Hello Everyone!
A quick note to finish off the year as I prepare to take a break over the end days of December.
First to send out holiday greetings to all of my lovely readers. It is difficult to know what to say to be fully inclusive, but most of us will be taking a break from work to relax or see friends and family. Not everyone of course. I have two nurses in my close circle who are working shifts on December 25th, so a special shout out to anyone who’s keeping essential services going. Whatever you are doing, whatever you are celebrating or indeed not celebrating, may I wish you joy and peace and time for yourself.
I shall be spending the 25th walking with my husband and the dogs, and just enjoying a general unwind. Perhaps some reading and TV in the evening, but all very laid back and relaxed. I shall spend some time with my mum in her care home and we’ll have a chat, open presents and give each other the gift of time.
Midweek towards new year, the family are descending on us for a midday buffet and afternoon together and it will be lovely to see everyone, catch up, and play games.
On the writing front I am 100 pages into the rough draft of my second novel about Jeanette (Joan) of Kent and am truly amazed by the life she led and by her resilience. I have been illustrating my daily short excerpts from the fantastic Romance of Alexander, that’s held at the Bodleian Library. https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/8d17bc13-14b6-4a56-b3b5-d2e1a935c60d/surfaces/4a393c08-c5aa-4272-8644-414c6bb455aa/
The game of “hoodman blind” The Romance of Alexander. Mid 14th century. Bodleian Library.
The Romance dates to the era I am writing about and has such wonderful vignettes of daily life, such as this one of children playing “hoodman blind, a medieval version of “blind man’s buff.” I find these illustrations so delightful and inspiring – they create little stories in themselves.
I am also especially delighted to tell my American readers that all my novels should now be available on the Kindle in the US including the early ones such as The Wild Hunt Series. Also available in other electronic formats, and paperback. For those of you waiting for audio it’s on its way, but recordings need to be made and a contract signed, so it will be a little longer.
Publication date for The Royal Rebel is set for September 2024. We’re working on the full cover at the moment.
Arriving September 2024
Happy Holidays!
Elizabeth xx