Alex Marchant's Blog, page 19
July 17, 2019
“In lieu of #RichardIII”: interview with Matthew Wansford @whiteboarorder by @margaretskea1 #giveaway #HistoricalFiction
At last it’s young Matt’s turn on the ‘Interview My Character Blog Hop‘ today.
And as ever he’s enthusing about his life in the service of his good master Duke Richard of Gloucester (later King Richard III of course) and at Middleham castle.
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Even if you’ve read The Order of the White Boar, why not enter the giveaway? If you win the paperback, it would be a great chance to donate a copy to a local school or library. (And if you do, don’t forget to let them know the author is available for visits!) Just comment on the original blog at https://margaretskea.com/2019/07/17/in-lieu-of-richard-iii-who-is-currently-unavailable/ or the original Facebook post for your chance to win 
July 16, 2019
The ‘pre-contract’ – Edward IV’s first marriage, to Eleanor Butler (nee Talbot) – the evidence
Over the weekend at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival, it was lovely to meet readers old and new and potential, to catch up with Ricardian friends, and exchange views with interested members of the public.
As usually happens at such events, the odd debate took place over whether Richard ‘did it’ (I’m sure you can guess what) and the validity of his claim to the throne. At that point it would have been invaluable to have been able direct my challenger to a resource that has just come to my attention – a page on the Revealing Richard III website specifically discussing Edward IV’s pre-contract with Eleanor Butler (nee Talbot) which meant that his sons with Elizabeth Woodville were illegitimate (a subject of course covered in The King’s Man).
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King Edward distributing largesse … before any word of his pre-contract came out…
Members of the Looking for Richard project team Philippa Langley and Dr David and Wendy Johnson, drawing also on work by the late Dr John Ashdown-Hill, have pulled together the early sources on the subject into a single page to demonstrate why the pre-contract was not the fiction many later claimed, from the Tudor period onwards. The page can be found here: http://revealingrichardiii.com/the-pre-contract.html
So, next time someone says to you, ‘But it was all just made up by Richard to seize the throne’, just point them in the direction of the Revealing Richard III website… I certainly will! I’m very grateful to Philippa, Wendy and David for bringing it to my attention.
Loyaulte me lie!
July 15, 2019
Tewkesbury 2019
So another Tewkesbury Medieval Festival has been and gone – and another Yorkist victory – of course! I doubt anyone has ever suggested to the organizers that an ‘alternative ending’ would be welcomed! (unlike at Bosworth 2018…)
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This year I managed to see rather more of the battle than last (when I’m afraid I cowered at my stall inside the marquee rather than brave the blazing heat outside – unlike the staunch warriors who took the field in full harness). I also stayed to see the final defeat of the Lancastrians in the grounds of the Abbey, followed by the infamous beheadings – much cheered by the townspeople, all of course loyal to good King Edward and his gallant young brother, Richard of Gloucester.
So this time I have a few more photos to share, to accompany the many already circulating from various sources on Facebook. For some reason I appear to have attracted fierce looks from many of the fighters – perhaps, as I suspect, my headgear just isn’t up to scratch… Lucky that I may be sporting different attire for my next event… Watch this space!
The Muster
His Grace King Edward
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The attempt to parley with the Lancastrians…
The waiting troops watch…
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Battle is joined…
The defeated Lancastrians retreat…
The final showdown at the Abbey
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The victorious king and his retinue
It’s not looking good for this chap….
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What follows… traitors all!
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Peace is restored to the Abbey
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Just a reminder…
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July 12, 2019
Winchester Goose Joanie Toogood Interviewed – for the Historical Writers Forum Character “Blog Hop” #HWFBlogHop
Today is an auspicious day for my blog as I welcome a very special guest to join me to talk about her life – Joanie Toogood, one of the [whispers it] infamous “Winchester Geese” of Southwark.
An unusual choice, you might think, for a blog written by the author of books aimed largely at children! Well, you may be right, but sometimes a chance is too good to miss. The chance, in this case, to speak to someone well-acquainted with life in a London now long gone, who has been drawn into the intrigues of the court and country of Henry VIII. And, I have to share with you, from an area of London in which some of my own ancestors lived … and died.
The interview is, of course, part of the ongoing “Interview My Character Blog Hop” organized by the Historical Writers Forum of Facebook, which has been running throughout June and July: a varied group of historical authors are interviewing each other’s characters, which has made for some fascinating reading! And several of the authors, including Judith Arnopp, are offering free copies (see below for details).
All the interviews can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Writers-Forum-Blog-Hop-Page-313883642875335/. My very own Matthew Wansford will be interviewed by Margaret Skea on 17th July, which will be found at https://margaretskea.com/. In the meantime, please sit back, pour yourself a goblet of something refreshing, and prepare to welcome Mistress Toogood. In a purely chaste and friendly way, of course…
***
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In Judith Arnopp’s novel, The Winchester Goose, Joanie Toogood is rough, tough and happy-go-lucky, but she is also kinder than she realises. Her observations of life, her situation, the time she lives in and the carrying-on (as she calls it) at the royal court are eye-opening and honest. She is childless and so mothers everyone she encounters. Carefully concealed beneath her rough manner is a heart of gold. She looks after her siblings, conceals her love for Francis and after the tragedy that befalls them all, comes to care for Eve above everyone else.
As she is keen to remind us, Joanie knows her place but is not afraid to break convention or the law should the need arise. Always caring, during the course of the novel Joanie matures from a ripe, bawdy good time girl into a compassionate, gentle stalwart committed to safeguarding the wife of the man she loved.
AM: Welcome, Joanie – if I may call you that? Please make yourself comfortable, at home, if you can. Tell me about where you’re originally from – a little bit about your childhood (if you had such a time that can be called ‘childhood’ before growing up)? Was it a happy time? What are your strongest memories of it?
JT: Where I’m from? I’m from Southwark, dearie. Never bin nowhere but Southwark until I came here with my Evie. As to whether I was ‘appy’, I’m not sure. Before my old mum died, there was food in my belly and a roof over my ‘ead, even if it did leak in one corner. Didn’t really ‘ave time to wonder if I was ‘appy though. I began earnin’ me livin’ when I was twelve year so … I’d say it was ‘ard rather than ‘appy. We made merry whenever we could but … ‘appy? No love, ‘appy ain’t for the likes of me. I know my place.
Tudor Southwark
What do you most like (or dislike) about Southwark/London?
I got nothin’ to compare it to, ‘ave I? Aside from the thieves and rogues, the people are good enough. My neighbours are ready to lend an ‘and if we need one. No one breathed a word when Francis died so sudden-like, no one called a constable when young Peter carried his body through the street that night yet someone must’ve seen us. We look after our own in Southwark, that’s probly the only thing to be said fer it.
How do you feel about your life – particularly about the work you do? What are the best things about it – and the worst?
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The Southwark stews
Oh, it ‘as its ups and down, dearie, ha ha! The worst thing is being at the call o’ the punters, ‘aving to soothe their needs even if you’ve no fancy to. The best thing is not starvin’ – the clink of a couple o’ coins in a gel’s pocket goes a long way toward salvin’ a sore behind, or healin’ the bruises. It ain’t nice out there, dearie but you ‘ave to make the best o’ life, don’t yer? There’s no point gripin’.
You both live and work with your sisters, something which isn’t always easy. Do you get on well with them? What sort of relationship(s) do you have?
My sisters? We fight like cat and dog tied at the tail, always ‘ave done but that don’t mean I don’t care fer ’em. I’d feed ‘em my last crust if I ‘ad to. Betsy, she’s a vain one and would sell her soul t’ the devil in exchange fer a pretty petticoat or a fancy hat but she’d not sell me. We’re tight, d’ yer see? All three of us are as close as that (she clenches her fist). Our life ain’t pretty so you ‘ave to be tough. We are short on fine words and gestures but if yer turn agin one of us, yer turn agin us all.
What is it like being a woman in Tudor London?
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Judith Arnopp, who tells Joanie’s story…
Ha ha ha! How would I know that? I’m no lady, an’ I’m less than a woman. I’m a whore, dearie. I’ve no rights, no one respects me, and if I don’t look t’ meself’ an’ me own, I’d as like as not end up murdered in the river along with … No. I can’t tell ye what it’s like to be a woman in London, I can only speak as a whore. I knows my place.
Do you ever find you become close to your clients – or do you think of them as patrons? Has there been a special person in your life before now?
No. There’s only been one man who came close to being special and that was Francis and look ‘ow ‘e ended up. Most men I come in contact with are interested in just one thing. I give it to ‘em, get out as soon as I can, and then I forget ’em. Frances Wareham though … now, ‘e was different. He was young, vulnerable, a scared boy in a strange city when I first come across ‘im. I took him ‘ome and fed him, gave him the warmth of my bed, the comfort of my body. I expected he’d go on his way come mornin’ but … ‘e stayed, didn’t ‘e? He stayed in the city and ‘ere … in my ‘eart.
Evie now, she’s still with me … or I’m still with ‘er anyways. The first time I saw ‘er, she was stumblin’ about on London Bridge lookin’ for Francis. When I saw ‘ow lovely she was I was bit by envy and I led her astray, sent her into a trap but … I swear by all that’s ‘oly, I never meant any ‘arm to befall ‘er. I swear on my sister’s miserable lives, I didn’t.
Francis Wareham – of course, Master Thomas Cromwell’s man. Has his very different station in life caused you problems – or him?
When it comes to whorin’, dearie, there ain’t no ‘different stations’. Once they take off their fine clothes and feathered ‘ats they are naked just like the rest of us. Underneath it all, lord or costermonger, their urges are the same. Francis was different because ‘e was lookin’ fer a mother, and me … well, I ain’t got no children, thank the lord, so we both filled a gap the other lacked. The only problem that came along was in the form of his wife … my Evie. In the end, I came to love ‘er far more than I ever did ‘im. Poor damaged lamb that she is.
How much do you know about Francis’s work? Does it affect you? These great matters of state – are they not far above your simple life in Southwark?
A young Henry VIII
We didn’t talk much about work, dearie. What man in his lust thinks about work? I knew ‘e was up to something but until the day ‘e died, I had no idea it was so dangerous. He was a bit of a braggart, my Francis, when ‘e had coin ‘e liked to throw it around. He’d bring me presents, fine things a girl like me has no ‘ope of. Francis softened my life, made it easier. After he’d been t’ see me and left a pile of coin on the dresser, I could put me feet up fer a few days, and stay off the street a while. As to matters of state, well, I ‘ear what’s goin’ on an’ shake me ‘ead over it. King Henry is no better than my punters, his queens are bought and sold just as I am but hopefully, if I keep my nose out o’ the business of my betters, I’ll get t’ keep my ‘ead.
Can you share a secret with us – one you’ve never told anyone else?
Oh no, dearie, I’d never do that. I’m not that sort of gel. A secret shared is no secret at all, is it? My ‘ead is full of other people’s secrets, some of ’em important state secrets, but my lips, as they say, are sealed.
***
Joanie Toogood is the lead character in Judith Arnopp’s novel The Winchester Goose that charts the events at Henry VIII’s court through the eyes of a prostitute. The Winchester Goose is available on Kindle and in Paperback or read FREE on KindleUnlimited.
Judith is offering one FREE copy; paperback version in the UK or kindle copy in the USA. For more details please comment below this blog or on the Facebook post.
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BLURB
Tudor London: 1540
Each night, after dark, men flock to Bankside seeking girls of easy virtue; prostitutes known as The Winchester Geese.
Joanie Toogood has worked the streets of Southwark since childhood but her path is changed forever by an encounter with Francis Wareham, a spy for the King’s secretary, Thomas Cromwell.
Meanwhile, across the River, at the glittering court of Henry VIII, Wareham also sets his cap at Evelyn and Isabella Bourne, members of the Queen’s household and the girls, along with Joanie, are drawn into intrigue and the shadow of the executioner’s blade.
Set against the turmoil of Henry VIII’s middle years, The Winchester Goose provides a brand new perspective of the happenings at the royal court, offering a frank and often uncomfortable observation of life at both ends of the social spectrum.
‘This novel provides a truly fresh perspective on Henry VIII and tells a human story of love and survival for the less privileged in Tudor London. Magnificent.’ – reader review
‘a compelling tale of love, lust, violence and heartbreak and I lived amongst it being swept along with every single word into the other side of Tudor England.’ – reader review
About the author.
A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith Arnopp holds an honours degree in English and Creative writing, and a Masters in Medieval Studies, both from the University of Wales. Judith writes both fiction and non-fiction from her home overlooking Cardigan Bay in Wales where she crafts novels based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women from all roles of life, prostitutes to queens.
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Her novels include:
Sisters of Arden: on the pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Chronicles: the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series)
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Winchester Goose: at the court of Henry VIII
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Her non-fiction articles feature in various historical anthologies and magazines.
For more information:
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/
Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, the first set largely in Yorkshire, and editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name, an anthology of short fiction inspired by the king, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK). A further anthology, Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, is planned for later this year.
Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at:
July 10, 2019
A busy weekend….
This is one of those times when I definitely need one of JK Rowling’s marvellous ‘time turners’.
Not only have I got a weekend at Tewkesbury Medieval Festival to prepare for, on the same day I have an interview for the Historical Writers’ Forum ‘Interview My Character Blog Hop’ coming out (with Joanie Toogood of Judith Arnopp’s The Winchester Goose no less). On the sidelines, Master Matthew Wansford is also being interviewed by fellow author Margaret Skea – due to be posted on Saturday 20th July. The updated blog hop schedule is:
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And in just over two weeks is the fourth annual UK Indie Lit Fest:
Another two weeks or so after that is, of course, the Bosworth Medieval Festival, at which I will again be doing brief talks, readings, and of course selling and signing books, including this year, Grant Me the Carving of My Name, along with one or two other of the contributors (watch this space).
Help!
June 30, 2019
Right Trusty and Well Beloved….’ – the final line-up for second #RichardIII anthology
I’m delighted finally to announce the selection of pieces for inclusion in Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, the forthcoming anthology of short fiction and poetry inspired by King Richard III, sequel to Grant Me the Carving of My Name, and also to be sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).
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It’s been a very difficult task to decide which of the many excellent stories and poems submitted should be included in the anthology. Thank you to everyone who sent pieces in – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading them all, despite the difficulty of making the final choices. I should stress that the selection has been purely subjective – ultimately down to personal preference and an attempt to achieve a good variety of stories, in terms of coverage, style, tone, etc.
Without more ado, the line-up for Right Trusty and Well Beloved… is as follows (in alphabetical order of author surname):
Rebecca Batley – Cerne Abbey, 1471
Terri Beckett – Richard Redux
Sue Grant-Mackie – Richard the Third, by Thomas More
Kim Harding – Eboracum
Wendy Johnson – The Wife beside Doncaster
Joanne R. Larner – Grief
Joanne R. Larner – War of Words
Alex Marchant – If Only
Kit Mareska – Let Him Fly that Will
Kit Mareska – The Play’s the Thing
Máire Martello – Becoming White Surrey
Liz Orwin – The Men and the Monument
Elizabeth Ottosson – This Life, This Death, This Life
Nicola Slade – The Silent Boy
Richard Tearle – The Corners of My Mind
Brian Wainwright – King Edward’s Court, October 1468
Kathryn Wharton – York Freedom March
Jennifer C. Wilson – The Lady of the White Boar
Furthermore, I’m delighted to announce the following prizes for my favourite pieces:
Overall submission (winner of Frances Quinn’s artwork): Kit Mareska – The Play’s the Thing
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Poem (winner of Wendy Johnson’s Ricardian coat of arms): Kim Harding – Eboracum
Flash fiction (winner of choice of book offered by previous anthology contributors): Elizabeth Ottosson – This Life, This Death, This Life
I’m pleased also to let everyone know that York Explore (the city’s central library) has offered to host an event for the anthology on 14 December, following up from May’s for Grant Me the Carving…, and all contributors will of course be invited. There may also be a launch event (also in likely in Yorkshire) in November – watch this space!
Apologies to everyone who wasn’t successful on this occasion. I hope that you will still be able to help us spread the word about the anthology – and through it, help spread the word about good King Richard himself, while supporting an excellent cause!
Loyaulte me lie
June 27, 2019
A whistlestop location tour….
I’ve just returned from a few days’ trip back to the fifteenth century…
Not for the first time, of course, but on this occasion it was purely for location research for book 3 of the Order of the White Boar sequence…. The only writing involved was a fairly substantial amount of notes, but I was lucky enough to visit a number of places I’d only read about before.
It will be a while before Matthew and friends reach these places, but at the risk of spoilers, here are a few of the pictures taken on the trip. As you can see, I was rather lucky with the weather…
As often occurs – all roads lead to a certain favourite castle. Appropriately enough I was there yesterday – the anniversary of King Richard’s accession to the throne. And Gill, the current custodian, was kind enough to point out (the final three pictures) two carved faces I’d never spotted before on any of my visits and – well, is it a boar? What think you?
June 23, 2019
‘Right Trusty and Well Beloved….’ – choices to be made….
So, in a week’s time I will be aiming to reveal the final selection for the upcoming anthology of short fiction and poetry inspired by King Richard III, Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, the sequel to Grant Me the Carving of My Name – and I have to say the month since the deadline for submissions has been a time of difficult choices. If I ever thought that, with a week to go before my own deadline for publishing the selection, I would be relaxed and sitting pretty, ready to go, I was very much mistaken.
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Over the weeks leading up to the May submission deadline, a fantastic selection of written pieces arrived in my inbox – I knew fairly soon that there would be no difficulty putting together another intriguing collection of stories about King Richard and his life and times. And it didn’t take long after that to realize that it wouldn’t be easy to choose which would appear in the final version.
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Francis Quinn’s artwork – prize for outstanding submission
Two matters are of particular importance when making these difficult decisions. The first is the need to ensure a good range of pieces – a mixture of light and dark, happy and sad, different genres, different tones, of various lengths, so readers can dip in and out, find something new each time. That has been made relatively easy by the sheer variety of stories and poems that we’ve received.
The second issue is trickier. As with Grant Me the Carving… the new anthology will be out in time for Christmas – and will be marketed as the ideal stocking-filler for Ricardians – and those who hopefully will become Ricardians. And equally, its aim is to raise money in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK). To that end, we need to get the balance right in terms of length – to ensure that the price is not set too high, and also that the Amazon costs don’t eat into that, otherwise there won’t be a decent profit to be donated to SAUK.
The length of Grant Me the Carving… seemed about right – which means we’re aiming at a similar word count for Right Trusty…. And that’s where the difficulty arises – some hard choices have to be made to leave out some great pieces of writing.
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The prize for best poem submitted – King Richard’s arms in pride of place at the York launch of Grant Me the Carving (kindly donated by Wendy Johnson)
Some pieces stood out as soon as I read them and had to be included. Others were put to one side for the final decision-making. Over the past two or three weeks I’ve been sifting through them again and deciding either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I’m now down to a final half-dozen or so which are proving the trickiest – to keep the overall word count down, some will have to be laid to one side and not included. But which?
As ever with me, it’s going to come down to the wire. The decision-making hasn’t been helped by the recent ill-health of my PC, or the need to prepare for a few days away doing location research for the next book in the ‘Order of the White Boar‘ sequence. (I’ve been putting it off since February as a result of work and family commitments, but I simply can’t prevaricate on it any longer.) So I have six days (minus three when I’ll be travelling extensively and trying to get into a fifteenth-century vibe) to make that final selection.
Barack Obama – possibly not panic-ordering… ((C) Reuters])
I have a feeling it may well end up as it sometimes does in a restaurant, when I can’t quite decide which of the delicious starters and/or main courses to have. When the waiter comes back to ask (again) whether we’re ready to order – and I say, ‘Yes – but can you take everyone else’s order first’ – putting the pressure on me to finally make my mind up when they eventually get round to me.
The question is: will I panic at that last moment? Will I think ‘blow the calories [aka ‘word count’] – I’ll have all three starters and all three main courses, please’? Oh, and may I see the dessert menu too?
Maybe you hopefully sent off your submission a few weeks ago and are waiting (with or without bated breath) to discover whether it’s made the final cut. Please be sure to check back here on my blog (or my Facebook author page) around this time next week (Sunday 30th June) to find out (I’m afraid we won’t be contacting all entrants to let them know the outcome). If it has been chosen – congratulations. If it hasn’t – I’m sorry you’ve not been lucky this time. Either way, I hope you’ll be able to support the final publication by buying it and sharing news of it with friends and family. After all, it’s being created for two very good causes: spreading the word about the real King Richard and also raising funds for SAUK.
Loyaulte me lie
June 21, 2019
Going ‘home’ to #RichardIII’s own country
On Wednesday I was fortunate enough to be invited to visit The Wensleydale School in Leyburn, just a couple of miles from Middleham Castle.
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Never one to turn down an opportunity to visit King Richard’s own country – or indeed a chance to bring his story to younger readers – I was delighted to accept, and spent the morning talking and reading from my books to three classes of Year 7s during their drama and/or English lessons.
In the first class it was lovely to see Gracie – a member of the Northern Dales Richard III Group, who bought The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man at a group meeting at Barnard Castle back in January. Having enjoyed the books, she then lent them to her English teacher, Ms Lewis – who contacted me to arrange the visit.
I spoke to the students about how King Richard was viewed as a good and just man during his lifetime, and how the later historical sources (about which they learn in their Year 7 history lessons) turned that view on its head – having, of course, been written under the rule of his enemies, the Tudors. They followed up with some fantastic questions – about my books, the characters who populate them, life as a writer, etc. Many thanks to all of them, and to Ms Lewis and her colleagues for hosting me. I hope I’ll be able to take you up on your invitation to return in the future.
The ‘business’ of the day over, of course I wended my way along the road from Leyburn to Middleham itself, with glorious views along a very sunny Wensleydale, to visit the castle and church.
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Finally dragging myself away from His Grace’s old familiar haunts, I decided on the way home to visit (at last) West Tanfield and its Marmion tower. I’m so glad I did, as it’s not just a lovely spot, but of course itself has connections to King Richard and his affinity. And the beautiful oriel window on the gatehouse reminded me strongly of a similar one at Barnard Castle…
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The colours of the stone used to build the gatehouse are also remarkable – quite unlike any I’ve seen before. I doubt the photos really do them justice.
Next to the tower is the church, which as well as being home to some fine early fifteenth-century alabaster tombs, also boasts some fantastic carvings on the choir stalls (early twentieth century?), a couple of which wouldn’t seem out of place in Central America!
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All in all, a very enjoyable day – and with one or two ideas sparked for Book 3….
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June 12, 2019
Interview my Character: Eleanor Elder
Today’s interview….
History... the interesting bits!
Today it is my stop on the Historical Writers’ Character Blog Hop, where we interview historical characters, both real and fictional. Watch out for Nicholaa de la Haye coming later in the tour!
And there’s a giveaway! the author has kindly offered a paperback copy of Echoes of Treason to a UK winner, or an ebook to a winner elsewhere in the world. To enter, simply leave a comment below or on the Facebook page. The draw will be made on 12 June. Good luck!
I would like to welcome Lady Eleanor Elder to History…the Interesting Bits. Lady Eleanor is one of the principal characters in Derek Birks’ wonderful series of books, The Craft of Kings, the latest instalment of which, Echoes of Treason was released in May. Ever since I first read Feud, about 5 years ago, Lady Eleanor has become something of a heroine…
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