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…

Historical Fiction Book of the Year

December 28, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: historical fiction · Traitor's KnotTags: 17th century · @johannacraven · best historical romance · best historical romance novels · Coffee Pot Award 2017 · Coffee Pot Award for Historical Fiction · historical fiction · Historical fiction book of the year · Mary Anne Yarde · Myths Legends Books & Coffee Pots · Traitor's Knot8 Comments

2017 saw the fulfilment of my dream to see my debut novel published. I had the pleasure and excitement to see it climb up in the Amazon bestseller charts, and most especially, hear what readers had to say about it. I think that was my biggest excitement this year, knowing that people were reading my novel and losing themselves in the world I had created. Which is why I am entirely thrilled to be awarded the 2017 Coffee Pot Award for Historical Fiction Book of the Year. I share this year’s award with another Endeavour Press author, Johanna Craven, author…

Did Ollie really cancel Christmas?

December 20, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: 17th centuryTags: 17th century · 17th Century history · Did Oliver Cromwell Cancel Christmas · English Civil War · historical perspective · Mary Anne Yarde · Myths · Traitor's KnotLeave a comment

Oliver Cromwell has gone down through history as the Grinch that stole Christmas. Is that a fair assessment? Christmas was abolished during the English Civil War and throughout the Interregnum, but how did it really happen? I am participating in a Christmas blog series hosted by Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots where I discuss what happened. Click here to read my article, The Puritans Who Abolished Christmas.

Author Spotlight: Elizabeth St. John

November 8, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: 17th century · Author SpotlightsTags: 17th century · By Love Divided · Elizabeth St. John · English Civil War · Historical Novel Society · Lydiard Chronicles · Lydiard Park · The Lady of the Tower2 Comments

I first met Elizabeth St. John after one of the sessions at the 2015 Historical Novel Society Conference in Denver. We were waiting to meet the speaker, the lovely Jenny Quinlan (aka Jenny Q) of Historical Editorial, when we struck up a conversation about what we were writing. You should realize that when you’re at a historical fiction conference, you can skip the genre question and go straight to, ‘What period are you writing in?”. We both answered 17th century England, and this pretty much sealed it for us. Elizabeth is blessed with a closet-full of famous relatives from which she…

Highwaymen of the 17th century

October 23, 2017August 19, 2019 Categories: 17th centuryTags: 17th century · Captain James Hind · Charles Duval · Charles II · clever thieves · Highwayman · highwaymen · Traitor's Knot · William Nevis8 Comments

I do have an obsession for highwaymen, especially the 17th century variety. It’s possibly because the most famous of this collection were closely associated with the English Civil War and had fought for the king. Many soldiers returned from the war to impoverished conditions and some turned to highway robbery. Others continued to war against the enemy on the highway instead of a battlefield; and still others just took advantage of the upheaval to make a ‘living’. Let me introduce to you three of my favourite 17th century highwaymen. Without a doubt, Captain James Hind tops my list. Also…