Dear Reader, The book is finished now and has gone out to my advance readers. I always find this part a little frightening. I have lived with this story for months. It was never meant to be more than a single book, and now it has become something much larger. Letting it go, even in stages, is not as easy as I pretend it is. The Kingmaker’s Spy launches in three weeks. And before that happens, there is something I want to tell you: I keep coming back to a detail most people forget. Not the...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, December has arrived. And in medieval England, this month wasn't festive. It was fatal. If you survived December, Christmas wasn't simply a celebration, it was relief, gratitude, and survival wrapped in evergreen boughs. This month, I'm taking you back there. Free Historical Fiction for Your December Evenings I've joined a collection of fellow historical fiction authors offering free reads this month: ancient worlds, medieval courts, Regency romance, Wild West adventures, and...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Thank you again for voting! The next Historical Tinder Profile will feature Richard III, England’s last Plantagenet king. His profile is ready, and I’ll be sharing it later this week. But before we get to the swiping, let’s explore a few fascinating details about Richard himself. 📜 His motto: “Loyaulte me lie” Translated as “Loyalty binds me,” this was Richard’s personal motto. It suggests a man who valued faithfulness above all else. Yet history has painted him as one of...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, It’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote (sorry about that!). Before I dive in, a quick note: there won’t be a newsletter next week, because I’ll be in Belgium and Luxembourg visiting family, and I’m sure a castle or two will sneak onto the itinerary. I’ll report back with stories when I return. But in the meantime… 🍷⚔️ Would you swipe right on Richard Neville, the Kingmaker? Tall, powerful, and dangerous, he charmed courts and toppled thrones. Behind the smile was a man...
10 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Do you ever have a week where everything feels quiet on the outside—but underneath, things are shifting? That’s been me. I’ve been editing Venom’s Kiss late into the night, finding those final lines that land like a dagger, and rediscovering scenes that remind me why I started this book in the first place. And it made me think—what about the moment before the story begins? This week, I’m sharing a brand new flash fiction piece: a tiny prequel to Venom’s Kiss, set just before the...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, After a busy few days, I’m back from the Bournemouth Writing Festival—and what a whirlwind it was! ✅ I attended the Historical Fiction Breakfast (it was so lovely to meet other local authors!) ✅ I went to workshops, talks, and volunteered at the Author Marketplace (note to self: stop saying yes to everything 😅) ✅ I came home with a very large stack of new books! I'll admit... I didn’t exactly clean the house or get much writing done this weekend (unless you count one very...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, This week brought a surprise I wasn’t expecting—an emergency wisdom tooth removal! Apparently I still had a little growing up to do. 😅 But tooth drama aside, it’s also been a week full of inspiration, history, and exciting book news I can’t wait to share with you. If you’ve ever felt curious about the hidden stories behind power and ambition—or how one mysterious death could change the course of a kingdom—this one’s for you. Here’s what I’m sharing with you this week: ✅ The...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader Have you ever wondered how many stories of remarkable women have been lost to time? This week, I’ve been captivated by the story of a medieval heroine whose bravery shaped history—yet her name has almost faded from memory. If you love tales of resilience and forgotten courage, this one’s for you. Here’s what I’m sharing with you this week: ✅ The Forgotten Heroine: A medieval woman who defied a king—and changed history.✅ Medieval Recipe: Honey-Spiced Biscuits✅ Medieval Fashion...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read