Alex Marchant's Blog, page 2

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Published on October 02, 2024 04:57

‘A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince’ – now available for preorder!

Following a flurry of announcements over the past few days (about our Foreword contributor, the cover reveal, and contents listing), I’m pleased to say that a launch date has been set for A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince – and for those of you eager to order the ebook for your Kindle or other e-reader, it’s now available for preorder on Amazon.

The book will be launched on 2nd October 2024 – King Richard’s 572nd birthday – a now traditional date for releasing new Ricardian fiction! The paperback should be available on that date (Amazon-willing!).

Meanwhile, for those seeking the ebook, the links for preordering are:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

‘Lies! All lies!’

So many falsehoods have been proclaimed about King Richard III for 500 years – by William Shakespeare, Thomas More, Polydore Vergil and others. But not here!

A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince is a collection of short stories with a single aim: to restore the reputation good King Richard enjoyed during his lifetime.

Strip away the Tudor propaganda and what will you discover?

The valiant knight? The generous master? The even-handed lawgiver? The anxious boy? The gentle uncle? The fond lover?

All these faces can be found here: ‘Not the face of a saint, no, but neither that of a monster or a murderer. The face of a good man, a just man – and the face of a troubled man who had seen too much …’

This follow-up anthology to Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved… showcases stories by international authors inspired by all aspects of King Richard III.

Sold in support of Scoliosis Support and Research with a Foreword by Robert Lindsay and edited by Alex Marchant.

With contributions from Judith Arnopp, Bridget Beauchamp, Darren Harris, Narrelle M. Harris, Wendy Johnson, Susan Lamb, Joanne R. Larner, Matthew Lewis, Kit Mareska, Alice Mitchell, Nancy Northcott, J. P. Reedman, Brian Wainwright and Jennifer C. Wilson.

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK), with a third coming in autumn 2024: A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince.

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2 https://mybook.to/KinginWaiting3-4 mybook.to/TimeoutofTime

My Facebook author page My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

myBook.to/WhiteBoar mybook.to/TheKingsMan mybook.to/KinginWaiting mybook.to/SonsofYork

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Published on September 16, 2024 06:32

Revealed! And our Foreword will be by …

And so to our final announcement of this week about forthcoming charity anthology, A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince. And I hope you’ll be as delighted as I am!

Having compiled two previous Ricardian anthologies, when I came to start preparing this one I knew there were various major tasks I had to undertake: assemble a company of talented and generous Ricardian authors (check!); shape all their stories into a fabulous collection (check!); arrange a striking cover (check!); produce a final manuscript from which to create the ebook and paperback; and, perhaps most importantly for promotional purposes (to help sell as many copies as possible to benefit Scoliosis Support and Research), identify someone who would be kind enough to write a Foreword and lend their name to appear on our cover.

I know from past experience how important this can be. We were lucky enough to have best-selling novelist Philippa Gregory agree to write the Foreword for Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Philippa Langley, who of course spearheaded the search for King Richard’s grave, write that for Right Trusty and Well Beloved... It’s very clear to me from what readers say and from customers at my event stalls, that both Philippas’ names are a big attraction and often the initial impetus to buy the books. Online, people searching via keywords for both authors’ works will find our anthologies and may read further; on my stall, I often hear people say how much they love one or the other Phillipa’s work as they reach for the anthology to take a look.

When I began thinking about who to approach this time, one name jumped out at me. But, of course, it’s always best to have a list of other people in case your first choice says no. So I came up with half a dozen names, and once editing of the anthology was well underway, I thought it was time to take the plunge and start contacting them. Of course, I sent my first tentative query to my first choice, with my fingers firmly crossed (and half an eye on ferreting out contact details for my second, just in case).

To my surprise and delight, within a few hours he had replied – and said … yes!

And so, gentle readers, I’m thrilled to announce that the Foreword for our anthology has been written by none other than award-winning actor Robert Lindsay.

As many of you may remember, Robert was invited to attend King Richard’s reburial in 2015 because he had famously played Shakespeare’s version for the Royal Shakespeare Company some years before. During the service in Leicester Cathedral, he sat next to Benedict Cumberbatch, who had played King Richard very recently and movingly read Carol Ann Duffy’s poem ‘Richard’ that day.

But although Robert’s introduction to King Richard was (as it is for many of us) through Shakespeare’s depiction, when he was interviewed during reburial week, including on Channel 4’s TV coverage, it became clear that he didn’t believe there was any truth in that version – that he saw it as Tudor propaganda to smear a rightful king. On social media and in interviews since (including one for the Richard III Society’s Bulletin), he has consistently supported King Richard and has said that, knowing what he does now, he wouldn’t again portray Shakespeare’s evil villain.

Robert’s acting career has spanned more than fifty years, with international starring roles on stage and in film and television, encompassing dramas, comedies and musicals. His many awards include two Oliviers, a Tony and a BAFTA. UK viewers will most recently have had the chance to see him in the acclaimed drama Sherwood and (if they’re quick) may be able to snap up tickets for his upcoming shows this autumn – ‘An Audience with Robert Lindsay’. And a little bird tells me Robert may well mention his experiences playing Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’ – and how that has affected his view of the king. If you’re in the audience, get prepared to cheer!

So I’d like to offer my huge thanks to Robert for kindly writing our Foreword. And as all is now revealed, so too can I reveal our full cover:

I do hope you’ll enjoy the anthology and Robert’s Foreword for it. And look out for the announcement of when you’ll be able to preorder it. It won’t be long now…

Loyalty binds us!

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK), with a third coming in autumn 2024: A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince.

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2 https://mybook.to/KinginWaiting3-4 mybook.to/TimeoutofTime

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

myBook.to/WhiteBoar mybook.to/TheKingsMan mybook.to/KinginWaiting mybook.to/SonsofYork

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Published on September 15, 2024 10:18

A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince – Cover Reveal!

In the second of our announcements this week about the forthcoming anthology of Ricardian short stories – A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince – I’m delighted to reveal the cover.

You may recognize the striking central image from my posts earlier in the summer. It’s a painting of ‘Sir Thomas of Loxwood’, star of the Loxwood Boars jousting team at the festival of that name held each summer in Sussex. This August I had my first stall at the event and Marion Moffatt, the artist (who also happens to be my sister), undertook this painting to join various Ricardian-themed artworks on my stall.

Little did Marion know that Sir Thomas himself would track us down, having been alerted to the painting by a friend. He was so pleased by it that, not only did he buy a print, but he also signed the original watercolour!

Marion Moffatt and Sir Thomas of Loxwood

When it came to designing a cover for the new anthology, it was perhaps no surprise that I thought about using this striking image, which has caught customers’ eyes on every stall I’ve had since Loxwood. While there is no record of King Richard himself ever jousting (although equally, there’s no evidence that he never did), the image seemed to catch the essence of the book’s title – itself taken from the Crowland Chronicler’s description of the king. Add to that the fact that one of the stories in the collection (‘The Heads of Such Great Men’, by Kit Mareska) itself concerns a joust, it was a no-brainer for me – and fortunately the other contributors agreed.

As always in these anthologies, we include a little information about each of the contributors, including the cover artist. In Marion’s case, this reads:

Marion Moffatt is an artist inspired by the natural world, primarily working in watercolours with mixed media elements. She also has a love of abstract art using the Earth and its flora and fauna as inspiration and Earth’s minerals, such as amethyst, in the watercolour paints! A love of history also influences her – from medieval jousts and castles to Battle of Britain aircraft. Originals, prints and greetings cards of Marion’s art are available through her Etsy shop or direct from her.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mademarionart/

Website: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MadeMarionArt

Why not take a look at Marion’s links to treat yourself to a print of Sir Thomas (I believe the original watercolour may also still be available) – or browse the many other artworks on offer. Marion is happy to ship artworks worldwide.

One of Marion’s Ricardian-themed artworks

If you’ve taken a close look at the cover, you’ll have noticed one thing is missing. We’ve not revealed the name of the writer of our Foreword. That’s deliberate, as I’ll be announcing that on Sunday. Don’t forget to keep an eye out! I’ll also be revealing the blurb, to give you a little more flavour of the contents of the anthology.

See you Sunday!

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2 https://mybook.to/KinginWaiting3-4 mybook.to/TimeoutofTime

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

myBook.to/WhiteBoar mybook.to/TheKingsMan mybook.to/KinginWaiting mybook.to/SonsofYork

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Published on September 13, 2024 08:24

‘A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince’ – contents of our new Richard III anthology

With work on our new anthology of short stories inspired by King Richard III advancing apace, I’m delighted to be able to make several exciting announcements this week.

Make sure you follow this blog to ensure that, later in the week, you don’t miss the cover reveal (I know you’ll love it!) and the identity of our fabulous Foreword contributor (I know you’ll love that too!).

But meanwhile, in order to whet your appetite a little, I’m happy to reveal the titles of the stories by the wonderful authors who’ve kindly contributed to this great cause. For, as I announced last month, A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince will be sold in support of Scoliosis Support & Research (formerly Scoliosis Association UK, SAUK), just as its predecessors, Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, were in 2018 and 2019.

Some of our contributing authors will be familiar from previous anthologies, while others, who may well be familiar to you for other reasons, have kindly joined us for the first time in writing stories especially for this book. And, as before, there will be a range of stories across a variety of genres, from straight fiction to alternative history, and including both humour, romance and maybe a ghost or two. Hopefully there really will be ‘something for everyone’, and the new anthology will prove just as ‘enjoyable, entertaining, and (at times) heart-rending’ as one reviewer said about the earlier books.

So, without more ado, I have great pleasure in revealing the listing of stories (in alphabetical order of author, of course – but this time in reverse – just to ring the changes!)

Jennifer C. Wilson – A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince (Do you see what I did there? Guess where the book’s title came from!)

Brian Wainwright – There Will Be A Wedding

J. P. Reedman – The Ivestiture

Nancy Northcott – The Banbury Road

Alice Mitchell – One Night in Coldridge

Kit Mareska – The Heads of Such Great Men

Matthew Lewis – Fotheringhay, 1476

Joanne R. Larner – The Middleham Jewel

Susan Lamb – Lovell’s Imaginary Boyl and the Mysterious Goat

Wendy Johnson – An Indomitable Spirit

Narrelle M. Harris – Borrowed Robes

Darren Harris – A Winter’s Tale

Bridget Beauchamp – A Middleham Fantasy

Judith Arnopp – Looking for Anne

And, lastly, myself. I’m afraid, being rather greedy, I’ve taken the chance to cram more than just one of my own pieces in here. Fans of young Matthew who have asked for more about his later life may – or may not – be pleased… – Watchers, Confinement, and Matthew Wansford, 1533…

I’d like once again to say a huge thank you to all our contributors. And, as they say, watch this space for more news to come!

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2 https://mybook.to/KinginWaiting3-4 mybook.to/TimeoutofTime

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

myBook.to/WhiteBoar mybook.to/TheKingsMan mybook.to/KinginWaiting mybook.to/SonsofYork

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Published on September 11, 2024 09:18

A commemoration – and an announcement! ‘A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince’

The anniversary that Ricardians dread has inexorably rolled around once again. This day, 22 August 2024, is the 539th anniversary of *that* battle. The awful day when King Richard III was ‘through great treason … piteously slain and murdered to the great heaviness’ of many of his subjects, and many of their descendants living today.

As usual, I will raise a toast to this much maligned man, and to those who fought and died alongside him all those years ago. Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be at the Bosworth medieval festival where, in the midst of all the family fun and the drama of the battle re-enactments, the soldiers of both sides who died on that day, and in the days and weeks afterwards, are commemorated with a minute’s silence before the start of each battle.

This year, however, on this otherwise solemn day, I’d like to offer a hopefully cheering snippet of news for my fellow Ricardians and others. For I’m happy to announce the publication later this year of a third anthology of short stories inspired by King Richard, to be sold in support of Scoliosis Support & Research (formerly Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK), now SSR following its merger with the British Scoliosis Research Foundation in 2023).

Following the success of our previous anthologies, Grant Me the Carving of My Name (2018) and Right Trusty and Well Beloved… (2019), and in response to requests from many readers over the years for a third collection, I’m delighted to announce that A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince will be available in November – just in time to stuff into all your friends’ and family members’ stockings on Christmas Eve (or, of course, you can ask Santa Claus to do the honours for yourself or others…)

[Apologies for the seasonally-inappropriate picture…]

As before, a group of international authors have very generously agreed to donate their stories for this wonderful cause – a cause that we feel would have been very close to King Richard’s heart, given that he himself had scoliosis, as was revealed when his grave was rediscovered in 2012 by the Looking for Richard Project team.

Authors who are kindly contributing to A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince include both previous contributors and authors we’re welcoming to an anthology for the first time. A full list of contents will be available nearer publication date, but to give you a flavour of what will be on offer, our wonderful line-up is:

Judith Arnopp

Bridget M. Beauchamp

Darren Harris

Narrelle Harris

Wendy Johnson

Susan Lamb

Joanne Larner

Matthew Lewis

Kit Mareska

Alice Mitchell

Nancy Northcott

J. P. Reedman

Brian Wainwright

Jennifer C. Wilson

… and myself. Having read all the stories now, I know there will be something for everyone – just as in the first two anthologies. And I’m grateful to all our authors for being so generous with their work.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more details with you – the cover reveal, the writer of our Foreword, any planned launch events, and most importantly, the publication date. So do watch this space!

Loyaulte me lie!

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2 https://mybook.to/KinginWaiting3-4 mybook.to/TimeoutofTime

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

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Published on August 22, 2024 07:42

Bosworth, time and a coming announcement…

Sometimes even I don’t know where all the time goes.

So my last blog post was in April, almost four months ago? What have I been up to since?

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. Life, perhaps? Whatever that entails. Family – certainly. Book events – always. Football – er, yes – the season never seemed to finish (the excruciating end of the Premier League, the Euros, then the Olympics – where I was fortunate to witness first-hand ‘the best-ever Olympics football match’, when the plucky Zambian women just lost out, 5-6, to the Australian ‘Tillies’ in the final minute). Writing? Of course. Well, editing anyway …

The Zambian Copper Queens and Australian Matildas warming up as the crowd files in to the Allianz Stadium

Guinea fans outside the Allianz Stadium, Nice, before their match against the French Olympic hosts

I seem to be chronicling events more on Instagram and Facebook recently – given the ease of sharing a photo or two on the move, compared with typing a blog post. If you’re at all interested in what’s been occupying me of late, you can find plenty of pics at alexmarchantauthor/ or AlexMarchantAuthor/

Edward Elgar contemplating Hereford Cathedral, the weekend of the 2024 Tewkesbury Festival

However, I will always make major announcements on my blog first. And that’s what I’ll be doing next week, on Thursday 22nd August.

It’s that time of year again when Ricardians approach the sad and solemn anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth. This coming weekend, 17th-18th, along with many others, I’ll be attending the Bosworth medieval festival, back to it’s normal format this year, with two battle re-enactments along with living history and of course traders such as myself. But this year I hope I’ll be able to mark the sad anniversary with a small piece of good news.

What will it be? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, if you’re planning on coming along to Bosworth at the weekend, do make sure to come and say hello. And of course, peruse the many books and artworks I’ll have for sale – including these very fine watercolours from Made Marion Art:

Hope to see you there – or if not, here next Thursday for our announcement…

Loyaulte me lie!

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022 and offers a ‘plausible theory’ for the fate of the ‘Princes in the Tower’.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

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Published on August 13, 2024 05:17

(K)night School: The Chivalric Training of Richard III, by Wendy Johnson

After my Q&A earlier today with Wendy Johnson, debut author of the fantastic The Traitor’s Son, about the early life of King Richard III, I’m delighted to also host her fascinating discussion of the knightly training that he would have experienced as a boy. The article offers an example of the meticulous research that went into Wendy’s novel, and is of course an area that is important in my own novels. It’s reassuring to discover, from reading Wendy’s article, that my recounting of the life of my young characters, Matthew, Roger, Alys and little Ed, at Middleham Castle may have been fairly close to the truth!

Here are Wendy’s words on the subject.

(K)night School: The Chivalric Training of Richard III

by Wendy Johnson

As youths, the sons of medieval noblemen commenced their training in the art of war. Often, they were placed in the households of other nobles where they were coached not only in military matters and horsemanship, but in the social graces: dancing, chess, the playing of musical instruments and the art of intellectual conversation. All of these were designed to transform them into courtiers fit for the king’s service.

Re-enactors showing interested onlookers how young noblemen might train at Middleham Castle

One imagines that such a transition would have had a huge impact on their lives. Known as ‘henxmen’, the boys would be very much aware of what was expected of them, and doubtless struggled to attain the ideal. However, each boy was unlikely to been alone, and would have studied alongside others under the instruction of a tutor. Bonds must have formed and it is interesting to note that, in the case of the young Richard III, at least two of those with whom he trained – Robert Percy and Francis Lovell – remained his lifelong friends.

Richard’s knightly training took place within the household of his cousin, the illustrious Richard Neville, earl of Warwick. In my debut novel, The Traitor’s Son, we follow Richard’s progress as he joins the earl’s household as a nervous boy of twelve. It occurred to me that, in addition to the Herculean tasks expected of him, Richard must also have been very much aware of his position as a close relative of the earl. Did this affect the way he was treated? As well as their martial pursuits and lessons in languages, music and dancing, the boys were also subject to ‘correcions’. If this meant corporal punishment, then did Richard suffer the birch for misdemeanours alongside his fellows, or did his privileged status mean he was exempted from such harsh treatment? In the novel, Richard has his own views on the subject:

‘In London and York, he is the brother of a king. Here, he’s merely a henxman, one of many. The rules which apply to his fellows apply equally to him. Seated together at mealtimes, they share a chamber at night. They train together, ride together, acquire the arts of singing, dancing, of serving at table. He’s learning to hunt, he’s learning to harp, early to rise and early to bed. Once a week, Warwick consults with his tutors, but although his cousin has the power to beat him, Richard has yet to feel the sting of the birch. It is administered to others, he knows that; he’s witnessed the shrieks, the tears, the bruises of the unfortunates. If Warwick is sparing him, he wishes he wouldn’t. Favouritism breeds contempt.’

Training at Middleham Castle – in modern times!

From our knowledge of Richard’s books, we can assume that one of his favourite pastimes was reading. A book of Romances and Old Testament stories exists in a collection at Longleat House, in which a youthful Richard has signed his name ‘R. Gloucestre’ in addition to a motto ‘tant le desieree’ (I have longed for it so much), in the chivalric romance Ipomedon. This certainly suggests an idealistic teenager, keen to enjoy the tale of the perfect knight, and to proudly inscribe his ownership upon its pages. We know that he enjoyed music, and as king retained a love of religious choral melody. Hawking also appears to have been a pastime he enjoyed. All of these interests would have been nurtured during his years of training in Warwick’s household.

In The Traitor’s Son, I have re-imagined one of the dancing classes in which Richard and his fellow henxmen would have been required to take part. Here, the youth is partnered by the earl’s eldest daughter. Isabel:

‘Cousin Richard?’ Isabel’s fingers coil around his, their grip strong as twine.

Watery light filtering through leaded diamonds splashes on the polished floor of the countess’ private solar. The chamber has been cleared, the henxmen in their scented livery, paired with her women in logical fashion. Percy, taller than most, is placed with the eldest and stoutest of the ladies; Lovell, the shortest, with the youngest female present, the Lady Anne. Musicians, purloined from Warwick’s troupe, gather with flute and shawm while Raulin Gifford, dancing master, strikes the boards with his wand to still the chatter.

‘The basse dance, my lords and ladies. You know the steps. Let us begin.’

Isabel flashes an impish smile. ‘Remember to point your toes, Cousin.’

‘Naturally. As Master Gifford says, we all know the steps.’ Accustomed to her teasing, Richard has learnt to reciprocate. ‘But it’s Lovell I’m concerned for; your sister tolerates little error. Look at him, poor boy.’

It could be Warwick himself leading Lovell around the floor. For every mistimed bobbing of the knee, each misdirected bow, the boy receives a testy glance more meaningful than any rebuke.

‘Father would have us shine at court,’ Isabel says, ‘and she wishes to please him. Our father’s opinion matters greatly to Anne.’

Middleham Castle today, with the great hall to the left – where Richard and Isabel may have danced together

It seems that during his tenure in the earl’s household, Richard developed the symptoms of scoliosis – a sideways curvature of the spine which can ultimately result in one shoulder appearing higher than the other. The discovery of his remains during the Greyfriars dig have disproved the myth that Richard suffered from kyphosis (a forward curvature). However, it is possible that the military training he would have undertaken on a daily basis, and its resulting muscular development, assisted the boy; helping to strengthen both his body and his resolve, as he came to terms with his condition.

Warwick’s growing disaffection with King Edward’s rule, and Richard’s subsequent coming of age, resulted in the young man being recalled and settled at court. Only two years later, Richard’s military training was to be tested as he was appointed to lead the vanguard in the king’s army at the Battle of Barnet. We can only surmise how he must have felt when, on a fog-laded morning on Easter Sunday 1471, the forces he was compelled to face across the battlefield included his now traitorous cousin – and former mentor – Richard, earl of Warwick.

For anyone wishing to delve further into the king’s life, I would recommend the Richard III Society. Formed in 1924, this active Society supports research into Richard’s life and times, and celebrates its centenary this year.

For more on Wendy Johnson and her debut novel, please visit my Q&A earlier today.

ISBN: 978-84-125953-7-6

The Traitor’s Son

Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose…

1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.

As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother’s majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections.

Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.

In “The Traitor’s Son”, Wendy Johnson masterfully weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England’s turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits. As Richard Plantagenet navigates the explosive tensions within his own family, readers are swept along on a journey of intrigue and passion that will leave them spellbound until the final page.

“Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III.” Philippa Langley, MBE

‘The Traitor’s Son is a stunning debut novel that draws the reader into a skilfully woven and utterly believable fifteenth century.’ Matthew Lewis

‘If you want to meet the real Richard III in a well-crafted novel, know his thoughts and feel his emotions, you cannot do better than read The Traitor’s Son.’ Toni Mount

INCLUDES: Book club questions

The Traitor’s Son can be ordered from all good book stores or via this link: https://mybook.to/the-traitors-son

Wendy’s full blog tour can be found here:

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022 and offers a ‘plausible theory’ for the fate of the ‘Princes in the Tower’.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

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Published on April 22, 2024 07:20

Richard III, Chivalric Training & Me, by Wendy Johnson

I’m thrilled today to be hosting a very special guest on the final leg of her debut book tour.

You may already know Wendy Johnson (in fact, you certainly will if you follow and read my blog!), but a brief introduction may be helpful. Wendy came to my own notice more than ten years ago as part of the amazing Looking for Richard Project team who were responsible for the famous rediscovery of King Richard III’s grave under that car park in Leicester. Philippa Langley may have become the best-known face of the project, but Wendy and her partner, Dr David Johnson, together with fellow historians Dr John Ashdown Hill and Annette Carson, all provided vital input into the years-long project.

The Looking for Richard Project team: left to right: Dr David Johnson, Wendy Johnson, Philippa Langley, Dr John Ashdown-Hill (not in picture: Annette Carson). Photo courtesy Philippa Langley, https://www.philippalangley.co.uk/looking-for-richard.html

I was fortunate enough to meet Wendy on the day of King Richard’s reburial in March 2015 at a memorial held in York. I discovered that she was also a writer of fiction and was delighted when she contributed short stories to our anthologies inspired by Richard, Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved.... In fact, the idea for the first anthology came from a conversation we had at Middleham Castle about short stories we’d recently written, and what we could do with them. We joked that two stories didn’t make a book – but then the notion of asking other authors to contribute occurred to us.

Meanwhile, Wendy was completing her own full-length work, a novel which is one of a planned trilogy charting King Richard’s life, beginning with a fresh retelling of the early part of Richard’s life – when he had no notion that he might one day become king. The novel was published a week ago as The Traitor’s Son and has already been enthusiastically received, especially (of course!) by Ricardians. After much badgering, Wendy kindly let me read an early draft, and I have to say I loved it! And I’m sure you will too.

‘Dickon” the boar approves The Traitor’s Son

But this is Wendy’s guest post and I’d rather she told you all about The Traitor’s Son in her own words. Later today I’ll be posting a fascinating article she’s written about Richard’s knightly training, ‘(K)night School: the Chivalric Training of Richard III‘, but first I have some questions to ask her…

Alex: Thank you so much for coming on my blog today to talk about The Traitor’s Son, Wendy. But first, I have to ask you about yourself. When did you become a Ricardian? And what prompted you to write a Ricardian novel?

Wendy: My fascination began in the early 1970s, on a family visit to Middleham Castle. That a king could have lived so close to my home town seemed very exciting. I have always held a fascination for the Middle Ages and this visit to Richard’s former home kindled a lifelong interest. I love historical fiction and the idea of writing a novel has been an ambition for as long as I can remember.

Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire – view from the gateway to the keep Copyright: Wendy Johnson

Alex: Tell me a little about your writing process. Why did you choose to write in the present tense?

Wendy: There have been many incarnations of The Traitor’s Son and the whole process, from research, to composition and editing, has taken over a decade. That may seem an inordinate length of time, but for much of those years I was working full time and, frustratingly, could only spend around one or two hours a week writing. However, most of the book had been written by the time I retired from work, and the past couple of years have been spent editing and polishing the prose.

I decided to write in the present tense for a particular reason. The period known to us as ‘the Wars of the Roses’ was a complex time with the political situation changing rapidly, the participants sometimes not knowing from one day to the next which way the wind was blowing. It seemed better to approach this situation in the present tense, rather than retrospectively, as I wanted to be ensure my characters reacted to events as they happened, rather than with the knowledge of hindsight.

Alex: I know some readers aren’t always keen on books in the present tense, but I personally agree with you – I find it can offer an immediacy and freshness that the past tense doesn’t always provide. And a few paragraphs in and I no longer notice, being carried along by the action. The Traitor’s Son itself is centred around the young Richard III’s search for a father figure. Was this concept something you created for the purposes of your story, or do you believe Richard genuinely did need to fill this void in his life?

Wendy: It has been suggested that Richard deeply venerated the memory of his father, the Duke of York. His inclusion of the duke’s name in prayers and chantry foundations, as well as his role as chief mourner at the duke’s reburial in 1476, tends to confirm this. I considered that, having lost his father when he was a mere eight years old, it would be natural for Richard to yearn for a ‘surrogate’ father: someone he could look up to, and feel wanted by, someone who would feel proud of him, as his father would have done had he lived. Richard’s eldest brother, Edward IV, was only ten years his senior – too young, I feel, to have become that figure.

His cousin, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, however, was the perfect age to become that ‘second father’. He had been close to the duke, fought alongside him, and could have offered Richard the encouragement and support the boy would have undoubtedly craved. That Warwick had no sons of his own is also significant: could Richard, in turn, have become the son Warwick had always wanted? I’d like to think so.

From the Rous Roll, “Warwick the Kingmaker”, Oman, 1899

Alex: The relationship between Richard and Warwick is certainly a major part of the story of The Traitor’s Son (and I guess, from what you say, and given what happens towards the end of the novel, we could read the book’s title from more than one angle). Meanwhile, Richard’s relationships with his two elder brothers, Edward and George, tend to be a more prominent feature of other Ricardian novels. How did you tackle them in your work?

Wendy: It’s my belief that Richard would have been naturally closer to his brother George, who was only three years his senior, than he would have been to Edward, from whom he was separated both in years and in experience. George shared Richard’s childhood home of Baynard’s Castle and would have been the brother he spent most time with. Both boys experienced exile in the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands) following their father’s untimely demise, and upon their return, they shared a household with their sister, Margaret, at the palace of Placentia (later known as Greenwich). In my novel, the boys enjoy a close, but at times, troublesome relationship, George becoming jealous of Edward, who takes upon himself the responsibility for their younger sibling: a role George feels was naturally his own. Yet, ultimately, it is with George that Richard feels an affinity, both having looked up to their cousin, Warwick, and both desperate to smooth the troublesome waters between earl and king.

George, Duke of Clarence, Richard’s elder brother

Alex: Richard, of course, had not just brothers, but several sisters too, all older than him. One is particularly close to my own heart, being a major character in my own King in Waiting. What kind of an influence do you feel their sister Margaret, later Duchess of Burgundy, had upon her younger brothers?

Wendy: I see Margaret as a stable influence upon Richard and George. Someone they both love and look up to, and upon whom they know they can rely. I think their mother, Cecily Neville, was in turn the greatest influence upon Margaret herself: both being loyal and devout women with a strong sense of ‘family.’

Margaret of York and Burgundy

Alex: At the risk of spoilers(!), the climax of The Traitor’s Son is the Battle of Barnet, on 14th April 1471. I know how I feel about writing battles for my novels (having sworn more than once I’ll never do it again!) Did you find it difficult to write about the bloody battle at Barnet?

Wendy: Absolutely. I didn’t relish having to portray a battle scene, but as this was Richard’s first military encounter, I felt it was necessary to depict the kind of horrors he would have faced, as we need to see how he deals with them and how he has developed. This, after all, was exactly what Richard had been trained for, but that his first taste of conflict would involve facing his beloved cousin across a battlefield is something he could never have envisaged as a young trainee in the earl’s household.

Alex: As I mentioned above, this is the first in a proposed Ricardian trilogy. So, where do we go from here?

Wendy: I’m currently working on the sequel, which will be the second volume in the trilogy. I’m pleased that Book Two will still depict some of my favourite characters – particularly George of Clarence, whom I feel has also been treated rather unfairly by history. I’m going to enjoy throwing myself into the next stage and am looking forward to the challenge!

Alex: It sounds like there may be another battle or two looming on the horizon for you! But hopefully also some quieter and happier moments for Richard and his family. I’ll look forward to reading them in time. Thank you so much for visiting my blog today and answering my questions, and also for writing the accompanying article about Richard’s chivalric training (which can be found here later today).

Wendy: Thank you so much, Alex, for inviting me on to your blog site, and good luck with all your future ventures.

The Traitor’s Son can be ordered from all good book stores or via this link: https://mybook.to/the-traitors-son

Don’t forget to read Wendy’s article on Richard’s knightly training here.

ISBN: 978-84-125953-7-6

The Traitor’s Son

Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose…

1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.

As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother’s majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections.

Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.

In “The Traitor’s Son”, Wendy Johnson masterfully weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England’s turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits. As Richard Plantagenet navigates the explosive tensions within his own family, readers are swept along on a journey of intrigue and passion that will leave them spellbound until the final page.

‘Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III.’ Philippa Langley, MBE

‘The Traitor’s Son is a stunning debut novel that draws the reader into a skilfully woven and utterly believable fifteenth century.’ Matthew Lewis

‘If you want to meet the real Richard III in a well-crafted novel, know his thoughts and feel his emotions, you cannot do better than read The Traitor’s Son.’ Toni Mount

INCLUDES: Book club questions

The Traitor’s Son can be ordered from all good book stores or via this link: https://mybook.to/the-traitors-son

Wendy’s full blog tour can be found here:

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022 and offers a ‘plausible theory’ for the fate of the ‘Princes in the Tower’.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant

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Published on April 22, 2024 07:03

Coming soon: ‘The Traitor’s Son’ by Wendy Johnson

I’m delighted to say that this Sunday, 14th April, sees the publication of a new Ricardian classic.

The Traitor’s Son is the debut novel of Wendy Johnson. Wendy will be known to many people as a member of the Looking for Richard Project team, which spearheaded the search for and discovery of King Richard III’s grave under a Leicester car park in 2012. A longtime Ricardian, she and her partner, David, teamed up with Philippa Langley, John Ashdown-Hill and Annette Carson in the 2000s to embark on a quest that many people at the time thought was hopeless. We all know now that it wasn’t and led to one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of all time.

The Looking for Richard Project team: left to right: Dr David Johnson, Wendy Johnson, Philippa Langley, Dr John Ashdown-Hill (not in picture: Annette Carson). Photo courtesy Philippa Langley, https://www.philippalangley.co.uk/looking-for-richard.html

Immense amounts of research went into the discovery and Wendy now brings her copious knowledge of Richard’s life and times to this meticulously researched novel, weaving it into a hugely enjoyable story telling of King Richard’s childhood and early youth with beautiful prose and skilful character creation.

The story opens with young Richard’s trepidation at seeing his father, Richard, Duke of York, ride off in the middle of winter to what we soon discover is his final, fatal confrontation with the Lancastrian forces of then King Henry VI. This small boy, his father branded a traitor, is immediately plunged into the tumult of the conflict that will shape his entire life and that of his family: the Wars of the Roses.

I’m delighted that on 22nd April Wendy will be joining me here on my blog to discuss the novel, her research, Richard’s early life and training, and her own writing journey as part of her launch blog tour. All the blog tour dates can be found here:

The ebook of The Traitor’s Son can be preordered at: via Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Traitors-Son-Wendy-Johnson-ebook/dp/B0CVXLG18W/ (UK)

or https://www.amazon.com/Traitors-Son-Wendy-Johnson-ebook/dp/B0CVXLG18W/ (USA)

And paperbacks are available through all good bookstores and from 14 April from Amazon.

I can’t wait for you to read The Traitor’s Son yourselves!

Loyaulte me lie

Alex Marchant is author of two books telling the story of the real King Richard III for children aged 10+, The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man, and a third in the sequence, King in Waiting, which continues the adventures of the young members of the Order in the following years. A fourth book, Sons of York, was published in June 2022 and offers a ‘plausible theory’ for the fate of the ‘Princes in the Tower’.

Alex is also editor of Grant Me the Carving of My Name and Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, two anthologies of short fiction inspired by King Richard, sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).

Alex has also published a standalone timeslip novel for readers aged 10+, Time out of Time, relating the adventures of Allie Turner through a doorway into history found under layers of old wallpaper at ancient Priory Farm.

Alex’s books can be found on Amazon at: author.to/AlexMarchant

Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant