The first biography of Lettice Knollys, one of the
most prominent women of the Elizabethan era
I'm pleased to welcome historian and author Nicola Tallis to the Writing Desk:
Tell us about your latest book
Elizabeth’s
Rival: The Tumultuous Tale of Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester was released
in November 2017, and I have to say I had a brilliant time writing it! For me
it was kind of like the follow on from my first book, and though the link isn’t
immediately obvious it’s very much there. It was also quite a challenge, as
although I work in the Tudor period, the Elizabethans are slightly later than
what I’m used to – so it was actually really exciting to be able to work on
something completely new, and research a person who’s never had a full-scale
biography before.
What is your preferred writing routine?
I’d like to say Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, but most writers will agree
that it never turns out that way! I normally start writing at around 7.30am –
sometimes earlier, and I can finish any time from around 6pm to 2am. It really
depends on how entrenched you are in your writing – or how close your deadline
is! Recently I’ve been writing seven days a week, but ideally I’d cut that down
to five. My problem is that I just can’t leave it alone – writing becomes very
addictive!
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
First of all choose a subject that inspires you and that you are
passionate about – you can be working on one book for a number of years, so if
it’s not about a topic that interests you then it’s pointless. Also, don’t give
up – one thing I’ve learned is that you have to be determined and be able to
roll with the punches – unless you’re extremely fortunate you’re bound to
experience some. Being able to learn from feedback is crucial, and will make
you a better writer in the long term.
What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?
Social media is obviously a huge platform, but my favourite thing ever
is events – I really love having the opportunity to speak to people about my
books, and nothing beats that face to face contact. I’ve been very fortunate to
have done some events at some wonderful venues, and I’ve also got lots coming
up – I think that when an audience can see how passionate you are about your
subject it sparks their interest, too. And that, after all, is the whole point.
Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research
Well, for starters I was amazed that nobody had fully written about
Lettice before – it’s such a dramatic story, and I was very fortunate to have
had the opportunity to tell it. But I was really surprised about how my view of
Elizabeth I changed throughout the course of my research – I definitely saw her
in a very different light.
What was the hardest scene you remember writing?
The execution of Lettice’s son, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Even
though I didn’t have much empathy for him personally, and we have no record as
to Lettice’s feelings, I really felt her loss – the numerous surviving letters
she wrote to him convey the strength of her maternal feelings towards him, and
to lose him in such violent circumstances must have been utterly heartbreaking.
Essex was the last of Lettice’s son’s, and I really feel like with him died all
of her hopes – from then on she led a very quiet life in the country.
What are you planning to write
next?
I’m just putting the finishing touches to my PhD – All the Queen’s
Jewels – and I’ve also been working on another book for the past year. But as
to the subject, for the time being it’s a closely guarded secret – all will
soon be revealed!
Nicola Tallis
British Historian Nicola Tallis graduated from Bath Spa University with a first class BA Hons. degree in History in 2011, and from Royal Holloway College, University of London in 2013 with an MA in Public History and her PhD from the University of Winchester. Nicola also worked as a historical researcher, most notably for Sir Ranulph Fiennes whilst he was working on his 2014 book, Agincourt: My Family, the Battle and the Fight for France. Find out more at Nicola's website http://nicolatallis.com/ and find her on Facebook and Twitter @NicolaTallis
Nicola Tallis
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About the Author
I'm halfway through this book and I'm enjoying it very much. I didn't know much about Lettice other than she secretly married Robert Dudley,angering Elizabeth I. This book fills in details I would never have known.
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