The first and third Richards--help needed
Compared to yesterday, August 3rd was a quiet day, historically speaking. Richard I landed in England in 1189 to claim the crown; he’d been able to take his time because Mama Eleanor was over there, declaring an amnesty for prisoners and doing all she could to pave the way for his coronation. When I have Richard joke in Devil’s Brood that on the seventh day, she rested, he was not far off; she was remarkably busy in the month between Henry’s death and Richard’s arrival, making a royal progress through the countryside, holding councils, issuing edicts about such mundane matters as currency and weights measures, and taking oaths of fealty to Richard. In her spare time, she founded a hospital for the poor in Surrey! We enjoy speculating about history’s What ifs. A sad one is What if Henry had been willing to share some of his power and make use of her formidable political skills as Richard would do?
The travel agency sponsoring the Richard III Tour thinks it would be a nice idea if I did a reading from Sunne on one of the nights; the other readings will be from Ransom, of course, just as I gave the Eleanor tour members a preview of Lionheart. Usually in selecting a passage to read, writers have to be careful not to give away any important plot twists or spoil the suspense. Since I am reasonably sure that everyone on this tour will have read Sunne already, I don’t have to worry about that. But I am having trouble deciding what to read. So…..any suggestions from my wonderful readers? I’d be grateful for some feedback.
The travel agency sponsoring the Richard III Tour thinks it would be a nice idea if I did a reading from Sunne on one of the nights; the other readings will be from Ransom, of course, just as I gave the Eleanor tour members a preview of Lionheart. Usually in selecting a passage to read, writers have to be careful not to give away any important plot twists or spoil the suspense. Since I am reasonably sure that everyone on this tour will have read Sunne already, I don’t have to worry about that. But I am having trouble deciding what to read. So…..any suggestions from my wonderful readers? I’d be grateful for some feedback.
date
newest »
newest »
The tour begins on September 7th, Cate, which is why I am under constant assault by the Deadline Dragon, for my publisher wants everything done on the new book before I leave the country. Thanks for letting me know you enjoy my books. Writers cherish compliments like that. You might want to hold off buying another copy of Sunne, though, until the new one comes out in September--both in hardcover and e-book format. I was able to correct some typographical errors that appeared in the first hardcover edition of Sunne, many years ago, and I did some minor tinkering with dialogue, plus adding a new Author's Note that discusses the finding of Richard's lost grave. And the new Kindle will have British spelling! The current Kindle was taken from the American text files and that jarred with a minority of my British readers.
Bit late reading this, but if you're still looking for ideas: the description of the battle at Barnet (pull in the title/3 suns), the battle of Tewkesbury (heck of a well-written battle scene - better than most movies), Edward's first entry into London in triumph, Richard finding Anne in that little house she hid from George in, or one of the more personal scenes of just Richard joking around with his brother or Francis or something. Maybe you could pick something just based on where you are? A passage set wherever your reading takes place? I'm not sure what the itinerary is since I knew I couldn't make it (Alas!! Would that I could!!)
I second Edward's 1st entry into London - that was a great moment.
Sharon Kay Penman's Blog
- Sharon Kay Penman's profile
- 4037 followers
Sharon Kay Penman isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
I also wanted to share something with you related to this book. Being from Yorkshire, in particular the region where Richard was, and still is by some, so well loved, I get great enjoyment out of reading Sunne; so much so I'm now heading out to purchase yet another copy. The book was actually recommended to me by my 'A' level history teacher, and I am so glad I took her advice.
I also wanted to thank you for writing in the manner in which you do. Reading Sunne then took me on a trip through all your Welsh books, and on into the world of Eleanor, including Justin,and beyond. Your books have a pride of place shelf of their own in my library and are always my go to read when I'm looking for something to be totally engrossed in.
OK, enough of the fangirl thing, let me pick up Sunne again and see which passages I can throw into the ring for your reading.
Cate