Blog
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Revisiting Swords of the King – an excerpt & more…
I know new readers rightly want to start with the first book in any series, but how about a short excerpt from Book III? No spoilers to speak of – no explanation needed. This is the opening of Chapter 9. Take a peek… MARCH 1196John’s camp, Normandy The River Seine sparkled. It snaked around the […]
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Month 5 of Dispatches from the home coffee shop
This retirement life is busy! I published Echoes of the Storm last month, and have to thank members of my Launch Team and others who have posted some positive reviews. It is always a huge thrill – and a relief – to hear readers enjoyed my novel. I know it won’t be everybody’s cup-of-tea, but […]
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Richard the Lionheart wounded at Châlus-Chabrol – an excerpt from Swords of the King
#OTD 26 March 1199 Châlus-Chabrol was bleak and cold that twenty-sixth day of March. Days of nasty weather and the recalcitrant traitors inside the castle were trying the king’s patience. Hammers beat steadily throughout the day, and siege machines loosed one barrage after another. While the sappers dug ever closer to the walls, messengers from […]
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Research snippets: “In the year of grace 1194, being the second year of the captivity of Richard, king of England…”
King Philip of France and John, brother of King Richard I (the Lionheart), colluded to keep Richard a prisoner of Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. Sounds like fiction, doesn’t it? Something out of Hollywood? Hard to believe, but it’s true. Roger de Hoveden, a contemporary chronicler, wrote about the evil conspirators’ offer to the […]
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Research snippets – John, Count of Mortain: traitor turned loyal brother
John, Count of Mortain, the youngest of Henry II and Eleanor’s brood, conspired with King Philip of France to usurp his brother’s throne while Richard I, the Lionheart, was a captive of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI. Their scheming failed, and Richard looked past John’s traitorous activities. “He is my brother and should have […]
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Research snippets – Arthur of Brittany
One major plot line in Swords of the King involves King Richard, the Lionheart’s nephew, Duke Arthur of Brittany. Swords ends in 1199 when the young duke is 13 years old, but Arthur’s story goes on a few more years. [King] John himself now attempted to deal with Arthur in another way. Being at Falaise […]
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#OTD 27 May 1199 – John crowned King of England at Westminster
Richard I, the Lionheart, died on April 6, 1199. His brother John was in Brittany at the time visiting a possible rival to the crown, the young Duke Arthur, son of Richard and John’s late brother Geoffrey. John fled the Breton court secretly after a messenger delivered the news. Had the Bretons heard it earlier, we might […]
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A Discovered Diamond – Book Review of For King and Country
There is a new site in town – rather, on the web – for reviews of historical fiction: Discovering Diamonds. You should definitely bookmark or follow this site if you are looking for good historical fiction. And I am thrilled to report that For King and Country, Book II of Battle Scars, has been selected as […]
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Writing Medieval Lincoln – Lincoln Castle
I wish I lived closer to Lincoln or could have the Enterprise transporter take me the 4000+ miles in a few seconds. While I am wishing for the transporter, I might as well add a time machine to the mix. Where is the TARDIS when you need it? I didn’t have a chance to visit Lincoln until […]