Author Spotlight: Helen Reynolds

It is my great pleasure to introduce to you historical fiction author, Helen Reynolds. Helen not only scores points for writing about the 17th century, she gets bonus points for focusing on the Interregnum. This period of history, between the execution of the King and the Restoration of the monarchy is dominated by Oliver Cromwell, and is rife with spies and intrigue. Helen’s debut novel CONSPIRATESSA (still yet to be published), is an action adventure about a fledgling female spy who works for the English Resistance to help Charles II reclaim his throne. This is one novel that I can’t…

NaNoWriMo from the other side

November 13, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: NaNoWriMo · WritingTags: 17th century enthusiast · NaNo · NaNoWriMo · Traitor's Knot · writing processLeave a comment

The first time that I completed NaNoWriMo (short for National Novel Writing Month) I did it backwards. I did in fact write the required 50,000 words that month, but by backwards, I mean that I wrote the last part of the novel, which became Traitor’s Knot. The prevailing goal (or at least the approach that NaNo diehards subscribed to) is that you have to start a new novel, not finish it. That year was a frantic race to the finish line and it felt good to get there! The next year, I decided to try it properly–start a new novel. I had…

Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales

May 29, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: 17th centuryTags: 17th century · 17th century enthusiast · carte blanche · Charles Stuart · Edgehill · English Civil War · King Charles II · Merry Monarch · Traitor's Knot3 Comments

Today is the anniversary of Charles II’s birthday. He is 387 years old, but he doesn’t look a bit over 40. In honour of timeless Charles, I thought it would be fitting to introduce you to his early years. The following article was originally written for the English Historical Fiction Author’s Blog (EHFA) and published on May 2, 2016. If you are interested in English history of all ages, I can’t recommend a better site to explore. When people think of Charles II of England, they usually think of Charles the Merry Monarch. Yet there was more to this intelligent man…

Maypole madness

May 1, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: 17th centuryTags: 17th century enthusiast · Beltane · Greek Easter · May Day · May festival · maypole · Ordinance · Puritans6 Comments

On 8 April 1644, Parliament got into a snit over the maypole. They determined that they had enough of it and released An Ordinance (for the better observation of the Lord’s Day) to ban it, calling the maypole a “Heathenish vanity, generally abused to superstition and wickedness”. The Puritans were looking to reshape England into a godly society, and the poor, innocent maypole just had to go. The Ordinance stated: That all and singular May-Poles, that are, or shall be erected, shall be taken down and removed by the Constables, Borsholders, Tything-men, petty Constables, and Churchwardens of the Parishes, and places where the…

Mercurius Istoria ~ April 2017

April 1, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: Mercurius IstoriaTags: 17th century broadsheet · 17th century enthusiast · Cryssa Bazos · Mercurius Istoria · Traitor's KnotLeave a comment

Mercurius Istoria is now out. This month’s broadsheet features curated articles with the theme of spring cleaning and new beginnings. Subscribe now and receive Mercurius Istoria by email. Keep up with 17th century news. To access the April 2017 edition, click here.