Book Launch Interview With E.E. Bertram, Author of November Fox

New on Amazon US and Amazon UK

What inspired your novel?

Writing my first novel was driven by a deeper yearning beyond self expression. I felt a strong desire to do my part in inspiring the next generation of readers to find their purpose in life and ask deeper questions, ultimately so they can live more fulfilling lives. In a way November Fox is a self-help book yet it is wrapped up in a crazy sci-fi fantasy story. My travels as a touring and recording singer songwriter around the world have also influenced the writing.

My extensive lucid dream experiences have also been fundamental in what inspired me to write in the first place. Within the lucid realm, where you can actively manifest desired realities, I learnt the art of intention and conscious creation, so a lot of the book is based upon my Insights and direct experience with thought power.  What is the genre?  Visionary Fiction. It wasn't a conscious decision to become a visionary fiction author.

My first editor was actually the person who told me that I fall within this genre. I haven't even heard of it until after the book was written. The most famous Visionary Fiction book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and I suppose November Fox has some similarities in the fact that it is a fable and it has ancient wisdom mixed within the quest like tale. Other reviewers have said it has Alice in Wonderland like qualities, purely for its idiosyncratic nature and the fact November Fox tumbles through a rainbow portal into the other dimensions, and meets fantastical characters along the way.

There are quite a few sci/fi elements as I have curiosities with quantum physics and artificial intelligence and the future of mankind, so that’s all wrapped up into the mix as well.  What was the hardest part to write in the book?  The hardest part is the endurance required to stick at it, year after year until the art form is ready for the world.

I'm quite sure the next books I will write much faster as I learn so much along the way. Living a somewhat hermit lifestyle for so long was also quite tough. There were many days and weeks and months where I hardly saw any friends or left the comfort of my dressing gown. It's such a cathartic and intense experience to write a book and I compounded my workload by deciding to have the augmented reality components as well as connected music project.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Find the right balance between learning your craft and mastering technique and following your creative freedom and passion. Learn the rules yet don’t be afraid to break them. That's when the magic happens. You need to know the box before you break out of the box, it's only then you understand the full nature of what the box is in the first place.

What are you currently reading?

What is Art by Leo Tolstoy, The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge and next on my list is The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot.

Tell us about your favourite character from your book.

My favourite character is The Architect, he is the otherworldly narrator of the story. I wasn't even sure he was male until quite far along the path, yet at one point of the writing, the story required him to take a form. I like him the most as I felt his energy almost as if I were just facilitating his voice, to be spoken through me. I felt a presence around me when I was writing his parts. It may  have been me tapping into a deeper wise aspect of myself, or some kind of external force? It is hard to tell. It was quite a peculiar experience. Similar to when I write songs, yet his voice was very distinct and had a calming effect on me every time he spoke and I wrote his words. I like him as he questions things, he is very philosophical and also a little rebellious.

How would you describe your book?

November Fox is quite a mind-bending journey that has many layers and eclipsing realities. It follows the journey of Vegan orphan Rockstar November Fox after she finds a teleporting cube on her doorstep. The chapters are almost like different levels of the game where she has to work out how to get from one reality to the next. If you like quest style books or books that make you question your perceptions of reality, you may like this story.

Because of my interest in technology, I have infused the book with augmented reality so all of the 39 pictures can be scanned with your phone or device and you can go further in this into the story and view November Fox's journey from the perspective of the other-worldly Architect, the narrator of the story. The 3D elements you will see through this method are interactive. Because November Fox is a rockstar there is a connected music project, which can also be accessed through the augmented reality layers. The book isn't dependent on this extra technology component, yet I wanted to experiment with new ways of storytelling and better represent the multiple layers of consciousness we have as human beings.

Esther Bertram

About the Author

Esther Bertram is an Author, Musician & Media Artist. After more than a decade of touring Europe and recording as a professional singer/songwriter and producer of electronic music, Esther has spent 5 years creating the media-fusion, metaphysical, fantasy, science fiction novel November Fox.She says, 'I like to inspire people to challenge their mental models of reality for the sake of growth and entertainment; to probe into the cosmic depths of existence, bring back my insights and express them in creative form. With a mother from Lapland/Finland and father from Melbourne/Australia, dualism has been in my genes from day one, and I have always felt best when balancing contrasting worlds.' Find out more at her website http://www.eebertram.com  and find Esther on Facebook and Twitter @EstherBertram.

Book Launch Guest Post: The Lion and the Fox: A Novel of Machiavelli's Florence by Sylvia Prince

New on Amazon US and Amazon UK

Exiled, isolated, and depressed, Niccolo Machiavelli longs to return to power at any cost—but with the threat of torture still hanging over his head, Niccolo must bend to the will of the powerful Medici family.

As a university student, I read Machiavelli’s The Prince more than once. In my political theory class, we talked about his zero-sum view on politics. In a class on Renaissance Italy, we discussed his relationship with the Medici and Savonarola. I was so fascinated with Machiavelli that I wrote my undergraduate thesis on his assessment of the political uses of religion.

Some years later, I’m now a history professor, and I assign The Prince in my classes. Readers come to the text with preconceived notions: that Machiavelli was ruthless, lacked any moral code, and was, in short, “Machiavellian.” But consider the context. Less than a year earlier, Machiavelli had been arrested, thrown in jail for three weeks, and tortured multiple times. Upon release, he was exiled. And then he sat down to write The Prince, dedicating it to the very family that tortured and exiled him.

Yes, The Prince is cutthroat. But Machiavelli was writing for cutthroat rulers.

Just imagine Machiavelli in exile, waiting to hear what the Medici think of The Prince, still hating the family that ruined his life. Imagine one of the greatest political minds in history stuck in a small village, surrounded by “lice,” his brain molding (his words, not mine!).

As Machiavelli wrote in a letter to his friend Francesco Vettori, dated 10 Dec 1513, “these Medici princes should begin to engage my services, even if they should start out by having me roll along a stone. For then, if I could not win them over, I should have only myself to blame.”

To what lengths would he go to win over the Medici?

Those questions inspired my novel, The Lion and the Fox, which is set just after Machiavelli finishes The Prince. Machiavelli wants to impress the family that abused him. What would he do if they asked him to investigate a murder? And what if the Medici family still suspected Machiavelli of plotting against them?

That hook allowed me to explore the world of Renaissance Florence through the eyes of a political exile, disillusioned with the bravado of young patrician rulers yet still dependent on their favors. I wanted to show a darker side of the Renaissance, one that often doesn’t appear in the rosy descriptions of Renaissance art. Clashes of honor, extravagant displays of wealth, and falls of fortune were parts of daily life in Renaissance Florence—as was the violence that could erupt at any moment.

I also wanted to create a rich and realistic role for Florence’s women by not only giving them a voice but also showing the power wielded by those forced to history’s margins. Although they were often treated like material goods to exchange on the Florentine marriage market, their value assessed by the dowry system, women were more than just wives, sisters, or daughters. In Florence, women used informal networks to get what they wanted. And in a city where nearly one in five women was a prostitute, brothels were big business, and most were run by women.

As a history professor, I challenged myself to think of history in different terms—and it taught me some lessons about the gaps in my historical training. What did it feel like to walk the streets of Renaissance Florence? What, exactly, did a courtesan wear in the early sixteenth-century? And if a dead body was found in the Arno River, where would it be taken?

If you’re wondering just how far Machiavelli might be willing to go—you’ll have to read the book!

Sylvia Prince

About the Author

Sylvia Prince holds a PhD in history, an enthusiast of the Italian Renaissance—and loves the bizarre but true stories she has encountered over the years working as a historian. Sylvia is a professor at a public university in the Midwest, where she lives with her husband and two spirited daughters. Find out more at Sylvia's website www.sylviaprincebooks.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter @sprincebooks.

New Audiobook: Jasper - Book Two of the Tudor Trilogy

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Also Free with 30 Day Audible Trial

“Jasper Tudor was a rebel and a warrior, the man who created the greatest dynasty England has ever known... The Tudors.” Dr Sara Elin Roberts, author of Jasper – The Tudor Kingmaker

Following the best-selling historical fiction novel OWEN – Book One of The Tudor Trilogy, this is the story, based on actual events, of Owen’s son Jasper Tudor, who changes the history of England forever. 

England 1461: The young King Edward of York has taken the country by force from King Henry VI of Lancaster. Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, flees the massacre of his Welsh army at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross and plans a rebellion to return his half-brother King Henry to the throne.
When King Henry is imprisoned by Edward in the Tower of London and murdered, Jasper escapes to Brittany with his young nephew, Henry Tudor. Then after the sudden death of King Edward and the mysterious disappearance of his sons, a new king, Edward’s brother Richard III takes the English Throne. With nothing but his wits and charm, Jasper sees his chance to make young Henry Tudor king with a daring and reckless invasion of England.

Set in the often brutal world of fifteenth century England, Wales, Scotland, France, Burgundy and Brittany, during the Wars of the Roses, this fast-paced story is one of courage and adventure, love and belief in the destiny of the Tudors.

Life's Little Song: A Book of Poetry and Ramblings, by Jason J Black

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

This book is about the little things in the world that we tend to miss in our everyday rush through life. Our world is such a beautiful place, yet we sometimes fail to notice this.

Taking some time for ourselves to rest, recharge and de-stress can help us to be more creative and inspired. Taking a look at the world, animals and people surrounding us can help us to be more compassionate, helpful and loving.

I wrote these poems and ramblings in those early morning hours when only the birds are awake, when the rest of the world still slumbers and all is still and quiet.

I hope you can find the same kind of peace yourself, perhaps while reading this book.

Jason J Black

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About the Author

Jason J Black was born and still lives in Bristol in the United Kingdom, with his wife, Sara. Jason has always enjoyed writing short stories throughout his life, and enjoys writing science fiction, fantasy and horror stories, as well as some poetry. He hopes that his readers are able to feel the emotion that he tries to invoke in his books. Find out more at Jason's website  and find him on Twitter @jasonjblack. 

Historical Fiction Book Launch: The Lion and the Fox: A Novel of Machiavelli's Florence by Sylvia Prince

New on Amazon US and Amazon UK

Exiled, isolated, and depressed, Niccolo Machiavelli longs to return to power at any cost—but with the threat of torture still hanging over his head, Niccolo must bend to the will of the powerful Medici family.

When a mysterious letter sends him to investigate the murder of a Medici, Niccolo stumbles into a dangerous world of rich young patricians, mysterious prostitutes, and shocking violence.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Renaissance Florence, Machiavelli must rely on his wits to navigate the currents of power and brutality, never knowing who he can trust. Niccolo thinks he can play the fox to outwit his enemies—but has he underestimated the lion?

About the Author

Sylvia Prince holds a PhD in history, an enthusiast of the Italian Renaissance—and loves the bizarre but true stories she has encountered over the years working as a historian. Sylvia is a professor at a public university in the Midwest, where she lives with her husband and two spirited daughters. Find our more at www.sylviaprincebooks.com and find Sylvia on Facebook and Twitter @sprincebooks.

New Book Extract: The Lives of Tudor Women, by Elizabeth Norton

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

The turbulent Tudor age never fails to capture the imagination. But what was it actually like to be a woman during this period? This was a time when death in infancy or during childbirth was rife; when marriage was usually a legal contract, not a matter for love, and the education of women was minimal at best. Yet the Tudor century was also dominated by powerful and characterful women in a way that

no era had been before.

To Transform Human Creatures – Extract from The Lives of Tudor Women

Elizabeth I famously attempted to turn back time with the ample use of cosmetics. Later portraits, such as the anonymous ‘Darnley portrait’, which may have been painted from life, show a white, wax-like face which may not have been entirely the result of artistic flattery. (In the years since it was painted, pigment fading has further increased the effect of paleness.) A pale, line-free skin was much admired at the time, and many women, both young and old, would go to some lengths to achieve it.

The Darnley Portrait, c. 1575(Wikimedia Commons)

   But this use of cosmetics was widely mocked in the period, too, with one work – published in 1616 – calling the practice ‘paintings laid one upon another, in such sort that a man might easily cut off a curd or cheese cake from either of their cheeks’. Some women, the author added, had applied so many concoctions that ‘they have made their faces of a thousand colours’. It was irreligious, since by covering ‘her natural face’, a woman was defying God. Although this Discourse Against Painting and Tincturing of Women was written by a man, its transmission was aided and abetted by a woman named Elizabeth Arnold, who translated it from the Spanish.

   In spite of this sort of disapproval, many women continued to use make-up to improve their appearance, particularly as they aged. To achieve a smooth white complexion, such potions as bacon grease mixed with egg whites and a little powder were applied. Another recipe used ground-up pig bones.

   For the wealthiest members of the society, there was the mixture of white lead and vinegar, which was known as ’ceruse’. This highly toxic compound gave the skin the desired lustre when applied, but also caused considerable skin problems. After a time, the skin could become grey and wrinkled, further exacerbating the need for cosmetics. One early seventeenth-century writer, Thomas Tuke, considered that ‘white lead, wherewith women use to paint themselves was, without doubt, brought in use by the Devil, the capital enemy of nature, therewith to transform human creatures, of fair, making them ugly, enormous and abominable’. But for Elizabeth I, who, like many women, had smallpox pits and later wrinkles and other blemishes to cover, the attraction of white lead was perfectly understandable.

   

Elizabeth Norton 

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About the Author

Elizabeth Norton lives in Kingston upon Thames, near Hampton Court Palace, with her husband and two sons. As well as her books she is carrying out academic research at King's College, London into the Blount family of Shropshire, contributing journal articles and giving papers at academic conferences and has appeared as an expert on television, including programmes for Sky Arts and the National Geographic channel.  Find out more as her website http://elizabethnorton.co.uk/ and find her on Twitter @ENortonHistory.

Book Review: The Lives of Tudor Women, by Elizabeth Norton

Available on Amazon UK and Amazon US

I'd been looking forward to the latest book from Elizabeth Norton, having previously been impressed by her work on Tudor queens and her wonderful book Margaret Beaufort: Mother of the Tudor Dynasty.  The Lives of Tudor Women could have the subtitle 'the seven ages of Tudor life'  as it explores the many diverse facets of their times by contrasting women at different stages in their lives.

I've recently read many books about Elizabeth of York, so was glad to find a fresh perspective on what she went through providing Henry VII with an heir. (Luckily she had privileged access to pain relief - a sacred relic reputed to be the girdle of the Virgin Mary.)

Equally harrowing are accounts of what women such as the courageously defiant Anne Askew had to endure for their faith. Although familiar with Anne's story, it seems a particularly poignant (if extreme) example of the hardships faced by Tudor women at all levels of society.

At the same time, a picture emerges of confident women, stepping out of the shadows to take their place alongside Tudor men. Culminating with an ageing Queen Elizabeth clinging on to her 'Gloriana' image, I learnt something new in every chapter. I particularly enjoyed the little 'asides' sprinkled through the narrative, where Elizabeth Norton offers an insight into her considerable research.

Highly readable and informative, I'm happy to recommend this book not just for those of us with a fascination for the Tudor times but for anyone who wants to understand the history of the place of women in the world.

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Elizabeth Norton lives in Kingston upon Thames, near Hampton Court Palace, with her husband and two sons. As well as her books she is carrying out academic research at King's College, London into the Blount family of Shropshire, contributing journal articles and giving papers at academic conferences and has appeared as an expert on television, including programmes for Sky Arts and the National Geographic channel.  Find out more as her website http://elizabethnorton.co.uk/ and find her on Twitter @ENortonHistory.