The past is never dead, it isn’t even past
Historical Heroes: Æthelstan Throughout the 700s, the ancient Saxon kingdom of Mercia was the powerhouse in Saxon England. The key to its success, as in the Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and Wessex both before and after it, was the longevity of its kings. First, King...
Throughout the 700s, the ancient Saxon kingdom of Mercia was the powerhouse in Saxon England. The key to its success, as in the Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and Wessex both before and after it, was the longevity of its kings. First, King Æthelbald, and then his...
M.J. Porter, congratulations on the Brunanburh Series. Why does Æthelstan appeal to you as a historical figure, and why does his story demand retelling in contemporary society? Æthelstan is an intriguing character to explore. We actually know very little about him,...
Warrior of Mercia is the third book in The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. How has your main character, Icel, changed throughout the series so far? Icel began life as a young lad whose only thought was to become a healer. Circumstances are making him a warrior, although...
AD826, the old king of Mercia has been usurped by Beornwulf, swept to power by the kingdom’s ealdormen and breaking a near 200-year line of succession. It’s here, under King Beornwulf’s reign, we meet a young, orphaned Icel, living in Mercia’s capital; his warrior...
Starting a new series is always exciting – new characters to develop and place in my fictional Saxon world and new challenges in bringing another period of time to life. It might still be set in Saxon England, but Saxon England endured for over six hundred years. In...
Iron & Gold is a distinctive collection of six short stories which span the Middle Ages. There is an overwhelming narrative of honour, integrity, love and timelessness which unite these tales. Additionally, there are interviews with each of the authors after each...
I’m the last of my family, and as I sit here, bounded by four unyielding walls, it grows daily less and less likely that I’ll ever continue my family line. We, who rose from little, and achieved so much, will die out here, in a prison of my king’s making. I know that...
The Queen's Rival is a stunning look at the 'later' life of Cecily Neville from 1459 until 1483. This is not a 'quiet' period of history and to cover the tumultuous events, the author adopts the technique of recording the letters of the main protagonists, either from...
Camelot begins in much the same way as the previous book, Lancelot. The lead character is a young man, about to take his vows to become a monk on the tor at Glastonbury when his world completely changes. The depiction of life on the tor is wonderfully evoked, and even...
