Mastodon The Writing Desk: March 2025

18 March 2025

Book Review: Mary Tudor: Queen of France, by Amy McElroy


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, lived a remarkable life. A princess, duchess and queen, she was known as the English Rose for her beauty. Mary Tudor, Queen of France, aims to explore the life of one of the few who stood up to Henry VIII and lived to tell the tale. 

Amy McElroy's new book, Mary Tudor: Queen of France provides a compelling and spotlight on a woman inevitably overshadowed by her infamous elder brother, King Henry VIII (and often mistaken for Henry's eldest daughter, Queen Mary Tudor).

This biography delves into the multifaceted life of Princess Mary Tudor, painting a vivid portrait of a princess who navigates the turbulent waters of Tudor politics and personal desires.

I read this book during Women’s History Month, and particularly like the way Amy McElroy captures the complexities of Mary's life, highlighting her resilience and determination in a world dominated by powerful men.

Amy meticulously reconstructs Mary's journey, from her politically motivated marriage to the aging King Louis XII of France to her life as the widowed Queen of France. Her writing style is accessible and engaging, making the book suitable for both history enthusiasts and casual readers.

Mary Tudor: Queen of France is a well-researched account of a remarkable woman who deserves greater recognition. Amy McElroy has successfully brought Mary Tudor's story to life, providing a fresh perspective on a fascinating period in English history.

Tony Riches

(A review copy was kindly provided by Pen & Sword History.)

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About the Author

Amy McElroy was born in Liverpool and lived there until she moved to the Midlands for university where she studied Criminal Justice followed by Post-Grad Law. Amy is currently a civil servant, working full-time alongside her writing. She also has a blog where she reviews historical fiction and non-fiction. Amy’s first book, Educating the Tudors, was published in January 2023 and focuses on the education of all classes, the subjects they learned and who taught them. Her second book, Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era is out February 2024 and she is currently writing her third book, Mary Tudor, Queen of France. Amy also has a fourth, Desiderius Erasmus, in the pipeline, with a few more ideas up her sleeves for the future.
Amy enjoys seeing her family back in Liverpool, especially her little furry assistant in the form of cavapoo Cooper, and visiting her dad in Spain, especially in the summer. You can find out more about Amy at her blog - https://amymcelroy.blog/ and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AmyMc_Books

15 March 2025

Book Launch ~ Postal Intelligence: The Tassis Family and Communications Revolution in Early Modern Europe, by Rachel Midura


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Postal Intelligence connects and situates histories of the post and government intelligence alongside print technology and state power in the wider context of the early modern communications revolution. 

In the sixteenth century, postal services became central to domestic governance and foreign policy enterprises, extended government reach and surveillance, and offered new control over the public sphere.

Rachel Midura focuses on the Tassis family, members of which served as official postmasters to the dukes of Milan, the pope, Spanish kings, and Holy Roman emperors.

Using administrative records and family correspondence, she follows the Tassis family, their agents, and their rivals as their influence expanded from northern Italy across Europe. 

Postal Intelligence shows how postmasters and postmistresses were key players in early modern diplomacy, commerce, and journalism, whose ultimate success depended on both administrative ingenuity and strategic ambiguity.

"Rachel Midura provides an excellent and substantial intervention on the role of communications in state formation in early modern history and beyond, using an impressive range of archival sources. Postal Intelligence addresses important questions concerning public and private, the communications revolution, and the intersection of family and state affairs." ~ Catherine Fletcher, author of The Roads to Rome

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About the Author

Rachel Midura is an Assistant Professor of Digital and Early Modern European History at Virginia Tech. With a PhD from  Stanford University, she was a senior graduate fellow at the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis. Her research approached the seventeenth century as an information age created by the printing press and the European postal network. Find out more from Rachel's website https://rachelmidura.com/ and find her on Bluesky @rmidura.bsky.social

11 March 2025

Book Launch Spotlight: The Shadow on the Bridge: A gripping and atmospheric historical novel from Clare Marchant


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

‘You must forever watch your back,’ I spoke the words clearly, though he could not hear me. ‘Come what may, I shall avenge my brother’s death.’

Now: When Sarah’s summoned by her godmother to remote Norfolk, she doesn’t want to go. Crossing the bridges where the two rivers meet, said to be haunted by the ghost of a little boy, a large Tudor house looms in front of her. And Sarah’s instantly reminded her of the summer when she last visited. The summer she would like to forget. Which left her unable to ever move forward… Can a person ever recover from the loss of a sibling?

1571: Anne Howard, newly-made countess of Arundel, has also lost a sibling. And been dragged from the relative safety of her home in remote Norfolk to London, by her overbearing, manipulative, new father-in-law Thomas Howard; the very person she suspects of killing her beloved only brother. The Howards have greater secrets than this though. Secrets that will lead Anne to a tragedy that will echo down the ages…

When Sarah finds a mysterious book of poems in a hidden chamber of her godmother’s house, she is drawn into Anne’s story. Perhaps the mystery will take her mind off her own loss? But – as the flood waters begin to rise under the bridges – is Sarah laying ghosts to rest, or bringing truths to the surface that should stay beneath?

‘Totally gripping and atmospheric… Breathtaking and beautifully written… Will stay with the reader long after the last page.’ Bestselling author of The Witch’s Tree, Elena Collins

‘A haunting tale of one woman’s struggle to be independent at a time when strong women were seen as a threat and dealt with accordingly… Gripped me from the first page and refused to let go.’ Bestselling author, Jenni Keer

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About the Author

Growing up in Surrey, Clare always dreamed of being a writer. Instead, she followed a career in IT, before moving to Norfolk for a quieter life and re-training as a jeweller. Now writing full time, she lives with her husband and the youngest two of her six children. Weekends are spent exploring local castles and monastic ruins, or visiting the nearby coast. Find out more at Clare's author page and find her on Facebook and Twitter @ClareMarchant


 


8 March 2025

Special Guest Interview with Rebecca Wilson, Author of Georgian Feminists: Ten 18th Century Women Ahead of their Time


Available from Amazon UK 

and pre-order from Amazon US

 
Tell us about yourself and your latest book

I am Rebecca Wilson. I am a writer and historian from the wilds of West Cumbria. I have two published non-fiction books, Tudor Feminists, published in 2024, and Georgian Feminists, published March 2025. I also have Victorian Feminists coming out early in 2026. They focus on women of that period who dared to stand out, have opinions, fought against the patriarchal society they lived in, or even followed their dreams.  

In these dark times, it is even more important that these women’s stories are told. Women’s voice is being silenced, and dismissed, and these books stand as a testament to women’s endurance, fight, and contribution over the centuries. 

I thought long and hard about how I approach my research. As I started a lot of my research during the Covid pandemic, and I live so far from physical National Archives, larger libraries, and even stately homes, I have focussed a lot of my research online. 

The National Archives have a great deal of transcribed documents online, and this has been invaluable to access letters and other documents that would have been impossible for me otherwise. Also, my local libraries have been a wonderful resource to order up books and reaching out to stately homes about their own archives. 

What is your preferred writing routine?

My writing routine is simple. I set myself a minimum word count for each day. I am a stay-at-home mother, so after taking my son to school, I settle down with a cup of coffee and fire up my laptop. I work for up to three hours, which sometimes is enough to get my minimum word count done, but I sometimes need to continue later in the day. If I am ‘in the zone’ and words are flowing, I carry on until it is time to pick my son up again at home time. I am strict with myself on the minimum word count and did not have a single day off during the writing of any of my books. 

What was the hardest aspect of writing?

I have found the hardest part of writing is focus. I do tend to get side-tracked down research rabbit-holes. I have to keep reminding myself to get back to the subject I am meant to be looking into. Some days it is hard to write, but I have dogged determination to push myself to do my minimum. 

 I am fascinated by the lives of ordinary people throughout history, and feel drawn to uncover how people lived, worked, and died. Perhaps this is because I grew up working class, in a former mining town, as the direct descendant of Irish immigrants. I am proud of them, working hard, and choosing to make a new life for themselves and their family.  

What advice do you have for new writers?
 
My advice for new writers, is this, write. You need to keep practicing at something you want to improve on. Get your draft written, no matter how rough, and then tweak it. You need to bring it into existence before you can make it pretty. If you write, you’re a writer. The blank page is difficult to beat, so just write, and keep writing.  

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

As well as my online promotions of my books and the amazing women I feature, I have done a series of talks at libraries throughout Cumbria. I am starting another library tour for Georgian Feminists May 2025 and taking part in the Regency Festival in Warwickshire in May 2026. Local book shops and libraries carry my books too. I do a lot of leg work to promote my books and travel a lot. 

 

I have now finished writing my Feminists trilogy and feel like a change. I am currently writing children’s stories for Junior readers. My son is coming up ten years old, but since he was very young, I told him bedtime stories, that I make up. I am beginning to write some of these stories down and hope to find a publisher to pick them up in the coming years.  

What are you planning to write next?
  
Although I have written three non-fiction books, my heart belongs to fiction. I like to think I have a lot of children’s books to share, and even perhaps an adult historical fiction book or two. Fiction is one of the oldest forms of entertainment, from early humans telling stories around a fire to explain the existence of the stars and sun, to curling up on the sofa with a good book, we all need stories.  

 Rebecca Wilson

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About the Author

Rebecca Wilson is a writer and historian from West Cumbria. She is a former history and English teacher who enjoys reading and acting. Her first non-fiction book Tudor Feminists was published in 2024, and Georgian Feminists in 2025. Her third and final non -fiction book, Victorian Feminists, is out early in 2026.  You can find Rebecca on Instagram @tudorghostmammy.

 

7 March 2025

Book Launch Spotlight: The Wordsmith's Guide to Creating Compelling Characters (The Wordsmith's Guides) by Elizabeth M. Hurst


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US


Bring your characters to life and captivate your readers with unforgettable personalities.


The Wordsmith's Guide to Creating Compelling Characters is the ultimate guide for novelists who want to craft complex, believable characters that leap off the page.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

Develop rich backstories that drive authentic behaviour.

Create dynamic arcs that resonate with readers.

Balance flaws and strengths to craft relatable heroes and villains.

Write realistic dialogue and interactions that reveal personality.

Whether you’re a new writer or a seasoned author, this book is packed with actionable advice and insights to help you create characters that stand out in any genre. Unlock the secrets to writing protagonists, antagonists, and supporting casts that will leave your audience hooked.

Transform your storytelling today—because great characters make unforgettable stories.

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About the Author

Elizabeth M Hurst was born and bred in the picturesque harbour town of Whitehaven in the northwest of England, where the long, wet winters moulded her into a voracious reader of fiction to escape the dismal weather. Having started writing around the age of 40, she later set about creating a freelance editing and proofreading business, EMH Editorial Services. In 2018, she quit the corporate world and concentrated her energy towards her love of the written word. Elizabeth now lives with her partner in the warm and sunny south of France. Find out more at her website https://elizabethhurstauthor.com/ and find Elizabeth on Facebook

Blog Tour: The Welsh Warrior's Inheritance: Welsh Warrior Book 2, by Arianwen Nunn


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

It is 1109 and the Welsh warrior and firebrand, Owain ap Cadwgan abducts Princess Nest from the castle she shares with her children and her husband, Gerald of Windsor. King Henry of England, furious that Nest, who is also his lover and mother of his son, begins a manhunt to find Owain and return Nest to her husband. 

In Gwynydd King Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife risk everything to hide them and get them to safety in Ireland despite the efforts of Gronwy ap Owain, Angharad's vicious brother who would like to see Gruffydd and Owain dead.

King Henry uses Bishop Richard to start kinship warfare in Wales then declares war against the Welsh determining to exterminate them all. Can Gruffydd and his family survive the greatest army ever led against Wales?

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About the Author

Arianwen Nunn was born in Wales but now lives in Australia and writes historical fiction based on the Welsh kingdoms in the Middle Ages. Arianwen has written a series of three books, 'The Welsh Traitor's Daughter', 'The Welsh Warrior's Inheritance' and 'Bards Sing of Love and War' which follow the lives of King Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife Angharad and their family. She has also written two children's books, 'The Welsh Warrior's Wonder' and 'Where Dragons Still Roar'. Find out more from Arianwen's website: www.arianwennunn.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter: @Arianwen_Nunn

5 March 2025

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Kingbreaker (II): A Star and Streams, by David Pilling


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1470. The Lancastrian king, Henry VI, has been restored to his throne. John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, is now Lord High Constable of England. He and his allies, Warwick 'the Kingmaker' and the Duke of Clarence, now rule England. The mad king, meanwhile, is ruled by his formidable queen, Margaret of Anjou.

The Yorkist cause is far from lost. Edward IV has escaped abroad, where he plans to return and reclaim his throne. Soon he sails for England to rally his supporters. The fragile peace of England is shattered, and the weary kingdom once again plunged into civil war.

Defeated at Barnet, Oxford is forced to flee to Scotland and then to France, where he begs the French king for aid. He collects a fleet and turns to piracy, attacking Yorkist ships in the Channel, before descending on Cornwall. There, he raises the banner of Lancaster once more...

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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

4 March 2025

Book Launch Guest Post by Chris Thorndycroft, Author of Defender of the Wall: Dragon of the North trilogy


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Britain, 390 A.D: As a barbarian prince fostered by a Roman family below Hadrian's Wall, Cunedag's loyalties have always been conflicted. His own people despise the Romans with a passion, yet he has grown to manhood among them and is now a cavalry officer stationed on the Wall.

Back to the Beginning … Writing a Prequel Trilogy

In 2016, I wrote my first historical fiction trilogy. It had been about ten years in the making and was originally supposed to be something completely different. 
During my last year of university, I became somewhat obsessed with the legend of King Arthur. I don’t really remember how or why. I’d known about the legends since primary school and had never been particularly interested in them, but something clicked in 2005, and I got sucked in. I’d like to say that living in North Wales (where I was studying at the time) played some part in my fascination, but I didn’t realise that Wales was the cultural homeland of the Arthurian legend until after I had moved away. 

Maybe I was fed up with studying for exams and needed some avenue of escapist fantasy, but I think the 2004 film King Arthur played a large part. There was something about taking a medieval romance back to its roots and looking for the real story within that appealed to me. Now, having learned a lot about the period in the years since, I’m not saying that the 2004 movie isn’t ludicrously inaccurate Hollywood fluff, but it does have a certain gritty atmosphere, not to mention the fabulous soundtrack (which I still listen to when writing). 

I wanted to write my own realistic Arthurian story set in the 5th century. Hardly a new idea; many authors have done the same, perhaps most famously Bernard Cornwell. But, as with any legend, there are infinite ways to interpret it, and every author has something unique to bring to the round (ha ha) table. 
The more I delved into the time period, the more fascinated I became with the Saxons who were traditionally Arthur’s enemies. The story of Hengest and Horsa who arrived in Britain with three ships and how the wicked King Vortigern fell in love with Hengest’s daughter and gifted Kent to them (much to the consternation of the rest of the British leadership) was a heck of a story. I was astounded to discover that England had its own Romulus and Remus-style foundation legend which I had never been taught in school. 

My Arthurian retelling took a spot on the backburner while I mapped out a ‘prequel trilogy’ which told of how Arthur’s enemies gained a foothold in Britain, thus necessitating a need for a British hero to rise. My Hengest and Horsa trilogy was published in 2016, and I returned to my Arthurian retelling, labelling it the ‘Arthur of the Cymry’ trilogy which I completed in 2019. 

I thought I was done with the 5th century and its various warring factions and focused on other areas of interest (namely my childhood obsession with pirates and Robin Hood). Several novels later, I still felt that there was a part of my Arthurian story missing. Side characters in my two trilogies kept urging me to write their stories and the biggest story of all – how Roman Britain collapsed – demanded to be told. I knew I had more books to write, and the idea of expanding my six-book series into something larger took root. 

One character loomed large above all others. In my story, I had made Arthur the grandson of a real 5th century warlord called Cunedag (or Cunedda, to use the more modern spelling). This Cunedag hailed from the Votadini tribe who lived north of Hadrian’s Wall but seemed to be allies of Rome. At some point in the early 400’s, Cunedag and his nine sons were sent to North Wales in order to expel the Irish who had settled there. After much fighting, Cunedag reclaimed the area for the Britons and founded the royal dynasty of Gwynedd. 

Here was another legend that sucked me in, all the more so because it was tied to my version of King Arthur’s story and was the foundation legend for Gwynedd where I had studied all those years ago. It wasn’t long before I had mapped out a new trilogy set before both the Hengest and Horsa and the Arthur of the Cymry trilogies, expanding my tale to a nine-book series. Cunedag’s story is entwined with the fascinating events surrounding the decline of Roman Britain, the rebellion of Constantine III and the rise of tyrants like Vortigern. It provided me with the perfect opportunity to tell the stories of several side characters in my other trilogies as well as set the stage for the Anglo-Saxon migrations spearheaded by Hengest and Horsa.
 
Book 1 – Defender of the Wall – tells of the youthful adventures of Cunedag who, fostered by a Roman family below the Wall, becomes a cavalry officer defending Rome’s northern frontier. The following books will see him fight for his people as an independent king during the fall of Roman Britain and his plight to build a kingdom for his heirs in North Wales. 

Chris Thorndycroft

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About the Author

Chris Thorndycroft’s writing career began with short horror stories which appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Dark Moon Digest and American Nightmare. His first novel under his own name was A Brother's Oath, book one in the Hengest and Horsa trilogy, which deals with the beginning of Anglo-Saxon England. He has always had a passion for historical fiction, kindled at the age of six when he first saw Errol Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). His books are deeply grounded in real history but often reimagine legends such as King Arthur and Robin Hood, weaving them in with historical events. He currently lives in Norway with his wife and two kids. Find out more from his website https://christhorndycroft.wordpress.com/ and find Chris on Facebook and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/christhorndycroft.bsky.social

1 March 2025

Book Launch Spotlight: The King's Spy: A Tudor Tale, by David Pilling


Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1485. Henry Tudor has invaded Britain at the head of a scratch force of exiles and foreign mercenaries. His aim is to topple the king, Richard III, and seize the crown.

Henry's cousin, William Griffith of Penrhyn, is forced to make a choice. Support the invader, or stay loyal to the king? When he tries to ride out the storm, William is hunted down by Richard's men and sentenced to death.

After the unexpected Tudor victory at Bosworth, William is given a chance to prove himself. The new king, Henry VII, sends his cousin to Burgundy. His orders are to spy on the court of King Richard's sister, Margaret, and uncover Yorkist plots against the fragile Tudor regime.

To make sure of his loyalty, Henry confiscates William's title and lands. Stripped of wealth and power, the Tudor spy is forced to rely on his wits to survive. Luckily - whether scuttling for cover, engaged in desperate duels, or thrown into the front line of battle - William is nothing if not a survivor...

THE KING’S SPY: A TUDOR TALE is by David Pilling, author of the Leader of Battles series, Caesar's Sword, The White Hawk, Longsword and many others novels, short stories 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 Twitter @RobeH2 and on Bluesky @robeh1979.bsky.social