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Legionary; The Scourge of Thracia by Gordon Doherty
In late 377 AD, the Roman Diocese of Thracia (roughly modern-day Bulgaria) was in turmoil, still reeling from the indecisive Battle of Ad Salices against Fritigern’s Gothic Alliance, where much of the Thracian legions had been crushed or severely weakened....
The historic house locations for Wolf Hall
A copy of my National Trust Magazine arrived yesterday and there is an article which details the locations used in the series Wolf Hall. I really loved the first episode, but my NT magazine did not have room for all the properties that will be featured apart from...
Legionary: Gods and Emperors by Gordon Doherty
Godron Doherty describes how the Battle of Adrianople inspired the latest in his Legionary Series. The clash of the Romans and the Goths near Adrianople in 378 CE surely qualifies as one of history’s most pivotal battles: one that permanently lodged the...
Saga Lover’s Christmas Stocking – two books to hit the spot
I was lucky enough to attend the launch of Freda Lightfoot's new book, The Amber Keeper, and dived straight in to this gorgeously evocative tale of love and treachery in the Russian Revolution. Impeccably researched, the book tells of how, in the 1960's, single...
A Cruel Necessity by L.C.Tyler
Historical Fiction Highlight Just occasionally I highlight something new on the blog which I think looks particularly exciting. I'm a massive fan of books set in the English Civil War and the 17th Century, so when I saw this new historical mystery series set in that...
Hand of Fire by Judith Starkston
I started Hand of Fire in order to answer a question that had bothered me for a long time. For years I’d taught the Iliad, Homer’s epic poem of the Trojan War, and kept wondering with my students how Briseis, the captive woman who sparked the bitter conflict between...
Past Encounters by Davina Blake
If you were born in the 1950's as I was, you will no doubt remember wartime stories passed down to you from your parents. My parents were not old enough to fight in the second world war, but their stories of gas masks and rationing, dried egg sandwiches, and...
The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar – Kim Rendfeld
Sometimes, what the primary sources don’t say attracts my attention. In researching my first novel, The Cross and the Dragon, I learned of two grim realities: In 772, Charlemagne ordered the destruction of the Irminsul, a pillar sacred to the Saxon peoples. War...
The Intended by Sten Eirik
When King Gustav was a boy, all his French tutors were dismissed and taken away. New ones were appointed, true Swedes who would teach him respect for the common man and shield him from the follies of divine right. Voltaire thought of Sweden as the freest nation...
The Art of the Elizabethan Murder Mystery
What does it take to write an Elizabethan Murder Mystery? I asked the actor Jonathan Digby, whose novel, 'A Murderous Affair', is currently flying high in the UK Amazon charts, for some clues. What appeals to you about Elizabethan History? The Elizabethan Age is known...
The Attraction of the Highwayman Image – an interview with Henriette Gyland
Both Henriette Gyland and I have new books out about a female highwayman. Fascinated by finding this out, I invited Henri to come and enlighten us about her novel. Henri's novel is called The Highwayman's Daughter. I asked her: Did you base The Highwayman's Daughter...
The Advantages of Book Blog Tours
I'm about to embark on another Virtual Tour with my new YA book, Shadow on the Highway (FREE on Kindle this week only! US UK ) This will be the third blog tour I have done with my historical fiction books, and I'm really grateful to all the bloggers who are...
Shadow on the Highway by Deborah Swift
' 'The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees. The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas...' So opens the Alfred Noyes poem, The Highwayman. I loved that poem at school, and have remembered the opening lines ever since I was nine years old....
Witchrise by Victoria Lamb – Historical Fiction Highlight
I have been interested in historical fiction for teenagers and young adults for quite a few years, and love to feature it on my blog, Today I highlight Victoria Lamb's latest novel for Young Adults, WITCHRISE, the third in her trilogy of books about Meg Lytton the...
Lies Told in Silence by MK Tod – Historical Highlight
Just occasionally, I'll highlight a new release that deserves wider attention. This week it is Lies Told in Silence by M K Tod. About the Book In 1914 Paris half the city expects war while the other half scoffs at the possibility. With knowledge gained...