vivid characters and a dash of romance, it tells the story of Boudica’s revolt through the eyes of her youngest daughter, Keara. 

After Boudica and her two daughters are brutally attacked by Roman officers in their own kingdom of the Iceni, Boudica raises an army of oppressed Britons to fight against the Roman occupant. 

Facing them is the governor-general, Suetonius, an experienced military leader who proves to be a formidable and shrewd master. 

But, despite, the well-armed legions by his side, and an efficient information system, he loses Colchester, London, St Albans, and … all of Britannia’s gold. 

He also has the well-trained, obedient but enigmatic Mauretanian tribune, Titus working for him. As the soldier battles across tribal lands to capture Keara the reader wonders what his past holds and if he will follow Roman orders when he finally confronts her? 

After heavy fighting the two sisters finally find themselves trapped and have to make heart-wrenching decisions. Caitlyn, the humiliated Iceni queen, chooses to stay and protect her people. Keara will search for the missing Iceni gold and… the man responsible for the attack on her family. She starts a journey that leads her to the edges of the Roman Empire.

What makes Boudica’s Shadow different from the countless other novels written about Boudica?

The story of queen Boudica is an ancient British tragedy: following the death of her husband of the Iceni tribe (present-day Norfolk) Boudica and her two daughters are abused by Roman officers: she is whipped and her daughters raped. It is always said that Boudica’s rebellion began after this. 

However, the question never answered is how such treatment of the Iceni royal family could have happened in the first place? As a client-kingdom of Rome they held Roman citizenship and would initially have been treated with respect. 

For questions of rebellion though, they would have been executed. Under Roman law, however, Roman virgins could not be executed. Is it possible that such a punishment was a warning shot after early signs of disturbance? 

Without giving any spoilers, and without info-dropping, despite doing a PhD for my research, my story gives the legal framework to the uprising, and continues the narrative after the rebellion, as Boudica’s daughter, Keara embarks on her quest for revenge and restitution. 

What was the inspiration for your story?

Of course, as a young child in London I learnt the nursery rhyme of ‘London’s burning, London’s burning.’ And at school we learnt that London burnt down - twice in fact: once in 1666 with the Great Fire of London, and also in 61AD when Boudica’s army destroyed the newly founded Roman trading centre of Londinium. I was curious. 

I was also inspired by the statue of Boudica and her two daughters standing in their spike-wheeled chariot with two horses rearing in opposite directions outside the Houses of Parliament on the River Thames. I always thought it was such an ironic paradox that this statue represents the power of the British Empire yet the woman herself had fought against the colonial power of a foreign empire, that of Rome. And had burnt down London.

What advice do you have for new writers? 

Believe in yourself, but never be arrogant. If it is something you are passionate about then don’t give up. Even when you are criticised and rejected by publishers, agents, other readers, listen to them, then pick yourself up and try again… and again. 

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

Social media. Though I am not good at marketing I had to learn the hard way. I once published a terrible picture of me holding my book. A friend used AI for it, and I was ruthlessly attacked. I don’t know if it helped sales but it did provoke 1,000 comments!

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research. 

Boudica’s propaganda and marketing value. During Elizabeth I’s reign she began her ascent as a feminist, supporting Elizabeth as a defender of England and the people, but during James I’s reign she was attacked as the complete opposite: an unnatural mother and wicked queen. 

Later, she went on to inspire authors, poets, song writers and marketing campaigners (selling cars to business women, supporting women in politics, selling video games). In fact, I was astonished by Boudica’s global reach.  

What was the hardest scene you remember writing? 

It was the rape scene. The action is a pivotal moment in Boudica’s decision to rebel, so it could not be glossed over in a few short words. It had to show the cruel reality of rape, and empathy with the victims, without sensationalising it for the reader. It was very difficult and I had to rewrite it a great number of times.

What are you planning to write next? 

The sequel is already written: Cartimandua’s Shadow. It is coming out in the next few months and relates the events in 69AD. Set during Cartimandua’s reign over the Brigantian confederation in Yorkshire, a client kingdom of Rome, the story unfolds of Keara’s continued resistance against the advance of the Roman line into the British Isles during the political instability of Rome – the year of the four emperors. 

Sam F Hutchins

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About the Author

Sam F. Hutchins was born and grew up in London. She studied archaeology, ancient history and cultural studies at Exeter University, and has worked as a journalist, archaeologist and teacher. She is now a senior lecturer in English literature and creative writing at Orléans University, France. She has published non-fiction work, Boudica’s Odyssey in Early Modern England (Samantha Frénée-Hutchins, Ashgate, 2014), and a number of articles and short stories. Boudica’s Shadow is her first historical novel. The sequel, Cartimandua’s Shadow will be out soon. She is married with three daughters. Find Sam on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X @SamFHutchins and Bluesky @samanthafrenee.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Daughter of Mercia, A haunting Anglo-Saxon dual time novel (Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries, book #1) by Julia Ibbotson

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Echoes of the past resonate across the centuries as Dr Anna Petersen, a medievalist and runologist, is struggling with past trauma and allowing herself to trust again. 

When archaeologist (and Anna's old adversary) Professor Matt Beacham unearths a 6th century seax with a mysterious runic inscription, and reluctantly approaches Anna for help, a chain of events brings the past firmly back into her present. And why does the burial site also contain two sets of bones, one 6th century and the other modern? 

As the past and present intermingle alarmingly, Anna and Matt need to work together to solve the mystery of the seax runes and the seemingly impossible burial, and to discover the truth about the past. 

Tensions rise and sparks fly between Anna and Matt. But how is 6th century Lady Mildryth of Mercia connected to Anna? Can they both be the Daughter of Mercia?

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About the Author

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language / literature / history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. Find out more from Julia's website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com and follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Bluesky ‪@juliaibbotson

Book Launch Spotlight: The Queen's Sister: A vivid historical novel of a life among the wives of King Henry VIII. by Carol McGrath

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A mother, a wife, a woman of substance...

At nineteen, Elizabeth Seymour is already a mother, has been recently widowed, and seen her Queen, Anne Boleyn, lose her life. Against the wishes of her father, she heads North, away from Wulf Hall and the court in London to Yorkshire, determined to establish a new beginning as a landowner and business woman. 

As her family in Wiltshire curry favour with King Henry, aided by Thomas Cromwell, Elizabeth makes Kexby Manor her home, finding loyalty among her people there.

Soon, news comes to Elizabeth of the King's desires for her sister, Jane and while her brother, Edward, encourages her own betrothal to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas. 

It is a happy second marriage for Elizabeth, but it brings unwanted involvement in the dark plots and secrecy of the court, while in the wider country, changes in religious practice threaten to alter the traditions and values of all she has known...

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About the Author

Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece.  Find our more from Carol's website: www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk and find her on Facebook, Twitter @CarolMcGrath and Bluesky @swanneck.bsky.social