Sharon Kay Penman's Blog, page 3

Lionheart book bargain

At times I feel like a bird with a wounded wing, but the fracture is healing, just not as fast as I’d like. Typing remains a spectator sport; I can only manage a few sentences before my wrist begins to object. I still hope to have a new blog up this week, with some help from friends. Meanwhile, Lionheart is available in the ebook format for only $1.99; sorry that the bargain is limited to my American readers. Here is the BookBub link to Lionheart; just click onto the View Price option and it takes you to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Google. https://www.bookbub.com/books/lionhea... I hope I will soon be back and hope, too, that you all stay safe in these scary times.

Come Hell or High Water

Well, an x-ray confirmed our suspicions. I did indeed fracture the radius bone in my wrist. A splint is helping and I just have to be careful and to be patient; it will heal in time, provided I do not take another swan dive onto my neighbor’s lawn.
I have some good news about Lionheart. The ebook edition will be available on BookBub for only $1.99 from October 18th until November 1st. If you are not familiar with BookBub, do check it out. It is an excellent way to find book bargains and to keep up to date on new releases by your favorite writers. You can also discover new writers, another reason why it is one of my favorite websites.
I shall check in when my wrist lets me work at the computer. Meanwhile, stay safe in this annus horribilis and for my American readers, please VOTE come Hell or High Water.

Here Be Dragon bargain for my UK readers

I have good news for my UK readers. Amazon UK is offering the Kindle edition of Here be Dragons as one of its Kindle bargain books and you can buy the ebook for only 99 pence. The promotion will last for the entire month of October.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Here-Dragons...
I am still having to limit my computer time thanks to a spectacular fall I took recently; I’d injured my wrist and thought I’d been lucky when it gradually began to heal on its own. But it has become painful again so I will be seeing my doctor on Monday. Meanwhile, I am praying you all stay safe from Covid 19, with special concern for my friends and readers on the West Coast, where wildfires continue to be a major threat, offering a harrowing foretaste of Hell. I don’t think there are braver people on the planet than firefighters.

Good and bad news from me, great news for you all

My good news is that I finally had my sinus surgery and it went well. My bad news is that my recovery went downhill fast; I bled for six hours straight and for the next week or so, I felt as if I’d taken a vow of silence like a medieval recluse, for talking was not fun. While breathing tubes are essential for surgeries like this, there is some collateral damage, though. But I am happy to report that I am finally on the mend; I can even talk again, albeit rather huskily, but hey, that worked for Lauren Bacall, right? It feels as if I’ve been away for years; I so hope that you all are coping as well as we can in these very scary, stressful times.
In addition to my news, I have great book news for you. Many of you share my enjoyment of Priscilla Royal’s medieval mysteries, set in thirteenth century England. She has a new one just released, Elegy to Murder. I recommend it highly; few writers have Priscilla’s flair for recreating the medieval world, peopling it with characters who are firmly rooted in the Middle Ages, but whose emotions are universal. She shares my belief that human nature has changed little over the centuries. The trappings of civilization obviously change, as do the societal mores and superstitions and beliefs, but we can still identify with the feelings and fears of medieval people, for they are our own. Here is the Amazon link for Elegy to Murder. I am happy to report that the kindle edition is not just available on the Amazon mother ship; it can also be bought Down Under and on Amazon.UK. The paperback edition will be available in October.
https://www.amazon.com/Elegy-Murder-M...

Heartbreak

For Americans, September 11th is a sad day. The horrific images etched into our memories are not likely ever to fade. But there is even more heartbreak in remembering the Americans who died on that September morning nineteen years ago because 2020 has been a time of such tragedy and fear and frustration. I have always had great respect and admiration for firefighters, many of whom serve as volunteers. I’ve never forgotten the comment by a 9/ll survivor. As he and others fled into the stairwell in one of the Twin Towers, they encountered firefighters and he said simply, “As we were going down, they were going up.” Tonight, as I watched a report on the apocalyptic fires raving California, Oregon, and Washington, I found myself marveling again at the courage of those who willingly go into these hellscapes to save others. When I despair at the cruelty and callousness and ignorance that seem to be on display all around us, it helps to remember the firefighters, the first responders, the angels among us. And in the age of Covid 19, we owe the same respect to doctors, nurses, emergency technicians, but also the teachers and truck drivers and grocery clerks, all those who have remained on the front lines in the battle against the Coronavirus. It is almost impossible to fully comprehend the scope of the losses we’ve suffered in the US, over 195,000 Americans dead so far, the appalling equivalent of more than fifty-seven 9/11s. It is a very sorrowful day for my country, a sorrowful year for the world.
I am still ailing, but I hope to be able to start interacting with my readers and friends on Facebook again after my surgery next week. I worry about you all, for these are such dangerous days that we all are facing threats of one sort or another. Please take care and stay safe in these troubled times.

Birthday wishes

I wanted to thank everyone for the lovely birthday and good wishes. I feel so sorry for writers of the past, who never had the opportunity to interact with their readers the way we do in the age of the Internet. I’ve always gotten wonderful letters from readers and formed some special friendships from them. But social media makes it so easy and expands the playing field beyond imagining. The top item on my Bucket List is to visit Australia and that is because I’ve gotten to “meet” so many Aussies on Facebook; I’ve yet to set foot Down Under but I am sure that when I do, it will feel like coming home. As many of you know, I continue to fly under the radar because I was ambushed by several ailments at the same time, led by a very nasty and persistent sinus infection. So I am very glad to report that relief is on the horizon; my sinus surgery has been scheduled for September 18th
The coronavirus crisis has turned our lives upside down all over the world and the end is not in sight. The death toll has soared to numbers hard for the human mind to fully comprehend. There are glimmers of light, though. It is true that a crisis can bring out the best in people. There are so many stories of generosity and courage and compassion as we struggle with this insidious plague. Here is a remarkable example of what one person can do; in this case, it was a man living in Canada who read about dozens of students from Zimbabwe, now stranded in China by the coronavirus. Armed with only his cell phone, he set about rescuing them and he managed to do it. The link to his inspiring story is below. I will try to post as often as I can while waiting for the surgery. I hope so much that you all can stay safe in these scary times.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ca...

Self-renewing apology

I should probably issue a self-renewing apology, given all the times I’ve had to post one in recent months, saying how sorry I was for my prolonged absences. I know many of you are aware that I’ve been having some health problems for a while. It doesn’t feel right to be complaining of any ailment that isn’t Covid-19 or poor Baldwin’s leprosy, but the cumulative effect of these “problems” was enough to keep me off the computer. And I really missed you guys! I’ve been worrying about you, too, for this is a very stressful time for the entire world. Every day seems to bring fresh heartbreak, doesn’t it? I hope that you all are coping as well as we can expect in the midst of a pandemic and that you have found the support systems you need among your families and friends and, yes, your pets. Writers tend to live like hermits even in normal times for ours is such a solitary profession. But as the months drag by, living in our imaginations gets old fast. Luckily, I have a support spaniel who is also a love sponge.
I am relieved to report that my BP problems seems to have stabilized; it had begun to plunge to truly dramatic depths. The scoliosis that I share with Richard III is under control now that I’ve been able to get regular adjustments again. Richard had enough problems with the Lancastrians and Tudor and those vile Stanleys without also living in an age without chiropractors. Best of all, I am finally able to treat acute and chronic sinus infections, and will be having surgery in September. After that, not only can I start spending time again on my Facebook pages, I might even be able to resume my blogs!
I want to share with you all a truly amazing map that a friend sent to me recently. Unfortunately, it only covers the US, but we probably need it more because cases are still surging here. It allows us to calculate the odds of coming in contact with someone infected with Covid-19. You simply choose your location, list the number of people you’ll be mingling with, and then find out how dangerous it may be. For example, you live in Sacramento, CAL and have been invited to attend a wedding with one hundred guests. Enter that information and you get the bad news that there is an 80% likelihood that at least one of the guests will have the coronavirus. https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/
I wanted to end on a more cheerful note, though, and I happened upon this “warning” by the National Parks Service, telling us the best way to react if you encounter a bear in the woods. Here is a sample. “Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees. Do NOT push down a slower friend (even if you think the friendship has run its course). Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Don’t we all? Identify yourself by making noise so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Help the bear recognize you as a human. We recommend using your voice. Waving and showing off your opposable thumb means nothing to the bear.” There is a sort of crazy comfort in knowing that we can cross at least one danger off our high-risk lists. Thanks to the National Parks Service, we ought to be able to avoid being eaten by a bear.

Lionheart as Amazon's Deal of the Day

I hope that my American readers have a peaceful July Fourth and that all of my readers and Facebook friends stay safe in these troubled times. My publisher reminded me that Lionheart is Amazon’s Deal of the Day today, the ebook available for only $1.99; I am not sure how long that bargain price will last. Please take care of yourselves and one another; never have we needed kindness more.
https://www.amazon.com/Lionheart-Plan...

It is really me

I am so sorry for the disappearing act again; as many of you suspected, I have not been well. As long as it is not covid-19 or Baldwin’s leprosy, I am not going to complain. But I have been coping with three different ailments, and while none of them are life-threatening, the cumulative effect has been very debilitating and has kept me off the computer for what feels like forever. I’ve been able to consult with doctors again and hope to resume more frequent postings soon. We live in very scary times and I confess I am worried about all of you, praying that you and your families are still safe from the virus and able to deal with the economic chaos while also coping with severe cabin fever. Since my readers are both compassionate and intelligent, I am sure you’re wearing masks, but I hope you will encourage others to wear them, too—and remind them that we don’t wear masks to protect ourselves, but to protect our fellow Americans.
I have good news about one of my books. Lionheart will be Amazon’s Deal of the Day tomorrow, the ebook for sale at just $1.99. And here is a Today in History repeat post that I hope you’ve all forgotten by now!
June 2nd, 1420 was the wedding day of King Henry V of England and Catherine Valois of France. She soon satisfied a queen’s primary duty and gave him a son and heir, (the unfortunate Henry VI). But within two years, she’d be a young widow after his death from dysentery, which was often lethal in the MA. John and Edward I were among its royal victims, as was Henry’s son Hal. Catherine had a much more interesting widowhood than Berengaria of Navarre, who never wed again, which can be interpreted in a number of ways. But Catherine’s eye was taken by a handsome young Welshman, Owen Tudor; a secret marriage followed, and the result would be a blessing for future historical novelists and Hollywood screenwriters—the Tudor dynasty. Whether they were such a blessing for England is very much open to debate. They did save their best for last, though, Gloriana.

Best Webcam ever

Like many of you, I’ve been binge-reading; my Kindle always seems to win out over Netflix. But I have found something that is even harder to resist than books. This link will take you to the Explore.org website, where you’ll find dozens of live webcams, all of which offer us what we most need—a brief respite from reality. You can watch 12 Africa Wildlife cams, ocean cams, shark and orca and dolphin cams, wolf and bear and bird cams, dog and cat cams, Hawaii cams, even some films. Since I started watching, I’ve seen elephants, hippos, lions, antelope, giraffes, and heard African Wild Dogs barking in the distance, which actually attracted the attention of my spaniel, Holly. There truly is something for almost everyone on this website; well, kangaroos would have been fun, too, but I don’t want to be greedy. https://explore.org/livecams/african-...