December 2024
Well, 2024 is almost over, where did those twelve months go? It has been a busy year although I have little to show for it. I began working on my next novel, Marguerite, Hell Hath no Fury which is about Marguerite of Anjou, written from her perspective she offers a very different story of the war of the roses. My work on it began very well and I was quickly a good half way through but then I was struck by writer's block, or laziness as my husband likes to call it.
​
I worked on the garden, restored some antique dolls houses all in the certainty that when I eventually sat down to write again it would all go smoothly. I was wrong. I caught covid again, so was back with the brain fog and a horrible cough for weeks. I have resumed writing again now but it will not be on the shelf before Christmas as I had hoped.
​
During the summer I revised and repackaged some of my very early work that had previously been published under the author name J M Ruddick. The Book of Thornhold is the story of an ancient manuscript and the family who own it, a far reaching saga set in one place, with one family in the gorgeous Thornhold Manor.
​
A Daughter of Warwick is the story of Anne Neville, wife to Richard III and was the first 'real' person I wrote about. It was written long before Richard's remains were discovered in Leicester and his story became more widely known. The novel is available in paperback and kindle and will soon be on Audible, narrated by Alex Lee who has done such a lovely job with many of my books.
​
As to my reading for pleasure, I don't get through as many books as I used to but I particularly enjoyed Elizabeth St John's The King's Intelligencer and Deborah Swift's WWII trilogy. For non-historical reads I highly recommend Terry Tyler's books, I've enjoyed every one of them.
​
I am still suffering on-going problems with my vision so progress on the next book is slow but I will get there. Thank you for your patience and support and the lovely reviews. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous New
Year.
​
See you on the other side!
April 2024
​
I get later with these updates every year but at least I have the excuse of being extremely busy lately. As many of you know, the book I was writing for Pen and Sword, How to dress like a Tudor was finally published at the end of last year and is selling well. It is also on Kindle now as well as hard and soft back. So soon you will all be swanning around dressed like Tudors.
​
​
​
​
​
The final book in the Henrician series was also published early this year and sales of the others in the collection also rocketed. I am relieved I shall be able to eat for a few months now. while I was pondering my next move I decided to upgrade and republish some books I wrote years ago and published under a pseudonym. While i was at it I also gave the Song of Heledd a rewrite and a new cover. The Song of Heledd, The Book of Thornhold and A Daughter of Warwick are now available on Amazon and kindle and should be on Audible soon. You can find details of them on this webpage.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Final piece of author news is that I have begun to write my next HF novel but this time it won't be set at Henry VIII's court. I felt we needed a break from each other so I have gone back in time to the war of the roses. Having already given the point of view of Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth of York and Anne Neville, this time I will be writing from the perspective of Marguerite of Anjou.
​
I had been intending to take a break from writing after such a strenuous few years with Henry yet here I am, mainly due to the horrible weather we've been having, already 40 thousand words into the story. shouldn't be long then, if I can maintain the pace.
​
I am really longing for summer to arrive some time soon. Have a good one!
​
Thank you for listening and for your continuing support. It is what keeps me going, and keeps food on my table xx
​
January 2023
​
Well, the tail end of 2022 wasn't great for me. I went down with Covid in October which progressed (or digressed) into long-Covid and I am only now beginning to feel better. What a terrible virus it is. I don't know when I've ever felt so ill and the long recovery was exhausting. I'm still not 100% yet but at least I can report that A Matter of Faith is at last with the editor and will be with you soon.
​
I really appreciate your patience and thank you for all the messages of support during my struggles. Even better news is that the same day I sent off the manuscript to be edited, I began to write Book Three. I promise to do all in my power not to tqke so long with this one.
​
Also in the pipeline, the non-fiction book I am writing for Pen and Sword publishers is also currently being proofed. It is stuffed with lovely illustrations, not just of Henry VIII and crew but also pictures of The Fyne Company of Cambria while on their Summer Progress in 2022.
​
I shall keep you posted on publication dates. Meanwhile, back to the keyboard! Happy 2023 everyone!
​
September 2022
Just dropping in to let you know I am still here. This summer has been immensely busy with the holiday let, the garden, the new collection of two hundred houseplants, and writing of course. I recently completed the first draft of a book of Tudor Clothing and fashion (with tips of how to make your own) and sent it off to the publisher. It will be full of colour and black and white illustrations. Non-fiction and I are uneasy bedfellows, I have to constantly rein myself in, force my creative brain to be concise. I just hope you all like it when it hits the book shelves next year.
​
As for Henry, he has not been at all pleased about the delays to the second volume of my Henrician Chronicle. Every so often he lost his temper and forced me to put aside writing about corsets and codpieces and pay him some attention. Progress has been slow but, rest assured, I am working on it and now have a few clearish months in which to write intensively. I do apologise for the delay and once book two is done, I promise to knuckle down and write the third and final episode quickly as I can. In the meantime, I suggest you read all my books again, lol.
​
I hope you all had a fabulous summer. Last week our beach was teeming with families, children and dogs and it was impossible to swim without risking life and limb among the paddle boards and kayaks. Today, the beach is almost silent, just a few older couples walking their dogs. It is always sad, knowing summer's end is nigh. The garden is parched, brown leaves have begun to gather on the lawn, but soon autumn will burst into glory and the lovely frosty days and bright skies of winter will follow. I will not mention the wind and rain or the chances of snow but, after all, such conditions are perfect writing weather. Onwards and upwards!
​
​
October 2020
​
I must be the worst author in the world for updating her news and events page. it isn't that my life is lacking, it is just that I am so busy being an author that I forget to update.
​
I've been involved in a few anthologies of short stories this year with some splendid authors. The first Royal Blood (published by Sharpe Books) is a collection of stories from the Tudor court and my contribution is a story about Katherine Howard. It is available on Kindle and paperback and I believe the publisher is considering an audiobook. You can read a sample here.
​
The second anthology is due out in November but I am sworn to secrecy just now. What I can tell you is that I am working with some wonderful authors: Cryssa Bazos, Anna Belfrage, Derek Birks, Helen Hollick, Amy Maroney, Alison Morton, Charlene Newcombe, Tony Riches, Mercedes Rochelle, Elizabeth St John and Annie Whitehead and the cover is fabulous.
​
I have been working on other projects too. Since the final book of The Beaufort Chronicle was published, I've added Sisters of Arden and The Heretic Wind to my catalogue. I've also been working on audio versions of my books with two lovely ladies, Elizabeth Bergstone who narrates Margaret in the Chronicile, and Alex Lee audio who narrates The Kiss of the Concubine, A Song of Sixpence and The Heretic Wind.
​
Lockdown has been hard for all of us this year and Covid 19 continues to hamper our social lives and cripple businesses. As an author it hasn't been too drastic for me. I rarely go out, I work from home and the fewer social pressures meant I had heaps of time to work on my new book. Unfortunately, because the weather was so splendid in the Wales I spent most of my time gardening or on the beach instead of working and am now paying the price and hurrying to reach my dead line.
​
The book I am currently writing is a challenge but it is something I've considered doing for a long time. It will be called A Matter of Conscience: the Aragon Years and is told from the perspective of Henry VIII himself. It covers his early years, his childhood, the death of Arthur, his time as Prince of Wales and the early years of his reign when he and Catherine were happy. Progress is good so far. Henry has not yet become the cruel man of his latter years. He has plans to become a good Christian king, the father of many sons, a champion of the church - all of which, he sadly fails to do.
​
Next time, I will give you the glimpse of the cover and hopefully a publication date. In the meantime, be good, keep safe and keeeep reading!
​