Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 149

Join me in Conversation with #GameOfThrones actor and Historical Fiction Children’s author, Clive Mantle #ChildrensBooks #TimeTravel @MantleClive

A Conversation with Historical Fiction Children’s author, Clive Mantle.

Hi Clive, welcome to Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots! Before we begin, could you tell us all a little about yourself.
I’m best known as an actor, having appeared in TV classics like Game of Thrones, Robin of Sherwood, Sherlock, Vicar of Dibley and Casualty, appearing in Alien 3 and White Hunter Black Heart amongst others on film and Of Mice and Men on stage.
Clive portraying Greatjon Umber in Game of Thrones.Clive portraying Greatjon Umber in Game of Thrones.



Clive portraying Little John in Robin of Sherwood.


I adore Robin of Sherwood, and your portrayal of Little John was fabulous. But, we are not here to talk about television, we are here to talk about your wonderful book — The Treasure at the Top of the World.
Authors often talk about what inspired them to put pen to paper. So, my first question is:
What inspired you to write The Treasure at the Top of the World?

I have long held the dream of writing to inspire the young in the way I was bewitched as a young boy by one of my Literary heroes, Oliver Postgate.
 ‘The Treasure at the Top of the World’ is the first in a series of commissioned adventures for my leading character Freddie Malone. It was published in June 2018 and has been shortlisted for a Peoples Book Prize 2019. 
“The idea is everything” – is a phrase I am well used to hearing in the film and TV business. It’s a general truism that camouflages a mountain of hard work. But it doesn’t matter how well you write, if the idea isn’t good enough people won’t read it.
My idea took many years to filter through and it came to me as I walked away from Mount Everest. Having completed the gruelling but wonderful trek to Everest Base Camp and beyond, my thoughts turned to ‘What’s next?’
The idea came in a flash. 
Boy receives World Map for his birthday, hangs it on his wall and disappears through it to any destination on earth, at any period in History.
Clive on the way back from Everest.
Freddie can go anywhere, at any time. He can observe History happening and bring it to life for a modern audience. Living history.
Congratulation on making the shortlist for Peoples Book Prize 2019. Keep us posted on how your book gets on in the competition.
It is funny how inspiration strikes at unexpected movement’s, although I think you are probably the first person who has said on this blog that they found inspiration while walking away from Mount Everest! You sound like you are someone who is up for a challenge, which leads very nicely on to question two!
What kind of challenges did you come up against while researching the historical context of your book?
‘The Treasure at the Top of the World’ takes place in 21st Century England and 20thCentury Nepal.
Mallory, Irvine, Yaks and Yetis, First love, Treasure, Disasters and Adventure. The mountain kingdom hosts the quest to return stolen relics from a ruthless adversary and is counterpointed with Freddie’s best friend Connor stranded at home in the present day. He has to deal with his own problems in the shape of persistent bullies, as his weight makes him an easy and soft target. Both boys have many great lessons to learn and adventures to experience. The strong female role model in the story is Mindhu, a funny, strong and captivating Sherpana who steals Freddie’s heart.
The challenges for me were mainly those of paring down my original completed first draught, which weighed in at a hefty 125,000 words! Too long, as even I knew. My fantastic agent and guide in the process Penny Luithlen, set me incredibly helpful targets. A paragraph was about 8 sentences on average and she asked me to turn those 8 into 5 without losing the essence. I went away and dutifully did that and in the process fell in love with editing.
Then Penny encouraged me to turn those revised 5 sentences into 3. It can be done. It was published at 52,000 words. Less is more.
All those precious adjectives and wordy cul-de-sacs we think are vital can be [radically] pruned. I found it liberating. Suddenly the story and characters were allowed to leap off the page. As a consequence, my second book was 60,000 when I finished the first draught and will be 52,000 when it emerges in June 2019. I had saved myself a lot of work being economical.
The dreaded wordcount, I am sure many authors can sympathise with you over that. Is there anything that makes The Treasure at the Top of the World, unique?
I have read countless testimonies from the great mountaineers safely returned from tackling Everest, but was not aware of a book like mine introducing the younger reader to the majesty and miracle that is Nepal. Not only the visual splendours, but the magnificence and generosity of its people.
I want my books to plant the seed of travel and adventure in young minds. Freddie is placed in Nepal during a real historic event and can communicate what that feels like as he relates his tales to Connor on return. My aim is always to inspire and encourage, both to read and to explore. We must enthuse the young mind with reading before the ‘You Tube’ generation lose the ability to pick up and enjoy books.
The Treasure at the Top of the World sounds absolutely fabulous and it has been wonderful talking to you. Before you go, can you tell us what you are currently working on?
Freddie Malone’s second adventure is published in June 2019. ‘A Jewel in the Sands of Time’ is set in two periods in Ancient Egypt and the present day. Pharaohs, Intrigue, Tombs, Chariots, Pyramids, Slavery and of course the story of a long dead Boy King whose name resonates louder today than ever. Tutankhamun.
Book three, due for release in June 2021, is set in London, with the backdrop of The Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. Freddie will be a witness to these huge events.
Freddie can’t change History in the grand scale of things, but he can operate on a human level to make an important difference in the thick of the action.
It is a joy for me to enter Freddie’s universe and retreat for hours at a time from a modern world that often baffles and confuses me. Emerging blinking into the harsh realities of our complex society often comes as a shock.
I hope you enjoy the series as it unravels. Your comments and feedback would be very much appreciated.
Thank you so much, Clive, for taking the time to chat with us today.Scroll down to read a fabulous excerpt from The Treasure at the Top of the World. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!
The Treasure at the Top of the World(A Freddie Malone Adventure Book 1)


When Freddie Malone is given an ancient map for his birthday by his eccentric Uncle Patrick, it seems an odd gift, but Freddie is thrilled. Little does he realise that the mysterious map is about to turn his world upside down. Plunged into a perilous adventure between two worlds, and pursued in turn by a ruthless bully and a determined adversary who will each go to any lengths to get what they want, Freddie must fight for what’s right – and for his very life…
Clive Mantle brings all the drama of his TV, film and stage career to the first in a thrilling series of incredible time-travel adventures.


Excerpt

12:01 a.m. Was he still dreaming? Freddie sat up. He felt a tremor of anticipation and then a crackle and surge of energy in his bedroom that made his eyes grow wide in alarm. From the silence of the rest of the house he started to hear something; music and voices swelling with increasing urgency, as they began swirling invisibly around him. Dozens of different people seemed to be talking in snippets of strange languages, like frenzied ghosts trying to impart crucial messages. Snatches of orchestras, rock bands, opera and bagpipes came and went, mixed chaotically with television and radio excerpts, as if someone was spinning a gigantic tuning dial. It was utterly bewildering. Freddie sat, open mouthed, trying to work out who was playing this trick on him. It wasn’t some sort of birthday surprise, was it? If so, it was backfiring badly. He was scared stiff. Light cut into the bedroom around the heavy curtains from the full moon outside, illuminating the wall opposite and the vivid colours of his majestic World Map. Freddie’s gaze was drawn to India. He tried to look away, but it felt like his eyeballs were being dragged by magnets back towards the map. All about him the tumult increased. The sounds were searing his eardrums and now there seemed to be a growing wind coursing around the room as well. As Freddie continued to stare at the map, it suddenly started to pucker, showing the relief of cities, mountains and rivers. Freddie could not believe his eyes. His gaze was drawn upwards over the northern border India shared with Nepal. Completely against his will and with no control, his focus shot towards the capital, Kathmandu. Freddie blinked, trying to clear his head. He had to be seeing things, surely. The map appeared to be completely alive. Elephants and buses, people, planes, boats and trains sprang to life and began streaming across it, like ants in a forest. It was like his whole bedroom wall had become a vivid projection of the earth from the sky. It was alive. Freddie began backing away towards his pillows and clutched at the mattress. Then, with a sudden and irresistible wrench, an unseen force ripped him away from his bed. He tried to hang on by clawing at the wooden headboard behind his pillow, but his body was stretched horizontally a foot above his duvet, which suddenly shot out from underneath him and joined the tornado of socks, pants and dirty washing dancing frantically around his room. Try as he might, he could not shift his gaze from Uncle Patrick’s map. It appeared to have an absolute and unbreakable hold over him. “Help! Stop it now! I’ve had enough. It’s not funny any more. Dad! Mum! Stop it. Please!” Now the map seemed to grow until it filled his entire field of vision. His eyes were drawn roughly eastwards, from Kathmandu to a place called Namche Bazaar, the letters of which dissolved, as tiny mountain tops thrust through the parchment in their place. Freddie’s desperate last grip on the pine frame was broken and he hurtled towards the wall. “No! Please ... No! Help!” There was a thundering crack, like ice splitting on a frozen lake, as a huge tear appeared in the map. Beyond it, Freddie could see a tunnel; an endless vortex of swirling bright lights. The wall of his bedroom was melting and splitting, creating a gaping hole. The plaster and brickwork had become fluid. “Help!” he tried to scream, but the sound was lost among a thousand other shouts. “Help me!” he cried again, but all the voices seemed to echo and mock him simultaneously. Freddie was speeding feet first towards the widening gap and it parted just enough to allow him through, accompanied by a truly deafening sound, as if a thousand sheets of paper were all torn at once.
He desperately tried to hang on to the jagged edge of the hole in his bedroom wall, but the bricks dissolved in his grasp……..


Giveaway



Clive Mantle is giving away five paperback copies of his fabulous book “The Treasure at the Top of the World.”


All you need to do is answer this question:


Can you identify the historical hero Freddie, Ruby and Connor will meet in book 4?

Clues:
• The man you are looking for was born in 1918.• He was arrested and imprisoned in 1962.• His prison number was 46664.• He spent 27 years behind bars.• In 1993, our mystery man won the Nobel Peace Prize alongside F. W. de Klerk.

Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Giveaway Rules
• Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm BST on March 25th 2019.• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is only open to residents of the Internationally.• Only one entry per household.
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.• Winners will be announced in the comments.• Winners have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

The People’s Book Prize

It would mean a great deal to Clive if you could vote for The Treasure at the Top of the World.
You can vote HERE!
Audiobook available from April 2019


Clive Mantle

Clive Mantle is a much-loved British actor, a star of both stage and screen for over 40 years. He is perhaps best known for playing Little John in Robin of Sherwood, Great Jon Umber in Game of Thrones, Simon Horton in The Vicar of Dibley and Mike Barratt in Casualty. His voice is also well known from his work on over 180 audio books, and voicing animated characters, including Gator in Thomas the Tank Engine...

...And, he is now a published Author.

'The Treasure at the Top of the World' was released on 24th May 2018.
Connect with Clive: Website • The Adventures of Freddie Malone • Facebook • Twitter.


The Treasure at the Top of the World by Clive Mantle.Publication Date: November 21, 2019
Award Publications Limited eBook & Paperback; 203 PagesAudiobook, OakHill Publishing.

#BookReview — Skills of the Warramunga #HistoricalFiction #Thriller @gregkaterauthor

Skills of the WarramungaBy Greg Kater

Early in 1946, former army officer, Jamie Munro, and his half-Aboriginal friend and colleague, Jack 'Jacko' O'Brien, who head the Commonwealth Investigation Service in Darwin, are called on to assist in the rescue of Colonel John Cook, a senior operative of MI6, who has been kidnapped by bandits and taken into the jungles of Malaya.

Jamie and Jacko had worked in intelligence operations with Colonel Cook during the desert campaign in North Africa in the Second World War, as the Afrika Corps threatened Egypt.

With Jacko's half-sister, Sarah, a full-blood Aborigine from Tennant Creek, they arrive in Kuala Lumpur to find that they not only have to contend with the impenetrable jungle of the Malay peninsula, but also with a murderous and subversive organisation of Fascist criminals whose aim is to disrupt the creation of the Malayan Union by the British Military Authority, set to take place on 1st of April 1946, foment an uprising and take over control of the country.

All the inherent bushcraft skills of the Warramunga are needed to rescue Colonel Cook as well as prevent catastrophic mayhem on the Malayan peninsula.

This is the third book in the Warramunga trilogy.



A senior MI6 agent has gone missing. It is up to Jamie and Jacko from the Commonwealth Investigation Service (CIS) to discover the location of the MI6 agent, and rescue him before it is too late.
The Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and the British were allies during the Second World War. However, the war is now over. The winners proclaimed. But for the MCP the end of the war was only the beginning. Trained in guerrilla warfare and armed by the British, the MCP could pose a significant threat to state security. It is feared that the MCP might be entertaining the idea of taking control of Malaya and expelling the foreign white settlers. They certainly have the arms, the tactics and the motivation to do so. It is a brewing situation that needs close surveillance.

The head of MI6 operations for the eastern hemisphere, Colonel Johnny Cook, has just flown from London to Singapore to assist the new Malayan Security Service (MSS) — an intelligence agency that was set up by the British at the end of the war. They will be responsible for the security over the official ceremony, which will mark the creation of the Malayan Union. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong.

Jamie Munro, from the Commonwealth Investigation Service (CIS) in Darwin, was filling out forms when he took a call from Major Browning, of the Malayan Security Service. Browning informed Jamie that a senior MI6 agent has gone missing, feared kidnapped somewhere in the Cameron Highlands and that they needed the help of Jamie and his team to find him.

Along with his esteemed colleague, Jack “Jacko” O’Brien, and Jacko’s half-sister, Sarah, they must brave the Malayan jungle and find the lost agent and rescue him from his captors. It is a race against time, for there is no telling what the kidnappers might do next.

From the sweltering heat of the Malayan jungle to the desperate flight to Batavia, Skills of the Warramunga, by Greg Kater is one of the best Historical Fiction Thrillers I have ever read.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Warramunga trilogy, I could not wait to get my hands on book #3. I found myself immediately thrown back into the action. The story is compelling, gripping and utterly absorbing. Kater intuitively knows what makes a page-turning thriller. The pages flew by, and I found it impossible to put this book down. 

I greatly admire Kater’s approach to his writing. His narrative is so descriptive that at times it felt like I was watching the events unfold in front of me. Kater’s attention to detail and his easy prose style makes this book a real pleasure to read. Kater is, without a doubt, one of those authors who makes history come alive.

There are several characters worthy of note in this story, but one I was particularly fond of was Inspector Robert Douglas. Douglas is a secondary character, and on the face of it, he has little heroic qualities — he drinks excessively and is not the greatest judge of character — in fact, he is a terrible judge of character! Due to unforeseeable circumstances, Douglas finds himself in the most terrible of situations. Here, he is tested almost beyond his limits, but he calls upon an inner strength that he did not know he possessed. I thought his portrayal was brilliant. Kater has depicted a very flawed character, and yet, he gives Douglas a chance at redemption. This, for me, is what made Douglas such an appealing personality.

There are several antagonists in this story, although it isn’t clear in the beginning as to who they are, which certainly gave this story a sparkle of mystery. I have to be careful what I say as I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone, but needless to say, the antagonists are wonderfully sly and incredibly dangerous. They certainly helped to drive this story forward. This is what makes Kater’s writing so refreshing. He creates totally believable characters.

The two protagonists of this series — Jamie and Jacko were once again fabulously portrayed. I have so enjoyed reading about them, and I feel quite bereft now that the trilogy has come to an end! 

Although Skills of the Warramunga can be read as a standalone, I would thoroughly recommend you start with book #1. The writing is superb. The stories are sublime. Kater may have just become my new favourite author of Historical Fiction Thrillers.

I Highly Recommend

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Amazon UK • Amazon US


Greg Kater

Greg Kater is an Australian-based author. He lives in Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast, Queensland and has recently retired from a 55-year international career in the resources industry. The Warramunga’s War is his first work of fiction. He has since written and published two more books, The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War and Skills of the Warramunga, altogether comprising a trilogy.The principal fictional characters interact with actual historical figures and events which have been rigorously researched. The subject of the novel is partly inspired by the experiences of the author’s father during the war in the Middle East, and partly by his own experiences in northern Australia where he worked extensively throughout the Northern Territory and the Kimberley.
Connect with Greg: Website • Amazon Author Page • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads.

#Book Review — The Warramunga's Aftermath of War, by Greg Kater #HistoricalFiction #Australia @gregkaterauthor

The Warramunga's Aftermath of WarBy Greg Kater


The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War encapsulates the investigation into the post-war activities of a major criminal organisation with tentacles to the USA, Australia and South East Asia. When a fishing boat is discovered in distress in rough seas northwest of Darwin in late 1945, former army officer, Jamie Munro, and educated half-caste Warramunga aborigine, Jack “Jacko” O’Brien, who head the CIS in Darwin, are called on to investigate child smuggling operations financed by a shadowy ring of wealthy paedophiles.This book is the second book of a trilogy. This follows The Warramunga’s War detailing the meeting of Jamie and Jacko on the battlefield during the Second World War and their activities working together with MI6 in intelligence during the remainder of the war.



“As the sea spray lashed his face, Jamie reflected that his first Christmas in Darwin had become much more eventful than he had bargained for…”
They were in the middle of Christmas lunch when the distress call from a small boat off the north coast of Darwin was intercepted. Jamie Munro and Jack “Jacko” O’Brien from the Commonwealth Investigation Service (CIS) volunteered their services to help with the rescue. However, when they reached the boat, they saw a body of a young child floating in the water. One thing was for sure, this was no ordinary fishing boat, and these so-called fishermen were not whom they said they were. The discovery of a boy hiding under lifebelts and boat fenders in the bow of the boat only strengthen their suspicions.
Only one child survived the crossing, and it is from him that the two CIS officers had their fears confirmed. The boat had been smuggling children with the intention of selling them to wealthy paedophiles.
In their desperate bid to bring down the despicable men who were exploiting these children, Jamie and Jacko must travel to South East Asia, for that is where the children came from. However, they are faced with impossible odds, as those who have invested heavily in this smuggling operation will do absolutely anything to make sure it continues
Unbeknownst to Jamie and Jacko, the perpetrators of this disgusting crime are a great deal closer to home than either of them realised.
From the desperate plight of a young boy hiding on a boat to the vastness of the Australian outback, The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War by Greg Kater is the shocking yet gripping account of two CIS officers as they attempt to shut down a terrible paedophile ring. 
Initially, I was a little cautious about the topic of this book — I would usually avoid anything that has a plot about child exploitation. However, I was confident, after reading the first book in this series, that Kater would approach this subject with great sensitivity and care, which I am pleased to say he did. The story concentrates on Jamie and Jacko’s attempts to stop child smuggling rather than the suffering of the children themselves.
Kater wisely chose to add many lighter moments to this story, which worked very well and helped to give the book balance. However, saying that, at times the tension is almost unbearable, especially as Jamie and Jacko close in on their intended targets. It is undoubtedly a page-turning read and one I did not want to put down.
I must applaud Kater for his meticulous research. His depiction of the Philippines post-war was terrific. Kater has captured the essences of this era, and like a master bard, he has presented his readers with a believable backdrop in which to place his two wonderfully dynamic and incredibly appealing protagonists. When the story moves back to Australia, Kater once again demonstrates how good a writer he really is. To be in charge of such a large canvas, and to keep true to the historical facts of this era is no small thing. His portrait of the Blue Lagoon was a masterful triumph. But not only that, his portrayal of those who lived in this region was fabulous. Kater certainly knows how to bring his characters and the historical landscape to life.
I adored the characterisation of Jamie. He is such a brave and honourable man. A true hero. However, he is a bit of a contradiction — when faced with armed criminals he is calm, collected and confident, yet, when it comes to women, Jamie becomes a stuttering nervous wreck which makes him so very endearing. Jamie’s relationship with Carna is very sweet and tender and was one I enjoyed watching develop over the course of the story. Likewise, Jacko, and his wonderful half-sister, Sarah, continued to fascinate.
There is no doubt in my mind that The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War is a monumental work of scholarship. If you are looking for your next historical thriller, then this is the book for you.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne YardeThe Coffee Pot Book Club.

Amazon UK •Amazon US


Greg Kater

Greg Kater is an Australian-based author. He lives in Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast, Queensland and has recently retired from a 55-year international career in the resources industry. The Warramunga’s War is his first work of fiction. He has since written and published two more books, The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War and Skills of the Warramunga, altogether comprising a trilogy.The principal fictional characters interact with actual historical figures and events which have been rigorously researched. The subject of the novel is partly inspired by the experiences of the author’s father during the war in the Middle East, and partly by his own experiences in northern Australia where he worked extensively throughout the Northern Territory and the Kimberley.
Connect with Greg: Website • Amazon Author Page • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads.

Join #HistoricalFiction author, Samantha Wilcoxson, and find out what inspired her to write about the less popular historical figures of the early Tudor era #History #Tudors @carpe_librum

Songs for Unsung HeroesBy Samantha Wilcoxson
When I started writing about Elizabeth of York in 2013, I had no plans to become the author who writes about less popular historical figures of the early Tudor era. However, as my series progressed, I found myself more and more intrigued by the less sensational, quieter playmakers of a time period well-known for its drama. It is a privilege to be one of the voices calling readers to rethink what they believe about people like Queen Mary (a woman you will never hear me calling ‘Bloody Mary’).Elizabeth of York may not be maligned by history, but she is largely left in the background. I decided to write about her because I thought her story was too significant, too unique to always be left to a secondary character. In Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen , Elizabeth has her chance to take center stage, and the reader has the opportunity to consider what it would be like to chose between loyalty to one’s own house versus becoming the mother of a new dynasty. What did Elizabeth really think of her uncle, Richard III? Did she believe he killed her brothers? Of course, I couldn’t answer these questions with certainty, but exploring possibilities brought Elizabeth’s side of the story into the open where she deserves to be.
Elizabeth of York.

While writing about Elizabeth of York, her cousin Margaret Pole started coming frequently to mind. Known primarily for being an elderly woman sent to a horrifying execution by Henry VIII, Margaret had a much greater story to tell, a story that is missed when we focus solely on Henry and his gaggle of wives. Margaret was the daughter of one executed York prince (George of Clarence) and sister to another (Edward of Warwick). She raised children with noble blood under the reign of a king who was suspicious of anyone who might challenge him. One of her closest friends was Katherine of Aragon. A more compelling protagonist would be difficult to find, but somehow Margaret’s was not. So, I wrote it, in Faithful Traitor.



Margaret Pole
At that point, I thought I was done with Tudors. I began researching early Plantagenets, only to have an early reader of Faithful Traitor ask if I was writing about Princess Mary next. I had no intention of carrying on with the story of the young girl who had thought of Margaret Pole as her second mother. I had never considered her an unsung hero. Surely, there was plenty written from Mary’s point-of-view.Except there wasn’t, and Queen of Martyrs was born. I was so shocked to discover that England’s first queen was usually considered a footnote in her sister’s story that I took on the project with a particular passion that had not quite struck me with the first two books. Every time I found evidence of Mary’s grace, mercy, and generosity, I was further inspired to share her story and counter the ‘Bloody Mary’ myth. Hers was an emotional journey that I would have missed out on if it hadn’t been for that innocent inquiry into what I was writing next.
Mary I.
By the time I had finished this trilogy – and was certain it was complete this time – I decided to give readers a peek into some of the secondary characters through companion novellas. I had done Margaret Beaufort something of a disservice in Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen where she is seen exclusively through the eyes of her daughter-in-law, so I decided that the first novella would take a more sympathetic look at Margaret Beaufort and what events might have taken her to the place she finds herself by the time my Elizabeth knew her. The Last Lancastrian takes a look at a young Margaret, struggling through the Wars of the Roses and wanting little more than to secure her son’s future.





Elizabeth Woodville had not appeared much better through the eyes of her daughter, so she was my next project. I enjoyed writing some of the same scenes from the older Elizabeth’s point-of-view, making the story more complete. At times when her daughter thought she was being cruel and unloving, this mother was struggling with impossible decisions and circumstances. It was fulfilling to give greater depth to this tragic figure in Once a Queen.

For my final novella, I wanted to write about Reginald Pole, but would my readers connect with a protagonist who was not only not a woman, but who was also not living in England? As Margaret Pole’s son and Queen Mary’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Reginald was uniquely intriguing, but would the same readers who loved Elizabeth of York be interested in her Catholic Cardinal nephew? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t resist writing his story anyway. This man, whose mother and brother were both executed, largely because of things Reginald himself had written, had a story I was sure people would love. Considered a potential spouse for Princess Mary and almost made Pope in 1550, Reginald Pole truly was a Prince of York.

So, what unsung heroes are coming up next? I am currently researching Isabel de Warenne, who I hope will be the first in a series of early Plantagenet women including Maud de Braose and Isabella of Angoulême. Isabel was married to King Stephen’s son and then Henry II’s half-brother, so she had a first-row seat to the Anarchy and birth of the Plantagenet dynasty. If you are reading this and wondering who she was, that’s alright. I’m going to tell you, and I hope you love her story.
The Plantagenet Embers series

The Plantagenet Embers series explores the lives of the York remnant during the early Tudor era. Whether left in the background or maligned in the intervening centuries, the personal stories of these people help us appreciate their humanity and the difficult choices they were forced to make. Full length novels include the stories of Elizabeth of York, Margaret Pole, and Queen Mary I. The companion novellas take deeper looks at Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth Woodville, and Reginald Pole. Learn aspects of the Tudors' story that you haven't heard before with these intimately told tales.
Amazon UK • Amazon US
Samantha Wilcoxson
Writer of historical fiction and sufferer of wanderlust, Samantha enjoys exploring the lives of historical figures through both research and visiting historic places. Certain that no person is ever purely good or evil, she strives to reveal the deep emotions and motivations of those she writes about, enabling readers to connect with historical figures in a unique way. Samantha is an American writer with British roots and proud mother of three amazing teenagers. She can frequently be found lakeside with a book in one hand and glass of wine in the other. 
Connect with Samantha: Blog • Facebook • Twitter • Amazon Author Page. 

Are you looking for a safe and legitimate way to gain interest and reviews for your Book? Let's talk about #NetGalley #BookReviews #BooksGoSocial

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Check out the cover for Historical Fiction author, Ellie Midwood’s, fabulous new book — No Woman's Land: a Holocaust novel #Historical Fiction #Holocaust #WWII

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon UK • Amazon US


Ellie Midwood

Ellie Midwood is an award-winning, best-selling historical fiction writer. She's a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, a neat freak, an adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama.
Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Awards:
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2016) - "The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife"
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2016) - "The Austrian"(honorable mention)
New Apple - 2016 Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing - "The Austrian"(official selection)
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2017) - "Emilia"
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2018) - "A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son"
Connect with Ellie: 
Website • Amazon • Goodreads  • BookBub • Facebook.

#HistoricalRomance author, Cassandra Dean, is sharing an excerpt of her fabulous book — Finding Lord Farlisle. Cassandra is also giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! #Giveaway #HFVBTBlogTours @authorCassDean @hfvbt

Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours Presents…


Finding Lord FarlisleBy Cassandra Dean

The girl he finally remembersEleven years ago, a shipwreck robbed Lord Maxim Farlisle of his memory. Recovering himself, he journeys to his childhood home to find Waithe Hall shut and deserted. Unwilling to face what remains of his family, Maxim makes his home in the abandoned hall…only to have a determined ghost hunter invade his uneasy peace.The boy she never forgotFascinated by spirits, Lady Alexandra Torrence cannot disregard the opportunity to investigate the estate she knew so well. She arrives at the shuttered hall to discover a ghost of a different kind—the boy she thought to never see again. Maxim had been the boy next door, her best friend, her soul mate…and then he’d vanished.As the two rediscover their connection, the promise of young love burns into an overwhelming passion. But the time apart has scarred them both—will they discover a love that will draw them together or will the past tear them apart forever?“Finding Lord Farlisle is a lovely story: sweet, witty, flirtatious, emotional, touching. A truly delightful way to spend a couple of hours.” Anna Campbell, author of the bestselling Dashing Widows series“Sweet, fun, and delightful! If you love friends to lovers, you’ll adore Finding Lord Farlisle.” -Tamara Gill, author of the Lords of London series.
Excerpt
They stared at each other. Maxim’s scent wound about her, woodsy and spice, and Alexandra wanted…she wanted to touch him. She wanted to trace the planes of his face, feel the softness of his sulky lips, the rasp of his beard. She wanted to trace the muscles of his chest, his stomach, wanted to dig her hands into his back as he touched her. He was so beautiful, this boy she once knew.
“Alexandra,” he said in the hush.
Her gaze fell to his lips. “Yes?”
“I’m going to kiss you.”
Her eyes drifted shut. “Yes.”
Their lips met. It was soft, sweet, tentative, and he made her feel safe and, made her feel…beloved.
Hand rising to cup her cheek, he traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. Tangling her hands in his hair, she opened, gasping as he invaded her mouth. Groaning, he kissed her harder, kissed her again, his hand pressing into the small of her back to drag her closer. She’d imagined this, more often than she should. As a girl, she couldn’t count the times she’d stared at him and wished his mouth on hers. 
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card!Enter HERE!Giveaway Rules
♥ Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter.♥ Giveaway is open to US only.♥ Only one entry per household.♥ All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.♥  Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

AMAZON US ♥ AMAZON UK ♥  AMAZON AU  ♥BARNES AND NOBLE  ♥  ITUNES

Cassandra Dean 
Cassandra Dean is an award-winning, best-selling author of historical and fantasy romance. She is a 2018 recipient of the coveted Romance Writers of Australia Ruby Award.Her next novel will be  FINDING LORD FARLISLE , kicking off a new series, LOST LORDS.
Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.Connect with Cassandra: WEBSITE ♥ NEWSLETTER ♥ FACEBOOK ♥ TWITTER

Now is your chance to vote for your favourite book cover for March over on The Coffee Pot Book Club! #BookCovers #CoffeePotBookClub

The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Club
Book Cover of the Month


Readers' Choice!March 2019


Now is your chance to vote for your favourite book cover for March. All you need to do is pop the number of the book cover you like along with the book title in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

The winner will be announced on the 30th March.


★ 1 ★

The Sugar MerchantBy James Hutson-Wiley

★ 2 ★Arthur Dux BellorumBy Tim Walker

★ 3 ★The Kiss of the ConcubineBy Judith Arnopp


★ 4 ★Midwife of Normandy(Secrets of the Austen Midwives Book 1)By Carole Penfield


★ 5 ★The Warramunga's WarBy  Greg Kater


★ 6 ★The Carpet Weaver of UşakBy Kathryn Gauci

★ 7 ★The King of DunkirkThe King’s Germans Book #2By Dominic Fielder

★ 8 ★A Perilous PassionBy Elizabeth Keysian

★ 9 ★My Once & Future Love(Unsung Knights of the Round Table #1)By Ruth Kaufman

★ 10 ★Josephine’s DaughterBy A.B. Michaels

★ 11 ★Arthur: Warrior and KingBy Don Carleton

★ 12 ★Gold DiggerBy Rebecca Rosenberg

★ 13 ★Finding Lord FarlisleBy Cassandra Dean


★ 14 ★Plantagenet Princes, Tudor Queen(Plantagenet Embers I)By Samantha Wilcoxson

★ 15 ★The Warramunga's Aftermath of WarBy Greg Kater


★ 16 ★Skills of the WarramungaBy Greg Kater


★ 17 ★The Treasure at the Top of the WorldBy Clive Mantle

★ 18 ★Gifts of the Gods: Iron and BronzeBy Thomas Berry

★ 19 ★The Prodigal LairdBy Vanda Vadas

★ 20 ★The Draig's ChoiceBy Lisa Dawn Wadler

★ 21 ★Pit of Vipers(Sons of Kings Book #2)By Millie Thom

★ 22 ★Brandon Tudor KnightBy Tony Riches

★ 23 ★Silk And The SwordThe Women of the Norman ConquestBy Sharon Bennett-Connolly

★ 24 ★Everybody's SomebodyBy Beryl Kingston

★ 25 ★Here To StayHidden Spring Series Book #1By Kristen Raymond

★ 26 ★The PropositionBy Jen Selbourne

★ 27 ★Saving WashingtonBy Chris Formant

★ 28 ★Catching Captain NashBy Anna Campbell

★ 29 ★RosalindBy Jenny Hambly

★ 30 ★In The Shadows of CastlesBook #2 of the 1066 SagaBy G.K. Holloway

★ 31 ★The Moss Maiden of KinderhookBy Mark C. King

Good Luck!!

Check out the cover for Historical Fiction author, Rebecca Rosenberg's, new book —Gold Digger #CoverReveal #HistoricalFiction #HFVBTBlogTours @hfvbt @MrsLondonsLover

Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours Presents…


Gold DiggerBy Rebecca Rosenberg

One look at Baby Doe and you know she was meant to be a legend! She was just twenty years old when she came to Colorado to work a gold mine with her new husband. Little did she expect that she’d be abandoned and pregnant and left to manage the gold mine alone. But that didn’t stop her!She moved to Leadville and fell in love with a married prospector, twice her age. Horace Tabor struck the biggest silver vein in history, divorced his wife and married Baby Doe. Though his new wife was known for her beauty, her fashion, and even her philanthropy, she was never welcomed in polite society.Discover how the Tabors navigated the worlds of wealth, power, politics, and scandal in the wild days of western mining.
AMAZON • BARNES AND NOBLE 
Rebecca Rosenberg
A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel.Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home.For more information, please visit Rebecca’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.

My search for King Arthur, By Don Carleton #Arthurian #Legends #History @amberleybooks

My search for King ArthurBy Don Carleton

This book began by accident and continued in bloody mindedness. I had been asked by a publisher to consider writing a history of Bristol and the West Country. There are lots of books published about this part of England, so I said that I would only do it if I felt there was something new to be said. I started reading around the subject to see what areas of novelty or re-discovery might be open. It was then that I came across Sixteenth Century references to what purported to be the old Celtic name for the city of Bristol.That is where the accident came in. At the time, I had recently been reading Anthony Price’s excellent thriller Our man in Camelot. The plot of his book turns on a search for the site for the Battle of Badon, said to be the greatest battle of the famous King Arthur. I had of course heard of the Battle of Badon and of King Arthur, who apparently played a role in it, but I was not, at that time, much interested in either of them. Had I not accidentally been reading Anthony Price, it might not have occurred to me that an old place-name for Bristol and the battle name might be connected in some way.That is where the bloody-mindedness came in. I asked a colleague, the distinguished Mediaeval Historian Professor Paddy McGrath, about a possible link between the two names: had anyone written on the topic? Although he had a vast store of knowledge of local Bristol history, he said he could not recall having read anything on the point. He commended me to other prominent Mediaeval Historians elsewhere in Britain.  I wrote out the substance of my observation – a very short version of the material that appears in Chapters Five and Six of this book – and sent it to them seeking their guidance. I had a kind and generous reply from Professor Wendy Davies. She said that the coincidence of the names was interesting, that she knew of no articles about it, and that the primary sources relating to Badon were very sparse and were all available in good modern editions. I could therefore pursue the point if I wished but she did not see how it could be proved, unless some new documents were discovered, say, hidden in the binding of an old book in some forgotten part of an ancient library. She did not think it would be worthwhile searching the libraries of Europe in the vain hope of such a discovery.In a spirit of bloody mindedness, I set out to see if the point could be proved or disposed of for good. I found out fairly quickly that Professor Davies was right; the point cannot be proved to the standards that history now demands, but I also discovered you can learn a lot and be greatly entertained by trying. Many years ago, while on holiday in Greece, I started to write down what I had found.At one level then, this book is a record of my search for the truth about Badon, King Arthur’s other battles, and King Arthur himself. At another, it is the book I wish had existed when I first spoke to Professor McGrath because it brings together in one place some of the evidence and most of the questions that can be asked about the martial career of the warrior Arthur, and his greatest battle, the Battle of Badon.  What battles defined him as a warrior? Where were they fought? Where did the Battle of Badon fit in? Where was it fought? When? Why? How? By whom? What connection did it really have with King Arthur? Who was he anyway? Did he exist?   How, why and where did he become a King? What can he, or his legend, tell us about the forces at play in the England of the Sixth Century - right in the middle of the period we call, with justice, ‘The Dark Ages’?This book is both a record of what I found and my attempt to make it into a coherent story. I hope that readers will find it entertaining and illuminating, but it should not be mistaken for authentic history. Nothing that can be said about Badon and the other battles, or about Arthur, or what we might call ‘the Arthurian era’, or the ‘Age of Arthur’, can be authentic history, not even perhaps ‘Dark Ages History’. Professor Davies is right. The material on which a provable account, an authentic history, might be based, does not exist for, or in, the Sixth Century, the Age of Arthur. My aims in this book therefore became more limited. I wanted to share with others the fun of finding out neglected sources, of using literature in new ways, and of speculating in a sensible or reasoned way about the legends. The final product, although it might enrage an academic conference, may nonetheless form a history that may serve as the basis for an intelligent conversation at a dinner table, a notion to contemplate alone in tranquillity, or provide a new leisure pursuit, or a guide to the random reading of history.  The Arthur who emerges is certainly different from the one we all think we know. And that fact may cause us to examine ourselves by asking: what is it about this obscure warrior and implausible king that makes us want him to be true in the way that history is true?Don CarletonPiso Livadi, Paros, GreeceBristol, England.


Arthur: Warrior and King

Fascinating new conclusions about Arthur’s life.People have been looking for the sites of the long-lost and mysterious battles of King Arthur for a thousand years. This book is the result of extensive consultation with experts across academic disciplines. Much of the history of the time was lost because of some kind of natural catastrophe around AD 540. But the warrior elite, of which Arthur was part, went on to rule what later became known as Wessex, the cradle of the English nation – for which King Arthur became a founding legend. Don Carleton’s study – arguably the first attempt at an ‘authentic history’ of King Arthur for generations – offers a compelling case for a new location of the long-lost Battle of Badon, King Arthur’s greatest battle. The king and warrior who emerges from this work will be, to some readers, uncongenial. In this portrait, Arthur appears to have been a wily but amoral, boastful blond Irish raider, unrestrained in his ravaging, who used his battles to carve out a kingdom among the Britons and ended his life as a shambling, incoherent shadow of a warrior, a danger to himself and to everyone around him.A Striking new picture on King Arthur• Based on research into the Sixth Century supported by academic review.  Arthur was from Ireland, Guinevere was his mistress not his queen, he died brain-damaged on the Isle of Skye.
• 34 million Americans of Irish descent will welcome the idea of an Irish Arthur.
• The author is ex-Bristol University and a former broadcaster and film-maker (BBC and elsewhere).•Interest in Arthur continues to inspire film and TV, and Arthurian societies around the world.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Don CarletonDon Carleton is a journalist, broadcaster and film-maker who has worked for the BBC and later became Director of information at Bristol University. Many academic colleagues at the university reviewed the material for this book. He has previously published histories of Bristol University and the Princes Theatre, Bristol. He has also published theatre reviews in national publications, and his translation of Ibsen's 'Love's Comedy' gained four stars for a London performance reviewed by the Guardian.