Book Launch Guest Post ~ Faithful Traitor, by Samantha Wilcoxson

Available for Pre-Order on Amazon US and Amazon UK

Margaret Pole is no stranger to fortune's wheel. From her childhood as firstborn of the heir apparent of England, she was brought low as the daughter of a traitor. After years of turmoil as the Tudor dynasty made its roots, Margaret finds favor with her cousin, King Henry VIII. Will the remnant of the York dynasty thrive under this tempestuous king or will Margaret discover that there is a price to pay for having an excess of royal blood? 

When I decided to write about Elizabeth of York in Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen, it was not with the intention of creating a series. However, as I lost myself in the story of this quiet yet strong woman, I realized just how fascinating it was to look at the stories of the remaining Plantagenets under Tudor rule.

Elizabeth is foremost in this group as the daughter of Plantagenet king Edward IV. Her decision to be devoted to the first Tudor king, her husband Henry VII, rather than press her own claim or that of a male relative was vital to history as we know it. The Wars of the Roses came to an end, and the Tudor dynasty brought relative peace.

But a Plantagenet remnant remained. Margaret Pole was the cousin of Elizabeth of York, through their fathers who were sons of Richard, Duke of York. Her story is not one that novelists have focused upon, despite her intriguing position as close friend of Catherine of Aragon, governess of Princess Mary, and mother of the famous Cardinal Reginald Pole. Before I had completed Elizabeth’s story, I knew that I would have to continue with Margaret’s.

Though they have much in common, these women have some significant differences as well. Margaret is a complex character, well aware of the shadow of treason that curses her family but anxious to see her family raised to positions that their royal blood deserves. Fortune’s wheel turns erratically throughout her life, seeing her alternatively raised as Countess of Salisbury and branded a traitor like her father and brother before her.

Besides the inevitable drama between the tempestuous Henry VIII and his York cousins, there is also the question of religion. When Henry sets aside his first wife, Margaret is horrified on several levels. She longs to support both Catherine and Mary, is devoted to the Catholic faith, and has a growing brood of children and grandchildren to consider. How to stay faithful to her God and her king becomes a question she struggles with.

In Faithful Traitor, Margaret is a strong, independent woman who finds that, despite her best efforts, there is a price to pay for having an excess of royal blood.

Samantha Wilcoxson

# # #

About the Author

Samantha Wilcoxson is an American writer and history enthusiast. Her 2015 novel, Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen, features Elizabeth of York and was selected as an Editors’ Choice by the Historical Novel Society. This novel is followed by the recent release of Faithful Traitor, which carries on the story of the Plantagenet remnant in Tudor times with Margaret Pole. The Tudor England trilogy will be completed with the story of Queen Mary. Samantha has also published two middle grade novels, Over the Deep: A Titanic Adventure and No Such Thing as Perfect. Each of these are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. Samantha lives on a small lake in Michigan with her husband, three children, two dogs, and two cats. This crew provides plenty of good times and writing inspiration. When she is not reading or writing, Samantha enjoys travelling and learning about new places. 

Find out more at her blog http://samanthawilcoxson.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter @carpe_librum.