Pam Lecky's Blog, page 3

Harold the King/I Am The Chosen King: The Coffee Pot Book Club Spotlight Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Helen Hollick for the spotlight tour for Harold The King (UK)/I Am The Chosen King (USA/Canada), as part of the 25 year anniversary of the original publication. Congrats Helen!

You can follow the full tour here:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-harold-the-king-by-helen-hollick.html

Harold The King (UK) / I Am The Chosen King (USA/Canada), by Helen Hollick

Blurb:

First published in 2000 – Celebrating a Silver Anniversary!

The events that led to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 – told from the English point of view.

Two men. One crown.

England, 1044. Harold Godwinesson, a young, respected earl, falls in love with an ordinary but beautiful woman. In Normandy, William, the bastard son of a duke, falls in love with power.

In 1066 England falls vulnerable to the fate of these two men: one, chosen to be a king, the other, determined to take, by force, what he desires. Risking his life to defend his kingdom from foreign invasion, Harold II led his army into the great Battle of Hastings in October 1066 with all the honour and dignity that history remembers of its fallen heroes.

In this beautifully crafted tale, USA Today bestselling author Helen Hollick sets aside the propaganda of the Norman Conquest and brings to life the English version of the story of the man who was the last Anglo-Saxon king, revealing his tender love, determination and proud loyalty, all to be shattered by the desire for a crown – by one who had no right to wear it.

Praise for Helen Hollick:

“Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a great story, gets her history right, and writes consistently readable books”

~ Bernard Cornwell

“A novel of enormous emotional power”

~ Elizabeth Chadwick

“If only all historical fiction could be this good”

~ Historical Novel Society Review

Buy Links:

Universal eBook Link, Harold The King: https://books2read.com/u/4jOdYj

Harold the King (UK): https://viewbook.at/HaroldTheKing

I Am the Chosen King (US): https://viewBook.at/ChosenKing

This title is available on #KindleUnlimited, except in US & Canada.

Author Bio:

First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she writes a nautical adventure/supernatural series, The Sea Witch Voyages. She has also branched out into the quick read novella, ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working as a library assistant. The fifth in the series, A Memory Of Murder, was published in May 2024.

Helen Hollick

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She is currently writing about the ghosts of North Devon, and Jamaica Gold for her Sea Witch Voyages.

Recognised by her stylish hats, Helen tries to attend book-related events as a chance to meet her readers and social-media followers, but her ‘wonky eyesight’ as she describes her condition of Glaucoma, and severe arthritis is now a little prohibitive for travel.

She lives with her family in an eighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon with their dogs and cats, while on the farm there are showjumper horses, fat Exmoor ponies, an elderly Welsh pony, geese, ducks and hens. And several resident ghosts.

Author Links:

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

Blog, supporting authors & their books: https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/helenhollick.bsky.social

Twitter / X: https://x.com/HelenHollick

Monthly newsletter: Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse:

Start Here:January 2024 https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html (posted on her blog)

A Woman Scorned by Marcia Clayton: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Marcia Clayton for the book blog tour for A Woman Scorned, part of The Hartford Manor Series. Marcia has kindly provided a snippet for you to enjoy (see below).

You can follow the full tour here:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/11/blog-tour-a-woman-scorned-by-marcia-clayton.html

A Woman Scorned By Marcia Clayton

Blurb:

1886 North Devon, England

Lady Lilliana Grantley has been seriously ill with typhoid, a disease that recently claimed her husband Edgar’s life and that of his long-time lover, Rosemary Gibbs. Now recovering at last, the lady wastes no tears on her husband but is determined to wreak revenge on his two illegitimate children.

Embarrassed for years by his affair with Rosemary, a childhood sweetheart living nearby, she has falsely accused Sir Edgar’s daughter, Millicent, of the theft of a precious brooch and wants to see her jailed or hanged.

Fortunately for Millie and her little brother, Jonathan, their granny, Emily, insisted they leave home as soon as she heard of Sir Edgar’s death, for she knew his widow would seek revenge. The old lady was soon proved right, and Lady Lilliana, furious the two youngsters were nowhere to be found, evicted the old woman despite the fact she, too, was dangerously ill.

After a long and hazardous journey to North Devon, Millie and Jonathan were united with some long-lost family members who made them welcome and gave them a home. However, aware that Lady Lilliana has put a price on Millie’s head, they know they are not yet out of danger. Despite this, they are determined to find their granny, Emily, who seems to have disappeared.

Aided by her long-time lover, Sir Clive Robinson, Lady Lilliana is determined to find Millie and Jonnie and get them out of her life once and for all, but how far will the embittered woman go?

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/AWomanScorned

A Snippet from A Woman Scorned

Excerpt from Chapter 11

Rosa Baker’s hip was hurting, and she decided it was time to visit the bakery and enjoy a cake and a cup of tea before catching the train home. She usually enjoyed her weekly shopping trip, but it was becoming ever harder, and she wondered how much longer she would be able to manage it. She entered the busy tearoom and was pleased to see her favourite table by the window was unoccupied.

The lady behind the counter noticed the weary expression on Rosa’s face and, smiling brightly, told Rosa to sit down and that she would bring the refreshments to her.

“There we are, my dear. You seem a little tired this morning. Is everything all right?”

“Oh, thanks, Mary; bless you. Yes, but my hip is painful, and I had to rest. I’ll sit here now and read the newspaper until it’s time for my train if that’s all right with you.”

“Yes, of course. You’re one of our regulars; you sit there as long as you like.”

Rosa, thankfully, took a sip of her tea and bit into the piece of fruit cake she treated herself to every Friday. Reaching into her shopping bag, she retrieved her newspaper and spread it on the table before her. She read a few articles with interest, but as she turned the page, she was horrified to see another advertisement offering a reward for information leading to the apprehension of Millicent and Jonathan Gibbs. Fortunately, there were no photographs, but the detailed description would make them easily identifiable. The reward had been doubled to twenty guineas, a small fortune, and the old woman knew many would be tempted. She feared for the youngsters and hoped they had reached their destination in Hartford safely and had been taken in by their relatives.

Author Bio:

Marcia Clayton writes historical fiction with a sprinkling of romance and mystery in a heart-warming family saga that stretches from the Regency period through to Victorian times.

A farmer’s daughter, Marcia was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. When she left school at sixteen, Marcia worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul and David.

As the children grew older, Marcia enrolled in a secretarial course, which led to an administrative post at the local college. Marcia progressed through various jobs at the college and, when working as a Transport Project Coordinator, was invited to 10 Downing Street to meet Tony Blair, the then Prime Minister. Marcia later worked for the local authority as the Education Transport Manager for Devon County Council and remained there until her retirement.

Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She’s a keen researcher of family history, and this hobby inspired some of the characters in her books. A keen gardener, Marcia grows many of her own vegetables. She is also an avid reader and enjoys historical fiction, romance, and crime books.

Marcia has written six books in the historical family saga, “The Hartford Manor Series”. You can also read her free short story, “Amelia”, a spin-off tale from the first book, “The Mazzard Tree”, by downloading the story here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/amelia-free-download/

In addition to writing books, Marcia produces blogs to share with her readers in a monthly newsletter. If you would like to join Marcia’s mailing list, you can subscribe here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/

Author Links:

Website:          https://marciaclayton.co.uk/

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/MarciaC89111861

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/marciaclaytonauthor

Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/marciaclayton97/

Bluesky:          https://bsky.app/profile/marciaclayton.bsky.social

Book Bub:                   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marcia-clayton

Amazon Author Page: http://viewauthor.at/MarciaClayton

Goodreads:                 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20429025.Marcia_Clayton

Madeline’s Boy by Sara Powter: The Coffee Pot Book Club Spotlight Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Sara Powter for the book blog spotlight tour for Madeline’s Boy, published 13th November 2024.

You can follow the follow tour here:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/11/blog-tour-madelines-boy-by-sara-powter.html

Madeline’s Boy by Sara Powter

Blurb:

England 1830s to New South Wales 1840  

The race to protect an orphaned Boy

All is not straightforward when money and titles are involved.

Orphaned, afraid and on the run, Chip must flee.

Madeline was his mother’s best friend. Maddie now needs to keep her charge safe and alive. She must give up her life to protect the boy she has loved since birth.

Months after Chip’s parents’ demise, Maddie sets out to deliver Chip to his Uncle Humphrey, who lives in Sydney. Through him, she meets Chip’s friend Tim, who falls for Maddie— but will they find happiness?

The menacing presence soon finds Chip, and Maddie needs to hide him again. They are moved from hidden farms to secret valleys, ending up in an aboriginal encampment.

Can Tim find a way to be with Maddie? And if so… Will Chip ever be safe?

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/MadelinesBoy

Author Bio:

Sara Powter lives on the NSW Central Coast. Her childhood was spent with her parents, mainly travelling up and down the East Coast of Australia, fishing, shell collecting, and doing some of her education through correspondence schooling.

With a passion for science, she worked as a Scientific Assistant in the Entomology Department of the Department of Agriculture. She married Stephen soon after leaving there, and they spent 30 years in Ministry in the Newcastle Anglican Diocese in NSW, only retiring at the end of 2020.

When ‘Covid 19’ hit, time was available to pen some of the stories she’d wanted to write for some time. Within twelve months, eight stories were finished, and ideas for more were coming (after four years, she had recently completed her twenty-eighth book). These stem from her passion for Colonial Australia, her convict ancestors, and the fantastic country’s remarkable history!

Sara wrote these as she wished to complete one of her mother’s unfinished manuscripts. The series prequel, “Dancing to Her Own Tune,” is now completed and ties in Sheila Hunter’s Australian Trilogy with Sara’s Lockley series and many others. All are Clean Australian Historical Fiction.

But… Watch for more in The Hunter to Macquarie Collection and The Convict Birthstain Collection.

Author Links:

Website: www.sarapowter.com.au

Twitter:  https://x.com/SaraPowter

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063887262514

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-powter-450b6b145/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarapowter2251/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-powter

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sara-Powter/author/B08X4K9VM1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13548072.Sara_Powter

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRC4aFyyiVAMy5ZLTTQUEw

The Paris Portrait by Heidi Eljarbo: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I’m delighted to host Heidi Eljarbo once more for the blog tour for The Paris Portrait, A Fabiola Bennett Mystery, her latest release.

You can follow the full spotlight tour here:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-the-paris-portrait-by-heidi-eljarbo.html

The Paris Portrait by Heidi Eljarbo

Blurb:

Fabiola stumbles upon a clue that indicates a royal portrait went missing almost two hundred years ago. Is this true, or is there substance to the rumor?

Paris, France, 1973.
After an enjoyable but dusty road trip, Fabiola and her friends, Pippa and Cary, arrive in a small village on the outskirts of Paris to spend a few days with Fabiola’s brother Eivind and his family.

On their first evening there, Eivind shows Fabiola an ancient recipe book he bought at an auction. The book is filled with old writing, and he asks Fabiola to decipher the pages. After the others have gone to bed, she spends hours reading and is gripped by the last pages that have nothing to do with recipes for baked goods and stews. Certain the author was a famous portrait artist at the time of the French Revolution, Fabiola and her friends set out on a treacherous investigation, dodging murderers and thieves to learn the truth.

Versailles, France, 1789.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun— portraitist and close friend of the extravagant queen of France, Marie Antoinette—has already painted thirty portraits of the queen. Her contemporaries compare her to the old Dutch masters, calling her one of the greatest portrait painters of her time.

But outside on the streets, Paris is becoming more perilous with every day that passes. Madame Le Brun would be a fool to think the rumors of a revolution will pass, and aristocratic life will continue as before.

Amid the turmoil, she paints one final portrait of Marie Antoinette, knowing well her association with the queen could cause her to be arrested or executed. As chaos and riots in Paris turn to violence, Madame Le Brun flees with her young daughter, hoping her royal friend and the portrait will be safe.

This is Heidi Eljarbo’s third dual timeline novel about Norwegian art historian Fabiola Bennett—a captivating spin-off from her much-loved Soli Hansen Mysteries.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3nPAjB

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Author Bio:

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking their Wheaten Terrier in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/

Twitter: @HeidiEljarbo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorheidieljarbo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorheidieljarbo/

Pinterest: https://no.pinterest.com/heidieljarbo/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heidi-eljarbo

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/heidieljarbo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16984270.Heidi_Eljarbo

Newsletter: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/newsletter

The King’s Intelligencer by Elizabeth St.John: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to welcome back Elizabeth to my blog for the book blog tour for her new release, The King’s Intelligencer. Elizabeth has kindly provided an excerpt for you to enjoy (see below).

You can follow the full tour here:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-kings-intelligencer-by-elizabeth-stjohn.html

The King’s Intelligencer – Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower by Elizabeth St.John

London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.

Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot,  Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.

Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.

In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?

A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer

An Excerpt from The King’s Intelligencer

Chapter 1

London, 1674

Footsteps rattled across Westminster Abbey’s chessboard floor, tip-tapping a reveille rude enough to wake the dead. Franny Apsley frowned. She welcomed an entertaining disruption from escorting her royal mistress around the dismal graves, but they had yet to visit the tomb that really mattered. The one that served Franny’s purpose, if not her desire.

The excursion was the girl’s idea, of course, because Lady Mary Stuart, King Charles’s precious twelve-year-old niece, relished visiting macabre monuments of her ancestors. Later, Mary would no doubt scream for her favourite lady as the dead rode nightmares across her swagged four-poster, keeping Franny awake and yawning at her side, and proving once again her opinion that a place in the royal household was more duty than honour. The least she could salvage from today’s expedition was another rung up the ladder of ambition.

Gibstone, the court’s drawing master, scuttled towards them, his anvil-jawed face mulberry-flushed, stubby legs pumping. He flashed a satisfied glance at Franny; he was her co-conspirator in entertaining Mary.

“Do you carry news, Mr. Gibstone?” The interruption was timely, but not at the expense of Franny’s story. In its telling, she required the presence of a significant tomb to capture Mary’s vivid imagination. “Can it wait? We must go to the Lady Chapel.”

“What is it?” cried Lady Mary, eager, apparently, for a diversion. “Oh, what has happened, Mr. Gibstone?”

“Bones! Bones! The Tower”—panted the dwarf, wedging a thumb under his elaborate cravat—“I’ve been at the demolition at the Tower of London. Kit Wren is examining ancient bones found by the stairs at the White Keep. Children’s bones. Two sets. Two children. In the Tower.”

A distant story nagged just beyond Franny’s recollection. “Bones? Whose bones?”

“Could it be the murdered princes?” Mr. Gibstone rolled his eyes in excitement. “Come now! Come and see for yourself.”

Courtiers circled, enticed by the whiff of distraction from Lady Mary’s obsession. She may enjoy predicting her own future by communing with her royal ancestors in the abbey, but the Tower of London? Children’s bones? Evidence of a royal murder?

Infinitely more interesting.

Beyond Mr. Gibstone’s bobbing head, behind the familiar clutch of cousins, friends, and foes, a stranger stood tall, his green-eyed gaze piercing the abbey’s gloom. He watched Franny, not the news-bearing dwarf. She had not seen this man before.

Franny blinked, looked away, met the unforgiving stares of the painted plaster saints in their niches. “Jesu,” she breathed and crossed herself. “The murdered princes? Jesu save their souls.”

Mary clapped with delight. “Bones! Another adventure.” Her voice squeaked excitement. “Franny, we must go this very minute!”

Not until she had finished her business in the abbey. “We have one more tomb to visit.” Franny bent to Mr. Gibstone, gathered her thoughts. “Arrange for the coach to meet us in the sanctuary courtyard. We will be there shortly.”

Mr. Gibstone wavered, torn between Franny’s instructions, Mary’s excitement, and his opportunity to win favour. “They think it might be the missing princes,” he offered again hopefully, “in the Tower.”

The Tower. The princes. Franny inhaled deeply. She hadn’t been to the Tower since she was nine years old. And never thought she’d have reason to return.

Author Bio:

Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.

Elizabeth’s works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother’s Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley’s perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes’ bones. In Charles II’s court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family’s safety, and her own happiness.

Author Links:

Website:          https://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/

Twitter:           https://x.com/ElizStJohn    

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn/

LinkedIn:        https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/

Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/

Threads:          https://www.threads.net/@elizabethjstjohn

Bluesky:          https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethstjohn.bsky.social

Book Bub:       https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-st-john

Amazon Author Page:     https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn

Goodreads:      https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn

Publication Day Interview with Elizabeth St.John

Today in the library, we have a very special guest, fellow historical fiction author, Elizabeth St.John. Today is publication day for her latest book, The King’s Intelligencer. Happy Publication Day, Liz!

A little bit about Liz:

Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.

Elizabeth’s works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother’s Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley’s perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes’ bones. In Charles II’s court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family’s safety, and her own happiness.

Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?

My work is historical fiction, inspired by the people in my family who witnessed some of the most significant times in English history. I have always loved history, and grew up reading books by Jean Plaidy, Anya Seton and Mary Stewart. This sense of connection to the past, through the eyes of those who lived in those times, never fails to enchant me.

Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

Yes, absolutely. My reading varies, depending on whether I’m writing or researching, or resting (do we ever not think about our writing?!) I do enjoy historical fiction, and especially reading beta drafts or advance copies written by my historical fiction author friends. The time period doesn’t really matter, if it’s well researched and written. When I’m writing, I tend to read way outside of my genre – perhaps a beach romance or a crime thriller for escapism – and lots and lots of non-fiction to support my current story.

Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?

All my books are independently published, and I think always will be. I have such an intensely personal relationship with all of them that it would be really difficult to give editorial and creative control to a third party. Besides, I do love the freedom to follow my own instincts on the story, and working in partnership with my editor and cover designer.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

Yes, tremendously. I chose (or they chose me) to write about my ancestors, and so they are the lynchpin of my novels. They also happened to live in some really interesting and beautiful places in England – The Tower of London, Lydiard Park, Bolton Castle – and so it’s been a pleasure to visit these historic sites, walk in their footsteps, and enjoy meeting them in person through their portraits, letters, diaries and other papers. I’m also fortunate that I have a well-documented family tree inhabited by some fascinating people, so I’m not leaving any time soon!

What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?

“Write what you love.” I think it’s so important to feel a passion for your subject, your characters, your plot. The reader senses if you’re not fully engaged. The times I’ve struggled with my writing is when I’ve strayed from that, trying to write what I think people might want to read, and when I’ve put that to one side, it flows again. So, by writing about what I love, I hope I can support it with great research and unique story-telling.

If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles?

Oh I play this game with my other historical fiction author friends – we have a small group that sends each other photos and memes of our “hot pick” just to keep us going when we’re in the doldrums of first drafts. I’ve always opted for Henry Cavill…the only challenge is that my characters age faster than he does. On the bright side, he fits every male lead that I’ve written…so Henry, if you’re reading this, call me!

Please tell us about your latest published work.

The King’s Intelligencer

The Discovery of the Princes in the Tower

London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.

Franny Apsley, confidante to Lady Mary Stuart, heir to King Charles’s throne, becomes embroiled in the royal court’s excitement over the discovery of children’s bones. Could they be the missing princes? As a devastating family secret emerges, Franny is recruited by her cousin Nan Wilmot to determine the truth behind the bones. Her investigation, complicated by an attraction to the secretive court artist Nicholas Jameson and the influence of an enigmatic royal spy, reveals a startling plot threatening the throne and England’s stability.

In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?

A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves beloved characters and actual events together to bring a suspenseful mystery to life

Available on #KindleUnlimited

Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer

Website:                https://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/

Twitter:                 https://x.com/ElizStJohn    

Facebook:             https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn/

LinkedIn:               https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/

Instagram:             https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/

Threads:                https://www.threads.net/@elizabethjstjohn

Bluesky:                 https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethstjohn.bsky.social

Book Bub:              https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-st-john

Amazon Author Page:             https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn

Goodreads:           https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn

Book Spotlight: The Pirate’s Physician by Amy Maroney

Today, I am delighted to take part in the book spotlight blog tour for Amy Maroney’s newest release, The Pirate’s Physician, which was published in September.

You can follow the full tour here: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/08/blog-tour-the-pirates-physician-by-amy-maroney.html

The Pirate’s Physician: A Thrilling Companion Novella to the Sea and Stone Chronicles by Amy Maroney

When her world shatters, she dares to trust a pirate. Will she survive what comes next?

The Pirate’s Physician is the story of Giuliana Rinaldi, a student at Salerno’s famed medieval medical school, whose lifelong dream of becoming a physician crumbles when her uncle and mentor dies suddenly.

Faced with an unwanted marriage to a ruthless merchant, Giuliana enlists the help of a Basque pirate and flees home for the dangers of the open sea.

Will she make it to Genoa, where her only remaining relative awaits? Or will this impulsive decision seal her own doom?

A delightful seafaring adventure packed with romance and intrigue, The Pirate’s Physician is a companion novella to the award-winning Sea and Stone Chronicles series of historical novels by Amy Maroney: Island of Gold, Sea of Shadows, and The Queen’s Scribe.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/PiratesPhysician

Author Bio:

Amy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction.

Amy is the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Amy’s new series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, features strong, talented women seeking their fortunes in the medieval Mediterranean.

To receive a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join Amy Maroney’s readers’ group at http://www.amymaroney.com.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/wilaroney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Maroney/author/B01LYHPXEO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney

Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to welcome Deborah Swift back to my blog for the book blog tour for Operation Tulip, her new release. This book is part of her Secret Agent Series (WW2). Deborah has kindly included an excerpt from the book (see below).

You can follow the full tour here:

https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-tour-operation-tulip-by-deborah-swift.html

Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift

Holland, 1944: Undercover British agent Nancy Callaghan has been given her toughest case yet. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured, and Nancy must play the role of a wealthy Nazi to win over a notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, and gain crucial information.

England: Coding expert Tom Lockwood is devastated that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving Northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe, and him from his beloved Nancy. Desperate to rescue the love of his life, Tom devises Operation Tulip, a plan to bring Nancy home.

But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Party. Is Nancy in too deep, or can Tom reach her before she gets caught?

Inspired by the true events of occupied Holland during WW2, don’t miss this utterly gripping story of love, bravery and sacrifice.

Praise for Deborah Swift:

‘A well crafted tale… this book did not disappoint’ NetGalley reviewer,

‘There is action, mystery and romantic entanglements stirred into the story for a fantastically entertaining read’ NetGalley reviewer,

Universal Buy Link: http://mybook.to/Tulip

Operation Tulip: Excerpt

Baker Street, London

Tom Lockwood put the newspaper down on his desk, took off his glasses to rub his eyes, then put his head in his hands. So the rumours were true. Operation Market Garden had failed. Monty’s tanks had got stuck in mud and instead of a liberated Holland, they were now faced with half a country cut off completely from foreign aid. What would Gerbrandy, the Dutch Prime Minister do now?

Tom chewed his pencil. No-one could possibly understand just how desperately he’d been looking forward to Nancy coming home, and to the end of this whole damn war. A few weeks ago he could almost touch it.

And what would liberating only half of Holland mean for his job here at Baker Street? Would N Section be training any more men? He enjoyed his work – there was something satisfying in bashing the mysteries of codes and ciphers into the brains of new agents.

Just then his telephone rang.

Neil’s familiar voice down the crackly line. ‘Have you heard anything?’ He meant about Nancy of course, though he couldn’t say it. Neil was Nancy’s brother and they were both supposed to think Nancy was working as a nurse with the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, or FANYs. They weren’t supposed to know she was an agent in occupied Holland.

‘No, nothing,’ Tom replied. ‘Just what I read in the paper.’

‘Lilli and I listened to Radio Oranje last night like I always do. It’s horrendous. The port of Rotterdam is in ruins and the Germans are destroying anything the Dutch have built, out of sheer spite. Generations of trade reduced to rubble! Not just that, but can you believe they’re bombing and destroying pumping stations? At this rate coastal areas will soon be back under water. They’re evacuating the coastal towns but there’s no way people can get out of the occupied zone, they’ve just nowhere to go.’ His voice cracked. ‘Most of them are too scared to do anything but hide.’

Tom flipped the paper over, one ear glued to the phone. ‘I’ve got the Standard in front of me and it says here they’ve no electricity or fuel. No trams, no telephones. We have to do something. I can’t bear to think of how bad it must be.’

‘What? We can’t do anything.’

‘I don’t know.’ He lowered his voice, ‘Get Nancy out somehow.’

‘But how can we do that? I’m still here at the radio unit at Wavendon, and you can’t do anything with Beauclerk. You know how he has to okay every last little thing.’

Tom pictured his boss, worn ragged by the war. Beauclerk was a nervous wreck, but he’d some sympathy for the man. Though still heading the offices at Baker Street, he was obviously unwell, grey in the face and showing signs of Parkinson’s disease. ‘I don’t know. Can you and Lilli get up to London?’ Lilli was Neil’s wife.

‘Maybe, next weekend, if we can get a train.’

‘Come to my flat then, and in the meantime, I’ll see what I can find out.’

*

Tom loped up the long flight of stairs to the offices and knocked on Beauclerk’s door. A grunt of ‘Enter’ from his boss. Beauclerk was leaning on the desk, poring over the same latest edition of the Evening Standard, a cold cup of coffee at his elbow. The picture of the King on the wall behind him had been replaced with one of Churchill, complete with brooding, intent expression, and cigar in hand.

In contrast, the war hadn’t treated Beauclerk well, his face was drooping, worn and greyish, like old lined concrete.

A sigh. ‘What is it now?’ Beauclerk’s voice had a resigned tone. He clutched one arm to his waistcoat to stop it shaking. His Parkinson’s disease must be getting worse.

‘I saw the papers. What are ‘N’ Section doing about the agents in the north?’ Tom asked. ‘Are they being evacuated?’

A sigh. ‘You know perfectly well I can’t tell you that.’

‘Which means they aren’t.’

‘Their intelligence is still useful. And the place will fall eventually. Has to.’

‘Eventually. When they’re all dead of starvation. You’ve read it?’ Tom pointed to the Standard.

‘Look, I can’t do anything. I know it’s bloody, but I can’t. I should throw you out of my office with a flea in your ear for even asking.’

‘You won’t though. Because you know I’m one of the few people you can trust. That you can tell the truth to. And that counts for a lot in this mad old game we’re in.’

Beauclerk made a face and stirred his cold coffee. Tom watched the milky skin congeal around the spoon.

‘It’s plain enough we can’t get troops over the Maas river,’ Beauclerk said. ‘The Germans have bedded in. The coastal ports are sealed. No-one can get in or out. We’ve stopped all agent drops. Anti-aircraft guns line the banks of every estuary and canal, so there’s no way we can fly anyone in or out.’

‘So our agents’ll just be left to rot with no supplies, no ammunition, and no possible way out.’

‘I’m sorry Tom, but I can’t do anything. And I suppose now’s as good a time as any to tell you – I’m retiring.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m an old horse and they’re putting me out to grass. Ill-health.’

‘When?’ Tom reeled. Baker Street ‘N’ Section without Beauclerk was unthinkable.

‘End of next week. Last of the month. It’ll be Paterson’s problem then, not mine.’

‘Paterson? Rodney Paterson?’ Tom couldn’t believe it. ‘But he’s hopeless. He’s just a jumped-up yes man!’

‘Whatever you think of him, he’s my replacement. He’s tasked with winding down my section of the Political Warfare Executive. And you know him, he always likes to do things by the book.’

Tom groaned. ‘Everything he does is glacial. It’s a catastrophe over there! Someone will have to do something – not just for our agents, but the whole of Holland.’

Author Bio:

Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author of twenty books who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. After taking a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, she enjoys mentoring aspiring novelists and has an award-winning historical fiction blog at her website www.deborahswift.com.

Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today.

Recent books include The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, which was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade Award, and a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal. Her most recent books are The Silk Code and The Shadow Network both set in the Second World War.

Author Links:

Twitter https://twitter.com/swiftstory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordeborahswift/

Website www.deborahswift.com

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/deborahswift1/

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-swift

Amazon http://author.to/DeborahSwift

Book Spotlight: Penny Hampson and A Winter’s Romance Anthology

Today, I am delighted to host fellow historical fiction author, Penny Hampson, on my blog. Penny writes the Gentlemen Regency series. If you are a Georgette Heyer fan, you’ll really enjoy Penny’s stories. Penny is one of six authors whose new anthology, A Winter’s Romance, will be published on 4th November 2024. And it sounds like the perfect curl-up-beside-the-fire read! (Pre-order link below)

A Winter’s Romance is an anthology of short stories by six different romance writers. All the stories are set during the Regency, so if you enjoy novels by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton), Georgette Heyer, or Jane Austen, you might enjoy finding out what other modern authors have to say about this period.

The theme is winter. Now this can conjure up happy scenes of Christmas celebrations, snow-filled landscapes, feasting and general merriment; it can also be a time of sadness. My story, ‘A Christmas Wish’, blends a few elements of both.

My heroine, Jane Mortimer is not looking forward to Christmas. She is a teacher at a school in Bath, with no family and no finances. At the mercy of the headmistress, who wants her to lie about conditions at the school in order to secure funds, Jane is conflicted. If she lies she will keep her job, but if she tells the truth she will lose her position and become homeless.

The test will come with the arrival of her favourite pupil’s new guardian, Lt Colonel Nicholas Anstruther, the man she is expected to lie to.

Nicholas has a few problems of his own. As a single man, he doesn’t want the care of a child he has never met. He’s unlikely to marry, for who wants a badly scarred soldier with only one good eye? The only life he’s known is the army.

In fact, the only person optimistic about his visit is Meg, Nicholas’ ward and Jane’s favourite pupil.

How will things work out? Well, Christmas is coming and Meg believes that wishes made then will come true.

A Winter’s Romance is a Regency romance anthology perfect for curing the wintertime blues. GL Robinson, Audrey Harrison, Penny Hampson, Judith Hale Everett, Christina Dudley, and Jayne Davis have collaborated to bring you six delightful short stories. Pre-order it now!

Buy Link: https://MyBook.to/WinterRomance

Author Bio: Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now three novels in the series, with the fourth, An Adventurer’s Contract, due to be released by the end of 2024.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

Twitter: https://twitter.com/penny_hampson

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyhampsonauthor

Instagram: @pennyhampsonauthor/

Penny’s books are all available on Amazon: viewauthor.at/Pennysbooks

Ships of War – Murky Waters by Bradley John: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Bradley John for the blog tour for his new release, Ships of War – Murky Waters, part of the Ships of War Series. Bradley has kindly provided an excerpt – please see below.

You can follow the full tour here:

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/06/blog-tour-ships-of-war-murky-waters-by-bradley-john.html

Ships of War — Murky Waters, by Bradley John

1791 — England’s cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable state of affairs, though soon to be remedied…

England is ill prepared, Europe is in turmoil and the French Revolution is readying to sweep across the continent. A tedious uneasy peace poises on a knife’s edge. Brittana rules the waves, yet as more and more ships mysteriously vanish, it is rightly thought an act of war. However, England needs more time, or all could be lost.

With war looming, Lieutenant Hayden Reginald Cooper, Royal Navy, waits in Portsmouth braving a bitter cold winter with half pay, beached in a constant state of penury. With little prospects, little “interest” and no chance of promotion or advancement, he is the perfect choice for the Admiralty: unknown, unimportant and wholly dispensable.

As so it begins, a turbulent action-packed naval adventure within the murky waters preceding war, the French piracy soon to discover the grit of a lowly Lieutenant, one who has very little to lose…

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/br2gDZ

Ships of War — Murky Waters (excerpt)

Holt beheld the incoming broadside standing tall upon the quarterdeck. In the first moments he regarded the undeniable sight of smoke instantly puffing from the ships yonder, silently though, for the sound had not yet fully travelled. He was thereafter borne of a singular mind, assuredly a mind to which all familiarity with the outside world now fell lost. It certified within him a suffering never before deemed imaginable. It was a hostility he would soon not forget, such was his boyhood innocence. Noted instantly were a great many astonishing sounds, all racing to rupture the virtue of his lobes, an overall resonance seemingly strange and without a doubt wholly outlandish. Having never been on the receiving end of such a broadside, it openly gave him pause. The whistling tunes aloft seared the sky and oh how they chanced to inflict the gravest of thoughts, the wind of the enemy’s shots whizzing as they trespassed upon the ship. The scene descended upon him most abruptly, the horrendous tearing of sails overhead, the ripping of canvas crying aloud as the weight of spars sought to claw them down. Splinters upon bulwark and gunwale haphazardly flew, mimicking a violent winter’s storm, more furious than even a hundred wood choppers madly serving their axes. All about the planking, indeed immersed within the depths of the structure, Agamemnon shuddered and trembled, the penance of each shot hurried from the ship. The roaring of cannon reverberated within his chest, almost as if he were in fact somehow the barrel itself, the hum of each shot grabbing wickedly at his heart. The deafening turmoil within sought to impose a hideous most disturbed feeling and immediately he felt inclined to be uncontrollably ill, the vile gurgling about his abdomen finally seeping the sanctity of his throat.

Author Bio:

Bradley John Tatnell (aka “Bradley John”) is an Australian novelist whose ancestry can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in England. His forbears lived mostly in Kent, Hertfordshire and the Isle of Thanet. Some were mariners and some were even of the aristocracy. His direct ancestors arrived in Australia soon after its colonisation in the late 1700’s, most of which were proud country folk. James Squire, a notable character in history, who arrived on the first fleet in 1788, was his (sixth) great grandfather.

Bradley John graduated from the Church of England Grammar School at age 16 and the Queensland University of Technology at age 19. His early life was spent mainly in the arena of law.

Bradley John has a love of all things ancient and historical, including golf, to which he plays with ye old hickory shafted clubs including the original heads from pre-1935. He also studies the ancient art of Korean sword, having attained master level. His love of language, in all its forms, now extends to the pursuit of conquering Hangul, the language of the Korean people.

Bradley John has been privately writing novels since 2003. “Ships of War — Murky Waters”, his first publication, births a series of naval adventure fiction intended to span the length of the French Revolutionary Wars. This of course is the much loved genre which includes the thundering Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian and the popular “Master and Commander” blockbuster by Peter Weir. Owing to Bradley John’s English heritage, no guesses are needed to determine which side the book’s heroes will sail upon…

Author Links:

Website: https://www.bradleyjohnauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Bradley-John-Author/61555706665586

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradley.john.author