Betrayal comes in many forms… and on many blogs

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.

Anna Belfrage is offering two different series of articles on 1) Much Medieval Mayhem, and 2) Glory and Gore in the Glorious 17th Century.

And from Alison Morton’s blog…

Miscellaneous blog visits

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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  1. Alison Morton Avatar

    That a great round up, Charle and I’m off now to read/re-read some of these.

    1. Alison Morton Avatar

      Oops! That should read Charlene.

    2. Char Avatar

      Thought it might be handy to keep track of them all! 🙂

  2. […] December 4, I mentioned our authors’ trek across many blogs, but we were hardly don. Helen Hollick’s Discovering […]


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