Special Guest Interview with Graham Watson, Author of The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: Her Last Years and the Scandal That Made Her

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Charlotte Brontë had a life as seemingly dramatic as her heroine Jane Eyre. Turning her back on her tragic past, Charlotte reinvented herself as an acclaimed author, a mysterious celebrity, and a passionate lover. Doing so meant burning many bridges, but her sudden death left her friends and admirers with more questions than answers.

I'm pleased to welcome author Graham Watson to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book 

My new book, published by Pegasus, is The Invention of Charlotte Brontë. It delves into the last five years of Charlotte Brontë’s turbulent life and the extraordinary, and not particularly well-known, events that followed her death when everyone around her battled to control how history would remember her. Out of this battle came one of the most contested biographies in the English language – Elizabeth Gaskell’s The Life of Charlotte Brontë published in 1857, just two years after Charlotte’s death. It was so controversial when it was published it had to be banned and rewritten to avoid Gaskell’s publishers being sued.

Since then historians have generally treated it with caution and consider it unreliable. But my re-examination of the evidence, including Gaskell’s research methods and her correspondence with her publisher as they acted to defuse the scandal, shows she was forced into making a false confession not because her claims about Brontë and her circle were incorrect – but to prevent her publisher from being taken to court to fight a case they could not win. This recalibrates our view of how the Brontë myth began, not in hearsay or deliberate myth-making as has been assumed, but from the clumsy handling of a Victorian PR disaster.

What is your preferred writing routine? 

While I don’t have a set routine, or writing habits, I find it creatively liberating to write my first drafts in pencil on loose sheets of paper. Typing them up creates distance from the material, generally the quality most needed when we edit.

What advice do you have for new writers? 

Start writing your book today. Avoid all the phrases you’ve heard before. Don’t try to write like your favourite author – but do what you can to understand what they’ve done to become your favourite author.

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

Connecting with readers on the socials, particularly Instagram has been a gift.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research 

There was so much that surprised me! Once you take on the task of writing non-fiction about a figure as well-known as Charlotte Brontë – a genuinely iconic figure, someone who is both influential and beloved – you must accept the responsibility of telling the truth about them, regardless of public opinion. That meant refusing to excuse or exonerate any of the people I write about – whether it be Charlotte Brontë’s volatile father, her protective friends, or Brontë herself – and to present what the written records tell us. That’s shocked people.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing? 

I knew I would have to write about Charlotte Brontë’s death. When it came to doing it, I was surprised how much it affected me. Now readers are telling me that scene made them cry. I cried first.

What are you planning to write next? 

More about the Brontës!

Graham Watson

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About the Author

Graham Watson was born in Scotland. He studied English Literature and Language at the University of Glasgow and has published a number of papers about the Brontës in Brontë Studies.

The Invention of Charlotte Brontë is his first book. You can find Graham on Instagram and Twitter @GrahamWatson73

Catherine of Braganza’s Introduction to the Decadent Stuart Restoration Court – A guest post by Susan Abernethy, Author of Charles II’s Portuguese Queen

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Catherine of Braganza has regularly been referred to as ‘the forgotten queen’ and there is much truth in this statement. This new biography places Catherine within the context of the history of Portugal and their seaborne empire, and the strong political and commercial ties between England and Portugal dating to the mid-fourteenth century which played a key role in the culmination of the Marriage Treaty of 1661. Her legacy lives on in her dowry, specifically the port of Bombay which allowed England to become a global empire, introducing many everyday items into European culture.

 

Catherine had a rough time when she arrived in England to marry the Stuart King Charles II. First of all, the Portuguese court was solemn and subject to rigid etiquette, and she had been given a convent education, supervised by her mother. It’s unclear if she lived in the convent, was taken there for instruction or the nuns came to her, but she grew up very religious and dedicated to her Catholic faith. She clearly had not been tutored in politics or governance or how to cultivate supporters. To be thrown into the decadent atmosphere of the Stuart Restoration court had to have been extremely difficult for her.

Catherine had a hard time with the courtiers swarming around her making demands and she didn’t like the food. She did not drink liquor and probably drank water which wasn’t a good thing to do. She became ill and withdrew from court for a while, seeking refuge in her chapel. But the Portuguese ambassador eventually convinced her to join in court festivities.  

One of the first signs of trouble in the marriage occurred when Lady Castlemaine, Charles’ premier mistress at the time, insisted on being given a position in Catherine’s court. We don’t know how Catherine first learned about Castlemaine. Perhaps her astute mother Queen Luisa, or someone in her Portuguese entourage, told the queen about Castlemaine. Or she just observed Charles’ behaviour and figured it out. When Charles first introduced his mistress to Catherine by surprise in a crowded room, Catherine had a nosebleed and fainted, which infuriated and embarrassed Charles. 

Lady Castlemaine, Charles’ premier mistress 

at the time of his marriage to Catherine

The queen refused to allow Castlemaine a position which was perfectly within her rights, and Charles’ lord chancellor, Henry Hyde did his best to convince Catherine to accept this state of affairs. But Catherine had a temper and expected to be treated according to her station in life and adamantly refused, even going so far as to threaten to return to Lisbon. Charles dismissed all of Catherine’s Portuguese servants except for one elderly lady-in-waiting and her Portuguese priests. And people in the court began to shun Catherine.  

Just at this juncture, during an impasse, Catherine’s mother-in-law, Dowager Queen Henrietta Maria arrived from France for a visit. Henrietta Maria, very pleased that Charles had married a Catholic, adored Catherine. The two women shared worshipping together and spent many hours in conversation. It is highly likely Henrietta Maria convinced Catherine to accept her husband’s infidelities and concentrate on having an heir.

Catherine had the wherewithal to make a deliberate decision to accept Lady Castlemaine and gave her the coveted position in her household. With the encouragement of her mother-in-law, as well as her husband, Catherine resolved to learn to dance and began to participate in court functions. She loved her husband, and they got along well together although she did complain about her treatment by the mistresses.

Susan Abernethy 

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About the Author

Susan Abernethy’s passion for history dates back fifty years and led her to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is currently a member of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, the Society for Renaissance Studies and the Historical Association. Her work has appeared on several historical websites and in magazines and includes guest appearances on historical podcasts. Her blog, The Freelance History Writer, has continuously published over five hundred historical articles since 2012, with an emphasis on European, Tudor, Medieval, Renaissance, Early Modern and women’s history. She is currently working on her third non-fiction book. You can find Susan on Twitter and  Bluesky @susanabernethy2.bsky.social

Special Guest Post by Rosemary Griggs, Author of Mistress of Dartington Hall (Daughters of Devon Book 3)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1587. England is at war with Spain. The people of Devon wait in terror for King Philip of Spain’s mighty armada to unleash untold devastation on their land. Roberda, daughter of a French Huguenot leader, has been managing the Dartington estate in her estranged husband Gawen’s absence. She has gained the respect of the staff and tenants who now look to her to lead them through these dark times.

I’ve been researching Devon’s history for years, focusing on one family — the Champernownes. The sixteenth century Champernownes were much more than simple rural gentry. Many of them served at the royal court. 

Within their ranks we find soldiers, seafarers, adventurers and courtiers; a woman renowned for her beauty and learning who was lady-in-waiting and close friend of Queen Katherine Parr; the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh; and Queen Elizabeth’s childhood governess. Yet the Champernownes remain relatively unknown beyond the West country.

I’ve made it my mission to bring the stories of the Champernowne women out of the shadows. Some of them have left a light footprint on the historical record. I’ve had to delve deep to find them. One who has left her mark is Lady Gabrielle Roberda Montgomery, known as Roberda, who married into the family. 

During my research, I’ve become fascinated by the particular challenges she faced when she left her home in war-torn France for a new life in South Devon.

Sir Arthur Champernowne, Queen Elizabeth’s Vice Admiral of the Fleet of the West, was the first of the family to make his home at Dartington Hall, the magnificent medieval manor house built for John Holland, the half-brother of King Richard II.

Roberda, the daughter of the Count of Montgomery — the man who killed the King of France in a jousting accident and became a Huguenot general in the French Wars of Religion — married Sir Arthur’s son, ambitious and volatile Gawen. Roberda’s early life and her difficult reception in Devon are the subject of my novel, The Dartington Bride.

Mistress of Dartington Hall begins in 1587, when King Philip of Spain is poised to launch his mighty armada. Devon is on a knife edge.The threat of invasion is just as real as that southern England faced during World War II, and the South West is in the front line. 

Early intelligence suggests that the Spanish fleet will make landfall on the Devon coast. Everyone knows that last-minute, desperate efforts to prepare are unlikely to hold back the wave of well-trained, ruthless Spanish soldiers who will march through the land.

Like many high-born women, Roberda has picked up the reins and managed the extensive estate and household successfully in her husband’s absence. She has earned the respect of the people of Dartington who look to her for leadership during perilous times. 

Drawing on all her reserves of strength and determination, Roberda rallies them to face the onslaught. But when Gawen returns everything changes. Roberda must cede power to her husband and negotiate a difficult marriage amidst a national crisis.

While researching this turbulent time, it was easy to find details of the actions of Spanish commanders, naval battles, and the significant roles played by the English officers, including Drake and Admiral Howard. 

I could follow the fortunes of Devon’s Deputy Lieutenants and find out what Gawen’s cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh, was doing as England scrambled to shore up its defences. However, I found nothing in the record to tell me how the women of England fared while the invasion became more and more likely.

Some wealthy women of Elizabethan Devon may have retreated to safer estates further inland, while others, like Roberda, opted to stay at home to face the invading army alongside their tenants and estate workers. In Mistress of Dartington Hall, I have allowed her to adopt a sort of ‘Blitz spirit’. 

Drawing on her childhood experiences in France, where she followed her father on the campaign, she manages food supplies against the likely need for evacuation, prepares medicines to care for the injured, and provides better clothing for the men called to the muster. Gawen joins his cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh and his friend, Sir Francis Drake as Devon prepares.

In the event, the Spanish commanders make a catastrophic error. They sail on up the English Channel, chased by Drake, who famously launches fire ships to split up their formation. A strong wind ultimately defeats King Philip’s mighty Armada, driving them northwards and around the coast of Scotland.

Although King Philip’s attempt failed in 1588, he did not give up on his ‘enterprise of England’. 

The threat of invasion remained real well into the 1590s. Against this turbulent background, and amid growing financial pressures, Roberda must navigate unpredictable events in a world that rarely offers women control over their destinies.

Yet elite women’s roles were slowly evolving. Marriage remained the glue that welded together mighty families, increasing their status and wealth. A woman’s primary purpose in life was still to produce an heir and spares. However, the advent of the printing press and growing interest in Humanist thinking meant many women received a broader education than their medieval counterparts. 

This went beyond a smattering of law and accounting, in order to manage the books while husbands were absent. Women often joined their son’s lessons with tutors and read the classics. Some, like Devon woman, Anne Dowriche, who gets a brief mention in Roberda’s story, even wrote and published literary works.

Education opened up new ideas for women like Roberda; boundaries were gradually shifting. In a strong marriage, no doubt couples negotiated these changes with ease. But in less stable relationships, women like Roberda must have found it much more difficult. She must weather many storms if she is to remain Mistress of Dartington Hall and secure her children’s inheritance.

Rosemary Griggs

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About the Author

Author and speaker Rosemary Griggs has been researching Devon's sixteenth-century history for years. She has discovered a cast of fascinating characters and an intriguing network of families whose influence stretched far beyond the West Country. She loves telling the stories of the forgotten women of history — the women beyond the royal court; wives, sisters, daughters and mothers who played their part during those tumultuous Tudor years: the Daughters of Devon. Her novel A Woman of Noble Wit tells the story of Katherine Champernowne, Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother, and features many of the county’s well-loved places. The Dartington Bride, published March 2024, is the extraordinary tale of Lady Gabrielle Roberda Montgomery who travelled from France to Elizabethan England to marry into the prominent and well-connected Champernowne family. Rosemary creates and wears sixteenth-century clothing, a passion which complements her love for bringing the past to life through a unique blend of theatre, history and re-enactment. Her appearances and talks for museums and community groups all over the West Country draw on her extensive research into sixteenth-century Devon, Tudor life and Tudor dress, particularly Elizabethan. Out of costume, Rosemary leads heritage tours of the gardens at Dartington Hall, a fourteenth-century manor house and now a a historic visitor destination, events venue and thriving community of businesses, colleges and more. You can find out more on Rosemary’s website:  https://rosemarygriggs.co.uk/ and follow her on Bluesky and Twitter @RAGriggsauthor

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Queen and the Countess, by Anne O'Brien

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The Welsh Marches, 1301: Strong-willed heiress Johane de Geneville is married to Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, at just fifteen years old.

Soon Johane finds herself swept up in a world of treacherous court politics and dangerous secrets as her husband deposes Edward II and rules England alongside Queen Isabella.

Yet when Roger is accused of treason, she is robbed of her freedom and must survive catastrophic events in her fight for justice - with her life, and her children's, hanging in the balance...

Will she pay for her husband's mistakes, or will she manage to escape from a terrible fate?

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About the Author

Anne O’Brien was born in West Yorkshire. After gaining a BA Honours degree in History at Manchester University and a Master’s in Education at Hull, she lived in East Yorkshire for many years as a teacher of history. She now lives with her husband in an eighteenth-century timber-framed cottage in the depths of the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire, on the borders between England and Wales, where she writes historical novels. The perfect place in which to bring medieval women back to life. Find out more at Anne's website  http://www.anneobrien.co.uk/ and find her on Facebook and Twitter @anne_obrien

Book Launch Spotlight: The Colour of Darkness (Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Book 13) by Toni Mount

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Midsummer in medieval London should be a time of revelry, but for many, there is nothing to celebrate. Death stalks the sweltering streets as plague raises its hideous head, livelihoods crumble, and trust wilts in the heat. Fire, theft, and murder loom over the city, and once again, artist and reluctant sleuth Sebastian Foxley finds danger perilously close to home.

When a beautiful young woman enchants the men of London, suspicion soon follows. The discovery of waxen dolls spiked with pins sends the city into a frenzy, convinced that witchcraft is to blame. With dark secrets lurking too near for comfort, Sebastian must unravel a tangled web of deceit and suspicion. Can he uncover the truth and protect those he loves before it’s too late?

Join Sebastian Foxley for another richly woven medieval mystery where peril lurks behind every shadow and the colour of darkness hides deadly truths.

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About the Author

Toni Mount is the author of several successful non-fiction books including How to Survive in Medieval England and the number one best-seller, Everyday Life in Medieval England. Her speciality is the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages and her enthusiastic understanding of the period allows her to create accurate, atmospheric settings and realistic characters for her medieval mysteries. Her main character, Sebastian Foxley is a humble but talented medieval artist and was created as a project as part of her university diploma in creative writing. Toni earned her history BA from The Open University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Kent by completing original research into a unique 15th century medical manuscript. Toni writes regularly for both The Richard III Society and The Tudor Society and is a major contributor to MedievalCourses.com. As well as writing, Toni teaches history to adults, and is a popular speaker to groups and societies. Find out more at Toni's website and find her on Facebook and Twitter @tonihistorian

Special Guest Interview with Deb Stratas, Author of The Unquiet Translator (The Bletchley Park Chronicles, Book 1)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US 

February 1941. Violet Grey, a gifted linguist, is shattered by a family tragedy in a London air raid—an accident her sister blames on her. When she’s summoned to the secretive world of Bletchley Park, Violet escapes her grief and throws herself into the relentless work of Hut 3, translating intercepted German messages. But even within Britain’s code-breaking headquarters, danger and betrayal lurk. A suspicious colleague, a predatory billet host, and a breach in protocol push Violet to her limits. As tensions rise, she must face not only the enemy without, but the guilt and self-doubt within. 

I'm pleased to welcome author Deb Stratas back to The Writing Desk: 

Tell us about your latest book 

The Unquiet Translator is the first book in my new historical fiction series about brave women working at Bletchley Park – home of the code-breakers – during WWII. Violet Grey is a quiet student at King’s College London, when she chances upon a newspaper ad calling for the public to submit a crossword puzzle solution. 

On a whim, she submitted it and was startled when they called her in for an interview; she was working at Bletchley Park within weeks. Bound by the Official Secrets Act, she's sworn to silence, no matter what. Lonely and fighting grief, she slowly gains confidence as a translator, with the help of new friends and a handsome Maths scholar. With her sister’s forgiveness, and the steady love of William Granger, Violet becomes the clever and self-assured woman that her father always knew her to be.  

What drew you to Bletchley Park as a setting for your new series?   

After watching The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbach and Kiera Knightly, my interest in this unassuming park nestled in the country just north of London was sparked. How did almost 9,000 men and women (mostly women) work around the clock for almost six years breaking enemy codes in absolute secrecy – and no one breached the confidentiality? 

After my first visit to Bletchley Park, my head was literally spinning with all the stories, artifacts and deep history of this beautiful site. After further research, I knew I wanted to continue my passion of raising the profile of the brave women in WWII England – turning my focus to the women at BP. I started with Violet Grey, a linguistics student turned German translator.  

Were there any challenges dealing with the secrecy at Bletchley Park? 

Interestingly enough, the biggest challenge was that Violet could never speak of her work to anyone, ever. This included her family, friends, any boyfriends, and even a future husband. If she did, the repercussions would be swift and harsh – including imprisonment and even threats of death. Signing The Official Secrets Act hung heavily on everyone at the park. So, it was a challenge to tell her story almost completely through action and her own reflections. You’ll also see this took a toll on her as far as sleep, headaches, and nerves – like many real-life Bletchley Park workers. I thought this was worth exploring, not just in The Unquiet Translator but in the upcoming books in the series, as well. 

There is a special tidbit you’ve included in the novel. Can you share what it is?  

YES! During my research, I discovered that the grandmother of the current Princess of Wales (Catherine) worked at Bletchley Park as a teenager during the war. Her name was Valerie Glassborow and she worked at the park with her twin sister, Mary. We know little of their lives there, but I thought introducing her as a friend and support to Violet would be intriguing. The two strike up a true friendship that helps Violet deal with her grief and loneliness. Hopefully HRH, the Princess of Wales is pleased with my portrayal of her bright and cheerful grandmother.  

How did you conduct your research for The Unquiet Translator?  

Aside from two visits to Bletchley Park, their website and podcast and website were rich resources for life in the park during the war.  As always, I read many books about the park and the role of women as German translators. Once the BP files began to be declassified in the 1970s, veterans and civilians that worked there began writing memoirs, which I drew upon for first-hand accounts of working in the huts. You’ll also see a crossover character from my Kingston series as a London mate of Violet’s. J 

What’s coming next? 

Violet has a younger sister Fern and a cousin Isabelle who have journeys of their own. The next book in the series tells Fern’s story – a younger sister who never felt good enough in her sister’s shadow. She joins the Wrens as a driver. How does she end up at Bletchley Park? You’ll have to wait to find out! Watch for The Unseen Rider later in 2025.  

Deb Stratas 

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About the Author 

Deb Stratas tells well-researched and highly readable stories about powerful women in extraordinary circumstances. Readers are transported to other times and places, inspired to be authentic in their own lives. Deb is based in Oshawa, Ontario, and when not researching or writing, she cherishes spending time with her two amazing adult children, their spouses, and two sweet grandchildren. Find out more from her website https://www.debstratas.com/ and follow Deb on Facebook and Bluesky ‪@debstratasauthor.bsky.social‬    

Blog Tour Spotlight: : A Shape on the Air: A haunting Anglo-Saxon time-slip of mystery (Dr DuLac series) by Julia Ibbotson

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Can echoes of the past threaten the present? They are 1500 years apart, but can they reach out to each other across the centuries? One woman faces a traumatic truth in the present day. The other is forced to marry the man she hates as the 'dark ages' unfold.

How can Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, unlock the secrets of the past? 

Traumatised by betrayal, she slips into 499 AD and into the body of Lady Vivianne, who is also battling treachery. Viv must uncover the mystery of the key that she unwittingly brings back with her to the present day, as echoes of the past resonate through time. But little does Viv realise just how much both their lives across the centuries will become so intertwined. And in the end, how can they help each other across the ages without changing the course of history?

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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

Guest Post by Rosemary Hayes, Author of The King's Agent (Soldier Spy)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

France 1809: War against Napoleon is still raging and disgraced soldier, Will Fraser, and Duncan Armstrong, his wounded Sergeant, are now working as agents for the British Government. They are dispatched to France on an urgent mission to rescue undercover spies. These royalists, who are ardent enemies of Napoleon, have been exposed by a traitor. Fraser is ordered to bring them to safety in England.

SPYING DURING THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

Researching for my second book in the 'Soldier Spy' trilogy, it’s been quite a journey to learn about the extent of spying, on both sides, during the Napoleonic Wars. Not only at a diplomatic level, through overseas embassies and through the Alien Office, in London, and highly placed double agents, but there were networks of ordinary people who passed on maps and documents, letters, money and even arms.  Agents smuggled intelligence sewn into clothing or hidden in hollowed out walking sticks. 

Both sides employed complex codes and ciphers to protect their communications. Codebooks and cipher wheels were standard kit. One captured French codebook was worth its weight in gold to the British Intelligence Service. A British officer, George Scovell, a gifted linguist, famously cracked the French ‘Great Paris Cipher’ which was pivotal in the Peninsular War.

 

The Great Paris Cipher

Sir George Scovell

In Paris, there were underground networks of those spying for the British. Royalists, Bonapartist defectors and even double agents moved in secret, often under the noses of Joseph Fouché’s secret police (more of him later). Many were caught but a few key figures were never unmasked. 

Both British and French agents used disguises, posing as merchants, priests, artists or diplomats. Some even used travelling theatre troupes as cover to move behind enemy lines. The more mundane the cover, the more convincing. Fishermen and smugglers took agents and documents to and fro across the Channel. One Jersey fisherman made nearly 200 trips across before he was caught and executed. 

 

Women played an important role in Napoleonic espionage. Rachel Charlotte Biggs was an English writer and spy. Between 1802 and 1816, she repeatedly visited France and Napoleon controlled Europe. She corresponded with British politicians and reported her observations about military strength, industry and agriculture and the political state. Her extraordinary story is told in the novel ‘Georgian Heroine’.

 

Another was a countess who allegedly passed secrets to the British via coded embroidery patterns. Female spies came in many guises and used imaginative ways in which to move intelligence across borders, including hiding micro letters in hatpins! 

Fishermen’s wives and daughters also put themselves in danger by passing on information and giving shelter to royalist spies. 

But among the many women spies, the one who really caught my attention was Arabella Williams, originally from Liverpool. Her handler was William Wickham. Wickham was a British diplomat who used his position in Bern as a cover to gather information and coordinate royalist organisations against France. Arabella became known as ‘le petit matelot’ – the little sailor – as she had acted as a courier passing papers between France and England for a number of years disguised as a sailor, without being caught.

Arabella had her own property in France where she had lived for some years, which she also used as a safe house for other agents. One of her contacts was Abbé Ratel. Early in the war, Abbé Ratel organised a network of royalists to keep watch around the port of Boulogne and provide early warning of any invasion. Reports were sent to England through fishermen recruited by Ratel – who was reputed to have a very beautiful mistress. 

Arabella was described as being petite, very pretty, lively and immensely busy. The group she belonged was extremely successful and despite the gendarmerie’s surveillance they managed to escape detection for many years. Sadly, I can find no portrait of Arabella though we do know that she was an English widow, the daughter of David Mallet, the poet and joint composer of ‘Rule Britannia’!

 

David Mallet

In France, all those spying for Britain or sympathetic to the royalist cause had to evade the clutches of Napoleon’s Minister of Police, the notorious Joseph Fouché. He was ruthless in his pursuit of British spies or those in France with royalist sympathies, torturing and executing them. He was dubbed ‘the most feared man in France’ and even Napoleon was quoted as saying ‘I fear Fouché more than all the armies of Europe’.

Fouché began his career as a maths teacher and evolved into a moderate and then radical legislator. He cultivated every political movement of the day. After preaching clemency for Louis XVI, Fouché voted to send the King to the guillotine. After writing "The first Communist Manifesto of Modern Times" he became a multi-millionaire. He led the brutal repression of an anti-revolutionary movement, earning him the nickname ‘The Butcher of Lyon’. 

After serving Robespierre, Fouché engineered his overthrow and rose to Minister of Police under the Directory, which he then helped to overthrow before putting his network of informants in Napoleon’s service. After turning against the Emperor, Fouché served the new King Louis XVIII – whose brother he had helped send to the guillotine. Thus, Fouché served the Revolution, the Directory, the First Empire and the Restoration. His face was said to resemble a weasel – and his less flattering portraits bear this out!

 

The threat from spies in France and those with royalist sympathies was very real. There were several attempts to assassinate Napoleon, the most famous being in Paris on the evening of December 24th 1800. Almost certainly funded by the British, this very nearly succeeded when a cart exploded just after Napoleon’s carriage had passed, killing bystanders. 

Malmaison, Empress Josephine’s country chateau, was the site of others, including the poisoned snuff put into a replica of Napoleon’s snuff box and placed on his desk there.

Although I have changed some of their dates and locations, many of the characters mentioned in my book ‘The King’s Agent’ are based on real people including ‘Le Petit Matelot’, Pipette, the fisherman’s wife, Abbé Ratel (disguised as Father Jacques) and, of course, the infamous Joseph Fouché.

‘The King’s Agent’ is the second novella in the ‘Soldier Spy’ trilogy, following the fortunes of the disgraced soldier, Captain Will Fraser and his wounded sergeant, Duncan Armstrong, recruited by the Alien Office to spy for King George’s government.

Rosemary Hayes

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About the Author

Rosemary Hayes has written over fifty books for children and young adults, many of which have won or been shortlisted for awards and several translated into different languages.

She has now turned her hand to adult fiction and her historical novel ‘The King’s Command’ is about the terror and tragedy suffered by a French Huguenot family during the reign of Louis XIV. Traitor’s Game is the first book in the Soldier Spy trilogy, set during the Napoleonic Wars and the second, The King’s Agent, has recently been published. Find out more at Rosemary's website https://www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk and find her on Twitter: @HayesRosemary

Blog Tour: : A Mischief of Murder (A Jan Christopher Murder Mystery) by Helen Hollick

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The village Flower and Veg Show should be a fun annual event – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?

A Mischief of Murder Excerpt:

“The tomatoes look nice and fat,” I offered tentatively. “Shouldn’t they be red, though, not green?” Dad pulled a face. Oops. I’d blundered. I moved to a different patch, pointed at something I knew should be green. “The peas look good.”

    Dad sniffed loudly and, picking a single pea pod from its stick-twining vine-like tendril, snapped it open to reveal a row of round, green peas within. He selected one, popped it into his mouth, pulling various faces as he munched, much as a wine-taster would sample a fine Burgundy. He selected another and handed it to me. I took it, ate it, making the same expressions. I had no idea what I was supposed to be tasting or what to say. 

    I opted for: “Hmm, crunchy. Nice and sweet.”

    The right thing, as Dad smiled. “You can’t be too careful with peas. Regular watering during cropping deters mildew, but I take care not to wet the leaves. I water at the base of my plants, not over them. Can’t risk sunburnt leaves.” 

    I immediately envisioned cartoon peas wearing sunglasses and stretched out on sun loungers beside a sparkling swimming pool, relaxing and catching a few rays. 

Dad didn’t notice my inattention, for he was rambling on about good pea care.

Praise for the Jan Christopher Mysteries:

"A delight—Miss Read meets The Darling Buds of May, with a dash of St. Mary Mead. Helen Hollick's signature voice shines throughout, full of warmth and wit. The characters keep growing in such satisfying ways, making every visit feel like coming home." Elizabeth St.John

"The Darling Buds of May ...but in Devon instead of Kent." Alison Morton

Helen Hollick

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About the Author

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen’s historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fact and  fiction blend together. Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was initially published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Helen and her family moved from London to Devon after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden, fending off the geese, chasing the peacocks away from her roses, helping with the horses and wishing the friendly, resident ghosts would occasionally help with the housework. Find out more at https://helenhollick.net/ and find Helen on Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social

Book Launch Guest Post: Run to Earth (Maisie Frobisher Mysteries Book 6) by Liz Hedgecock

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A journey into the unknown… When Maisie and Fraser Hamilton pursue a suspect onto the Orient Express, they find their journey far from smooth. The train’s staff are distinctly suspicious of them. The newlyweds find themselves separated and sharing compartments with strangers – and Maisie’s cabinmate is infallibly curious. And of course, they must make sure their quarry doesn’t spot them…

My latest book is Run to Earth, which is book 6 in the Maisie Frobisher historical mystery series, set in the early 1890s. Maisie begins the series as a spoilt socialite who's grown tired of London and men and has gone travelling for a change of scene. By book 6, she's still travelling, newly married, and has managed to wangle herself and her police-officer husband onto the Orient Express while in pursuit of a suspect.

I’ve often found that the Maisie series encourages me to make innovations in the way I write. When I was thinking about the first book, All at Sea, I wondered if it would be possible to dictate the book while out on walks, as Maisie, who is on board a cruise ship, is constantly moving. I gave it a try, and as it turned out, I much preferred telling myself a story on a walk to sitting at a desk and bashing out words on a keyboard. So that's how I write the first draft of every book now.

Book 6 is no exception to this innovation rule. Normally, I have a fairly detailed outline before I begin writing a book. When I came to the point of thinking about writing Run to Earth, though, I realised that I had a fairly short window to get the first draft done. Basically, I’d committed to writing another book with my good friend and partner in crime, Paula Harmon, so the timeline for drafting Maisie book 6 was squished. I have no problem writing one book and editing another at the same time, because that uses different bits of my brain (in my opinion). However, writing two books simultaneously felt like a stretch too far!

My hastily-contrived solution was to plot to the end of what I knew (basically, the first quarter), and from there, plot more or less as I went along.

The first part of the book went very smoothly, and as I was drawing to the end of the known plot (eek!) I managed to plot as far as the next main event. However, as the my protagonists got themselves embroiled in all sorts of trouble, my writing process started to feel rather like the scene in The Wrong Trousers where Gromit has to lay train track just in time for their runaway train to keep going.

It was terrifying. But it was also exhilarating and thrilling. I was seriously worried for my poor characters on several occasions, and the plot sprung a few surprises on me that I'd had no idea would happen. 

I was slightly worried as to how my beta readers would receive the incident-packed rollercoaster ride I'd somehow managed to produce (think Wallace and Gromit on steroids), but luckily they all loved it. So maybe that's a lesson to me to let my inner pantser do the plotting more of the time!

Something unexpected which I discovered during my research for the book was that the Orient Express was seriously short of social spaces. Basically, it had sleeping compartments, bathrooms, and a dining car. There was no saloon or lounge for a bit of handy gossiping. How annoying! One of the more pleasurable aspects of researching for my book was that I spent time rereading Murder on the Orient Express - and there's no lounge in that, either.

What am I planning to write next? At the moment I'm almost at the end of drafting a book in a new (I hope) series. It’s a spinoff from the Magical Bookshop cozy mystery series, which is set in contemporary London. In this book, provisionally titled Northern Soul, Luke and Maddy, two secondary characters from the Magical Bookshop series, get a case of their own: they travel to Manchester to investigate strange goings-on at the John Rylands Library. The John Rylands is a stunning Gothic building about an hour away from where I live, and I’m already planning several visits to do a bit of fact-checking - you can’t be too careful in these matters!

I’m also in the process of editing the latest book I’ve written with my co-author Paula, which is the first book in a new contemporary fantasy romcom series. We've called it A Tale of Tea and Dragons, and we've had tremendous fun writing it. We’re hoping to launch that book at the end of the summer, and start work on book 2 in early autumn. And after that, who knows? It could be Maisie Frobisher book 7, Magical Bookshop North book 2, or something completely different! 

Liz Hedgecock

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About the Author

Liz Hedgecock grew up in London, England, did an English degree, and then took forever to start writing. After several years working in the National Health Service, some short stories crept into the world. A few even won prizes. Then the stories started to grow longer Now Liz travels between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, murdering people. To be fair, she does usually clean up after herself. Liz’s reimaginings of Sherlock Holmes and her Victorian and contemporary mystery series (two written with Paula Harmon) are available in ebook and paperback Liz lives in Cheshire with her husband and two sons, and when she’s not writing you can usually find her reading, painting, messing about on social media, or cooing over stuff in museums and art galleries. That’s her story, anyway, and she’s sticking to it. Find out more from http://lizhedgecock.wordpress.com and find Liz on Facebook and Bluesky @lizhedgecock.bsky.social‬

Book Launch Spotlight: The Graces: The Extraordinary Untold Lives of Women at the Restoration Court, by Breeze Barrington

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A spellbinding work of history that uncovers the inner lives and work of Maria of Modena and her 'graces', the extraordinary women who practiced art, poetry and politics within the misogyny 

of the Restoration court.

In 1673, fifteen-year-old Maria d'Este travelled from Italy to marry James, Duke of York, the future King of England and a man twenty-five years her senior. Thrust from a pious life on the path to become a nun, at the debauched court of Charles II she set about recreating the world she'd left behind - a world where women were highly educated, exercised power and celebrated art and artists with concentrated patronage.

The Graces resurrects the life of Maria, later Mary of Modena, and those of the extraordinary young women she surrounded herself with at the Restoration court. From Sarah Jennings, later Sarah Churchill, keen politician and 'favourite' of Queen Anne, to revered poet Anne Finch and founder of legendary literary salon Hortense Mancini, these were women who defied the conventions of their time and the forces of misogyny working against them. 

The era they lived through would be one of the most tumultuous England had seen: one where parliament would invite a foreign power in the form of William of Orange to invade England, depose its king, and risk thrusting the country back into civil war. What is much less well-known is that within this world existed another: a world of female friendship, learning and artistic endeavour. The Graces is that story.

“At last, some of the most fascinating, important, yet overlooked characters from the later Stuart court have found their champion in Breeze Barrington. This superb book weaves history, politics, literature and art together with real originality. ” — Bendor Grosvenor, Author of 'The Invention of British Art'

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About the Author

Dr Breeze Barrington is a cultural historian specialising in the artistic cultures of the 17th century, with particular focus on women’s history and female artists. Her PhD, on the artistic cultures of the early Stuart court, was awarded in 2021, from Queen Mary, University of London. She teaches literature at the University of Cambridge and has previously taught courses in seventeenth century literature and culture at Queen Mary, University of London as well as Biography/Non-Fiction on the prestigious Creative Writing degree at the University of East Anglia. Breeze is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Find out more at https://www.breezebarrington.com/

Blog Tour Interview with Allie Cresswell, Author of The Standing Stone on the Moor (Talbot Saga Book 3)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Yorkshire, 1845. Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.

I'm pleased to welcome author Allie Cresswell to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

The Standing Stone on the Moor is the latest instalment in my Talbot Saga. Like all the books in the series, it stands alone; you don’t need to have read the others, and in fact I have written them all out of order.

The book is set in Yorkshire in 1845, an interesting period historically. It concerns Beth and Frank Harlish, who are stewards of a stately home—Tall Chimneys. 

It’s a thankless task, as the Talbots—the owners—never visit. Both Beth and Frank have been educated beyond their sphere by a philanthropic member of the Talbot family, but while Frank is content to manage the grounds of the estate, Beth has always yearned for a life beyond the moor. Her world is turned upside down when a band of itinerant Irish people arrive on the moor, fleeing the potato famine in their own country. She is powerfully drawn to their leader, Ruairi, although the rest of the villagers view the newcomers with suspicion. The advent of the Irish folk presents Beth with an opportunity, if she can bring herself to leave Frank, and Tall Chimneys behind.

What is your preferred writing routine?

I treat writing as a job—albeit a part-time, seasonal one. I try to be at my desk by 10am and to write until about 3pm. I’m lucky to have a dedicated writing space in our house, an attic. I like to feel I’m Jo March, scribbling in a garret!

I have to have silence while I’m writing—no music—and, if I’m lucky, a steady supply of tea and toast.

I tend to write in the winter months, beginning in late September and writing until the book is done, usually mid-March. April and May are spent in beta-reading, editorial, book-cover creation and launch-planning. Then, usually about now, the book is launched. 

There is some follow up promo work to do but unfortunately I am not one of those writers who spends the summer touring literary festivals doing Q & As, giving readings and doing book signings. No. My summer is spent harvesting peas and beans and making chutney and jam. I like to spend this time thinking about my next project, but I also beta-read for other authors and take part in their ARC team launches. I feel strongly that Indies must support one another, and I try to play my part.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Just do what you love! Write for writing’s sake, for the greater empathy and insight it will give you into the human psyche, for the exercise of your creative gland. And read! Read good books in your genre and in every other genre. Ask yourself what makes them great. Or, conversely, why they don’t grab you. Then apply that to your own work. Finally, don’t have grand ambitions. Writing is its own reward.

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

Oh dear. Its something every writer struggles with, especially Indies who have to do all their own marketing. But recently, I’ve been attending craft and creatives’ fairs with my books, selling direct to the public. People are astounded to know that all the books on the stall are written by me (I have written sixteen novels), and are very open to being engaged in conversation about their own favourite authors. It’s been so encouraging to have people return to tell me they loved the book they bought from me last time.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

One of the characters in the Lady in the Veil, set in 1835, has a tendency towards angry outbursts and emotional tantrums which, in those days, was diagnosed as hysteria. The medical treatment for hysteria really really surprised me. But I can’t describe it to you here because this blog has a PG rating.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

I find action scenes quite difficult to write. My stories are character-driven and much of the ‘action’ is internal, as the characters evolve. Ordinary, everyday exchanges and actions turn out to have big consequences in terms of the plot, and my writing tends to be a combination of descriptive, contemplative prose and naturalistic dialogue. But I had to write a daring mine rescue in Standing Stone, with pace and peril, lots of external detail and physical elements, quick-fire prose. That was tricky and challenging, and involved lots of research as to the internal structure of coal mines in that period. But I think I pulled it off.

What are you planning to write next?

Another instalment in the Talbot Saga, but this one takes the family right back to the beginning, in 1580. It isn’t a period I’m especially familiar with, so there is lots of reading to be done around the topic. Again, because I’ve written the series out of order, I already know (because a character describes it in The House in the Hollow) that the family were pirates, so I’m going to have to get my head around a certain amount of swashing and buckling—whatever that is!

Allie Cresswell

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About the Author

Allie Cresswell has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil. She has a BA and an MA in English Literature, specialising in the classics of the nineteenth century. She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper and the owner of a group of boutique holiday cottage but nowadays she writes full time. She has two grownup children, five grandchildren and two cockapoos but just one husband, Tim. They live in the remote northwest of the UK. The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel. Find out more at https://www.allie-cresswell.com/  and find Allie on Facebook and Instagram