Please welcome historical fiction author Tony Riches to my blog:

1. Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

I am a full-time author based in Pembrokeshire, Wales UK. I was born in Pembroke, birthplace of Henry Tudor, and have a lifelong interest in the stories of the Tudors. I also helped with the project to place a statue of Henry Tudor in front of Pembroke Castle:

My latest book, Raleigh – Tudor Adventurer is the third in my Elizabethan series, and is the story of Sir Walter Raleigh, adventurer, courtier, explorer and poet, who has been called the last true Elizabethan. Interestingly, many of the things I thought I knew about Walter Raleigh proved to be wrong. Raleigh is credited with introducing the potato and tobacco to Britain, but I’ve seen no evidence for either, or for the popular tale of a servant throwing water over him when he mistook the smoke from Raleigh’s pipe for a fire!

2. Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

I wanted to become a journalist, and wrote for several magazines and journals, but my career took me into the Royal Air Force, after which I became a director of the National Health Service. I began researching the life of Henry Tudor and realized I had enough material for at least three books. I decided to write the Tudor Trilogy, with Henry being born in the first book, coming of age in the second, and becoming King of England in the third.

I have since continued to follow the continuous timeline of the Tudors with the Brandon trilogy, about Mary Tudor, youngest sister of King Henry VIII, his best friend Charles Brandon, and Brandon’s last wife, Katherine Willoughby:.

My new Elizabethan series brings the stories of the Tudors to a conclusion with the last days of Queen Elizabeth I.

3. How difficult was it writing your first book?

I’d written the first few chapters of Owen – Book one of the Tudor Trilogy, when I read Hilary Mantel’s ‘Wolf Hall’, and was inspired to rewrite my book in first-person present tense. This was a gamble, but I’m pleased to say the book became an Amazon ‘best seller’ in the US, UK – and Australia.

4. Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

I gave up a senior role in Local Government eleven years ago to write full time, and have never looked back. I’m happy writing one book a year, researching in the summer, writing in the autumn and winter, and editing in the spring.

5. Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My wife Liz is very supportive – as well as being my most important ‘beta reader’. I was also lucky to find an excellent editor who specializes in historical fiction and helps to ensure consistency between my books.

6. Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I like to ensure my books are as factually accurate as possible, by tracking down primary sources and visiting actual locations.

7. What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

I read somewhere once that if you write just one page a day, that’s a book a year.

8. What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

There is a vast community of readers with a keen interest in the lives of the Tudors. My aim is to shine a light on the many myths about the dynasty, and to reveal them as the people they were. I chose to bring to life the stories of less well known but hugely influential figures of the period, and show King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I through their eyes.

9. Did the cover of your new book evolve the same way as the others, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I commissioned an artist to produce the cover images for the three books of my Elizabethan Series, drawing from details of portraits of the time.

10. What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I am currently researching for three books about ladies of the Elizabethan court. Discerning readers of the first three books of the Elizabethan series will possibly be able to guess which ones I have chosen.

11. Any last words before we wrap things up?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the readers who have taken the time to contact me about my books, and Mary for hosting me on ‘When Angels Fly’.

Tony Riches

Media Kit

Book Title: Raleigh – Tudor Adventurer

Series:             The Elizabethan Series, Book 3

Author: Tony Riches

Publication Date: 1st May 2022

Publisher: Preseli Press

Page Length: 332 Pages

Genre:            Historical Fiction

Twitter Handles: @tonyriches @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @tonyriches.author @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #Elizabethan #Tudors #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-raleigh-tudor-adventurer.html

Book Title and Author Name:

Raleigh – Tudor Adventurer

(The Elizabethan Series, Book 3)

By Tony Riches

Blurb

Tudor adventurer, courtier, explorer and poet, Sir Walter Raleigh has been called the last true Elizabethan.

He didn’t dance or joust, didn’t come from a noble family, or marry into one. So how did an impoverished law student become a favourite of the queen, and Captain of the Guard?

The story which began with the best-selling Tudor trilogy follows Walter Raleigh from his first days at the Elizabethan Court to the end of the Tudor dynasty.

Buy Links:

Available on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: mybook.to/Raleigh

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09Z98J183

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Z98J183

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09Z98J183

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09Z98J183

Author Bio:

Tony Riches

Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the lives of the Tudors. He also runs the popular ‘Stories of the Tudors’ podcast, and posts book reviews, author interviews and guest posts at his blog, The Writing Desk. For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and find him on Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches

Social Media Links:

Blog: https://tonyriches.blogspot.com/

Website: https://www.tonyriches.com/

Podcast: https://tonyriches.podbean.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonyriches

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyriches.author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyriches.author/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tonyriches

From Amazon: When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors. Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman’s niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land. Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir’s betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

My Review: I loved this story. Character’s from the Bible are brought to life by Britton. She carefully wove this story and successfully wrote in a fast pace for the reader. As I read, I often prayed. We are to love one another, have compassion, and more. I fail in loving two people, my mother and my ex. Both horribly abusive. I no longer hate either of them, but I’m working on moving past just accepting of them. This is the best Christian novel I’ve ever read. Five shiny gold stars.

I’ll be live on Voice of Indie Podcast tomorrow, June 15th, at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time. You can catch it right here! I would love for you all to pop in for a few minutes. Thanks.

Book Title: The Wistful and the Good

Series: Cuthbert’s People

Author: G. M. Baker

Publication Date: 4th April 2022

Publisher: Stories All the Way Down

Page Length: 341 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Twitter Handles: @mbakeranalecta @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-wistful-and-good-cuthberts.html

Blurb

The mighty are undone by pride, the bold by folly, and the good by wistfulness.

Elswyth’s mother was a slave, but her father is a thegn, and Drefan, the man she is to marry, is an ealdorman’s son. But though Elswyth is content with the match, and waits only for Drefan to notice that she has come to womanhood, still she finds herself gazing seaward, full of wistful longing.

From the sea come Norse traders, bringing wealth, friendship, and tales of distant lands. But in this year of grace 793 the sea has brought a great Viking raid that has devastated the rich monastery of Lindisfarne. Norse are suddenly not welcome in Northumbria, and when Elswyth spots a Norse ship approaching the beach in her village of Twyford, her father fears a Viking raid.

But the ship brings trouble of a different kind. Leif has visited Twyford many times as a boy, accompanying his father on his voyages. But now he returns in command of his father’s ship and desperate to raise his father’s ransom by selling a cargo of Christian holy books. Elswyth is fascinated by the books and the pictures they contain of warm and distant lands.

But when Drefan arrives, investigating reports of the sighting of a Norse ship, Elswyth must try to keep the peace between Drefan and Leif, and tame the wistfulness of her restless heart. 

The Wistful and the Good – Excerpt 1

Edith put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. Three boys came scampering at the command.

“Run to the fields and tell the men that the thegn summons them,” she told them. She held out a hand to her husband so that he could help her rise. “You should not use that girl as a sentinel.”

“There’s not a better set of eyes in the village.”

“That may be, but she is to marry Drefan after the harvest, and I’ve much to do to make a lady of her yet. Can you imagine if, the day after she marries Drefan, Lady Cyneburg finds her in the mud behind Bamburgh hall, barefoot, playing pickup sticks with the slave children?”

“Cyneburg loves her.”

“Everyone loves her. That is her curse. But Cyneburg loving Elswyth and Cyneburg thinking Elswyth fit to succeed her as lady to the ealdorman of Bamburgh? That is a very different thing. For that she must be a lady—and not just when it pleases her. Cyneburg has not forgotten who she is. She has not forgotten that I was born a slave. There were days I washed her feet and served her meat, and she has not forgotten that, I promise you.”

“You’re a lady now,” Attor said. “And Elswyth always was.”

“But she looks more like those who serve in Bamburgh than those who rule. So in her dress, in her manner, she must be more a lady than any of them, than Cyneburg herself. But what is she today? A shoeless child pining for sailor men. And it is you giving her leave to do it.”

“It frees a man for the haying.”

“And is the haying worth losing her marriage over?”

It was an old argument between them. Not a week went by without Edith asking her husband if some adventure or indulgence was worth losing Elswyth’s marriage over.

“She’ll not lose the marriage,” Attor said. “Drefan’s smitten.”

“Smitten?” Edith said. “Of course he’s smitten. But what has smitten to do with the marriages of nobility?”

“I was smitten,” he said, placing one arm around her and pulling her to him so he could kiss first her, and then Daisy, upon the head. “Still am.”

“And what advantage did you have by it? It cost you thirty hides that Elene of Hadston would have brought you, your brother’s friendship, your mother’s love.”

“My mother loved the children.”

“She loved Elswyth because everyone does. She loved Hilda because she looks like her. She never loved me or forgave you. Blood debt or not, Kenrick and Cyneburg won’t throw so much away if they don’t think Elswyth suitable.”

At that moment, the unsuitable child came tearing down the path from the clifftop, bare feet flying, hair streaming behind her.

“It is Norsk!” she cried as she ran towards them. “It is Norsk, but I think it is Uncle Harrald. It is a knarr for sure. But perhaps I should ride to Alnwick anyway, just in case.”

“Ride to Alnwick?” Edith said.

“Father said I could ride to Alnwick if it was vikingar. To give the alarm.”

“Well you can’t,” Edith said. She turned to her husband. “What were you thinking? We would not have seen her for a month if you had given her leave and a good horse.”

“Of course you would,” Elswyth said. “Of course, it would be rude to ride to Alnwick and then not call on Uncle Leofwine and Uncle Osgar, and Eglingham is so close that I would have to go there too. But I would only be gone a week at most.”

“And four men taken from the fields to escort you.”

“No. Father said I could ride alone.”

“Just to give the alarm,” Attor protested. “Thegn Wigberht would have sent you right back with an escort.”

“If he could catch her,” Edith said. “You are not leaving this village, miss, till the ship comes to take you to Bamburgh after the harvest. And by then you must have your wedding dress complete.”

“But—”

“If the ship is Norsk,” Attor said, “then I must certainly meet them with spears, whether you think it is Harrald or not.” He who had never flinched in the battle line wanted no part of war between his wife and daughter. He hurried off, with his awkward gait, to organize the men who were beginning to stream in from the fields.

“You don’t really think I would ride away for a month and miss Uncle Harrald and Uncle Thor, do you?” Elswyth asked her mother.

Edith looked at her daughter. Elswyth’s appearance provoked a frown that expressed not simply annoyance, but a deep and vexing puzzle. Elswyth was a lovely young woman, plump in the bosom, round in the hips, with a mane of glossy black hair. Her face was the image of Edith’s own. It was the face that Edith had once seen staring back at her from a still pool, when she was a slave and her face had been the whole of her fortune. It was a wholly Welisc face with not a trace of Anglish in it. On Edith, who had been born to Welisc slaves on the manor where she was now lady, that face had been enough to catch the eye of an Anglish thegn’s son. On Elswyth, Edith believed, it was a face that might have caught the fancy of an Anglish king, if only the opportunity had presented itself.

Elswyth was clad in a summer dress of green linen with brooches befitting her rank, and a decorated belt with heavy copper terminals shaped like the heads of herons, which she wore high to emphasize her bosom. Yet she was barefoot like a child, and there were at least a dozen sticky burs clinging to her skirts and a posy of assorted and drooping wildflowers stuck behind one of her brooches.

“Where are your shoes?” Edith asked.

“Why would I wear shoes in the middle of summer?”

“Because you are no longer a child. A respectable noblewoman wears shoes on her feet, winter or summer. And a wimple on her head.”

“There’s a ship, Mother.”

“Where is your work basket?”

“It’s Norsk! I can tell by the shape, by the way it sails. I’m almost sure it’s Uncle Harrald.”

“I’d be glad if it was,” Edith said. “But he has not come in two years. Wrecked and drowned, like as not. Such is the fate of sailors.”

“Of course they are not wrecked or drowned,” Elswyth said. “Uncle Thor would never let them be wrecked or drowned.”

“Uncle Thor is just a man. I know you loved him, darling, but you are a woman now and you have seen quite enough of death to know that people die, no matter how much we love them.”

“I know,” Elswyth said, looking downcast for the moment or two that was all her nature was capable of. “But not Uncle Thor. Not Uncle Harrald either. You’ll see. It’s their ship. I know it is.”

“Well then go put your shoes on and make yourself presentable to receive guests.” Edith yanked out the posy of flowers that drooped behind Elswyth’s brooch, and threw it on the ground. She bundled Daisy into Elswyth’s arms while she pulled the sticky burrs out of Elswyth’s skirts. Then she took the baby back from her grown daughter and said, “And put on a wimple too. You should not be parading your hair in front of sailors at your age.”

“Not till I’m married, Mother. You promised!” Elswyth replied. But she said it over her shoulder as she ran off so that she was gone before Edith had a chance to respond.

Buy Links:

Universal Link: http://mybook.to/thewistfulandthegood

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09WZCVHBH

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WZCVHBH

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09WZCVHBH

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09WZCVHBH

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wistful-and-the-good-g-m-baker/1141306742

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-wistful-and-the-good

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-wistful-and-the-good/id1617126878

Laterpress: https://gmbaker.laterpress.com/

Author Bio:

G. M. Baker

G. M. Baker has been a newspaper reporter, managing editor, freelance writer, magazine contributor, PhD candidate, seminarian, teacher, desktop publisher, programmer, technical writer, department manager, communications director, non-fiction author, speaker, consultant, and grandfather. He has published stories in The Atlantic Advocate, Fantasy Book, New England’s Coastal Journal, Our Family, Storyteller, Solander, and Dappled Things. There was nothing much left to do but become a novelist.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://gmbaker.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbakeranalecta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmbaker

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbakeranalecta/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/G-M-Baker/e/B09WZK7MD4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4259382.G_M_Baker

Substack Newsletter: https://gmbaker.substack.com

on Writing Explained: When is the correct time to use a vs. an? A bike. An icicle. A URL or an URL? What exactly is the rule? Despite the confusion on when to use these two words, the rule regarding their use is actually quite simple. What is the Difference Between A and An? In […]

A vs. An: When to Use A or An in a Sentence… — Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog

From Amazon: Actress Carrie Murray’s films are a Christmas lover’s delight. Filled with twinkling lights, festive carols, and happy endings, they’re the perfect escape from reality—for her and the audience. Then Tinseltown calls. Braxton Timothy is Hollywood’s biggest action star. Handsome and talented but decidedly on the naughty list, no one can fathom his sudden desire to produce a feel-good Christmas movie—least of all, his no-name co-star. Alternating between scenes reminiscent of everyone’s favorite made-for-TV movies and unexpected, off-screen chemistry, Gingerbread Falls has surprises in store this holiday season. The question is, will there be enough Christmas magic to convince two imperfect people that they’re perfect for each other? ♥ This “sweet as a Christmas cookie” romance (bestselling author Heidi Swain) includes an original recipe for Maple Glazed Gingerbread Scones.

My Review: I. Loved. This. Book. Okay, let me make myself clear: I truly loved this Christmas romance book by Mettner. Christmas time is a special time of year and having a setting in small town, North Dakota, USA makes it more special as everyone helps each other out as small towns often do. Carrie and Brax are perfectly imperfect. Both have many emotional and mental scars and both have physical scars, one due to a home accident, the other inflicted upon her for 13 long years. That resonated with me as I bear all the same scars and more, and when Carrie was insecure, I was as well. I understood her deeply. The twist of part of the novel being acted out on set and part written as real life was a nice change from the more usual romance reads. Five shiny gold stars!!

From Amazon: The Worm Who Has a Perm is a read aloud, baby nursery rhymes kids book that is written in easy-to-read rhyme style. This is the perfect picture book for children from preschool to little kids. In his latest kids bedtime story, “The Worm Who Has a Perm”, Tim Zak — best selling children’s book writer — helps children relate to many of the problems they encounter each day through the eyes of baby animals. Tim can help you communicate important messages to your children through rhymes and colorful illustrations! Here Is A Preview Of What Your Children Will Discover… This is the rhyming story of Willis the Worm who has a perm! Willis loves the color of his hair and wears it proudly. What happens when this little worm gets bullied about his hair? Willis loves his hair and decides he must stand up to these bullies! What will happen when Willis stands up for himself and confronts the bullies? Will this little worm be able to keep the hair he loves so much?

My Review: Willis is a worm and he wears his hair in a rainbow colored perm. Two worn bullies attacked Willis with name calling and mocking his hair. Willis smiled and made sure the bullies knew that he didn’t care what they thought. The bullies went on and attacked other creatures such as a bumble bee. Willis helped the others to not be sad. The bullies then dumped purple ink followed by green Ink on Willis’s hair and he was fine. Willis stood up for himself, and he chose to not retaliate back at the bullies. The bullies gave up as they couldn’t get Willis to react in the way they wanted. This story rhymes and worth five stars!

From Amazon: A must have for helpers! Imagine having more energy in your day to complete the things you need and want to do. You can not add more hours to your day, but you can learn how to manage your personal energy. Within I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers you will find helpful suggestions, writing prompts, and space to journal your thoughts. This interactive journal is designed with compassionate helpers in mind to increase your awareness around personal energy drains. You can and will generate problem solving for this common issue givers face. You also will find suggestions for energy protection, a unique energy scale to rate your energy from 1-10 and ways to restore your well being. Plus, space to record ten to eleven weeks of your personal observations. Whether you are feeling disconnected and depleted or are already connected and looking for new ways to increase your energy awareness, this journal provides lots of easy ways to recharge and rejuvenate. Use this book daily or whenever you notice a change in your energy and need to get back on track. Makes the perfect gift for yourself and those you love.

My Review: Focus on yourself. Are you a compassionate person? Does this drain you, sap you of energy? As a retired registered nurse, and since retirement, I know I get fatigued easily. This book has wonderful Journaling pages that help you refocus and get that energy back. You will find ways to realize what is zapping you of energy and how to refocus and problem solve your way back to energy. Five shiny gold stars!

Please welcome Brodie Curtis to my blog. Good morning. Shall we get started?

1. Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

First, thank you very much Mary for having me on today! My name is Brodie Curtis and my debut novel, THE FOUR BELLS, came out in 2019 and told the story of Al Weldy reconnecting with his old-flame Maddy Beane, and the two of them reopening old wounds that the Great War had caused. Today I’ll be talking about my second historical novel, ANGELS and BANDITS, which follows up on some loose threads in THE FOUR BELLS to tell the story of two young RAF Spitfire pilots in The Battle of Britain who come from very different stations in life and must overcome their differences to become fighting brothers for the defence of Britain.

I was raised in the Midwest, in a small town not far from the Mississippi River. I was educated as a lawyer and ended the first part of my career in the California corporate tower of a large company.  I left the corporate world to embrace life in Colorado with wife Sue and our then two young sons. Sue and I turned our talents and drive to building a business in Denver. With plenty of hard work that went well, and I began to write.

F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said, “there are no second acts in American lives,” but with the effort I’ve put into my writing I feel I’m closing in on a third act.

2. Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

Until not too many years ago, I hadn’t written much fiction (I’m sticking to my story that countless business letters, memos and documents written in the corporate tower don’t qualify!). My debut novel, THE FOUR BELLS, was set in motion years ago, in a homey lounge, when I heard a gorgeously mournful acoustic version of John McCutcheon’s song about the transcendent Christmas Truce of 1914. It inspired me to research reports on the Truce in contemporaneous writings and non-fiction, and to walk the fields of Flanders. I found that there wasn’t much fictional treatment of the Christmas Truce. At the time, we had pretty much stabilized our business, and looking back, I was meandering about, trying to find an activity that would fill a chunk of time (boy, did I find one in writing!) and decided to have a go at writing a novel on the Truce. It’s funny though, how our characters take us writers down their own road, and the Truce became just one important scene in my story.

3. How difficult was it writing your first book?

Once I decided to move ahead with my book, I sat at my desk for many hours and wrote on my yellow pad with Natalie Merchant, classical mix stations, the Stones and many more keeping me company. I’d written tens of thousands of pages of legal memorandums, business letters, and corporate reports. Surely I could write a novel. Actor, action, subject. No problem.

I cranked out a draft, which I was extremely proud to have delivered to myself. Certainly it was near best seller shape, I thought, and searched the internet for an editor who might tune it up a little bit before it was displayed by the front door at Barnes & Noble.

The feedback wasn’t what I expected, and the most valuable comments were the harshest. ‘It’s all tell—no show. First or third person, even omniscient—just pick a point of view. This thing is filled with meaningless physical gestures and unnecessary movements, summaries and conclusions, and meandering dialogue. Cut the crap out of this three hundred page manuscript and there might be enough for a novella.’

Now, the smart move might have been to toss my pen in the bin and work on my golf game. Instead, I put the pen down, and set about educating myself on the craft of writing and building some skills. For probably half a year, I read writing instructional books and blogs, and did innumerable writing exercises. Viewpoint, voice, the narrative, sourcing, premise, themes, suspense, raising the stakes.

Then I rewrote. I knew I had improved my writing game— but I was still way over my skis. I reached out to the very talented author-editor Sue Millard from the Lake District in the North of England to help me with applying British authenticity to my dialogue and descriptions, naively believing this was all the help my book required.

I thank my lucky stars that Sue took me on and poured herself into THE FOUR BELLS. Without her care, corrections and guidance, there would be no book. Sue has me striving to write with precision (find the perfect word), and with economy (say it the simplest way, and don’t double up on descriptions). More than that, she taught me to write with a plan. Who are your characters? What are they about? Describe them on paper. Recognize that each action triggers a response. Draw out how the actions and responses flow.

4. Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

Truthfully, I never got to the point of giving up on my writing. I can be obsessive to a fault, and just kept trucking along with my yellow pad even when I knew my writing chops needed a lot of work. I noticed my editor started sprinkling in a ‘good’ in the margin comments here and there along her many ‘grrrs’ and ‘OMGs’ and ‘can we stop with—’. That, and some patient and supportive friends who gave me feedback on early drafts that allowed me to believe I was improving my craft turned the tide.  

5. Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My wife Sue has been tremendously supportive of my writing even long before there was THE FOUR BELLS to hold in her hands and know that something has come from all the time I’ve spent at it. Life is very busy between parenting, business, keeping up a household and one’s many other pursuits. Having a partner and best friend who will support the devotion of time needed to a creative pursuit that probably seemed to her like no more than an endless hobby is truly a treasure.

6. Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Since I’ve begun writing, I’ve gotten into the habit of putting my short take, just a paragraph or two, on paper after I’ve read a book. I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur of world war fiction and have posted more than 100 of my quick takes on books from that genre on my website, under Brodie Curtis’s Takes on War Fiction + Book and Movie Reviews – Brodie Curtis Author. I’ve also posted reviews of historical novels outside the world war fiction genre. Most of these were published in the Historical Novels Review. If one of my takes or reviews sparks your interest, make a search and see if you want to add the title to your reading queue!

7. What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

A very wise man who I worked with, who was many years older than me, told me to figure out a way to break free of the corporate tower—and find a career path that ensures I have plenty of time for my family, particularly during the years my young sons are developing at home. Following that advice proved priceless.

8. What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

My target audience is the readers of historical fiction, and particularly those who enjoy world war-based fiction. Some great world war fiction titles like The Nightingale and The Alice Network have enjoyed huge success in recent years portraying bonds forged in life and death circumstances between strong female protagonists. A number of other WW novels like The Orphan’s Tale, The Women in the Castle, The Flight Girls and Code Name Verity similarly focus on war-time relationships among female protagonists and have been successful enough to be featured in airport bookstores I’ve passed through. ANGELS and BANDITS is similarly a relationship-based story, but with compelling male protagonists: the story of Eddy Beane’s and Dudley Thane’s intense personal conflict and eventual bond. I have strived to develop my characters with depth and at the same time feature gritty scenes inspired by auto-biographies of Battle of Britain pilots and the Spitfire, the elegant war machine that still captures imaginations, with a dash of romance thrown in.

9. Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I believe the cover art for both my books is stunning and sometimes I just hope that the words behind them live up to their visual beauty! I worked with terrifically talented artists on the covers for both of my books, and the process for each of THE FOUR BELLS and ANGELS and BANDITS was similar. The cover artist and I exchanged emails where I laid out my ideas for the images and text. Ultimately, the artist came back with something well beyond what I could have ever conceived! I’ve searched the internet for potential cover artists in the past and I’m truly amazed by all the supremely-talented options out there for authors to choose from.

10. What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

My third historical novel takes me into the period of Mississippi river Showboats in the years before the American Civil War. Showboats chugged into river towns with people lined on the banks for their arrival, watching the billowing smokestacks and listening to the happy sounds from the calliope. Many of them  boarded the docked vessel for an evening of theatre, song and dance. The Showboat genre has some quite romantic aspects and is very much under-fictionalized in my view. My protagonists are inspired by family lore.

Currently, I am researching away, learning all I can about life on the river during the period, the workings of Mississippi riverboats and the entertainment provided and pleasures taken on showboat excursions. Now that Covid seems to have loosened its grip, I hope to travel along the Big Muddy this year and stop in on museums, historical societies and who knows where all else to unearth photographs and anecdotes that inspire scenes in my new book! So we’re a bit early for an excerpt, but it won’t be long now!

11. Any last words before we wrap things up?

I’m very much a work in progress as a writer. It’s said to take ten years to become proficient at a trade or a craft and I believe I’m closing in! A big help on my writing journey is feedback from readers. I’ve received feedback that inspired me on and helped me write better scenes in my stories. Honestly, it’s cool and sometimes moving when someone sees one of my scenes from a different perspective than I had when I wrote it. I hope some of you who are reading When Angels Fly reach out to me about ANGELS and BANDITS or THE FOUR BELLS or for that matter about any of the takes and reviews I’ve posted on my website. Cheers! Brodie.

Media Kit

Book Title: Angels and Bandits

Author: Brodie Curtis

Publication Date: 15th May 2022

Publisher: Westy Vistas

Page Length: 357 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Twitter Handles: @BrodieCurtis4 @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @curtisauthor @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #WWII #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-angels-and-bandits-by-brodie.html

Blurb:

The Battle of Britain rages and two young RAF pilots from very different stations in life must somehow find common ground—and stay alive.

On the eve of World War II, working-class Eddy Beane is a flight instructor in London. He successfully completes dangerous espionage missions for Air Commodore Keith Park and takes on society-girl June Stephenson as a student. Her ex-fiancé, Dudley Thane, is also a flyer, but upper-class and Cambridge-educated. When the German Luftwaffe attacks England in 1940, Eddy and Dudley end up serving in the same Spitfire squadron. Aerial combat is intense, and both men show their skills and courage, but can they set aside jealousy and class differences to become fighting brothers for the defence of Britain?

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://brodiecurtis.com/buy/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09WYNMK6T

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WYNMK6T

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09WYNMK6T

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09WYNMK6T

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-and-bandits-brodie-curtis/1141303805

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/angels-and-bandits

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/angels-and-bandits/id1617078119

Author Bio:

Brodie Curtis

Raised in the Midwest, Brodie Curtis was educated as a lawyer and left the corporate world to embrace life in Colorado with his wife and two sons.

Curtis is the author of THE FOUR BELLS, a novel of The Great War, which is the product of extensive historical research, including long walks through the fields of Flanders, where much of the book’s action is set. His second novel, ANGELS AND BANDITS, takes his protagonists into The Battle of Britain. Curtis is currently working on a novel set on a Mississippi Riverboat prior to the Civil War.

A lover of history, particularly American history and the World Wars, Curtis reviews historical fiction for the Historical Novels Review and more than 100 of his published reviews and short takes on historical novels can be found on his website.

Social Media Links:

Website: brodiecurtis.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrodieCurtis4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brodiecurtisauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtisauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brodie-curtis

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Brodie-Curtis/e/B07QSCF8Z1Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19061267.Brodie_Curtis

Book Title: Apollo’s Raven
Series: (Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book 1)
Author: Linnea Tanner
Publication Date: 20th January 2020 (3rd Edition)
Publisher: Apollo Raven Publisher, LLC
Page Length: 394 Pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Twitter Handles: @linneatanner @maryanneyarde
Instagram Handles: @linneatanner @coffeepotbookclub
Hashtags: #HistoricalFantasy #HistoricalFiction #AncientRome #AncientBritannia #ApollosRaven #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub
Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/01/blog-tour-apollos-raven-curse-of.html

Apollo’s Raven
(Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book 1)
By Linnea Tanner

Narrated by Kristin James

(Blurb)

A Celtic warrior princess is torn between her forbidden love for the enemy and duty to her people.

AWARD-WINNING APOLLO’S RAVEN sweeps you into an epic Celtic tale of for-bidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britan-nia. In 24 AD British kings hand-picked by Rome to rule are fighting each other for power. King Amren’s former queen, a powerful Druid, has cast a curse that Blood Wolf and the Raven will rise and destroy him. The king’s daughter, Catrin, learns to her dismay that she is the Raven and her banished half-brother is Blood Wolf. Trained as a warrior, Catrin must find a way to break the curse, but she is torn between her forbidden love for her father’s enemy, Marcellus, and loyalty to her people. She must summon the magic of the Ancient Druids to alter the dark prophecy that threatens the fates of everyone in her kingdom.

Will Catrin overcome and eradicate the ancient curse. Will she be able to embrace her forbidden love for Marcellus? Will she cease the war between Blood Wolf and King Amren and save her kingdom?

Trigger Warnings:
Sex, Violence, Sacrificial Rituals

APOLLO’S RAVEN EXCERPT

Excerpt 3: Chapter 7 Roman Hostage

24 AD, Southeast Britannia

Marcellus braced himself for terse negotiations as he followed his father into an open chamber at the right of the elevated thrones. Inside the room was a pentagram-engraved table that had been set with a flagon of wine, goblets, and plates piled high with cheese, bread, and dried meats. The windowless chamber had no circulation and smelled musty from moss growing in the cracks of the gray wall.

Now appearing calmer, King Amren sat his bulk down first in a massive chair nearest the opening. Marcellus had been told that Amren was an ignorant savage, but the king spoke Latin as eloquently as any Roman.

Marcellus seated himself on one side of his father, Lucius, while Decimus was on the other. Unlike the calm demeanor of the king, his father’s jaw clenched with obvious irritation. He could never read Decimus, who wore a permanent grimace on his fissured face.

Queen Rhiannon and her eldest daughter sat on each side of the king. Undoubtedly, these tall women were the equals to their male counterparts. The queen was intriguing, contrary, in Marcellus’s mind, to Lucius’s apparent disdain for her. She exuded confidence by the way she held her head high. Though she had remained quiet during the tense discourse, the king frequently looked to her as though seeking direction.

Catrin was last to enter the chamber. Marcellus was intrigued by how divergent her features were compared to her oldest sister. Vala was uglier than a Molossian guard dog with her square chin and pronounced overbite. She kept her mouth shut like a muzzled hound.

Though Catrin’s face was finely chiseled, she was precocious, risking her father’s wrath by blurting out the words that saved his life.

Marcellus noted the commander, Trystan, and the wolf sorceress taking their places be-hind the king’s ornate chair. She acted strangely, sniffing the air like a dog on a hunt. Depending on the wavering torch flame, the color of her eyes changed from brown-speckled green to shiny amber. Catching a waft of foul odor from the direction of the sorceress, Marcellus scrunched his nose. Brownish tissue still clung to her dress, proba-bly as a result of disemboweling the ram.

Trystan worried Marcellus the most. The snarl on this warrior’s face left no doubt he wanted to spill Roman blood; his hand looked too busy on the dagger’s thumb rise.

The meeting chamber darkened when Catrin drew a curtain, partitioning off the room from the receiving chamber. Adjusting his eyes to the dimmer light, Marcellus could see Catrin gazing at him. Her turquoise eyes shone like beacons as though beckoning him to explore her mysterious shores. Though everyone else in the room had pincer scowls, she gave him a demur smile. His heart quickened.

Sweet Venus above, she is beautiful!

Marcellus smiled at Catrin, but becoming aware of the king’s glare on him, he swiveled his eyes to his father crunching on an apple. He grimaced in disgust as his father spat out what looked like a half-eaten worm. Marcellus rubbed his lips with a couple of his fingers to hide his amused smirk. His father wiped his mouth and leveled his dark eyes at the king.

“Why is your youngest daughter here?” asked Lucius.

The king’s face hardened. “Apollo delivered his message through her. Do you want to risk your god’s wrath by not having her stay?”

Marcellus could tell by the disdain on his father’s face that he wanted to throw Catrin out. Decimus wisely shook his head, warning him not to confront the king.

“So be it,” Lucius grunted. He pushed the flagon across the table toward the queen, as if she were a lowly servant. “Pour me some wine.”

“Pour your own,” the queen barked.

An abrupt move behind the king’s chair caught Marcellus’s eye. He flinched when he saw Trystan draw his dagger. Staring at the queen, the warrior’s face flushed as red as a flame. She blazed back, shaking her head.

Alarmed by the sudden show of hostility, Marcellus gripped the table and prepared himself to lunge at the warrior if he made any untoward move.

Decimus also seemed to wake up to the danger; he placed a hand on his gladius.

King Amren regarded Decimus, then turned to Trystan and barked some Celtic orders. The wolf sorceress gripped Trystan by the arm and swatted the curtain back for the two of them to leave.
Marcellus leaned back in his chair to mark the king’s next actions. Amren picked up the flagon and smiled at his wife. “Let me do the honors.” He filled the goblets, handed one to each person, and offered a toast: “To Apollo.”

After the toast, everyone around the table seemed to relax. The king initiated the conver-sation by amiably asking Lucius, “How was your journey?”

Lucius stared at his goblet of wine for a moment and said brusquely, “The brackish air on the sea voyage made my stomach roil. I had to ruminate on spoiled meat before swallowing it down again.”

Amren’s stare froze on the senator as he took a bite of cheese.

After a couple of sips, Lucius set his goblet down with a bang. “Enough of the pleasantries! Let me get to the point. I do not want to belabor the terms for arranging a private meeting between you and Cunobelin. Know this! I will not accept the condition that my son stays as hostage to assure your safety during the talks,” he said, leaning back into his chair and staring at Amren, “unless you also offer someone of equal value for me to hold as hostage.”

“Whom do you propose?” asked Amren with a grated voice.

Lucius took another sip of wine and smiled. “I want your youngest daughter.”

The king gulped the wine in his mouth and slammed his goblet on the table. “No … never.”

“Then who?”

As Marcellus regarded Catrin, the air seemed to suck out of the room and the chamber darkened. He could see fear in her big beautiful eyes. Though he should not care about what happened to her, he could not bear the thought of sex-hungry soldiers harming her at the camp. The chamber fell into a deadly silence.

No movement.

Nothing.

Vala then slowly scuffed her chair back, stood, and pointed to herself. Though she spoke with a strong accent, her message was clear. “As firstborn daughter and king’s champion, I will do it.”

Challenged to do likewise, Marcellus impulsively stood up and blurted, “I also agree to stay here as a hostage. And let that be an end to this bickering.” He puffed out his chest with pride until he turned to his father, who was ready to pounce on him as he mouthed: You imbecile!

Buy Links:

Apollo’s Raven:
Amazon (Universal Link): https://books2read.com/u/4DKGMg

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0848QHHK4/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0848QHHK4/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0848QHHK4/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0848QHHK4/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/apollos-raven-linnea-d-tanner/1125792731?ean=2940161846049
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781948543293
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/apollo-s-raven-2
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/apollos-raven/id1497211722
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Linnea_Tanner_Apollo_s_Raven?id=sSbNDwAAQBAJ
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/apollo-s-raven-linnea-tanner/book/9781948543293.html
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=9781948543293&AID=35140&PID=6172252&SID=kxqdk37d3b01wlps0001m&cjevent=5e966e16680211ec817835ad0a1c0e0b

Audio:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Apollos-Raven-Audiobook/B072C2N25B
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/apollos-raven-unabridged/id1240427604

Series Links:

Apollo’s Raven (Book 1): https://books2read.com/u/mVRR0J
Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2): https://books2read.com/u/bxQQro
Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3): https://books2read.com/u/mdddX5

Author Bio:

Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. Of particular interest are the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dag-ger’s Destiny (Book 2), and Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3). Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4 Curse of Clansmen and Kings) is anticipated to be released in late October 2022.

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.linneatanner.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/linneatanner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linnea.tanner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnea-tanner-a021932b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linneatanner/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/linneatanner/_created/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linnea-tanner
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-Tanner/e/B01N6YEM04
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16474282.Linnea_Tanner