Sunday 21 February 2021

Beware the Lizard Lurking by Vivienne Brereton





Vivienne Brereton

Born between historic Winchester and Southampton in the UK, Vivienne has been passionate about the Tudors for as long as she can remember. This led to a degree in Medieval History at university, and the growing desire to write a novel.

However, life took over somewhat and only after stays, short and long, in six countries she called home did she finally settle down to finish her novel.

Words have always played an important part in her life, whether it's been writing, editing, teaching English, or just picking up a good book.

Having three sons came in very handy when she had to write about squabbles between the male characters in her novel. Not so handy when she took her boys to Hampton Court and one of them got lost in the maze!

Seeing 'A Phoenix Rising', the first book in the series 'The House of the Red Duke' in print for the first time was a moment of great joy for her. She very much hopes that anyone reading ‘Beware the Lizard Lurking’, the second book in the series, will enjoy the end result as much as she enjoyed writing it.

Social Media Links: WebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook 



Beware the Lizard Lurking

(The House of the Red Duke, Book 2)

By Vivienne Brereton


Welcome to the candlelit courts of Europe!

Uninvited guests at a secret wedding.

 A frozen River Thames.

 May Day celebrations to remember.

The young Henry VIII, with the aid of his chief advisor, Thomas Wolsey, and against the counsel of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey, is hellbent on a so-called holy war with France. This puts him at odds with his Scottish brother-in-law, James IV of Scotland, and his older sister, Margaret. 

Both Tristan and Nicolas know that time is running out for them before they have to…enter the Church - and into an arranged marriage, respectively. In the meantime, they remain at loggerheads over pretty Ysabeau de Sapincourt, the spoilt young wife of the hapless Robert.

At La Colombe, near Ardres, in Picardy, spirited little Valentine is still making mischief as she sees fit.

Across the Narrow Sea, Cecily is perfectly content in her beloved Zennor Castle, in Cornwall. 

None of them know what Dame Fortune has in store for them. Will she allow them to follow their own paths…or has she got other ideas?


An Excerpt from Beware the Lizard Lurking


The following excerpt appears in the Prologue:

 

Twelfth Night, 1513. London. Thomas More, an upcoming young lawyer, is hurrying home after an audience with the young Henry VIII, hoping to reach his house before a snowstorm.

 

 It had been a long, arduous day; an exceptionally chilly dawn had given him a disagreeable send-off for a meeting with the young King over at Greenwich. Responding to More’s urgent message that he had something of great import to show their master, the royal summons had been issued by Thomas Wolsey who (to More’s satisfaction) had made it clear in the past how much he valued More’s legal brain. It was well-known in court circles that if you wished to secure a royal audience you had to partake in a game of leapfrog, or sautĂ©-mouton, as it was known in France. Whether frog or sheep - and however much it stuck in the craw of some of the haughtier courtiers - in order to reach the King, it was first necessary to clamber over the increasingly powerful Wolsey. Glancing down at the manuscript, More recalled how Henry (whose every waking thought these days was focussed on a ‘holy’ war with France, on behalf of the Pope in Rome) had seized the spare copy with both hands, as if it were some priceless treasure from one of his grand warships sailing up the Thames.

    ‘The Prince’. ‘Il Principe’, by Niccolò Machiavelli. I’m curious to read it, he’d said. In my experience, anything Desiderius Erasmus recommends is worth a few hours of my time.

    More’s good friend, Desiderius (like himself, a man of peace dedicated to God’s work), had sent two copies of the manuscript as a New Year’s gift. They’d arrived yesterday morning, accompanied by a letter stating his wishes:

  ‘Be sure to present one of them to King Henry at your earliest convenience. Better it comes from you or me: men of honour and great learning, than from another who does not truly understand its ability to change the world for good or evil.’

  

*

 Unfortunately, Henry’s sunny mood on receiving Machiavelli’s work had quickly evaporated (leaving More with a slight megrim) when a servant returned with the seemingly calamitous news that none of the Howards could be found anywhere in the Palace. In particular, Edward, the Vice-Admiral of England, one of the King’s favourites.

 How can we manage without Ned?” he stormed, his lower lip white and quivering in sulky protest. “He’s one of the six Lords of the Mount. It’s too late to find a replacement.”

 Wolsey had tried his best to placate his mercurial young master, even though it was well-known that there was no love lost between him and the Howards. No doubt the King’s Almoner had no desire to be on the receiving end of an outpouring of wrath that had nothing to do with him: “I’m sure there’s a very good reason, Your Majesty. Perhaps the Earl’s daughter, Muriel, has taken a turn for the worse.”

 Even this didn’t appear to soften the King’s heart: a Tudor thwarted was not a pretty sight to behold, More decided.

 They shouldn’t have gone anywhere without my permission,” he snapped back.

 Wolsey’s face became a perfect mirror of indignation, but also one tinged with the remnants of an appropriate morsel of sympathy for the ailing Howard girl. “It’s their loss if they don’t make an appearance at what promises to be the best Twelfth Night at any court in Europe.”

 More took note of Wolsey’s ability to steer the royal vessel back to calmer waters. Distract and deflect. Two very important words to remember. Henry was at least looking slightly mollified.

 True, Tom.”

 And what better start to a New Year that’s going to end with you as the rightful King of England and France.”

 <<Hold your bow steady>> More thought to himself. <<Take aim. And then straight through the heart! Learn from the master. No wonder hitting the heart of the popinjay is called “the King’s shot”>> He quickly made his polite excuses that he needed to catch a wherry back to London Bridge before the weather changed. And breathed a sigh of relief at the satisfying clang of the two heavy oak doors as they closed behind him.


Buy Links:


Amazon UKAmazon USAmazon AU



                              






Friday 19 February 2021

The Coffee Pot Book Club with Richard Tearle and Helen Hollick co-authors of The North Finchley Writers’ Group



The North Finchley Writers’ Group

 Richard Tearle, with Helen Hollick


Publication Date: 2nd February 2021

Publisher: Taw River Press

Page Length: 142 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

When a group of north London writers meet each month for a chat, coffee, and cake – what else is on their agenda? Constructive criticism? New Ideas? An exciting project? And maybe, more than one prospective romance...?

Eavesdrop on the monthly meetings of the North Finchley Writers' Group, follow some ordinary people with a love of story writing, and an eagerness for success. Discover, along with them, the mysteries of creating characters and plot, of what inspires ideas, and how real life can, occasionally, divert the dream...




Buy Links: Amazon


LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF


My name – my personal and professional name – is Rob Taylor and I'm a writer. 

It is rather strange to state that as a fact after years of scribbling, despair at rejections tempered by moments of high elation when one of my stories was accepted by a respected magazine. But I can state it as a truth now, for I write regularly for several publications, and my first compilation has recently been published with a fixed contract for two more to follow. At the moment, I write short stories, but more than a few friends have encouraged me with prompts such as “You have a novel in you, you know,” and, “A short story has the potential to be a novel writ long.” I am working on the idea.

But enough of that.

About a year or so ago, I was unexpectedly made redundant. Jobless, but with a good-enough redundancy bank balance to keep me going for a bit, and a determination to do what I wanted to do – write – I took the plunge and converted the spare bedroom into a study. I started writing full time and joined the North Finchley Writers' Group, where I met some lovely people who, one way or another, gave me the encouragement to develop my ideas.

All to my satisfaction, but my wife's dismay. 

The members of our writers’ group are a very mixed bunch, as you will find out. We meet every month at a different house and whoever is the host gets to provide tea and coffee – often with cake or ‘light snacks’ – and chooses a topic for discussion. We talk, voice opinions and yes, sometimes we argue. But it is all forgotten when we walk away into the night.

Mostly.

They've had quite a turnover of members over the years. Some who came for a couple of meetings and then disappear. Some who weren't really writers but 'dabble' and think that attending a writers' group meeting makes them one. They never last long. Some have moved along and, sadly, one or two have passed on to the great Library in the Sky. Nowadays we have about a dozen or so regulars. There are one or two who are deliberately obstructive. Outspoken.  Single minded. Cantankerous. 

Some are shy and introvert and, in truth, offer little. But they listen and learn, and that is what we are all there for. To learn from others, be they best sellers or unpublished writers. Because, whatever our differences, we stick together and, if anyone is down, we stand by them and offer encouragement. If someone is on a high, then we enthuse in their success.


Most of us, anyway.


We do have a few Best Sellers. Angela Knight, for example, and Zak Nichols. Charlotte Caroll is more than adept at Regency romances, (not my bag, but, well, credit where credit's due) and Jean Hart uses her history degree to good effect, as does Hilary Jackson, albeit covering a different period of time.

I'll introduce them all properly as we go along...


A Word From Richard Tearle :

“To the writing community, whether they be traditionally published, indie or aspiring.  

You make the rocking world go round...Writers are such a wonderful community – supportive, helpful and ever willing to give their time and expertise to one humble chap such as I. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Richard – December 2020

 

A Word From Helen Hollick:

It was with great enthusiasm that I encouraged Richard to write this, his first novel. His enjoyment of creating a good story, I felt, should be shared to readers and writers, everywhere. Unfortunately, at the editing stage, Richard became ill, involving hospitalisation. In discussion with his son, rather than abandon the project or put it on hold, we decided that the best course of action was for me to continue with getting this book published on his behalf. The characters, plot – the story – are all Richard’s immense talent, I merely tidied up and added the final polish, coming in as ‘painter and decorator’ to Richard’s main role as architect, designer, and builder. 


Social Media Links:

Connect with Richard: Website 

Connect with Helen:


TwitterInstagram





Sunday 7 February 2021

OUT NOW! The Fall of Kings by Stuart Rudge

 


The Fall of Kings

(Legend of the Cid, Book 3)

By Stuart Rudge


Castile. 1071AD. Three kings. One crown.

After Sancho II of Castile dispatches his champion Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar to capture his brother, King Garcia of Galicia, he hopes it is a defining moment in his quest to reunite the lands of his father under one banner. But Alfonso VI of Leon is one step ahead, and has already added the lands of Galicia to his domain. When the only alternative is war, Sancho turns to Rodrigo to lead the armies of Castile, and he must use all his tactical acumen to defeat the Leonese in the field. Only one son of Fernando can claim victory and become the Emperor of Hispania.

Rodrigo and Antonio Perez, now a knight of the realm, find difficulty adjusting to the new regime. Dissent and unrest run rife throughout the kingdom, and the fear of a knife in the dark from enemies old and new hangs heavy upon the pair. But if it is allowed to fester, it threatens to undo all that has been achieved. Can Rodrigo and Antonio root out the enemies of the king, and prevent chaos reigning throughout the land?

The Fall of Kings is the breath taking third instalment of the Legend of the Cid.


Buy Links:

Amazon UKAmazon US Amazon CAAmazon AU


Stuart Rudge


Stuart Rudge was born and raised in Middlesbrough, where he still lives. His love of history came from his father and uncle, both avid readers of history, and his love of table top war gaming and strategy video games. He studied Ancient History and Archaeology at Newcastle University, and has spent his fair share of time in muddy trenches, digging up treasure at Bamburgh Castle.

He was worked in the retail sector and volunteered in museums, before working in York Minster, which he considered the perfect office. His love of writing blossomed within the historic walls, and he knew there were stories within which had to be told. Despite a move in to the shipping and logistics sector (a far cry to what he hoped to ever do), his love of writing has only grown stronger.

Rise of a Champion is the first piece of work he has dared to share with the world. Before that came a novel about the Roman Republic and a Viking-themed fantasy series (which will likely never see the light of day, but served as good practise). He hopes to establish himself as a household name in the mound of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian, Ben Kane and Matthew Harffy, amongst a host of his favourite writers.

Social Media Links:

Website Facebook



 


 






 

Wednesday 3 February 2021

Romance Author Rachael Thomas Flying Solo


Rachael Thomas was a finalist in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write competition in 2013 and her entry went on to be her debut book with Harlequin/Mills and Boon. A Deal Before the Altar was published in October 2014, became an Amazon best seller. Now Rachael’s titles have been published around the world and in many languages, offering fans of contemporary romance, fantasy and escapism with alpha heroes, strong heroines, glamorous settings and that all important happy ever after ending.

Her first self-published title, The Greek’s Outrageous Marriage Deal brings all that romance fans want and expect from her books and she is really excited with her new writing adventure.

Rachael lives in Wales, loves walking with her golden retriever, is a keen amateur photographer and enjoys travelling, where she often finds inspiration. She also loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website: www.rachaelthomas.co.uk or Twitter @rachaeldthomas


Rachael says, "Some books just have to be written. The characters demand it of the writer, and The Greek’s Outrageous Marriage Deal is such a book.

It’s also my first self-published book after seven years and sixteen books writing for Mills and Boon, I am now flying solo and enjoying it!"



The Greek’s Outrageous Marriage Deal


A deal to reclaim his wife…

Becomes so much more!

When Athena returns to their marital home in Crete, billionaire Kostas Kyriakou seizes the opportunity to reunite with his wife and have an heir for the empire he has created from nothing. It’s the only deal he’s prepared to consider. After all, heady passion and hot desire had never been lacking in their short marriage.

Athena has promised her father, who is again battling illness, that she will return to Athens with her estranged husband. Seeing the man she’d loved so completely, and hearing his outrageous demands to have his child, forces her to face all the pain and heartache of losing her mother as a young girl. 

Time together, acting out a marriage reunited, brings back all that explosive passion, but can they truly share who they are this time and mend the marriage for real?

Buy links

Amazon ebook  Amazon Print


You can follow Rachael on Social Media


Twitter  Instagram  Facebook