Category Archives: History

Posts which deal with actual rather than fictional history

Stepping Back Into Saxon England

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Derek Birks

I’m delighted to welcome to my blog today popular historical novelist, Helen Hollick who, with fellow author, Annie Whitehead is revisiting a very interesting period of Britain’s past. The subject matter of Helen’s post is currently very much on my … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog hop, Historical Fiction, History, Post Roman Britain, Saxon England | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Book Feature: Blood Feud by Stuart Rudge

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Derek Birks

Today I am featuring a book by an up and coming author I’ve only recently stumbled across, Stuart Rudge. His new book, Blood Feud, is the sequel to The Rise of a Champion in the series entitled The Legend of … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction, History, Medieval History, New release, Spanish History | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Ladies of the Magna Carta – a Review

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Derek Birks

I am absolutely delighted that my blog has the honour of being the final stop on a blog tour to celebrate: The Ladies of the Magna Carta by Sharon Bennett Connolly. Sharon Bennett Connolly is fast becoming the go-to historian if … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Tour, Book Reviews, History, Medieval History, New release, Plantagenets, Reviews, Women's history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Author interview – Mercedes Rochelle

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Derek Birks

Mercedes Rochelle has just published The King’s Retribution, the second book, of her series set in the England of Richard II and I’m delighted to host the penultimate spot on her book’s blog tour. If you read A KING UNDER … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Tour, Historical Fiction, History, Medieval History, New release, Plantagenets, The Writing Process, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Authors Without Borders – Free Historical Fiction for those Staying At Home

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Derek Birks

Authors Without Borders is a group of fabulous historical fiction authors, including: Ben Kane, Simon James Atkinson Turney, Ruth Downie, Douglas Jackson, Christian G. Cameron, Simon Scarrow, Gordon Doherty LJ Trafford, Alex Gough, Sam Taw – and me. Our aim is to write stories … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient History, Historical Fiction, Post Roman Britain | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Christmas Lord of Misrule in Kingdom of Rebels

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Derek Birks

As part of this Christmas season blog hop by members of the Historical Writers Forum, I’ve chosen to revisit a Christmas scene with a difference. A persistent, though occasional, medieval Christmas tradition was the election by lot of a ‘Lord … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog hop, Christmas, Historical Fiction, Wars of the Roses | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Historical Writers Forum brings you… An Interview with Lady Nicholaa de Haye

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Derek Birks

In 1228, the monk, Hereticus, talks to Lady Nicholaa de Haye, one of the staunchest defenders of the king and his kingdom, at her manor at Swaton in Lincolnshire, as he gathers information for his forthcoming blockbuster chronicle: The Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog hop, History, Medieval History, Women's history | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Who Is Eleanor Elder?

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Derek Birks

Lady Eleanor is a leading character in my two series set during the Wars of the Roses: Rebels & Brothers and the Craft of Kings. Of all the characters in all the books, she is the one who regularly – … Continue reading →

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Coming soon from the Historical Writers Forum

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Derek Birks

Lady Eleanor Elder has been a very popular character with readers throughout two series of books about the Elder family set during the Wars of the Roses. Don’t miss her candid interview with author Sharon Bennett Connolly.

Posted in Blog hop, Historical Fiction, Medieval History, Wars of the Roses, Women's history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Where the History Podcasts meet the Historical Fiction…

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Derek Birks

Since I started producing my series of Wars of the Roses podcasts,  quite a number of people have asked me how my historical fiction stories dovetail in with the non-fiction podcasts – or not! Until now I haven’t really thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction, History, Plantagenets, Wars of the Roses, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment