History Matters – Joanna Courtney

The Girlie Side of the Normans…

Joanna Courtney — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 09:50:23 +0000

Me seeking out the softer side of Duke William - where better to start than in a nice French restaurant! Searching for the girlie side of the Normans.... The Normans don’t get a great press in history. They generally go down as Vikings without the sex appeal – dour, straight-laced, humourless warriors who liked to…

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Fab historical writers – Justin Hill

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 10:04:11 +0000

For this, the last in my Spring series of 'fab historical writers' features, I'm delighted to welcome Justin Hill to my blog. I met Justin several times last year at various spirited battle re-enactments around the 900th anniversary of 1066. His latest novel Viking Fire is about Harald Hardrada, hero of my own novel The…

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Fab historical writers – Alison Morton

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 06:51:54 +0000

Today I'm delighted to welcome Alison Morton to my blog and to launch the blog tour of her new novel RETALIO which comes out next week (see below for a GIVEAWAY of a signed copy). I first met Alison when she joined our little group of historical writers putting together 1066 Turned Upside Down. It was…

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Fab historical writers – Patricia Bracewell

Joanna Courtney — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 07:22:02 +0000

I read Patricia Bracewell's excellent Shadow on the Crown a number of years back when I first became fascinated by Edward the Confessor, son of Emma of Normandy. Twice-crowned English queen, Emma was an amazing woman and Pat's books explore her in a wonderfully vibrant way. Shadow on the Crown is the first book in a trilogy. It covers…

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Fab historical writers – James Aitcheson

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:15:35 +0000

I first met James Aitcheson at the Battle of Hastings re-enactment three years ago. At the time I was writing The Chosen Queen, exploring the Saxon side of 1066 so felt very much on the 'opposite side' of James and his Norman hero Tancred. I loved his books but struggled to embrace Norman Britain. Since…

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Fab historical writers – G K Holloway

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:06:09 +0000

G K Holloway has published one novel so far, but it's a big one: 1066 What Fates Impose. The title alone should give anyone should have a rough idea of what it’s about, but in essence it covers the twenty-one years leading up to the Battle of Hastings. There are papal plots, family feuds, court…

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Fab historical writers – Helen Hollick

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 06:35:59 +0000

If readers of historical fiction, especially those whose tastes run to the medieval, haven’t found Helen Hollick yet then all I can say is thank heavens you’re reading this! Helen has been a bit of an authority on all things 1066 from long before I ever considered writing about that fateful year and her books,…

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Fab historical writers – Kate Thompson

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 07:22:43 +0000

This week, in my bid to introduce readers to authors they may not have read before, I’m thrilled to welcome Kate Thompson onto my blog on the very day her new book The Wedding Girls is launched. Kate is a fellow PanMacmillan author and writes about wartime women. It’s a hugely popular period with readers,…

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Fab historical writers – Anna Belfrage

Joanna Courtney — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 09:19:52 +0000

As part of a bid to bring readers of historical fiction new authors to enjoy, I’m featuring a different writer every week this Spring and this week I’m delighted to bring you the myriad excellent books of Anna Belfrage. I recently finished The Rip in the Veil, the first book in her timeslip Graham Saga,…

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