Interview with Elizabeth St. John

Good morning!  Thanks to the abilities of pre-scheduling posts, I was able to get this one up while out of the house today (I'm going of 5 days without internet access).  I hope you will enjoy getting to know Elizabeth St. John, author of The Lady of the Tower.

Heather: Hi Elizabeth! Welcome to The Maiden’s Court! I would love to open this discussion today by asking what lead you to decide to write on Lucy St. John? I understand she is a relative of some sort.

Elizabeth St. John: Hi Heather! Thank you so much for having me on The Maiden’s Court. What a beautiful blog, and a perfect venue for my maiden, Lucy St.John. She was an ancestress of mine who was born in England in 1596 during the last years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Many years ago I discovered a diary, written by her daughter, in the archives of Nottingham Castle. Within the entries, in a beautiful clear script, there was a dramatic tale of a Lucy St. John and a love story that intrigued me. The rest, as they say, is history.

H: That is so cool!  I love hearing about stories that can be dug up from family histories! 

What type of research have you done for this book? Any special access or information that you were able to obtain because it is a relative?

ESJ: Well, after poring through the diary, I turned to its published volume, Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson, by Lucy Hutchinson. Here, Lucy St.John’s story was recounted, along with other biographical information about her life and family. I then started compiling the places she lived – Lydiard House in Wiltshire, Fonmon Castle in Wales, and, her main residence, the Tower of London. I was fortunate inasmuch as my family are Trustees of the Friends of Lydiard House, and we were acquaintances with the present owners of Fonmon Castle. As for the Tower – they couldn’t have been more generous in allowing me “behind-the-scenes” access to Lucy’s home, where I was able to walk through and photograph the rooms she once lived in.

Most of my document research has been online and with the aid of wonderful scholars - Professor Paul Sellin at UCLA on Sir Walter Raleigh, and Dr. David Norbrook at Oxford University on Lucy Hutchinson. They’ve been extremely kind in sharing their time with me over the years as I pieced together the lives of Lucy and her generation. And now that so much of the National Archives are digitized, it’s been fantastic to be able to retrieve letters, lawsuits, dispatches, etc. online as a follow up to site visits.

H: I'm sure that being able to have access to some of these locations made it much easier to build the atmosphere of your world. 

I know this is your first published work, so this might be a difficult question to answer, but maybe you have other writing experience to pull from here; did you find it difficult to write about someone who is a family relative? Were there times that you wanted to make a different story choice because information was possibly unfavorable or something you felt uncomfortable writing about, or were you able to distance yourself from the subject?

ESJ: That’s a great question, and one that addresses the crux of historical fiction. I have to admit there were many days when I muttered an apology to Barbara St.John, the main antagonist in my book, for I fear I did not portray her sympathetically. However, I felt I had enough foundational evidence to base my story on, and so I was able to create a woman that everyone loved to hate. Sorry, again, Barbara! Otherwise, there was nothing I felt uncomfortable about, or wished to conceal. My main goal in writing The Lady of the Tower was to bring my ancestors to life, and to have readers feel that although they lived 400 years ago, they are not so different from us. That meant writing about them realistically, with all their ups and downs, and I think that made for more interesting reading.

H: For those who have not read your work, how would you describe your writing style?

ESJ: I hope readers will find it interesting, with a lot of period detail, but not over-stuffed with facts. The book is intended for lovers of historical fiction, so hopefully I’ve struck that balance. My readers comment frequently on how much they love the descriptions, and how the characters really came alive for them.

H: What drew you towards independent publishing as opposed to seeking out a traditional publisher? Has there been anything that was more or less challenging that you expected? Would you do it again?

ESJ: Honestly, my first goal was to write the book. I’d been carrying the idea around for far too long, and a life event made me realize that I couldn’t wait forever. Then, I decided I would like to see it in print. I talked to a couple of agents, but the process of editing to their needs (ie significantly reduce the word count), giving up rights, and the lengthy process time just weren’t fitting with my goals.

I couldn’t be more delighted with indie publishing, for the rewards have been extraordinary. I did commit to working with an amazing editor and cover designer, Jenny Quinlan, so that the work could be the best it could be. I have not been challenged by the marketing, for I am fortunate to have that professional experience. And yes, I would do it again. At time of writing, I am on my 18^th week on three Amazon best-seller lists (but who’s counting!), based on this being entirely my own effort. I couldn’t ask for more.

H: That's great to hear!  It is my opinion that the best thing an independent published author can do is get a good edit of their book because that is something that your readers will certainly notice.

Are you a full time author or do you have to find time to write around a typical 9-5 job? How do you find time to write?

ESJ: I do have a “day job” – I work as a management consultant in healthcare. It’s a very rewarding and demanding career. I love the people I work with, and our mission, so am not giving it up in a hurry. I found time to write by creating a daily discipline. In my instance, I’m an early riser, so I get up at 5:00 every morning to write, finishing at about 7:30, and then get to work. I research, read and think in the evenings. My family are very understanding, and tolerate the occasional glazed look from me, when I am dragged back into reality from the 17^th century to fix dinner or walk the dog.

H: Having understanding family is huge, I'm glad my husband understands my blogging commitments!

Have you had any struggles in the writing/publishing process? How have you worked through these? Any words of wisdom for aspiring authors?

ESJ: Once I decided to self-publish, it was a matter of putting together a plan and a budget, and sticking to it. Apart from the usual doubts about the whole entire madness, I didn’t really encounter any major hurdles. I’ve always written as part of my job, and I found the creative aspect of this incredibly satisfying. I made friends with some amazing writers groups online through Scribophile.com who critiqued and encouraged me along the way, and my book club was very supportive. My experience was to definitely reach out to other authors, both experienced and new, and form those bonds. Share suggestions, experience, challenges, for the writing community is extremely supportive, and I think we all want to see each other succeed.

H: Those are some wonderful suggestions!  I think critique from focus groups and other writers can only serve to strengthen your work. 

Do you have any further writing plans?

ESJ: Absolutely! I have a lot of ancestors! Actually, I’m well underway on my second novel (working title “By Love Divided”) which follows the footsteps of Lucy’s children, who fought on opposing sides of the English Civil War. And then there’s the life of Lucy’s great niece, Barbara Villiers, who became Charles II’s favorite mistress, Lady Castlemaine. Oooh…and what about Margaret Beauchamp St.John, grandmother of Henry VIIth…

Thank you for some great questions! I really enjoyed answering them.

H: Sounds like you have some great ideas ahead!  I can't wait to see what else you bring us.  Thanks for taking time out for The Maiden's Court today!

Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and sites from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and the British Library to Castle Fonmon and The Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it’s hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth’s family still occupy them – in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that’s a different story…

Elizabeth is currently writing a sequel to The Lady of the Tower, following the fortunes of the St.John family during the English Civil War. The working title is “By Love Divided”, and it is due to publish in early 2017.

Find Elizabeth St. John: Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Blurb:

Orphaned Lucy St.John, described as “the most beautiful of all,” defies English society by carving her own path through the decadent Stuart court. In 1609, the early days of the rule of James I are a time of glittering pageantry and cutthroat ambition, when the most dangerous thing one can do is fall in love . . . or make an enemy of Frances Howard, the reigning court beauty. Lucy catches the eye of the Earl of Suffolk, but her envious sister Barbara is determined to ruin her happiness. Exiling herself from the court, Lucy has to find her own path through life, becoming mistress of the Tower of London. Riding the coattails of the king’s favorite, the Duke of Buckingham, the fortunes of the St.Johns rise to dizzying heights. But with great wealth comes betrayal, leaving Lucy to fight for her survival—and her honor—in a world of deceit and debauchery. Elizabeth St.John tells this dramatic story of love, betrayal, family bonds and loyalty through the eyes of her ancestor Lucy and her family’s surviving diaries, letters and court papers.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Follow the Tour!

On HFVBT Website

On Twitter: #TheLadyoftheTowerBlogTour

Monday, August 8
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Review at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Tuesday, August 9
Review, Excerpt & Giveaway at The Silver Dagger Scriptorium

Wednesday, August 10
Review at A Holland Reads

Thursday, August 11
Review at Book Nerd

Friday, August 12
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Interview & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Saturday, August 13
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Sunday, August 14
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Monday, August 15
Review at A Book Drunkard
Interview at The Maiden’s Court



Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Cloaked in Danger Launch Party!

Hey everyone!  I wanted to alert you to a cool event that will be happening on Facebook tomorrow.  Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours is coordinating a launch party on Facebook for the book release of Cloaked in Danger by Jeannie Ruesch!  There will be things from giveaways, guest author drop-bys and much, much more.  Be sure to check it out!

What: Jeannie Ruesch's Facebook Launch Party for Cloaked in Danger

Where: https://www.facebook.com/events/479465215499279

When:  Monday, January 27, 2014  3:00 - 7:00 pm PST (6:00 – 10:00 pm EST).

About Cloaked in Danger
Publication Date: January 27, 2014
Publisher: Carina Press
Format: eBook
ASIN: B00F93X7ZI

Book Blurb: Aria Whitney has little in common with the delicate ladies of London society. Her famous father made his fortune hunting archaeological treasures, and her rustic upbringing has left her ill prepared for a life of parties and frippery. But when Gideon Whitney goes missing in Egypt, Aria must embrace the unknown. Armed with only the short list of highborn men who’d backed her father’s venture, she poses as a woman looking for a husband. She doesn’t intend to find one.

Adam Willoughby, Earl of Merewood, finds London’s strangest new debutante fascinating, but when he catches her investigating his family’s secrets, he threatens to ruin her reputation. He doesn’t intend to enjoy it so much.

When their lustful indiscretion is discovered, Adam finds that he regrets nothing. But now, as Aria’s father’s enemy draws near, Adam must convince his betrothed that she can trust him with her own secrets…before it’s too late.

About Jeannie Ruesch

Jeannie Ruesch wrote her first story at the age of the six, prompting her to give up an illustrious, hours-long ambition of becoming a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and declare that writing was her destiny. That journey to destiny took a few detours along the way, including a career in marketing and
design.

Her first novel, a fairy-tale like historical romance, was published in 2009, but the darker side of life had always captivated her. So after a dinner conversation with friends about the best way to hide a dead body, she knew she had to find a way to incorporate suspense into her writing. (The legal outlet for her fascination.) Today, she continues writing what she loves to read – stories of history, romance and suspense. She lives in Northern California with her husband, their son and an 80 pound lapdog lab named Cooper.

She is also the creator of the WIP Notebook, a writer’s tool to help stay organized while you write, which you can find at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.

Hope to see you all there!  I will probably be checking in toward the later end of the event.

 

Copyright © 2014 by The Maiden’s Court

Maryanne O’Hara Author Event

This past Thursday I had the chance to attend an author event with Maryanne O’Hara, author of Cascade, at my favorite indie bookstore, RJ Julia.

When I go to an author event I am looking to learn something about the book that I wouldn’t have otherwise known.  When they bring photos, a slideshow, music, or some other accessory that is pertinent to provide background history it makes it so much more interesting.  O’Hara did just that.  She had photos of the towns of Enfield and Dana before and after destruction for the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir.  She also had a list (quite extensive) of other cities that have been destroyed for water projects. 

I also loved the format of the event – it was a very open and free-flowing discussion rather than a structured format of reading, discussion, Q&A.  I liked how there was an interchange of thoughts back and forth.  It was fascinating to learn that the novel Cascade started out as several different short-stories that ultimately were pulled together. 

Maryanne will be doing several more tour stops over the next few months.  I hope you get the chance to check out one of them.  Here are a few of her upcoming stops this month:

• Saturday, May 18, 2013 12:15 PM - GAITHERSBURG BOOK FESTIVAL – Gaithersburg, MD
• Tuesday, May 21, 2013 7:00pm - Jones Library - Amherst, MA
• Wednesday, May 22, 2013 7:00PM – “The Human Cost of Water” - Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, Boston, MA

You can check out the rest of her tour stops on her site.

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event with Mary Beth Keane

I had the opportunity to attend an author book talk at RJ Julia bookstore last week with Mary Beth Keane, author or Fever.

I always love attending author events – from the selections they choose to read to the questions from the audience – it is always fun.  And events at RJ Julia are always small and intimate. 

Keane chose to read a selection from Fever where Mary is thinking about the new hat that she bought – I think from Ch 5.  Keane told us that when she spends time describing an item of clothing there always needs to be a purpose to the description – not just to fill some word count.  I think that this scene very well fulfills that purpose.   

I was really surprised to learn that there isn’t a whole heck of a lot known about Mary’s life.  Obviously we know about the spreading of typhoid part, but her private life before coming to stay on North Brother Island is very vague.  This gave a lot for the author to work with.  I also enjoyed learning about how the author had to make a decision about Mary’s decisions – did she understand she was spreading disease and didn’t care thus being the malicious devil described in the papers – or was she confused about the new science and didn’t understand enough and thought she was being unjustly persecuted?  As I stated in my review, the book would have benefited from a Historical Note section, however this portion of the book talk really filled in some of the gaps for me.  

Everyone in attendance who had read the book, myself included, stated that the author did such a good job of making this marginalized person real – so we were surprised to learn that Keane doesn’t have any intentions right now of writing about a real historical figure.  Although she did it well – she found it extremely difficult to do.  Her next novel will be more contemporary and I think she said set in New York – but it is apparently in the very earliest planning stages.

Several people there praised her earlier novel, The Walking People, so I would be remiss to not mention it.  It is an immigration from Ireland to the United States story that spans a 50 year time period.  Here is the blurb:

“Greta Cahill never believed she would leave her village in the west of Ireland until she found herself on a ship bound for New York, along with her sister Johanna and a boy named Michael Ward. Labeled a "softheaded goose" by her family, Greta discovers that in America she can fall in love, raise her own family, and earn a living. Though she longs to return and show her family what she has made of herself, her decision to spare her children knowledge of a secret in her past forces her to keep her life in New York separate from the life she once loved in Ireland, and tears her apart from the people she is closest to. Even fifty years later, when the Ireland of her memory bears little resemblance to that of present day, she fears that it is still possible to lose all when she discovers that her children—with the best of intentions— have conspired to unite the worlds she’s so carefully kept separate for decades. A beautifully old-fashioned novel, The Walking People is a debut of remarkable range and power.”

Stay tuned later this week (hopefully) for a post about North Brother Island – where “Typhoid Mary” spent a significant portion of her life.

My review of Fever

Mary Beth Keane’s website

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event with Robert McMaster and Book Alert

I had the chance this past Thursday to go to an author event hosted by my local library for an author who grew up in my town.  Robert McMaster released his debut novel of historical fiction in June 2012 called Trolley Days.  I was excited to go because not only was it a local author, but it was an HF author! 

Of course I was the youngest in the audience by at least 30 years – most of the people there had went to school with the author or were the parents of those who went to school with him.  What was really cool about this experience was getting to see the old pictures of my town.  A lot of the events that occur in the book actually happened in Southbridge or are based on locations/people from Southbridge.  I have been interested in seeing what the town used to look like when it was a booming mill/manufacturing town, so that was a lot of fun.  It was also cool because some of the places in Holyoke that are featured in the novel I know about too because my boyfriend grew up just 2 towns over from there.  While I wasn’t as interested in the book when the talk began, by the end I had to read it.  I of course bought a copy of the book – not only because it is set in my local community, but because the proceeds were going to the library! 

The author of this book teaches biology at Holyoke Community College – and one of the interesting tidbits he told us was that he always takes his bio students out on this walking path behind the school as part of the class, and it wasn’t until just recently that he learned that the path used to be part of the local trolley lines – how cool.

Trolley Days by Robert McMaster
Unquomonk Press, 316 Pages
ISBN: 0985694408
June 15, 2012

Here’s the book blurb:

Holyoke, Massachusetts, in the nineteen-teens. It was the Silicon Valley of its time, a breeding ground of new ideas, a cauldron of hope, ambition, greed. Powered by the waters of a mighty river, its mills roared night and day, drawing workers from nearly every farm in New England, from Canada, and from Europe. They came to forge new lives for themselves and their families; many were rewarded, some bitterly disappointed.

Trolley Days is the story of an unlikely friendship between two boys growing up in Holyoke in its industrial heyday. Jack Bernard is the son of a mill worker who emigrated from Canada, Tom Wellington the son of the mill owner. Jack is shy and socially a bit awkward, Tom self-assured and smooth-talking. But for all their differences, the two boys have much in common. They love fishing, sports, and all manner of youthful tomfoolery. Each has suffered the loss of a sibling, tragedies that have affected both families deeply.

In the opening chapter a blizzard is approaching as Jack boards a train for the long trip to Boston. He has received a cryptic letter informing him that Tom is in a Boston jail. Despite a recent falling-out between the two, Jack still considers Tom his best friend, and he refuses to allow a snowstorm to prevent him from going to Tom’s aid. Soon Jack will be plunged into a mystery that calls on all his courage and determination to solve, even as Tom’s freedom, perhaps his very life, hangs in the balance. To save his friend, Jack will need the assistance of Tom’s sister, Anne, but that will require Jack and Anne to reconcile their fractured relationship.

Does friendship have its limits? Can bonds of trust, once broken, be repaired? Can we learn from life’s tragedies and move on, or must we carry them like lead weights on our hearts forever? In Trolley Days, it seems it is the young who bear the heaviest of life’s burdens and must marshal the strength to free themselves and their parents.

If you would like to read a section from the novel – check out this excerpt.  You can also check out some of the old pictures that he showed at the event.  Visit the author’s website for much more.  Hope you can check out the book!

 

Trolley Days: Robert T McMaster,Benjamin Christopher Martins: 9780985694401: Books ISBN: 0985694408 ISBN-13: 9780985694401

 

Copyright © 2012 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event with Kathy Leonard Czepiel & Giveaway!!!

Back in July I had the opportunity to interview author Kathy Leonard Czepiel on the blog for her debut release of A Violet Season. The cover immediately drew me in and when I found out that she teaches at the university I graduated from (and did when I went there too) I was very excited to get my hands on said book (which I still haven’t read yet!). So you can imagine my delight when my favorite indie bookseller, RJ Julia, was hosting an event with none other than, Czepiel herself. I wanted to share some of the insights I learned at her book talk (and stay tuned at the end for an awesome giveaway).

First, did anyone know that there was a booming violet industry in the Hudson valley in New York just prior to the turn of the 20th century and the early decades of it? I didn’t, and neither did the author who grew up in one of the towns known for its violets! For an area know as the worlds grower of violets it’s amazing that so many of the residents don’t even know about the history literally in their backyards.

I learned some interesting things about how violets were harvested – see a picture below – these pickers would lay on very narrow boards all day and hand pick these violets which would be sent as far west as the Mississippi River. It doesn’t look to comfortable, that’s for sure.

Violet harvesting in the traditional method

The violet industry began to taper off in the late 1930’s as tastes changed to lighter clothing that wouldn’t support a heavy corsage of violets, but the industry still managed to limp along until the last of the greenhouses closed in the 1970’s. Today, some of the greenhouses are still used for growing new types of flowers.

A typical violet greenhouse view

The author had the opportunity to speak with descendants of some of these violet growers from this booming era and learn about how they were traditionally grown and see some of the greenhouses. Nothing like being immersed in the experience!

It was wonderful getting to meet the author – she actually remembered me from her stop here back in July and we talked about the University and blogging – she was very nice.

If you want to check out my interview with the author, visit this page.  If you want to know more about the violet industry - there was a film made about it, called Sweet Violets - which you can watch a clip of below. I love learning about our local hidden history!

If you are interested in a chance to win this book, which I had signed by the author, enter the Rafflecopter below. Open to US and Canada residents only – last day to enter is October 5th. Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway





Copyright © 2012 by The Maiden’s Court

Going to See Philippa Gregory - Not!

Well this morning is quite depressing.  I'm not going to see Philippa Gregory today after all because the massive snowstorm headed right toward me doesn't understand it needs to hold off until tomorrow so that I can go see her!  Sadly, the event has been cancelled.  Hopefully it will be rescheduled and I will still be able to go.  I didn't really want to drive in the snow, but I did want to see my mom and go to the event.  Oh well - hunkering down here for the potential 8-12 inches of October snow!




Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Going to See Philippa Gregory

I am excited that I am going to go see Philippa Gregory this Saturday, October 29th!  When I heard that she was going to be doing a book tour, I figured that she would possibly come to Boston, seeing as she hits mostly big cities.  Boy was I ever surprised to see that she was coming to my favorite Indie book store in tiny Madison, CT - R.J. Julia.  This is the book store I have always went to for my author events, and they have brought in big name people before, I was just super surprised.

So you can bet I jumped on that one!  Bought tickets for myself and my mom (totally dragging her along with me because quite honestly my boyfriend is tired of going to these things with me), ordered my book, and blocked off that day to spend with my mom.  It will be a girls day - lunch and then out for a literary event.  Very cool!

I will be sure to tell you all about it come Sunday.  If you live in the area and are interested in going head on over to the RJ Julia website to purchase you ticket ($10 for just a ticket, $32.99 for the book to get signed and the ticket).  If you ever have the chance, stop by RJ Julia for an event - they have one almost every day and really are a great little store!




Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Suddenly Sunday – BEA, BBC, OMG!

Suddenly Sunday is hosted by Muse at Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog.


I haven’t done a lot of actual blogging this week, but I have been partaking in blog related things all week and I am just now feeling recuperated enough to start sharing it all with you. As many of you know, I went to NYC this week for BEA. I navigated my way by car, train and finally foot to reach the Javits Center on Thursday – and was totally unprepared for what I found! I checked in and picked up my name tag – it was so exciting to see my blog name and “press” beneath it. Then we set off.
The place was HUGE and I was so visually over stimulated that I didn’t know where to start. My boyfriend, Nick (from Lions and Men), and I walked in circles around the place just to try to figure out the lay of the land and where the different publishers were that we had pre-planned to stop at. We met up with Allie (from Hist-Fic Chick) around 1:30ish and from there set off on a great adventure. Each booth handled themselves differently: some just threw books at you indiscriminately, others hoarded them in cabinets and you had to be very direct to get a copy of anything. Allie and I found that if we went and talked to someone together, we usually got a more favorable response than we had previously on our own.
It was a little difficult to find historical fiction books. As I said previously, the layout of the floor was by publisher. So you had to figure out which publishers carried our type of books and then find them. Another difficulty was that many of them hadn’t really brought their hist-fic with them, Sourcebooks being one. But, I did talk to many of the publisher reps and was given people to get in contact with for review copies if they didn’t have any with them.
I was also able to hit up 2 author signings, both happened to be at Random House. Allie had wanted to go to Jennifer Donnelly, with her new book, Revolution, which started at 1:30. Nick and I got in line, because it started forming early, to hold places. I got a book signed for myself and Nick got Allie’s signed for her – as traffic near the Javits was pretty bad and Allie got there a little late. Then later Allie and I stood in a MASSIVE line that wrapped around on itself several times, for Sara Gruen’s new book Ape House. Allie and I also got our pictures taken with Nigel Barker from Project Runway (I don’t have the picture yet) and I got a picture of Tony Hawk.
A few of the books that I picked up at BEA:


Cleopatra: A Biography by Stacy Schiff (Thanks to Little, Brown and Company at Hachette) Release date: November 1, 2010.





The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent (Also thanks to Little, Brown and Company at Hachette) Release date: November 8, 2010.





Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl (Thanks to Chronicle Books) Release date: August 18, 2010.






Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (Thanks to Random House) Release date: October 12, 2010.






Ape House by Sara Gruen (Thanks to Random House) Release date: September 7, 2010.






After we got our fill of books on the BEA floor (and our feet were killing us) we went down to the Author’s Reception for the Book Blogger Convention. There were so many authors and bloggers there. I did have a couple of those great moments where other bloggers came up and said “I love you blog!”. That really felt so awesome! I had the opportunity to meet Stephanie Cowell, author of Claude & Camille and our April HFBRT event, as well as Susan Holloway Scott, author of many books including the upcoming Countess and the King and our September HFBRT event. I also met Kris Waldherr, author of Doomed Queens (I also found an awesome set of playing cards based on this book and will definitely be checking them out).
Friday was all about bloggers and blogging at Book Blogger Convention. There were sessions all day about “Creating Content”, “Author/Blogger Relations”, “Ethics” etc. Many of these were very informative and I will have a post upcoming this week about the things that I learned during this trip. It was so good to have bloggers and industry people in the same room. We were able to learn from each other what some of the frustrations are and how we can work better together. I think this was such an important event for book bloggers. It was also awesome to be together with a group of people who are doing the same thing that I do. Normally blogging is such an individual endeavor – but this experience was AWESOME! We also got a huge bag of swag on the way out. There were two great historical type books included:


Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart (a memoir, thanks to Harper Collins). I am so excited to read this one!






The Great Lover by Jill Dawson (thanks to Harper Collins) Release date: June 1, 2010





Right after the Convention ended, Nick and I had to run right out to catch the train back home, so we didn’t have the opportunity to hang out with people after the event. But I met so many great bloggers and made some valuable connections. It is definitely a worthwhile event to attend!





Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

Announcing Love Games - O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell

Hey everyone! I wanted to announce a couple of things today.

First of all, Robin Maxwell's new blog, Love Games, for O, Juliet is now in full swing. Stop on by frequently between now and Valentine's Day for some awesome content. There is a sneak peak (click image below) from the book posted on her website. There will also be games, contests, chats, and all sorts of fun leading up to the release. I have had the opportunity to read this book and it is fabulous, you do not want to miss this one!

Now for the second announcement. You may have noticed back in September that myself and 7 other bloggers started something called the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table. We had so much fun doing this that we decided to make it a regular thing. We have our own website (click the button below) now and are planning on spotlighting (for a week) new books that we love with some awesome events of our own. O, Juliet happens to be the first book we will be spotlighting. So check out our website and the first event will be kicking into high gear in January!

Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event - Chandra Prasad

Yesterday I had the opportuntity to attend another author event at RJ Julia Bookstore; this time to meet Chandra Prasad, author of the new book, Breathe the Sky.

Chandra was such a wonderful person and very knowledgable when it came to Amelia Earhart. Her new book is historical fiction about Amelia up until her last flight. Where her book differs from other books about Amelia is that she doesn't romanticize what might have happened to her.

It was also interesting to learn that Chandra had someone who helped her learn about how airplanes work, the technology, terminology, and such things to help make the descriptions of the flights authentic. The man was in the audience at the event and it was the first time she was meeting him - it was sweet.

Here is a discription of the book:
"Amelia Earhart disappeared from the world's radar in the 1930s, but she has not been forgotten. Breathe the Sky is a fresh and provocative portrait of the legendary pilot whose courage and charisma have dazzled millions. It is also the first novel to reveal the dark side of Earhart's fame-and the dangerous, madcap course of her final voyage. Venturing where history and biography have not, Breathe the Sky takes the reader on Earhart's last expedition along the equatorial line, through wild storms, across endless desert and jungle, and over shark-infested waters. With stark, nimble prose, Prasad brings Earhart to life once more, securing her place in the pantheon of great explorers, while inspiring risk and adventure in readers."

You can visit her website here.




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event - Esther Friesner

Today I went to another author event - this time with young adult author Esther Friesner and her new book Sphinx's Princess (released September 22, 2009). The book is the first book of a two part series about Nefertiti - as a young girl in this one and as a queen in the sequel Sphinx's Queen (due out Fall 2010).

This was a small event - there were about a dozen people there, and Esther was the sweetest lady. We talked all about Egypt, the culture, her research, past and future works. She had a door prize raffle for a scarab beetle bead and my boyfriend won! Pretty cool since I brought him along for company. It being a small setting we got to ask all kinds of questions and it was nice compared to the huge one I was at for Audrey Niffenegger.

You may be familiar with Esther's previous works, Nobody's Princess and Nobody's Prize - about Helen of Troy. She also has another book coming out at the end of 2010 about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy, tentitively titled Threads and Flames - if you don't know anything about this, check out the Wikipedia entry. I was very excited when she mentioned this, because I had to write a paper on this incident in my women's history/sociology class a year ago - so I will be looking forward to that one.




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event - Audrey Niffenegger

I am having an unprecedented opportunity to attend author events this week. On Friday night I attended an event with Audrey Niffenegger at RJ Julia Bookstore. There was a decent crowd there, especially for a small store. She read a hilarious passage from the book that was sort of like a "how to" on being a ghost. After that, there were many questions from the audience - many focusing on The Time Traveler's Wife, since no one (but me) had the book prior to the signing! Some interesting info that came out of the Q&A:

• One of her graphic novels is in talks of being turned into a ballet in London (that could be very interesting!)
• She had no input in The Time Traveler's Wife movie
• She has not seen the movie - so that she can continue thinking that it might have been done well
• It took 7 years to write Her Fearful Symmetry and it has went through many major changes - such as there was no ghost (a huge part) for 2 years!

When I went up to get the book signed - the bookstore worker who was prepping the books for the author asked me where I had gotten an ARC - and I told her the publisher offered it to me, which prompted a great conversation with Audrey about how publishers are pushing for bloggers to review books.

It was a great evening! I might be going to another event on this coming Tuesday - and then that is it for awhile!

Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event - Katherine Howe

I just got back from an author event with Katherine Howe - author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. She was at my somewhat local independent book store, RJ Julia in Madison, CT, that I have really fallen in love with. Even though I have to drive about 30 minutes to get there, they have a wonderful array of authors come thru and are amazing.

I brought my mom along, which was cool because we haven't done anything that was just the 2 of us in awhile. Even though she knew nothing about the book or author - she was up for the event - and now wants to read the book!

Katherine was one of the nicest authors I have met. She opened her talk by consulting the Magic 8 Ball - which was cool and very fitting for the topic/book. I haven't gotten to read the book yet (it's on my list for this month) so it was exciting to hear some excerpts read. She told us about her apartment in a house in Marblehead, MA that is dated back to the mid 1700's that has so much history. I learned what the key on the front cover is all about - that was something that was confusing to me.

Anyone who has read and loved this book will be excited to know that she is currently working on another one (as well as trying to finish up her PhD). The second book will be set a little bit later than her previous one, in Boston - but will still focus on a very unique family - that was all she would tell us so far. Also, she has an idea for a possible sequel to Physick Book.

I was excited to get her to sign a book for me - I borrowed it from my boyfriend's mom months ago and haven't gotten to it yet. So I figured, what better way to give it back, than in better condition than I received it! I was excited to read the book before the event, and now I really am excited!

Any one here read this yet?




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Good Morning Everyone! I have been racking my mind trying to figure out what I can post about The Time Traveler's Wife this week, like I do with all my other books (by the way, I'm absolutely enjoying it!). It just doesn't quite fit into the same mold - I mean, I could write about time travel, but that wouldn't really come out well. So I figured I could give you a little taste of her new novel that comes out September 29, 2009 - Her Fearful Symmetry.

Here is a video clip from her website of her talking about writing Her Fearful Symmetry.



I am also excited because Audrey Niffenegger will be appearing at a signing at my favorite indy book seller - RJ Julia in Madison, CT on October 2. I am totally going - but I'm going to have to find someone else to go with - because my built in buddy (aka boyfriend) will be working that night, :(. Any thing you want me to ask her?

Also, there is a blogger promotion going on at her website for anyone who has posted about The Time Traveler's Wife - it ends September 29. You can get an ARC of the new book. Here is the link.

Hope you enjoy!




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Julie Lessman Contest

Hey Guys,

I received an email yesterday from author Julie Lessman about a contest that she is having and I thought it would be a good idea to share this with all of you in case you were interested.

I don't know if you are all familiar with her books, I have just gotten into them myself - I haven't had the chance to read any of them yet. Her books are set in Boston during World War I focusing on the O'Connor family. Each book focuses on one member of the family. She has three books out right now: A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Check out her website here for more information on her books.

She is currently preparing to write book 2 in the second part of this series. Her contest is to have a character named after you in that book. To be entered into this contest you need to write a review of A Passion Denied and post it on Amazon.com, christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com or borders.com (links are included to the book). For each review posted you will get 1 point. Those with the most points will be entered into the final drawing!

The contest ends at the end of 2009, so get your entries in!




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Author Event - Libba Bray

Today I had the opportunity to meet Libba and she is an amazing woman. She had everyone in the store laughing from the moment she walked in until everyone left. She has a new book coming out September 22, Going Bovine, which she read the first chapter to us. I can't wait until it comes out. It sounds like it will be funny. It's not historical fiction, it is set in the modern day, but if you are not rolling on the floor laughing after the first chapter nothing will make you laugh. Here is the description from the back cover.

"All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most."

She truly loves her fans and stayed around to chat and sign books until after the store was supposed to close and would have stayed later had they let her. It was an amazing time and I would recommend anyone to read her books and take the chance to meet her if you can.

Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court