Recent Posts
20 Questions with Anna Castle & Giveaway!
I am delighted to share with you my interview with Anna Castle, author of the Francis Bacon Mystery series. Anna holds an eclectic set of degrees: BA in the Classics, MS in Computer Science, and a Ph.D in Linguistics. She has had a correspondingly eclectic series of careers: waitressing, software engineering, documenting an indigenous language of southern Mexico, a short stint as an associate professor, and managing a digital archive. Writing historical fiction combines her lifelong love of … [Read More...]
Food and Drink in Tudor England
I'm delighted to welcome back Terry Breverton to On the Tudor Trail. Terry's latest book, 'The Tudor Kitchen: What the Tudors Ate & Drank' contains over 500 recipes, all taken from contemporary sources. Terry is here today to talk to us about his new book and to share two Tudor recipes. Book Blurb: Did you ever wonder what the Tudors ate and drank? What was Anne Boleyn's favorite tipple? Which pies did Henry VIII gorge on to go from a 32 to a 54-inch waist? The Tudor Cookbook provides … [Read More...]
Hatfield House – Guest Post & Giveaway
I am delighted to welcome Sarah Kennedy to On the Tudor Trail! Sarah has written a wonderful guest post for us about Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, but before I share with you this entertaining and informative read, some more good news, to celebrate the release of Sarah's novel, The King's Sisters: Book Three of The Cross and the Crown Series, I will be giving away a copy to one lucky reader! Here’s how to enter… Conditions of Entry For your chance to win a copy of The King's Sisters, … [Read More...]
Anne Boleyn the Sportswoman and Her Captivating Looks – A Guest Post
I am delighted to be hosting day four of Sandra Vasoli's book tour! Sandra has written a wonderful guest post for us entitled 'Anne Boleyn the Sportswoman and Her Captivating Looks'. Are you intrigued? The title certainly got my attention! But before I share with you this entertaining and informative read, some more good news, MadeGlobal has provided me with a copy of Sandra's new book, Anne Boleyn’s Letter from the Tower, to give away! Here's how to enter... Conditions of Entry For your … [Read More...]
The Shakespeare Trail
The Shakespeare Trail by Zoe Bramley For Shakespeare fans the year 2016 is set to be one long celebration as we mark the 400th anniversary of his death. Of course, we’re not celebrating the fact that he died, but this will be a brilliant chance to sit back and watch as the TV schedules fill with Shakespeare documentaries and adaptations such as Hollow Crown. There will also be a glut of books released including one written by Boris Johnson, who is currently Mayor of London. 2016 will be … [Read More...]
Tudor Ghost Story Contest – The Maid’s Tale
This story was a place getter of the original Tudor Ghost Story Contest (then known as The Tudor England Ghost Story Contest). Permission was then kindly granted to Wendy J. Dunn to publish these stories. If you are the author of this story and rather not have it published here, please just send me an email. I hope this inspires you to get writing, remember that this year's competition closes on 1 October, 2015. The Maid's Tale By Geoffrey James A fire blazes in the Great Hall's central … [Read More...]
John Bloomfield Costume Prints – The Six Wives of Henry VIII
I’m very excited to share with you that I recently acquired five original vintage prints of costumes designed by John Bloomfield for the BBC series, ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, made in the early 1970s, and starring Australian actor Keith Michell as King Henry VIII. Michell won an Emmy Award for his performance that is still lauded by many as the definitive television portrayal of the Tudor king. According to the BBC, 'The authentic appearance of the court costumes was achieved by the … [Read More...]
The Tudor Ghost Story Contest on again!
Wendy J. Dunn has some exciting news to share with you all... Welcome Wendy! Fifteen years ago I wrote a regular column about the Tudors for an online site; I decided then to set in motion a Tudor Ghost Story Contest as a Christmas treat for my readers. The stories entered for judging were so impressive that I repeated the contest at the end of each year, until the time came for me to move on from my column and concentrate on other writing commitments. I still remember vividly so many … [Read More...]
20 Questions with Jeri Westerson
1. When did you realise that you wanted to become a writer? I’d always written stories ever since I could pick up a crayon, but I didn’t come to the conclusion that I wanted to have a career as a writer until I was about thirty and had already had a graphic design career under my belt. My son was just a toddler and I thought I’d get back into design, but in my two-year hiatus the whole graphics industry had turned to computers and I, alas, had not. So I had to think about what I could do at … [Read More...]
Tudor Talk by Pamela Hartshorne
Today I have for you a fascinating guest post by author Pamela Hartshorne, who has written a series of 'timeslip' novels that move between the 16th century and the present. Her latest book, The Edge of Dark, is set in Elizabethan London and York. Welcome Pamela! TUDOR TALK Pamela Hartshorne Dialogue is one of the trickiest aspects of writing historical fiction. How do you create characters who speak and think in ways a modern reader can understand but who at the same time feel … [Read More...]
Lady Katherine Knollys: The Unacknowledged Daughter of King Henry VIII
I am delighted to share with you a short extract from Lady Katherine Knollys: The Unacknowledged Daughter of King Henry VIII by Sarah-Beth Watkins. The paternity of Mary Boleyn's children, Katherine and Henry Carey, has been the subject of much contentious debate. Some historians believe that Katherine and Henry were the illegitimate children of King Henry VIII, while others affirm that their father was Mary's first husband, William Carey. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter but … [Read More...]
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