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#HistFicThursdays - Things to Inspire - Religious Artefacts

 Writing historical fiction, it is impossible to ignore the overwhelming impact religion had on people's lives. It was not only the structure of organised religion, but the interwoven beliefs which dominated people's lives. Christianity, the religion which runs through most of my historical fiction, grew and survived with its ability to adapt as it spread from place to place and culture to culture, absorbing certain traditions as it powered on. I love Theology. I did my undergraduate degree in it, and it continues to remain a real interest of mine. I also love the idea of holding hands across history, seeing what my characters saw, and holding the same objects in my own hands as they or their peers did. Given the significance of religion and superstition throughout history, these things were common - although not necessarily accessible - and would have been understood by all. Religious iconography dominated Pre-Reformation Europe, speaking as a universal language to all. These

What's Next? - An #AuthorOfTheWeek blog

This is my penultimate (one of my favourite words!) blog as #AuthorOfTheWeek, but I hope you've enjoyed my tips about inspiration and writing. Today, I'm making an offering to the reading community, and giving you a small sample of four novels which are up-and-coming from me over the next couple of years. At the moment, two of them are still nameless and, although the other two already have covers, I'm sworn to secrecy about them!

Allow me to introduce you to them!

Beginning on the field of Waterloo, this third instalment (although it was actually the fourth one I wrote!) follows the Tenterchilt sisters in a period of peace. But peace is a luxury which is denied to the family, partly owing to ghosts of the past, partly owing to the cruelties of outside forces.

This is a totally new style of writing for me -set in the here and now, which is way out of my usual comfort zone! This book will be released in September 2020.
After several deaths in his many foster families, everyone believes nine-year-old Kevin Alderman is cursed, including Kevin himself. When Reverend Alastair Roberts adopts the child, he dismisses any reference to the boy's curse.
But as the pair spend more time in one another's company, it becomes apparent that Kevin is not the only one with a bitter past.

At the start of 2019, I decided I was going to write a novel which was divided into months. The idea was I wrote each month in the correct month of the year. It didn't quite work that way, but its now complete and being published in April 2021.
It's 8 years after Hastings and, although the Normans hold the throne of England, they have a long way to go before they obtain power. The calculated force of the Norman invaders finally seems set to tip the balance against their Saxon counterparts. But the appearance of a man, who is sure he is a Changeling, at the doors of Robert's hall may provide the defence the Saxon's have been looking for.
No one is exactly as they first appear: they are so much more.

Yes, it's written. Book 3 is, too!
Without giving away too many spoilers for those of you who haven't read the first book yet, the slightly depleted "Clan of Caledon" continue in their battle against the oppression of the people of Caledon. While the webs of magic, and the forces of Mackay, are growing, Caledon is left vulnerable and exposed. The convenient arrival of a man from their past may provide the answer. But can he become the sixth member of the struggling clan before it is too late?

So, there we have it - preliminary snippets for you to read and enjoy! If you click on the titles, you can have a read through a few short excerpts from each of these books - a sneak peek of things to come from this author!

Share your thoughts! As always, I'd love your feedback! Which one are you most looking forward to?

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