Historical Fiction Spotlight: Strands of My Winding Cloth (The Elizabeth of England Chronicles Book 4) by Gemma Lawrence

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Winter 1560: Elizabeth Tudor has chosen never to marry. The man she loves, Robin Dudley, has lost his wife in mysterious circumstances. Knowing that were she to marry him, it would lead to his destruction and hers, Elizabeth has made up her mind... 

But Robin does not know this yet.  Afraid to lose her favourite, Elizabeth has told Robin there may be hope. As times goes on, Robin attempts persuasion, pressure and trickery to take his place beside her on the throne of England. And it is not only with her beloved that Elizabeth is having problems... 

Cousins aplenty this last Queen of the Tudor line has, and each one determined to cause her troubles. As Mary Stewart, Queen of Scotland, returns to her native land, as Katherine and Mary Grey cause trouble at court, and as her Lennox cousin, Margaret, conspires from within, Elizabeth is surrounded by women whom others may see as viable replacements for her, as Queen.

Covering the years 1560-1567 in the reign of Elizabeth I, Strands of My Winding Cloth is the fourth volume in the Elizabeth of England series by G. Lawrence.

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About the Author

Gemma Lawrence is an independently published author living in Cornwall in the UK. She studied literature at university says, 'I write mainly Historical Fiction, with an emphasis on the Tudor and Medieval periods and have a particular passion for women of history who inspire me'. Her first book in the Elizabeth of England Chronicles series is The Bastard Princess (The Elizabeth of England Chronicles Book 1).Gemma can be found on Wattpad and Twitter @TudorTweep.

Book Review: The Art of Hiding, by Amanda Prowse

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

What would you do if you learned that the life you lived was a lie?  Nina McCarrick lives the perfect life, until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

This is a good example of why you should read outside your usual genres. Hooked in by the blurb, I wasn’t expecting such a compelling story that would make me think about all the things we take for granted.

It’s clear from the first page that Nina McCarrick’s life is far from perfect, so it’s good that we don’t have to wait long before the phone call that changes her whole world forever. In turns, I felt incredulous at Nina’s extreme naivety and impressed by her resilience.

I would have been tempted to give this a five star review, as it became one of those books that I looked forward to getting back to but I suspect other readers will have the same issues as me.

I’m no expert but all I had to do was a quick internet search to find she would have been receiving £34.40  ($45) a week until her boys reached the age of sixteen and was entitled to several other state benefits, including housing benefit and jobseekers allowance. This should have at least been mentioned – as well as why no one, including her street-wise sister didn’t ever think of telling Nina to seek advice on her entitlements.

I was also bemused at how she enjoyed free internet access without an Internet service provider – but if you put such niggles down to creative licence, this is still a great read. Any book which makes you think about how you treat your friends and family has to be good. The Art of Hiding becomes a story of one woman’s redemption that I’ll remember for a long time.

Tony Riches 

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About the Author

Amanda Prowse is the  author of sixteen best-selling novels in dozens of languages. A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a regular panellist on the Channel 5 show ‘The Wright Stuff’ and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She makes guest appearances on BBC and independent Radio stations. Find out more at Amanda's website www.amandaprowse.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter @MrsAmandaProwse,

Cover Reveal — The Du Lac Princess (Book 3 Of The Du Lac Chronicles) By Mary Anne Yarde

War is coming…

The ink has dried on Amandine’s death warrant. Her crime? She is a du Lac.

All that stands in the way of a grisly death on a pyre is the King of Brittany. However, King Philippe is a fickle friend, and if her death is profitable to him, then she has no doubt that he would light the pyre himself.

Alan, the only man Amandine trusts, has a secret and must make an impossible choice, which could have far-reaching consequences — not only for Amandine, but for the whole of Briton.

Book Extract:

“This isn’t a laughing matter,” there was censure in the monk’s words.

“If I don’t laugh then I am going to cry. I have been made to feel like a sinner even though I haven’t sinned, not really. I am a woman without hope and without any friends or family. I have lost everyone I ever loved, and now you tell me that life is going to be difficult. How much more difficult can it get?”

“The Pope has condemned you with Bell, Book and Candle,” Brother Daniel stated. “But that is not all. The Abbot made sure that the Pope was all too aware of your crimes. I am sorry, Amandine, but the Pope will never welcome you back into the Church.”

Amandine gasped, her laughter faded and any colour that was left on her face vanished. “What?” her voice was quiet, barely audible. “But I thought…all the penance. I thought… Tell me it isn’t true.”

“You are damned,” Brother Daniel confirmed. “No one will want you, neither man nor Church. You are completely at the mercy of Philippe. But rest assured, I believe he has every intention of protecting you. I will not lie to you, my dear, you will be shunned, even with the King’s support. The chances of you marrying again are very slim.”

“I wasn’t looking for a new husband,” Amandine said as she tried to make sense of Brother Daniel’s words.

“It also means that you will never be able to leave the protection of the castle. The protection of this room.”

Amandine scoffed with realisation. “I am to be Philippe’s prisoner? Why don’t you just say what you mean?”

“You are not his prisoner, think of it as being his special guest. This is for your own protection. Many would see you hang or worse. I have spoken to the King. Alan will be in charge of your safety from now on. Philippe thought you would find no fault in that, as you and Alan appear to be on good terms. Amandine, you must understand there are many who saw what you did the day Merton died. They saw how you were dressed in his clothes. They saw how you threw yourself at him. How you got down on your knees and begged the King for mercy on Merton’s behalf. They saw how Merton reacted when you were threatened. And those who didn’t will have listened when the Abbot condemned you. You are a fallen woman, a threat to their good Christian souls. Our main concern now is keeping you alive. You must never leave this room. Ever.”

“But I thought—”

“That you were doing penance? So you have said. Did you really think that the Abbot was going to pardon you of all your sins? Oh, Amandine, you are not stupid. He was never going to give you absolution.”

Amandine shook her head, and she began to wring her hands together in despair.

“You must be strong,” Brother Daniel reached across and stilled her hands with his. “And brave. Just like our Lord Jesus was in those darkest of days. Remember, he too was condemned for a crime he did not commit.” He smiled at her and squeezed her hands. “I must leave you now. I shall make sure some food is brought up, but it will be tested before you eat it, so do not fear about being poisoned.”

“Poisoned?” Amandine gasped, she had not even thought of that.

“You need to rest and regain your strength.” Brother Daniel rose to his feet and smiled down at her. “I will be back tomorrow to listen to your confession.”

“If I am damned, then what need do I have to confess?” Amandine asked, staring defiantly back at the monk. “Besides,” she looked away, “I consort with demons. I am evil. I am a sinner. My soul will burn in Hell. I will be damned forever—”

“Ask for mercy, and you will receive it,” Brother Daniel stated, interrupting her.

“I have,” Amandine challenged back, “and look where that has got me.”

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About the Author

Mary Anne Yarde is the Award-Winning author of the International Best Selling Series — The Du Lac Chronicles. Set a generation after the fall of King Arthur, The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Briton and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, The Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed. Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury--the fabled Isle of Avalon--was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood. Find out more at her blog https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.co.uk/ and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @maryanneyarde.

New Book Spotlight: The Survival of the Princes in the Tower: Murder, Mystery and Myth, by Matthew Lewis

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

The murder of the Princes in the Tower is the most famous cold case in British history. Traditionally considered victims of a ruthless uncle, there are other suspects too often and too easily discounted.

There may be no definitive answer, but by delving into the context of their disappearance and the characters of the suspects Matthew Lewis examines the motives and opportunities afresh as well as asking a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder?

What if Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York survived their uncle’s reign and even that of their brother-in-law Henry VII? There are glimpses of their possible survival and compelling evidence to give weight to those glimpses, which is considered alongside the possibility of their deaths to provide a rounded and complete assessment of the most fascinating mystery in history.

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About the Author

Matthew Lewis was born and grew up in the West Midlands. Having obtained a law degree, he currently lives in the beautiful Shropshire countryside with his wife and children. History and writing have always been a passion of Matthew's, with particular interest in the Wars of the Roses period. His first novel, Loyalty, was born of the joining of those passions. Find out more at Matthew's website http://mattlewisauthor.com/ and find him on Facebook and Twitter @MattLewisAuthor

Historical Fiction Blog Tour: The Soldier's Return by Laura Libricz

Available on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Publication Date: September 15, 2017

eBook & Paperback

Series: Heaven's Pond Trilogy, Book Two

Genre: Historical Fiction

The year is 1626. A senseless war rips through parts of Germany. Ongoing animosity between the Catholics and the Protestants has turned into an excuse to destroy much of the landscape situated between France, Italy and Denmark. But religion only plays a minor role in this lucrative business of war.

The young dutchman, Pieter van Diemen, returns to Amsterdam in chains after a period of imprisonment in the Spice Islands. He manages to escape but must leave Amsterdam in a hurry. Soldiers are in demand in Germany and he decides to travel with a regiment until he can desert. His hope of survival is to reach Sichardtshof, the farm in Franconia, Germany; the farm he left ten years ago.

His desire to seek refuge with them lies in his fond memories of the maid Katarina and her master, the humanist patrician Herr Tucher. But ten years is a long time and the farm has changed. Franconia is not only torn by war but falling victim to a church-driven witch hunt. The Jesuit priest, Ralf, has his sights set on Sichardtshof as well.

Ralf believes that ridding the area of evil will be his saving grace. Can Pieter, Katarina and Herr Tucher unite to fight against a senseless war out of control? ​ The Soldier’s Return is the second book in the Heaven’s Pond Trilogy and will be released on September 15, 2017.

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About the Author

Laura Libricz was born and raised in Bethlehem PA and moved to Upstate New York when she was 22. After working a few years building Steinberger guitars, she received a scholarship to go to college. She tried to ‘do the right thing’ and study something useful, but spent all her time reading German literature. She earned a BA in German at The College of New Paltz, NY in 1991 and moved to Germany, where she resides today. When she isn’t writing she can be found sifting through city archives, picking through castle ruins or aiding the steady flood of musical instruments into the world market. Her first novel, The Master and the Maid, is the first book of the Heaven's Pond Trilogy. The Soldier’s Return and Ash and Rubble are the second and third books in the series. For more information, please visit Laura Libricz's website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, September 4 A Book Geek Mello & June, It's a Book Thang! 
Tuesday, September 5 100 Pages a Day The Reading Queen 
Wednesday, September 6 Must Read Faster Just One More Chapter 
Thursday, September 7 The Writing Desk The Maiden's Court To Read, Or Not to Read 
Friday, September 8 Book Nerd CelticLady's Reviews 
Saturday, September 9 Passages to the Past Books, Dreams, Life 
Sunday, September 10 I Heart Reading 
Monday, September 11 A Literary Vacation Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots 
Tuesday, September 12 Jo's Book Blog WS Momma Readers Nook 
Wednesday, September 13 Laura's Interests Oh, For the Hook of a Book 
Thursday, September 14 A Holland Reads Svetlana's Reads and Views 
Friday, September 15 T's Stuff Pursuing Staci

Author Interview: Battle of Hastings and 1066 in a Nutshell, by Charlie Fenton

Available on Amazon UK and Amazon US

MadeGlobal's History in a Nutshell Series aims to give readers a good grounding in a historical topic in a concise, easily digestible and easily accessible way.

In 1066 & The Battle of Hastings in a Nutshell, Charlie Fenton discusses one of the most important events in English history. Many recall the story of William the Conqueror sailing over from Normandy, going to battle with King Harold and the latter supposedly dying of an arrow to the eye. However, few know the details of why the battle happened and how Harold really lost his life, and even fewer know what happened afterwards, during the early reign of William the Conqueror.

Author Interview

What makes 1066 & The Battle of Hastings special?

Many books on Britain and the Middle Ages only briefly cover the story of the Battle of Hastings as part of the wider context of the history of England in general, others that do focus on 1066 are academic works and are difficult to read. 1066 & The Battle of Hastings in a Nutshell gives the facts of the subject in simple terms, making it easy enough for the average history enthusiast, wherever they live in the world, to enjoy.

Who was Harold Godwinson?

Harold was the son of Godwin, a man who had risen to power during the rule of Canute, and thus his family controlled a large part of England, with Harold’s share being mainly in the South East. This medieval king is known for having lost his eye in the Battle of Hastings, yet lesser-known facts about his life include him possibly having two wives, his feud with his brother Tostig, and the way he fought his wars, with his epic march through Britain to Stamford Bridge to defeat Harald Hardrada before marching back down to meet William at Hastings.

Who was William the Conqueror?

Few really know the details of William the Conqueror. William was the illegitimate son and sole heir of the Duke of Normandy, which he inherited as a child. He was distantly related to Edward the Confessor through marriage and it is suggested that he was promised the English throne by him, resulting in the tumultuous upheaval of 1066 and leading to war at the Battle of Hastings. William's defeat of Harold, and his taking the throne changed the English people forever; their culture, laws, everyday life and even language throughout Britain were forever altered by the new Norman king.

Why should readers give your British history book a try?

Many people know a little about the Middle Ages and the year 1066 - that it brought the Norman kings to Britain, but they do not know just how eventful that year was. The Battle of Hastings aside, three kings were on the throne during this one year, two kings died and three battles ensued (Fulford, Stamford Bridge and Hastings). This book explores this important year in detail, including background about what led to these world-changing events and the major implications they had for Medieval England.

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About the Author

Charlie Fenton is currently studying history at the University of Kent, where she specialises in Medieval and Early Modern History. She is also the author of Perseverance: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. She runs the blog Through the Eyes of Anne Boleyn and is well known to members of the Tudor Society as the regular book reviewer. She regularly writes for Tudor Life magazine. You can find Charlie on Facebook and Twitter @CharlieFenton2. 

Book Launch Guest Post by Michelle Saftich, Author of Wanderers No More (Port of No Return Book 2)

New on Amazon UK and Amazon US

The war may be over, but the fight to belong is just beginning. Left homeless, starving, and almost killed by the Second World War, the Saforo family are refugees fleeing Italy for a better life. The shores of Australia are calling to them and they head off, packing dreams of jobs, a home and … soccer. But from the moment they get off the boat, adapting to the Australian way of life is harder than it seems. Their family doesn’t speak right, eat right or even look right. As they struggle to build a simple life against the backdrop of 1950s racism, they start to wonder if they will be outsiders forever.

When I set out to write Port of No Return and its subsequent sequel, Wanderers No More, I was embarking on taking my father’s true family story and turning it into a fiction. 

Writing a fiction novel inspired by true people and events is a challenging exercise. It certainly made for a wonderful experience of writing from the heart and personal understanding while at the same time reaching for entertaining plotlines and a chance to include the more interesting aspects of history.

Port of No Return focuses on my grandparents. Wanderers No More picks up the story from my father’s perspective, starting with him being a six-year-old child. For the sequel, I had to put myself in the shoes of not only a child, not only a different gender to my own, but in the shoes of my father. This was very challenging. And it became harder as my character grew up and I had to write from the viewpoint of a young man, including romantic interludes.

I found I had to distance myself from the personal relationship with my father and remind myself that I was working with a character, my fictional character; even though in my mind, I was seeing my father as I know him from photos at various stages of his life. I was seeing him, being guided by what I know of him and yet creating him at the same time.

How alike are my characters to the real people? How much truth and how much fiction is in the novel? I think readers would be surprised to find out what is real and what is made up. They do say fact is stranger than fiction. But I found the characters are perhaps more glorified versions of the real people, focusing on their more appealing qualities so readers can support them all the way. Not so for my villain, Monte, who is fictional, so I had full licence to make him truly terrible; though the school bullies and interactions with the strict teachers and nuns are based on real events!

I did not show my father the draft manuscript. He did not ask to see it. He said he didn’t want to interfere with the creative process and, as it was a fiction, he was happy to let it be my work.

So, the real moment of truth for me was a few weeks ago, when the book was released and I gave him a copy. He read it the very next day, in a day. I was pacing. I was nervous. It takes bravery to take someone’s life and enhance and embellish and have fun with it. Especially, when it is someone close to you.

And the verdict… he loved it. He thought I had got carried away in parts… which makes me smile. My father always “gets carried away” when he tells stories of his memories. I am his daughter after all. Now I hope readers can get carried away to another place and time and enjoy some history too. Hopefully, there is enough truth in the story to give it credibility and enough fiction to keep readers turning the page. That is the beauty of historical fiction.

Michelle Saftich in Trieste, Italy;
the setting of her first novel.

Wanderers No More can be read as a standalone novel, but for those who like to become involved in a family saga, reading the novels as a series will make for a deeper and more enjoyable read. Port of No Return and Wanderers No More are available through online stores as e-books and in paperback.

Michelle Saftich

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About the author

Michelle Saftich resides in Brisbane, Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Business / Communications Degree, majoring in journalism, from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). For the past 20 years, she has worked in communications, including print journalism, sub-editing, communications management, media relations and marketing. She spent 10 years living in Sydney and two years in Osaka, Japan, where she taught English. She is married with two children. She also has a cat, who sits with her while she writes. In 2016, she visited Italy with her family and walked the streets of Trieste, the north-eastern city which features strongly in her novel Port of No Return. Find out more at Michelle's website michellesaftich.com and follow her on Twitter @MichelleSaftich.