New Book Review: The Queen’s Exiles by Barbara Kyle

1572. Europe is in turmoil. A vengeful faction of exiled English Catholics is plotting to overthrow Queen Elizabeth and install her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne. In the Netherlands, the streets are red with the blood of those who dare to oppose the brutal Spanish occupation...

Available for pre-order now on AmazonUK and AmazonUS

Canadian historical fiction author Barbara Kyle’s experience really shines through in the sixth of her Thornleigh Saga series, The Queen’s Exiles.  Set in the Spanish occupied Netherlands, we follow the adventures of our hero and heroine as they attempt an audaciously daring rescue of Lord Thornleigh’s children. We are drawn into a meticulously researched world of Dutch underground fighters, known as the ‘Brethren,’ who fight on against seemingly impossible odds.

Barbara has a talent for ‘cliffhanger’ chapter endings that keep you reading. In turns exciting, poignant, chilling and romantic, I particularly liked the way the true life and mysterious ‘Sea Beggars’ – seafaring rebels and buccaneers - are woven into the fictional narrative.  I knew little of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule but it makes a great backdrop for a good old-fashioned adventure story.  

About the Author

Before becoming an author Barbara Kyle enjoyed a twenty-year acting career in television, film, and stage productions in Canada and the U.S. Barbara and her husband live in Ontario, where she presents  workshops and master classes for writers and talks about Tudor history.  Her Thornleigh Saga novels – Blood Between Queens, The Queen’s Gamble, The Queen’s Captive, The King’s Daughter and The Queen’s Lady – follow an English family’s rise through three Tudor reigns during which they make hard choices about loyalty, allegiance, family, and love. Barbara also writes contemporary thrillers and over 425,000 copies of her books have been sold in seven countries.  More information is at her website http://www.barbarakyle.com/ and you can find her on Twitter at @BKyleAuthor

The challenge of writing historical fiction

A recent reviewer of my latest historical fiction novel, WARWICK, commented that, ‘This needed to be three times its current length in my view to do justice to the subject matter’. I am tempted to agree, although the job of a historical fiction author is to be selective, for the reader’s sake?

I remember wondering if there was a reason I was the first to tackle the life of such a complex character as Richard Neville, also known as the ‘kingmaker’. I read widely about the Wars of the Roses and the social and political fashions of fifteenth century England, both fiction and non-fiction. I lay awake at night wondering how much detail to include as my draft progressed. I cut and cut again during the editing process. One beta reader wanted more ‘blood and guts’ and another wanted less.

Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton
(Image credit Wikimedia Commons) 

This dilemma is nothing new, of course. Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton was an English novelist, poet, playwright and politician who wrote several bestselling novels (and famously coined the phrases ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’. He helpfully commented in 1843 that:

'Unquestionably, fiction, when aspiring to something higher than mere romance, does not pervert, but elucidate facts. He who employs it worthily must, like a biographer, study the time and the characters he selects, with a minute and earnest diligence which the general historian, whose range extends over centuries, can scarcely be expected to bestow upon the things and the men of a single epoch. His descriptions should fill up with colour and detail the cold outlines of the rapid chronicler; and in spite of all that has been argued by pseudo-critics, the very fancy which urged and animated his theme should necessarily tend to increase the reader's practical and familiar acquaintance with the habits, the motives, and the modes of thought which constitute the true idiosyncrasy of an age. More than all, to fiction is permitted that liberal use of analogical hypothesis which is denied to history, and which, if sobered by research, and enlightened by that knowledge of mankind (without which fiction can neither harm nor profit, for it becomes unreadable), tends to clear up much that were otherwise obscure, and to solve the disputes and difficulties of contradictory evidence by the philosophy of the human heart.'

2014 Global eBook Market Trends and Developments

In discussion with Belgian author Bob Van Laerhoven recently, I was reminded how diverse the European eBook marketplace is, with eBooks yet to have much impact in The Netherlands and Belgium.

Trends in the global eBook market are changing rapidly, however, so the Spring 2014 update of the Global eBook Report makes interesting reading.

The new report aims to present the latest data, with comparisons and analysis of the development of eBook markets across Europe and the US. There are interesting pointers of new and emerging markets, as well as a useful analysis of the diverse eBook pricing strategies in markets across Europe, and an overview of key activities of global players, particularly Amazon, with estimated market shares in the main markets.

Among the many possibilities is that, as with mobile phones, digital eBooks will enable developing countries to ‘leap-frog’ the path taken by more established book markets, without the publishing industry, agents and booksellers acting as ‘gatekeepers’. The report considers eBbook markets have been driven very much by best-selling titles from either the largest publishing groups or from a small number highly successful self-published authors (with some controversy about respective market share).

There are several thought-provoking ideas in the report, including that the potential of eBooks has yet to be fully realised, as development is still in its early stages. The result could be the emergence of something completely different from marketing printed books through digital channels.

The report is written by Rüdiger Wischenbart, with Carlo Carrenho (Brazil), Javier Celaya (Spain), Veronika Licher (China), Miha Kovac (Central and East Europe) and Vinutha Mallya (India).

Download the full report free from http://www.global-ebook.com/

Many consumers in India are buying books online and fast moving to consumption of content on devices? How is the publishing industry in India looking at these trends? What is the role of e-books in India? Caroline Newbury, Head of Marketing and Publicity at Random House India shares her observations on consumer trends in India for the publishing industry and her outlook for online marketing in India in 2014:

A Tribute to Leslie Thomas, British Author, 1931 - 2014

One of my favourite authors, Leslie Thomas, best known for his novel The Virgin Soldiers, died today aged 83.  

Leslie Thomas's father was drowned when his ship was torpedoed in 1943. His mother died soon afterwards from cancer, so Leslie and his younger brother, Roy found themselves in a Dr. Barnardo's Home in Newport, south Wales, an experience memorably described many years later in his first autobiography This Time Next Week.

Leslie had a successful career as a Fleet Street reporter before he began writing novels. In 2004 he was awarded an OBE for services to literature. His first novel, The VirginSoldiers, was inspired by Leslie Thomas' national service in Malaya and describes the exploits of British soldiers based in the Far East. He went on to write a further thirty successful novels, as well as travel books and his second biography In My Wildest Dreams, published in 1984. During his lifetime his international books sales were more than fourteen million.

I will remember Leslie Thomas for his great sense of humour and talent for weaving the details of his life into some of my all-time favourite novels. 

Guest Post ~ Writing for Children by Jacqueline Beard

“A fantasy story set in a fascinating world that draws you in - I finished the book in one day! Can't wait for the next one”  (Amazon 5 star review) 

New in paperback and ebook on Amazon UK and Amazon US

“You must write for children in the same way as you do for adults, only better” Maxim Gorky

It took several days to decide what to write for this guest piece.  Why is writing for children different to writing for adults?  Does one set off with the intention of writing for children – or is it determined another way?

Children see easily through weak plot lines or poor characterisation.  They have no time for stories that preach or talk down to them.  It is essential that children’s stories are well-written.  But that is equally true about stories written for adults, so what makes someone decide to write a children’s book instead?

“Adults are only obsolete children” Dr Seuss, One fish, two fish

Many great writers became children’s writers because of close relationships with their own children.  Lord of the Rings writer J R R Tolkein started his writing career by penning illustrated letters to his children in the guise of Santa Claus.  His great novel The Hobbit developed when he found an empty space in an exam paper he was marking and felt compelled to fill it.  He wrote, “In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit.” He used this sentence as the basis of a story which he re-told to his children, growing the story as he went along. 

Both Kenneth Grahame and A A Milne had sons who inspired their writing.  Grahame’s son Alistair, otherwise known as ‘mouse’ was born with a visual impairment. Grahame made up stories throughout Alistair’s childhood, developing the characters in Wind in the Willows we know and love today.  It is believed he created Mr Toad to teach young ‘mouse’ the difference between right and wrong.

A A Milne’s son Christopher Robin Milne was the inspiration behind Winnie the Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner.  Piglet, Eyeore and many of the other animal characters were imagined from young Christopher’s stuffed toys.

As Madeleine L’Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time says,

“You have to write the book that wants to be written.  And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”

Beau Garnie & the Invisimin Mine evolved during a walk on the local common with my young son Alex.  We imagined racing hares, moving mushrooms, intellectual rats and a tiny race of people trying to survive in a magical world low on resources.  The idea was conceived with Alex’s help; he was crucial to the plot development, gave endless critiques, boosted my flagging morale and would not let me give up.  The book could not have existed without him.  It is a children’s book written by someone who was once a child in cahoots with someone who is still a child (although steaming rapidly towards teenager-hood). 

Like the writers above, I didn’t specifically set out to write for children.  It just happened by being around them. 

“I don’t write for children.  I write.  And somebody says, that’s for children.”  Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild things are.

Jacqueline Beard

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About the Author

Jacqueline Beard is an English writer and genealogist living in Gloucestershirem, UK, with her husband, son and Border terrier where she spends much of her time dog walking through the glorious Cotswolds.  When not writing or researching her extensive family tree, Jacqui can be found gardening, or reading.  Jacqui loves dogs, computers and good quality chocolate but is a lousy cook. Visit Jacqueline's blog at http://jacquelinebeardwriter.wordpress.com/ and find her on Twitter @Jacquibwriter 

Book Launch: Baudelaire's Revenge, by Bob Van Laerhoven

Everyone is guilty of something - 

the only mystery is, to what degree?

Winner of the Hercule Poirot Prize for best crime novel of the year

“An intense historical crime thriller. The intricate plot, menacing atmosphere, and rich evocations of period Paris have undeniable power.” (Publishers Weekly)

Set in besieged Paris in 1870, Baudelaire’s Revenge  presents a compellingly engaging view of Paris  on the eve of the Franco-Prussian war. The poor are living in misery and the working classes are growing desperate but the intellectuals and aristocrats are avidly pursuing their debaucheries. An artistic killer is embellishing his obscene handiwork with verses of “Les Fleurs du Mal”. This bizarre case appeals to the dissolute sensibility of Commissioner Paul Lefèvre, whose own twin passions are poetry and women of 'sinister unpredictability and uncivilized morals.'

Published for the first time in English, this  gritty, detail-rich historical mystery novel involves the reader in a subtle narrative web. Belgian author Bob Van Laerhoven weaves in some of this historical period's favourite supernatural elements - magic, exotic poisons, séances and ghosts - to create an eerie, fin-de-siècle atmosphere.

New on Amazon US and Amazon UK

Visit Bob's Website http://www.bobvanlaerhoven.be/en  and find him on Twitter @bobvanlaerhoven 

Book Launch: Half The World by Corri van de Stege

A gripping and unique account by a foreigner living through the turbulence of revolution and the emergence

of the Islamic Republic of Iran 

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

What was it like to live in Isfahan as the foreign wife of an Iranian University professor in the run up to and during the revolution of 1979, when the Shah was overthrown and Khomeini created the Islamic Republic of Iran? Corri van de Stege a Dutch national lived, studied and worked in London for eight years, married her Iranian boyfriend and moved with him to Isfahan early in 1977. 

Initially suffering from homesickness for London she adapts and makes new friends amongst the community of ‘foreign wives’ and becomes a teacher at the British Council. But then she finds herself in the middle of a revolution in an alien country with her husband and baby son, without internet, social media or even a telephone in her house, and where television and radio broadcasts are censored so you never know what is true and what is gossip. 

The author evokes the stark contrast between the everyday life on the campus and the escalation of violence both across the country and in Isfahan, the town where she lives. She worries about the increasing demonstrations of hatred against foreigners, in particular Americans, and the English language. You feel the tension grow between friends and colleagues who will have to decide whether they can live in an Islamic Republic, their unease aggravated by increasing uncertainty about what will happen to the American hostages held in Tehran. 

Follow the author on Twitter @corrivandestege