I recently stopped by Alison Morton’s blog to talk about the big or little events or moments that might inspire a writer. If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know a couple of scenes in a television show set off my curiosity about Richard the Lionheart and the Third Crusade. That led to not one, but three novels in my Battle Scars series.
My contribution to the anthology Betrayal, “A Knight’s Tale,” is a prequel to the series.
It all started with the mention of a chess game in Men of the Cross. In one line in the novel the reader learns that Stephan l’Aigle, my main character, apparently loses his clothes in that game to another knight.
I wrote Books II & III of the series before coming back to that scene in Men, wondering what led to the game of strip chess. Was the relationship between Stephan and Geoffrey purely sexual? How did it – or did it – change Stephan?
The chess game was the kernel behind the short story, but there’s a lot more to the story than the game. The game is only one very small piece about Stephan’s journey. Where does betrayal fit it? You’ll have to read it and figure that out on your own.
Read the short story. Then pick up the novel. Let me know what you think!
Betrayal: news from blogs around the world
Okay, not the world, but from France, the UK, and the US…
Our Betrayal authors have been busy. Do visit all these wonderful posts to learn more about the research and inspiration behind the stories. This month, Helen Hollick’s Discovering Diamonds blog includes:
- Cryssa Bazos about plotting a heist at 17th century Warwick Castle
- Amy Maroney‘s research on Rhodes, Greece, Cyprus, falconers, and the Knights Hospitaller
- Alison Morton writes about inspiration for her dual timeline story “The Idealist”
- Annie Whitehead with the character from her novel who is “almost just a footnote in history”
- and more to come through December 9.
Elizabeth St.John has been hosting Author Chats.
- Medieval Tales and Forbidden Love (by me)
- A fascinating journey through past and present by Amy Maroney
- Alison Morton | Roma Nova: Alternative History
- Anna Belfrage | Time Traveller
- Helen Hollick | Bringing the Supernatural to Life through Powerful History
- Annie Whitehead | Anglo-Saxon Author and Historian
- Tony Riches | Tudor Storyteller
- Cryssa Bazos | 17th Century Enthusiast
Anna Belfrage is offering two different series of articles on 1) Much Medieval Mayhem, and 2) Glory and Gore in the Glorious 17th Century.
- From star-crossed sci-fi fan to medieval crusaders – by me
- Loving all his imperfections – in remembrance of Roger Mortimer – Anna Belfrage
- Meet Cryssa, a LoTR fan with a thing about Charles II – with Cryssa Bazos
- Meet a present day Lady of Mercia! – with Annie Whitehead
- How the lives of your long-dead kin inspired your writing – with Elizabeth St.John
- In which Helen talks of Harold, arrows and the dastardly Conqueror – with Helen Hollick
- How Shakespeare inspired a fascination with all things medieval – with Mercedes Rochelle
- A Roman history enthusiast carves a new world from medieval chaos! – with Alison Morton
- Much Medieval Mayhem – here we come – with Anna Belfrage
And from Alison Morton’s blog…
- Annie Whitehead: Channelling Dr Frankenstein
- Amy Maroney: Shining a light on forgotten women artists – a research journey
- Cryssa Bazos: The appeal of telling (historical) stories
Miscellaneous blog visits
- The King just won’t stay down – Mercedes Rochelle on The Coffee Pot Book Club blog tour
- Meet Judith Arnopp and read her Historical Fiction Writing Tips – Judith visits Carol McGrath
I am certain I’ve missed a few of my Betrayal collaborators’ articles. But many of their research and writing-related posts are picked up and shared on Twitter via @histfictioneers. Follow that handle!
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That a great round up, Charle and I’m off now to read/re-read some of these.
Oops! That should read Charlene.
Thought it might be handy to keep track of them all! 🙂
[…] December 4, I mentioned our authors’ trek across many blogs, but we were hardly don. Helen Hollick’s Discovering […]