Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 132

Social Media Promotion with N.N.Light’s Book Heaven

Social Media Promotion with N.N.Light’s Book Heaven


Welcome to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, the home of N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm who caters to busy authors. We’ve been in business since 2015 and pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities.  Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover authors via word of mouth, especially through social media marketing. We have the social media reach of over  thirty million . We love promoting authors and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit. Before we let you know what we offer and how we operate, let us tell you a little bit about ourselves.
Mrs. N was born in Minnesota, lived in Southern California only to move to chilly Ontario, Canada to marry her beloved husband MR N. She is the co-author (along with Mr. N) of five books. Our combined fifty-seven-year expertise while working in the publishing industry has helped us tremendously in how to write, edit, review, market and promote books in today’s publishing market. We love helping writers achieve their dream of being a successful author.
Mr. N is a numismatist by trade for the largest coin dealer in Canada but has always loved reading and reviewing books. Joining forces with his wife, they write together under the pen name N. N. Light and he especially loves helping other authors succeed.  
N. N. Light Author Promotions offers multi-tiered promotions, catering to busy authors with varying marketing budgets. Here’s a sampling of what we offer:
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We love helping authors succeed and we want to take your social media marketing to the next level.
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Join #HistoricalFiction author, Elizabeth St.John, as she explores the English Civil War diary that inspired her fabulous series — The Lydiard Chronicles #History #ToweOfLondon @ElizStJohn

Like Mother Like DaughterExtracts from a Civil War DiaryBy Elizabeth St.John
When I first came across Lucy Hutchinson’s memoirs and notebooks, they were deep within the archives of Nottingham Castle, dusty and filed away. Although in print since the early 1800s as “Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchison”, my ancestress’s work had been overlooked by all but the most committed of scholars. Lucy Hutchinson was an exceptionally educated brilliant young woman, and as I read her clear handwriting, I began to marvel at the intriguing story she wrote of living through England’s terrible civil war and the rebuilding of a nation. Here was a story that resonated across four hundred years, telling of beliefs, loss and courage, and the abiding love of family.


Lucy Hutchinson’s Journal, which formed the basis of her work, Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson. Credit: Nottingham Castle

Comprised of several sections and letters, Lucy Hutchinson wrote the Memoirs for her children, to tell them of the life of their father, Parliamentarian Colonel John Hutchinson. Along the way, she also wrote of her brother, Allen Apsley, and of the life of her parents, Lucy St.John and Sir Allen Apsley. The following extracts are some compelling entries that inspired my trilogy, The Lydiard Chronicles, and the first two books in the series, The Lady of the Tower and By Love Divided.
In 1617 Lucy St.John entered the Tower of London, not knowing if she would ever leave. She committed no crime--she was the Keeper's wife--and for the next thirteen years she would live among the aristocratic prisoners held captive in the most infamous prison in Britain. A religious woman, she embraced the new Calvinist doctrine, and as an accomplished herbalist, she cared for the prisoners as if they were her own.


The Queen’s House at the Tower of London, residence of Lucy St.John and birthplace of Lucy Hutchinson. 

Here is an extract from Lucy Hutchinson’s diary, telling of her mother's life in the Tower:

“…Sir Walter Raleigh and Mr. Ruthven being prisoners in the Tower, and addicting themselves to chemistry, she (Lucy St.John) suffered them to make their rare experiments at her cost, partly to comfort and divert the poor prisoners, and partly to gain the knowledge of their experiments, and the medicines to help such poor people as were not able to seek physicians. By these means she acquired a great deal of skill, which was very profitable to many all her life. She was not only to these, but to all the other prisoners that came into the Tower, as a mother. All the time she dwelt in the Tower, if any were sick she made them broths and restoratives with her own hands, visited and took care of them, and provided them all necessaries; if any were afflicted she comforted them, so that they felt not the inconvenience of a prison who were in that place.”
As she adjusted to her life in the Tower, Lucy St.John found herself pregnant with her second child, and in January 1620, she gave birth to a girl, the future Lucy Hutchinson. In the diaries, Lucy H. chooses a combination of mysticism and intellectualism to describe herself in the following words:
“…My mother, while she was with child of me, dreamed that she was walking in the garden with my father, and that a star came down into her hand, with other circumstances, which, though I have often heard, I minded not enough to remember perfectly; only my father told her, her dream signified she should have a daughter of some extraordinary eminency; for my father and mother fancying me then beautiful, and more than ordinarily apprehensive, applied all their cares, and spared no cost to improve me in my education, which procured me the admiration of those that flattered my parents. By the time I was four years old I read English perfectly, and having a great memory, I was carried to sermons; and while I was very young could remember and repeat them exactly.
When I was about seven years of age, I remember I had at one time eight tutors in several qualities, languages, music, dancing, writing, and needlework; but my genius was quite averse from all but my book, and that I was so eager of, that my mother thinking it prejudiced my health, would moderate me in it; yet this rather animated me than kept me back, and every moment I could steal from my play I would employ in any book I could find, when my own were locked up from me. After dinner and supper I still had an hour allowed me to play, and then I would steal into some hole or other to read. My father would have me learn Latin, and I was so apt that I outstripped my brothers who were at school, although my father’s chaplain, that was my tutor, was a pitiful dull fellow.
My brothers, who had a great deal of wit, had some emulation at the progress I made in my learning, which very well pleased my father; though my mother would have been contented I had not so wholly addicted myself to that as to neglect my other qualities. As for music and dancing, I profited very little in them, and would never practise my lute or harpsichord but when my masters were with me; and for my needle I absolutely hated it. Play among other children I despised, and when I was forced to entertain such as came to visit me, I tired them with more grave instructions than their mothers, and plucked all their (dolls) to pieces.
Lucy Hutchinson grew up to be a brilliant young woman, a writer and philosopher, and married John Hutchinson, one of the leading moderate voices in Parliament’s battle against Charles I. During the war, Colonel Hutchinson was appointed Governor of Nottingham, and as such moved his own family into Nottingham Castle for safety when the war came to his door. When they took refuge in the castle (and Lucy St.John was living with her daughter at that point in their lives), Lucy Hutchinson followed her mother’s footsteps in caring for the prisoners, regardless of their crime or beliefs.
“There was a large room, which was the chapel, in the castle: this they had filled full of prisoners, besides a very bad prison, which was no better than a dungeon, called the Lion’s Den. In the encounter, one of the Derby captains was slain, and five of our men hurt, who for want of another surgeon, were brought to the governor’s wife, and she having some excellent balsams and plasters in her closet, with the assistance of a gentleman that had some skill, dressed all their wounds, whereof some were dangerous, being all shots, with such good success, that they were all cured in convenient time.

Nottingham Castle as it would have appeared in Lucy Hutchinson’s time.
Written almost four hundred years ago, Lucy Hutchinson’s Memoirs and autobiography give us a fascinating account of life in seventeenth century England. With clear language and a compelling conviction in her beliefs, she brings us into her world and treats us to an eye witness account of England’s great divide.
For further reading, Lucy’s work is online:Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson.

The Lydiard Chronicles are on sale on Amazon as Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and paperbacks. The Lady of the Tower is also on sale at the Tower of London and both paperbacks are available through bookshops.

The Lady of the TowerAmazon
By Love DividedAmazon
Elizabeth St.John
Elizabeth St.John spends her time between California, England, and the past. A best-selling author, historian and genealogist, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and Castle Fonmon to the Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it's hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth's family still occupy them - in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that's a different story…

Elizabeth loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Website • Amazon Author Page • Twitter • Facebook.

Join me in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries #RegencyRomance #Giveaway @SabrinaJeffries @KensingtonBooks @hfvbt

Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours Presents…
Project DuchessBy Sabrina Jeffries

From  New York Times  bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries comes a sparkling new series about an oft-widowed mother’s grown children, who blaze through society in their quest for the truth about their fathers . . . and in the process find that love just might conquer all . . .
A series of stepfathers and a difficult childhood have left Fletcher “Grey” Pryde, 5th Duke of Greycourt, with a guarded heart, enviable wealth, and the undeserved reputation of a rogue. Grey’s focus on expanding his dukedom allows him little time to find a wife. But when his mother is widowed yet again and he meets the charmingly unconventional woman managing his stepfather’s funeral, he’s shocked to discover how much they have in common. Still, Grey isn’t interested in love, no matter how pretty, or delightfully outspoken, the lady . . .Beatrice Wolfe gave up on romance long ago, and the arrogant Duke of Greycourt with his rakish reputation isn’t exactly changing her mind. Then Grey agrees to assist his grief-stricken mother with her latest “project”: schooling spirited, unfashionable Beatrice for her debut. Now that Beatrice is seeing through Grey’s charms to his wounded heart, she’s having trouble keeping him at arm’s length. But once Grey starts digging into her family’s secrets, she must decide whether her loyalties lie with her family . . . or with the man whose lessons capture her heart . Praise for Sabrina Jeffries’ previous novels.“Quick pacing, witty dialogue, and charmingly original characters set Jeffries’ books apart”Publishers Weekly, starred review.“Master storyteller Jeffries is at the top of her game.”RT Book Reviews, Top Pick on The Secret of Flirting.
A Conversation with Sabrina Jeffries
Hi Sabrina, welcome to Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots…. Could you tell my readers a little about who you are and what kind of books you write.
My name is Sabrina Jeffries, and I’m the New York Times bestselling author of over fifty  novels and novellas, most of them historicals set in the Regency period.
I love Regency Romance. What inspired you to write Project Duchess?
First, the pleasure I had writing a previous series, The Hellions, with a mystery thread going through all five books that was only solved in the last book. Second, my fascination with blended families. I don’t come from one myself, which may be why I find them interesting. I’ve always wondered how dealing with a stepsister, half-brother, stepfather, etc., differs from dealing with full siblings in a nuclear family. Families in past centuries were more likely to be blended, since the mortality rate for mothers was higher (many more women died in childbirth), but I thought it might be fun to deal with a family where the mother lived and the fathers died. Sort of a matriarchy within a patriarchy.
What were the challenges you faced in researching this period of history?
Finding information about everyday life issues in the Regency is harder than researching the usual stuff like ballrooms and gowns, etc. I pored over books and web articles to learn a) what the etiquette was for being presented in society and b) how funerals were handled, among other things.
There are many Regency-set historical romances. Can you tell us three things that set your novel apart?
I tend to focus more on historical avenues that aren’t familiar to people—like how an estate is actually run and what social issues were important at the time. Not too many historical romances talk about how hunting dogs were bred, for example.
No, you are right, they do not! Can you share with us what you are you currently working on?
I’m plotting the third book of the series (the second book, The Bachelor, is already in production). But I can’t even say much about it because I’m pretty much at the beginning of that process. I can say that it’s about the second oldest duke brother, the Duke of Thornstock.Such a pleasure talking to you today, Sabrina.Scroll down for a fabulous giveaway.

Giveaway
We have two paperback copies of Project Duchess up for grabs! Enter HERE!Giveaway Rules
♥ Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.♥ Giveaway is open to the US only.♥ Only one entry per household.♥ All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.

Pick up your copy ofProject DuchessAMAZON  BARNES AND NOBLE  GOOGLE PLAY  ITUNES  INDIEBOUND  KOBO

Sabrina Jeffries
Sabrina Jeffries is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels and works of short fiction (some written under the pseudonyms Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas). Whatever time not spent writing in a coffee-fueled haze is spent traveling with her husband and adult autistic son or indulging in one of her passions—jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, and music. With over 9 million books in print in more than 20 languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction, and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world.
Connect with Sabrina: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM| GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

#BookReview — A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O’Brien #Medieval #HistoricalFiction @anne_obrien

A Tapestry of TreasonBy Anne O’Brien

Her actions could make history – but at what price?

1399: Constance of York, Lady Despenser, proves herself more than a mere observer in the devious intrigues of her magnificently dysfunctional family, The House of York.

Surrounded by power-hungry men, including her aggressively self-centred husband Thomas and ruthless siblings Edward and Richard, Constance places herself at the heart of two treasonous plots against King Henry IV.  Will it be possible for this Plantagenet family to safeguard its own political power by restoring either King Richard II to the throne, or the precarious Mortimer claimant?

Although the execution of these conspiracies will place them all in jeopardy, Constance is not deterred, even when the cost of her ambition threatens to overwhelm her.  Even when it endangers her new-found happiness.

With treason, tragedy, heartbreak and betrayal, this is the story of a woman ahead of her time, fighting for herself and what she believes to be right in a world of men.


“When two overcomes three, all is lost…”
But it doesn’t really mean anything. Dice cannot possibly predict the future. It was just the confused ramblings of a cheap fortune-teller. No, there was nothing to be concerned about. Nothing at all. The House of York had it all, power, land, and the ear of the King. What could possibly go wrong?
Power, when one has tasted it, is very difficult to relinquish. Constance of York, Lady Despenser, and her family rose to the greatest of heights under the reign of Richard II. But Richard’s throne has been stolen by that undeserving usurper, Henry Bolingbroke, 2nd Duke of Lancaster.
The fate of the House of York now rests in Henry’s hands. Many of the nobles would love to see the House of York stripped of all her power, and her lands given to those who are more deserving. When two overcomes three… This cannot be allowed to happen. Constance will not let it happen. They will grovel if they have to, pledge allegiance to the new Lancastrian King if that will secure their immediate future. But, once a York always a York. United, the House of York is a formidable foe, and they will topple that usurper from his throne one way or another.
However, Henry is no boy at his books. If the House of York wants to pick a fight, then he will be ready for them. All of them. Even Constance.
From lofty heights to the pits of despair, A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O’Brien is the unforgettable story of Constance of York, Lady Despenser.
While other royal ladies sat with their embroidery, Constance plotted her revenge. Born to power, she was not a woman who would be happy playing the subservient cousin to Henry IV. Initially, I found it very difficult to like Constance. She is a manipulative and cruel woman. She thinks of nothing other than power, position and of course, wealth. Constance claims to be for York, but she is more for herself than any cause. Constance breathes sedition. That is how history records her life, and that is how O’Brien introduces her. Constance is a devious woman. She has a heart so black that no amount of light could ever penetrate her soul. But, and this is what I love about O’Brien’s books, Constance is not a one-dimensional villain in this tale, far from it. As the story progresses, O’Brien weaves a somewhat different and unexplored Constance to the one that history paints so darkly, and it is this Constance that I found myself weeping for.
Told from Constance’s perspective, O’Brien explores what it was like to be a woman during a time of great upheaval and political change, and what was to be the prelude to the War of the Roses. Constance is a very strong, driven character, but there is another story to her tale, and this was what made this interpretation of Constance so wonderfully enthralling. Love, hate, birth, death, what an incredible story that those who penned history has hidden from us. O’Brien has very carefully put the jigsaw of Constance’s life back together, and with a few educated guesses, she has presented her readers with a story that is tautly gripping and so exceedingly engaging. The hours seemed to fly by as I lost myself in this book. I became enthralled in Constance’s life, the people she loves, and the terrible betrayal that she endures by the hand of one of her closest relatives. The death of her husband and her child, and again another betrayal, but this time by a man she loved with every fibre of her being, made her story unforgettable. This is not a happy story, for how can it be when her life was anything but?
O’Brien has captured the very essence of what life may well have been like in the court of Henry IV. Henry knows that he needs to be lenient when dealing with his enemies. Henry is incredibly forgiving to his York cousins. O’Brien has portrayed Henry as a just king. However, Henry is very much aware that those who profess their undying loyalty one minute would stab him in the back the next. O’Brien has certainly portrayed Henry’s court as a pit of vipers. Constance and her Yorkist kin for all their pedigree, are the venom in the snake’s bite. Henry is well aware that they could bring him down if he dares lower his guard for even one moment.
There are many men in Constance’s life. The treatment of Constance by her brother, Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, is, on the face of it, appalling. Edward is seemingly more concerned about his own neck than his sister’s, but I could not help but wonder if he knew that Constance was more likely to come away with her life, than he would if he confessed to the charges laid before him. Was Edward a shrewd politician, or a coward? I am not sure. Whatever he was, he certainly knew how to play this Medieval Game of Thrones to his advantage.
There is one other secondary character that has to be mentioned, and that is Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent.  Edmund was something of a paradox. I don’t think I have ever adored and disliked a character quite so much as Edmund. I thought he was wonderfully portrayed. He and Constance are the victims of their time. And their story was particularly heartrending.
The historical detailing of this book has to be commended. O’Brien has brought Lancastrian England back to life. The history is so rich in the telling and so very vibrant. O’Brien is a master at writing compelling Historical Fiction.
A Tapestry of Treason was everything I hoped it would be and then some. It is undoubtedly a very emotional story, so do keep a box of Kleenex handy if you are of a tearful disposition!
I Highly Recommended.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pre-order your copy of A Tapestry of TreasonAmazon UK Released on Kindle August 22nd2019

Anne O’Brien
Anne O’Brien was born in West Yorkshire. After gaining a BA Honours degree in History at Manchester University and a Master’s in Education at Hull, she lived in East Yorkshire for many years as a teacher of history.
She now lives with her husband in an eighteenth-century timber-framed cottage in the depths of the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire, on the borders between England and Wales, where she writes historical novels. The perfect place in which to bring medieval women back to life.
Anne loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Website  Facebook Twitter

Check out Pam Lecky's fabulous new book — No Stone Unturned #NewRelease #HistoricalFiction @pamlecky

No Stone UnturnedBy Pam Lecky

A suspicious death, stolen gems and an unclaimed reward: who will be the victor in a deadly game of cat and mouse?
London October 1886: Trapped in a troubled marriage, Lucy Lawrence is ripe for an adventure. But when she meets the enigmatic Phineas Stone, over the body of her husband in the mortuary, her world begins to fall apart.
When her late husband’s secrets spill from the grave, and her life is threatened by the leader of London’s most notorious gang, Lucy must find the strength to rise to the challenge. But who can she trust and how is she to stay out of the murderous clutches of London’s most dangerous criminal?
Pick up your copy ofNo Stone Unturned
Amazon UK • Amazon US


Pam Lecky
Pam Lecky is an Irish historical fiction author, writing crime, mystery, romance and the supernatural. Pam is represented by the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency in London. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Society of Authors and has a particular love of the late Victorian era/early 20thCentury.
Her debut novel, The Bowes Inheritance, was awarded the B.R.A.G Medallion; shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize 2016; and long-listed for the Historical Novel Society 2016 Indie Award.
Her short stories are available in an anthology, entitled Past Imperfect, which was published in April 2018.
June 2019, will see the release of the first book in the Lucy Lawrence Mystery series, No Stone Unturned, a fast-paced Victorian mystery/crime, set in London and Yorkshire. The sequel, Footprints in the Sand will be released later this year.
Connect with Pam: Website • Amazon • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram.

#HistoricalFiction author, Elizabeth Ducie, is talking about what inspired her to write her fabulous book — Gorgito’s Ice Rink #History #Russia @ElizabethDucie

Where does my writing come from?An Author’s InspirationBy Elizabeth Ducie

When I first worked in Russia in 1993, my client was a Georgian immigrant called Khariton Davrashvilli. He was a larger than life character: a hard drinker who loved to party when the working day was over. Our first meeting took place in a casino. He shook my hand, gave me a few gambling tokens and pushed me towards the Blackjack table! That was the moment realised my working life was never going to be quite the same ever again.
Khariton ran a large pharmaceutical distribution company out of a former military base in the middle of a forest 500 kilometres north east of Moscow. 


I never did find out how he made his way from Tbilisi in the far south of the Soviet Union to this wild place. Nor how he managed to get hold of what had the potential to be a huge asset once the finance systems settled down. We were there because he wanted to begin manufacturing the drugs himself. It was a fascinating project, and the small packaging facility we set up and commissioned is still running successfully, more than 25 year later. 




Khariton was a great sports benefactor. His dinner guests included Olympic boxers and other local sports heroes. And he had a dream: to build an ice rink where the future Olympic skating stars could train. Unfortunately, his lifestyle caught up with him and he died in his mid-fifties before he had a chance to bring the ice-rink into reality.
So I decided to build it for him - at least in the pages of a novel: and at that moment, Gorgito Tabatadze was created.
Gorgito Tabatadze 

Gorgito’s Ice Rinkis a time-slip quest novel with story lines set in the 1990s and from the 1940s to the 1970s. It is completely fictional; I didn’t know anything about Khariton’s family or his background - so I made it up. And I never set foot in Russia before 1993, so the historical thread was very definitely a complete work of fiction. But inevitably I picked up anecdotes and experiences in the fifteen years I was working there, and many individual incidents found their way into the book.
The moonlight drive down narrow country roads in a minibus following a weaving limousine as our hero drives honoured guests back to their hotel after a party. The British engineers teaching the Russians to dance the hokey-cokey. The missile silos converted into underground warehouses holding a wide variety of goods during the time when money was short and even the larger companies indulged in bartering. The day-long celebration accompanying the opening of the factory.

The hardy Russians picnicking in the snow on Valentine’s Day. The bottle of water switched for vodka by an engineer hoping to remain sober through an interminable dinner. The visitors to the factory who were ushered in by a proud owner with little or no regard for hygiene regulations. And, of course, the rouble crash in August 1998 which brought many projects, including the one I was working on at the time, juddering to a halt.
One question that’s often discussed among writers is whether to use real locations as settings for their books. In Gorgito’s Ice Rink, the base-turned-factory was a real place, but the town of Nikolevsky was invented. This was because I wanted to combine features I’d seen in different places. It is a mash-up of Kostroma (where Khariton lived) and Kursk, a city south of Moscow.
My fiction takes a variety of forms. As well as this novel, I have a series of thrillers, plus three collections of small pieces. But there is one thing that unites all of them: the sense of place. Most times I start with a location; then invent the characters; and then give them something to keep them occupied until they take over and direct the story themselves.
Gorgito’s Ice Rink


Can keeping a new promise make up for breaking an old one?

When Gorgito Tabatadze sees his sister run off with a soldier, he is bereft. When she disappears into Stalin’s Gulag system, he is devastated. He promises their mother on her death-bed he will find the missing girl and bring her home; but it is to prove an impossible quest.

Forty years later, Gorgito, now a successful businessman in post-Soviet Russia, watches another young boy lose his sister to a love stronger than family. When a talented Russian skater gets the chance to train in America, Gorgito promises her grief-stricken brother he will build an ice-rink in Nikolevsky, their home town, to bring her home again.

With the help of a British engineer, who has fled to Russia to escape her own heartache, and hindered by the local Mayor who has his own reasons for wanting the project to fail, can Gorgito overcome bureaucracy, corruption, economic melt-down and the harsh Russian climate in his quest to build the ice-rink and bring a lost sister home? And will he finally forgive himself for breaking the promise to his mother?

A story of love, loss and broken promises. Gorgito's story, told through the eyes of the people whose lives he touched. Gorgito’s Ice Rink was Runner Up in the 2015 Self-Published Book of the Year Awards.
Pick up your copy ofGorgito’s Ice RinkAmazon

Elizabeth Ducie
When Elizabeth Ducie had been working in the international pharmaceutical industry for nearly thirty years, she decided she’d like to take a break from technical writing—text books, articles and training modules—and write about some of her travel experiences instead. She took some courses in Creative Writing and discovered to her surprise that she was happier, and more successful, writing fiction than memoirs or life-writing. In 2012, she gave up the day job, and started writing full-time. She has published three novels, three collections of short stories and a series of manuals on business skills for writers.
Connect with Elizabeth: Website • Facebook• Twitter.

Check out the excerpt from #HistoricalFiction author, Crystal King, fabulous book — The Chef’s Secret #Giveaway @crystallyn @hfvbt

Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours Presents…

The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King

A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, and the nephew who sets out to discover his late uncle’s secrets—including the identity of the noblewoman Bartolomeo loved until he died.
When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion.


Praise for The Chef’s Secret
“King’s characters are drawn as lovingly, as sensually as the food and the Vatican world she describes, and the plot itself — part secret-code mystery, part love story — moves like a well-paced meal.”Boston Globe“King supplies all of the elements historical fiction fans expect in a juicy Renaissance tale, including luscious meals, erotic interludes, and deaths by poison and blade. This rich tale should satisfy the appetites of fans of historicals.”Publishers Weekly“In The Chef’s Secret, Crystal King serves up a delectable read stuffed with passion, danger, and a plot worthy of Dan Brown. This fast-paced, engrossing novel brings Renaissance Rome and the Vatican to life through the eyes of a famous papal chef. You won’t be able to put it down.”Stephanie Storey, author of Oil and Marble
Excerpt
Forty-three days after he first laid eyes upon the most beautiful girl in the world, Bartolomeo had the good fortune to overhear the maids talking about a girl at the palazzo. Two of the serving maids huddled in the pantry near his post where he was prepping nightingales for the cena. When they mentioned the dress she had worn the night before, Bartolomeo realized the principessa was the object of their admiration.
One of the maids was a thin slip of a girl who served the cardinale’s sister. The other was a young woman who had caught his fancy for a time the summer before, but soon bored Bartolomeo with her empty gossip.
“She’s here from Roma,” the first said, awe in her voice. They talked of the girl’s extraordinarily wealthy family, of her famed dressmaker, and of how long it took to wrangle her curls each morning.
When they said her name, Bartolomeo had to put his knife down for fear of cutting himself. Oh, to know her true name! Happiness filled him like a carafe of fine wine. Her name, he thought, was like the taste of strawberries sprinkled with sugar. It was like the summer sun touching the petal of a freshly bloomed flower. That evening, when he gazed out his little garret window, he wished he could shout her name across the rooftops, but he could never say it aloud. To do so was too dangerous, for her and for him. He would take a thousand lashings for his Stella [Author’s note, this is a pet name that Bartolomeo has for her], but he could not bear to have her come to harm.
The next morning, Stella stopped Bartolomeo in the loggia. The sky was bright and the October air was still gentle and warm. He was readying to leave the palazzo to go to market when she approached. He was so startled to see her there he stopped in his tracks, mouth agape.
The princess was radiant in a red velvet gown, her hair piled high upon her head. Her beauty was staggering, her skin so clear, her cheeks ruddy and fresh. What a sight he must seem in comparison, with his own hair a tussle of wild waves, a grease stain adorning one sleeve. He hadn’t bathed, and he was certain he smelled too much like onions and ham.
She recognized his discomfort and giggled, in a way that immediately eased his fear. She gently touched his arm with one hand, and with the other she pressed a piece of paper into his palm. “What is your name?”
He looked around to see who might be witnessing the exchange, but there were only a couple of gardeners in the vicinity, none of whom paid them any mind. “Bartolomeo,” he said, gathering courage.
She released his hand and shared her own name. Bartolomeo’s heart sang as she repeated the word he had been turning over and over in his mind since the day before. 
“Please tell the cook how much I love his tourtes.”
Bartolomeo nodded his head vigorously.  “I will, madonna, I will.”
She dazzled him with another smile. “I liked the radish flower the best, though.”
She winked and turned away. He stood there, staring at the curve of her departing body, wondering what had just happened. He stared until she rounded the corner of the loggia. He was light-headed and it felt like he was spinning, like a little bird on a spit, fire rising all around it. The piece of paper in his hand was small and warm. He hurried out of the palazzo and down the cobbled street lining the adjoining Rio di San Luca canal.
When he was sure no one could see, he stopped and unfolded the little piece of paper.
Giveaway
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#BookReview — State of Treason by Paul Walker #HistoricalFiction #Tudors @PWalkerauthor

State of TreasonBy Paul Walker

London 1578A cauldron of conspiracy, intrigue and torture.
The might of Spain and the growing influence of the Catholic League in France all threaten the stability of Queen Elizabeth and her state.William Constable, a physician and astrologer, is summoned to the presence of the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. He is charged to assist a renowned Puritan, John Foxe, in uncovering the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a hidden, illegitimate child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the masses and serve as the focus for an invasion.
Constable must uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion.
A connection to his estranged mentor, Doctor Dee, comes under scrutiny.
Pressured into taking up a position as a court physician, Constable becomes a reluctant spy.
Do the stars and cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of scheming?
Constable becomes an unwitting pawn, in a complex game of thrones and power.
State of Treason is the first in a series of Elizabethan thrillers featuring William Constable.





“The thought that our Queen may have hidden a child is disturbing and I understand why enemies of our state would wish to spread such ideas...”

A Virgin Queen? Rumour has it that Elizabeth’s reputation is not so white as she would have her subjects believe. Behind closed doors, there is talk of a bastard child — a maid. Such talk is dangerous, but if it were to be proven true, then Elizabeth’s position as Supreme Governor of the English Protestant Church would be undermined. But worse than that, Elizabeth could lose her throne and all that she had worked so hard to achieve.
Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster and the principle Secretary to Queen Elizabeth I, has been watching the rise of the Catholic League in France and the growing influence of Spain with trepidation. Walsingham had witnessed the atrocities against Protestants during the Massacre de la Saint-Barthélemy in France. His greatest fear was that the same would happen in England. Walsingham is single-minded in his determination that such a calamity would never stain the soil of England red.
When the spymaster summons you, it is in your best interest to answer his call. Physician and astrologer, William Constable, finds himself in an unprecedented situation. Walsingham has requested that William and the renowned Puritan, John Foxe, discover the secrets of a mysterious cabinet. What they discover is shocking. Could the whispered rumours of an illegitimate child be true? Walsingham suggests that it is a plot to discredit the Queen and to divide the nation. He wants to know who is behind this latest conspiracy so that he can stop them.
Drawn into a world of espionage, treason and sedition, William must use his wits and skill if he is to discover those responsible for the conspiracy before it is too late.
With an exceptional eye to historical detail and a sweepingly impressive narrative, State of Treason by Paul Walker is the powerfully compulsive story of William Constable as he tries to unravel and thwart a plot against Elizabeth’s throne.
Between the pages of this remarkable novel, is an exploration of the world of espionage and the dangers that such a life brings. Walsingham was a man who sanctioned the torture of Catholic priests and suspected conspirators. He is not a man that William would have chosen to spend time with. William finds himself thrust into a world that he does not want to be a part of, and he is very mindful of the responsibility that has been placed upon his shoulders. He wants to serve his Queen, and he will do everything within his power to help Walsingham do this, but at the same time, he is always heedful of the treatment of those who Walsingham suspects of wrongdoings. Walsingham is feared by many and for a good reason. He is unmerciful. William wants to be absolutely sure that the information he gathers and gives to Walsingham is correct. William is a man of deep integrity and has a compassionate heart which made him, in one way, wholly unsuitable for espionage. However, his hesitation and his determination to handle the situation with incredible care and conscious thought made him precisely the right man for this delicate and secretive task. Walker has presented his readers with a character who is wonderfully human and extremely likeable.
This book is not all about espionage and danger. There are some lighter, tender moments as well. William’s relationship with his mother made him incredibly appealing. He is a gentle man who loves deeply and shoulders a great responsibility for the people who depend on him. That, notwithstanding, he is also prepared to fight, to the death if necessary, to keep those he loves safe. Alongside this, there is also a beautiful love story which made me hope for the best, but at the same time, fearful for the worst. William is torn between his duty and keeping the woman he loves safe. I simply adored William. Such a wonderfully rounded protagonist that I could not help but want the best outcome for him.
Walker deserves the highest of praise for not only does he write highly appealing characters, but he has also brought back to life the danger and the intrigue of the glittering Tudor court. Walker has a wonderful novelist eye for historical detail. Nothing is beyond the telling. The streets of Tudor London came alive under Walker’s masterful depiction. One could almost smell the stench coming from the animal waste on the roads and the sickening smell of the blood of so-called papist as they hang from the scaffold. Likewise, I fancied I could taste the sweetness of the plums and the bitterness of cheap wine. Kudo’s, Mr Walker for breathing life back into Tudor England.
The difference between the richness of court life and the abject poverty of the Queen’s subjects was also drawn with extraordinary care and skill. There is no doubt in my mind that Walker has a visceral understanding of what makes history worth reading.
As the blurb suggests and as I have stated, this story is about a plot to overthrow the Queen. There was a hint of Arthur Conan Doyle’s, who is best known for his fabulous Sherlock Holmes series, style of writing in this book. So many questions came to mind as I tried to, along with William, put the pieces together. Walker kept me guessing right up until the very end of the novel, which is what I would expect from an exceptionally well written historical thriller. I thought it was absolutely brilliant and skilfully executed.
State of Treason is a book that has been penned with a great deal of energy and imagination, while at the same time staying true to the historical era that it is set in. Fans of C. J. Sansom’s The Shardlake Series will love this book. I look forward to reading book 2 in what promises to be a fabulous series.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.The Coffee Pot Book Club.


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Paul Walker



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Join #Arthurian author, Mary Anne Yarde, as she takes a look at The Battle of Badon Hill: The Fight for Briton #History #Foklore

The Battle of Badon HillThe Fight for BritonBy Mary Anne Yarde

Little did the knights, who survived the slaughter at Badon Hill, know as they stared down at those they had lost on that blood-soaked battlefield, that this battle, in this place, would never be forgotten, and neither would those who had fallen.
At Badon Hill, the Britons had done what many thought was impossible. They had taken back their island.
"(it was the) ....last great victory of the fatherland..."
That is how Gildas, a 6th Century British monk, described the Battle of Badon Hill:
"...the last great victory..."
But where...? Where was this great battle and who led the winning army?
Stories are funny things. Over time the truth is embellished, changed if you would. Honour is bestowed to those who deserve it, and also for those who don't if it satisfies the political climate of the time.  The actual location of the Battle of Badon is lost to history, although there have been many suggestions.
So, what are the suggestions?
Gildas stated that The Battle of Badon took place in the south-west of England, on a hill. For those of you who have never been to England, let me assure you there are many, many hills in the south-west. Narrowing down a particular hill is like looking for a needle in a haystack, although several historical hill-forts of interest have been suggested. These include:
Old Sarum, WiltshireBarbury Castle, WiltshireLiddington Castle, WiltshireDyrham Camp, Gloucestershire
Many Arthurian enthusiasts tend to favour Liddington Castle.
Why? Well, because Liddington Castle was in a strategic position between the main Anglo-Saxon settlements and:
"...Liddlington marks one of the great Dark Age road junctions..." Michael Wood.

Earthworks at Liddington Castle — Wikipedia
 It seems plausible, but, and there is always a but when we are researching the life and times of the greatest king ever to live, if the battle took place, as the bards said it did, was Arthur actually there? According to Nennius, yes, although not in the capacity of a king, but as a great general.  Nennius states:
"The twelfth battle was at Mount Badon, in which nine hundred and sixty men fell in one day from one charge from Arthur, and no one overthrew them except himself alone."
Quite the warrior was Arthur if Nennius is to be believed. However, Nennius wrote about Badon Hill a mere 300 years after the event. That is a long time for folklore to embellish and elaborate on the event.
The truth is we don't know where the Battle of Badon Hill was, and likely we will never know. But for some reason, that appeals to me. It does not matter where Badon Hill was, only that it happened, and whether Arthur fought there as a king or a general, it is all the same. He is a national hero, and he always will be. Not bad for someone who supposedly lived over a thousand years ago.

Travel back to Dark Age Briton with Mary Anne Yarde.
King Arthur had fallen, but his knights are far from dead...
The Du Lac Prophecy
(Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles)

Two Prophesies. Two Noble Households. One Throne.
Distrust and greed threaten to destroy the House of du Lac. Mordred Pendragon strengthens his hold on Brittany and the surrounding kingdoms while Alan, Mordred’s cousin, embarks on a desperate quest to find Arthur’s lost knights. Without the knights and the relics they hold in trust, they cannot defeat Arthur’s only son – but finding the knights is only half of the battle. Convincing them to fight on the side of the Du Lac’s, their sworn enemy, will not be easy.
If Alden, King of Cerniw, cannot bring unity there will be no need for Arthur’s knights. With Budic threatening to invade Alden’s Kingdom, Merton putting love before duty, and Garren disappearing to goodness knows where, what hope does Alden have? If Alden cannot get his House in order, Mordred will destroy them all.

Excerpt
They won’t help you,” Bastian stated and Philippe turned to look at him. “The dead. They won’t help you.”
“I thought I was alone,” Philippe said as he looked back at Tristan’s tombstone.
“In Benwick Castle?” Bastian scoffed. “There is always someone watching. You know that as well as I do. Why are you here?”
“I came looking for answers.”
“Did you find any?” Bastian asked with cynicism.
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“Lancelot was a brave man, wasn’t he?” Philippe mumbled the question more to himself than anything else.
“As was Tristan,” Bastian agreed. 
“Did you know him? Tristan, I mean.”
“A little. He kept himself to himself for the most part. He was wounded you see, during the battle of Benwick. He lost the use of his legs. He couldn’t walk. But he...” Bastian smiled as he remembered. “He was very wise. And he was happy to share that wisdom. I liked him. Although not everyone did. After Tristan died, there was talk. Some said he was a liar.”
“What did Lancelot say?” Philippe asked.
“I cannot imagine Lancelot being friends with someone who lied to him. But he neither condemned nor defended Tristan. He kept his own counsel. What are you going to do, Philippe?”
Philippe looked up at the sky. The lavender hue had changed to a blue one. He never appreciated how beautiful the sky was, until now. The day promised to be a warm one, but Philippe felt chilled.
“What would you do?” Philippe asked, as he rose to his feet and looked at his general.
“You have two choices. You can abdicate. Hand him the throne. Or...” 
“Or...” Philippe encouraged.
“You could kill him,” Bastian said with a shrug.


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Mary Anne Yarde
Mary Anne Yarde is the multi award-winning author of the International Bestselling Series — The Du Lac Chronicles. Set a generation after the fall of King Arthur, The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Britain and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, The Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed.
Mary Anne is the founder of The Coffee Pot Book Club. She has been a professional reader since 2016 and in this time Mary Anne has reviewed many books for the big and small publishing houses, as well as books penned by her fellow indie authors. Mary Anne is also an editorial reviewer The Coffee Pot Book Club and for The International Review of Books. Mary Anne has been a judge for a prestigious Historical Fiction Book Award for the last three years, as well as being a Top Reviewer on Netgalley. 
Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury — the fabled Isle of Avalon — was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.
You can contact Mary Anne by email:
author@maryanneyarde.com

If you would prefer to chat on social media, then you can find Mary Anne on Twitter and Facebook.