Wow! Time flies!
Happy Anniversary!
Archives
Meet Tristan Peterson
Please welcome Tristan Peterson to my blog.
1. Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.
My name is Tristan Peterson. I write under the names T. A. Peterson, for the Fantasy Meta-Series “Vingt”, but for this particular project, I write under the name Netta Stirs-Peron. Which is an, admittedly lazy, anagram of my name.
Other than that, I don’t consider myself all that interesting a person, so I try to make my writing interesting instead. I love both Heavy Metal and Classical music, I’m a fan of old school Fantasy, such as Elric of Melnibone, and riding my motorcycle. I am, pretty much, just a nerd in a leather jacket.
2. Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
Writing been a fixture in my life since I was a child. I’d say from the age of nine and on wards. I wouldn’t say I knew that it was time to write my first book, as I’d completed a number of manuscripts before. I just didn’t consider pursuing a career as a writer until I was in my thirties.
3. How difficult was it writing your first book?
Writing my first book wasn’t difficult at all. It was an idea I’d been kicking around for a long time, with characters I’d had percolating in my mind for just as long. It was all a matter of putting it all together. The truly difficult part was completing it – insofar as making sure those pieces were cohesive.
4. Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
I have, honestly, never wanted to give up. I will take a few weeks off of a project, rarely will I completely shelf one, but I always come back. I’ll probably die at a desk, with a pen in my hand. Personally, I am fine with that.
5. Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
That’s like asking a parent who their favourite child is! I have been fortunate enough to have friends, work colleagues, fellow writers, and even a few fans who have been nothing but supportive in my pursuit of a writing career. So, I feel I owe it to them all to give it my best shot and see how far down the path I can go.
6. Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
In terms of becoming an Author? Well, it would be to have an actual, paying job, first and foremost. Dreams don’t keep the lights on, or the fridge filled. Have a 9-to-5, to keep you self alive, feed the dream so you can live. If you truly want to make something of it, then you will find time for it. Even if its just half an hour a night.
In general? Listen to Motorhead. See Evil Dead The Musical. Live well, love free, and pay your artists.
7. What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
For writing: “Anybody can write a book; but not everybody should.” – David Eddings.
For life: “Each day we should one should hear a little song, read a good poem, see one fine painting and – if at all possible – speak a few sensible words” – Goethe.
8. What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
My usual target audience, at least in the case of the Vingt novels, has always been Young Adult – around the ages of eight to sixteen. This most recent book, however, was a departure from that. Leaning more New Adult/Adult, as its themes and language might be a little much for younger audiences.
In terms of what aspect of my writing hits that audience, I would put that largely on the dialogue and the main character’s internal monologue. I get the feeling that a lot of it – not all of it, mind – will resonate with quite a few people.
9. Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
There’s actually a story behind that! The concept of this book didn’t begin as a novel. It was intended to be a comic book. I wrote up the scripts and storyboards and, since I cannot draw all too well, sought out a local artist whose work I was familiar with. He was keen to take up the task, and seemed to really like the concept, so we worked out pricing and schedules. Then, all at once, I lost my job, my then girlfriend, and my house. Since I wasn’t going to ask the artist to work when I couldn’t guarantee payment, I shelved the project.
Many years later, I came back to the concept and drafted it as a novel. When it came time to create a cover, I sought out that same artist again. He was more than glad to do the artwork.
I believe I made the right choice in that. I had worked with them before and I have always like their style and their instincts on things, such as poses, blocking, and overall dynamics.
When I told him the cover would be “In the tradition of comic book covers – where what you see on the cover had little, if nothing, to do with the actual plot of the story” he ran with it and produced some excellent work.
10. What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
For this current project, I am working on an Audiobook – which will be coming soon. I am also in talks with another writer, who wants to produce a short Prequel Comic/Graphic Novel for this story. I am also kicking around a possible sequel to this story and some other books set in this world.
I am, however, currently more engaged in releasing further books in the Vingt series. Book 2 is in the hands of a publisher, and a few others are with Agents right now. So, I can only hope things work out on that front.
If you want an excerpt, then I will be glad to show you something from the next Vingt novel “Lizard Hands” (Release Date TBA)
“Why don’t you pray for your gods to heal you?”
She instantly regretted asking this, as she recalled just how angry he tended to get whenever May questioned his faith. Nari was surprised, however, to hear laughter. Surprised, and more than a little afraid, as she was almost certain she’d incur some of his wrath. But there was no mocking, or any warning in his laugh, if anything he sounded genuinely amused. Sitting at the foot of the statue, he relaxed his posture and answered Nari.
“The gods do not grant such boons to a sinner, like me.”
“Then why are you asking them for help?”
“One can only ask the gods for little things. To remove the stones from your path, so you might conquer the mountain.”
11. Any last words before we wrap things up?
Do not seek out a career in writing purely for the Money or the Fame it can bring. Such writers are a dime a dozen. It is why the current marketplace feels mired in tepid, vapid, ultimately cookie-cutter stories, released en masse by publishers who spent far too much on marketing.
Write because you would feel as if a part of you would be unfulfilled if you did not. Don’t be “the next Stephen King” or “Author of the next Harry Potter”. Be the first you. Wear your inspirations on your sleeve and write – even if nobody will ever see it.
If all else fails, then avail yourself to my personal credo:
Passion. Patience. Perseverance.
Links:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/T.-A.-Peterson/author/B0CDZGFL2F?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Goodreads
As T. A. Peterson: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/30869911.T_A_Peterson
As Netta Stirs-Peron: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49746705.Netta_Stirs_Per_n
Twitter: @LawfulEvilBard
When Secrets Bloom
From Amazon:
Transylvania, 1463
Some secrets heal. Others kill.
Kate Webber, a 28-year-old Saxon healer, has long walked the line between reverence and suspicion. Trained in the healing arts under the guidance of Lord Vlad Dracula, she has learned that skill alone cannot protect a woman in a city ruled by fear. Her marriage to the powerful but secretive Magyar promised stability, yet left her silenced and watched. On a bitter Advent night, when a mother and her newborn face death, Kate defies her husband’s command and steps into danger — for life, not reputation.
When Kate succeeds, the city notices. Some with awe. Others with fury. The town physician, threatened by her talent and humiliated by her success, seizes his moment. And as rumors flare into accusations, old alliances stir. Iancu, Kate’s childhood friend and now captain of the Militia, comes to her aid during the perilous birth — rekindling memories of freedom, laughter, and trust, before marriage shackled her to duty.
Back in her workshop, a girl appears, pleading for a love potion. But Margit brings more than need. She leads a mob. Elsewhere in the city, Moise, a Jewish apprentice at the printing press, notices a cloaked figure drifting across the square: a Shaman whose presence draws whispers of Magyar’s hidden dealings. When a rare manuscript disappears from the press Moise begins to uncover a darker purpose: a sought-after book. On the day of execution Kate performs a final act of defiance, she saves another child, while Moise is framed for more than he could have ever imagined.
Kate and Moise’s fates, as well as the map’s legacy, unfold as some secrets must be read not in books, but in the hearts of those who hide them.
***
Kate is a fictional character, yet through her eyes When Secrets Bloom offers a vivid, textured glimpse into 15th-century life in Kronstadt, Transylvania (today Brasov). From the daily rhythms of a fortress ruled by Saxon and Szekler men to the endearing hopes of Vlach and Jewish communities; from the quiet power women wield behind closed doors to the looming shadow of the Church and to whispered fears of plague and heresy, this novel immerses the reader fully in a world both beautiful and brutal. The presence of Vlad the Impaler’s memory — observed not through myth but through Kate’s wary, intimate lens — adds a haunting tension to the tale. It’s the kind of historical fiction that doesn’t just tell a story, it transports you into its bones.
Fans of rousing historical fiction with a feminist bent will find much to love in When Secrets Bloom.
My Review:
This novel is woven tightly and in an intricate fashion full of 15th century Transylvania. Dark times were upon the land, with trades people, merchants, physicians, midwives, princes, and true hierarchies everywhere. A land where greed came first and foremost in those of higher standings.
We are introduced to Kate and Moise, and within the pages their stories connect often. Kate is a wonderful healer, she learned from the best, her mother, and she inherited wealth of her own. She is a gifted healer and men hated that. They were jealous that the physician could do nothing, nor the midwife really, in the birth of a baby in which Kate had to literally move the baby into a birthing manner, still feet first. Yes, she literally pulls the baby out one leg at a time, the body, then one arm and shoulder followed by the other, and finally its head emerged. The baby lived, so did the mother, but had it been left to the physician and midwife, both would have perished. Kate was not a witch, but a healer. A healer who traveled along with war, and she did the best she could in healing, yet her own husband was jealous of her.
Moise is a man of Jewish faith, and he prints books. He wants to find a stolen book that holds treasure map. He has his own share of travails, in a land that is cold as winter, literally, and his own anguish is expressed well by Ms. Furstenberg. Darkness prevails over the land and people, shadows of evil and good. Another book is forthcoming, book two in this series, and this book is chock full of historical information.
Slick Trespass
From Amazon:
Sam and Janey adore the nook where their intimacy burns hot even after two decades of marriage.
But when a tragedy occurs and its repercussions cause Janey’s ethics to crash, she resorts to an immoral lifestyle that jeopardizes her health, her motherhood, and most of all, her marriage.
What will it take to reverse the course of her deceit and regain the loving respect of her husband, and his forgiveness?
My Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars Love and pain mixed with accidents and way more
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2025
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure how things would or could ever get back on track. But life happens. What we do about what happens to us is on us with a little help from others who’ve been in similar life situations. This novel is full of advice for those struggling with alcohol or substance abuse. Add in a generous helping of true love and sex and there you have it.
Meet Mick Arnold
Please welcome Mick Arnold who writes as M W Arnold to my blog. Hello Mick. Welcome to my blog. Shall we have a chat?
Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
Like a lot of authors, I’d thought about writing a book for years, it was only after I’d read a specific book (which I’m ashamed to say I can’t place right now) though that I felt I had to pick up my laptop and give it a go. That was around 7 or 8 years ago now, though that book has never seen the light of day.
How difficult was it writing your first book?
Surprisingly easy-ish. That’s probably because I had no idea what I was doing, how long it should be, how or where to finish it; let alone how to write. Wow, I was in for such a shock, and I also found I seemed to be a ‘panster’ type of writer; that’s someone who doesn’t plan (though I admit to knowing where I shall begin and how I’d like it to end).
Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
Oh, quite a few times. Especially when I had a few health problems a few years ago and simply didn’t want to even try to write. This was when I was writing romance, or trying to, but a very good author friend – Elaine Everest, who very sadly passed away not long ago – talked my ear off and advised me to give a different genre a go. I happened to be watching a documentary on tv about the Air Transport Auxiliary at the time and that’s how I came to be writing historical fiction. I’ll never forget Elaine for that.
Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
Even though I write something my lady wife would never read (not enough gruesome murders for her), I’d have to say she’s been behind me all the way, as has mu sister-in-law. Above all, I’m going to give a big shout out for the friend’s I’ve met through the Romantic Novelist’s Association, and it’s New Writer’s Scheme. This is a society I would recommend any aspiring writer to join, if you’re even semi-serious about becoming an author.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Simply that you have my profound Thank You, for finding and coming back to my books. You make me feel so welcome.
What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
If it’s regarding becoming an author then, read, and keep reading, even when you manage to get published. Don’t let failure keep you from persisting, as you’ll find very few authors who get published with their first attempt. Reading will help you find your style, yourself, everyone’s an individual and you would be as an author.
What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
I believe most of my readers are women from 16 to 90+, and everyone in between. I’ve had praise for my female characters and their realism, which makes me incredibly happy as around 90% of those I write are women, of around the above age groups.
Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
Funnily enough, my covers, for both my current series, are created by the Vice President of my publisher and as she’s in the USA (so we communicate by email) which makes communication quite slow, she does take notice of what I believe the covers should look like. I can’t draw a beer, let alone a book cover!
What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
Well, my second Lumberjills book is going through the editing process with my publisher at this moment, and will be titled, ‘The Lumberjills Take a Stand’. Currently, I’m writing the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club book 7, so I’m back to my first love.
Any last words before we wrap things up?
Only, thank you very much for having me on your blog, Mary, it’s been a lot of fun. All my very best to you and your readers, take good care.
You are welcome!
Deception, Danger & Doris…oh my!
Tagline:
Few things are what they appear to be as Doris Johnson finds herself on her own and out of her comfort zone.
Blurb:
Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Doris Johnson is sent on a solo trip, escorting a British General on a secret mission to Scotland, vital to the success of D-Day, the forthcoming invasion of Nazi occupied France.
Her natural inquisitiveness means her life is in put in great danger and she’ll need more than her superb flying skills to survive.
Doris has to trust her own instincts, and those of the new friends she makes, so that everyone comes through their adventures in one piece. Not everything is as it seems, sometimes by design, as she faces whatever is thrown at her with a determined smile and the spirit to stand fast for what is good and right.
Logline:
On a solo mission to Scotland, Doris Johnson finds herself embroiled in an undertaking vital to the success of D-Day which, if it fails, would mean certain death for many of those about to embark upon the greatest invasion history would see and which brings out strength of character she never knew she possessed.
Author Bio:
Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England and spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of the late HM Queen Elisabeth II in the Royal Air Force, before putting down roots and realising how much he missed the travel. This, he’s replaced somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels.
He’s the proud keeper of two Romanian Were-Cats bent on world domination, is mad on the music of the Beach Boys, and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United-supporting wife. (Please don’t mention this last to her!)
—-
Social Media Links:
facebook.com/MWArnoldAuthor
Twitter – mick859
Instagram – Mick859
YouTube Channel –tinyurl.com/bde2rajj
Buying links – Doris Flies Solo:
Amazon Universal – mybook.to/DFS
iBooks – tinyurl.com/uuv55yps
Nook – tinyurl.com/4sjcdwxy
Chick Lit video link – https://www.facebook.com/live/producer/840888174701567/
Featured Author
I had my first book signing this year at a festival on 26 July 2025. I’d not had one in a couple years so this was nice. I don’t have many pictures, but I was one of three featured authors at this festival event, and it was special and humbling to hear my voice announced on area radio stations throughout the day for a full week.
It was nice that Mike was able to be with me for the signing. I’d just got out of the hospital and could not tolerate the entire time slot for this event, but it was nice to chat with old friends, meet new ones, and to be in an old, historical building, air conditioned, and have a front row seat above those on the sidewalk in chairs for the parade.
Table setup was a bit crowded as we each had a square table, but they kept extra stock for me in the back of the store, as they carry all of my books! The business is Kansas Originals, and that link is their online site. They happen to be moving the store (since inception in the same location since 1991) and I wish nothing but the best for them. Please check out their link, not for my books, but all they have in their huge store.
Acts of Closure
From Amazon:
Winner, 2023 Independent Press Award for Romance
Have you ever thought about a person from your past and wondered what if? You know who I mean…the one that got away. I have, and his name is Jack Perry. He’s fun and flirty. Sexy and mysterious. But there’s also a dark, brooding side where he hides a secret bedroom desire. A provocative veiled persona no one knows about. Well, no one except me.
You see, years ago, we had an internet relationship. After trading countless emails about our private thoughts, he went deeper, confiding in me what was missing from the most private side of himself. It intrigued me, and I never forgot about it. Now my life has been thrown into a tailspin. I feel invisible these days. Lost…and after all these years, Jack and his soulful eyes have been on my mind. A lot. I made the decision to experience the tall and handsome Mr. Perry in the flesh. To stop being invisible. To start feeling alive again.
So, here I am, standing on his front porch, ready to meet him for the first time. No matter what happens, this evening is destined to be full of surprises. You’re welcome to come along. Within these pages is a story you don’t want to miss…
My Review:
This is not my normal read. Note: Explicit erotica – for those who don’t read this genre.
That out of the way, I found myself wrapped up in the psyche of both Natalie and Jack. All of the how and what happened to shape their lives going forward since childhood. For me, those were the mpost compelling parts of the book.
Natalie meets Jack face to face for the first time, and sparking a relationship that started from messaging each other for a long time on a social media app. The story is not the severe erotic deeds, but the path their lives each took and the trajectory each one is currently on.
Meet Marco Marek
Please welcome Marco Marek to my blog today. Great to have you on. Shall we get started?
Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.
Hello there, I’m Marco Marek, I’m a writer from Italy and I write most in English because the market is more wide and I don’t want to be restricted to just one country.
Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
Well, I started in 2010, I always liked fantasy movies and books, like the Lord of Rings, Jules Verne, Harry Potter etc. I thought one day why I can write my own fantasy story? Then I wrote my first book Hyperearth.
How difficult was it writing your first book?
I think for me it was never been difficult writing, I have a story in mind then I develop it while I’m writing, I plan the plot sometimes so it more easy to write.
Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
I don’t know, I think I never thought to give up, most the promotion and asking for a review it is stressful since you find lot of people lazy and take ages until they write a review, and sometimes they don’t leave it at all.
Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
Family and some relatives, friends, the dream is to see your book on cinema screen!
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
To read without prejudice, some readers would like your book must be a masterpiece, and written like they want. Instead a reader should read and appreciate every story a writer has to say, then can express their thought.
What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
Read read read a lot and learn then you can write… I think it was Stephen King
What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
Young adult, hoping they enjoy the adventures that are on my books
Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
First two books I created my self the cover, for the trilogy I hired a professional artist, that she created the cover like I wanted.
What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
I ended a book just some months ago, It is a story of a woman, former singer star in decadence and a bit depressed who has won an holiday in Mexico, then she will meet a man who had some issues than her plus amnesia, then they will be involved in various adventures…
Any last words before we wrap things up?
Hope to get more Fantasy readers, they are important for us indie authors, with they help we can grow more, so please leave a review, that’s our best reward.
(Author interview NOT edited.)
Bio
Marco Marek is an award winning author from Italy. He always had a fervid imagination and a passion for fantasy stories, medieval magicians, ancient history, and unexplained mysteries. While he was visiting a castle in Eastern Europe, he had the idea of writing Hyperearth. Apart from writing, Marco is also a painter and photographer, he likes digital artwork on Photoshop. He loves travelling when he has some free time.
Book links
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PPXC23J series
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PSKCB8X ms 2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSJW0BD amstel
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R9NRX4M
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-streets-marco-marek/1130202539?ean=2940155941477
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-streets-marco-marek/1138396415?ean=2940164740085
https://www.kobo.com/it/it/ebook/magic-streets-prague-bound-book-1
https://store.kobobooks.com/it-it/ebook/hyperearth
https://www.kobo.com/it/it/ebook/amstel-girl-playing-with-destiny
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hyperearth-marco-marek/1120940194?ean=9781514831342
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amstel-girl-marco-marek/1125060040?ean=9781540661203
https://books.apple.com/us/book/magic-streets-london-bound-book-two/id1542623000
https://books.apple.com/us/book/magic-streets-prague-bound-book-1/id1449440926?mt=11
https://books.apple.com/us/book/hyperearth/id952864504?mt=11
https://books.apple.com/us/book/amstel-girl-playing-with-destiny/id1171033005?mt=11
Social Networks
https://marcomarek77.wixsite.com/marcomarek
https://www.facebook.com/MarcoMarekAuthor/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10943506.Marco_Marek
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00S1GBND8
https://www.threads.com/@marcomarekauthor
https://www.instagram.com/marcomarekauthor/
The Mystery of the Black Hole
From Amazon:
All the students at middle school are talking about the missing boy. Nobody knows who he is or when it happened.
The rumor is the boy-with-no-name went into the basement under the gymnasium and never came out!
Katie and her friends decide to investigate and discover a mysterious black hole.
Where does it lead?
What does it do?
Can they resolve the mystery of the black hole before it’s too late?
My Review:
The Mystery of the Black Hole by Judy and Keith, with illustrations by Katie Lenahan, was a refreshing read for me as I’d not read a middle-grade book in some time. This story captures the interest of the age it is written for, and the story moves along at a good pace. Most of the story takes place inside of a middle school, and makes perfect sense for the reading audience. Teachers with sharp pointy black teeth and terrible bad breath? Scary. A bottomless black hole under the school gymnasium? Pitch black? That can cause hallucinations. The missing boy with no name lost in the cavernous space below the gym comes to life as you read.
Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!
Name: Judith Arnopp
Book Title: Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!
Series: n/a
Publication Date: June 21st, 2025
Publisher: independently published
Pages: 342
Genre: Historical Fiction / Biographical Fiction
Any Triggers: n/a
Twitter Handle: @JudithArnopp @cathiedunn @marylschmidt
Instagram Handle: @tudor_juditharnopp @thecoffeepotbookclub
Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #BiographicalFiction #WarsOfTheRoses #MargueriteOfAnjou #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/06/blog-tour-marguerite-by-judith-arnopp.html
Book Title and Author Name:
Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!
by Judith Arnopp
Blurb:
Marguerite: Queen of England
From the moment Henry VI’s new queen, Marguerite of Anjou, sets foot on English soil she is despised by the English as a foreigner, and blamed for the failures of the hundred years war in France.
Her enemies impede her role as the king’s consort and when Henry sinks into apparent madness, her bid to become regent is rejected. Marguerite must fight, not only for her own position but to maintain Henry’s possession of the crown.
The ambitious Duke, Richard of York, seizes control of the country, thrusting Marguerite aside and inflating the mutual hatred between the houses of York and Lancaster. But the queen refuses to relinquish power and fights determinedly for the rights of her son, Edward of Lancaster.
The long and bitter civil conflict, that has come to be known as the War of the Roses, commences.
Excerpt 2:
Marguerite is in exile and has reluctantly agreed to an alliance with her old enemy the Earl of Warwick against Edward of March, who is now wearing her husband’s stolen crown.
July 1470
I know what is required of me. I must welcome the Earl of Warwick and forgive the numerous injuries he has inflicted on me and mine. To gain my heart’s desires I must embrace him as a friend and ally. It sounds a simple cure. Just one small spoonful of vile medicine to relieve years of discomfort but, by God, the pain of the remedy almost supersedes any other I have felt. I am not sure I can swallow it.
I try to refuse, find another way, but all my advisers urge me to conceal my pride and look beyond this moment and concentrate on the image of my son, his handsome face topped with the crown of England.
My glory.
Reluctantly, I agree to try.
Jasper and Exeter wait with me for the earl to arrive. My stomach is full of snakes that writhe and burn. I want to run. I want to vomit up this idea of a union between my son and the earl’s daughter. Oh, how I wish we had impaled Warwick’s head alongside York’s on the Micklegate Bar when we had the chance.
We can only do what we can do.
The world outside the chamber stirs, I hear footsteps, confident and masculine – determined. My determination quails as the doors are thrown open and I hear the sound of heels on marble. I raise my head and open my eyes, steeled for the sight of Satan as he comes slithering into my presence.
And there he is.
He swirls his cloak behind him, his hand on his sword hilt as he makes an overly extravagant bow. Does he mock me? I do not move. I keep my eyes fixed on the far wall. Long moments pass before the arrogant swine realises he should be on his knees. As I hear him lower himself to the ground, I cannot resist looking as he bows his disgusting head in fealty to me. It is something I never thought to see.
“Your Grace. I am honoured and gratified that you agreed to discuss this matter.”
He is indeed a prince of falsehoods. For all my faults, I have never been less than honest. I would trust him more were he to admit his detestation for me. I can work to the same ends with a man who hates me. I see no need for lies.
Unable to bring my lips to form amiable words, I merely stare at the back of his lowered head.
If I had a sword, I would use it.
Edward stirs beside me, nudges me to respond, but it is as if I am trapped in this moment. I should speak, I should bid him rise, allow him to kiss my fingers, and let the negotiations begin, but I cannot.
The faces of all those I have lost, those Warwick killed, rise like smoke before my eyes. Somerset, and his son Harry, are at the head. This man before me has stolen not just my friends but my peace of mind too. Because of him, I will never now be the woman I could have been, should have been.
Jasper clears his throat. I glance up and discover Exeter is also urging me to speak. I turn back to the toad of Warwick and hope his knees are aching.
I wait. They wait, in awkward silence while the all-powerful scourge of England kneels in supplication to me, his queen. I want to kill him. I want to watch him suffer agonies, but I need him. I am in a cleft stick and since I cannot have his head, I will use him to my own ends.
This time, Warwick will be the puppet and I will work his strings.
Less than two weeks later, at the Chateau d’Amboise, my son pledges to marry Anne Neville, but the union is not to be sealed until Warwick has performed his part and restored my husband to the English throne.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/mhhnf
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Author Bio:
A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English / Creative Writing and a Masters in Medieval Studies. She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for her novels set in the Medieval and Tudor period, focussing on the perspective of historical women but recently she has written a trilogy from the perspective of Henry VIII himself.
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria which is when and why she began to experiment with sewing historical garments. She now makes clothes and accessories both for the group and others. She is not a professionally trained sewer but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly historically accurate clothing. A non-fiction book about Tudor clothing, How to Dress like a Tudor, was published in 2023 by Pen and Sword.
She runs a small seaside holiday let in Aberporth and when she has time for fun, likes to garden and restore antique doll’s houses. You can find her on most social media platforms.
Her novels include:
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
The Beaufort Chronicle: the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series)
The Henrician Chronicle: comprising of:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years (Book One of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix (Book Two of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light (Book Three of The Henrician Chronicle)
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Winchester Goose: at the court of Henry VIII
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Peaceweaver
The Forest Dwellers
The Song of Heledd
The Book of Thornhold
A Daughter of Warwick: the story of Anne Neville, Queen of Richard III
Marguerite: Hell Hath no Fury!
Author Links:
Website: http://www.judithmarnopp.com/
Blog: http://www.juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/JudithArnopp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetudorworldofjuditharnopp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tudor_juditharnopp/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tudor_juditharnopp
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jarnopp.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jarnopp/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judith-arnopp
Amazon Author Page: http://author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088659.Judith_Arnopp
When Angels Fly 