Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 171

Queen Anne – The last monarch of the Stuart Dynasty by Trisha Hughes #Stuart #History @TrishaHughes_

Amazon US • Amazon UK



Trisha Hughes

I was born in a little outback town called Blackall in Central Queensland, Australia. From there my parents moved to the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley where I grew up to be a tiny, self-reliant little girl.
My first book,  ‘Daughters of Nazareth’  is my story, written eighteen years ago, fuelled on by the discovery of a family I never knew I had.  It’s full of family secrets, tremendous heartache but proves the human spirit’s amazing ability to triumph over adversity. Nineteen years ago, after just one phone call, my life changed abruptly. With that change came a passion for writing and I have been writing ever since.
I love writing crime novels but my passion is with the history of the British Monarchy. The first in my ‘V2V’  trilogy is  ‘Vikings to Virgin – The Hazards of being King ’ published in 2017. The second in the series is due for release on 28th April this year and is called  ‘Virgin to Victoria – The Queen is Dead. Long live the Queen.’  The final book,  ‘Victoria to Vikings – The Circle of Blood’  will be released early 2019.
Trisha loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Website •  Twitter • Facebook

Life in the Time of Shakespeare by D.K Marley #Shakespeare #Tudor #History @theRealDKMarley

Life in the Time of ShakespeareBy D.K Marley


Anne Hathaway's Cottage (Wife of William Shakespeare).
Anything Shakespearean or Tudor-era is my happy place, my happy time period, where I can cozy up in a good book with those who lived and died during a revolutionary time in English history. After all, from the time of Henry VIII, the imposing Monarch whose religious metamorphosis imposed upon England with his bed-hopping, wife-beheading, and heir-begetting swath through history, leading to his strong willed reign of his daughter, Elizabeth I, the amount of information about the lives of those affected by these luminaries is astounding. Within the circumference of these figures, you have Shakespeare, Marlowe, Raleigh, Jonson, Kyd, Oxford, Sidney... and on and on. Can you even imagine? These writers were ground-breakers for their time – delving into new types of verse, pushing the boundaries within the verge of the Queen, and using the stages and pages published to promote a new era of thinking into science, religion and politics. These influences had their effect even to the remotest villages, for Warwickshire (Shakespeare's home county) folk felt the effects of the changes and Shakespeare used the things he saw and heard to fill the pages of his works. Imagine the conversations they must have had around their dinner table as they supped on meat pies in the candlelight! Not unlike us today.
Those in the countryside of Stratford-upon-Avon dealt with scrounging for food and work at times, plying their trades as common laborers, and seeking to find a way to send their boys to school. Shakespeare himself was schooled at the King's New School, but by the time he reached thirteen, it is plausible he went to work instead of staying in school.


King's New School.
We, as modern readers of Tudor historical romances, like to imagine the lives of those living during that time period as a beautiful romantic setting within the walls of an elegant castle, but the reality is far from books we read today. Cold, unsanitary, dank, and rat-ridden which caused the dangerous diseases such as the sweating sickness and the Plague festered in the streets of London like a fog. If you lived during that time, better to be of noble birth (which is not saying much) than of low-birth, especially as a woman with no means. Yet, even with all this being said, and with our modern conveniences today, so many feign to delve into the works of Shakespeare because they do not see the relevance between the Elizabethan world and our world today. So not true! Each of the plays is a mirror into our world, a perusal from the Bard's POV into modern life via his own life. When historians say he “invented the human”, he did indeed, for he saw into life, from the pauper to the Prince, in a way that each one of us would do well to take to heart. History repeats itself, as is often the case, so when we read the greedy words of Iago or the immature declarations of love between teenagers or the inspiring words of a King, we are hearing our own lives. What was life like in the days of Shakespeare? Forsooth,
I say, and leave with this quote from As You Like It:
'And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe. And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot; And thereby hangs a tale.'
The life from ostler to the King in Shakespeare's time is our own, from cab driver to Queen today.




Blood and Ink


History shows Kit Marlowe died in a tavern brawl in Deptford in 1593, but did he? England is torn by religious metamorphosis and espionage. The stages of England and bright intellectual boys are used to bolster Queen Elizabeth I's reign and propagate the rising Protestant faith. At the age of eight, Christopher Marlowe, the muse's darling, is sucked into the labyrinth of secret spy rings, blood, murder, and betrayal, while his own ambition as England's favorite playwright drifts further from his grasp. As Christopher grows to manhood, he sinks further into the darkness, and a chance meeting with an unknown actor from Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare, sets him on a path of destiny; a fate of forced exile and the revelation that the real enemy was not the assassins of Rome, but a man who stared into his eyes and smiled. One he did not expect...
Amazon• Barnes and NobleAuthor’s Website

Books That Inspired My Writing by Milana Marsenich #amwriting #HistoricalFiction #Montana @milanamarsenich

Books That Inspired My WritingBy Milana Marsenich




The Beginning 


When I was a young girl living with my parents and three brothers in Butte, Montana, my father often read Robert Service poems out loud. I grew up listening to The Spell of the Yukon, The Shooting of Dan McGrew, The Cremation of Sam McGee, and The Men Who Don’t Fit In. I loved my father’s voice, his conviction, and the dark words about these wild times in the cold and the snow, the great alone, the search for some kind of magic that sets a person’s life right. On those long winter nights in the Rocky Mountains these poems worked their way into my young psyche and never left. I’m still amazed by wild towns and mountains. If anything ties my two novels together it is this sense of something wild and unbroken, in spite of the odds. Copper Sky is the story of a tragic time in Butte, Montana’s history and the love that ultimately pulls the town together. The Swan Keeper is the story of a girl, a violent crime, and the wild beauty of the Mission Mountains. In both of these books the characters find courage and beauty in spite of the unimaginable heartache they endure.

Poetry 


I loved poetry and wrote hundreds of poems as a teen and young woman, almost all of them unpublished. I was fascinated by the use of language in poems and would read them over and over. Richard Hugo’s book TheLady in Kicking Horse Reservoirpractically fell apart in my hands I read it so many times. “You might come here Sunday on whim. Say your life broke down. The last good kiss you had was years ago.” These lines are burned into my brain from Hugo’s poem Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg. My grandmother was born in Philipsburg, Montana. I have a soft spot for the little town and the nearby Pintler Mountains. It’s always like that for me—towns and mountains together. Richard Hugo liked towns with rivers. I took a class from him once. I was terrified to submit a poem for critique. And when I did submit my poem, Hugo was not just disappointed, he was mad. He said I was a bright young woman from Butte and he wanted me to go home and write him something real. I did. I went home and worked so hard on my next poem. I stole the words from the fabric of my life. I emulated his style, which was impossible, but it made me a better writer. I read his poems for years, learning to pair the sacred with the trivial, to twist the sentence on the last word, to bring the main concept back around at a richer level—all things I learned from reading Hugo’s poems. His poetry and my love for language inspired the writing in Copper Sky and The Swan Keeper.

Novels

It took me a long time to learn how to tell a story rather than write a poem. Even now I love the mystic of poetic language in stories. The novels that most affected my writing have a mystical edge to them: Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin, I Heard The Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven, The Likeness by Tana French, The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman, Fata Morganaby William Kotzwinkle, Bull from the Seaby Mary Renault. Once I love a novel I read it again and again. I want to know how the author came up with the story. I want to experience the magic of it. I want to learn and grow and be amazed all over again. And each time I read any of these novels I am enchanted again. Even though I already know what is going to happen. These novels are like old friends that I haven’t seen for a while and we pick up exactly where we left off. The White Dog in Copper Sky was directly inspired by the White Horse in Winter’s Tale. The ending in The Swan Keeper came from a desire to end a book in the way that Mary Renault ended Bull from the Sea. The magical realism in William Kotzwinkle’s Fata Morgana found its way into Copper Sky and The Swan Keeper. The true humanity of Craven’s I Heard the Owl Call My Name inspired compassion in both novels. The Dead in The Dress Lodger gave me courage to let the Dead live in Copper Sky. Tana French uses such beautiful and surprising language in The Likeness that I tried to emulate her. Again, it was impossible. But it made me a better writer.

Non Fiction


It would be difficult to write a book set in the mining town of Butte, Montana in 1917 without having read Copper Camp by the Montana Writers Project and Fire And Brimstone by Michael Punke. Copper Camp served as initial inspiration for Copper Sky, and Fire and Brimstoneserved to review the research. Both books talk about the many mining accidents in the town, the fires, and the political climate of early Butte. Swans of The World by A. Lindsay Price and Giving Voice To Bear by David Rockwell both helped shape The Swan Keeper. I had so many questions about trumpeter swans and their migrating and mating habits. I wanted to know what they ate and how they treated their young. They are birds that mate for life, and they are fiercely protective of their young. Swans of the Worldanswered many of my questions. The Native American myths, rituals, and images of the bear in Giving Voice to Bearhelped me to find words to portray the mystical spirit of the trumpeter swans. Rooting these stories in real details gave me a lot of freedom to invent, twist, change, and to allow the mystery of each book find its voice. Copper Sky and The Swan Keeper both come out of my love for reading, language, and research and I am so grateful for all of the books and authors that inspired them.


Copper Sky 
The feminine spirit of the West comes alive in early twentieth century Montana.
Set in the Copper Camp of Butte, Montana in 1917, Copper Sky tells the story of two women with opposite lives. Kaly Shane, mired in prostitution, struggles to find a safe home for her unborn child, while Marika Lailich, a Slavic immigrant, dodges a pre-arranged marriage to become a doctor. As their paths cross, and they become unlikely friends, neither knows the family secret that ties them together.
“A dazzling heartfelt epic of friendship and loss, love and renewal. Copper Sky conjures the unimaginable heartbreak of Butte’s history with compassion and grand vision and a storyteller’s genius. If you love Montana’s rich and ghosted past, don’t miss this read.”—Debra Magpie Earling, author of Perma Red
“A riveting story of darkness and redemption...”—Phil Condon, author of Clay Center, Montana Surround,and Nine Ten Again
“This splendid debut carries readers into the textured dimension of Butte’s vivid and perseverant heart.”—Sid Gustafson, author of Swift Dam
Open Books • Amazon US •Amazon UK • B&N


The Swan Keeper
From USA Today featured novelist and Western Writers of America Spur award finalist Milana Marsenich, The Swan Keeper is an historical, coming-of-age novel set in 1920s Montana.

On her eleventh birthday, Lilly’s family visits the Cattail Marsh to see the newly hatched cygnets. The family outing turns tragic when Dean Drake shows up with his shotgun. Lilly sees him kill her father, injure her mother, and slaughter the bevy of trumpeter swans. The sheriff, her mother, sister, and best friend all think Lilly is trying to make sense of a senseless accident by blaming Drake. But Lilly knows the truth. Left alone she must bring him to justice.

“Author Milana Marsenich has penned a dramatic page-turner brimming with authentic detail. She knows this Montana countryside inside and out, her vivid descriptions capturing the spirit of the craggy Mission Mountains.”—Maggie Plummer, author of Spirited Away – A Novel of the Stolen Irish and Daring Passage: Book Two of the Spirited Away Saga.
Amazon • Amazon UK 

Milana Marsenich 
Milana Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana near Flathead Lake at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains. She enjoys quick access to the mountains and has spent many hours hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs. For the past 20 years she has worked as a mental health therapist in a variety of settings. As a natural listener and a therapist, she has witnessed amazing generosity and courage in others. She first witnessed this in her hometown of Butte, Montana, a mining town with a rich history and the setting for Copper Sky, her first novel. She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, The Moronic Ox, BookGlow, and Feminist Studies. She has a short story included in The Montana Quarterly book: Montana, Warts and All. She has two published novels, Copper Sky and The Swan Keeper.

Bosworth 1485 – Mark II by Alex Marchant #history #RichardIII #Tudor @BosworthLCC @AlexMarchant84 @WhiteBoarOrder

Bosworth 1485 – Mark IIBy Alex Marchant


Alternative history? It’s not for everyone.

I’ve toyed with the idea once or twice. I imagine many historical novelists do from time to time – especially when they’re approaching a climactic event in which a leading and/or much-loved character faces a tragic end.In my case, in The King’s Man, sequel to my children’s novel The Order of the White Boar, that event is the Battle of Bosworth, 1485, in which King Richard III and many loyal companions face death as a result of the basest treachery.
King Richard’s standard flying at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
Some readers who are fellow Ricardians (those who believe King Richard has been maligned in the centuries since his death), despite being avid devourers of fiction about the King, find themselves unable to read accounts of the battle and its grisly aftermath – even when relatively sympathetically written. One of my beta readers told me she had never read a fictional retelling of Bosworth – though she kindly forced herself to read mine in The King’s Man, thanking me afterwards for the way in which it’s handled. (At the risk of spoilers, the book is from the point of view of a young lad who doesn’t directly witness King Richard’s brutal death.)I would love to have written it differently – to have had King Richard triumphant, and he and his comrades live to fight another day – or better still, to live a long life in the peace that followed the victory over the last treacherous pretender, Henry Tudor. But as the battle approached, I reminded myself that my aim in writing the two books was to present, for children, as accurate a story of the last three years of King Richard’s short life as I could, by drawing on the original sources before the Tudor propaganda machine swung into action. ‘King Richard’ presenting copies of his life story, The Order of the White Boar, to local primary school leavers at Middleham Castle, July 2018
So I knuckled down, gritted my teeth, and embarked on the long, sad road to Bosworth Field, and beyond, though sparing my readers some of the more horrific aspects of the events. The books are for children after all. (Yes, I know kids love gory stories, but there’s only so far one can go – or indeed wants to go when one has any affection for the characters who suffer such unpleasant fates.)But to my delight – and that of many other Ricardians – this summer’s Bosworth Medieval Festival included for the first (but hopefully not the last) time, not just a re-enactment of the actual battle as it played out on that sweltering August day 533 years ago, but also what one might term an ‘enactment’, featuring an alternative outcome. As well as arranging two debates asking ‘What if Richard had won the battle?’, the organizers also persuaded the re-enactors to stage an alternative version of the battle itself where Richard and his allies won the day.I say ‘persuaded’. Such an event is not for the purists. Perhaps it also represents an attack on the pride of the companies of medieval re-enactors who are renowned for their attention to detail and authenticity. I was told of a previous attempt to offer an alternative Battle of Tewkesbury – Richard’s second battle fought when he was just 18 in 1471, which was a glorious victory for the House of York under his brother, King Edward IV. On that occasion, apparently the Yorkist troops refused to enter the battlefield – better for them a no-show rather than a wrongful defeat. King Richard in the front line with his men as Tudor’s troops attack.
But there were no such problems at Bosworth 2018. Perhaps because the combatants had a deep-down appreciation that really King Richard should have won the day – that he came very close to it despite the actual no-show of his supposed ally the Earl of Northumberland – and that he was only defeated owing to the despicable treachery of the Stanley brothers, Thomas and William. (If those words sound strong, can I just say that I don’t usually bear grudges – but I make an exception in this case: 533 years just isn’t long enough to expunge the guilt of those two men!) Or maybe the re-enactors just wanted to be invited back next year.I had a stall some way from the main arena where I was signing books and giving talks/readings, but I made sure to sneak away to see the battle. It was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime – or at least a once-in-500+-years’ – experience and not one to miss. (Although the organizers have since hinted they may stage it again as it went down so well...) Giving my first talk at Bosworth (but perhaps with half an eye on when the alternative version battle will commence....).
It was a marvellous, celebratory half an hour or so. No one outside the re-enactor companies themselves had known quite what to expect. How would King Richard’s victory be brought about? Would the Earl of Northumberland send his rearguard troops into action as ordered this time? Would Lord Stanley renege on his treacherous deal with Tudor and back King Richard? (Richard had his son, Lord Strange, as a ‘guest’ in his camp after all.) Would Sir William Stanley’s cavalry charge be aimed at supporting King Richard and helping him fight his way through to capture or kill Tudor, rather than ploughing into the King’s rear to wreak destruction and death before Richard can quite reach the pretender?
The Earl of Northumberland enters the field of battle ... with his comfy stool.
It wasn’t any of the above in the end. The Stanley brothers, as usual fence-sitting on the sidelines as the battle began, this time made a fatal error. They decided to engage Northumberland’s troops. The Earl himself, who had brought along a stool and jug of wine to while away the time as he watched the battle – again as usual – had to meet their advance. Fierce fighting ensued, and Sir William was killed early on. Soon the way was clear for King Richard to spy Henry Tudor, lurking (also as usual) well to the rear of the battle, guarded only by a few ropey French mercenaries. The outcome then was not in doubt. The King advanced with his loyal household and made mincemeat of the pretender’s bodyguard, along with those few other troops who could be bothered to fall back to try to protect the pathetic traitor.
King Richard advances on the traitor, Henry Tudor.
Many were the cheers that rose from the spectators (though perhaps not as many or as loud as would have occurred had the beer tent been open longer by then...) as Henry Tudor was marched off to the Tower (‘for the rest of his short and miserable life’, as the commentary said) and both he and the surviving Stanley received a good kicking from the victorious troops (and I believe a swift one from the King in passing).
King Richard, triumphant, addresses his troops, over the grovelling Thomas, Lord Stanley.
Of course, we were all brought back down to earth in the afternoon when the ‘traditional’ version of the battle was staged – as usual – with King Richard’s glorious, but ultimately ill-fated cavalry charge leading to his brutal demise. But it certainly offered a talking point for the rest of the weekend as Ricardians and soon-to-be-Ricardians (as I like to think of everyone else) got together and discussed the event. I often heard people saying that what they’d seen or heard during the festival had made them question the Shakespearian version of events – which, after all, was written more than a hundred years after Richard’s death, during the reign of Henry Tudor’s grand-daughter, Elizabeth I; I doubt it would have been polite – or indeed, politic – for the Bard to point out that it was Tudor, not Richard, who was in fact the usurper. King Richard prepares to charge... ‘traditional version’.
So, alternative history – not perhaps for everyone. But if it helps people engage with the actual history, and perhaps question why and how and by whom it was written – who was their audience, what was their agenda? – I’m all for it. So long as everyone knows it’s ‘alternative’, not real. There’s been enough rewriting of actual history through the ages by the victors to suit their own ends, without adding to the problem in this century. Particularly in this age of ‘fake news’. But perhaps that’s a subject for another blog...

The Order of the White Boar
How well do you know the story of King Richard III? Not as well as Matthew Wansford.
Twelve-year-old Matthew Wansford has always longed to be a knight. And his chance comes in the golden summer of 1482 when he arrives at Middleham Castle, to serve the King’s brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester.Soon he encounters a dangerous enemy. Hugh, a fellow page, is a better swordsman, horseman, more skilled in all the knightly arts – and the son of an executed traitor. Now he aims to make Matt's life hell.Yet Matt also finds the most steadfast of friends – Alys, Roger and Edward, the Duke’s only son. Together they forge a secret knightly fellowship, the Order of the White Boar, and swear an oath of lifelong loyalty – to each other and to their good lord, Duke Richard.But these are not times to play at war. Soon Matt and his friends will be plunged into the deadly games of the Wars of the Roses. Will their loyalty be tested as the storm looms on the horizon?
The King’s Man
“These are dangerous days, Master Wansford, dangerous days.”

The death of his brother King Edward IV has turned the life of Richard, Duke of Gloucester upside down, and with it that of his 13-year-old page Matthew Wansford. Banished from Middleham Castle and his friends, Matt must make a new life for himself alone in London. But danger and intrigue lie in wait on the road as he rides south with Duke Richard to meet the new boy king, Edward V – and new challenges and old enemies confront them in the city. As the Year of the Three Kings unfolds – and plots, rebellions, rumours, death and battles come fast one upon the other – Matt must decide where his loyalties lie. What will the future bring for him, his friends and his much-loved master? And can Matt and the Order of the White Boar heed their King’s call on the day of his greatest need? 
Amazon
Alex MarchantBorn and raised in the rolling Surrey downs, and following stints as an archaeologist and in publishing in London and Gloucester, Alex now lives surrounded by moors in King Richard III’s northern heartland, working as a freelance copyeditor, proofreader and, more recently, independent author of books for children aged 10+.
Alex loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Blog • Facebook • Twitter


Stop plans to build a High Speed Test Track on Bosworth Battlefield.
You can sign the petition:
HERE!

Welcome to the Land of King Arthur by Mary Anne Yarde #Arthurian #History #Folklore

Welcome to the Dark Ages. Welcome to the Land of King Arthur.
By Mary Anne Yarde.

I have been fascinated with the life and times of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table since I was a child — I guess growing up a stone’s throw from Glastonbury (The Ancient Isle of Avalon) may have had something to do with that.

My book series, The Du Lac Chronicles, tells the story of what happened after the death of Arthur, and continues the story of his Knights and their sons. But to write about the end of Arthur’s reign, I needed to know about the beginning. A not so easy task, it turned out.
The history of a historical Arthur is not written in stone but is, instead, engraved in folklore, and that brings its own set of challenges.
Firstly, where did Arthur come from? Well, that is an easy question to answer…
King Arthur was English. No, he was Welsh. Arthur was Scottish. He was from Brittany. Oh, for goodness’ sake, he was a Roman General!
Which is right? Arthur is so famous that everyone wants to claim him and, over the years, there have been many names thrown out there as to who he really was. But we mustn’t forget that when we are dealing with Arthur, we are digging up folklore, and that is not the same as excavating relics. We can make Arthur fit wherever we want him to, and that is where the problem lies. It is very easy to make mistakes, and I have read many books that claim to have found the real Arthur, only they haven’t, it is just a theory, sometimes a very shaky one.
The same can be said for Arthur’s famous castle, Camelot. There have been many possible locations for one of the most famous castles in history. Tintagel, Cadbury Hill, Caerlaverock Castle, have all been put forward. However, during all this excitement and discoveries we have overlooked a fundamental issue — there was no Camelot. It was an invention of a French poet in 1180! How can you look for something that was never there to begin with?
King Arthur statue at Tintagel Castle by Rubin Eynon
The Dark Ages, in which my books are set, is equally challenging to research because there is a lack of reliable primary resources. What was written down was written down for a purpose and that purpose was usually politically motivated, which in itself is fascinating, although not so helpful. Now, in these early texts when Arthur is mentioned, there is nothing about him being a king. Nennuis describes him as a warrior on par with Ironman, but no mention of a crown.
It isn’t until the 12th Century when Geoffrey of Monmouth writes his great work that the Arthur we know is born. The History of The Kings of Briton was meant to be a historically accurate account of British History and for many, many, years what Monmouth wrote was considered factually correct. Of course, we now know it was anything but. However, that does not mean that Monmouth’s work is of no particular value. Monmouth borrowed heavily from folklore, and it is his story that drives the legend of Arthur and his Knights forward. I think Monmouth’s book is incredibly important as it tells us a great deal about, not only the era, but also about the people who were listening to his stories. And if we dig a little further, we can discover that it wasn’t only the populous who loved listening to Arthurian tales. Those ever practical monks at Glastonbury Abbey did as well.
Let’s take a journey back to 12th Century England…
A terrible fire had spread through Glastonbury Abbey, and unfortunately for the monks, they did not have the coffers to pay for the repairs. If only they could encourage more pilgrims to come to the Abbey. What could they do?
Glastonbury Abbey
Thanks to Monmouth’s book “Arthur Fever” had gripped the nation. People would pay good money to go on a pilgrimage to Arthur’s final resting place. All that was needed was a good story and a grave. The monks of Glastonbury announced to the world that they had discovered Arthur’s final resting place. That brought in the crowds. Glastonbury Abbey soon had the coffers to make the repairs and then some. There was as much truth in the story of Glastonbury Abbey and King Arthur’s grave as there was in The History of the Kings of Briton. But for hundreds of years, both the Abbey and Monmouth were believed.
My books are not just set in Britain, but France as well, so I needed to have a good understanding of what was happening in both of these countries in the 5th/ 6th Century to keep the history real in the telling. But, before I could look at France, I needed to have an understanding of what was happening in the Western Roman Empire during this time. By 476 C.E. the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire had been overthrown. The stability that the Roman Empire had brought to Western Europe for over 1000 years was no more.
This dawning new era brings us some of the most fascinating historical figures that ever lived. These were the days of men such as Clovis. Clovis won a decisive victory against Rome, at the Battle of Soissons in AD 486. But, Clovis’ ambition didn’t stop there. Roman Gaul and parts of Western Germany fell to him as well. He forged a new empire through blood, war, and marriage. He made Paris the capital of his new kingdom, and he was the first King of a united Frank (France).
Jpeg of Clovis I
The Saxons and the Angles crossed the South Sea to take advantage of vulnerable Britain who, since the Romans had left, had split back into various smaller kingdoms. There was much infighting and unrest. It was the perfect opportunity for the Saxon’s to come over and stake their claim.

While all this was going on, the Church was creeping into the crevices, and spreading the word of God and, what could be considered of equal value, one language — Latin. It could be argued that it was the Church that united Britain in the end.
This was a time of great unrest and change, but one thing remained constant for the general populous and that was storytelling. Arthur may well have been a general but folklore made him a Christian King and gave him a castle full of noble knights. Arthur and his Knights (most of them anyway) cared about the people they represented. Arthur was a good king, the like of which has never been seen before or after. He was the perfect tool for spreading a type of patriotic propaganda. Arthur was someone you would want to fight by your side. But he also gave ordinary people a sense of belonging and hope. He is, after all, as T.H White so elegantly put it — The Once and Future King.
King Arthur by Charles Earnest Butler.
I have tried to show what life was like in the 5th /6th Century in my books, but I have been heavily influenced by folklore because when you are dealing with this period in history, you cannot dismiss it. Brittany, for example, is terribly difficult to research historically during this era, because what was written was unfortunately lost during the Viking invasion. However, when it comes to folklore, Brittany is rich and if that is all she is going to give us, then so be it.
The Carnac Stones, Brittany.
Local Legend claims that the stones were once a Roman Legion. The great sorcerer, Merlin, turned the Legion to stone.
 Folklore is its own particular brand of history, and it is often overlooked by historians, which I think is a shame. You can tell a lot about a people by the stories they tell, and people are still fascinated by this larger-than-life King, which I think, says it all. Arthur may well have been a general, or a knight, he may have been English, he may not, but it doesn’t matter because his story is timeless, it will never grow old.
The Du Lac Prophecy

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.

Amazon US • Amazon UK  •  Amazon CA





 Mary Anne Yarde
Mary Anne Yarde is the multi award-winning author of the International Bestselling series — The Du Lac Chronicles.

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 a part of her childhood.
Mary Anne loves to hear from readers, you can find her:  Media Links:Website/Blog  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •   Amazon Author Page  •  Goodreads 

The Gloves are Off — Protect Killiecrankie Battlefield by Killiecrankie1689 #Killiecrankie #Jacobite #Scotland @KilliecrankieA9

The Gloves are Off — Protect Killiecrankie Battlefield.By Killiecrankie1689


It is not just at Bosworth and Culloden that we hear the clash of modern development against history and heritage.  Throughout the land, there is relentless pressure for new construction for commercial enterprise, houses or essential infrastructure on sites that have been designated worthy of protection.
Perhaps daddy of them all is the battlefield of Killiecrankie, in scenic Highland Perthshire at the southern tip of Cairngorms National Park.   This is the site of the Battle of Killiecrankie which took place on 27 July 1689 and whose legend has been seared into national consciousness with help from Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and William Wordsworth. 
The best-known tale of the battle is one recounted by Donald McBane, a redcoat who ran away before hand-to-hand fighting started.  Pursued by furious Highlanders, McBane claims to have escaped by jumping 18ft across the River Garry, at the place in the gorge now shamelessly marketed as the Soldier’s Leap.
The battle was the first engagement of the Glorious Revolution and Jacobite period in Scotland which ended in a surprising victory for the outnumbered Highlanders.  In less than one hour of savage slaughter, well over 2,000 men were killed including the charismatic rebel leader, John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee. The loss of the man whom some called ‘Bonnie Dundee’ effectively signalled the end of this particular revolt and elevated his status to the near mythic.


Due to the importance of the battle in Scottish History, the numbers who fell, the relatively undisturbed terrain, landscape and historical features, Killiecrankie was included in the very first edition of the much vaunted Inventory of Historic Battlefields in 2011.  This document forms a central part of the extensive framework to protect our historic environment. The Inventory lists every known historic asset and key landscape features of the Killiecrankie battlefield and is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
HES also has an array of policy, guidance notes, circulars and planning directives designed to explain the value of our history, heritage and archaeology.  All of this is loudly supported by the Scottish government who went so far as to dub 2017 the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology or #HHA2017 in Twitter parlance.
After all, the Scottish government understands how powerfully history, heritage and genealogy drive tourism.  Scotland provides a landscape as rich in panoramas as it is in romance to encourage visitors to come here. That same history and heritage is inspiring a significant cinematic output which also contributes to tourism.  Set-jetting has become a thing. All of which has fed into a record number of visitors, record spending and a bright outlook, according to the national tourist chief.
Given that background, one would expect the Scottish government to take extra care when it comes to any project that will impact on a historic gem, such as Killiecrankie. Not so. Alas, when tasked with completing an upgrade of the A9 road which traverses 110 miles through the spine of Scotland from Perth to Inverness, Transport Scotland has decided to plonk huge infrastructure on the most sensitive part of the battlefield.  It will ruin the very assets and characteristics that are listed in HES’s Inventory of Historic Battlefields.
At the moment the A9 road is single carriage in some stretches and dual carriage in others.  It has to be uniformly dualled to today’s road standards. The original A9 was built in Killiecrankie in the 1970s and remains single carriage. It passes high above the River Garry through the Pass of Killiecrankie and then bisects the battlefield just north of the Pass where the terrain opens out. 
Transport Scotland claims that as the road already cuts through the battlefield, it does not make much difference how it is widened. They say that the damage has been done and any new infrastructure is not going to have an adverse effect.    
Their argument is disingenuous.  Where the road goes is critical. The problem is that when building to today’s standards there is more involved than creating another strip of tarmac to run alongside the existing road.  At Killiecrankie, the upgrade requires a central reservation, a verge at either side, two new lanes, two long lay-bys, three large drainage basins, access roads to the new drainage structures, new off/on roads for a new junction, a number of new bridges over streams and burns, steep embankments, felling of mature trees, dismantling of an earthen sound barrier and more. All the new infrastructure is planned on the part of the battlefield where historians agree the main fighting took place.
At an early stage of the planning, Transport Scotland with consultants, Jacobs, identified the boundaries of the Inventory battlefield.  It appears that that is all they did. Had they properly considered the assets which HES has listed within the Inventory boundaries, they would never have arrived at their proposed design.
Transport Scotland’s justification for its damaging plan is the cost benefit in utilising 150,000m3 of filler material, excavated elsewhere on the A9, in Killiecrankie. By creating new infrastructure on the northbound side of the road, excess from elsewhere can be economically re-used.  This design predetermines the alignment of the road and everything else, in engineering terms, must follow.  When ‘consulted’ during the planning stages, HES said that it was opposed to large earthworks and they should be avoided.
Challenged about the adverse impact on history, heritage and archaeology, Transport Scotland repeats fuzzy arguments with spurious historical evidence. A redoubt known as Lagnabuig and listed in the Inventory as a place where sniping occurred in the early part of the battle, has been airbrushed from Transport Scotland’s assessment of the battlefield.
Archaeology is shaping up to be something of a battleground. Transport Scotland reached its preferred option for the road without having appointed an archaeological curator.  It is only now in the process of giving Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) the role.
There is little doubt that the proposal is light on archaeology. It became known only when the final road plan was revealed that mysterious ‘pits’ had been discovered in the path of the proposed new road. The ‘pits’ may or may not have been burial sites. As only one grave – that of Viscount Dundee – is known of the thousands who died at Killiecrankie, ’pits’ are an emotive subject.
HES in its objection to the proposal recommended that the ‘pits’ were investigated fully and that further archaeological surveys be done along the path of the proposed route. These have now been completed and though the final report is not yet available, the preliminary results showed no human remains.
While the latest archaeology resolves one question, it does not resolve the central issues raised by HES and the other 182 organisations, societies and individuals who submitted objections.  Transport Scotland has failed to explore every option to avoid damaging the battlefield.  Only when it can prove that these have been exhausted, is a developer allowed to make a damaging proposal.
You can sign the petition:
HERE!



About KilliecrAnkie1689
KilliecrAnkie1689 is a new group that opposes how the planned dual carriageway is to be built on the Killiecrankie battlefield.
KilliecrAnkie1689 is in favour of upgrading the A9 in the interests of safety. But it wants the best route possible for the local community and one that fully respects the sensitive area of the battle site.

New Release — The Du Lac Prophecy (Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles) By Mary Anne Yarde #KingArthur #Saxons #HistoricalFiction

The Du Lac Prophecy(Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles)By Mary Anne Yarde

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:

Alan frowned as he took his seat. His hair was damp from the rain that continued to pour down from the heavens. Before answering the King, he reached for the mead and filled up a goblet. His actions were slow and seemingly deliberate. But no one could drag their gaze away from him, for Alan had been part of the Breton army since the age of twelve. He knew things that they did not. All eyes watched Alan as he took a sip of his mead. Alan sighed in appreciation of the mead, and then he looked at James. “If it were Philippe, you were really talking about, then I would agree. He is a weak king and an appalling ruler. You may well be victorious before the sun set. But Philippe isn’t whom you are talking about. Philippe is not your concern. He is nothing. A puppet king at best. However, Mordredis no easy foe. And he has eyes everywhere. He sees all. He will see you coming.”
“He didn’t see you coming when you rescued Lady Amandine,” James replied, and a few of the knights murmured their agreement with their general.
“Maybe he did,” Alan allowed with a shrug.
Merton, who had been absentmindedly studying the reeds that were scattered on the floor, looked up sharply at that statement for he had not been expecting it.
“Maybe it was all part of his plan,” Alan continued. “Maybe we are playing right into his hands. Maybe we will all die.” Alan raised the goblet to his mouth again.
Merton frowned, and he saw that Yrre’s expression reflected his own. Mordred’s influence was significant, but surely not so significant as to be able to influence his enemies’ decisions? Was Mordred so astute at King’s Table that he could predict his opponents move before they had even thought of it?



Available on Kindle and in Paperback 
Amazon US  Amazon UK






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 Briton 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.
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.


Catch up with The Du Lac Chronicles series on Amazon.<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style> -->

Stop plans to build a High Speed Test Track on Bosworth Battlefield. #Bosworth #Tudors

Stop plans to build a High Speed Test Track on Bosworth Battlefield

I don’t usually post blogs about current affairs, but today I am making the exception. In recent months two of our most sacred battle sites are under threat from development. The first being Culloden Battlefield. You can read about the proposed development here. It has now come to my attention that there has been an application to build a driverless car track on part of the battlefield of Bosworth.

Now many people say that there is not one part of the British Isles that has not seen a battle and that we cannot be sentimental about the past. But in the case of both Culloden and Bosworth, I think we should be.

In the Battle of Culloden (16th April 1746) between 1500 to 2,000 Jacobites died. Culloden is their memorial. The Battle of Bosworth (22nd August 1485) was the climax to the War of the Roses. King Richard III was the last English monarch to die in battle. And while he cried:
"Traitor. Traitor. Traitor."
Henry VII took the throne from him, and so started the reign of the Tudors. 



I have been to Bosworth many times and to think that we could lose this heritage for our future generations is utterly heartbreaking. Richard III’s body was found under a car park, are we to allow the same sad fate to happen to the place where he and countless others died? I cannot understand why commerce should be allowed to destroy our heritage. Please, if you have a few minutes, support Diane Penn and sign this petition and save this monument for those who come after us. If a car park, where Richards III’s body was found, can be given scheduled monument status then surely the place where he died should also be protected. 
The Members of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s planning committee have been advised to grant permission for the venture which they will discuss tomorrow — Tuesday 28thAugust. It is not too late. We can stop this.

Sign the petition:Here


Thank you.

Pre-Order your copy of The Du Lac Prophecy TODAY!! #Arthurian #HistoricalFiction

The Du Lac Prophecy(Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles)By Mary Anne Yarde

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...”
Available for Pre-Order
Amazon US  Amazon UK


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 Briton 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.
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.


Catch up with The Du Lac Chronicles series on Amazon.

#CoverReveal ~ The Du Lac Prophecy (Book 4 Of The Du Lac Chronicles) by Mary Anne Yarde #HistoricalFiction

I am so excited to share with you the cover of my latest book.
The Du Lac Prophecy(Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles) By Mary Anne Yarde

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.

Coming soon…
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 Briton 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.
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.
Catch up with The Du Lac Chronicles series on Amazon.