Henry II, the deadline-dragon, and me
Well, the final score was Sharon 1, Dragon 1. I got the manuscript off to my American and British publishers in time, but I couldn’t slay the dragon and he skulked off to lick his wounds, threatening to be back for the next round—the Author’s Note, Acknowledgments, and Afterword. I am very tired, too tired even to worry about my editors’ verdict on the book, which means I must be semi-comatose. I am sorry I missed so much; apparently even a thread that sparked a thousand posts. It may take me the rest of the summer to catch up. Meanwhile, July 6th 1189 was a very sad day, as Henry II’s life came to a bitter end, betrayed by the son for whom he’d sacrificed so much. Henry is my favorite English king and I really missed writing about him after he went and died in Devil’s Brood. So I am happy to report that I managed to interject him into two scenes in Ransom. Also on this date in 1483, Richard III’s ill-fated kingship began and in 1553, Edward VI died, setting the stage for the reigns of his sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
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(last edited Jul 06, 2013 07:07AM)
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Jul 06, 2013 07:07AM
Just wanted to share a note... travelling in the middle east right now (Egypt, Jordan, and now Turkey) and it's been fun getting to envision some of the scenes and escapades from the books I've grown up(!) reading, with better understandings of crusader castles, mosaic work, etc. While we didn't make it to Israel, we did make it to Kerak and Ajloun in Jordan, and those have given me a whole new appreciation for the characters, and the historical figures that precede them!
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It is so nice to see you back, Sharon. Perhaps you might be able to rest a bit now, before the dragon awakes, wounds healed, and ready for battle again?
I can not tell you how much I look forward to your latest book. The readers group I belong to(really down to two people at this point,) in a couple of months, we will be focusing on Henry II ( YAY! He is my favorite king, too!) I am fairly certain we are going to be reading some of your books very soon! I have to buy only 2 more, plus this new book,and I will have all of them up to this point.
I can not tell you how much I look forward to your latest book. The readers group I belong to(really down to two people at this point,) in a couple of months, we will be focusing on Henry II ( YAY! He is my favorite king, too!) I am fairly certain we are going to be reading some of your books very soon! I have to buy only 2 more, plus this new book,and I will have all of them up to this point.
Welcome back from the Wars-Wear your scars boldly and proudly. To paraphrase Henry II"Who will free me from this turbulent dragon?"
Henry II is my favourite king, too.. no question. I miss him. It is so good to hear from you and that have survived yet another battle with the Dragon. I am so looking forward to the new book.I reread the Sunne in Splendour a few weeks ago (for the fourth time) and am now rereading Lionheart. Southern England, where I live, is going through a heat wave. Those battles in the Holy Land are making me even hotter, I think. Your writing is so evocative. I can't tell you what a joy it has brought to my life. In fact, at one point this week, I found myself praying that you don't suddenly decide to retire. As I am getting older, I worry about things like that. I hope you have some time to celebrate and rest. Sending oodles of gratitude your way.
Thank you, Robin. You made my day! And writers never retire, not as long as there are readers out there who want to read our books.
I also like Henry II, but there are times when reading about him(mostly your books Sharon)that I longed to jump in and bop him one!;)..He could be so pig headed and unable to see anyone's viewpoint but his own! His short-sightedness and belief that he was always right, led to his family to rebel against him. But I felt for him with Jon's betrayal, the son he had placed so much hope in...It seems Eleanor got it right with her choice.PS: Do you think you can send your deadline dragon to George R R Martin...I know he has his own, but they seem to be on his side! LOL....Can't wait to read Ransom and the updated Sunne in Splendour.
That is so funny, Rebecca. I think George has tamed his dragon, for it does seem to indulge him, doesn't it? I was constantly trying to talk sense into my Angevins, but of course they never listened to me, being a lowly scribe and a female one at that. It is just that there were so many crossroads where Henry and Eleanor could have chosen a path that would have kept their family from imploding. Sad, really, for none of it was inevitable, and it ended so tragically for Henry.
I find them to be such a fascinating family, the Plantagenet's. But it is so easy to forget that apart from their position, the intrigues and their feuds, they were a family, albeit a deeply dysfunctional one. And I am sad that none of Henry's family were there for him at the end.At least with my own family we were there when they were sick(my mother died after a long battle with cancer at only 56 yrs of age)and my father in 2011....I do wish at least one of Henry's children had been by his side at the end; but he chose John, unfortunately for him.
And yes, I think George needs a dragon who's quite happy to crack the whip!....Hopefully 'The Winds of Winter' will arrive before I have use of a Zimmer frame and become incontinent and bald too boot! LOL.
Can't wait for your books to hit the shelves! Wooohooo!
Sharon, have you written about the start of the war of the Roses? Checking your bibliography I don't find one.I guess you need more topics like Henry needed more sons. I was interested to find out you started out as a tax lawyer.
Actually I did, David. My first novel, The Sunne in Splendour, is a revisionist history of the Wars of the Roses, revisionist in the sense that I did not--and still do not--believe that Richard III was Shakespeare's "bottled spider," but a man much maligned by a history rewritten by the victors, the Tudors. I hated tax law; it is so much more fun to besiege castles and plot betrayals and fight battles.
Sharon wrote: "Actually I did, David. My first novel, The Sunne in Splendour, is a revisionist history of the Wars of the Roses, revisionist in the sense that I did not--and still do not--believe that Richard II..."The Sunne in Splendour is also being re-released in September? Or do I have the date wrong? I know I can't wait!...Bah! To the Tudors-those 'Henry come lately's' lol
You are right, Rebecca. I am so excited about this. I was able to make some dialogue changes that I've long wanted to do and to correct some horrible typographical errors; my editor at the time had convinced me I did not need to see the galley proofs and there were so many mistakes I could only conclude they must have hired a drunken proof reader. I also have added a new Author's Note so I could mention the discovery of Richard's lost grave. And I love the jacket cover for the new book; you can see it on Amazon.com.uk as it is available for pre-order. I think it is very eye-catching and appropriate to the subject matter.
Sharon wrote: "You are right, Rebecca. I am so excited about this. I was able to make some dialogue changes that I've long wanted to do and to correct some horrible typographical errors; my editor at the time h..."Me too! I can't wait and I didn't write it! lol.....But seriously, I really am looking forward to it and I will be pre-ordering it as I am determined not to miss this one! The Sunne in Splendour is one of my favourite books and I am going to love re-reading it and the added notes and when I'm finished reading it, the book will sit very nicely amongst it's cousin books your Plantagenet series.....Thank goodness books don't come alive or my book-shelves would be at war with one another lol---I know I have a weird sense of humour. As for the cover-I like it:).
So to David I'd say DO pre-order the newer work, you wont be disappointed:).
Good reading to everyone:)Thanks Sharon:)
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