Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 193

Bodmin Jail #history #Cornwall

As I looked up at the imposing building of Bodmin Jail, I could not help but think of those poor unfortunate souls that had been imprisoned there. And as I stepped through the doors I was struck by how much despair I could feel. If these walls could talk, they would tell a desperate tale.


The youngest inmate was two years old. The child had been caught begging with his mother. Can you imagine sending a two-year-old child to jail? It begs the question, what were they thinking? And that question came up again and again as I wandered around the cold and depressing cells.
Some of the prisoners were of cause notorious, but most were in their for really ridiculous crimes. Being poor was one of them.

If a mother found herself in trouble with the law and subsequently ended up at Bodmin Jail then it was not unheard of for her children to come with her and just by that one visit, I can tell you that jail was no place for a child.Many of the stories were truly harrowing. There was one, in particular, that really shocked me, and that was the story of a woman who was dragged towards the scaffold with her children clutching her skirts and her baby still at the breast. There are no records of what happened to the children after they witnessed their mother's death. How callous. How cruel.
 I know that this was a different time, and they did things differently,  and it was just the way it was. But the way it was, was fundamentally wrong.The prisoners were starved, even the children. They were given survival rations — if you call it that. Many children were sent on from Bodmin to a school of correction, and I dread to think what that was like.If you are a fan of Poldark and have watched the series, then you will be familiar with the depiction of Bodmin Jail. But the reality was worse. It truly was hell on earth.

Author’s Inspiration ~ J.G. McKenney #Arthurian #fantasy #YA @jgmckenney

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I welcome fantasy author, J.G. McKenney, onto the blog today. J.G (John) is going to share with us his inspirations behind his fabulous new book…
The Book Knights
From the award winning author of EON'S DOOR comes an Arthurian tale like no other. 

When her parents are condemned to death by Morgan Fay for the crime of reading, Arti Penderhagen becomes a fugitive. Hunted by Mordred, the sadistic police captain who recites poetry to enhance his physical strength, Arti escapes to the Isle of Avalon, a sanctuary for outlaws. There she meets an old librarian named Merl who tells her about the Grail Tome, an ancient book in Morgan Fay's possession that can alter the course of history. Can Arti steal the book in time to save her family?

THE BOOK KNIGHTS is a fantasy adventure in which knights wield words as weapons, librarians are wizards, and books can change the future.
Author’s InspirationMost people believe magic doesn’t exist, but we experience it every day in the books we read. The alchemy of a skilled author crafting words in the cauldron of a manuscript is magic in its truest form; it makes the impossible real. Characters who never existed before spring to life, strange and wonderful creatures walk and breathe, and the worlds they inhabit become as tangible as our own.  That magic inspired me to write THE BOOK KNIGHTS. I believe the power of words is humanity’s greatest gift, our Holy Grail, and my story asks the question: What if that gift was stolen?I decided to use the legend of King Arthur as my story’s template, starting with the discovery of a hero worthy of leading such a perilous quest to take back the power of words. But instead of Arthur Pendragon pulling the sword from the stone, I have Arti Penderhagen pull the words from the tome, and the “grail” she seeks is a book. Like Arthur, Arti will depend on the fealty of her knights—Gal, Gwen, and Lance—to complete her mission. That and the guidance of Merl, an old librarian who understands better than any the magic that words possess. With their help, Arti will try to discover the underlying truth that can save them. And that leads me to the second element that inspires my writing.     Facing fear and danger and death, the book knights reveal the transformative power of love and friendship. They rely on each other for the strength and courage to succeed, even when the odds are stacked against them. The bonds between characters hold a magic all their own, and a good story cannot exist without them.Finally, as an author I am driven by the desire to share the power of words with others. The “magic” doesn’t happen unless there are readers to experience it. In my work, I try my best to give readers what they deserve: a story that is worthy of their valuable time and money. I want them to lose themselves in the book, to become part of the world I’ve created, to really care about it. One early reviewer of THE BOOK KNIGHTS said it made her “laugh, cry, and cheer.” I could ask for no more. As I search for the appropriate closing remarks about what inspired me to write THE BOOK KNIGHTS, something strange is happening. Arti and the others are telling me that their story isn’t over, that there are still more adventures ahead. In all honesty, a series was not in my plans. In fact, I’ve already started work on another project. But who am I to deny the book knights their desire to live on? I must embrace the magic. Links for PurchaseAmazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA
About the author J.G. (John) McKenney is a Canadian writer and teacher. For his first novel, EON’S DOOR, he received the 2012 Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award, and was also a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award. John's fascination with fantasy and adventure began at a young age when he discovered works like THE HOBBIT and THE CALL OF THE WILD. That early love of reading has matured into a need to tell stories that transport readers into worlds full of wonder and enchantment.Useful Links Website

Book Blast ~ The Painter’s Apprentice #HistFic @hfvbt @lauramorelliphd

Blog Tour ~ Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents....
The Painter’s Apprentice by Laura Morelli

Star-crossed lovers with a costly secret. As the plague grips Venice, more than a quarantine divides them…
Venice, 1510. Maria Bartolini wants nothing more than to carry on her father’s legacy as a master gilder. Instead, her father has sent her away from the only home she’s ever known to train as an apprentice to Master Trevisan, a renowned painter.
Maria arranges to leave the painter’s workshop to return to her family workshop and to a secret lover waiting for her back home. But the encroaching Black Death foils her plans…
When the painter’s servants uncover the real reason why Maria has been sent away to train with Master Trevisan, they threaten to reveal a secret that could tear down her family and the future of their trade. She is forced to buy the servants’ silence, but as their greed steadily grows, Maria resorts to more desperate measures. She questions whether her heart’s desire is worth risking her family, her trade, and her future, but Maria’s sacrifices may amount to nothing if the plague arrives on her father’s doorstep and steals away everything she’s ever loved…
From the author of the award-winning The Gondola Maker comes a rich tale of Renaissance Venice, a heroine with a lust for life, and love against all odds.
Praise for The Gondola Maker
“The heir to a gondola empire rejects his birthright but comes full circle in this fascinating glimpse into late-Renaissance Venice by art-historian-turned-novelist Morelli (Made in Italy).” Kirkus Indie Book of the Month.
“Sixteenth-century Venice is the star of Morelli’s well-crafted historical novel about Luca Vianello, the eldest son of the city’s most renowned gondola builder.” Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review.

Pre-Order Promotion
Author Laura Morelli is offering a set of great bonuses exclusively to her readers! If you like to delve deeper into the “story behind the story,” you’ll want to take advantage of Laura’s pre-order package, which takes readers behind the scenes of The Painter’s Apprentice with videos, pictures, commentary about Renaissance Venice, and other exclusive content.Learn more here

Links for PurchaseAmazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & NobleiBooksKoboScribd
About the Author Laura Morelli holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, where she was a Bass Writing Fellow and Mellon Doctoral Fellow. She authored a column for National Geographic Traveler called “The Genuine Article” and contributes pieces about authentic travel to national magazines and newspapers. Laura has been featured on CNN Radio, Travel Today with Peter Greenberg, The Frommers Travel Show, and in USA TODAY, Departures, House & Garden Magazine, Traditional Home, the Denver Post, Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, and other media. Recently her art history lesson, “What’s the difference between art and craft?” was produced and distributed by TED-Ed.
Laura has taught college-level art history at Trinity College in Rome, as well as at Northeastern University, Merrimack College, St. Joseph College, and the College of Coastal Georgia. Laura has lived in five countries, including four years in Italy and four years in France.
Laura Morelli is the author of the guidebook series that includes Made in Italy, Made in France, and Made in the Southwest, all published by Rizzoli / Universe. The Gondola Maker, a historical coming-of-age story about the heir to a gondola boatyard in 16th-century Venice, is her first work of fiction.
For more information, please visit Laura Morelli’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
The Painter’s Apprentice by Laura MorelliPublication Date: November 15, 2017The ScriptoriumeBook; 482 PagesSeries: The Gondola Maker, Book Two Genre: Fi

Guest Post ~ Remember, Remember the Gunpowder Plot #HistFic @MorgantheBook

Please give a warm welcome to Historical Fiction author, Tony Morgan and in keeping with the time of year, Tony is going to talk about the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605
Remember, Remember the Gunpowder PlotBy Tony Morgan A contemporary engraving of eight of the thirteen conspirators, by Crispijn van de Passe. Missing are Digby, Keyes, Rookwood, Grant, and Tresham ~ Wikipedia
England in 1605 was a country with alarming parallels to our own times. What we’d describe today as a terrorist cell was actively operating in London. There were tensions over religion, covert government monitoring and conflicts with Europe.
Protestant King James I had only been on the throne for two years but had already faced the Main Plot and the Bye Plot to unseat and assassinate him. Little wonder he decided to pull back from an initially tolerant approach and the clampdown on Catholics was restarted, with fines for not attending Church of England services and imprisonment and worse for those who attended Catholic Mass or harboured priests.
James VI and I ~ Portrait attributed to John de Critz, c. 1605 ~ Wikipeida
Many Catholics wished only for a quiet life and turned the other cheek. A minority though had decided the status quo couldn’t go on. Charismatic Robert Catesby was their leader, a man ready, prepared and willing to strike a blow against the King and his government. Catesby wanted to do something so spectacular it wouldn’t be forgotten for centuries. His plan was to assassinate the King, his sons and much of the government by blowing up Parliament during the opening ceremony.
Robert Catesby, unknown artist, 1794 ~ Wikipedia
Catesby recruited a tightly knit group of conspirators and they smuggled gunpowder expert Guy Fawkes into the country and placed him undercover in Westminster, ready to light the fuse. Unfortunately, one of the plotters (or was it a government spy?) had sent a secret letter warning a Catholic Lord not to attend Parliament. The authorities discovered this but kept the news close to their chest until the very last minute.
This is the setting of my novel “ Remember, Remember the 6th of November ”. The book explores a shadowy world of intrigue and a race against time to prevent the country’s descent into all out civil war. Key roles are played by Secretary of State and spymaster general Robert Cecil and his beautiful and manipulative (as a woman she had to be to get what she wanted at the time) lover Katherine of Suffolk.


The book was first released on Kindle in 2016 and received great feedback. As I sat back and thought what do I write about next I began to speculate - what if the Gunpowder Plot had been at least partially successful? What would have happened? Civil war, anarchy, invasion?


King James and many of his officials would have been dead but the plotters wouldn’t have fared well either. Catesby, Fawkes and the others were hunted men and already either arrested and tortured or being chased down and shot. Their wider plan to kidnap nine-year-old Princess Elizabeth, convert her to Catholicism and place her on the throne of a Catholic England had failed before it had really begun.
In the rest of the country, there is little doubt there would have been skirmishes and reprisals. Angry Protestants, or just ones with ulterior perhaps even petty motives, would have attacked their Catholic neighbours. Catholics would have defended themselves. Many people on both sides would have been killed or injured.
I wonder if the country had the stomach or wherewithal for a full-scale civil war. The Treasury coffers were empty, plague haunted many towns and harvests had been poor. Short term survival was the priority for most.
With her father and brothers all dead, Protestant Princess Elizabeth would have become Queen but she was only nine. Others would have led the way until she reached a certain age. Her advisors may have recognised their primary goal should be avoiding a civil war, which inevitably would weaken defences against invasion from Catholic Spain or France. In these circumstances could a policy of religious tolerance, with people free to worship in the church of their choice, have been introduced?
Princess Elizabeth at age 7 by Robert Peake the Elder ~ Wikipedia
There would have been enemies inside and outside the country to such an approach. Puritan Protestants and Catholic Jesuits hated each other but disliked compromise even more. French and Spanish leaders would have wanted to destabilise England and either unseat or marry the young English queen to gain control of the country.
As she reached maturity, Queen Elizabeth II would have had to act to stabilise her own kingdom. Ireland posed the major threat, the unrest there creating a possible back-door for foreign invasion. Formal war with the indigenous Catholic Irish had ceased but the peace had seen a grinding removal of their lands and power base. Ireland would be forever troubled unless a settlement could be reached which delivered prosperity to both sides. Elizabeth needed an envoy to begin the peace process and find an Irish leader, with whom Elizabeth’s advisors could negotiate with.
Elizabeth ~ Wikipedia
This is the backdrop to the newly released “ 1617 ”.Sir Everard Digby is the peace envoy sent to Ireland but he’s a man with a past. The Queen is unaware he is the very man Catesby tasked with kidnapping her in 1605.  If she discovers the truth it will be the Tower and worse for Digby. He travels to Ireland, is shipwrecked, attacked by both sides and pursued by a Puritan assassin. In London, the Queen faces a plot from Puritans and Jesuits led by a deadly French female spy, with reason enough to see Digby dead.


I hope you enjoy reading one or both books. I certainly enjoyed writing them and getting to know these characters from this fascinating time in our history.
All profits back from my books in 2017 are being donated to a local charity’s dementia appeal, so every book sold is supporting a very worthwhile cause.



BOOK AND AUTHOR DETAILS
Remember, Remember the 6th of November is a thrilling retelling of the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.England in 1605 is a country concerned about terrorism, religious tensions, government surveillance and conflicts with Europe. A small group of conspirators led by charismatic Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes plan regime change. In a race against time can spymaster Robert Cecil and his lover Katherine Suffolk prevent the country descending into all-out civil war
Remember, Remember the 6thof Novemberis available in Paperback and Kindle ebook formats –Amazon US Amazon UK
1617 is the exciting sequel to Remember, Remember the 6th of November - a thrilling alternate history filled with secrets, treachery and intrigue. Queen Elizabeth has transformed England into a centre for religious tolerance but conflict is brewing across Europe and there are continued troubles in Ireland. A peace envoy is needed. Sir Everard Digby appears the perfect choice but he’s a man with a secret past which the Queen must never discover…
1617 is available as a Kindle ebook –Amazon US Amazon UK



Tony Morgan lives in Yorkshire in the UK, close to the birthplace of Guy Fawkes. His books have been described as a perfect read for lovers of the works of C.J. Sansom and S. J. Parris and anyone interested in how historic events have shaped our own times. Profits from both his books in 2017 are being donated to York Teaching Hospital Charity’s dementia appeal.
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Remember, remember the fifth of November #nurseryrhyme

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot! 



Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.





By god's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.



And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!



Have a safe bonfire night and remember to check for Hedgehogs and other small animals before you light your fire!! 
Come back tomorrow when historical fiction author, Tony Morgan, is on the blog to talk about the failed Gunpowder plot!

Henry Tudor and the King Arthur claim... #Arthurian #Legends #Tudors

Britain has always been a land of myths and legends. From St George and the Dragon to Robin Hood. Dick Whittington and his Cat to the Loch Ness Monster. But nothing has captured the imagination of the populous quite like King Arthur and his Knights.
Let’s take a trip back in time…
For thirty years, England had suffered a terrible civil war. It was the ultimate family argument. And that argument was all about legitimacy. The House of York argued that the Lancastrian King, Henry VI, had no right to the throne. The House of Lancaster disagreed.
In the year of our Lord, 1485, Henry Tudor marched from Wales, under the battle standard of King Arthur — the famous red dragon — and met King Richard III at Bosworth Field.
A stained-glass window in St. James Church, Sutton Cheney, commemorates the Battle of Bosworth and the leaders of the combatants, Richard III (left) and Henry VII (right). ~ Wikipedia
This battle changed the course of history and while the last of the Plantagenet Kings screamed:
“Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!”
Henry Tudor seized the throne of England for himself.
Finding Richard's circlet after the battle, Lord Stanley hands it to Henry. ~ Wikipedia
But, being victorious does not make one King. For Henry to be crowned King he had to provide a legitimate claim.
Henry Tudor was a Lancastrian, but he had a problem. It was argued, that Henry had not an ounce of English Blood. Henry’s Father, Edmund Tudor, was the son of the French Queen Dowager Katherine of Valois. Edmund’s father, Owen Tudor, was a Welsh groom. Their marriage was a scandal that had rocked the nation. Henry’s mother, Margaret Beaufort, was a direct descendant of Edward III, but the Beaufort’s had been barred from the throne, so her blood did not count.
Henry had to prove his claim and to do that he employed genealogists who traced his family back to Cadwaladr, a Welsh King, who in turn was a direct descendant of King Arthur. You couldn’t get more English than King Arthur. Henry presented his pedigree to the court.
With King Arthur as an ancestor, the nobles could not argue Henry’s claim to the throne.
Long Live King Henry…
Henry holding a rose and wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, by unknown artist, 1505. ~ Wikiepedia
Henry then married Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV of England — thus uniting the House of York and Lancaster and bringing an end to the Cousins War. But, like Edward III before him, Henry had fallen for the romance of King Arthur.
Elizabeth of York, 16th century copy of a 15th century portrait. ~ Wikipedia
It is worth mentioning that Bosworth was not the only noteworthy event to happen in the year 1485. Sir Thomas Malory, who was at the time languishing in prison, penned his great work, Le Morte d’Arthur. Arthur fever once more took hold of the nation, and now they had a king who claimed to be a direct descendant of Arthur. The future looked promising.
Henry’s firstborn child was born at Winchester — which, at the time, was widely believed to be the place where Camelot had once stood tall and proud. His firstborn child was a son, and he named that son Arthur.
Arthur, Prince of Wales, Anonymous portrait, c. 1501. ~ Wikipedia
But Henry’s dream of an Arthurian future took a fatal blow when his son, Arthur, became ill and died at the age of 16. It was said that Henry and Elizabeth were devastated by his death. Elizabeth died the following year.
In the subsequent reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, Arthurian legend and Arthurian prophecy continued to play its part in the monarchy’s dynamics. But from this day forward there has never been another King Arthur. We are still waiting for the Once and Future King to reclaim his throne…
References:A stained-glass window in St. James Church, Sutton Cheney, commemorates the Battle of Bosworth and the leaders of the combatants, Richard III (left) and Henry VII (right). ~ Wikipedia
Finding Richard's circlet after the battle, Lord Stanley hands it to Henry. ~ Wikipedia
Henry holding a rose and wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, by unknown artist, 1505. ~ Wikipedia
Elizabeth of York, 16th century copy of a 15th century portrait. ~ Wikipedia
Arthur, Prince of Wales, Anonymous portrait, c. 1501. ~ Wikipedia

Travel back in time to the land of King Arthur...
War is coming…
The ink has dried on Amandine’s death warrant. Her crime? She is a du Lac.
All that stands in the way of a grisly death on a pyre is the King of Brittany. However, King Philippe is a fickle friend, and if her death is profitable to him, then she has no doubt that he would light the pyre himself.
Alan, the only man Amandine trusts, has a secret and must make an impossible choice, which could have far-reaching consequences — not only for Amandine, but for the whole of Briton.
Amazon US Amazon UK  Amazon CA 
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Author’s Inspiration ~ Laura Libricz #HistFic @LauraLibricz

Please give a warm Coffee Pot welcome to historical fiction author. Laura Libricz. Laura is going to share her inspirations behind her fabulous new book…

The Soldier’s Return(Heaven’s Pond Trilogy, Book 2)


The year is 1626. A senseless war rips through parts of Germany. Ongoing animosity between the Catholics and the Protestants has turned into an excuse to destroy much of the landscape situated between France, Italy and Denmark. But religion only plays a minor role in this lucrative business of war. The young Dutchman, Pieter van Diemen, returns to Amsterdam in chains after a period of imprisonment in the Spice Islands. He manages to escape but must leave Amsterdam in a hurry. Soldiers are in demand in Germany and he decides to travel with a regiment until he can desert. His hope of survival is to reach Sichardtshof, the farm in Franconia, Germany; the farm he left ten years ago. His desire to seek refuge with them lies in his fond memories of the maid Katarina and her master, the humanist patrician Herr Tucher. But ten years is a long time and the farm has changed. Franconia is not only torn by war but falling victim to a church-driven witch hunt. The Jesuit priest, Ralf, has his sights set on Sichardtshof as well. Ralf believes that ridding the area of evil will be his saving grace. Can Pieter, Katarina and Herr Tucher unite to fight against a senseless war out of control?
Author’s Inspiration
European history during the 17th century is, in my opinion, the most exciting but sadly underrated period in historical fiction. The Age of Discovery was well underway. The printing press had been in use for over one hundred years and the implications this had on the swift spread of knowledge was incredible. This helped publicize Luther’s attempt to reform the Catholic church. There was a working European postal system. Enlightenment, science, mobility, globalization—the world was evolving and more people were finding out about it.
Sadly underrated, yes, and somewhat overlooked by historical novelists and readers alike, this time period has its fans. I happen to be one. If I had found more novels set in Germany in the Early Modern Period, written in English, I may not have started this journey! This was one of the main reasons I began research and work on theHeaven’s Pond Trilogy. When I finished The Master and the Maid, the first book in the series, I was so lucky to discuss my initial inspirations with Mary Anne. You can read more here.
In the second book, The Soldier’s Return, I took the opportunity to deepen my understanding of three diverse characters from the first book, giving all three of them equal voice. One is the character of Katarina, the master’s maid and guardian of the child, Isabeau. Creating a female character in historical fiction is a topic of discussion these days. How should we portray them? Were women subservient? If they were, dare we write them like that? Readers may not want to experience their women characters in such a role, no matter how true to historical research this may be. They may want their heroines to be sword wielding wild warriors.
Katarina is not a weak woman. She is true to her character: she loves, she laughs, she weeps and she suffers just like we do. She makes certain sacrifices for the child she cares for and tries to survive a particularly violent, well-documented period in German history. She is blessed with intelligence, she battles with certain human weaknesses, one of them being her love of a married man.
A character who has moved to the forefront is the Dutchman Pieter van Diemen, now 26 years old and the returning soldier. Here again, writing from the viewpoint of Pieter had its challenges. Soldiers were known to be brutal during the Thirty Years War. Should I hire a sensitivity reader? I again tried to be true to Pieter’s character as he spoke to me and I listened to what he would have done in his circumstances. Soldiers did unsavory things and it was important to me to be as realistic as possible. I handled the scenes in a non-graphic manner but I wanted to underscore the severity of the stakes in order to illustrate the choices Pieter had to make.
The third character I was allowed to flesh out is the Jesuit priest, Ralf. He is the antagonist in the first book and the second. During the early 1600’s, Franconia, Germany was the scene of massive witch hunts, involving the persecution and execution of men, women and children in the thousands. These innocent people became the church’s scapegoats, receiving the blame for bad weather and the devastating troop movement and fighting of the Thirty Years War. Investigating such a horrible situation from Ralf’s viewpoint was important to the story I was trying to tell.
Because the Heaven’s Pond Trilogy began with the fairy tale about the child, Isabeau, this series is actually about her life. Here’s a little teaser: the child Isabeau gets her spotlight in the third book!
Links for PurchaseAmazon US Amazon UK
About the author Pennsylvania native Laura Libricz earned a BA in German at The College of New Paltz, NY in 1991 and moved to Germany, where she resides today. When she isn’t writing she can be found sifting through city archives, picking through castle ruins or aiding the steady flood of musical instruments into the world market. A fascination with the country’s history has led her to recreate the 17th century for English speaking readers in the historical novel series Heaven’s Pond. The Master and the Maid is the first book in the series. The Soldier’s Return is the second.
Useful LinksWebsite Twitter YouTube Facebook Instagram Blog Pinterest Goodreads 

Jack-O'-Lanterns #history #Halloween

Jack-O'-Lanterns.


We have all seen them. Some of us have even had a go at carving them. But do you know where the idea of carving scary faces into pumpkins came from?The practice is believed to have originated in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. But instead of pumpkins, they used turnips or mangel wurzels.Back then the festival was known as Samhain. It was believed that during Samhain supernatural being and the dead once more roamed the earth.
What was the purpose of the lanterns?

Well, there were two very fascinating reasons...Firstly, they were used to frighten people ~ they did, after all, represent, thanks to their carvings, evil spirit. Much like Halloween masks do today.Secondly, they were used to ward off evil spirits. If you place the Jack-O'-Lantern in your windowsill, it is said it will keep evil spirits away from your house.
So will you be carving a pumpkin today and if so, will you be doing it to frighten people or to keep the evil spirits away...?

Blog Tour ~ Becoming Mrs. Smith #HistFic #WWII @hfvbt

Book Tour~ Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents.... Becoming Mrs. SmithBy Tanya E. Williams

Not all of war’s destruction takes place on the battlefield.Violet’s heart flutters from the scarlet fever she survived as a child, and it beats faster at the sight of John Smith, the man she plans to marry. America is entrenched in WWII, and when John enlists, Violet is certain she won’t ever forgive him for dashing their dreams. As the realities of war slowly overtake her life, Violet’s days are filled with uncertainty and grief. She struggles to maintain her faith in John, as the world as she knows it, crumbles.Becoming Mrs. Smith is the inspiring, and at times, heartbreaking story of a woman’s struggle to reclaim what she lost. War stole the man she loves, and childhood illness weakened her heart—perhaps beyond repair. While guns rage in Europe, the war Violet faces at home may be even more devastating.“Wonderfully emotional and beautifully written, Becoming Mrs. Smith will take hold of your heartstrings and leave you longing for more.”Kelsey Gietl, author of Across Oceans

GiveawayDuring the Blog Tour we will be giving away an eBook of Becoming Mrs. Smith! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.Giveaway Rules• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.• Giveaway is open 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.• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.Enter the Giveaway Here

Links for PurchaseAvailable on Amazon in Paperback and eBook
About the author A writer from a young age, Tanya E Williams loves to help a reader get lost in another time, another place through the magic of books. History continues to inspire her stories and her insightfulness into the human condition deepens her character’s experiences and propels them on their journey. Ms. Williams’ favourite tales, speak to the reader’s heart, making them smile, laugh, cry, and think.
For more information, please visit Tanya Williams’ websiteand blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest
Becoming Mrs. Smith  by Tanya E. WilliamsPublication Date: October 10, 2017Rippling Effects Writing & PhotographyeBook, Paperback & Audio; 100 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Novella

Author’s Inspiration ~ M.K. Tod #HistFic #WW1 @MKTodAuthor

Please give a warm Coffee Pot welcome to historical fiction author, Mary. K. Todd. Mary is going to share her inspiration behind her fabulous book…

Time and Regret
Time and Regret by M.K. Tod - When Grace Hansen finds a box belonging to her beloved grandfather, she has no idea it holds the key to his past—and to long-buried family secrets. In the box are his World War I diaries and a cryptic note addressed to her. Determined to solve her grandfather’s puzzle, Grace follows his diary entries across towns and battle sites in northern France, where she becomes increasingly drawn to a charming French man—and suddenly aware that someone is following her…
Author’s Inspiration
Each author creates and writes in her or his own way. There is no best approach; what matters most is whether in the end the story is compelling from a reader’s point of view.
The idea for my latest novel, Time and Regret, came while travelling in France with my husband to visit the battlefields, monuments, cemeteries, and museums dedicated to World War One.
On that trip, we went to Bailleul, Lille, Amiens, Ypres, Mont St. Eloi and other towns and villages, and to memorials at Vimy, Courcelette, Thiepval and Passchendaele. We visited the Musee de la Grande Guerre in Peronne. We stayed at a charming hotel that used to be a chateau and dined at its next-door restaurant. Those places and the landscape of the region engaged every sense and, along with the hundreds of pictures taken, have fuelled descriptions of meadows, villages, windows, tastes, gardens, restaurants, and other parts of Time and Regret.
Of most significance to this novel is the night we spent at a café in the small town of Honfleur across the mouth of the Seine from Le Havre. Shortly after the waiter poured our first glass of red wine, I wrote a few words in a small notebook.
“What are you writing?” Ian said.
“An idea for a story,” I replied.
Refusing to be put off by my cryptic response, he persisted. “What’s the idea?”
“Nothing much. Just thought it might make a good story to have a granddaughter follow the path her grandfather took during World War One in order to find out more about him.”
Ian took on a pensive look and no doubt had another sip of wine. “You could include a mystery,” he said.
Now, you should know that mysteries are my husband’s favorite genre. Indeed, I suspect mysteries represent at least eighty percent of his reading. So I played along. “What kind of mystery?”
And that was the birth of Time & Regret, as ideas tumbled out and the basic plot took shape. Needless to say, the bottle of wine was soon empty.
I’m drawn to the impact of war not just on individuals but also on marriages and families. I began writing my first novel, now called Unravelled, by investigating the lives of my maternal grandparents and as such, I came to see both sides – male and female – of a time with such dreadful consequences. Not only did men go to war, but women also ‘went to war’ on the home front and I wanted to share that perspective. Beyond that, I hope to tell stories that engage both men and women. Too much war and you lose the female audience; too much romance and you lose the men.
I was never a student of history and so I was startled to find researching WWI so fascinating. However, fascination was followed by anger, sorrow and bewilderment—anger at the incredible ineptitude of military and political leaders and sorrow for what soldiers and everyday citizens had to endure.
My bewilderment centered on questions of humanity. Why did soldiers put up with unspeakable conditions for so long? How could leaders use such appalling measures as poison gas? How could parents bear the loss of more than one son? How could officers send their men ‘over the top’ time after time when they knew death would greet so many? I shake my head even now. My novels honor the sacrifice, courage and endurance of the men and women who lived in those times.
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About the author M.K. Tod is an award-winning blogger and the author of three works of historical fiction. In 2004, Mary interrupted her business career to spend a few years as an expat in Hong Kong. That life-altering experience led to a new career and passion as a writer. Mary writes for the Historical Novel Society and the Washington Independent Review of Books. She is also known for her in-depth analysis of historical fiction and international reader surveys.
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