My Lucky Seven entry.

I've been tagged by Linda Root in the #Lucky sevens game.
The rules are simple: Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript and go to line 7, post the next 7 or so sentences - as they are and tag 7 people to do the same. Click on the link with Linda's name to see his post. I now tag Stephanie Moore Hopkins Prue Batten Barbara Kyle Caroline Storer Paul Jennings Judith Barrow Jan Ruth

This is from Intractable Heart when Katheryn Parr, recently widowed and intent on remarrying her sweetheart, Thomas Seymour, receives an unexpected and unwelcome offer from the king.

 

Oh God. I had not foreseen this. The thought of being his mistress was bad enough, but then at least he would have tired of me, cast me off and left me free to marry Thomas. As queen I will lose Thomas forever and once more my life will not be my own. In fact, married to the king, I may find my life cut very short.

The king is still gripping my hand expectantly. I look up at him. His huge moon-like face is inches from mine, his foul breath tickling my cheek. I open my mouth and close it again, swallow mucus from my throat.

“It is an honour I have never dreamed of…”

“Is that a yes?” His grip tightens; his other arm slides about my waist. A despairing laugh escapes me as I realise I am lost.

“I suppose it is, Your Majesty. Yes.”

“Oh! Wonderful! And I am Henry, call me Henry.”

Before I have come to terms with what becoming his wife will mean, he drags me into his arms, engulfs my mouth with his so I cannot breathe, and I swoon in the arms of the king.

Intractable Heart is available from Amazon  in paperback and on Kindle or direct from the publisher.  Click here for Amazon.com

 

Raglan Castle Tudor Weekend - A Review

Raglan from the top of the tower

On our return from Raglan Castle's Tudor Weekend I wanted to sit down straight away and blog about the fabulous time we had but life got in the way and I am a little behind. After a busy couple of weeks promoting my latest novel Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr at last I have a spare few moments.

Me - shamefully cross laced

Two weeks ago my old fella and I got into our Tudor best and took a trip to Raglan Castle to sell books, meet the public and generally have a lot of fun. The weather for once was perfect, dry, not too hot, not too cold and the company was great. 

A family group

Neither of us had done this before and had no idea what to expect. Sometimes when you enter a new social arena you can feel out of place, not one of the crowd, a little gauche, but there was none of that at Raglan. As soon as we arrived on site we were given a lovely welcome from custodian Jane Mcilquham who quickly introduced us to the others. And what a lovely bunch they are.

Jane Mcilquham - custodian

There were various stalls and a medieval style bar, The Stagger Inn, plenty of refreshments on offer.

Under the banner of the White Boar

We decked our gazebo in medieval bunting and set out our wares right next to Henry VIII who, just as Henry liked to do, sometimes masqueraded as Minstrel Tom, entertaining the crowd with his music. 
 

Nathen Amin signing copies of his book

On our other side was Nathen Amin, signing copies of his guide book Tudor Wales which, as the title suggests, lists all the Tudor attractions in Wales.  Also nearby was photographer, Louise Burrows with a selection of her lovely photographs and cards, and Marion Davies who is better known as Mistress Grott was selling cures and curiosities. I bought a stick weaving kit and am now embarked on yet another handicraft.

A fair maiden

Raglan Castle is truly splendid; a proud building even now after years of wars and neglect, and the splendour was enhanced by the presence of two re-enactment groups, The Armourial Knights and the Beaufort Companye who staged some stunning events. 

Courtly love comes to Raglan

The costumes and attention to detail of both communities is unsurpassed, their camps acting as a portal to another time and place. I saw people of all ages, from small children to elderly women, and all were wearing authentic costume, embellishing the whole event and turning the day into an ‘experience.’ 

King Richard III waiting for the battle

Walking with my camera I came upon a company of knights on their way to Bosworth Field and I felt I was in a setting from one of my novels. I am very certain that many of the characters and scenes I saw at Raglan will be resurrected and used in my future work.

A family group

There was plenty of scope. I saw a mock execution, a re-enactment of the Battle of Bosworth, listened to a talk by historian Emma Knight on Anne Boleyn. There was falconry, spinning displays, a Tudor trail for the kids to educate them subliminally as they move around the castle, helping them learn the fun way. 

Henry VIII figuring out how to put on his own hat

I met several of my heroes and a good few foes; Richard III, Henry VII, Henry VIII, The Stanleys … for me it was seventh heaven.

Richard - still waiting

I am a retiring sort of person and I went to Raglan with some reservation but I will not hesitate to go again. It was brilliant to meet my readers face to face and hear their enthusiastic feedback for my work. Next time, if you can't find me signing my novels, The Kiss of the Concubine, Intractable Heart, and The Winchester Goose, I will be somewhere in the crowd feasting on Welsh cakes and soaking up the atmosphere. 

Hope to see you there.

A gathering

 Judith Arnopp is the author of six historical novels. 

Click here to read more about her work.

Meet My Main Character Blog hop - Katheryn Parr, Henry VIII's sixth and last queen.

 

The very fabulous Elaine Powell, author of The Fifth Knight, has tagged me in the Meet My Main Character blog hop. You can read her post here. Elaine Powell's soon-to-be-published novel is the sequel to The Fifth Knight, and her hero is once again mercenary knight, Sir Benedict Palmer.  Although he is fictional, many other characters and events are not. The sequel is called The Blood of The Fifth Knight. To read more about The Fifth Knight click on the cover link.

To follow me in the blog I am tagging Nigel Williams and Gillian Hamer.

My latest Tudor novel Intractable Heart: the Story of Katheryn Parr is available on Kindle now and the paperback will follow soon. I am very pleased to talk a little about Katheryn, Henry VIII's last queen.

What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historical figure/person?

I think most people recognise the name Katheryn Parr. She was Henry VIII’s sixth and last wife. We first meet her in my novel during the Pilgimage of Grace when she is the wife of John Neville, Lord Latimer and their castle is under siege by rebels. Although Katheryn is only a young woman, she steps up to the challenge, defending the castle and her two step children John and Margaret as best she can.

When and where is the story set?

Oh dear, I’ve rather given that away already. The novel is set at the court of Henry VIII in Tudor England. The scene shifts from Yorkshire during the Pilgrimage of Grace to the royal palaces of the south of England, and also stops off at Portsmouth to witness the sinking of the Mary Rose.

What should we know about her?

Katheryn is very clever. In a world of limited female literacy she is multi-lingual and publishes religious books in support of the reformation of the church in England. Despite their religious differences the King demonstrates his high regard by setting her up as regent while he wages war on France. Once gain Katheryn accepts the challenge although she is beset by enemies.

What is her main conflict? What messes up her life?

Husbands! Poor Katheryn had four of them! Katheryn’s mother, Maud Parr was very ambitious and secured her children excellent spouses. Her eldest William was married at a young age to Anne Bouchier who embarrassed the family by taking a lover and giving birth to a string of illegitimate children. Their marriage ended in annulment but it was a long and bitter battle. Katheryn fared much better. Her first marriage to Sir Edward Borough ended with his unexpected death after just a few years and she later remarried John Neville in 1534, becoming Lady Latimer. Latimer was twice her age but the relationship seems to have been amicable and she took his children under her wing and was genuinely fond of them, particularly Margaret. He died in 1543 leaving Katheryn a wealthy widow.

As a young attractive widow she had no trouble in forming a relationship with Thomas Parr and the pair were set to marry until she caught the eye of the ageing king. It isn’t possible to refuse marriage to a monarch, especially one like Henry. Katheryn’s conflict was to put away her feelings for the brash, handsome Thomas Seymour and submit to the demands of the fat, malodorous and very dangerous king. Quite a challenge.

What is Katheryn’s personal goal?

She puts away the idea of romantic love after her marriage to Henry and turns her attention to being a good queen and mother to the king’s children. Much of her energy is spent in support of the reformation of the church

Katheryn’s strength of character helps her overcome her sorrow at losing Thomas and make the best of her life with Henry. Although his health is failing she has no idea what the future might bring but she wastes very little time wishing things are different.

Of all Henry’s wives she emerges as the capable one: the one who manages Henry the best, and the one with the intelligence and determination to be more than just a wife and fill the role of ‘consort’ in the fullest sense of the word.

Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

Intractable Heart. The title is taken from Katheryn’s book Lamentation of a Sinner in which she laments her ‘obstinate, stony and intractable heart.’ Although she uses the words in religious terms I think they sum Katheryn’s character up rather well. Married four times, her first three marriages are all successful; it is her fourth union, the only one which is forged from love that proves to be her downfall. Seymour becomes Katheryn’s beloved nemesis.

When can we expect the book to be published?

Now! It is just out on Kindle now and the paperback will follow as soon as possible. It should be with you VERY soon – if the fates are willing. Click here to buy.

Photographs from WikimediaCommons

To view my other books click on the links below:

The Kiss of the Concubine 

TheWinchester Goose

The Song of Heledd

The Forest Dwellers

Peaceweaver

A Tapestry of Time

Dear Henry: Confessions of the Queens