Yes, today’s the day! For the King is officially out. My Google Alerts are ringing all the time, with good reason: – Margaret at HistoricalNovels.info: review – Julianne at Writing the Renaissance: review and giveaway – Ana of Aneca’s World: review – Marie of Historical Fiction Connection: review and giveaway Needless to say, you may […]
Fans of Jane Austen will remember Lady Bertram in Mansfield Park sitting on her sofa with her pug by her side. “The next time Pug has a litter you shall have a puppy,” she tells her niece Fanny. Lady Bertram can think of no higher mark of her regard. Indeed pugs were great favorites for […]
Yes, the pub date is tomorrow! Needless to say, I am on pins and needles. In the meantime, I invite you to follow this insightful discussion of For the King and its characters by the great bloggers of Historical Tapestry. I will just quote a few sentences: “To me it was a window to the […]
My mental images of the historical figures who appear in my novels are of course determined by their numerous portraits and the descriptions of eye witnesses. I don’t have to wonder what Napoléon Bonaparte looked like in 1800. But what about fictional characters, such as Roch Miquel or Blanche Coudert in FOR THE KING? Well, […]
Isn’t this great news? Here is what the Examiner writes: “Historical fiction fans will be transported to the corrupt world of 18th century Paris in this fast-paced novel, which chronicles the aftermath of an assassination attempt on Napoleon Bonaparte and the hunt by police inspector Roch Miquel to find who did it. A complicated love […]
Every time I visit the Getty Center in Los Angeles, I pay a visit to the splendid portrait of Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, by Sir Peter Lely. I knew of my countrywoman Louise, royal mistress, French agent in London and one of the 17th century’s famous beauties. However, when I read Susan Holloway […]
The Publishers Weekly review, released a month or two before publication, is a milestone in every book’s journey. PW is, of course, a major trade magazine targeted at publishing professionals, librarians and booksellers. People whose opinion is crucial to the success of a book.
Today is the feast of Caterina Benincasa, born in 14th century Siena into a large family of tradesmen. She is, like Joan of Arc a few decades later, one of those activist medieval women. Like Jehanne, she received a mission to enter the affairs of this world and, like Jehanne, she fulfilled this mission with […]
In 1817 Cassandra Austen was writing of her departed sister Jane: “Her dear remains are to be deposited in the cathedral – it is a satisfaction to me to think they are to lie in a building she admired so much.” Yesterday I visited the Cathedral, Jane’s tomb and the exhibition dedicated to her. I […]
As promised, Stephanie Cowell‘s guest post! —————————————————- The grave was overgrown, the headstone worn and tumbled when you used to walk through the graveyard of the old church of Vétheuil in search of Monet’s muse and first wife Camille. For a hundred and twenty years, the remains of the beautiful woman who died young had […]
Now in trade paperback.
"One of the best reads of the year." -Associated Press
