Alex Marchant's Blog, page 21
April 14, 2019
Launch event for ‘Grant Me the Carving of My Name’ in King Richard’s home city
With just three weeks to go, here’s a reminder of the upcoming ‘bricks & mortar’ launch of charity anthology Grant Me the Carving of My Name in York on 4 May, from 2 till 3.30 pm, at (the central library, just round the corner from the Minster).
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If you’re in the area, do call in and say hi. Six contributors to the anthology will be there (details below), giving brief talks and readings from their work, exploring King Richard’s strong connections with the city of York and the myths that have grown up about this most controversial of kings. They’ll also be answering any questions audience members may have, and selling and signing copies of the anthology and their own individual work.[image error]
This is a free event and you can just turn up on the day, but to ensure entry, tickets for it can be booked online or at any York library:
The six authors attending the event are Wendy Johnson (a key member of the Looking for Richard team who found the king’s grave in Leicester in 2012), Susan Lamb and Joanne R. Larner (who together write the humorous Dickon’s Diaries), Marla Skidmore (Ripon-based author of Renaissance: Fall and Rise of a King), Jennifer C. Wilson (author of the best-selling Kindred Spirits books), and Alex Marchant (anthology editor, and author of The Order of the White Boar, telling King Richard’s real story for children, set largely in Wensleydale and York).
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Alex and Marla at Bosworth, August 2018, with fellow contributor Janet Reedman.
A second anthology of short fiction and poetry inspired by King Richard and his times is planned for November 2019. Alex will explain how aspiring writers can submit their work for consideration, with prizes for outstanding contributions. (Deadline 19th May 2019.)
The book
Grant Me the Carving of My Name is an anthology of 15 short stories by a dozen authors from the UK, Ireland, the USA and Australia. It takes its title (with her permission) from a poem by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy which was read by Benedict Cumberbatch at King Richard’s reburial in Leicester in 2015.
The collection also features a Foreword by best-selling historical novelist Philippa Gregory, author of The White Queen, which was dramatized by the BBC in 2013 and featured a rare positive portrayal of King Richard, by Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk, War and Peace).
The collected stories offer an alternative view of this often-maligned king and range from glimpses of his childhood and domestic life, through battles and rebellions, to explorations of the afterlife and his historical reputation. By turns elegiac, mystical, brutal, light-hearted, uplifting, there’s something for everyone in the collection.
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The charity
King Richard himself suffered from scoliosis – a lateral curvature of the spine that would have become increasingly disabling and painful as he aged, and was only revealed during examination of his skeleton after his grave was excavated in 2012. Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK) supports children and adults with the same condition throughout.
April 8, 2019
Leominster Medieval Pageant
What a lovely weekend in the Welsh Marches!
Saturday was spent at the fabulous Leominster Medieval Pageant, having lots of Richard-related chats (some very intense – hopefully a few converts to his cause!) and meeting some lovely people. I was lucky enough to be positioned next to the Mortimer Society stall, meeting Fran and Phil among others, and right in front of the space for the musicians. (Sometimes I felt a little like Scarlett O’Hara at the ball – when she’s still in mourning and not allowed to dance, but tapping her feet behind her fundraising stall!)
It was also lovely to meet Natara Perry at last (who very kindly shared her photos).
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As always at these events, there were some beautiful hounds in attendance – some of them very much fit for a king or queen.
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As ever I was so busy at the stall I didn’t have the chance to go and see the activities outside, or even see much of the dancing – but everyone I spoke to appeared to be enjoying a very pleasant and busy day.
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Many thanks to Dave for alerting me to the event and Tracey and all her team for organization. I hope to come back another time – and enjoy a little more of this lovely area.
March 31, 2019
‘Right Trusty and Well Beloved…’ – prize for ‘outstanding submission’ to #RichardIII anthology
It’s now a little over a month since I launched the call for submissions to ‘Right Trusty and Well Beloved…’, the new anthology of short fiction/poetry inspired by King Richard III to be sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK), and seven weeks to go until the deadline of 19th May. And I’m delighted to say that I’ve been receiving some fabulous pieces to consider for selection – and am looking forward to receiving plenty more! 
March 17, 2019
Reminder: Call for #submissions to #RichardIII anthology! #ShortStories #HistFic
The deadline for submissions to the new Ricardian anthology, ‘Right Trusty and Well Beloved…’ may be a full two months away, but entries are already coming in – and the standard looks to be very high indeed. Thank you to everyone who has sent a story or a poem to me already.
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If you haven’t yet, there is of course plenty of time left for you to polish a piece of fiction you may already have written or to write one from scratch.
I have amended the suggested word counts slightly – and please remember they are only suggestions. I’m happy to receive any piece of prose fiction inspired by King Richard up to around 4,000 words or poetry up to about 40 lines. (The 500 word guideline for ‘flash fiction’ is more to let you know we love to read short pithy pieces as much as longer stories. In the previous anthology we had a range of lengths, from about 200 words up, and it was a nice variety.)
For more details, please check out my blog post at https://alexmarchantblog.wordpress.com/…/call-for-submissi…/ and scroll to ‘the Boring Bit’. If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Good luck with your entries!
Loyaulte me lie. 
A special batch of #BookReviews!
What a fantastic surprise in the post this weekend! The first reviews of The Order of the White Boar from the Grange Technology College KS3 reading group. They certainly seem to have enjoyed reading it – in many cases, their first taste of historical fiction.
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I particularly liked the comments saying ‘an amazing storyline and fantastic characters – I could imagine everything in my head as if I was really there!’, and the student who had gone to the trouble to age the paper she wrote on. Something I remember doing when I was younger – along with making scrolls with seals, of course.
March 13, 2019
‘Not quite Route 66’: the Great North Road & #RichardIII
My latest blog for Authors Electric – the joys of the Great North Road and its links to King Richard III:
“In a few days’ time, I’ll be setting off southwards for a few days with family.
Having been born in Surrey in the south of England, but lived for more than two decades in Yorkshire in the north, this is a journey I undertake several times a year. …”
https://authorselectric.blogspot.com/2019/03/not-quite-route-66-great-north-road-by.html
March 10, 2019
Christine de Pizan – a small cameo! #amwriting #SnippetSunday #KingInWaiting
The following article about a Christine de Pizan illuminated manuscript reminded me of a moment in my work in progress, so, as it’s #SnippetSunday I thought I might share a little with you…
“A week or so later, Alys sought me out in the pleasure gardens during a break from my duties.
‘Reading?’ she asked, looking down at me, clutching her furred mantle close about her. ‘As always.’
I got to my feet, snapping shut the book I had borrowed from the palace library. My duties here were not burdensome and now left me plenty of time to amuse myself among the Duchess’s fine collection.
‘Don’t be daft, Matt. You needn’t stand up for me.’ She sat down on the wooden bench, taking the leather volume from my chilly hands as I lowered myself down again beside her. ‘Poetry?’
Her lithe fingers flicked through to the richly decorated title page, then paused.
‘Christine de Pizan?’ She raised her eyes to mine. ‘”The Book of Deeds of Arms and Chivalry”. Battle strategy? Not your usual taste.’
‘The Duchess has such a variety in her collection – and besides, I read all the poetry while you were still in England. It was only ten shelves worth after all – barely even a week’s reading, let alone a year’s.’
My lame attempt at a joke, even with an accompanying smile, didn’t fool her.
‘Oh, Matt – were you so very lonely? In your letters – those that reached me anyway – you always seemed so cheerful.’
‘No, not at all,’ I tried to protest. ‘Everyone here is very friendly, I had new duties to learn, another language to perfect. And I’ve been continuing my training with the Duchess’s weapons master. I’ve hardly had time to think, let alone be lonely.’…”
mybook.to/WhiteBoar
mybook.to/TheKingsMan
March 4, 2019
World Book Day 2019
February 24, 2019
York launch for #RichardIII charity anthology ‘Grant Me the Carving of My Name’
Hot on the heels of my call for submissions to the second anthology of short fiction inspired by King Richard III, Right Trusty and Well Beloved…, I’m delighted to announce that the first anthology, Grant Me the Carving of My Name, will be officially launched on Saturday 4 May in York, the city King Richard himself called home.
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From 2 pm til 3.30 pm, six of the contributors to our anthology – Wendy Johnson, Susan Lamb, Joanne R. Larner, Marla Skidmore, Jennifer C. Wilson and myself – will be hosting an afternoon of talks, Q&As, readings, and signings (of the anthology and our individual work) at Explore York, the central library in King Richard’s fair city.
Do come along if you can and discover more about the king’s connections with the city, about the man himself, and about what it’s like to write about him and his times. Between the six of us, we cover a variety of genres, from straight historical fiction, to romance, paranormal, time-slip, and of course children’s/young adult.
Everyone is welcome!
For full details please go to:
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Call for submissions to new #RichardIII anthology!
Following the success of Grant Me the Carving of My Name, the first anthology of short fiction inspired by King Richard III sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK), I’m pleased to announce plans for a second anthology.
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Many people asked to be included in that first anthology after the line-up of stories was finalized, or have since expressed an interest in being included in a second one. Some have offered existing stories or poetry, or plan to write something new specially for a collection.
The first anthology comprised contributions mostly from published authors whom I had previously met, either in person or virtually, and whom I knew would have something already written/almost finished. This was vital as time was short when I started planning the anthology and the aim was to publish before Christmas. The full story of how it all came about can be found at https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2019/01/an-authors-inspiration-by-alex-marchant.html.
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With fellow contributors Marla Skidmore and Janet Reedman at Bosworth re-enactment weekend
This time I would like to cast the net wider and encourage everyone who is interested to submit their work for consideration, not just published authors. Whether you write short stories, flash fiction or poetry inspired by King Richard, I would love to hear from you. Please also encourage any friends or family members to submit.
In order to inject a little excitement into the process (!) and optimize the fundraising for SAUK, the call for submissions is being launched as a competition.
There are a few very simple rules (see below) and there will be one or two prizes for outstanding entries (most of the contributors to the first anthology have offered signed paperbacks of their books from which one may be chosen or – in the case of Frances Quinn – a painting: full details to come).
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The aim will be to publish the best of the entries in paperback and ebook form on or around 1 November 2019 – in good time for Christmas and all those stockings to be filled. The deadline for entries will be 11.59 p.m. UK time on Sunday 19th May – allowing plenty for time for you to polish up an existing piece of writing (or two or three…), or to compose something completely new. And I hope this also gives plenty of time for you to spread the word to any Ricardians or anyone else you may know who might also wish to enter.
For perhaps a little inspiration (if it’s needed), a title for the new anthology has already been chosen, namely ‘Right Trusty and Well Beloved…’ As many Ricardians will know, this is the opening to many of the king’s letters (as it remains for the monarch to this day). To me, the words speak of the loyalty that was such an important part of King Richard’s life and of his continuing story over the centuries.
I hope that we can use this second anthology as a means to inspire and inform many others about King Richard, his life and times, and about the condition from which he suffered – and also to help raise funds to support people with the condition today.
I’m very much looking forward to reading your contributions!
Loyaulte me lie.
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The boring bit…
Submission is invited of pieces of short fiction (up to about 3,000 words), flash fiction (up to about 200 words) and poetry (up to about 30 lines) (in English only please) inspired by King Richard III. (Lengths are approximate and no minimum length is required. King Richard himself does not have to appear in the piece, but some connection is required. Pieces may be previously published or self-published, but you must own copyright and will be responsible for securing any necessary permissions if selected. Not-yet-published authors are positively encouraged to submit!)
Please submit your entries to AlexMarchant84@gmail.com. Please either cut and paste the piece in the actual email, or attach as a Word document (ideally in 12 pt Times, double line spaced with indented paragraphs).
A donation to SAUK of minimum £2.50 is requested on submission (approx. US$3.50 / 3.00 euros). Details of how to donate will be included in a confirmation email. (Please be patient – I will confirm receipt as soon as possible, but it may take some time…)
Deadline for entries is 11.59 p.m. UK time on Sunday 19th May 2019.
The editor(s) will endeavour to make the selection of pieces to be included in the anthology, and notify the authors of the chosen entries, by the end of June.*
Editing of the anthology will take place in July and August. This will entail normal copyediting, and also may include suggestions from the editor(s) for changes to be made. Prompt responses would be appreciated. Authors will be asked to submit a brief biography and details of any publications, social media, etc. for inclusion in the anthology. (See previous anthology for likely format.) All submissions must be finalized by 31st August for inclusion in the anthology. No changes will be allowed after that date (except for essential amendments during the proofreading stage during September-October.)
All authors will retain copyright of their contributions.
Publication will be on or around 1st November 2019.
All proceeds from sales of the anthology will be donated to SAUK. Author paperback copies will be made available to contributors (via Amazon KDP) at cost price (including postage) on the understanding that profits from any sales will be donated to SAUK. (Personal copies/gifts are of course outside this stipulation, although donations are of course always welcome!)
All contributors will be asked to help promote the anthology on social media or elsewhere. Invitations will be issued to take part in any online or ‘bricks and mortar’ launch that may be planned.
Please contact me at AlexMarchant84@gmail.com with any queries you may have.
*If there are insufficient entries of appropriate quality, the editor(s) reserve the right not to proceed with ebook/paperback publication. In that unlikely event, authors of selected pieces may be offered publication on this blog and via Facebook/Twitter instead.
