Deborah Swift's Blog, page 14
January 23, 2022
Author Spotlight – Kerry Chaput, Daughter of the King #CoffeePotBookClub #17thCentury
I’m delighted to spotlight historical fiction author Kerry Chaput today, especially as her book is set in the 17th Cerntury, one of my favourite periods.
Born in California wine country, Kerry Chaput began writing shortly after earning her Doctorate degree. Her love of storytelling began with a food blog and developed over the years to writing historical fiction novels. Raised by a teacher of US history, she has always been fascinated by tales from our past and is forever intrigued by the untold stories of brave women. She lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and two rescue pups. She can often be found on hiking trails or in coffee shops.
From Kerry:
I’m proof that it’s never too late to change your life.
When I was younger I had dreams of becoming a writer. My family thought it sounded like a frivolous and unattainable dream. So I chose the responsible route. A solid, safe career. When I turned twenty-five, I sat down to write my first story. I saved it to the hard drive and never spoke of it again. Who was I to think I could be a writer?
After working for over a decade as a physical therapist, I found myself with a bunch of degrees, forty years old, two little kids, and completely burned out. I took some time off to just be a mom and breathe into the moment of my life.
That story started nudging me, fifteen years after I shelved it. That’s one great thing about being forty, you care less about making excuses. I started writing it again, and it was exhilarating. Every morning in the dark, every naptime, I wrote. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew that I was changed. I finally found the courage to be a writer. Or it found me.
Writing has turned into a love (some may say obsession) for historical women’s fiction. All my stories explore the journey of women and their mark on history. I’ve completed my fourth novel, with many more in the works.
Born a California girl, I now live in Bend, Oregon where I can be found hiking and enjoying the amazing trails of the Pacific Northwest. I live with my husband, two children, and two dogs, sharing the love of Oregon and finding inspiration in the world around me for my writing.
I hope you enjoy my stories as much as I love writing them.
Kerry has a popular blog – Sip Coffee, Savor Books…
I believe in warm drinks and tall tales. I love historical fiction stories that transport me back in time. Stories of resilience and women overcoming the impossible. I write to bring them to life, one page, and one sip at a time.
Read Kerry’s blog about what she learned on her way to publication: https://www.kerrywrites.com/post/ten-things-i-ve-learned-on-the-journey-to-publication
Social Media Links:
Website: https://kerrywrites.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaputkerry Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kerry-Chaput/e/B08123S61Z
About the book, DAUGHTER of the KING
La Rochelle France, 1661. Fierce Protestant Isabelle is desperate to escape persecution by the Catholic King. Isabelle is tortured and harassed, her people forced to convert to the religion that rules the land. She risks her life by helping her fellow Protestants, which is forbidden by the powers of France. She accepts her fate — until she meets a handsome Catholic soldier who makes her question everything.
She fights off an attack by a nobleman, and the only way to save herself is to flee to the colony of Canada as a Daughter of the King. She can have money, protection and a new life — if she adopts the religion she’s spent a lifetime fighting. She must leave her homeland and the promises of her past. In the wild land of Canada, Isabelle finds that her search for love and faith has just begun.
Based on the incredible true story of the French orphans who settled Canada, Daughter of the King is a sweeping tale of one young woman’s fight for true freedom. Kerry Chaput brings the past to life, expertly weaving a gripping saga with vivid historical details. Jump back in time on a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable heroine.
The post Author Spotlight – Kerry Chaput, Daughter of the King #CoffeePotBookClub #17thCentury first appeared on Deborah Swift.
January 15, 2022
Audiences Behaving Badly – The London Theatre in the 1660’s
Theatre Ticket
Crowd Pleaser
In my novel, Entertaining Mr Pepys, the main character ‘Bird’ Knepp, so named for her beautiful singing voice, is an actress with the King’s Playhouse in the city of London, just before the Great Fire. As an actress her job was to please the audience – but the audience of the time was not nearly so well-behaved as it is now, and what’s more it was much larger than today; “by 2 a-clock, there was 1000 people put back that could not have room in the pit,” wrote Pepys. (Diary, 6 February, 1668.)
In the theatre there were three places to sit – first, the pit, closest to the stage, well-lit, but rough and ready. “The Pit is an Amphitheatre, fill’d with Benches without Backboards, and adorn’d and cover’d with green Cloth. . . “ Henri Misson, visitor to London in the 1690s.
Fights in The Pit
The audience in the pit included ‘prentices’ (young men apprenticed in trade) but also “Men of Quality, particularly the younger sort, Some Ladies of Reputation and Vertue, and abundance of Damsels that hunt for Prey …” (Henri Misson) All these were crushed together, and wealthy patrons avoided it if they could. Tensions often ran high in this confined space.
In a letter to a relation John Verney tells us of a fight in the pit, “On Saturday last, at the Duke’s Playhouse, Sir Thomas Armstrong killed Mr Scrope….their quarrel is said to be about Mrs Uphill, the player”. Apparently this was a row over a woman, but a circle was formed around them, and the two men fought to the death right in front of the assembled audience. I don’t suppose the actual play held many surprises after that!
The Box – a stage in itself
The alternative was a box, above the stage and more expensive. From the box you could both see the play and be seen. A box was a sign of higher status because of its expense, and because you were higher than, and immediately visible to, those in the pit. The first time Samuel Pepys paid for a box, he says;
“And this pleasure I had, that from this place the scenes do appear very fine indeed and much better than in the pit.”
The boxes were also miniature stages in themselves, where audiences could gawp at the sexual politics of the day. At the play The Jovial Crew, Pepys witnessed the onset of the King’s rampant affair with Barbara Palmer, Lady Castlemaine. The King’s mistress, always flamboyantly dressed, often appeared at the theatre bedecked in jewels that the impoverished populace had paid for with their taxes.
The Beggars Opera
Those in the boxes often performed from there, making welcome – or unwelcome – observations on the play. Sir Charles Sedley and his female companion did just that, and Pepys tells us ‘He was mighty witty … But by that means I lost the pleasure of the play wholly, to which now and then Sir Charles Sedley’s exceptions against both words and pronouncing was very pretty.’
The Gallery – Beware of Spit
The middle ground was the gallery, which cost 12 pence as opposed to five shillings for a box. There you were in danger of being spat on, “And here, I sitting behind in a dark place, a lady spat backward upon me by a mistake, not seeing me. But after seeing her to be a very pretty lady, I was not troubled at it at all.” (Pepys 28 January, 1661.)
Even in the gallery though, disturbances could wreck a performance. The Custom of the Country was apparently ‘so damned bawdy that the ladies flung their pears and fruits at the actors.’ Women’s vocal outrage against the male-orientated, rakish comedies is said to have ruined many a play.
In the prologues of many plays of this period, which are meant to address the audience directly, we read of ‘fop alley’, ‘wits’ corner’, ‘punks’ boxes’ and ‘bullies’ benches’. All these point to a lively dialogue between actor and badly-behaved audience, and one I would love to have witnessed.
Sources
Audience, Playhouse and Play in Restoration Theatre, 1660-1710 – Allan Botica, Bodleian Library
Restoration Plays and Players – David Roberts Cambridge University Press
Pictures from Wikicommons
‘Entertaining Mr Pepys’ is published by Accent Press in ebook, paperback & audio.
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The post Audiences Behaving Badly – The London Theatre in the 1660’s first appeared on Deborah Swift.January 6, 2022
1066 Upside Down – alternative histories – To Crown a King by Helen Hollick #CoffeePotBookClub
Today I present an excerpt from 1066 Turned Upside Down by Helen Hollick
To Crown A King
by Helen Hollick
An appropriate excerpt, for on January 6th in 1066 Harold Godwinson was crowned as King of England…
King Edward, later known as ‘The Confessor’ died on 5th January 1066, just days after his Abbey of Westminster was dedicated to God. Within hours, his Earl of Wessex, Harold Godwinson, was crowned King of England – in unseemly haste, the Normans later claimed. Not so, Edward’s earls and nobles had been at the Christmas Court for many weeks and wanted to return to their lands, the next opportunity for a crowning would not have been until Easter. The ‘haste’ was perfectly normal for English law and custom.
The Normans also claimed that the childless Edward sent Harold to Normandy in the 1060s to offer the crown to William. This would have been highly unlikely: the English earls would not have sanctioned it and it was for the Witan, the Council, to elect a king – usually the eldest son, but it could be the man most worthy to do the job. And there was already a legitimate heir, Edgar, the young grandson of Edward’s half-brother, Edmund Ironside. In 1066, Edgar was only about thirteen years of age…
Westminster, London – January 6th 1066
The murmur of conversation was low within the council chamber, flickering in unison with the draught-disturbed candle flames. All but a few of the Witan were present. Nine and thirty men including two archbishops: Stigand of Canterbury and Ealdred of York.
Archbishop Ealdred stood and cleared his throat. ‘My lords, we must, no matter that it is hard to do so, discuss what we all shy from.’
The light talk faded, grim faces turned to him, men settled themselves on benches or stools, a few remained standing.
‘It is doubted that Edward will survive this night. It is our duty, our responsibility, to choose the man who is to take up his crown, to decide our next king.’ Ealdred folded his robes around him and sat.
Those present were suddenly animated; opinions rose and fell like a stick of wood bobbing about on an incoming tide. Only two names were on their lips: Edgar, the boy ætheling, and Harold.
The two in question sat quiet on opposite sides of the chamber: one asking himself if this was what he wanted; the other, bewildered and hiding his fear. Edgar had never before been summoned to attend the council. It was not a thing for a boy not yet three and ten years of age, this was the world of men, of warlords and leaders. He looked from one to another, listened to snatches of the talk. Earlier that evening he had been immersed in a game of taefl with his best friend – had been winning. He stifled a yawn. Fought against closing his eyes to doze.
For an hour the men debated. Occasionally someone would toss out a sharp question to the boy, who startled awake, or to Harold, seeking opinion, assurance. Edgar answered as well he could. Harold with patient politeness.
‘As I see things,’ Stigand said, his voice pitched to drown the rattle of debate, ‘we have talked of but two contenders. Edgar?’ He beckoned the lad forward. He came hesitantly, not much caring for this direct focus of attention for he was a shy boy.
Stigand continued, not noticing the reluctance. To be king was a thing sanctioned by God, personal feeling did not come into it. ‘He is of the royal blood, but not of age. Second, Harold of Wessex.’ Again the archbishop paused to motion the man forward. ‘He has ruled England on Edward’s behalf and has proven himself a wise and capable man, but there is a third possibility. Duke William of Normandy may claim the crown through the blood-tie of King Edward’s lady mother, Queen Emma – God rest her soul – and through some misguided impression that Edward did once offer him the title.’
Immediately there were mutterings, shaking of heads, tutting. Upstart Norman dukes were unanimously declared as not understanding the civilised ways of the English.
Stigand half smiled, said, ‘I take it, then, that William is excluded from the voting?’
‘Aye.’
‘That he is!’
‘Duke William cannot be so easily dismissed,’ Harold interrupted. He waited for the babble of voices to quieten. ‘He will not heed anything said in this room, no matter how scornful or vehement. If he has set his mind on wearing a crown, then he will attempt to take it. If he is rejected, the question will not be if, how, or can he attack us, but when.
Does Harold become king in this alternative history story? Find out in 1066 Turned Upside Down – an anthology of alternate tellings of history
Have you ever wondered what might have happened if William the Conqueror had been beaten at Hastings in 1066? Or if Harald Hardrada had won at Stamford Bridge? Or if Edward the Confessor had died with an heir ready to take his crown? If so – here is the perfect set of short stories for you.
1066 Turned Upside Down explores a variety of ways in which that momentous year could have played out very differently.
Written by nine well-known authors the stories will take you on a journey through the speculative ‘what ifs?’ of England’s most famous year in history.
READERS’ COMMENTS
“1066 Turned Upside Down is the exemplar for how analytical counterfactual history should be done, combining the best elements of fiction and non-fiction to create an immensely impressive achievement.”
“As a collection, the quality of the writing is exceptional and the variety of possible outcomes presented is truly fascinating.”
About Helen: HELEN HOLLICK moved from London in 2013 and now lives on a thirteen-acre farm in North Devon, England. Born in London, Helen wrote pony stories as a teenager, moved to science fiction and fantasy, and then discovered the wonder of historical fiction. Published since 1994 with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy, followed by her 1066 era duo. She became a USA Today bestseller with her story of Queen Emma: The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK), and its companion novel, Harold the King (titled I Am the Chosen King in the U.S.A). She also writes the Sea Witch Voyages, a series of pirate-based nautical adventures with a touch of fantasy. Commissioned by Amberley Press she wrote a non-fiction book about pirates in fact, fantasy and fiction and a non-fiction book about smugglers, published by Pen and Sword.
Recently she has ventured into the ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, the first of which is A Mirror Murder. She runs Discovering Diamonds, an independent online review site for Historical Fiction, primarily aimed at showcasing Indie writers.
She occasionally gets time to write. Find her at www.helenhollick.net
The post 1066 Upside Down – alternative histories – To Crown a King by Helen Hollick #CoffeePotBookClub first appeared on Deborah Swift.December 6, 2021
Fair Mountain Christmas by Heidi Eljarbo #CoffeePotBookClub #Review
Review
A real comfort-blanket of a book!
I’ve been getting into the Christmas spirit this week, and what better way to do it than with a heart-warming novella set in Norway! Plenty of snow in this one, along with a schooldays friend who turns out to be more than a friend, a loveable dog and all the scents of winter – pine logs, cinnamon bakes and frosty air. When Juni Lind has a writing assisgnment to do, she thinks a few weeks in her grandmother’s cottage will be just the place for a retreat. She also has to consider the true meaning of Christmas and the things money can’t buy – follow her in this delightful tale of old memories, waaaaay too much snow and an unexpected romance! Guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas. Highly recommended.
Nostalgia and Christmas miracles burn bright in this uplifting and heartwarming story about new beginnings and falling in love under a blanket of stars.
Fair Mountain, December 1972.
A few days before Christmas, Juni’s editor gives her a writing assignment that throws her far outside her comfort zone. She and her terrier, Leo, retreat to her grandparents’ old cabin in the Norwegian mountains in hopes of inspiration. But the trip turns into a heart-wrenching and emotionally challenging encounter.
Memories of Juni’s childhood seep in as soon as she enters the cabin, and as for the writing assignment…what does she know about what children need for Christmas?
Juni’s focus changes when handsome Henry Norheim from Moose Lodge down the hill unexpectedly shows up outside her cottage door. His dedication to family, traditions, and Christmas celebration is contagious, but for Juni, coming out of her lonely shell is easier said than done.
As Juni’s deadline draws closer, and the snowflakes softly swirl down on Fair Mountain, she has to face up to her past, open her heart, and dare to take a step forward.
Will the miracle of Christmas live up to its promise of hope, goodwill, and love this year?
Amaz on UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AUFor more information about Heidi and her books find her on
Website • Newsletter • Twitter • Facebook • LinkdIn
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The post Fair Mountain Christmas by Heidi Eljarbo #CoffeePotBookClub #Review first appeared on Deborah Swift.
December 3, 2021
A Mystery of Murder by Helen Hollick #CoffeePotBookClub #Review
Have you got a nice log fire lit, and your hot chocolate? Because Helen Hollick wants to take you back to the 1970’s with this lovely cozy mystery. I last met Jan Christopher in the previous book, but this one has a decidedly Christmassy edge, with lots of snow as she and boyfriend Laurie, a police officer, head to the Devon countryside. Naturally there is a murder, which features a pig’s head and bones. I particularly liked the way Helen Hollick introduced a murder from the past which featured in a second word war murder mystery by another author – this was witty and fun, and made the whole fictional world bigger. The motley cast include the pernickety grandmother with a secret and rather thrilling past, a suspicious vicar, and an ex-girlfriend of Laurie’s who is up to something amongst the suspects. Shenanigans and suspicious accidents around the hen hut and veg patch all add to the fun.
This is a short and sweet treat with a great period atmosphere, interesting characters and plenty of clues to help the reader solve the mystery. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
BOOK BLURB
Had I known what was to happen soon after we arrived at Mr and Mrs Walker’s lovely old West Country house, my apprehension about spending Christmas in Devon would have dwindled to nothing.’
Library Assistant Jan Christopher is to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, DS Laurie Walker and his family, but when a murder is discovered, followed by a not very accidental accident, the traditional Christmas spirit is somewhat marred…
What happened to Laurie’s ex-girlfriend? Where is the vicar’s wife? Who took those old photographs? And will the farmer up the lane ever mend those broken fences?
Set in 1971, this is the second Jan Christopher Cosy Mystery. Join her (and an owl and a teddy bear) in Devon for a Christmas to remember. :
Will the discovery of a murder spoil Christmas for Jan Christopher and her boyfriend DS Laurie Walker – or will it bring them closer together?
BUY THE BOOK or read on #KindleUnlimited
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The post A Mystery of Murder by Helen Hollick #CoffeePotBookClub #Review first appeared on Deborah Swift.November 19, 2021
Rebel’s Knot by Cryssa Bazos #CoffeePotBookClub #17thCentury
Review of Rebel’s Knot
I have already read the other two in this series, and was really keen to read the third as I knew I’d be in for a treat. What an adventure! The action never stops as the reader is whisked from one disaster to the next. Set in Ireland, in the turbulent aftermath of the English Civil Wars – the little known setting of the Eleven Years War, the historical research shines through. I loved the characters – Aine, an innocent caught up in a battle that is none of her own making, and Niall, a man intent on finding his lost sister Mairead and wreaking revenge on the cruel English who have destroyed his family. Niall is a warrior, ‘an extension of his weapons’ and a rebel against the marauding troops.
The novel explores Catholicism, Protestantism and the ‘old ways’ of fairy lore and legend, which underpin much of Irish culture and hold both sides together in a common understanding. Unfortunately, in a divided country the old myths are often not enough to prevent bloodshed, and Aine who claims to be non-political, and immune to difference, soon finds she has to take sides. Danger is everywhere – from the English leader the ruthless Garret, to Aine’s arch enemy from her past Muiredach. Prepare to be thoroughly gripped!
The love story in this book is beautifully handled and developed and is just as strong as the adventure. Another draw for the reader is the beautifully evoked Irish landscape of bog and heath, thatched cottages, campfires, and rebels’ hideouts. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and in fact all three books can stand alone and each one is a great historical read.
About the Book
A fey young woman, Áine Callaghan, is the sole survivor of an attack by English marauders. When Irish soldier Niall O’Coneill discovers his own kin slaughtered in the same massacre, he vows to hunt down the men responsible. He takes Áine under his protection and together they reach the safety of an encampment held by the Irish forces in Tipperary.
Hardly a safe haven, the camp is rife with danger and intrigue. Áine is a stranger with the old stories stirring on her tongue and rumours follow her everywhere. The English cut off support to the brigade, and a traitor undermines the Irish cause, turning Niall from hunter to hunted.
When someone from Áine’s past arrives, her secrets boil to the surface—and she must slay her demons once and for all.
As the web of violence and treachery grows, Áine and Niall find solace in each other’s arms—but can their love survive long-buried secrets and the darkness of vengeance?
BUY THE BOOK
Universal Amazon Link: http://mybook.to/RebelsKnot
Everywhere Else: https://books2read.com/RebelsKnot
Cryssa Bazos
Cryssa Bazos is an award-winning historical fiction author and a seventeenth century enthusiast. Her debut novel, Traitor’s Knot is the Medalist winner of the 2017 New Apple Award for Historical Fiction, a finalist for the 2018 EPIC eBook Awards for Historical Romance. Her second novel, Severed Knot, is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree and a finalist for the 2019 Chaucer Award. Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • BookBub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
The post Rebel’s Knot by Cryssa Bazos #CoffeePotBookClub #17thCentury first appeared on Deborah Swift.November 7, 2021
New Release! Hidden Masterpiece (Soli Hansen Mysteries #3) by Heidi Eljarbo
I always love to spotlight a book set during the war years. This time it’s a dual timeline mystery set in Norway and 17th Century Amsterdam In this riveting third book in the Soli Hansen Mysteries series, a woman’s courage to follow her conviction during WW2 leads her to the portrait of a young Jewish heiress painted three centuries earlier.
Norway 1944.
Art historian Soli Hansen has gone undercover to rescue masterpieces and keep them from falling into the hands of Nazi thieves. Working with a small resistance group led by her best friend Heddy, Soli will stop at nothing to thwart the efforts of the invaders of their scenic country. Trust and loyalty mean everything when working against a merciless enemy.
Riddles and clues lead the way to a mysterious work of art. It’s a race against time, but Soli and her network refuse to give up. However, when news arrives that her sweetheart Nikolai is missing in action, Soli strives to concentrate on the demanding quest.
From the streets of Oslo to the snow-covered mountains and medieval churches of Nume Valley, Soli takes risks larger than her courage, trying to preserve and hide precious art. But she must decide if it’s all worth losing the man she loves.
Antwerp 1639.
Fabiola Ruber’s daughter, Annarosa, wants to honor her mother’s last wish and have her portrait done by a master artist who specializes in the art of chiaroscuro. Her uncle writes to an accomplished painter in Amsterdam and commissions him to paint his beloved niece.
Struggling with religious and social persecution, the Jewish Ruber family uproots once again and travels northward. On the way, they will sojourn in Amsterdam for Annarosa’s sitting in the master painter’s studio. But will they make it there? None of them can foresee the danger of such a journey.
Suspenseful action, riddles and mystery, enduring friendship, undying loyalty, and a tender love story come together in this dual timeline novel by bestselling author Heidi Eljarbo. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton, Rhys Bowen, and Kate Quinn.
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU
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The post New Release! Hidden Masterpiece (Soli Hansen Mysteries #3) by Heidi Eljarbo first appeared on Deborah Swift.Seventeenth Century Artists in ‘Hidden Masterpiece’ by Heidi Eljarbo #CoffeePotBookClub
Today I welcome Heidi Eljarbo to my blog to tell us about the 17th Century artists featured in her new novel, Hidden Masterpiece. Over to Heidi!
What a joy it is to write a novel about something I have a passion about.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre. What’s not to like? I spent my study years going to classes and pouring over books about the history of clothing, art history, and just history in general. I loved studying languages, too, and combined the two when I started writing novels.
The Soli Hansen Mysteries is a series about a young art historian who joins the resistance. But entwined with the WWII story are the seventeenth century chapters that follow the artists and models of the paintings our heroine tries to rescue in 1944. Hidden Masterpiece is the third novel in this series.
Renaissance and baroque paintings have always fascinated me. The artists’ development of technique, perspective, and realism changed the way art was done. I have given one particular master painter the position as the founder of the art technique chiaroscuro in these novels. His name was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, and he lived in Italy and Malta during the years 1571-1610.
[image error]The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio
The technique had been used earlier by a woodcutter in the 1500s, and Leonardo da Vinci found the contrast of light and shadow fascinating.
But Caravaggio is considered the most famous chiaroscuro artist. He darkened large portions of the background of the artwork and illuminated the subjects in the foreground. This technique was soon adopted by others. My novels in the series so far include Rubens and Rembrandt who were inspired by Caravaggio’s methods.
In Hidden Masterpiece, Rembrandt is an up-and-coming young artist in Amsterdam. His professionalism and amazing artistry draw a young woman to his studio. Annarosa has decided beforehand exactly how she wants her portrait done and has a good reason why Rembrandt is the right artist for the job. At this time, Rembrandt is working on a gigantic oil painting of the captain of the civic militia guard along with seventeen of his men. The plan is to hang it in their distinguished guild hall. The composition measures almost 3.65m x 4.26m and becomes the masterpiece we later know as The Night Watch; a priceless artwork safely guarded in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
But the masterpiece we become invested in, is Annarosa’s portrait.
Our heroine Soli explains, “Rembrandt often painted real people as he saw them and got into trouble for doing so. His clients wanted to take home lovely portraits of themselves, but they were sometimes disappointed when he’d painted them with scars, warts, wrinkles, and flaws. He did not romanticize the images.”
“So Annarosa’s stunning features and self-confident stare are most likely the true version of her?” Nikolai asked.
“I believe so.” Soli sighed. “Rembrandt left behind a vast number of paintings. Just think of his self-portraits…we know of eighty of them. And I’m not surprised he didn’t complete all his artworks. Unlike many of the Dutch masters of his time, he had a wide repertoire of paintings and etchings with different styles. I had an art teacher who said we should never compare anyone with Rembrandt.”
So come with me into the world of art, resistance, bravery, loyalty, and romance. Hidden Masterpiece has been a joy to write. I hope you’ll enjoy it, too.
READ MY REVIEW of Book One in this series – ‘Of Darkness and Light.
Find Heidi at her Website • Twitter • Facebook
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The post Seventeenth Century Artists in ‘Hidden Masterpiece’ by Heidi Eljarbo #CoffeePotBookClub first appeared on Deborah Swift.November 1, 2021
Seadogs and Criminals – a #Victorian adventure by Alex Fisher
I’m delighted to welcome Alex Fisher to my blog today to tell me all about his new novel, Seadogs and Criminals. Over to Alex:
Seadogs and Criminals is a historical fiction adventure that begins in the winding cobbled streets of Victorian London and is set amid the booming social and technological spike known as the Industrial Revolution. Due to a widespread revolution in factories and an influx of work, people of rural settings left their country background to settle in the city, making the urban population explode like never before. This, of course, affected the social classes, widening the gap between rich and poor leading the poverty-stricken to spend their lives in workhouses, or leading those desperate enough to crime in order to make ends meet.
Within Seadogs and Criminals, I designed a character who did not play strictly by those rules, who did not have to be desperate in order to break laws. He did it because he loved to. He loved the thrill and the chase, the greed and the reputation – he became a master criminal, evading the law for years by leaving a trademark: nothing, earning him the nickname of Trace – because he never left one.
The Ruse of the Reversible Jacket
The main protagonist of Seadogs and Criminals is Joseph Winter, born and bred into the lower classes upon the streets of Victorian London. An intriguing character, he always seemed conflicted; loving and hating the streets simultaneously, just as he loved and hated his reputation, just as he loved and hated himself. Literate, skilled and quick-thinking, he knew he could’ve had the option to get an honest job, but he didn’t. Crime was his career, and he was excellent at it. With light feet, swift hands and a special jacket, he was always able to evade the peelers of London. Specially tailored and a perfect object to represent his fickle and mischievous nature, this jacket was reversible – giving the appearance of a lowly vagabond on one side, but once the police had lost him amongst the crowd, he reversed it to an expensive-looking coat complete with pocket square and felt collar. A quick comb of the hair and a brush down was all that was needed in order to make him disappear from the police and become untouchable.
Within these cobbled rat-runs appearances were everything. By switching social classes and becoming a wealthy businessman, Winter was respected and left alone. A vital object to uphold a vital reputation. Yet he tired of the constant pursuit and longed for something more. It was greed that fueled his desire to keep in the game and to take on the one last job from his long-term friend and confidant Vincent “Mad Vinny” Jenkins. It was a burglary in a wealthy house supposedly keeping a treasure map leading to the fabled Lost Loot, or otherwise known as Scott’s Trove. A treasure lost to history, buried by the mysterious Eve and Henry Scott a hundred years before; a myth to some, a legend to others. It was too good to miss.
Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels
The Heirloom Compass
Upon discovering said map, however, Joseph realised its mystery was doubled even more so since the map was encoded within a poem-like riddle. An object that was to become crucial to the story, one of the pillars supporting the plot. Along with the map, bewildering him further, was the compass left to him by his grandfather Frederick Winter; an explorer who sailed upon the Endeavour with Captain James Cook, who became a legend in himself through his travels, but who returned a man with a loss of spirit and morals. This compass became a poignant object for the developing story of Seadogs and Criminals, linking Joseph to his past but also giving him a direction to the future, (possessing an importance that even I did not anticipate when I began writing the story). This compass became even more necessary when Joseph, along with a group of interesting characters, stowaway upon a merchant sailing ship and journey far and wide to find the next clue. He didn’t want to leave his beloved London, but after fate dealt him a bitter blow, he had to get away. He had to leave and had to find out what life had to offer. Plus, who could deny the call of adventure when a treasure map was inviting him on one.
Seadogs and Criminals was a thrill to write and has influenced my life in more ways than I could’ve imagined. A gripping tale, I hope it will hook the
reader in until the end so they, too, can uncover the legend and unravel the mysteries and will get to know the characters as much as I did.
The post Seadogs and Criminals – a #Victorian adventure by Alex Fisher first appeared on Deborah Swift.
October 20, 2021
Traitors Knot by Cryssa Bazos – Read an Excerpt #CoffeePotBookClub #GreatReads
Today I’m hosting an excerpt from the wonderful novel Traitor’s Knot by Cryssa Bazos.
I’ve already read this book, and Severed Knot, the one that follows it, and I’m halfway through Rebel’s Knot, the last in the series. All three books are immaculately researched, gripping and well-worth anyone’s money. Do start with this excerpt to get a flavour of the treats to come:
Traitor’s Knot , by Cryssa Bazos – Excerpt
Elizabeth pushed through the knot of women pressing to take her place at the stall. “Excuse me,” she gasped, and they cleared the way for her and the ugly yellow ribbon.
Just as she reached the last matron, a demon in the form of a Puritan Roundhead materialised in her path.
“Good morning, my dear,” Hammond drawled.
She pressed her hand to her chest. “Lieutenant—you surprised me.”
“A pleasant one, I trust,” he said. “I’m glad I found you. There is something I thought you might find of interest.” Without waiting for a reply, he took her by the elbow and led her away from the haberdasher’s stall. “A godly woman does not gild herself with laces and frills.”
Elizabeth’s expression hardened. She had every right to visit any shop she desired. Next he would criticise her for frequenting the bookseller’s. Would they hang her for choking a constable with a mustard-coloured ribbon?
“I would lower your voice, Lieutenant. Mistress Rathbone will not thank you for your comments.”
Hammond led her to the draper’s with bolts of broadcloth laid out in display—various shades of grey, charcoal, black and mud brown. He held up a corner of the wool. “Plain, simple fabrics—these are pleasing to the Lord. We must not draw attention to our corrupt body.”
“And what of your russet feathers, Lieutenant?” Elizabeth pointed to his coat. “Methinks that this colour draws sufficient attention to the material world.”
Rather than take offence, he smiled. “A banner for the godly. My lord Cromwell has seen fit to garb us in this fashion. Come.”
Hammond led her away, but to her relief, he did not head for the Chequer. “I should tell you that I’m leaving Warwick for apace.”
Elizabeth choked down her excitement. “Indeed? The town will not be the same. Are you returning to London? I recall that you missed it keenly.”
“Nothing of the sort,” he said. “I shan’t be leaving the county. Sir Richard has entrusted me to oversee a particularly delicate enterprise.”
Elizabeth’s instincts prickled. This sounded ominous, and anything that made Hammond look smug as a cat in cream could not be good. She feared it might have something to do with James. “Might I enquire as to the nature of this business, Lieutenant? I hope it shan’t be a dangerous enterprise?”
“Your concern warms me a great deal, my dear.”
The softening in his expression made Elizabeth squirm. She hated to encourage the man, but if it could protect James . . .
“Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to explain,” Hammond said. “Suffice it to say that if we are successful, a mortal blow will be struck to the Commonwealth’s enemies.”
Elizabeth’s worry increased. The only enemy to the Commonwealth that she knew had stolen her heart. She had to warn James. “I wish you joy in your mission, Lieutenant. I must take my leave of you. My aunt wasn’t feeling well this day, and I’m anxious to return to her side.”
“But you haven’t seen my treat.”
“A treat?” The hairs on the back of her neck lifted.
Hammond led her down a side street lined by a row of town houses and away from the din of the market. A waiting company of dragoons clustered around the glover’s house. Hammond watched her as though savouring her reaction.
“Why are we here?”
“I promised you something of interest.”
One of the dragoons presented himself to Hammond. “Everything is secure inside, Lieutenant.”
“Very good.” Hammond looked around. “And the wagon?” Before the man could answer, a conveyance with thick bars turned the corner and rumbled to a halt before the house. “Excellent timing.”
“Why is the gaol cart here?” Elizabeth asked.
“Patience is a virtue, mistress.”
A piercing shriek and shattering glass broke the expectant hush. Barked commands drowned out a series of angry shouts. The front door flew open, and a pair of dragoons burst from the house dragging a young woman. Tears streamed down her face, and she clutched a sheet to cover her nakedness as the soldiers marched her to the cart. Elizabeth recognised her as the glover’s maid.
The woman stumbled and spilled to the sidewalk, exposing small, quivering breasts. “Please!” she cried as they hauled her to her feet.
Shocked, Elizabeth watched them push the naked woman into the wagon. One of the soldiers tossed the sheet back to her.
Next the dragoons marched out the second prisoner—the glover. The man stumbled out of his home, clad only in a shirt. The garment barely covered his naked loins. Normally fond of gawking at the young maids, he no longer leered.
“Distressing, isn’t it?” Hammond said.
Elizabeth started. “What—?”
“Adultery and fornication,” he replied. “They will spend time in the arms of the stocks. We must prepare to don the mantle of the New Jerusalem. There is no room for heretics and the ungodly in this new order.”
Elizabeth’s stomach turned. By now, a small crowd had flooded in from the market. A few of the bolder men hovered near the wagon to get a good look at the prisoners. Laughter and jeering rippled through the crowd. Elizabeth found it difficult to watch. “What of mercy?”
“Mercy? Would that please you?” Hammond’s smile widened. “I have shown them mercy. Had we arrested them in another fortnight, they’d both be in the gaol.”
TRAITOR”S KNOT: England 1650: Civil War has given way to an uneasy peace . . .
Royalist officer James Hart refuses to accept the tyranny of the new government after the execution of King Charles I, and to raise funds for the restoration of the king’s son, he takes to the road as a highwayman.
Elizabeth Seton has long been shunned for being a traitor’s daughter. In the midst of the new order, she risks her life by sheltering fugitives from Parliament in a garrison town. But her attempts to rebuild her life are threatened, first by her own sense of injustice, then by falling in love with an outlaw.
The lovers’ loyalty is tested through war, defeat and separation. James must fight his way back to the woman he loves, while Elizabeth will do anything to save him, even if it means sacrificing herself.
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My Review of Traitor’s Knot:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great blend of fact and fictionThis is a wonderful novel – richly detailed and full of the jargon and phraseology of the period. Set just as Prince Charles (later to be Charles II) is making his escape during the English Civil Wars, it centres around the difficult choices and strained allegiances that marked the tension of the Interregnum.James Hart, a highwayman, (modelled on the real-life Royalist highwaymen of the day such as Hind) is defying Cromwell’s Oath of Allegiance, and making his own rules by not only robbing the rich to feed the poor, but by continuing to support the Crown against the Commonwealth. He falls for Elizabeth Seton, a herbalist and healer, who has chosen to leave her family for a distant aunt, rather than be condemned to life in her sister’s staunchly Puritanical household. When the two characters meet, they find they have much in common, and the romance soon grows wings. Elizabeth’s aunt is a supporter of the Knot, a fictional organisation that gives safe houses to Catholic recusants, and Elizabeth is drawn into helping them. However, The King needs James’s assistance, and our highwayman hero must leave Elizabeth prey to another suitor – the preacher who will show no mercy if he were to uncover a royalist, and a woman who supports papists, in their midst.
Cryssa Bazos is equally at home writing battle scenes as writing romance, and the pace keeps the reader turning the pages. The book is chock-full of historical facts, and these are seamlessly woven into the plot. Fans of English Civil War fiction will lap this up, and it would also suit readers who enjoy classic historical fiction by for example Kathleen Winsor, Georgette Heyer, or Pamela Belle as well as the thrillers of Michael Arnold.
About Cryssa Bazos
Cryssa Bazos is an award-winning historical fiction author and a seventeenth century enthusiast. Her debut novel, Traitor’s Knot is the Medalist winner of the 2017 New Apple Award for Historical Fiction, a finalist for the 2018 EPIC eBook Awards for Historical Romance. Her second novel, Severed Knot, is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree and a finalist for the 2019 Chaucer Award. A forthcoming third book in the standalone series, Rebel’s Knot, will be published November 2021.
Get in touch with Cryssa : Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • BookBub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
Keep an eye out on this blog for my review of Rebel’s Knot – coming very soon!
The post Traitors Knot by Cryssa Bazos – Read an Excerpt #CoffeePotBookClub #GreatReads first appeared on Deborah Swift.
