Alex Marchant's Blog, page 3
March 9, 2024
“Did he or didn’t he? This excellent book suggests not!” Review of Philippa Langley’s “The Princes in the Tower”
It’s been another busy few weeks, or indeed months, for me. I can’t believe that it’s already March and spring is tentatively rearing its head here in the Yorkshire Pennines. Snowdrops are going over, and miniature daffs (and even the full-sized ones) are sun-shining in our garden (which is just as well, because the real sun has been mostly absent this past week).
Last week I visited an old friend in Belgium, who has over recent years driven me to various locations for book research, and very kindly did again. This time the destination was Binche castle, at one time owned by Margaret of York, Dowager Duchess of Burgundy. The reason for visiting? That it may have been somewhere Richard of England stayed during his time with his aunt Margaret.
The remains of Binche castleAnd the reason I’ve been so busy over the past few weeks/months? First, I’ve been working towards publication of my work-in-progress (working title ‘The Mystery of Coultry Tower’ – see my previous post), hopefully this summer. And, second, I’ve been wrestling with the challenge of deciding what book to write next.
I’ve enjoyed writing a contemporary-set book with historical elements, but without the constraints imposed by writing historical fiction based on real events. But with so many readers of my ‘White Boar‘ books asking me in person or in reviews to tackle the thorny issue of so-called ‘Perkin Warbeck’ aka Richard of York/England, and/or tell the future lives of Matthew and his friends, I’ve had a lot to consider. And I have to admit, though the idea of telling such a story is pretty daunting, it’s also very enticing. Wouldn’t it be nice to ‘complete the set’ – to tell, for younger readers, the stories of both pretenders/both sons of Edward IV, so important to the overall legacy of King Richard III – the task I set myself all those years ago?
Vital to my decision-making has been publication of Philippa Langley’s new book, The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case. I’ll make no secret of the fact that I delayed making my decision on whether to embark on a new ‘White Boar’ book until after I read it – and found out about the new material that has come to light about whether the ‘princes’ survived. Throughout the writing of King in Waiting and Sons of York I was well aware that the Missing Princes Project was underway and might discover information that could turn my premises upside down. If you’ve read the books, you’ll know that I take the view that both sons of Edward IV survived, and the elder (Edward V) returned as the Dublin King (who has gone down in Tudor-led history as the imposter ‘Lambert Simnel’).
Imagine my relief when, not only was my basic premise not overturned, but at least one document had been found that supported the theory about Edward V being the Dublin King!
So – should I write the story of the younger boy, Richard of York, or not?
This isn’t the time to let you know where my deliberations are going (though you may have a clue already from recent posts on Facebook and Instagram). Rather I thought I would share with you the review I’ve written on Philippa’s book for posting on Amazon. If you’re in any doubt about reading this book, maybe this will help you decide. It’s certainly been helping me in making what could be a very important decision!
The review can also be found on Amazon
Did he or didn’t he? This excellent book suggests not!
“History’s greatest cold case” – did King Richard III murder the so-called “Princes in the Tower”? After this incredibly researched book, it seems increasingly unlikely that he did.
For centuries English law has insisted on the principle that a person should be deemed innocent until proved guilty, but strangely it’s taken more than 500 years for this to apply properly to Richard III. A number of mock trials in recent decades have found him “not guilty” of the worst charges levelled at him by Tudor chroniclers and later historians – the murders of his two young nephews, usually known as “the Princes in the Tower” – but still many historians stick to the line that he must have done it. But surely no more, following this landmark publication.
“The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case” presents the interim findings of the Missing Princes Project – eight years (so far) of reconsidering every piece of “evidence” known that could be used for the prosecution of the crime or for the defence – plus investigation of as many archives as possible containing documents from the relevant time period. Established by Philippa Langley, who was the driving force in the quest to find King Richard’s grave in Leicester, the multilingual Project team followed every relevant line of investigation that they could, and new discoveries from those archives, on the continent in particular, include four remarkable documents new to English-language researchers.
These documents are remarkable as they appear strongly to support the possibility that the two boys survived after Richard’s death at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 – contrary to the “official” Tudor story – and that they returned as the improbably named pretenders, Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck. At the very least, the documents, together with mounting other evidence of the boys’ survival, undermine the prosecution “case” for their murder by King Richard.
Philippa Langley’s clear, dispassionate dissection and discussion of both old and new evidence – comprehensively referenced throughout – presents both cases, for and against, at length, beginning with the evidence for the prosecution. This is shown to be primarily rumour and hearsay, mostly recorded years or decades after the events in question, and often by individuals who had their own particular agendas, usually political. The latter charge could be levelled at much of the evidence for the “defence” too – supporters of both pretenders may well have had an interest in stirring trouble for the new king of England, Henry Tudor, especially Margaret of Burgundy, the boys’ aunt and stalwart supporter of the rival House of York. Yet when seemingly insignificant records such as receipts and household accounts – including those of Henry Tudor himself, records not conceivably aimed at propaganda or persuasion – name the boys as Edward son of Edward IV or Richard, Duke of York, and when the huge sums of money spent by various European rulers on backing their claims are taken into account, it does seem that such support may have had a firmer foundation than simply a desire to cause problems for a king with a sometimes shaky hold on his crown.
For me the weight of evidence has now shifted firmly to the defence. It may not yet be “beyond reasonable doubt” that the boys survived King Richard’s reign, although I personally think the evidence taken all together and laid out clearly in this book is very compelling. Does the book actually do what it says in its bold subtitle and solve “history’s greatest cold case”? Not 100 per cent perhaps. But with more investigations by the Project underway and more revelations likely, it may well not be too long before this 500-year-old mystery is finally solved. And it will all be due to the incredible efforts of Ms Langley and her team, and the other open-minded historians on whose work they’ve built over many years.
If you enjoyed and were intrigued by the recent Channel 4/PBS documentary based on the findings, do take a look at this book. There’s so much more to explain why the findings are so significant, and so much more background to the controversial story outlined. It’s a sizable volume, but don’t let that put you off. The prose is straightforward and very readable, whether or not you know a great deal already about King Richard and the enduring mystery of what happened to his nephews.
Philippa’s book can be bought at all good bookshops or via Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Princes-Tower-Solving-Historys-Greatest-ebook/dp/B0CHBL4HS3/
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
January 6, 2024
Twelfth Night: or, celebrating Kings’ Day…
Today is Twelfth Night, the traditional end to the Yuletide festivities – and a day for gift-giving during the medieval period (and beyond). Having lost much of the New Year so far to illness, I’ve just scraped some energy together to make a Kings’ Day cake to celebrate and thought I would also share with you a little of how Matthew Wansford and those at court at Westminster in 1482/3 may have spent the day. The snippet from The Order of the White Boar begins with Matt’s first (later fateful) meeting with young Edward, at that time Prince of Wales….
“By the time Twelfth Night arrived, I sensed the Duke was heartily sick of life at court. He left the revels earlier each night, his eyes shadowed even in the flare of the torchlight, and he spoke more sharply to the servants.
To tell the truth, I was also chafing to leave the confines of the palace. I had little to occupy me beyond being useful to the Duke or Master Kendall. I even missed the broad moors around Middleham and cantering with Alys and Roger across the scrubby heather, Murrey and Shadow scampering at our heels.
On that last day of Christmas I was leaning on Storm’s stable door, missing my friends and Bess, when from behind me came the yap of pleasure Murrey would make when tossed a morsel of food. As I swung round, she was rolling on her back, exposing her belly to be tickled by a boy crouching there.
Although his face was hidden, I recognized him, this boy with the richly embroidered riding cloak and shock of fair hair. I knew him, though I had never spoken to him. This was Ed’s cousin, also Edward, he who would be king some day after his father.
I watched, saying nothing, while Murrey wriggled on her back in raptures.
The boy giggled with delight and reached inside his pouch to fish out another tidbit.
Murrey twisted back on to her feet in an instant and sat upright, alert. As he offered her the treat, she pulled her lips back from her sharp little teeth and delicately took it from his fingers. He fondled her ears and raised his head. His eyes shone despite the dim light.
‘Is she yours?’
‘Yes, Your Grace.’
‘She’s a pretty hound. Are you training her yourself?’
‘Yes, Your Grace.’
He straightened up. Murrey, seeing there would be no more food, sidled over to lie down at my feet.
‘You’re not a stable boy, with a hound like that. Who are you?’
‘No, Your Grace. I’m here as part of the Duke’s party.’
‘The Duke? Oh, my uncle Richard.’ He gazed at the bustle of the grooms all around us. ‘My father said to meet them both here to ride out this morning. It’s the last day before my uncle leaves us.’
I tried not to smile too broadly.
‘Indeed, Your Grace? I’m sure he’ll miss the pleasures of the court when he goes.’
The Prince’s eyes flicked back to mine.
‘You think so? I fancy my uncle finds less to enjoy here than many another man would. My father tells me he doesn’t like life in the city. My mother says —’
But what else the Duke’s family said about him was lost in commotion as the King and his brother entered the stables with several gentlemen. The stable men ceased their work and bowed low. I shrank back into the shadows, drawing Murrey with me.”
Later that evening –
“The last day of Christmastide was marked by the most elaborate festivities. A fabulous banquet with more courses than I could number. Not one or two, but three dancing bears. Then troops of mummers performed for the assembled guests.
It was very different from the Bible stories of our Corpus Christi plays in York, but, may God forgive me, I enjoyed it as much. The jewelled costumes, colourful speeches, ribald songs, fantastical monsters fashioned from sumptuous fabrics stretched over wooden frames, the swordplay agile like dancing, the dances alight with fire-eaters, sword-swallowers, knife-jugglers. And with the dancing that followed under the still-flaring torches, all my senses were sated by the time, long after midnight, when the Queen rose.
She gathered her children around her like her voluminous satin skirts, and prepared to leave. At her throat, the fire of the brands reflected from the liquid depths of the blood-red ruby the King had presented her this Twelfth Night. Each daughter wore a similar jewel, though smaller – blue, green or purple – his sons thick gold chains draped around their necks.
As they each curtsied or bowed to their father, I fingered the soft emerald green cloth of my new doublet. My own gift from him as a household guest. I had found it laid out in the pages’ quarters on my return from the ride.
The final deep curtsey was by the Queen to her husband, then the high table almost emptied as she swept from the hall with her family. Only the King and Duke Richard remained standing there together, Lord Hastings now behind them, a hand resting on the shoulder of each…”
Wishing all my readers and followers (rather belatedly) a very happy and peaceful 2024
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
December 15, 2023
#HistFicXmas – catching up! Christmas families and places…
Well, as suspected, I’m well behind with the #HistFicXmas, or snippets about my books and characters prompted by the list from the Historical Writers Forum:
So I guess it’s about time I caught up a little…
Some of the days I’ve posted directly to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook – so if you click on the links you’ll find more detail – and why not follow me on there while you’re about it?
Here are some edited ‘highlights’:
Day 4 – which of my books would make excellent Xmas presents?
All of them, of course!
But mostly The Order of the White Boar because of its snowy winter scenes & Xmas at Edward IV’s court
Day 5 
Does your book feature Christmas celebrations?
Well, both The Order of the White Boar and The King’s Man certainly do – and I’ve blogged about it here:
https://alexmarchantblog.wordpress.com/2019/12/24/christmases-with-richard-plantagenet-1482-1485/
My work-in-progress features Christmas and Hogmanay rather more heavily, but that’s perhaps for next year.
Day 6
Do you prefer winter or summer?
Summer every time!
I may write lots of snowy winter scenes but my heart is in spring/summer – I hate the cold!
The hot summer of Time out of Time was more pleasant to write, despite the climate issues arising…
https://mybook.to/TimeoutofTime
… which also provides the answer for Day 7!
Days 11-13 – are all about families – especially at Christmas. Given that Matthew Wansford is away from his family through most of the four books in which he appears, perhaps this is a moment to focus on Drew – main character of my upcoming (as yet untitled!) Scottish ghost story. While Matt is the product of a large medieval family (with seven siblings by the end of Sons of York, albeit the last two by his stepmother after his mother has died), Drew lives only with his mother and younger sister, Ellie. His mum and dad have recently separated – something that has affected Drew badly, especially as it’s resulted in a relocation from Surrey to Coultry in Scotland.
‘Most dysfunctional family scene’ – well, I guess it might involve the looming Christmas when Drew’s dad is planning to visit them all up in Coultry – and he’s bringing along an unexpected guest…
The happiest family scene? Perhaps when Matt returns to York to see his family for the first time after he moves to Middleham Castle … it’s been eight long months, but in that time he’s won the favour of Duke Richard of Gloucester, saved the Duke’s son’s life, and visited the court of King Edward IV in London.
Bootham Bar, YorkWhich brings us to Days 14 and 15 - which are the best and worst places my main characters have ever spent Christmas or winter?
Apart from at home in York when his mother was still alive, I guess Matthew could take his pick of a few:
1482 – at court in London/Westminster as a guest of King Edward IV – serving Duke Richard and feasting and dancing with royal guests
1483 and 1484 – in London in the household of Master Ashley – celebrating a topsy-turvy Christmas (see my blogs about this: Topsy-Turvy Christmas and Christmases with Richard Plantagenet)
1485 – in the court of Margaret of Burgundy at Malines/Mechelen (though at one of the finest courts in Europe, Matt may have had rather a miserable Christmas given the events of the previous year …)
1486 – at Dublin Castle … (read a little about it in King in Waiting)
Which of these count as best or worst? I’ll let you decide!
Duchess Margaret’s palaceAs far as Drew is concerned, he’s dreading his first Scottish Christmas. Will his family be able to celebrate the way they always have before, despite how much things have changed since last Christmas – or will all the Christmas traditions he loves be neglected this year? I guess you’ll have to wait until publication day to find out!
Watch this space for more #HistFicXmas over the coming days…
Meanwhile, don’t forget to get in touch if you want any copies of my books for your own Christmas gifts – there’s still time to post them within the UK!
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
December 8, 2023
FREE this weekend – and welcome to the Coffee Pot Book Club!
I’m delighted to have a Spotlight post today on the fabulous Coffee Pot Book Club blogspot, where I talk about the inspiration for my Order of the White Boar books – and of course the latest revelations about the fate of the so-called ‘Princes in the Tower’.
In my Author Note for Sons of York I mentioned that I was awaiting the findings of The Missing Princes Project with interest to discover whether my story in it and King in Waiting were far wide of the mark. If you’re aware of Philippa Langley and her teams recent discoveries, you’ll already know the result!
For more on the subject, please check out the post at:
Meanwhile, as a little pre-Christmas treat as part of the Historical Writers Forum’s Jolabokaflod, The Order of the White Boar, the first book in the sequence, will be FREE to download all weekend – 9th-10th December. Just follow the link and enjoy – and please share to friends and family!
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
December 3, 2023
A historical fiction run-up to Christmas! #HistFicXmas
The Historical Writers Forum on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/214932209068655/) is hosting a little pre-Christmas fun by inviting all its members to offer brief daily posts prompted by a festive list. I thought I would join in when I can. And yes, this blog is already three days late! But I can perhaps be forgiven as I was attending Philippa Langley’s interesting talk in York yesterday on the Missing Princes Project – and have been dealing since with an eye issue (which fortunately didn’t become an emergency!)
So the prompts throughout December are:
As it’s 3rd December today, I’ll roll my first three into one.
Day 1 – Introduce yourself
As you will already know if you follow this blog, I write children’s fiction, mostly historical – focusing on King Richard III & the mystery of the ‘Princes in the Tower’. But I’ve also written timeslip & ghost stories… I’m currently between projects – having finished the first draft of my latest book and being uncertain what to start on next, as I wait before doing edits.
Having most recently published King in Waiting and Sons of York, telling the story of the ‘Dublin King’ (otherwise best known to history as the pretender to Henry Tudor’s throne dubbed ‘Lambert Simnel’, but who may well have been Edward V), many readers are urging me to tackle the story of the second major pretender, dubbed ‘Perkin Warbeck’ (who may well have been Richard of York, the younger of the two ‘Princes in the Tower’). What do you think? Should I give it a go?
Day 2 – Tell us about your WIP or latest release
I suppose this has partly just been answered. My work-in-progress is of course a ghost story set around a defensive tower house in often-snowy Scotland. For a snippet, visit my recent blog post Happy Thanksgiving.
My new release of course is King in Waiting, 2 books in 1!
Day 3 – Christmas – love it or loathe it?
Love it – so long as it doesn’t start in November (or sooner!) There are only 12 days of Xmas after all!
But my kids think I’m a bit of a Scrooge as I won’t put the tree up on 1st December like so many of their friends’ families…
And all this is something that I write about in my work-in-progress – the Scottish ghost story that takes place in the run-up to a very snowy Christmas and Hogmanay. Drew’s mum isn’t based on me, but we do share the mantra of ‘Keep Christmas in December’!
All my books make excellent stocking-fillers!Tune in tomorrow (or maybe, more realistically, later in the week) for more festive chat.
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
November 23, 2023
Happy Thanksgiving – and a little snippet from my upcoming book…
After a week in which most of my attention has been firmly focused on my new release and King Richard and the so-called ‘Princes in the Tower’ – following the startling new evidence presented by Philippa Langley and her team – as Monty Python used to say, ‘And now for something completely different.’
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the USA – or anywhere else in the world celebrating this holiday today.
It’s a celebration that figures pretty heavily in my current work-in-progress (working title ‘Coultry Tower’), despite the book being set in Scotland. But the scenes are based on experiences of my own when living in Scotland some years ago – and working alongside an American in ‘exile’ from her homeland.
Mary Ann is based on that colleague only in being in similar circumstances – married to a British man and unable to meet up with her geographically-distant family for this major holiday because of work commitments. Oh, and in being an archaeologist whose workmates decide they should prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for her to partly make up for it.
In recognition of the day, I thought I’d share with you a snippet from the book – still in its first draft (so it may well change before publication). It may give you a flavour of what to expect – something rather different from my other books perhaps!
Alloa Tower, which inspired ‘Coultry Tower’Drew and Mairi are young schoolfriends who have been befriended by the archaeologists working to discover the remains of an ancient mansion (who hail from several different countries). They’ve been invited to join the Thanksgiving party along with their families and Uncle Stu and Donnie, owners of the site, including its still-standing stable block where the party is held and where Drew lives with his family. While I generally describe the book as a ‘contemporary ghost story’, I’m afraid this excerpt ends just a little before any ghostly happenings get going. (Maybe I’ll save a snippet from them to post at the classic ghost-story-telling time of Christmas Eve…)
The stable block where the party is held…“Coultry Tower”
“Everything was ready in good time for the party, of course. And Ryan, Mary Ann’s husband, had managed to keep it secret from her. Watching the emotions chasing across her face as she entered the carriage house – seeing confusion and bewilderment dissolve into shock, then delight – was one of the highlights of the evening.
‘What on earth – how – who –?’
Words tumbled from her mouth as her gaze ranged around the small crowd waiting about the shadowy room, took in strings of fairy lights and lanterns casting their glow over stars and stripes banners and bunting and tables piled high with plates of party food, bottles, cans, glasses. And as cheers and clapping erupted all about her, her speech died away entirely, bubbling over into laughter.
She swung round to Ryan and pummelled his chest with both fists, beaming and stuttering, ‘You – you – you –’
Mairi and I stood together looking on, though Mairi’s attention was mostly drawn to the laden table next to us.
‘This all looks tasty,’ she said, one hand stealing out to help herself from a bowl of tortilla chips. I tapped her hand as Mum used to with us when we were younger.
‘Wait until everyone else is eating,’ I hissed. ‘Mum said the turkey’ll be ready soon. She and Sinéad have been cooking it in our kitchen, along with lots of other stuff. It all smelt fantastic.’
As though his sharp ears had caught my words, Donnie detached himself from the cluster of people and announced,
‘Help yourself to nibbles and drinks, everyone. The main event won’t be long.’
And he went off to switch on some music and help at the drinks table, while Mum disappeared back to our house with Uncle Stu and Sinéad in tow.
The main event arrived in just a few minutes – the glossy brown turkey borne by Uncle Stu on our huge holly-wreathed Christmas platter, followed by the others carrying trays with overflowing dishes of nut roast, roasties, mashed potato, sweet potato, cranberry sauce, sprouts, and many other foods I couldn’t even guess at. Maybe some were the Ghanaian, Polish and Irish delicacies Sinéad had hinted at the day before.
‘Americans really know how to eat,’ Mairi whispered. ‘I’m going to try a bit of everything.’
Soon our plates were laden with as much food as could be crammed on them. And for a few minutes after that, little more than the scraping of cutlery and the clinking of glasses vied with the music that Donnie had set playing earlier. Gradually, though, as people started to get up to help themselves to pumpkin pie or another drink, the chatter of voices increased. I’d just sat down at the table again and was prodding with a spoon the beige slab in pastry that was my portion of pumpkin pie, when Mairi nudged me.
‘I think Dad’s getting on his high horse again,’ she said in an undertone.
My ears tuned in to what was being said on the next table while I dug out a spoonful of the smooth-textured pie filling. As I’d manoeuvred my way back through the chairs after fetching dessert for Mairi and me, I’d overheard Mary Ann telling André the story of the first American Thanksgiving – when local Native Americans who helped the Pilgrim Fathers to survive when they first landed in New England then shared the incomers’ meal to give thanks for their first successful harvest.
‘That’s why we always serve turkey and pumpkins and sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving – foods that the locals taught the Pilgrim Fathers to grow,’ she’d told him.
I vaguely remembered the story from primary school history lessons, but maybe it didn’t figure on the curriculum in Ghana. Now, as I slipped the cloying, sweetly-nutmeggy morsel into my mouth, I heard Greg say, darkly,
‘I’m not sure the Native Americans celebrate it that much these days.’
‘Maybe not.’ A tiny grimace flitted across Mary Ann’s face. ‘But at the time, of course, they were all friends.’
‘Until the immigrants started infecting the locals with European diseases,’ put in Uncle Stu with a grin, ‘and stealing huge swathes of their hunting grounds. Relations soured a bit after that.’
‘But I’m sure Mary Ann celebrates the day in the original spirit,’ said Mum hurriedly. Did I catch sight of a movement under the table and a sudden grimace this time on Uncle Stu’s face? It wouldn’t be the first time Mum had surreptitiously kicked him for stirring things. No one else seemed to notice.
Greg said, with a smile, ‘So should we all, I guess.’ He raised his glass of beer to first Mary Ann, then Mum. ‘It’s a great excuse for a party, anyway.’”
‘Coultry Tower’ (or whatever it’s finally titled) will be published in 2024 and you’ll be able to find out more about Drew, Mairi and the ghostly mystery they get caught up in.
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
November 21, 2023
*LAUNCH DAY*: King in Waiting, Books 3 & 4
After the exciting news of new evidence that the ‘Princes in the Tower’ survived and Edward V returned as the Dublin King, it’s time to read his story in King in Waiting!
Out today – 2 books in 1!
Books 3 & 4 of The Order of the White Boar together for the first time
Follow young Matthew Wansford, once page to good King Richard III, as he serves his new master, Edward Plantagenet, now true King of England, on his mission to reclaim his crown
What challenges lie ahead for Matt and his friends? Can the Order claim victory against usurper Henry Tudor?
Aimed at ages 10+ and also enjoyed by adults of all ages
Only £3.99/$4.99 – a kind of ‘buy 1 get 1 half price’ deal 
(King in Waiting, Books 3 & 4, incorporates both King in Waiting and Sons of York.)
Also FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited
(Paperback available from Sunday 26 November)
https://mybook.to/KinginWaiting3-4
(Books 1 & 2 also available in 1 volume: https://mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
November 16, 2023
Matt Wansford as unreliable narrator? Or what really happened to the ‘Princes in the Tower’?
What really happened to the ‘Princes in the Tower’?
This has been my tag line for King in Waiting and Sons of York for some time, followed by ‘Does Matthew Wansford know the truth?’
But this morning on my dog walk I realized that today might be the ‘last call’ for Matt being the only person who knows ‘the truth’!
From tomorrow (or 8.01 pm GMT tonight if you catch Matthew Lewis’s podcast interview with Philippa Langley on Gone Medieval), it may be that the whole world knows!
Has Matt’s version of the truth been right all along? Or is he an ‘unreliable narrator’?
Has all my work on bringing his story to the page been a waste of time – or was someone really speaking to me across the centuries? (Or at least, has careful consideration of all the early sources and reaching various conclusions paid off?)
These questions may (or may not) be answered in this week’s long-awaited, cracking instalment of Richard III: The Ongoing Historical Saga….
And meanwhile, whatever is revealed, my heartfelt thanks go to Philippa and her colleagues for everything they’ve done over the years.
And the two-book version of King in Waiting (incorporating Sons of York too) is still available for pre-order (with paperback hopefully available on 21 November too):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMPHXQBY
or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMPHXQBY
And of course all four books of The Order of the White Boar sequence are still available separately:
and the first two in a single volume: https://mybook.to/WhiteBoarBooks1-2
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
November 10, 2023
What really happened to the ‘Princes in the Tower’? Major Channel 4 documentary airs
Well, this is what so many of us have been waiting for for a very long time!
Next Saturday, 18 November, at 8 pm in the UK Channel 4 will be broadcasting ‘The Princes in the Tower: the New Evidence‘, detailing the findings of Philippa Langley’s Missing Princes Project. This is the day after publication of Philippa’s book ‘The Princes in the Tower‘, subtitled ‘Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case’, by The History Press.
A prime time slot on a major terrestrial broadcaster,* involving a forensic legal mind (or two!), travel to seven different countries (can we guess which those might be? 
) and a book from a specialist historical publisher … with a very bold subtitle. This must be something pretty big! Rumours have been swirling for a while (just like during much of King Richard’s reign and after!). Will we finally discover what really happened to the two sons of Edward IV?
I’ll be settling down next weekend with a glass of something strong, hoping to raise a toast to Philippa and her colleagues (and of course His Grace) at whatever the outcome of this may be…
Meanwhile, don’t forget, my own books offer a possible explanation of what happened to the boys. Will any of my speculations prove correct? Here’s hoping I’m not too far wide of the mark!
If you want to sift through some of the previously existing evidence for yourself before the documentary airs, why not take a look at King in Waiting and Sons of York, which together explore the possible identity of the so-called Dublin King (known to history as the ‘imposter’/pretender Lambert Simnel). Who really was he?
And of course, if you can wait that long, on 21 November, both books will be published in a single volume with an ‘adult’ cover as King in Waiting: The Order of the White Boar, Books 3 and 4.
Will the truth finally be revealed?
Loyalty binds me
*Similar documentary available in the USA on PBS November 22nd as an episode of SECRETS OF THE DEAD.
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
November 7, 2023
Guest blog for fellow author Eva Bielby
Today I’m delighted to be a guest on the blog of fellow Yorkshire author Eva Bielby.
She invited me to answer some fantastic questions, from which of my characters are based on friends or family, to my greatest fears and regrets, to the old classic – cats or dogs? (Which do you think?)
And which of my characters is my favourite…
Check it out at:
https://www.evabielby.co.uk/single-post/today-we-have-history-enthusiast-and-author-alex-marchant
And don’t forget, the two-book ‘adult’ version of King in Waiting (combined with Sons of York) is now available for pre-order:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMPHXQBY
or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMPHXQBY
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
My Twitter handle and Matthew Wansford’s
Instagram: AlexMarchantAuthor
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17175168.Alex_Marchant
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alexmarchantauthor
