Not a New Year’s Resolution

The holidays are over, and it is the start of a new year. I have never seen the point of making resolutions simply because the calendar has changed to a new page. I believe that resolutions should be made as and when necessary. I have not made a New Year’s Resolution, but I have determined …

Mixing Fact with Historical Fiction 2 – My version of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

Continuing on from the Battle of Fulford Gate I approached writing about the Battle of Stamford Bridge in exactly the same way. I had received many positive comments regarding how I had gone about describing the action. It seems that I had hit on a successful technique for describing both the action from the point …

The Battle of Fulford Gate

Writing about an actual historical event in a piece of fiction is challenging, especially if, as the writer, you are keen on being authentic and accurate. I most certainly was. I undertook a lot of research into both the actual battle, how it was fought, the weapons and armour, why it happened, and what the …

The last of my free book offers has finished

The last of my free book offers has finished. The response has been very good. Even Eugenica, a book that I have historically found difficult to convince readers to have a look at, enjoyed a large number of downloads. Next, comes the boring bit; waiting for people to read the books and, hopefully, post a …

Eugenica – The Challenging Book

It was not a surprise that so many people took advantage of my free book giveaway, certainly in respect of the historical fiction novels. Those books have always proved popular. The big surprise though is Eugenica. I have always found it difficult to get this book a readership, but this week has gone very well. …

Is Racism in Historical Dramas being quietly Erased?

Last night I went to see the film ‘The Aeronauts’, starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. It is a story inspired by true events. In 1862 James Glaisher undertook a balloon ascent to test his hypotheses concerning weather and his ability to predict it. The story, written by director Tom Harper and Jack Thorne who …

The Blade’s fell Blow: Read for FREE!

When Guillaume, Duke of Normandy, lands in England he is ignorant of the whereabouts of King Harold. Keen to bring the Saxons to battle the Normans capture Hastings and ravage the local area, enacting vile outrages on the local people. News of the invasion reaches Harold in York, even as he celebrates the Saxons greatest …

Free Books, Free Marketing!

If anyone has been following my blog recently then they will know that I have been giving my books away for free recently. Thanks to a glitch at Kindle Direct Publishing I had to start with Mesozoic although I was trying to run my books in order. Only a small gripe though. I followed my …

For Rapture of Ravens: Read for FREE!

After the fateful Battle of Fulford Gate, Coenred is forced to take what warriors survive the slaughter and head for Tadcaster. He must leave Mildryth, the woman he has come to love, in York, a city now captured and ruled by the Vikings. Deserted by his lords, Edwin and Morcar, Coenred hopes to keep one …

The War Wolf: Read for FREE!

The Battle of Fulford Gate rarely appears as more than a footnote in English history, but it was the beginning of the end for the Saxons. While King Harold waited in London to answer the threat of the Norman invasion his traitorous brother, Tostig Godwinson, landed in the north. Tostig brought with him the largest …