Today I’m celebrating ten years of On the Tudor Trail. Ten years of sharing my love of Tudor history with the world! I remember how excited and nervous I was when I hit ‘publish’ on my first ever blog post in which I asked my “readers”, not that I actually had any yet, what their defining Tudor moment was. I could never have imagined the wondrous adventure that lay ahead or the countless hours of hard work. Balancing my all-consuming love of Tudor history with my familial and work obligations hasn’t always been easy. How does one spend countless hours immersed in the sixteenth century and yet be present in the now? Despite the challenges, I quickly discovered that if I turn my back on what I love, on what lights the lamps in my heart, I wither. Simple as that.
Giveaway now closed. Thank you for your entries!
The last decade has seen many highlights, including: the birth of my website; research trips to England and Spain; the publication of my first book, In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn; the release of four other Tudor titles; collaborations with talented bloggers, writers and artists, and the launch of my Tudor podcast, ‘Talking Tudors’. But what I’m most grateful for are the amazing, soul-feeding friendships I’ve made along the way.
Whether you’ve been with me on this journey from the very beginning or you’ve only recently found my website, thank you for accompanying me On the Tudor Trail! I’m deeply touched by your support and encouragement.
To celebrate this milestone, I’m giving away a copy of my first book baby, In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn, co-authored with Sarah Morris. However, this is not just any copy, it’s an out-of-print hardback edition, autographed by both Sarah and myself. These are not easy to come by!
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment telling me about what ignited your love of Tudor history.
Conditions of Entry
For your chance to win this copy of ‘In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn’, you must be subscribed to On the Tudor Trail’s newsletter (if you are not already, sign up on our homepage where it says ‘Free Enewsletter Subscription’).
Then simply leave a comment after this post telling me about what ignited your love of Tudor history between now and 5 August 2019. Don’t forget to leave your name and a contact email. Please note that I have comment moderation activated and need to ‘approve’ comments before they appear. There is no need to submit your comment twice.
This giveaway is open internationally.
One winner will be selected and contacted by email shortly after the competition closes. Please ensure you’ve added natalie@onthetudortrail.com to your address book to avoid missing my email.
Here’s to the next ten years!
Natalie x
Family name is Howard – ring a bell? Always known our part in history and the need to be Protestant to keep our heads. Lost our lands and fortune on this side of the family. Up until my late Dad’s time we had ancient documents proving our right to land and wealth but in a fit of madness my grandmother burnt them. She said it was worthless to the family. I live fairly close to Bosworth so aware of us losing that one too. Damn the Stanleys. Not far from Bradgate Park with the Lady Jane Grey connections. Found a pub owned by Anne of Cleeves in a nearby town of Melton Mowbray (great sausage and mash too). You just can’t get away from the Tudors. Wouldn’t want to live their lives though.
It all started with Anne Boleyn 🙂 Saw her in a video on YouTube and instantly loved her actress (Natalie Dormer). Then I happened to get some information about her and her story. When I read through it, I fell in love 😀
The whole Tudor-dynasty is so fascinating and especially Anne Boleyn. Thanks to me my family knows everything about her because I tell them something new every day.. guess they’re really annoyed by now… really really annoyed xD That’s also why I’m busy running through such websites so I don’t have to annoy them much more. Here we are 😀 And just for the record; do you have any idea how much a German hates it when I’m telling them I’m more interested in English history than in my own? xD
I have always been fascinated with this period in history. When I was able to travel to England many years ago, I remember the fascination with Hampton Court Palace and all of the changes it went through but the facade from the time of the tudors has more appeal to me.
About a year ago I watched the Tudors, even though I understand that it is for the most part accurate, I found myself looking up the different characters and situations, I found my interest being strengthened by reading.
This would definitely be treasured.
In high school, I watched a PBS Masterpiece Theater series “The Six Wives of Henry the VIIIth and never looked back. I have grandkids now and love reading about the Tudors.
I follow 3 generations in my family of loving royalty. Tudor history is my favorite time to read or watch about. I have visited Hampton Court several times, and was lucky enough to go to Hever Castle this year. The history of Anne and the Boleyn’s is fascinating. She was a poor soul who became a sacrifice for her kin* and country. Being able to read your book, to expand the knowledge, would be so exciting and to win even more exciting. Thank you for your interest in the Tudors and the history you share with us.
It all started with a junior high school book report by a cheerleader classmate who gave some rather sketchy details in her review of Too Near the Throne by Molly Costain Haycraft, I found the book at my local library and soon discovered that she hadn’t really read it, but I am eternally grateful for her faulty report. I was led into the romantically tragic story of Arabella Stuart and her dealings with Elizabeth I, and was also introduced to Mary Queen of Scots. I started checking out any book I could find on Mary, including Jean Plaidy’s series, and ultimately found Antonia Fraser’s epic biography. So I have been hooked on the Tudor Age since I was 14 years old 🙂
Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of On the Tudor Trail. I love your newsletter because I read my first historical book on the Tudors when I was 10 years old and now I’m 76. I discovered 20 years ago that I was kin to Anne Boleyn, who was my 13th great aunt. My lineage was through her sister, Mary Boleyn and Mary’s daughter, Catherine Carey. Catherine was possibly the daughter of King Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn Carey. In tracing my family from farmers and cattle ranchers from Texas through the years, I have discovered many of my lines emerging with other royal lines which has also amazed me. I have always been interested in English history but had no idea that I was ever related to any of royalty in the books I’ve read. Thank you for keeping Anne Boleyn where I can continue to discover new things about her short but full life.
It all started with reading Jean Plaidy while doing A level history, which covered the Tudor period, visits to the Tower. Of London. Now my daughter has inherited the love of this period.
Congratulations on your 10th anniversary of TUDOR TRAIL. I hope to start receiving the magazines from you soon . i am so interested in the life of Anne Boleyn as we were all taught such a one sided history in school and in recent years we ahev learned so much more.thank-you for entering me in draw 🙂
Congratulations on your anniversary! I have just found you so looking forward to reading up!
Well, it is history. I love the tudors because what henry 8th did. We will never know if Ann Boleyn was guilty. I love history period. I say to myself. Can’t believe people where so mean then.
I have only just started reading about the Tudors and I am hooked! I have a boring 9 to 5 job but take my books with me and read at every moment I can. I especially enjoy learning about the incredible women that lived during this period. I would be over the moon to win this book! It’s so beautiful and I would treasure it forever.
I am so happy to have found this site as I have such an interest in British history. I am so fascinated by all the twists and turns it takes and started my obsession with Jacquetta of Luxembourg , through the Cousins wars and then the Tudor dynasty. My Mother was definitely an influence on me as a child as she was also such a student of British history and passed that love on to me (and also her love of reading and great literature. Thanks Mom! ????
Love learning about the monarchies of the world, but for some reason I am most very drawn to the Tudors. I read anything that I can get my hands on! However, I have not read In the Footsteps if Anbe Boleyn yet. What a previous book this hard cover, autographed copy would be to own!
I have admired Anne Boleyn since I was old enough to read and understand her story. Now that I live in England, we are working our way through visiting every place where she spent time. This book looks amazing, and I’d love to read it.
I can clearly remember my fascination with the Tudors & Anne Boleyn. I was twelve years old & started watching the BBC series ‘The six wives of Henry viii with Keith Mitchell. Dorothy Tutin played Anne & now at 62 years old I am still hooked.
Henry V111 and his six knives
I live in Canada and grew up in a family where reading and learning were valued over TV and mindless pursuits! I remember watching “A Man For All Seasons” with my Dad who was a professor and Anglican minister and he explained the story to me from an academic’s point of view. I sought out more movies and the next one I found was “Anne of the Thousand Days”. Next came endless trips to the public and University libraries to read about the Tudors and their fascinating history. Although I have an unending interest in all British royalty the Tudor period remains my favourite and the most intriguing one by far. I’d love to learn more!
On my 6th birthday we went to Hever Castle. It seemed like the ultimate enchanted castle, full of hidden corridors, strange objects and gorgeous dresses. There was a lady dressed as Anne who talked to me – little tiny me! I can remember asking her if her bottom was as big as her dress, and she told me all about the layers and layers of underwear and how long it took to get dressed. I’ve been hooked ever since.
I have always loved monarchy history having read everything to do with the tudors it inspired me to read further back to other kings and queens of history although nothing quite captures your imagination quite like henry viii’s love life!
It all started when I visited London for the first time (cca 10 years ago), we signed up for a history tour around the London where are lovely guide (history student) showed us all the interesting parts with the story behind, I will never forget when he showed us a house where Henry VIII once lived and explained that here lived the King who had 6 wives of which 2 he sent to death. That’s when I started being interested in all the stories about Henry VIII and his 6 wives!
It all started with a trip to the Tower of London. I was in London for two days with my boyfriend and we selected the Tower as one of the attractions we wanted to see while we were there. I found myself fascinated as I explored the various exhibits and areas of the Tower, and marveled at the ancient graffiti carved into the walls by former prisoners of long ago. Then I saw Anne Boleyn’s name on the memorial. I recognized her name from having seen the movie “The Other Boleyn Girl”, and I suddenly felt an urge to learn more about her. After my trip, I began researching on Anne Boleyn and the Tudor era in general, which led to my now great love and appreciation for Tudor history. Interestingly, I also discovered that Anne Boleyn is my first cousin 15 times removed when I got into doing genealogy work on my family tree, so I feel like that perhaps there’s always been a connection there that meant for me to learn more about her. I like to read as much as I can on the Anne and Tudors and would love to add “In The Footsteps of Anne Boleyn” to my personal library of Tudor-related books. My hope is that I get back to England in the near future and get to explore more places associated with Anne Boleyn and the Tudors.
I’ve loved history but especially Tudor history thanks to my moms love of Tudor history. I have such an insatiable need to learn about not only Tudor history but also it’s King and Queens lives as families! For me to win the autographed out of print copy of “In the footsteps of Anne Boleyn” would be of my most treasured memories!
Hi, for me my Tudor fascination started with the series The Tudors. I also love to read about British history as it’s a part of my DNA. The whole era is so fascinating, with it’s machinations, plots, spying, executions, etc. It’s so exciting, better than fiction! Although I love historical fiction too! I just think the Tudors are so fascinating because they were real people. And they lived lives I can only dream about. Good or bad, I just love it all!!
I am the same!
I fell in love after watching The Tudors. It started my love and recently we got to visit so many places I’d learned about. I have 2 of your other books and love them and found them an invaluable resource on our trip.