Helena P. Schrader's Blog, page 29
September 15, 2020
The Battle of Britain - A Retrospective
September 15, Battle of Britain Day
It is now 80 years since the Battle of Britain was fought -- and won. It was not, of course, a battle fought on a single day, but rather one that lasted the entire summer of 1940. Only in retrospect did the “Battle of Britain” become a discreet phase of the Second World War.
Yet in a speech before the House of Commons on June 18, 1940, Sir Winston Churchill correctly noted its significance. Warning that "the Battle of Britain" was about to begin, Churchill soberly predicted that “the whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us." He presciently predicted: "Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free … but if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States … will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age ….”
The Battle of Britain did not win or end the war. It would take five more grim and grueling years of conflict before Hitler was finally defeated. The Second World War first spread across the entire northern hemisphere and consumed millions of lives. Yet the Battle of Britain was the imperative first step toward Allied victory. It brought Hitler’s aggression to a halt for the first time since he had come to power in Germany in 1933.
What is often forgotten nowadays is that it was a very near-run thing. The outcome teetered in the balance day after day. It was also a victory won by an extraordinarily limited number of combatants — Winston’s Churchill’s “Few.” Yet they were not entirely alone in this vital struggle. They were supported by ground crews and controllers, by medical, clerical and catering staff -- and by the women they loved.
Where Eagles Never Flew is a tribute to the men and women who were engaged in this crucial conflict. Based on first-hand accounts by pilots and other participants as well as retrospective historical analysis, this novel recreates the tense atmosphere of this dramatic summer. It allows the reader to see unfolding events through the eyes of characters involved both in the air and on the ground and on both sides of the Channel.
See a video teaser of Where Eagles Never Flew
If you would like to pre-order a copy, send me an email at: info@CrossSeasPress.com
September 6, 2020
Re-Lauch of "Where Eagles Never Flew"
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, "Where Eagles Never Flew" will be released in a new illustrated edition. This is the book Wing Commander Bob Doe called "the best book about the Battle of Britain" that he had ever seen. He should know; he not only flew in the Battle, he was a recognized ace.
Find out more about "Where Eagles Never Flew" from the video teaser on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CUv2...
Pre-Order a copy at: info@CrossSeasPress.com
July 7, 2020
NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND B&N - "Balian d'Ibelin: Knight of Jerusalem
A landless knight, a Byzantine princess and a leper king—The story of Balian d’Ibelin in the years before his fame.
The historical Balian d’Ibelin saved thousands of women and children from slavery and brokered peace between Richard I and Saladin. Arab chronicles described him as “like a king,” and his descendants dominated the history of the Holy Land for the next century. Yet he inherited neither land nor titles and we know nothing of his youth. What made him the man he would become? In this comprehensive revision of the first book in the Jerusalem Trilogy, Schrader evokes the underlying currents and powerful personalities that shaped the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. She weaves history with hypotheses to create a credible, if fictional, backstory for a hero: Balian d’Ibelin.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
BUY NOW ON B&N
June 30, 2020
"By the Sword" - an Anthology of Stories set in the Middle Ages
This month the Historical Writers' Association invited me to contribute to an anthology of stories set in the Middle Ages. Despite the very short deadline, I didn't want to miss such a wonderful opportunity! So, I stopped all other work and wrote a short story based on my current series about the civil war in Outremer in the 13th century.
The book has gone live on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BX1TLMQ
May 31, 2020
Back Cover Art
Below are three images. 1. The only medieval image I know of that depicts Balian d'Ibelin (holding Baldwin V in his arms) 2. One of several medieval illustrations that depicts Maria Comnena -- riding beside her first husband Amalric of Jerusalem.3. A medieval illustration of a decisive victory -- albeit not Montgisard per se.
I was thinking either of both 1 & 2 or 3 alone.
Please let me know what you think.
May 24, 2020
Great Fans Make Great Books! - REVISED COVER BLURB
A landless knight, a Byzantine princess and a leper king— The story of Balian d’Ibelin in the years before his fame.
Balian d’Ibelin saved thousands of women and children from slavery and brokered peace between Richard I and Saladin. Arab chronicles described him as “like a king,” and his descendants dominated the history of the Holy Land for the next century. Yet he inherited neither land nor titles and we know nothing of his youth.
What made him the man he would become?
In this comprehensive revision of the first book in the Jerusalem Trilogy, Schrader evokes the underlying currents and powerful personalities that shaped the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. She weaves history with hypotheses to create a credible, if fictional, backstory for a hero: Balian d’Ibelin.
May 17, 2020
Looking for the Right Text -- A Cover Blurb for "Balian d'Ibelin"
1. Hollywood made him a blacksmith, Arab chronicles said he was “like a king.” He defied Richard the Lionheart but served a leper. He married a dowager queen and founded a dynasty that dominated the history of the Holy Land for the next century. But who was Balian d’Ibelin? And what made him the man he was to become? In this the comprehensively revised first book in the Jerusalem Trilogy, Schrader weaves the known historical facts with plausible hypotheses to create a hero worthy of history.
2. He saved tens of thousands of women and children from slavery and brought peace between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. When he died, he was the premier baron in the realm and the founder of a semi-royal dynasty. Yet he started life as the youngest son of a parvenu baron without land or title, and almost nothing is known about his youth. In this comprehensive revision of the first book in the Jerusalem Trilogy, Schrader evokes the underlying currents and powerful personalities that shaped the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the end of the twelfth century to reconstruct a plausible, if fictional, biography of a hero: Balian d’Ibelin.
3. Hollywood made him a blacksmith, Arab chronicles said he was “like a king.” He defied Richard the Lionheart but served a leper. When he died, he was the premier baron in the realm and the founder of a semi-royal dynasty. Yet he started life as the youngest son of a parvenu baron without land or title, and almost nothing is known about his youth. Extrapolating from the scanty historical record, Schrader evokes the underlying currents and powerful personalities that shaped the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the end of the twelfth century to create a hero worthy of history.
Unfortunately, the survey feature has disappeared so drop me an email with your comments at: hps_books@yahoo.com
Thanks!
April 30, 2020
Distinguished Favorite -- and a New Cover
Progress toward the release of a new edition of "Knight of Jerusalem" also continued. The title will be altered to "Balian d'Ibelin: Knight of Jerusalem" to flag the fact that although still part of the Jerusalem Trilogy this is actually a new book. It will also have a new cover. Below the current -- not quite finished -- cover.
April 12, 2020
"Knight of Jerusalem" is "Out-of-Print" -- "Balian d'Ibelin" is coming!
It is now six years since I published "Knight of Jerusalem,” the first part of what would be a three-part biographical novel based on the life of the historical Balian d’Ibelin. The book was based on over a year of intensive research, but, I admit, I rushed the release. I had read that Sharon Kay Penman was writing an novel about Balian, and I didn’t want to look like a “copy cat.” Furthermore, it was becoming obvious to me that I could not cover Balian’s life in a single book, so I made the decision to chop the book into three parts, and publish the first book asap.
It was a mistake.
The novel itself was flawed because it had not been conceived as a stand-alone novel. The characters were inadequately developed because I hadn’t written them to the end and learned about them in their complete complexity. In addition, over the next years, I continued to research the Ibelins and the crusader states. Not only did I discover new sources and develop a deeper understanding of Middle Eastern and crusader society, but scholars were publishing new books and articles throughout this period (and continue to do so), many of which significantly impacted my interpretation of the events described in this book. These made me revise some of my early assumptions.
In consequence, I decided that “Knight of Jerusalem” could not remain on the market the way it was. It had to be “killed” and replaced by a new book that captures my more advanced appreciation of Balian, his contemporaries, his society and his times. The results of this reworking of old material are nearing completion.
The new book will be titled “Balian d’Ibelin: Knight of Jerusalem” and remains the first book in the Jerusalem Trilogy depicting the life of Balian d’Ibelin from 1170 to 1192 and the first book in the four-book series that together constitute a comprehensive biographical novel of Balian. The Last Crusader Kingdom is the fourth book of the series.
I will be posting updates about “Balian d’Ibelin” here on this blog and on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelenaPSchrader/
You can also follow me on Twitter at: @HelenaPSchrader
Meanwhile, the award-winning second, third and fourth books of Balian biography are available for sale in paperback and ebook editions:
March 31, 2020
"Emperor Strikes Back" -- Finalist for Book Excellence Awards
The Emperor Strikes Back was recognized as a Book Excellence Award Finalist in the Category Historical Fiction.
Out of hundreds of books that were entered into the Book Excellence Awards competition, The Emperor Strikes Back was recognized for its high-quality writing, interior and exterior design, and overall market appeal.
To view my complete award listing, you can visit: https://honorees.bookexcellenceawards...
The book was released in 2019 and is the second in a series describing the conflict between the rebels against the autocratic Emperor Frederick II in Outremer.
The book is perfect for fans of serious historical fiction and anyone interested in the history of the Holy Land in the era of the crusades.
Buy Now!In other news, despite the cancelation of the London Book Fair, my literary agent has been in touch with potential commercial publishers for four of my titles. Interest has been very encouraging, but there is no "deal" yet. Two publishers are considering a total of four different titles, and internal review is expected to last eight to twelve weeks.
Meanwhile Keep safe!
Helena P. Schrader
