Crowvus Book Blog

 It's been quite a year! I'm delighted to have shared a post with you all on every Thursday of 2022 on the theme of Historical Fiction. I've loved spreading the word about some of the fantastic historical writers (as in writers of history!), shared a few ideas of my own, and looked at a few of the Horrible Histories songs along the way. While #HistFicThursdays will be continuing into the new year, this will be my last Horrible Histories blog (but take a look at some of the other songs which I didn't get around to, as well, because they are brilliant, too!). And it had to be this one... The great thing about historical fiction, is that it doesn't matter what period you want to write, each one of them offers something new to the world we live in today. Whether you're delving back into prehistory where this song starts, or just heading back to the World Wars where it finishes, there were major discoveries and personal stories along the way. With so much pull back i

 As it's very nearly Christmas, here are a few little Christmas samples from my writing. Since Christmas is a big deal in the Crowvus household, it's unsurprising that it tends to be a big deal in my books, too! Last year, I shared these Christmas samples from Beneath Black Clouds and White . Here are this year's words... The service was beautiful. Throughout much of it, Francesco simply stared at the illuminated altar, unable to bring himself to speak or move. It was like a dream being played  out around him. He had not attended the chapel since his arrival and he could not believe the difference the season had made. As he stood there, he could imagine this as the seat of the first nativity, and he heard the words of the liturgy and the music of the psalms drawing him only further into this belief. ~ from Poisoned Pilgrimage  (you can find the opening of this novel in the Embark  Journal) And so Christmas found the two sisters in very different ways. The Jenkyns’ Christma

   For this week's #HistFicThursdays blog, I'm thrilled to be sharing the gripping book  The Fortune Keeper  from  Deborah Swift ,   as part of her  Coffee Pot Book Club  tour. In her guest post, Deborah shares her approach to telling a fictional story of a real person. But first, let's meet the book... Blurb Count your nights by stars, not shadows ~ Italian Proverb Winter in Renaissance Venice Mia Caiozzi is determined to discover her destiny by studying the science of astronomy. But her stepmother Giulia forbids her to engage in this occupation, fearing it will lead her into danger. The ideas of Galileo are banned by the Inquisition, so Mia must study in secret. Giulia's real name is Giulia Tofana, renowned for her poison Aqua Tofana, and she is in hiding from the Duke de Verdi's family who are intent on revenge for the death of their brother. Giulia insists Mia should live quietly out of public view. If not, it could threaten them all. But Mia doesn't underst

It's #HistFicThursdays, and I'm so excited to be sharing a guest post from  Michael L. Ross ,   as part of his  Coffee Pot Book Club  tour. Find out all about Michael's building of the character of Mary King in the guest post below. But first, let's meet the book... Blurb Two men, two dreams, two new towns on the plains, and a railroad that will determine whether the towns—one black, one white—live or die.  Will Crump has survived the Civil War, Red Cloud’s War, and the loss of his love, but the search for peace and belonging still eludes him. From Colorado, famed Texas Ranger Charlie Goodnight lures Will to Texas, where he finds new love, but can a Civil War sharpshooter and a Quaker find a compromise to let their love survive? When Will has a chance to join in the founding of a new town, he risks everything—his savings, his family, and his life—but it will all be for nothing if the new railroad passes them by. Luther has escaped slavery in Kentucky through Albinia, Wi

 Coming home on Sunday night, there were – as Virginia put it – strange things in the sky. Heading over the Causeymire (known as the A9 to visitors!), we caught sight of one of the tell-tale signs of the Northern Lights: a spotlight which beams downwards instead of up from Earth. Unless there were UFOs in the area, it was a pretty sound Aurora Sighting. Aurora Watch also registered an Amber Alert at that time, which provided reassurance that we could trust our instincts. The Merry Dancers were not the only strange thing happening in the sky either. As we passed through the Causeymire Windfarm, we saw a broad, golden light shoot through the sky – far larger than any shooting star I’ve ever seen. Perhaps, on this occasion, it was a piece of space debris falling to earth nearby: that would explain the strength of the light we saw. As thoughts turn towards Christmas, these phenomena put you in mind of all those angels in the sky above the shepherds. When my very matter-of-fact Dad first sa

  For this week's #HistFicThursdays blog, I'm delighted to be sharing the brilliant book  Her Castilian Heart from  Anna Belfrage ,   as part of her  Coffee Pot Book Club  tour. Read on for Anna's guest post about the cunning marriages of people and countries across 13th Century. But first, let's meet the book.. Blurb Blood is not always thicker than water… At times a common bloodline is something of a curse—or so Robert FitzStephan discovers when he realises his half-brother, Eustace de Lamont, wants to kill him. A murderous and greedy brother isn’t Robert’s only challenge.  He and his wife, Noor, also have to handle their infected relationship with a mightily displeased Queen Eleanor—all because of their mysterious little foundling whom they refuse to abandon or allow the queen to lock away. Eustace is persistent. When Robert’s life hangs in the balance, it falls to Noor to do whatever it takes to rip them free from the toothy jaws of fate. Noor may be a woman, but w