Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: 2011 Wrap-up & 2012 Sign-up

In January 2011, I joined the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge for the first time.  I love many genres of fiction, but my ultimate favorite genre is historical fiction.  I joined this challenge with the goal of reading 20 historical fiction novels in 2011.  I reached my goal by reading a total of 24 historical fiction novels this past year.  The novels I read were as follows:

1.  Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2.  Pale Rose of England by Sandra Worth
3.  I am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick
4.  Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower
5. To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick
6.  Legacy by Jeanette Baker
7.  A Race to Splendor by Ciji Ware
8.  A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer
9.  The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Conner McNees
10.  When We Danced on Water by Evan Fallenberg

11.  Mary of Carisbrooke by Margaret Campbell Barnes

12.  The King's Witch by Cecelia Holland
13.  Queen of the Summer Stars by Persia Woolley
14.  Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
15.  Sea Witch by Helen Hollick
16.  Before Versaille by Karleen Koen
17.  Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
18.  Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer
19.  Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
20.  The Betsy-Tacy Treasury by Maud Hart Lovelace
21.  Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
22.  A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (audio)
23.  The Help by Kathryn Stockett (audio)
24.  My Love, My Enemy by Jan Cox Speas

I read many excellent historical fiction novels this year, there is not a bad one in this bunch!  Which ones were my favorite?  Stay tuned the next week or so for my top ten books from 2011.  More than one book from this list is on my top ten for the year!

Twenty-two of these books were old-fashioned paper novels, while two were audiobooks.  The two audiobooks were books I had read in the past that were chosen for one of my book clubs this year.  I chose to explore them in a new format this time around.  Five of the twenty-four books were re-reads for me including Water for Elephants, Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, A Reliable Wife, and The Help.  It's safe to say these are some of my favorite books of all time.

I read a few children's historical fiction novels this year including Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie to my children and The Betsy-Tacy Treasury for me. The Little House series is how I started my love for historical fiction.  I'm now hoping to foster the love in my children.

It's no secret that I love to read historical fiction novels related to kings and queens, but I also enjoy historical fiction novels set in America (Little House, Betsy-Tacy, My Love, My Enemy, A Fierce Radiance, The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, The Help, A Reliable Wife, and Water for Elephants).  My Love, My Enemy was the most surprising book for me this year.  The cover screamed trashy romance, but the inside was a quite good historical fiction novel set during the American war of 1812.  I would love read more novels by Jan Cox Speas and I hope they find a more suitable cover.

I very much enjoyed this challenge and I'm signing up for the Historical Fiction Challenge 2012 also hosted by Historical Tapestry.  This year I'm aiming for  level 3, Struggling the Addiction: 10 books.  I'm going to focus on the Victorian Challenge this year so I'll hopefully be reading more classics and straight non-fiction history this year. 

I'm hoping that I'll be reading more of one of my favorite sub-genres, the historical fiction thriller this year.  It is a favorite of my Kewaunee Library Book Club.  Now that the club is back on track after a 1.5 year hiatus, I can hope that we get back to some great books!

Winner of Sea Witch by Helen Hollick

I'm trying to catch up on giveaways quickly here! I'm sorry I'm running a bit behind. Work has been hectic and we have been traveling to visit family.

The winner of Sea Witch by Helen Hollick is Joanne of Books, Belles, and Beauxs. Joanne was chosen using random.org. I hope she loves this novel as much as I did - we have very similar tastes in books so I think she will! If you enjoy my blog, I highly recommend you check out hers as well.

I have emailed Joanne to let her know that she won. She has one week to send me your mailing address or I will draw a new winner.

Thank-you to all who entered this giveaway. A special thank-you to Helen Hollick for including me on her tour and for sending out a bookplate and book to the winner of this giveaway. Thank-you again!

Interview with Helen Hollick, author of the Sea Witch Voyages

I'm a fan of Helen Hollick's historical fiction novels, and I was excited to read her pirate adventure historical fiction novel, Sea Witch. I'm honored to be a part of her blog tour about the Sea Witch Voyages and to be able to interview Helen Hollick."Sea Witch is a ripping good tale starring an irresistible pirate hero, Jesamiah Acorne and his true love, the white witch, Tiola Oldstagh set during the golden age of piracy, 1716." For more of my review and a chance to win a copy of Sea Witch, see my blog post at this link. For an additional chance to win, leave an extra comment/question for Helen on this blog post (along with your email address).

Without further ado . . . Helen Hollick.

LAG: When did you first become interested in pirates? What was your inspiration for your unique hero Jesamiah Acorne?

HH: The first Pirate of the Caribbean movie. My daughter had the DVD (I had ignored it, thinking it was a children’s Disney adventure.) Not feeling well one afternoon, I was looking for something I hadn’t new to watch. I thought I’d try it. Well, Jack Sparrow coming into harbour atop the mast – then the wonderful scenes where he rescues Elizabeth and escapes the clutches of Norrington…. That was it! Hooked! Being interested in history, though, my curiosity was aroused. What were pirates really like? I got myself a couple of non-fiction books, started reading – and ideas for a plot just tumbled into my head.

Jesamiah himself I met on a rainy beach in Dorset, England. We were on vacation and I took the dogs for a walk, intending to plan out the storyline for Sea Witch. I had the plot ideas, the characters – but not my pirate. I sat on a rock thinking, looked up and there he was, a few yards away in full pirate regalia – and a gold acorn charm for an earring. He touched his hat and nodded. “Hello Jesamiah Acorne” I said.

Now whether he was a sort of “ghost” or a mere figment of my imagination I don’t know – all I can say is, that story is perfectly true!

LAG: I have to ask, why does Jesamiah have blue ribbons in his hair? How does he keep them clean and looking attractive?

HH: Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow is known for the trinkets he has twined into his hair – it is a fact that pirated did wear coloured ribbons. I have no idea where the blue came from – Royal Blue (or Jesamiah Blue as I now call it) Maybe I saw them without realising it when I first “met” him?

He has several uses for them – one of the main ones being he gives them to the ladies as a keep-sake after a (ahem) ‘pleasurable night’. They are also useful for lots of other things – how we would use an emergency piece of string nowadays. They also have one other rather sinister use – which I’m afraid I’m not going to tell you about. You’ll have to read the book.
Quite often he doesn’t keep them clean – as you’ll discover as you read on through the series, but ribbons were easily obtainable in the early 18th Century, and he usually has a supply in his pocket or in a drawer in his cabin.

Keep your eyes open for a blue ribbon left by Jesamiah for you – I have several friends who have found one left on a bush in their drive, or on the sidewalk

(LAG - I'll admit I hadn't quite finished when I sent my questions off, then I got to the end and though - THAT is not what I expected the use for the blue ribbons to be. Great build up and follow through on the blue ribbons!)

LAG: What was your motivation for making Tiola a white witch and the supernatural elements of the novel? I thought they were very unique and enjoyable. Tiola was a great strong heroine.

HH: I wrote the book I wanted to read. After watching Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Black Pearl, I wanted a novel that was a similar sort of story: charmer of a rogue for a hero, romantic element with a pretty young girl – a pirate adventure with a supernatural element. It was the “fantasy” part that made the film different, and I wanted the same for my novel. There are plenty of maritime adventures – Patrick O’Brian, James L. Nelson, C.S. Forrester etc but they are all straightforward nautical tales. Not a hint of “magic” in any of them. So I wrote my own.

Tiola Oldstagh (pronounce it as Teo-la Oldstaff) is an anagram of ‘all that is good’. I wanted her to be older than she looks, a healer, midwife and a “Wise Woman”. A white witch was the obvious choice, but not in the Harry Potter witchcraft way – more like The Force in Star Wars. She can harness the wind, but she can’t cast spells to get Jesamiah out of trouble. She has limitations.

I was also fascinated by the sea itself. Anyone who knows the sea will understand what I mean by saying it often seems “alive”. Tethys is one of the mythical Greek Goddesses of the Sea – an ethereal elemental. ‘What if she wants Jesamiah for herself?’ I thought. One of my earliest images for a scene was when Jesamiah’s ship was sinking – I could “feel” Tethys grasping at the hull, trying to pull her under to get to Jesamiah…. Through the series Tiola must battle against Tethys to keep the man she loves alive. But I’m not saying any more about that here as I don’t want to give away any spoilers!

LAG: Have you ever had a chance to explore an 18th century vessel? Is there a particular ship that is the inspiration for the Sea Witch?

HH: I have never been on a vessel that actually moved (although recently I was aboard a 15th century replica – but that was under motor, not sail.) I have explored as many ships as I can though: here in the UK our two main ones are the Victory and the Cutty Sark (sadly it caught fire a couple of years ago, but is being restored.)

One thing I did discover – it is obvious why women were not welcome aboard. I always wear long skirts (I’ve got scars on my leg for one thing, and I find them comfortable to wear) Believe me, moving around a ship with steep, narrow ladders, all that cordage (ropes) rigging etc is not convenient for a long, full skirt! Several times the hem got tangled up – and I don’t have whale-bone hoops beneath my gowns! It is virtually impossible to remain elegant aboard a sailing ship!

I originally modelled Sea Witch on the Queen Anne’s Revenge and the Whydah (real pirate ships, both of which have been archeologically excavated) But then I came across the Rose – a replica of the 18th century English ship that was indirectly responsible for starting the American War of Independence! She is better known, now, as HMS Surprise from the movie Master & Commander. I fell in love with her.

I also became friendly with a man who had sailed aboard her (author James L. Nelson – he wrote his first novel in her Great Cabin) and the man who actually built her, John F. Millar. Well, that was it, The Rose/Surprise, became Sea Witch. And yes I know, technically the original Rose was built a bit later than my stories are set – but that is another advantage of writing adventure fantasy – you can bend the facts a little!

For those interested: The Rose was a British Frigate sent to the American Colonies to put a stop to the extensive smuggling which was depriving the British Government of revenue. Her crew was so effective almost the entire contraband trade ceased. This led to unrest, which resulted in rebellion and the famous Boston Tea Party.

LAG: If Sea Witch was made into a movie, who would you like to see play Jesamiah Acorne and Tiola?

HH: I’d prefer the books made into a TV drama series than a movie – I think you can get more depth into the characters in a TV drama rather than a one-off movie. (I’m thinking Sharpe here, with Sean Bean.)

Who would play Jesamiah? Being honest – I haven’t a clue! I think it would have to be someone new and unknown, so he could “become” Jesamiah. Dark haired – handsome, a glint in his eye…. The same for Tiola I think. A petite, pretty actress. How about a few suggestions from your blog readers?

LAG: What are your favorite pirate themed books and/or movies? Any favorite pirate songs (my 5-year old has been listening to a pirate CD a lot lately – and I secretly listen to it when he’s not around).

HH: Well of course the first Pirates of the Caribbean Movie, though I confess I was not so keen on the second, and hated the third. I have not seen the fourth one properly yet. We saw it in 3D – my first experience of 3D. I have an eye problem, and I didn’t realise I can’t watch 3D, so I’ve got to get the DVD and see it at home. I think I liked it – the little glimpses I could see!
Master and Commander is by far my most favourite movie – although it isn’t pirates. The whole movie is thrilling from start to finish, and gives a superb idea of what life aboard a ship was really like. Love it!

Books – James L. Nelson, I have mentioned a couple of times (his Brethren of the Coast series is great) and I suppose the best of all is Daphne Du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek. I have not found many adult pirate-based novels though.

For young adults, I think I would recommend Pirates by Celia Rees – and my publisher Helen Hart has written a fabulous book for 11 – 13 year olds, called The Black Banner (Amazon.com link) http://www.amazon.com/Black-Banner-Helen-Hart/dp/1906236461/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1310825894&sr=8-15

I haven’t really any favourite pirate songs – but towards the end of July (exclusive news here!) my good friend, singer/songwriter Bronwen Harrison will be releasing a CD entitled ‘Songs of a Sea Witch’ which will contain a variety of sea-inspired songs – including the one used as the soundtrack for my Sea Witch You Tube video trailer (Gallows Wake)

Keep watch on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, and my website for the full announcement!
(LAG - I will, I loved the music on the You Tube trailer!)

LAG: What are you currently working on?

HH: I am half way through the Fourth Voyage – Ripples in the Sand. Jesamiah is bringing the Sea Witch to England, his wife (yes by voyage four he has married Tiola) is very ill and he has a legal cargo of tobacco to sell – and an illegal one of brandy and indigo. He also gets mixed up with smugglers, a jail break – and an attempted Jacobite rebellion. Tiola meanwhile, realises it is the influence of Tethys making her so unwell. Why? To solve the riddle, and to discover just why Tethys has such an unbreakable hold on Jesamiah, Tiola must look into the past to see how everything began….

Thank you so much for inviting me on to your blog, Laura!

LAG: Thank-you Helen! I love your answers to my questions. Very interesting!! I can't wait to continue reading the Sea Witch adventures!

To find out more about Helen Hollick, check out her websites:

Main Website: http://www.helenhollick.net

· Muse and Views Blog: http://www.helenhollick.blogspot.com

· Monthly Journal: http://www.helenhollick.net/journal.html

· Blog profile: http://www.acorne.blogspot.com

· Picture Diary Blog: http://helenhollicksdiarydates.blogspot.com

· Guest Page: http://helen-myguests.blogspot.com/

· Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

· On Twitter: http://twitter.com/HelenHollick

Sea Witch by Helen Hollick Review and Giveaway

Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum! Sea Witch is a ripping good tale starring an irresistible pirate hero, Jesamiah Acorne and his true love, the white witch, Tiola Oldstagh set during the golden age of piracy, 1716. It is a genre defying novel; part historical fiction, part adventure novel, part romance, and part fantasy for an all together very gripping and enticing read.

Jesamiah Acorne is a very appealing hero, and is going on my list of favorite fictional heroes. He is overall a pirate and does some despicable things, but he is an attractive man full of adventure with a tortured past. After suffering abuse throughout his childhood by his older brother Phillipe, Jesamiah escapes to a life of sea after the death of his parents and particularly trying period of abuse. He excels at sea under the tutelage of Captain Malachias Taylor and soon finds himself the captain of his own vessel.

Tiola Oldstagh is a young fifteen-year old girl when she first sets eyes on Jesamiah. Tiola is on the ship the Christina Giselle, with her guardian Jenna on her way to Cape Town to escape her past, and the brutal execution of her mother for witchcraft. Unbeknownst to all, Tiola also harbors the gift of “the craft” and is an old soul in a young woman’s body. When she first catches a glimpse of the flowing black hair and blue ribbons of Jesamiah on a pirate ship trying to overtake her ship, she is smitten. When they eventually meet in Cape Town, sparks fly.

Unfortunately Jesamiah has enemies that will tear the two lovers apart. His older evil brother Phillipe is not finished with his revenge, and the wealthy Dutch merchant Stefan van Overstraten is determined to make Tiona’s his wife. Will Jesamiah and Tiola find their way back to each other?

I loved Sea Witch. We’ve been a pirate haven here in the Gerold household the past few months. The boys love Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney and have been checking out pirate books from the library, listening to pirate music, and sailing on their pirate ship (swing set). It was nice to read an adult pirate novel in keeping with our pirate theme.

I loved that Sea Witch was a blend of genres. The adventure was non-stop and kept me riveted. I enjoyed Jesamiah’s journeys and near escapes. He is an appealing daredevil hero, but his most redeeming quality is his love for Tiola. I loved that Tiola is a strong heroine and a white witch. I’ve always enjoyed books that have a mystical quality to them. The historical fiction of this novel is also fantastic. The descriptions of the hardships of a pirate’s life were very realistic and descriptive. Helen Hollick has a wonderful note at the end of the book in which she describes certain liberties she took with the historical timeline, which only reaffirmed to me the amount of research that went into this novel.

Most of all, I loved this novel as I had a real sense while I was reading it that the author herself loved her characters and enjoyed the novel itself. It was a joy to read.

Overall, if you are looking for a fun, rollicking, love-story, historical fiction adventure, look no further. Sea Witch is a wonderful book. I can’t wait to see what is next for Jesamiah and Tiola in Pirate Code.

Sea Witch is my fifteenth item in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011.


Check out the excellent book trailer on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2-lvjk_7GU

Book Source: Advance Review Copy

Giveaway Details
I'll admit, I can't make myself give away my advance review copy of Sea Witch as it was such a wonderful book. I want to read it again and also I know my best friend Jenn would love this book so I'm going to pass it on to her to read also. Instead, I'm going to order a new copy of Sea Witch from amazon.com for one lucky winner. **UPDATE** Helen Hollick has graciously offered to send a copy to the winner from Amazon along with a bookplate. Thank-you very much Helen!!!

If you would like to win a copy of Sea Witch by Helen Hollick please leave a comment about what intrigues you about the novel.

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

For another additional entry, leave a comment (along with your email address) on my interview with author Helen Hollick at this link.

I will be using random.org (or a monte carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).

No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday July 29th.

Good luck!

Winner of I am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick

There was a lot of interest in I am the Chosen King and really fantastic comments about the book. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner . . . and that winner is Melydia of utter randomonium. Congrats to Melydia!! She was chosen using random.org and was notified via email. She has until next Monday, March 28th to send me her mailing address. Otherwise a new winner will be drawn.

Thank-you to Helen Hollick for a wonderful guest interview and for writing a fantastic and intriguing novel. For those of you interested, I will be reviewing her Sea Witch pirate series throughout the summer so stay tuned. Thank-you to Beth from Sourcebooks for allowing me to host this giveaway and for all of those that entered and left great comments.

I still have two giveaways currently going so check out my right sidebar. For those of you looking for a romance, Tyler by C.H. Admirand is the book for you. For those you looking for another great historical fiction novel, Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower is what you are looking for. Check back by next week for another great giveaway. Until then, stop by for a few new reviews I'll be adding throughout this week!

I am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick

We’ve all heard of the year 1066 and of William the Conqueror and his glorious takeover of England. But what is the rest of the story? What was the land that William was taking over, why was he taking it over, and who was he taking it over from? I am the Chosen King is the story of Harold Godwinesson, the last Saxon King of England and it answers all of these questions.

Like Beethoven’s Symphony Number 7, I am the Chosen King starts out quiet and touching and then slowly, almost without you realizing it, it moves to a stunning and powerful conclusion. For the last two hundred or so pages, I found myself totally obsessed with the book. Knowing that William would ultimately triumph did not lessen the suspense. I wanted to know what exactly happened, and I couldn’t help but wish that Harold would be able to conquer William the Conqueror or at least ride off into the sunset with Edyth.

Harold Godwinesson was the son of Godwine, the powerful Earl of Wessex. An Earl in his own right, Harold falls in love with Edyth, the beautiful daughter of thegn Eadric of Nazeing. As the only child of a thegn, Edyth will inherit land and money, but it is only a modest sum and not enough to tempt an earl. Harold marries Edyth anyway in a “handfast” ceremony with the expectation that at some point he may have to make a church approved political marriage. He spends many happy years with Edyth, but when destiny beckons, he is called to serve England as king and to protect it from foreign invaders.

I loved I am the Chosen King. There was so much to love about it and it was rich with such detail, that I’m having hard time writing about it and breaking it down. So read my review and thoughts knowing that I am only touching the tip of the iceberg of how much was in this novel.

I loved the history involved in this novel. It was a riveting time that I hadn’t really read about before and Helen Hollick brings it wonderfully to life. She captures the complex family relationships, political landscape, and riveting battles in a dramatic and readable way. The Battle of Hastings is the climax of the story and I had a hard time putting it down. I kept thinking about it and the end of the book long after I finished.

Queen Emma, Edward the Confessor’s mother, steals the first part of the novel. She is a powerful female figure and I was intrigued with her story. I want to learn more and I am definitely putting Hollick’s novel about her, The Forever Queen, on my future reading list.
It was also an interesting dynamic to the book that Harold has a long and happy hand-fast marriage to Edyth only to have to marry a sweet young thing Alditha for political reasons when he becomes King. I felt bad for Edyth, Alditha, and Harold for the love triangle they ended up finding themselves in, but I also enjoyed reading about it!

William, the bastard Duke of Normandy also is featured in the novel from his time on the run as a boy, to his ruthless consolidation of power in his teens and twenties, to his conquering of England. While I loved the story of his relationship with his wife Matilda, he seemed like not a very nice man overall. It was a great build-up of his story and interesting contrast between his life and Harold’s.

My favorite quote in the book deals with Harold’s inner turmoil:

“He felt as if he were two separate people. One, a man who had been offered the greatest power, the highest accolade. He could not deny that he wanted it. To be in supreme command, to answer to no man, to have his every aye or nay instantly obeyed . . . but then there was his other self, the man who loved this woman who was so desperately trying to hide her tears. A man who wanted only the laughter of his family, the comfort of his home, the pleasure of being a part of the turn of the seasons on his estate.”

Overall, I am the Chosen King is a supremely powerful historical fiction novel with a riveting ending in the Battle of Hastings. It led me to think about poor Harold far into the night after its conclusion.

I am the Chosen King is my fourth item in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

If this novel sounds like something you would love to read, please check out my interview with Helen Hollick and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this novel. The Giveaway ends on Friday March 18th.

Book Source: Advance Review Copy from Sourcebooks. Thank-you!

Interview (and GIVEAWAY) with Helen Hollick, author of I am the Chosen King

There is nothing I like better than an intriguing historical fiction novel. One author who is consistantly at the top of my list is Helen Hollick. I am excited to have her on my blog today answering questions about her novel I am the Chosen King, which is newly published by Sourcebooks this month.

I am a bit behind on reviews after a long weekend of out of town family visit for my eldest son's fifth birthday and my youngest daughter Penelope's baptism. I will have my review of I am the Chosen King up either the end of this week or beginning of next! Until then, you can get a feeling for this novel from Helen Hollick's great interview!


LAG: What sparked your interest in writing of the Norman invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066? What made you want to write from the prospective of Harold Godwinesson, the last Saxon King of England?
HH: Harold Godwinesson is a local hero as I live about 5 miles from the town of Waltham Abbey (Harold founded the abbey.) I had always thought him to be an interesting character, but the more I discovered as I started researching, the more I realized how fascinating he was – and how much I loathed his adversary, Duke William of Normandy.

William had no right to the English throne whatsoever, Harold was our legitimate crowned King of England, yet William, a foreigner, invaded, conquered and destroyed most of what was English. He was a greedy tyrant wanting England because it was a wealthy Country. The more I read the more I realized that much of what I had learnt at school about this period - and what is portrayed in the history books – is what was written by the victors, most of which was Norman propaganda

I decided to write a novel based on what might have really happened, from the English point f view.

LAG: The medieval historical detail is riveting in I Am the Chosen King. What is your method for researching your novels? Did you visit any of the settings in I Am the Chosen King during your writing of the novel?
HH: I mostly read works by respected historians: in this case, Frank Barlow, Pauline Stafford, David C. Douglas etc. I visit museums and as many of the actual scenes as I can; Waltham Abbey, as I said, is just up the road from where I live; Battle Abbey in Sussex, the site of where the actual battle took place (William built the abbey as penance for causing the death of so many) York, Chester….

I visit as many places as possible to get the feel of the area. Is it hilly or flat? What sort of trees? How close is the river? Things like that.

LAG: It gets kind of confusing with your novels printed in England and in America with different titles. What are the titles of the novels in the Lost Kingdom series? Are there any other books after this in this series?
HH: I agree with you about the titles, it is as annoying for me as it is for you! The change of title in the US was my US publisher’s decision, not mine. It is very tedious having to type Harold the King (UK title) / I Am The Chosen King (US Title) and A Hollow Crown (UK title) / The Forever Queen (US title)

I also dislike change of title, because unless it is made clear, readers may think it is a new and different book.

The two titles above are the two in The Lost Kingdom Series. There may be a third at some time in the future, but there are so many books I want to write, I haven’t enough time to do them all at once!

LAG: What are you currently working on? Is it a secret or can you give us a hint?
HH: I am working on Ripples In The Sand the fourth in my nautical pirate-based adventures, the Sea Witch Voyages. These are a little lighter than my serious historical fiction; I like to describe the series as “A darn good Sailor’s Yarn” A blend of Indiana Jones, Hornblower and Sharpe – fun to read and write.

I started the series soon after the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was released. I wanted to read fiction that reflected the idea of the movie – the hero, a charmer of a pirate rogue who was always getting into scrapes; romance, action, adventure – and a touch of believable supernatural fantasy. All good yarns have mermaids, sea-sirens, ghosts and such. I wanted a white witch and the sea goddess, Tethys – believable supernatural elements.

I found plenty of plain nautical stories – Patrick O’Brien, C. S. Forrester, James L. Nelson…. The wonderful Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier, but nothing with that extra little bit of “other-worldliness” in it.

So I wrote my own.

LAG: What types of books do you read? What is in your night stand right now?
HH: At the moment I am reading C.W. Gortner’s The Last Queen – thoroughly enjoying it. I have just finished The Girl With A Pearl Earring; one of those books I have been meaning to read for a long time. I saw the painting when I was in Holland – it’s tiny, just a small picture. And very lovely.

Next to read is another Sharpe novel on my Kindle.

Thank-you Helen Hollick for answering my burning questions!

Giveaway Details
Sourcebooks has been kind enough to offer one copy of I am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick for a giveaway.

If you would like to win a copy of I am the Chosen King, please leave a comment about what intrigues you about the novel or this interview.

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a monte carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).

No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday March 18th.

Good luck!

Helen Hollick Guest Blog, Author of Shadow of the King (and Giveaway)

Today I am honored to have Helen Hollick, author of Shadow of the King as a guest blog. I love books dealing with Arthurian legend, and Hollick's books look fantastic.

Helen Hollick

One of my first memories is running from the library clutching a book I had not read (or at least, someone had read to me) I was four years old. I was writing stories when I was thirteen, in every spare moment scribbling something, and I confess even during lessons at school I was sometimes secretively writing!

I became a library assistant when I left school, and discovered the factual history behind the legends of King Arthur after reading Mary Stewart’s Crystal Cave and Hollow Hills novels – I was hooked on Arthur, but not the Medieval chivalric knight in shining armour, the Holy Grail or gallant quests, for some reason I disliked those made-up stories. My interest lay in the reality behind the legends. If Arthur had existed what would he have been like? Where would he have fought his battles? Against whom? And was his queen truly an adulteress?

My problem then, was that I soon became dissatisfied with novels about Arthur. They either had too much fantasy which made them feel unreal, or I just did not agree with the author’s viewpoint. So there was only one thing for it. Write my own.

I made several false starts, but eventually, after almost 10 years of writing and researching in my spare time I ended up with the manuscript of what was to eventually become The Kingmaking and half of Pendragon’s Banner.

My good friend, Sharon Kay Penman, encouraged me and I was delighted when William Heinemann of Random House UK signed me up for a trilogy. All I had to do was polish and edit the material I had, complete Pendragon’s Banner and write the third part of Trilogy – Shadow of the King.

All? LOL :-)

The research for Shadow was particularly enjoyable, as I used old Welsh Legends that possibly made Arthur Lord of Brittany, which meant I could I venture on a three week expedition to Brittany and France in search of locations. What a wonderful career writing can be!

I then went on to write two other historical novels, Harold the King, the story of the Battle of Hastings, 1066 (which is probably the most famous date in English history) writing it from the English point of view and stripping away all the incorrect Norman propaganda – for instance, Duke William of Normandy had no right to the English throne, whatsoever, he was a usurping tyrant.

While writing Harold, I became fascinated by Queen Emma, Edward the Confessor’s mother, and wife to two different Kings of England. I decided she deserved her own novel, so wrote A Hollow Crown (UK title)/ The Forever Queen (US title).

Both Harold the King and A Hallow Crown are available now in the UK (or via Amazon) and they will be published un the US by Sourcebooks Landmark: The Forever Queen in November 2010 and Harold the King in March 2011!

I have also written the first three adventures in my pirate-based historical-fantasy Sea Witch series: Sea Witch, Pirate Code and Bring It Close, featuring my charismatic rogue of a hero, Captain Jesamiah Acorne and his girlfriend, the white witch, Tiola. Full to the scuppers fun and action – a sort of blend of Indiana Jones, Cpt Hornblower and Richard Sharpe – with a little magic added in for good measure! I wrote Sea Witch out of pure love for my character after watching the first of Johnny Depp’s Pirate movies (who can resist Jack Sparrow?) I wanted to read more pirate adventures, but there seemed to be only teenage and children’s books available. Beyond the wonderful Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier, I could find nothing for adult taste that included a touch of “adult” content. So, as with my Arthur stories, I researched the history of the Golden Age of Piracy, thought out my plot, invited my characters into my life – and wrote Sea Witch in about 3 months. Which included working on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day because I could not stop writing!

I am thrilled to discover that many readers are falling for my Jesamiah as much I did!

Thank you for inviting me onto your Blog, I’ve enjoyed myself! Tell me, what are your favourite books that have shaped you as a reader?

Helen Hollick

SHADOW OF THE KING BY HELEN HOLLICK—IN STORES MARCH 2010
They knew what was coming.
Man and beast knew what lay ahead.
After the war cry.
Bitter the grave.

At long last, the peace King Arthur was born to usher in has settled over the realm. But Arthur was also born to be a warrior… and all true warriors are restless without a fight. Yearning for battle and ever-loyal, Arthur is easily deceived into setting sail for Gaul to defend its territories—leaving his country vulnerable and leaderless.

A beacon of hope in a land of desolation, he was to be the Lord of the Summer Land for now and forever. But first, the Pendragon must face the ultimate test, one that will take all his courage, strength of will, and honor to survive.

Because once destiny is fulfilled, can you ever truly win again?

About the Author
Helen Hollick lives in northeast London with her husband, daughter and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman / Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy--the early eighteenth century. You can Find Helen at the following places:

Main Website: http://www.helenhollick.net/
Blog profiles: http://www.acorne.blogspot.com/
Muse and Views Blog: http://www.helenhollick.blogspot.com/
My Picture Diary Blog: http://helenhollicksdiarydates.blogspot.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Monthly Journal: http://www.helenhollick.net/journal.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/HelenHollick

Giveaway Details

Danielle of Sourcebooks has been kind enough to offer 1 set of Helen’s trilogy, The Kingmaking, Pendragon’s Banner and Shadow of the King for this giveaway.

If you would like to enter this contest do any of the following:

1. Leave a comment on this post. You must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner. (1 entry)

2. Blog about this giveaway or post about it on your sidebar. (1 entry)

3. Become a follower or leave a comment that you already are a follower of this blog. (1 entry)

There are three ways to enter, but you can put all three entries as one comment.

I will be using random.org to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).

No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday March 26th.

Good luck!