KINGDOMS OF THE NORTH

Following my visit to Sutton Hoo, and my ongoing work to republish Kathleen Herbert's first three historical novels- Bride of the Spear, Queen of the Lightning and Ghost in the Sunlight, I have been researching the history of Britain in the Heroic Age- after the departure of the Romans in the late 4th century. Kathleen uses two main sources for Bride of the Spear: the "Lady of the Fountain" story in the Mabinogion, and the life of St Kentigern by Jocelyn of Furness. Cynthia Whiddon Green's translation and thesis are excellent sources of knowledge!


Holme St Cuthbert History Group has also got some interesting information about St Kentigern in the context of the history of the Solway Plain. 

Kathleen's three books were variously known as The Cumbrian Trilogy and The Northumbrian Trilogy- probably because the middle book, Queen of the Lightning, which won the Georgette Heyer Memorial Prize, was about the dynastic marriage between Riemmelth, last princess of Cumbria and Oswy, prince of Northumbria.


Following the success of Queen of the Lightning, Bodley Head then published the other two books, but- shockingly, for such a prestigious publisher- described Bride of the Spear as the third book of the trilogy! This confused many readers and led some to think that one or more of the books had been badly cut or written in a disjointed way.


The settings for the books, when taken together, range from Edinburgh, through Cumbria and Northumbria, to North Wales, Cheshire, Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Whilst those of us who live in Cumbria and Northumbria relish the idea that Kathleen has a particular love for our part of the world, we want to make the magnificent scale of these novels clearer: therefore in their new editions we will use Kingdoms of the North as the subtitle to all three volumes. And we will publish them in the right order!

Readings from Bride of the Spear on 15th January  in Blencogo

St Mungo's Church, Bromfield. St Mungo is the familiar name of St Kentigern

THE BOY WITH TWO HEADS

The next Trifolium Book is on its way!

I can now reveal the author and title of our next book, out in time for Christmas: The Boy with Two Heads: Olympic Dreaming, by J M Newsome. Julia is the author of the CUP prizewinning book, Dragon's Eggs. She is an experienced writer and editor of books for English learners, so this is a new departure for her.

This is a time-slip novel, set in Ancient Greece, modern Athens and Northern England. It is aimed at young adults, but if you want to buy this book for a young person you know who loves reading, I suggest you get it ordered in plenty of time, so that you can read it first!

The Panathenaic Stadium, Athens

In 432 BC they think Themis is dead. Across more than two thousand years, Suzanne is drawn to keep him alive. Will his destiny be Olympic glory? And will she regain control of her life in the present, or will her mind be occupied for ever by the past?

It is 432 BC and it is 2010 AD. We are in Athens. Themistokles son of Kallistos has just finished his training session. Best friends Suzanne and Bernie from Penrith are on a school trip to Greece, about to leave the Panathenaic stadium.

Themis, quarrelling with one of his class mates, gallops away and, thrown by his pony, hits his head on the stone abutment of the bridge.

In ancient Athens, the priestess calls on Apollo to call back the soul of Themistokles who is lying as if dead.

Suzanne, dazed by a text from her boyfriend dumping her, starts across the road and is hit by a speeding motor cycle.

Themis regains consciousness, but has no memory. Suzanne is taken to hospital and lies as if dead.

NEWS FROM LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY

It seems like a very long time ago now, and it certainly was a fair old distance away, but I have at last grabbed a few minutes to write about my experience of visiting Sutton Hoo. It was actually less than two weeks ago, and about 460 miles (via Swindon) miles away, but of course, I was also transported back in time to the sixth and seventh centuries- such is the magic of Sutton Hoo.

The seminar History and Fiction in the Age of Sutton Hoo was a great success, with a full house and lots of questions and friendly interest. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but was very aware how little I knew about the Anglo Saxons compared with my fellow speakers. I would like to pay tribute to all of them: I am in awe of their knowledge and expertise!

Thank you to:

• Pauline Moore for  her organisation of the event. I am looking forward to reading her book,  Storm Frost- but am saving it up for later, when the next two Trifolium Books publications are out (More of these later) 
• Carla Nayland for her organisation of the programme, and her wit and humour, as always. 
• Steve Pollington for adding considerably to my small word-hoard from his vast one 
• Paul Mortimer for bringing King Raedwald to life- and for letting me handle his jewels! 

My only regret about the day was that I didn't have time to visit the site itself, but I saw enough, and felt enough of the peaceful and magic atmosphere of the place, to want to come back.


And I feel I have made some new friends!

DON'T MENTION THE DARK AGES!

When I was a student, I lived just round the corner from the British Museum, and used to make an almost daily pilgrimage to gawp at the magnificent gold belt buckle, the shoulder clasps, the purse lid and all the other stunning artefacts from the Sutton Hoo find. It made the weekly task of translating a chunk of Beowulf more bearable, as it spoke of the real, substantial and complex civilisation that lay behind the poetry.

A possible cover image for Bride of the Spear

Many writers have also illuminated those years between the departure of the Romans and the coming of the Normans (said with gritted teeth; some of us think that 1066 was the first year of the real Dark Age) Among them are some of my personal favourites, Kathleen Herbert, Carla Nayland and Helen Hollick. Not only am I in awe of their knowledge of those years, but I appreciate their ability to make rattling good stories about them. I met Carla because she replied to a comment I had made on Sarah Johnson's blog about Kathleen's new book, and Helen got in touch with me through one of my later posts. Helen says that Kathleen gave her wholehearted support and encouragement to write about Arthur in a straightforward, but exciting way, cutting through the Medieval mysticism and presenting him as he most probably was: a strong and charismatic war leader.

So I am looking forward to meeting other writers and readers who share my love of Britain's Heroic Age, and all things Anglo Saxon. There will be a chance to buy a copy of Paths of Exile at a special reduced price- and get it signed. (Although Bride of the Spear is not yet available, I do have some copies of Moon in Leo) The other participants of the seminar will also have books to sell and sign and I have news about the republication of Kathleen's Heroic Age Trilogy (AKA Northumbrian Trilogy, Cumbrian Trilogy, Trilogy of the Northern Kingdoms) and will announce a little competition I am setting up in connection with their publication.

See you on Sunday!

My initial sketch for a raven cloak pin to go on the covers of the North Trilogy. It will be made in silver, with moonstones and a ruby, and touches of gold. Ravens flew on Owain's banner, and the royal ring of Rheged was set with an oval ruby.

FACT INTO FICTION

TALKING ABOUT BOOKS, TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, TALKING ABOUT THE ANGLO SAXONS 

History and Fiction in the Age of Sutton Hoo

The people who made this beautiful, refined and sophisticated object must themselves have been refined and sophisticated. Why do we persist in calling the age of Sutton Hoo the Dark Ages? Let's hope we shed some light and go away thinking of the Heroic Age instead when a handful of writers gather at Sutton Hoo next Sunday to explore the links between history and fiction.  

My own part will be small, but I  shall be talking about a subject very close to my heart- jewellery, and its significance, particularly in Kathleen Herbert's Heroic Age Trilogy, which I will be republishing shortly. I'd like to thank Carla Nayland and P M Sabin Moore for organising the seminar and for giving me the opportunity to take part in it. I look forward to meeting some of you there!

Details below:

WRITING ABOUT THE ANGLO-SAXONS
History and Fiction in the Age of Sutton Hoo

A ONE-DAY SEMINAR IN THE COURT AT SUTTON HOO
10 am - 5pm, Sunday 23 October 2011. Free entry.
Local authors of historical fiction and non-fiction set in Anglo-Saxon England discuss their work
Meet the authors, ask questions, join in the discussions
Book signing and sales - unique Christmas gift for the book lover in your life
No charge for admission to the seminar. Book places in advance at Sutton Hoo Reception (01394 389700), or ask at Reception on the day
Venue - Sutton Hoo, IP12 3DJ ( link to map )

Programme

10.15	Welcome and introductions
10.30-11.15	Building the Framework Source material - history and archaeology
11.45-12.30	Building the World Everyday life, crafts, jewellery, food
12.30-13.45	Lunch break Meet the authors, book signing
13.45-14.45	Building the Society Warfare, kingship, roles of women
15.15-16.00	Building the Culture Poetry, religion, myth and imagination
16.00-17.00	Meet the authors, book signing

Participants

	Carla Nayland Author of Paths of Exile, historical novel set in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria.
	PM Sabin Moore Author of Stormfrost and Brightfire, historical novels set at Sutton Hoo
	Paul Mortimer Re-enactor and author of Woden's Warriors, a non-fiction study of Anglo-Saxon warrior culture
	Steve Pollington Author of numerous non-fiction works on Anglo-Saxon history and culture
	Connie Jensen Proprietor of Trifolium Books UK, publisher of historical fiction set in Anglo-Saxon England, including Paths of Exile and Bride of the Spear

AN UPDATE ON KATHLEEN HERBERT

Apologies for my long absence: I have been travelling in Peru- but that's another story! (Tales and musings, as well as photos to be posted on my writer's blog soon)

We have returned from our travels with renewed enthusiasm, and are looking forward to publishing our next books.We have started work on Bride of the Spear, and expect to have it available before Christmas. (Start making a wish list now!) Kathleen is very pleased about this and has now fully recovered from the traumas of breaking a collar bone and hip. She is settled in her new home, and well enough to visit old friends who live nearby, as you can see from this photo. 

Kathleen (right) with friend Emilia in September

My next task is to make the cloak pin which will be a feature of the cover of all three books, but before that, I will be taking part in a one day seminar at Sutton Hoo. This has been organised by Carla Nayland (Paths of Exile) Details here

Paths of Exile goes digital

Paths of Exile is now available as an ebook on both Smashwords and Amazon. Both Paths of Exile, and
Moon in Leo are now $7 dollars and just under a fiver in UK money!


I came across this American review of Paths of Exile:

First, don't be fooled by the apparent length of this book...it may be just over 200 pages but it's very small print and very large pages. Consider it a 350 or so pages! I say this, because it took me a while to get into the story and since it seemed so short I was ready to give up after 20 pages. Stick with it, the names are terribly confusing at first, some different by only a couple of letters, and the places, though less confusing, still managed to throw me off.

Well- this edition has smaller pages, bigger print and a lot more guidance in the way of character lists, detailed maps and notes on placenames, to say nothing of a much better cover, just in case you were wondering why you should buy the new edition. The e-book is essentially the same, and on most e-readers, you can alter the print size to suit you. And it's half the price of the print edition. Having said all that- what are you waiting for?

The American reviewer goes on to say:  

this is a terrific historical novel, obviously written by some one who knows what they are talking about and not just researching a book. (The author is a historian that specializes in 7th century Britain) The details of places, people, behaviour and way of life are fascinating and really add to the story.