Sharon Kay Penman's Blog, page 92

Also on May 23rd

Joan of Arc lost her spot in prime time this morning to Richard III and the news that he will be buried next year in Leicester. But I didn’t want to ignore the Maid entirely since she is one of the most remarkable and enigmatic figures of the Middle Ages.
On May 23rd in 1430, Joan of Arc was wounded and captured by the Burgundians, who sold her to the English, who then turned her over to the Church, with dire consequences for Joan.
And on May 23rd in 1533, Henry Bluebeard Tudor’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon was declared null and void by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, thus paving the way for recognizing Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn. So all in all, May 23rd does not sound like a good day to commemorate, does it?
So back to our time. This is a touching story about a man I would have liked to know and a kind gesture by a college to a grieving family. .
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/serv...

Richard III's final burial decision

The decision has been made. Richard III will be buried in Leicester, probably next spring. I would have been surprised, truthfully, if any other decision had been reached. Here is the link to the court case, with the decision appearing on page 40.
http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-conten...

A king does penance, another king is murdered

On May 22nd, 1149, sixteen year old Henry Fitz Empress was knighted by his uncle, David, the King of Scotland. Writing about Henry as a teenager was fun, for even then, he was showing signs that he would grow into a remarkable man. Who else would have dared at age fourteen to hire mercenaries to invade England and fight against Stephen and then, when his money ran out and the mercenaries deserted him, have the sheer gall to ask Stephen for the money to get back to Normandy? I love that story, and I love it, too, that Stephen gave it to him.
On May 22, 1176, Saladin was almost assassinated by the Assassins, and if they’d succeeded, it is interesting to speculate about how his death would have changed the history of the Middle East.
And on May 22, 1455, the first battle of St Albans was fought, with the victory going to the Yorkists, who captured poor hapless Henry VI, who was a walking, breathing argument against hereditary kingship. But if the Yorkists thought this victory was to end what would later be called The Wars of the Roses, they would be sadly disappointed.

A king does penance, another king is murdered

May 21st, 1172 was the date of the Compromise of Avranches, where Henry II made peace with the Church for that rather awkward assassination of the Archbishop of Canterbury by several of his knights
Devil’s Brood, pages 24-25
* * *
When Henry finally emerged from the church, the spectators were disappointed anew, for he was not bareheaded and barefoot and clad only in his shirt A few men explained knowingly that he was spared the usual mortification because he’d not been excommunicated, but most of the bystanders took a more cynical view, that kings were always accorded special treatment, even by the Almighty Henry knelt upon the paving stones, only then removing his cap, and received public absolution by the Cardinals Albert and Theodwin. When he rose, the cardinals and the Bishop of Avranches led him back in to the cathedral, a symbolic act of reconciliation with the Church and the Almighty.
The dissatisfied onlookers dispersed when they realized the show was over. Roger, Bishop of Worcester, stood alone for a moment before slowly reentering the church, for he had been close enough to Henry to hear him say softly after the absolution, “Check, Thomas, and mate.”
* * *
Henry would, of course, later make a genuine and much more spectacular act of atonement, submitting to a scourging and keeping an all-night vigil by the tomb of his martyred archbishop and one-time friend. And I am so glad he did, for that was such a powerful scene to write!
May 21st, 1471 was also the date of death of the hapless Lancastrian king, Henry VI, who died in the Tower—of melancholy, grieving over the death of his son at the battle of Tewkesbury, according to Yorkist spokesmen There may have been a few people who actually believed that, doubtless the same trusting souls who were eager to buy medieval bridges and swampland, having been assured it was prime real estate.
On a personal note, May 21st, 1912 was my dad’s birthday. He’d always wanted to live to reach one hundred; he did not make it but he did reach ninety-three. He liked to tell me that his generation saw changes more dramatic than any in the history of mankind and I think he was right, for he went from the horse and buggy to the age of space travel. As a boy, he and his grandfather took a horse and wagon from Atlantic City to Philadelphia; it was an all-day trip to cover those fifty miles He lived to make that same trip in an hour’s time He saw the birth of radio, talking movies, television, anti-biotics, men on the moon, and computers, although he never had any desire to master the latter Future generations will see dramatic changes, too, but they won’t be going from a semi-medieval life style to a world beyond imagining, as he did.

New blog up at last

I just put up a new blog, an interview with Australian author, Pauline Toohey, as we discuss her novel set in 15th century Ireland, which revolves around the famous Fitzgerald clan, and yes, Richard III makes a cameo appearance. Pauline has kindly agreed to give a free signed copy to the winner of our book giveaway; you just have to post a comment on the blog to enter. http://sharonkaypenman.com/blog/?p=451

INTERVIEW WITH PAULINE TOOHEY

I have a very interesting blog today—if I say so myself—an interview with Australian writer, Pauline Toohey, in which she discusses her historical novel Pull of the Yew Tree.  While I have not yet been able to read it due to my recent struggles with the pneumonia dragon, it is high on my TBR list, for it is set in fifteen century Ireland and focuses upon one of the most powerful Irish clans, the Fitzgeralds; I am happy, too, to report that they were Yorkists and a young Richard, Duke of Gloucester, makes an appearance at one point in the novel.  I know this is enough to send my Ricardian readers hurrying over to Amazon!    There seems to be a genuine curiosity about how we writers do our thing, and Pauline’s interview lifts the veil a bit, giving us a glimpse of a writer at work.   Like me, Pauline is a dog lover and goes for long walks with Moby, her border collie rescue, as she searches for inspiration and plots chapters in her head.  Although her road is to be found Down Under and mine in the Jersey Pinelands, this is something I’ve often done, too, my dogs pacing patiently at my side as my thoughts slide back into the twelfth century.   Pauline shares my admiration for Bernard Cornwell, too, so clearly we are kindred spirits.

Pauline and I thought it would be a good idea to do a book giveaway as part of the interview, so anyone who posts a comment to this blog will be eligible to receive a free, signed copy of Pull of the Yew Tree, with Pauline’s compliments.   Here is the link to it on the Amazon mother ship.  http://www.amazon.com/Pull-Yew-Tree-Chronicles-Crom-ebook/dp/B00CQCQXWO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400635338&sr=1-1 It is also available for my British, Canadian, and Australian readers on their own Amazon websites, and let’s not forget Book Depository, with its marvelous free shipping policy.     Now, I am happy to introduce you to Pauline Toohey, author of Pull of the Yew Tree and an upcoming contemporary crime novel in which she draws upon her two decades-plus experience as a police officer with the Victoria Police.

Q1. Tell us of your debut novel.

A1. Pull Of The Yew Tree is set in 15th century Ireland and follows the powerful Fitzgerald family of County Kildare. The O’Byrne clan from County Wicklow is their eternal angst, being one of the strongest clans from the east. My story is Part One of the Crom Abu series - Crom Abu being the Fitzgerald war cry.

Gaels and Irish Noblemen rarely saw eye to eye, so life was full of warring, double-dealing and unwise pacts, and in this, my characters dive disastrously into strife and heartache … not unlike the Plantagenet crew, I suppose. The tale deals more so with the outcomes of using family members to buy loyalty, and an emotive love story carries the plot. We experience life at that time through the young eyes of Jarlath Fitzgerald and Ainnir O’Byrne. I’m reliably assured tissues are required, but there are occasions for giggles, too.

To this point, there is little conveyed in fiction novel format of the Fitzgeralds and this era in Ireland. I’ve received a warm welcome as a new author from many of your fans, Sharon, with some 5-star and 4-star reviews on major sites. Very chuffed. Very chuffed indeed … and humbled. It’s quite nerve-racking putting your ‘art’ out there for critiquing.

Just a little something to entice your fans; the Fitzgeralds were loyal Yorkists. Richard of Gloucester makes a cameo appearance crossing paths with my characters in the foggy morning that saw the Battle of Barnet.

I certainly hope I’ve delivered characters to love, characters to question, and a beautiful medieval Ireland. I can say, as with all my writing, there’s also a dog to love. Gotta have a dog in a story. Gotta have a dog!

Q2. As the story follows the life of a chronicled family, do you find yourself pinned to a set path? Do you map your story before plunging in?

A2. I read your interview with Bernard Cornwell, and grinned at his admission, “I don’t even know where the chapter I’m writing now will end.”

Yes, I have historical incidents to adhere to, but how I connect them, and how I deal with the ‘between’ remains a pure mystery until completion. I never know where the chapter will take me. What comes, comes, and then I lead on again from there.

I’m given a licence to wander with the fictional characters in my work, but all the same, I certainly have some necessary ‘stops on the road’ when dealing with the real.

At times I envy writers who plot and are able to stick the ‘script’. I’m sure it would make for easier going. Yet on the other hand, I wouldn’t experience the joys of ploughing through unknown territory, and the surprises that a relatively-fluid piece entices.

Q3. Do you use a particular process to develop your characters?

A3. No. Not in the strict sense. Again, and similar to the plot process, things grow (or shrivel as the case may be) almost instinctively. The characters tend to ‘make’ themselves, and no doubt, a finicky editing process is necessary to ensure all is polished. But it’s alleged by some of my readers, that all my female characters in Pull Of The Yew Tree are very strong. It wasn’t intentional by any means. And on churning over the tidbit of feedback, I looked at my family and my friendships. All the women in my life are extremely strong, capable and forthright. I obviously possesses an inherent need to encourage a defined strength in all females.

I will admit to consciously writing a weak female into the sequel. It was an interesting experience, reining in my gut-deep need. But I will not reveal whether I succumbed to inserting a redemptive quality … or perhaps I just did.

Q4. Your thoughts on what makes a piece of writing enjoyable?

A4. If my reader reacts with strong emotion to the losses or wins my characters experience, if my reader laughs and cries, then I’d say ‘mission accomplished’. I think of myself as an ‘entertainer’, not a teacher, not an instructor, nor a historian for that matter. Entertainment and a pull of strong emotion is what I, as a reader, hope for when investing time in a book. I must also add that I am a prose lover. For me, a well-strung sentence can be like music.

Q5. And your experience as a writer?

A5. I discovered the love of writing at a comparatively late age – early 40s. When I declare this information, I like to add the fact that Australian author, Bryce Courtenay (recently deceased) began his penning at a similar age. Big shoes to fill, I know, but you gotta aim high.

My want for writing and scribing stories was always there, I suppose, sitting patiently on my ‘bucket list’, but life and its responsibilities, along with other benchmarks in sight, simply got in the way.

A number of personal tragedies redirected my course, and forced me to find some peace and solace, and there it was, waiting in the therapeutic act of writing. So, here I am. I write every day, and I count my blessings knowing how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.

Q6. Are you influenced by any particular writers?

A6. Inspired and influenced, certainly. I admire many, but want to ‘go my own way’. Having said that, I believe improving one’s writing requires reading ‘great’ pieces. Not good pieces, great pieces.

There are a number of authors I keenly return to, and before I list them, let me assure your readers you and I are not in cahoots with this question. So in no particular order, allow me to answer:

Bernard Cornwell with his simplicity and well-timed infrequent humour, not to mention his fabulous battle scenes;

Sharon Penman (you may have heard of her) and her character development, and meticulous research;

Aussie authors, Tim Winton and Colleen McCullough

The Bronte sisters and Austen.

William Shakespeare’s pure beauty of language;

And my mum for her deeply-personal messages on every birthday card.

There are two particular lines in Pull Of The Yew Tree that herald from my mum’s eloquent ‘parenting’: ‘lower your expectations and you won’t be disappointed’ and ‘that wonderful feeling of want’. Those two lines echo noisily in my memories, and both prove themselves to be fabulous advice over and again.

Q7. How do you stir creativity?

A7. To be honest, there are times it just won’t come. In those dry spells, rather than force myself, I accept the pauses and busy myself with other things. I paint, and I love to reinvigorate my garden. I’m a busy mum with a business to run, and I have a liking for fine-dining. My rescue border collie, Moby, loves long walks, and I play the piano and the guitar. And of course, like many of us, that TBR pile is always in need attention. But to encourage creativity to reappear, I run, pound the roads in my Asics, eyes to the ground. The steps go a long way to budge that blockage. I have a great chiropractor to keep the hips and back in ready-mode, and have also discovered the benefits of pilates.

Q8. What are you reading now?

A8. Two on the go. An oldie but a goodie. Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. It was my pick for my book club. I find the classics a ‘comfort read’ and often return to them. And the other, The Chemistry Of Tears by Peter Carey. But I also have my head in research material for the 3rd instalment for the Crom Abu series, and, another project a little closer to home.

Q9. My own research often uncovers some fascinating material. Tell us some of your more favourite discoveries.

A9. Hand-penned notes by people of interest, stir me greatly. You get a real feel for their temperament, their humour (or lack of) and their sense of purpose. I can often be found in the quiet rooms of our state library, engrossed in business correspondence and diary entries.

As for the research of medieval times, the following two are perhaps not unknown to your readers, but they certainly gave me fodder to play with. The merkin (pubic wig) often donned to conceal impurities and scarring, and the popular dish of frog blancmange accompanied by jumping frogs. Both make an appearance (not at the same time) in Pull Of The Yew Tree’s sequel. I couldn’t resist.

Q10. If my wish to visit Australia comes true, where do you suggest I visit?

A10. The Great Barrier Reef is a must; stunning place. So too, is central Australia: the red sands, the star-filled nights, the history and indigenous culture; truly amazing. And if I don’t mention a catch-up with members of the Sharon Kay Penman Australian Fan Club I’ll be in all sorts of trouble. Some of those girls know where I live.  But make it Melbourne please. Less travel for me.

Q11. And from here, what does Pauline Toohey have ahead of her?

A11. The sequel for Pull of the Yew Tree is complete. Melting of the Mettle is its title. It continues five years on from where the Yew Tree leaves off. Fingers crossed you’ll see it early 2015.

I also have a contemporary crime series (fiction), set to be released later this year.

Outside of writing, I’m exploring avenues to use literature, writing and reading to help the issues of Mental Health in Youth, and Prevention of Youth Suicide. These are causes close to my heart.

Q12. Historical fiction and contemporary crime? An interesting mixture.

A12. I recently retired from a 25 year career as a police officer with Victoria Police. Tackling this second genre grew from a chance meeting with Aussie author, Kerry Greenwood (author of the Miss Fisher series which is now a popular TV series). Kerry was envious of the knowledge my 25 years of service provides me, and insisted it was sacrilege not to use it. I’ve worked at the Homicide Squad, Major Drug Division, City Crime Divisions, and the more ‘busy and colourful’ towns that Melbourne has to offer. So I come well-stocked with plot ideas as well as intricate knowledge of police procedures and processes.

And I took Kerry’s advice.

Anna Murdoch is my main character. She’s a very capable and strong-minded woman, (no surprise there), and she presents to my readers a light-hearted insight into what it is to be human in a job that demands you to be somewhat robotic and cold. In Anna’s telling, I attempt to mix a ‘who done it’ with ‘comedy’. The first of the series is called My Rickety Metronome: An Anna Murdoch Crime Story, and will be out in September.

Q13. Do you have a preference for writing either style?

A13. Each is so different. With historical fiction, the research, and the attention to tone for my liking of prose, is extremely time consuming. I liken it to creating a well-orchestrated song. It’s a joyous yet slow adventure. As for the contemporary crime, all I need to do is close my eyes and conjure memories. It can be quick. Very quick. So as to your question, my mood dictates in what genre I write. How lucky am I!

Thanks so much for your time, Sharon, and for the enjoyment your writing has brought to your readers.

PS … I don’t care what you say, I will never believe Ranulf Fitz Roy is fictional.

Thank you, Pauline, for agreeing to do this interview.   Actually, Ranulf is grateful that  he is a figment of my imagination, for that allowed me to give him a happy ending and a peaceful death with his beloved Rhiannon, something that rarely happened to his Angevin real relatives.

May 20, 2014

Our favorite dysfunctional royals--no, not the Tudors!

On May 20th, 1217, the second battle of Lincoln was fought, in which the French were defeated by our hero, William Marshal. John’s illegitimate son, Richard of Dover, a character in Here be Dragons, also fought in this battle, and the son of Richenza, Eleanor’s granddaughter and a character in Devil’s Brood, Lionheart, and Ransom, was slain. She was dead by then so at least she was spared that.
I was too busy to post about Henry and Eleanor’s wedding anniversary on May 18, 1152, but several of my readers took up the slack; thanks! I was going to post some passages from their wedding night in Saints, but I’ve done that before. So I decided to do something different, and here is a scene from Devil’s Brood. Eleanor is Henry’s prisoner and she has sabotaged his grand scheme to rid himself of her by making her the abbess of Fontevrault Abbey. As the scene opens, Henry has just been confronted by his sons, Hal, Richard, and Geoffrey, who take Eleanor’s side, which naturally does not go down well with him. He now bursts in upon Eleanor to vent his wrath.
Page 320.
“I thought you’d like to know that your latest scheme was highly successful. Your sons gallantly rode to your rescue tonight, proclaiming themselves your champions.” (omission)
“However little you like it, Harry, they are my sons. Is it truly so surprising that they are protective of me?”
“What did you tell them precisely? That I was going to load you down with chains and haul you off to a nunnery in the dead of night?”
“As a matter of fact, I did not mention your threat.”
“You expect me to believe that? As if you’d pass up any chance to portray me as the knave and you as the innocent, sacrificial lamb, the damsel in distress!”
“I did not tell them because I did not take your threat seriously. I know how you rave and rant when you lose your temper. I also know that once you cool down, you rarely if ever carry these threats out, so I saw no reason to share them with our sons, not unless you forced me to it. More strife is the last thing our family needs.”
“St Eleanor of Aquitaine,” he mocked, “so wise and forebearing. It is rather difficult, though, to reconcile that angelic image with the woman who urged my sons to rebel against me!”
“That was a mistake.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “A mistake? You destroyed our family and you call it a mistake?”
“Yes, damn you, a mistake! Are you going to tell me that you’ve never made a mistake, Harry?”
“No,” he growled, “I made a great one on May 18 in God’s Year 1152.” And with that, he turned and stalked out, slamming the door resoundingly behind him.
(omission) To Amaria’s surprise, the queen did not seem as distraught as she ought to have been after such a blazing row. Deciding, though, that they both needed wine, she went over without being asked and poured two cups.
Bringing one back to Eleanor, she made an attempt to sound blasé as she said, “May I ask what happened on May 18 in 1152, my lady?”
“Harry and I were wed in Poitiers.” Eleanor took a swallow of the wine before saying, “Usually he could never remember our anniversary.”
Amaria did not know what to say, so she busied herself hunting in the floor rushes for the brush, which she’d dropped when Henry barged into the chamber. Eleanor drank in silence, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. When their eyes met, though, she smiled, a smile that somehow managed to be wry and rueful and bleak, all at the same time.
“Harry and I have more in common than quick tempers,” she said. “We rarely make mistakes, but when we do, they tend to be spectacular.”

Murder of a queen

Anne Boleyn was murdered on May 19, 1536. Whatever her faults--and she had many of them--she did not deserve this fate. My favorite Anne Boleyn novel is The Concubine by Norah Lofts and my favorite film about her is Anne of a Thousand Days. And here is a link to last night's episode of Game of Thrones, with lots of spoilers. http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/game-of-...

Oregon's lone wolf gets lucky

I must be a secret romantic at heart, for I love this story.

http://www.care2.com/causes/love-is-f...

Edmund, Earl of Rutland

May 17, 1443 was the birthdate of Edmund, Earl of Rutland, brother to the Yorkist kings, Edward and Richard. Edmund has the dubious distinction of being the first major character that I killed in one of my books. I was going to quote from the scene on Wakefield Bridge when seventeen year old Edmund was murdered by Lord Clifford. But that seemed like a very sad way to start the day, so instead I am going with a happier scene from Chapter One, with Edward, Edmund, and their little brother, Richard.
The Sunne in Splendour, page 9
* * *
Edward was dismounting before the round Norman nave that housed the chapel named for St Mary Magdalene. He saw Richard as the boy bolted through the doorway of the solar and in three strides he covered the ground between them, catching Richard to him in a tight bone-bruising embrace and then laughing and swinging the youngster up into the air, high over his head.
“Jesu, but you gave me some bad moments, lad! Are you all right?”
“He’s fine.” Edmund had come through the doorway behind Richard, and now stood looking down at them as Edward knelt beside Richard in the dust. His eyes raked Edward with ironic amusement and a message flashed between them that passed, figuratively and literally, over Richard’s head.
“He’s fine,” Edmund repeated, “but I daresay he’ll be taken severely to task for running off as he did. It seems he became lost chasing after that damned pet fox of his. But then, I need not tell you that, do I, Ned? After all, you were there.”
“That’s right,” Edward said coolly. “I was.” His mouth twitched and then, as if on cue, he and Edmund were laughing. Coming lightly to his feet, Edward kept his arm warm around Richard’s shoulders as they moved across the bailey, murmuring, “Fox hunting, were you?”
His voice was noncommittal and Richard nodded shyly, keeping his eyes upon Edward’s face.
“Well….you might not be too good at keeping put, Dickon, but you’re very good indeed at keeping faith,” Edward said softly, and meeting Richard’s eyes, he winked and then grinned, and Richard discovered the joyful difference between being a sacrificial lamb and a trusted conspirator
* * *
Now isn’t that better than being on Wakefield Bridge with Edmund and watching helplessly as his life bleeds away into the snow? It is interesting to wonder, though, how Yorkist history might have been changed had Edmund not died on that bridge.