Guest Post: Alison Morton

Today I'm delighted to hand over the blog to author Alison Morton, whose new book, Double Stakes, is out now. Over to Alison:

History – You can’t keep it out

“Oh, you do Romans, don’t you? In the 21st century,” one crime reader said as she eyed me up as she queued for my neighbouring author in the signing room at a conference.

“I do, and also in the 20th.”

“Why is that?”

“I wanted a woman taking the lead in a thriller but living in a Roman type of society. She’d be a Praetorian in the Roman military.”

“That’s a bit odd. Tell me more.”

I described the concept of an alternative historical timeline where an imaginary remnant of the Ancient Roman Empire had survived through the centuries. Through necessity, women had taken on active roles in this mountain based little nation which had thrived on silver, intelligence, engineering and maintaining their ancestors’ robust attitudes.

She ended up buying all five books in the series at the time. (I have since written several more including two set in the late 4th century when it all began.)

While alternative history setting provides an intriguing environment that interacts with the storylines, the Roma Nova thrillers are at heart thrillers – action, suspense, twisty plots, courageous characters and bad guys of every description. And every character has multiple layers, talents, abilities, hang-ups and failings.

When I was sending out advance copies of INSURRECTIO, the seventh book, and asked writing friends for an endorsement, historical novelist Conn Iggulden sent me a humdinger: “INSURRECTIO – a taut, fast-paced thriller and I enjoyed it enormously. Rome, guns and rebellion. Darkly gripping stuff.”   

But he also added a challenge. “You clearly have the knack for fast plotting tension. A *great* scene in the riot. Taut, controlled, exciting stuff! I can't help wondering why you don’t recast Aurelia as a member of the modern day European council and run the story as a crime thriller.”  At the time, I was in the middle of drafting RETALIO to follow INSURRECTIO, but Conn’s words stayed with me. 

Come the Covid lockdown, I set to and wrote a contemporary crime thriller. Actually, I wrote two.

I’ve always wanted to set a book where I live in the heart of Poitou. I built a pen picture of my heroine: a foot in both camps, so French father and British mother. Her father Henri des Pittones calls her Mélisende; to her mum, Susan, she’s Mel. The dual heritage gives her an automatic inner conflict. (I’m also a dual national.) She’s served in the French Armée de Terre (I did six years in the Royal Signals in the British Army.) As a soldier she needed to be physically fit, but then she’d always loved running through the trees and across fields since she was a child. I dreamt up her home and even gave her a local postcode. 

Photos of Poitou

But you can’t keep history out of a historian. I decided Mel’s father’s family would be a very old one. Enter a scroll late from the eight hundreds which describes land boundaries, rents, cows and bushels of wheat and a landholder called Gerbertus Pittonorum – possibly an ancestor. The original is held in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, according to Mel. 

The Romans? In Double Pursuit, Mel chases one of the bad guys round Trajan’s Market in Rome, plus she has a short but spirited discussion about Ancient Rome and the Celts with her German colleague, Andreas. Caesar and Pliny the Elder call the tribe Pictones. In the 4th century, the poet Ausonius names them as  Pictonici and Ammianus Marcellinus uses Pictavi.

So far, so good for ancient history. However, Double Stakes – just out – considers the lesson of more recent history. Writers tend to reflect their current environment; it’s almost inevitable whatever the themes and genre of their books. We see this very clearly in Jane Austen’s remarkable contemporary novels of the early 1800s – security, poverty, marriage, manners, hypocrisy, war and the importance of reputation. But running through them is the change from an agricultural society to an industrial one.

Our concerns today are the change from over seventy years of peace, prosperity and democratic inertia to one of economic and security uncertainty and inaccurate information overload. Coupled with this is the frightening rise of the extreme right using the electoral system to manipulate voters’ fears in order to grab political power. Europe was torn apart by autocratic fascist movements in the 1930s/1940s when tens of millions died. That lesson from history is one we should never forget.

Double Stakes is a thriller – hopefully an entertaining and exciting one. But apart from developing a plot in a shifting and dangerous environment, I love to make my characters come alive as human beings. Mel and her colleague Jeff continue to banter, to complement each other in their work skills and to strengthen their personal relationship. They certainly have their work cut out in Double Stakes with investigating kidnapping, corruption, political manipulation and broken family relationships leading to dire consequences. 

History never leaves us, whether personal, political or international. We would do well to ensure that it never ceases to be studied by everybody at every age and through every lifetime – and not just by writers.

***************************************

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. She lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest three contemporary thrillers, Double Identity, Double Pursuit and Double Stakes. 

Her eleven-book Roma Nova thriller series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

Six years’ military service, a fascination with ancient Rome and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction have inspired her writing. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.  

For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter at https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/ and receive 'Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’ as a thank you gift.

Social Media Links

Connect with Alison on her World of Thrillers site: https://alison-morton.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor 

Alison’s writing blog: https://alisonmortonauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonmortonauthor/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5783095.Alison_Morton

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Blurb for Double Stakes

A kidnapped daughter. A rigged election. A family under siege.

Former French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisende is desperate for recovery time after a gruelling mission. But when enforcers attack her family home in rural France, she uncovers a shocking truth – her sister-in-law’s gambling debt has put them all in danger.

Before Mel can untangle the crisis, she is ordered to Germany, where the daughter of Achim Nessler – the front-runner for chancellor – has been abducted. The kidnappers’ goal? To force Nessler to throw the upcoming election, paving the way for a hard-right victory that could upend not just Germany, but all of Europe.

Racing against time, Mel and fellow investigator Jeff McCracken dive into the murky world of extremist politics where old wounds and new betrayals collide. But as their hunt leads them deep into eastern Germany’s shadows, Mel discovers a chilling link between the case and her own family’s troubles.

Now, with both a nation’s future and her loved ones at stake, Mel must risk everything to stop a conspiracy that hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

Double Stakes is the third in the Mélisende Doubles thriller series.

Buying links for Double Stakes

Ebook – all digital retailers: https://books2read.com/DoubleStakes

Paperback: https://www.alison-morton.com/where-to-buy-double-stakes/ 

Books Review: The Kings of Wessex/Alfred's Dynasty

 One of the perks of being published by Amberley Books is being sent titles to review, and these two could not be more up my street.

I had the immense privilege of receiving a very early copy of Michael John Key's new book, The Kings of Wessex: from Cerdic to Alfred and as I say on my cover endorsement for this new work, 'With a thorough examination of the primary sources, Michael John Key presents an insightful, comprehensive and very readable account of this lesser-known portion of West Saxon history.'

Having read both of the author's previous books, Edward the Elder and The Godwins, I was sure I was in safe hands.

This really is a fantastic guide to the period, covering the Germanic migrations, the origins of the West Saxons and the Gewisse, and providing chapters on all of the West Saxon kings from Cerdic through to Alfred the Great. As I said in my own recent book, the early history of the kingdom of the West Saxons is difficult sometimes to fathom, and Key has done an excellent job of rounding up all the available sources, analysing them, and presenting a lively and very readable account. The book will be published by Amberley on 15th June, 2025.

Meanwhile, the paperback edition of WB Bartlett's Alfred's Dynasty: How an Anglo-Saxon King and his Family Defeated the Vikings and Created England was released by Amberley on 15th May, 2025 and once again, having read an earlier book by this author, Vikings: a History of the Northmen, I was sure it would be a compelling and well-researched volume, and it is. It begins with a wonderful summary of the period leading up to the succession of Ecgberht (Alfred's grandfather) which will have those familiar with the period nodding in agreement and those to whom this subject is new learning from a very accessible and balanced overview. Thereafter, we run through the various rulers who were all descended from Ecgberht, who founded the dynasty which so many other Anglo-Saxon kings had hoped but failed to do.

Once again, this is well-balanced and expertly presented summary of the rule of Ecgberht, his descendants, and of the impact of the 'Viking' incursions. It is a political history, so the focus is very much on the kings, rather than the broader governance of the kingdom.

Inevitably there is a slight overlap with these two books, but I would strongly recommend them both.

[My own book from Amberley, Murder in Anglo-Saxon England: Justice, Wergild, Revenge is also widely available]

Guest Post: A Just and Worthy Cause by Paula Lofting

I'm delighted to welcome author Paula Lofting to the blog today. Paula's new book Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King is a biography of Harold Godwineson. Over to Paula:

A Just and Worthy Cause 

Prelude to the Battle of Hastings

It is 9 am. The battle lines are drawn. King Harold’s army has been marshalled along the top of the ridge at the edge of Caldbeck Hill, that was later called Senlac Ridge. They are a tightly packed bunch of around 8 men deep. They watch as William’s army of chevaliers archers, crossbowmen and infantry are arrayed by their Norman leader, Duke William of Normandy at the bottom of the steep slope of Telham Hill more than 200 yards from the English. Harold’s men are shouting “Ut! Ut! Ut!” and bang their shields in time with the rhythm. Among William’s army, to the left of the field, the English are aware of the Bretons, the largest of his mercenary contingents along with the men from Anjou, Poitou, and Maine. They were under the command of the Breton, Alan Fergant. William took up the centre with his Norman troops and on the right flank, are the smaller contingents from France and Flanders, Picardy and Bolougne under the leaderships of William’s seneschal and great friend, William FitzOsbern, assisted by Eustace of Boulogne, the mischief maker that caused the fracas in Dover in 1051. The incident had triggered the mechanism that set the ball rolling for William, by escalating the growing rift between Earl Godwin and King Edward, paving the way for William to claim the lie that the throne was offered to him by the English king. Perhaps Harold’s scouts have informed him that his father’s nemesis is there, with the Bastard of Normandy and he swears under his breath at his insolence. 

Harold’s personal bodyguard surround him, his standard bearer holds fast to his charge, the Dragon of Wessex that flies over men’s heads, letting the enemy know that they are dealing with the anointed king of England and not some base born bastard like the man who calls himself the duke. In the front lines are the thegns, the backbone of the fyrd, and the huscarles of his brothers, Earls Gyrth and Leofwin. They shout in the name of Godwinson and the “Oli Crosse!” the Holy Rood, for whom Harold’s sacred church is named for. They are a heaving mass of men from Sussex and Kent and the surrounding home counties as well as East Anglia, eager to kick out this uninvited invader who have been raiding, burning and ravaging their lands and raping women and murdering children and the elderly. 

Warriors of Regia Anglorum at Hastings
photo: Matt Bunker

Harold had not long marched back down south from York where he had fought and won a hard day long battle against his brother, Tostig, and his ally the king of Norway, Harald Hardrada. He’d not expected the French to appear on his shores in Sussex so late in the year and had hoped that the Battle of Stamford was the last battle of that year. But it was not to be. He needed to recruit men for the third time that year, and he sent messengers on fast horses to call out the fyrds from East Anglia across to Hampshire. Many of these troops met him in London, but no doubt, some went straight to the Hoary Apple Tree mustering place in Sussex. Harold marched from London to the proposed meeting place whilst his messengers rounded up the men of the southwest to come join them. Men arrive throughout the day, augmenting Harold’s tired army. Many of these men are local militias from the shires, 1 man in every 5 hides, who train for 2 months a year. These men are often the local thegns, so are semi-professional land-owning warriors, armed with spears, swords, and shields, as well as helm and maille. The more experienced men like the elite huscarles or highly trained thegns fight in the front lines with their dreaded Dane Axes; the deadliest of hand weapons. The less experienced support the professional warriors from behind. 

That the English army were mostly made up of peasant farmers with pitchforks and slings has been a myth largely propagated in the later sources. This is quite unlikely. How on earth does an army made up of yokels last in such a battle - and all day as we know the Battle of Hastings did? Working on a farm can give you muscles, sure, but muscles don’t provide weapon-skill or protection. The men in the front lines had to be professional, or at least semi-professional like the landholding 5 hide men, or the wealthy thegns holding higher offices. The weaker the men the easier the enemy could break the lines. The peasants are better utilised in bringing in the harvest, maintaining the fields and making sure there is enough food for the winter. Their inexperience would have them killed, so then who would there be to work the land if they were gone? Well, yes, the women, perhaps. But much of the husbandry would have needed the strength of men for the harvest to be brought in on time. 

The only peasants to have turned up might are the local Sussex farmers; the cottars and villeins. This is their land; most would have been personally affected by the raiding of the Normans. These may be the men, who, when they arrive, see that enough men stood on that ridge already, men who are armoured and have fighting experience, so they went away, as is reported in Roman de Rou, and in Florence’s Chronicle of Worcester. 

Both leaders have good reason to want to engage as soon as possible. William must have known that not all of Harold’s army had arrived yet. England’s martial system allowed Harold to draw on around 25,000 men in a national crisis. It is thought that at the opening of battle, Harold had around 7-8,000 men and we know that more appear during the day. William is cornered on the Hastings peninsula and has little in the way of retreat, with rumours of Harold’s fleet out to destroy the Normans ships, it was fight or die.  But if the invaders got a foot hold in Kent, the English would be heading for disaster. William needed an early victory here on this uphill battlefield. He must kill Harold and shatter the morale of the English. Once dead, Harold’s men will be lost, and England will be William’s. Harold’s objective is to contain William, to keep him locked into that corner of Sussex until the rest of his army arrive or until nightfall when the Normans will be forced to flee, and Harold’s army able to chase and cut them down. That was why he took up the defensive stance on the ridge. His army blocked the road to London and if William retreated, they would be able to follow him and wrap him up in no time. 

Also, a lot is at stake for Harold: Sussex is where most of Harold’s ancestral homelands are, the hoary tree lay within the boundaries of Harold’s estate of Whatlington and William is harrying his people. The king felt extremely concerned for his lands, and his people. He is their hlaford, their loaf-giver, their king. He owes them his protection. Hence his haste to get to the mustering point. 

There is one piece of evidence that may offer some insight into Harold’s mental state. Half-English half Norman historian, Orderic, states that whilst waiting for his troops in London, Harold becomes increasingly agitated, hearing reports of what William is doing to his people in Sussex. One story tells how Harold’s own estate of Crowhurst is burned and his loyal, faithful reeve hung to the manor house’s gable. Not usually a man who is vengeful at every little wrong, this traumatises him. These are his ancestral lands. This is personal. The Bastard of Normandy will not get away with it.

Public Domain image from the Bayeaux Tapestry which may represent Crowhurst

Crowhurst St George's Church

By now, Harold and William have made their obligatory speeches to their men, exhorting them to fight for their respective causes. The English are told that their homes, their way of life, and their families are at risk. If they do not beat the invaders, they will lose everything. William’s men would be fighting for the spoils and riches they had been promised, and for their leader’s worthy and rightful cause, and of course, their lives. If they do not beat Harold in the field this day, they would be doomed to die far from home on foreign soil.

It is time for the battle to begin. The Normans sound their trumpets, and the army begins to move. The English continue to bang their shields and sound their war cries of “Ut! Ut! Ut!” and “Godwinson!” and wait for the invaders to approach them up the hill. To each side, this was their just and worthy cause.

Paula at Hastings

Paula was born in the ancient Saxon county of Middlesex in 1961. She grew up in Australia hearing stories from her dad of her homeland and its history. As a youngster she read books by Rosemary Sutcliff and Leon Garfield and her love of English history grew. At 16 her family decided to travel back to England and resettle. She was able to visit the places she'd dreamt about as a child, bringing the stories of her childhood to life. It wasn't until later in life that Paula realised her dream to write and publish her own books. Her debut historical novel Sons of the Wolf was first published in 2012 and then revised and republished in 2016 along with the sequel, The Wolf Banner, in 2017. The third in the series, Wolf's Bane, will be ready for publishing later this year. 

 In this midst of all this, Paula acquired contracts for nonfiction books with the prestigious Pen & Sword publishers. Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson, England’s golden Warrior is now available to buy in all good book outlets, and she is now working on the next non-fiction book about King Edmund Ironside. She has also written a short essay about Edmund for Iain Dale's Kings and Queens, articles for historical magazines. When she is not writing, she is a psychiatric nurse, mother of three grown up kids and grandmother of two and also re-enacts the Anglo-Saxon/Viking period with the awesome Regia Anglorum. 

https://www.instagram.com/paulaloftingwilcox/

https://www.facebook.com/Wulfsuna  

https://www.threads.net/@paulaloftingwilcox

https://x.com/longshippub

https://bsky.app/profile/paulaloftingauthor.bsky.socia  

https://www.threadstothepast.com/

Book Links 

https://mybook.to/Sonslive

https://mybook.to/WolfB

https://mybook.to/Haroldpreorder

Thank you to Paula!

Guest Post - Bess Raleigh's Family Conspirators

I'm delighted to hand over the blog today to author Tony Riches, who has a new book out - Bess: Tudor Gentlewoman

Over to you, Tony:

Bess Raleigh's Family Conspirators

Bess Throckmorton was unusual to be chosen as the queen’s gentlewoman – in spite of her family background rather than because of it. Her family began well, as her great-grandfather, Sir Robert Throckmorton, was a courtier and councillor to King Henry VII. Her grandfather, Sir George Throckmorton, was esquire of the body to King Henry VIII and married Katherine Vaux, whose maternal half-brother was Sir Thomas Parr, father of Catherine Parr, and together they had eight sons and seven daughters. 

One of his sons, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, was the father of Bess. A distant cousin to Queen Catherine Parr, he served in her household as a lawyer. He became a favourite of King Edward VI, and during the attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne after the death of Edward in 1553, Sir Nicholas was in contact with both supporters of her and Queen Mary I. In 1554 he was arrested for involvement in the Wyatt Rebellion and sent to the Tower of London. Pardoned in 1557, he became Ambassador to France under Queen Elizabeth.

Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (c. 1516 – 1571)

Bess’ mother was Lady Anne Carew, daughter of Sir Nicholas Carew, a courtier diplomat during the reign of King Henry VIII, who was executed for his part in the Exeter Conspiracy, an attempt to overthrow the king. Bess’ maternal grandmother was Lady Elizabeth Bryan, also a courtier of King Henry VIII - and possibly one of the king’s mistresses.

Anne Carew, Lady Throckmorton (1520-1587)

Things began to go wrong for the Throckmorton family in 1583, when Bess’ cousin, Francis Throckmorton, a devout Catholic, began carrying messages between Mary, Queen of Scots and King Philip II of Spain's ambassador in London, Bernardino de Mendoza. These secret messages were discovered, and Francis Throckmorton was arrested, tortured and executed for leading the ‘Throckmorton Plot’, a Catholic conspiracy to overthrow Queen Elizabeth.

It was only through her brother Arthur that Bess was accepted at court. It’s said he paid for her place as a lady in waiting, but I suspect Queen Elizabeth was keen to keep a close eye on Bess, given her family connections.

If her connections to all these plots were not enough, Bess found she knew or was in some way related to almost all the men behind the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ against Queen Elizabeth’s successor, King James. Their leader, Robert Catesby, was another cousin to Bess through his mother, Anne Throckmorton. Despite the inevitable suspicion, Bess survived them all to live to the age of eighty two, becoming one of the last true Elizabethans.  

Tony Riches

Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Bess – Tudor Gentlewoman is available in eBook and paperback: HERE

Author Bio

Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of best-selling Tudor historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the history of the Wars of the Roses and the lives of the Tudors. For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his blog, The Writing Desk and find him on  Facebook, Twitter @tonyriches and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyriches.bsky.social.  You can find out more about his research on his popular podcast series, ‘Stories of the Tudors’ 

Other Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyriches/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyriches.author/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tony-Riches/e/B006UZWOXA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5604088.Tony_Riches

Bess, Tudor Gentlewoman New Release by Tony Riches

BESS - TUDOR GENTLEWOMAN

Book Six of the Elizabethan Series

New from Tony Riches, Author of the best-selling Tudor Trilogy

“A thrilling portrait of a remarkable woman who witnessed the key events of Elizabethan England.”  

Bess Throckmorton defies her notorious background and lack of education to become Queen Elizabeth’s Gentlewoman and trusted confidante.

Forced to choose between loyalty and love, duty and desire, will she risk her queen’s anger by marrying adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh without permission?

Entangled in a web of intrigue, from the glittering Palace of Whitehall to the cells of the Tower of London, Bess endures tragedy and injustice, becoming a resilient, determined woman, who takes nothing for granted.

Can she outwit her enemies, protect her family, and claim her destiny in a world where women are pawns and survival is a game of deadly consequences?

This is the true story of the last of the Elizabethans, which ends the story of the Tudor dynasty – and introduces their successors, the Stuarts.

🇬🇧 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D46XQP59

🇺🇸 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D46XQP59

#Elizabethan #Tudors #HistoricalFiction

Author Bio

Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of Tudor historical fiction. He lives with his wife in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the lives of the early Tudors. As well as his Elizabethan series, Tony’s historical fiction novels include the best-selling Tudor trilogy and his Brandon trilogy, (about Charles Brandon and his wives). For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his blog, The Writing Desk and find him on  Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and Twitter @tonyriches. 

Interview: Author Elizabeth Springer's Characters

Something a bit different today - I thought it would be fun to interview the two main characters in The Anglo-Saxon Mystery Series by author Elizabeth Springer. They did not disappoint!

AW: Lord Edwin and Lady Molgifu (may I call you Molly?), welcome to my blog. I understand that you recently - well, recently to you, for it was in AD879 - got married. If I could ask you, first, Lord Edwin: Did anything unexpected happen at your wedding?

Edwin: Thank you. Yes, on the very first day of our wedding-feast a messenger arrived from King Alfred with an urgent summons. There was a crisis in Mercia, the rich and powerful country to the north of us. My older brother and I (he’s an ealdorman) were dispatched to serve as King Alfred’s envoys. The crisis was actually much worse than we realized, there were Vikings involved, but by God’s grace we made it back alive. King Ceolwulf of Mercia and many others were not so lucky. I came home with a much-appreciated new retainer, and Mercia has a new leader who is friendly to King Alfred. 

Molly: What about that man who was accused of murder? You believed he was innocent and stood up for him at his trial.

Edwin: He had to submit to the ordeal of the hot iron, though.

Molly: Yes, but thanks to you he is now a free man, and you found out who really did it.

AW: And Lady Molly, did you spend the time that your husband was away just tending to the estate, or did anything else occur?

Molly: First of all we didn’t know Edwin was going all the way to Mercia or when he would be back. But I had no desire to stay at home with my parents and wait it out! I went ahead to the King’s estate at Wimborne in Dorset, where Edwin had been appointed as a royal reeve. What a state it was in! Wartime neglect, you know, and it turns out that one of the staff had been embezzling the King’s supplies on a significant scale. Thankfully I had some good help, and we got things sorted out. Once we had the hall in order, we had an unexpected royal visit—let’s just say I am less than impressed with King Alfred’s nephews and hope they never come to Wimborne again.  

Elizabeth's own water colour portrait of Edwin and Molly

AW: Lord Edwin, may I ask how you and your bride first met?

Edwin: Our families were neighbours in Wiltshire…

Molly: That’s no way to tell the story. 

Edwin: You tell it, then.

Molly: I always wanted to marry you. I remember seeing you with your mother in church—

Edwin: I was ten when she died, which means you were how old? Six or seven?

Molly: I had my eye on you even then. But you were sent away after that…

Edwin: Yes, to my uncle’s school. He was the Bishop of Sherborne. I was educated to be a monk.

Molly: Then the great heathen army came. Your father and older brother were off fighting the Danes. You must have been about fifteen by that time. Just old enough to wield a sword.

Edwin: I couldn’t bear the thought they were out there risking their lives while I was sitting in Sherborne polishing my Latin. So I joined the army.

Molly: Edwin probably didn’t even remember that I existed till his first visit back home a few years later. 

Edwin: What are you talking about? You were the only girl that has ever existed for me. I promised her that if I wasn’t killed, we could get married when peace was made.   

Molly: I was afraid I might have to become a nun if you didn’t come back, since I didn’t want to marry anybody else. I would have made a terrible nun! 

[AW: Yes, I'm beginning to understand that!] Lady Molly, I’ve heard that once you’d settled into married life you were very much looking forward to your first Christmas together. How did that go?

Molly: Ha! I was about to say that everything that could possibly go wrong, did go wrong, but that’s not entirely true. Some treasures went missing and we had to help find them, there was a fire at somebody’s farm (arson, I’m afraid), a skeleton was dug up, our musician was kidnapped, and of course there was the murder on Christmas Day that was done with a Viking sword. Finding out who did it was not at all straightforward. Edwin and his men had to ride up and down the country every day in the freezing weather dealing with one thing after another. But we also had some good times together, quite a large Yule log, and enough food to go round. For that I’m very thankful.  

AW: Lord Edwin, do you feel that your author breathes life into your world for her readers and do you know how she goes about this? Does she have to do a lot of research?

Edwin: When I was in Mercia I cut my hand on a broken metal fitting (it was a clue, as it turns out). I was about to pull out a handkerchief to wrap around the wound, but I had to wait there on the page for several days while Elizabeth checked to see if I was allowed to have one. She found the word (we call it a swat-clath) in Bosworth and Toller’s Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. She has all sorts of books like that about what we consider quite normal, everyday things: food, clothing, medicines, arms and armour, place-names, laws. She also seems to spend a considerable time reading Old English poetry and staring into space.

Molly: A bit like you, dear.

Edwin: Really?

AW: Lady Molly, have you ever wondered how easy it is for your author to come up with ways to make your life more, shall we say, interesting? Do you know where she gets her ideas for the murder mysteries from?

Molly: We’re never safe from these mishaps, are we? It’s as if she asks herself, ‘What could go wrong in this situation?’ Or, ‘This person is a real character! What would his Anglo-Saxon counterpart do or say?’ As for the murder mysteries, I think she reads a lot—our chronicles, plus Norse sagas, detective novels, and the like. Human nature doesn’t change, you know. The trickier part is leaving the right kind of clues so that we can identify the culprit.  

AW: Thank you both so much for talking to me. Would you like to tell readers where they can find out more about your lives and adventures, and do you know if your author will be visiting you again soon with more mysteries? 

Molly: It’s spring, so that means…

Edwin: Floods—cattle thieves roaming about—and the threat of another Viking invasion.

Molly: I suppose it could mean those things, if everything bad happens at once. 

Edwin: Which it often does.

Molly: You see what I have to contend with. I was going to say that it was about time we went back to visit my parents and inspect the water-mill Edwin gave me as my morning-gift. A little holiday wouldn’t go amiss for either of us.

Edwin: And if everything goes wrong at once?

Molly: Then we’ll just take the adventure we’re given and see it through, won’t we?

Both: Thank you for inviting us!

AW: It was a delight to 'talk' to these characters, and even though our conversation was brief, I really feel that their personalities shine through, and I suspect that's in no small part due to their author.

Please visit https://elizabethspringerauthor.com/my-books/ to find purchase links for Elizabeth Springer’s Anglo-Saxon mysteries. 

And huge thanks to Elizabeth for allowing Edwin and Molly to speak to me today.

Guest Post: Helen Hollick's Ghost Encounters

The Lingering Spirits of North Devon...

But Are They Vikings Or Saxons?

By Helen Hollick (With daughter Kathy Hollick)

Everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile. Actually, most of them are not. You either believe in ghosts or you don’t. It depends on whether you’ve encountered something supernatural or not. But when you share a home with several companionable spirits, or discover benign ghosts in public places who appear as real as any living person, scepticism is abandoned. In GHOST ENCOUNTERS: The Lingering Spirits Of North Devon, mother and daughter share their personal experiences, dispelling the belief that spirits are to be feared. 

Ghost Encounters will fascinate all who enjoy the beautiful region of rural South-West England, as well as interest those who wish to discover more about its history... and a few of its ghosts.

(Includes a bonus of two short stories and photographs connected to North Devon)

Book Links:

Pre-order the e-book on Amazon

https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters

THE BATTLE AT APPLEDORE

Originally an Anglo-Saxon settlement, the North Devon coastal town of Appledore today is a picturesque village with narrow cobbled streets, and alleyways known as ‘opes’. Nestling on a steep hillside beside the estuary confluence of the rivers Taw and Torridge, it, or its neighbour, Northam, a little further up the hill, is also the possible site of two important battles, one involving Viking raiders in 878 CE and another a rebellion that, had it been successful, would have altered English history.

An Appledore 'ope'

Appledore began to prosper during the reign of Elizabeth I due to increasing trade with the North American colonies, while Bideford, a few miles up the River Torridge, rapidly became the third largest English trade port for Virginia tobacco. At Northam, a short way outside of Appledore, is a stone set into a wall, commemorating the legend of an ancient battle. Near here, at Appledore, the ghostly sounds of men fighting with shield and sword is occasionally heard – although there doesn’t seem to be accompanying reports of any visual sighting to go with those desperate sounds.

The memorial reads:

“Stop Stranger Stop, 

Near this spot lies buried

King Hubba the Dane, 

who was slayed in a bloody retreat,

by King Alfred the Great”

However, this story may be nothing more than a legend. During the time of Alfred the Great, Hubba the Dane – or more likely the name should be Ubba – landed somewhere with a fleet of ships and was soundly defeated, losing over 1,000 men. All we know for certain is that Hubba/Ubba was slain in the West Country, although there is no evidence to support Appledore and Northam as the location, but... there is possible evidence for a different battle at a later date: the sons of King Harold II who was slain at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, attempted a rebellion against Duke Willliam of Normandy, which, unfortunately, failed.

According to the Anglo–Saxon Chronicle, Manuscript D: ‘After this came Harold’s sons from Ireland, at Midsummer, with 64 ships into the mouth of the Taw, and there heedlessly landed; and Earl Brian [Brian of Brittany] came against them unawares with no small band, and fought against them.’

This is plausible. King Harold II’s mother, Gytha, owned extensive land in North Devon during the 11th century. Harold himself landed at Porlock, a little along the coast at the other end of Exmoor, after a short exile to Ireland in 1052/3, and it is inconceivable that his sons and supporters did not attempt to defeat Duke William after the tragedy of October 14th 1066. The entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle mentions the mouth of the River Taw, so Appledore would certainly fit the bill in terms of location, and so perhaps, it really was here that the fighting took place.

Appledore [photo Simon Murgatroyd

Despite his victory, and subsequent coronation on December 25th 1066 at Westminster Abbey, London, things did not go well for William. England was not as easy to conquer as he had expected. By early 1068 rebellion in the West Country was increasing – this was Wessex, mostly loyal to Earl Godwin, Harold’s father, and then to Harold himself.

Exeter rebelled against William. The town was always a wealthy trade port, and loyal to the Saxon Queens of Emma of Normandy, then Harold’s sister, Edith, wife to Edward the Confessor, and then to Harold himself. (Although Edith surrendered to William soon after Hastings, probably in a move to maintain her royal status and lifestyle – she also had fallen out with Harold early in 1066, so in some way, her capitulation to Normandy could be regarded as treasonous.)

William himself led an army against Exeter, probably because Gytha and Harold’s daughters were there as strong rallying figureheads. After a siege of eighteen days, Exeter surrendered and Gytha and her granddaughters fled abroad. Harold’s common-law wife, Edith Swanneck, was probably also with Gytha.

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 1067: “This year Harold's mother, Githa, and the wives of many good men with her, went to [modern day] Flat Holm in the Severn Estuary, and there abode some time; and afterwards went from thence over sea to St. Omer's.”

At the same time, three of Harold’s sons Godwin, Edmund and Magnus, sailed from Ireland where they had been taking refuge, with the intention of raiding as much of southwest England as they could with a fleet of fifty-two ships, provided by Diarmait, the High King of Ireland.

William had already departed Devon, but had left a large force behind, headed by Eadnoth the Staller, an Anglo-Saxon landowner who supported the new king. He fought against the three sons at the Battle of Bleadon, the outcome of which was stalemate. Eadnoth was killed, and the brothers retreated to their ships. After this, Magnus is not mentioned again, so was very likely also killed. The two remaining sons continued to raid along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall., before wintering, again, in Ireland.

They returned with an army and more than sixty ships in June 1069, landing at Appledore and advanced a little inland to Northam. The Norman army, under command of William’s second cousin, Brian of Brittany, and William De Vauville, appointed Sheriff of Devon, were soon there to meet them. The size of the armies is unknown, but the Englishmen, now subjugated by the Normans undoubtedly had no choice but to fight for their new overlords – or lose all they had.

According to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Northam Harold’s sons and their men fought hard – which is likely – but I’m not sure I agree that they were “unable to retreat because the tide was out.” This implies that they retreated as the tide came back in.

These were Viking longships, shallow on the draught. The confluence of the two rivers, Taw and Torridge, form dangerous currents when the tide is on the turn, plus there is a turbulent sandbar across where river meets sea – it was difficult to navigate safely here by the late 1600s, with the river channels starting to greatly silt up from the mid-1700s. But in 1069? Would this estuary have been as difficult to navigate for experienced sailors, manning Viking-style longships?

Wikipedia states: “For many hours the Normans launched repeated attacks against the raiders’ shield wall, in almost exactly the same way the early stages of the Battle of Hastings had played out. The raiders’ line never broke, but they suffered heavy casualties. As night came, the tide finally returned, and the brothers army escaped to sea, ending the battle.”

I concede that the tide played a big part in any withdrawal – but to cross that river confluence and the bar on an incoming tide? To row, or sail against a heavy, strong tide? No.

Nearly all shipping would go with a current’s flow, not against it. My bet is that Harold’s sons and their supporters fought for as long as they could, but once the high, full, tide was on the ebb... going out ... they dare not wait, for low tide would mean they would be effectively trapped. So as soon as the tide started to go out, they had to take their leave in the hope that there would be chance to fight again another day. *

There was no further rebellion from Harold’s remaining sons. Probably, Diarmait, refused to help any further, seeing it (justifiably) as a lost cause. The brothers went to Denmark, maybe hoping for help from there. It didn’t come, and Harold’s sons probably joined their mother and sisters somewhere near modern Kiev – and then disappear from history. Ideal for fiction writers: a blank page to fill!

* A note in the Wikipedia article seems to support my theory: “In the eleventh century it was usual for ships to depart on the high tide. It has been calculated that on the day of the battle, the high tide would have been in the early evening.”

ABOUT HELEN

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen might not see ghosts herself, but her nautical adventure series, and some of her short stories, skilfully blend the past with the supernatural, inviting readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur.

Her historical fiction spans a variety of periods and her gift lies in her ability to bring historical figures and settings to life, creating an immersive experience that transports readers into the past. Her stories are as compelling as they are convincing.

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which became a USA Today best-seller. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant.

Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and, when she gets a moment, writing the next book...

ABOUT KATHY

When not encountering friendly ghosts, Kathy's passion is horses and mental well-being. She started riding at the age of three, had a pony at thirteen, and discovered showjumping soon after. Kathy now runs her own Taw River Equine Events, and coaches riders of any age or experience, specialising in positive mindset and overcoming confidence issues via her Centre10 accreditation and Emotional Freedom Technique training to aid calm relaxation and promote gentle healing.

Kathy lives with her farmer partner, Andrew, in their flat adjoining the main farmhouse. She regularly competes at affiliated British Showjumping, and rides side-saddle (‘aside’) when she has the opportunity. She produces her own horses, several from home-bred foals. She also has a fun diploma in Dragons and Dragon Energy, which was something amusing to study during the Covid lockdown.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social

Blog: supporting authors & their books https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Monthly newsletter : Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html

Kathy’s Official Website:

https://www.white-owl.co.uk/

For additional (and any new ghost encounters!) visit

https://ghostencountersofdevon.blogspot.com/