Nancy Bilyeau's Blog, page 30
August 19, 2013
The Power of Tintern Abbey
Nearly 1000 years after it was founded, Tintern Abbey continues to awe and inspire. The Welsh monastery survived war, plague and the dissolution of Henry VIII. Roofless and crumbling, it nonetheless possesses a haunting beauty...
Read the latest in my blog series on monastic ruins to learn its fascinating history
July 30, 2013
"Well Behaved Women Don't Make History"
I am delighted to find a meeting of the minds with the blogger who reviews books at Scandalous Women:
"I found myself fascinating by the turmoil and havoc that Henry VIII's decision to wrench control of the church from Rome had on England. A decision that still has ramifications today....This is a superbly written historical thriller, an enticing brew..."
To read the full review, please go to: http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/2013/07/review-chalice-novel.html
July 26, 2013
THE CROWN: A special Kindle Daily Deal
I'm thrilled to report that a few months after amazon chose The Crown for a Kindle Daily Deal, selling it for $1.99 for one day only, my first novel was chosen again, this time to be sold in a special promotion--the 20 top-selling Kindle Daily Deals of the year.
So spread the word! For one day, Saturday, July 27, The Crown ebook is $1.99.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Crown-ebook/dp/B004U7GIQO/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1374894699&sr=8-1&keywords=the+crown
July 18, 2013
J.K. Rowling and Crime Fiction's "Discovery Problem"
By Nancy Bilyeau
There are not that many novelists who would be delighted with selling 500 copies of a book in four months. J.K. Rowling is one of them.
The gig is up and "Robert Galbraith," debut author of the detective story "The Cuckoo's Calling," is proven to be J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series and multi-millionaire. The novel hit No. 1 on amazon and shall soon rule the print bestseller lists with the vigor of a vengeful Snape..."
To read the blog post, go here: http://bookpregnant.blogspot.com/2013/07/jk-rowling-and-discovery-problem-in.html
There are not that many novelists who would be delighted with selling 500 copies of a book in four months. J.K. Rowling is one of them.The gig is up and "Robert Galbraith," debut author of the detective story "The Cuckoo's Calling," is proven to be J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series and multi-millionaire. The novel hit No. 1 on amazon and shall soon rule the print bestseller lists with the vigor of a vengeful Snape..."
To read the blog post, go here: http://bookpregnant.blogspot.com/2013/07/jk-rowling-and-discovery-problem-in.html
July 15, 2013
Was Henry VIII a Psychopath?
By Nancy Bilyeau
"I know more about Henry VIII than I do about psychopaths. Or at least I think I do. I'm under the impression that psychopaths don't feel guilty about the bad things they do. They're not capable of it...."
To read my full post about the theories of the mental state of Henry VIII, go here.
"I know more about Henry VIII than I do about psychopaths. Or at least I think I do. I'm under the impression that psychopaths don't feel guilty about the bad things they do. They're not capable of it...."
To read my full post about the theories of the mental state of Henry VIII, go here.
July 1, 2013
Clues to the Life of Elizabeth Boleyn
By Nancy Bilyeau
The mother of Anne Boleyn is one of the missing women of the Tudor era. She was there--the daughter, sister, wife and mother of prominent courtiers. The mother and grandmother of famous queens. But she herself is unknown: her appearance, her character. We know next to nothing.
That is why when I stumbled across some information on the burial place of Elizabeth Boleyn, I felt a stirring of excitement. For in they "why" of where she was buried there was a choice that led me to understand her, at least a little.
Read my guest post on On the Tudor Trail: here.
The mother of Anne Boleyn is one of the missing women of the Tudor era. She was there--the daughter, sister, wife and mother of prominent courtiers. The mother and grandmother of famous queens. But she herself is unknown: her appearance, her character. We know next to nothing.
That is why when I stumbled across some information on the burial place of Elizabeth Boleyn, I felt a stirring of excitement. For in they "why" of where she was buried there was a choice that led me to understand her, at least a little.
Read my guest post on On the Tudor Trail: here.
June 25, 2013
Bargain Pricing for THE CHALICE e-book
I'm excited to report that for the next six days, The Chalice is on sale for $2.99 on both the amazon and the Barnes & Noble websites. This is a real savings for e-book owners, and I hope will bring new readers to my series.
To order The Chalice on amazon, go here.
To order The Chalice on Barnes & Noble, go here.
June 4, 2013
How Book Expo America is Like High School
I wrote about signing books at the big book trade show in America, BEA, for the blog Book Pregnant:
http://bookpregnant.blogspot.com/2013/06/why-bea-is-like-high-school-and-thats.html
May 30, 2013
It's Official: Third Book in My Series
I've signed a contract with Touchstone (S&S) on a third book, The Covenant. Time to celebrate!!
Here is the Publisher's Marketplace item:
Dujour executive editor Nancy Bilyeau's THE COVENANT, third in her Joanna Stafford series (THE CROWN, THE CHALICE) in which the young novice's life is threatened and she must discover who among her powerful enemies in the court of Henry VIII wants her dead, to Heather Lazare at Touchstone, by Heide Lange at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates (NA).
I will keep everyone posted on release date and a few select juicy details on the book here at the website. Stay tuned!
Here is the Publisher's Marketplace item:
Dujour executive editor Nancy Bilyeau's THE COVENANT, third in her Joanna Stafford series (THE CROWN, THE CHALICE) in which the young novice's life is threatened and she must discover who among her powerful enemies in the court of Henry VIII wants her dead, to Heather Lazare at Touchstone, by Heide Lange at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates (NA).
I will keep everyone posted on release date and a few select juicy details on the book here at the website. Stay tuned!
May 27, 2013
The Death of a Countess
By Nancy Bilyeau
On May 27, 1541, 68-year-old Margaret Pole, countess of Salisbury, was befitted within the confines of the Tower of London, as befitted someone of her rank. She was cousin to Henry VIII's mother, and well trusted by the king for years. Yet this intelligent and pious aristocrat died without trial in a horribly botched execution that is considered a low point of Henry VIII's reign.
Margaret knew better than most how difficult it was to survive royal storms if your family was close to the throne. Yet despite all her efforts to stay out of danger, it was her family that doomed her to the axe in the end.
To read more, go to my guest post on executedtoday: http://www.executedtoday.com/2013/05/27/1541-margaret-pole-countess-of-salisbury/
On May 27, 1541, 68-year-old Margaret Pole, countess of Salisbury, was befitted within the confines of the Tower of London, as befitted someone of her rank. She was cousin to Henry VIII's mother, and well trusted by the king for years. Yet this intelligent and pious aristocrat died without trial in a horribly botched execution that is considered a low point of Henry VIII's reign.
Margaret knew better than most how difficult it was to survive royal storms if your family was close to the throne. Yet despite all her efforts to stay out of danger, it was her family that doomed her to the axe in the end.
To read more, go to my guest post on executedtoday: http://www.executedtoday.com/2013/05/27/1541-margaret-pole-countess-of-salisbury/
