As it's National Poetry Day, I thought I'd share a few thoughts on Byron. The celebrity cult of Lord Byron began while he was still alive, boomed when he died, and still continues today. He remains an object of fascination, scandal, and appeal. I've been interested in him since I first read about him in a "Famous People" encyclopaedia. It was a children's book, so it did not explore the more infamous aspects of his life. But it was enough to inspire me to delve further into research on the man and the myth - including the puzzle of the mirror . Ultimately, Byron went on to become a major inspiration for my first published book Day's Dying Glory , right down to its title. His early poems (generally my favourite ones) feature heavily in the book, and I enjoyed weaving in lines and references which Byron-fans would spot where others might not even notice them. Poets and poetry have inspired hundreds of writers. It is fascinating that language can be so power...
This week for #HistFicThursdays, I'm delighted to once again be teaming up with The Coffee Pot Book Club for author Amanda Roberts' blog tour! Today, I'm sharing an excerpt from her fabulous new release, Lady of the Quay!
First of all, let's meet the book...
Knowing she is innocent is easy … proving it is hard
1560, Berwick-upon-Tweed, northern England
Following the unexpected death of her father, a series of startling discoveries about the business she inherits forces Isabella Gillhespy to re-evaluate everything she understands about her past and expects from her future.
Facing financial ruin, let down by people on whom she thought she could rely, and suspected of crimes that threaten her freedom, Isabella struggles to prove her innocence.
But the stakes are even higher than she realises. In a town where tension between England and her Scottish neighbours is never far from the surface, it isn’t long before developments attract the interest of the highest authority in the land, Sir William Cecil, and soon Isabella is fighting, not just for her freedom, but her life. She must use her wits and trust her own instincts to survive.
Lady of the Quay introduces an enticing new heroine who refuses to be beaten, even as it becomes clear that her life will never be the same again.
From the author of the award-winning ‘The Woman in the Painting’.
You can buy Lady of the Quay via this Universal Link
And here's a snippet to whet your appetite:
‘Open up,’ commanded a voice I did not recognise.
I slid out of bed, pulled a thick shawl over my shift, unlatched the window and leaned out. It was not ladylike, I know, but if I did not put a stop to this everyone from Briggate to the quay itself would be roused and amusing themselves at my expense. It was no longer snowing, and a thick fog hovered in the cold, damp air.
My window overhung the street. I looked down on a man cocooned in a dark gown with a hat pulled down over his ears. He was holding a lantern in one hand, and in the other, a long staff which he was using to beat on my front door.
‘What is the meaning of this?’ I demanded, trying to inject an imperious tone into my voice.
The man raised his head and removed his hat, revealing a large, round bald patch surrounded by wispy grey hair, which merged with the swirling fog. It gave him the appearance of a disembodied, featureless head floating on the surface of a river, hair spread out around it. He tipped his head back so his face was angled up towards me. I did not recognise him.
Mary’s heavy tread clipped along the hall downstairs from the kitchen to the front door, and the bolts grated in their brackets as she drew them back.
‘Madam Gillhespy? I have orders to take you to the Tolbooth immediately. You need to come with us.’
Now, let's meet the author:
She currently freelances, editing UK-based healthcare titles – HEFMA Pulse, Hospital Food + Service and Hospital Caterer. She is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society and West Oxfordshire Writers. She also volunteers for Tea Books (part of Age UK) to run a book club/reading group for elderly people in the community.
You can find Amanda on these links:
Thanks so much for hosting Amanda Roberts today, with an enticing snippet from her fabulous new novel, Lady of the Quay.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Thank you for hosting me and Lady of the Quay on our tour. Amanda
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