On the Tudor Trail

20 Questions with Jessie Childs

1. When did you realise that you wanted to write about Tudor history? Not at school – though I had brilliant teachers. Not at university – too many distractions. It was after uni, when I was working for a TV production company that made historical documentaries. I was a researcher and I read a lot of ‘popular history’ books and I thought – with all the confidence of youth – I can do this! 2. What sparked your interest in sixteenth century England? I can’t pinpoint any one thing. … [Read More...]

Review of ‘In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn’

Absolutely delighted to receive Joanna Ferris' review of my book, In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn, co-authored with Sarah Morris. Jo has worked at Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London and performed many first-hand interpretations of Anne Boleyn, so she definitely knows her history. Here's what Jo had to say... This is a beautiful piece of work, thoroughly researched and easy to use. Having spent many years reading historical pieces and guides, it's refreshing to feel that you … [Read More...]

In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn – The Tower of London

Sarah Morris and I are delighted to share with you an excerpt from our book, In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn. It is a detailed guide to the Tower of London, as known to Anne Boleyn. We do hope you enjoy walking in Anne's footsteps! Reproduced here by kind permission of Amberley Publishing. Natalie The Tower of London "It comes to a thousand days – out of the years. Strangely just a thousand. And of that thousand – one – when we were both in love. Only one when our loves met, and … [Read More...]

The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau

Paperback Publication Date: February 13, 2014 Orion Publishing Paperback; 432p ISBN-13: 978-1409135807 Series: Joanna Stafford, Book Two Genre: Historical Mystery Read my review here. Book Blurb: A curse to kill a king, a fight to save a nation. Follow young Joanna Stafford right into the dark heart of King Henry VIII's court in this stunning Tudor thriller. England, 1538. The nation is reeling after the ruthless dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry … [Read More...]

The Monumental Brasses of Sir Thomas Boleyn & Margaret Cheyne

Artist William B. Streett recently sent me these two beautiful silk screen prints of the monumental brasses of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Margaret Cheyne, found in St Peter's Church, Hever. William sells the silk screen prints of Thomas Boleyn's brass for US $100, plus shipping (about US$10 for shipments within the US and US$20 for shipments outside the US). They really are very lovely and of very high quality. For a detailed description of the process William uses to make the prints please click … [Read More...]

Interview with Brandy Purdy

I am delighted to welcome back Brandy Purdy to On the Tudor Trail. Brandy is the author of several historical novels, including The Boleyn Wife, The Tudor Throne, The Queen’s Pleasure and The Queen’s Rivals. She lives in Beaumont, Texas. Readers can connect with Brandy at www.brandypurdy.com. First off, give us a tease about The Boleyn Bride, which will be available starting February 25th, 2014. Elizabeth Boleyn is not your typical historical fiction heroine. The Boleyn Bride is the … [Read More...]

20 Questions with Judith Arnopp

I am delighted to welcome Judith Arnopp to On the Tudor Trail. Judith has written a number of works of historical fiction, including 'The Kiss of the Concubine: A Story of Anne Boleyn' and 'The Winchester Goose' set in London in 1540. I hope you enjoy our Q & A! 1. When did you realise that you wanted to become a writer? I’ve been a writer since I was a little girl and wrote stories to read to my dolls and teddies. As a teenager I penned some very bad poetry and romance … [Read More...]

Anne Boleyn’s “tippet of ermine with marks of blood on it”

I am delighted to welcome Barbara Parker Bell, author of 'Inside the Wardrobe of Anne Boleyn', to On the Tudor Trail. Barbara has written an interesting guest post about an artefact the Victorians associated with Queen Anne Boleyn. Over to Barbara! Anne Boleyn's "tippet of ermine with marks of blood on it" By Barbara Parker Bell How wonderful would it be if an artefact belonging to Anne Boleyn was suddenly discovered? It is certainly a dream come true for anyone interested in Anne and … [Read More...]

The Virgin Queen Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed! Thank you for your entries. One of On the Tudor Trail's lovely readers has very kindly donated a brand new copy of the four-part mini-series 'Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen', to giveaway. Starring Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth and Tom Hardy as Robert Dudley, this is by far one of my favourite series. Now thanks to the generosity of Elizabeth Moore, you have a chance to own the DVD! Conditions of Entry For your chance to win 'Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen', you … [Read More...]

The Mystery of Queen Anne Boleyn’s Second Pregnancy

Giveaway Time! Leave a comment after my article to be in the running to win one of two paperback copies of 'In Bed with the Tudors' by Amy Licence. Conditions of Entry below. Good luck! Competition now closed! The Mystery of Queen Anne Boleyn’s Second Pregnancy By Natalie Grueninger In most recent biographies, Anne Boleyn’s second pregnancy, at the most, occupies a couple of paragraphs. Eric Ives and David Loades conclude that it ended in a miscarriage, Alison Weir in The Six Wives of Henry … [Read More...]

The Masque of Anne Boleyn

In 1909, 1925 and 1938, the people of Aylsham staged a masque at Blickling Hall in Norfolk to celebrate the life of Anne Boleyn. Walter Nugent Monck, theatre director and founder of the Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich, wrote the play specifically for staging in the grounds of Blickling Hall, a grand Jacobean house built in the early seventeenth century on the footprint of a house that was home to the Boleyns for over a century, and traditionally said to be where, in around 1501, Anne Boleyn was … [Read More...]

The Birth of ‘Betrayal’ by Michele Kallio

I'm delighted to welcome Michele Kallio, author of Betrayal, to On the Tudor Trail. Here is a short description of Michele's novel: Betrayal is the story of two women, separated by thousands of miles and almost five hundred years: modern day Lydia Hamilton and Elisabeth Beeton, a servant at the Court of Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn. Living in Canada, Lydia is happily in love with her physician boyfriend, Dan Taylor, until she begins to have nightmares that seem all too realistic. In her … [Read More...]