Cathie Dunn writes...

I'm over the moon!  After nearly ten years in the field, Dark Deceit has become a paid #1 bestseller in the Literary Medieval Criticism Amazon UK charts. I'm so thrilled about it. The idea of Dark Deceit was conceived at a small train station in south Wales, on my way to work at a local university. As I did medieval reenactment in those days, I thought to add my experiences to a novel, and Dark Deceit – a medieval romantic adventure – was born!  It's set in one of my favourite historical period, called The Anarchy by chroniclers. The name describes the period following the death of King Henry I of England in 1135 and the ascension of Henry II to the throne in 1154. The king's designated heir to the throne, his daughter, Matilda, young widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, did not leave her home in Normandy in a hurry to claim her inheritance.  This left her cousin Stephen of Blois to claim the title, as the nearest legitimate male in the royal line, and the support of man...

I'm so thrilled to share that I brought Dark Deceit across to Ocelot Press . “Layered with authentic detail that will delight any historian, Dark Deceit is a well-written tale of romance, intrigue and dastardly machinations.” ~ 5* review, Suzanne Rogers, author   The novel began life at a small train station in south Wales where I lived at the time. In early 2012, it was published through  Crooked Cat  where it stayed until late 2019.  The sequel is as yet unfinished (I know – and I apologise for the continuing delay), but I hope to get it done (yesss!) by the summer. This coming summer, 2020, to be precise. Watch this space! “Ms Dunn brings the era to life.” ~ 5* review, Sue Barnard, author But in the meantime, if you haven't yet read Dark Deceit , maybe I can entice you to do so. Find the blurb and a teaser below!  A blend of murder mystery and romance, Dark Deceit takes you to medieval England and Normandy. The time was called the...

It has been a long time coming, I know. But finally – finally! – I’m about to get started on the sequel to Dark Deceit . And I can’t wait to get stuck in and meet my characters again. It will be set a few years after DD, beginning in Normandy, where Geoffrey and Alleyne have settled into his family home, but also taking us to other exciting places, and not just England! So, as expected, it requires much historical research into the movements of my characters – Geoffrey in particular! As the struggle for the throne continues in England, his presence is also required elsewhere by his liege lord. Again, he must choose which path to follow, whilst not forgetting to keep an eye on Will who still keeps hold of Alleyne’s manor. Poor Geoffrey can’t be in all places at all times, can he? As NaNoWriMo is approaching, I’ve begun to plot their movements, but writing the basic first draft will be my task during November, and I’m determined to reach the magical 50,000 word mark. Of course...

It's summer – the bright and sunny time of year when my publisher, Crooked Cat Books, is having a summer ebook sale! You'll find Dark Deceit on offer at 99p / 99c, together with a brilliant choice of other fabulous reads by my fellow Cats. Women's fiction, thrillers, crime, romance, historicals – it's all there. Simply go to your Amazon store and search for ’Crooked Cat Books’. Stock up your Kindles with some perfect summer reads! About Dark Deceit: Dark Deceit is fast-paced medieval romance mystery, in the tradition of Pillars of the Earth or When Christ and His Saints Slept "…captivating characters and vivid descriptions…" ~ Booked Up Reviews Murder. Betrayal. Hope. On his return from battle at Lincoln, Geoffrey de Mortagne, under-sheriff of Gloucester and spy for the Empress Matilda, assists a dying knight caught in an ambush. Promising to look after the welfare of the knight’s only daughter, Geoffrey stays at her manor, investigating the m...

...in the sizzling Crooked Cat Summer Sale !  For this long weekend only (until Sunday, 10th July), my two historical romantic adventures, Highland Arms and Dark Deceit are on sale across all Amazon outlets, at 99p/99c!  Plus, readers will find many other brilliant reads by those talented Crooked Cat authors on offer. Don't miss their fabulous FB event where you can meet them and discover new books!  Now, let me take you back to the Scottish Highlands with Highland Arms ! Picture a Highland rogue plotting rebellion, a Lowland lass with a curious nature that gets her into trouble all the time – and the undeniable beauty of the Scottish Highlands around Glencoe, Ballachulish and the shores of mysterious Loch Ness! Add a murder, a missing load of muskets, and a scheming brother... Betrayed by her brother’s lies, Catriona MacKenzie is banished from her home to her godmother’s manor in the remote Scottish Highlands. While her family ponders her fate, Catriona’s ins...

Today, on My Place, I'm going to tell you about the setting of my novel, Dark Deceit . A romantic medieval adventure, Dark Deceit is set initially in Gloucestershire, England, and later in Normandy, France in the year 1141. When Alleyne de Bellac inherits her murdered father's manor in the softly-rolling Gloucestershire countryside, one vulture descends in the guise of a friend to take it from her.  Having come across the murder scene on his return from a battle, undersheriff Geoffrey de Mortagne sets out to help her, but is unable to prevent the inevitable: the loss of her manor to his childhood friend and later enemy, Will d'Arques.  As England is torn by civil war, leaving Alleyne without a protector, Geoffrey takes her with him when he travels to visit his dying brother in Normandy. But not only does he have to face the demons that have haunted him since his childhood, but Alleyne proves to be a troublesome travel companion.  Their journey takes them to place...

I'm trying to ignore the miserable Scottish summer. If you are too, I might have some fabulous reads for you... Dark Deceit , my romantic medieval murder mystery, is featured on Crooked Cat Books this week, together with two other intriguing (and highly recommended!) novels. It's also available at 99p/c for the duration.  Originally entitled, A Norman Legacy, Dark Deceit  began life at a South Wales train station during a time when I was active in a medieval re-enactment group which gave me great insight into life 'back then'.  Having visited the rolling Gloucestershire countryside, I spotted a tiny hamlet with a small Norman church. It was perfect for the setting of Bellac Manor. And on a holiday in Normandy, I found the real 'home' for the story, the picturesque area of Perche, then a county in its own right, but as part of the duchy of Normandy. Falaise Castle, Normandy, France In the 1140s, England and Normandy were wrecked by two r...

Hello again, friends! It’s time to share my post in a fascinating blog hop I’m taking part in: the Meet My Main Character historical fiction writers’ blog hop. I have been tagged by author, Vanessa Couchman . Vanessa lives in France and has published a range of short stories, mostly in the much-acclaimed Writers Abroad anthologies. Her first full-length novel, The House at Zaronza , a tale of love and loss in Corsica during World War I, is due to be released on 29th July 2014 by Crooked Cat Publishing. Right, diving it. I found it a tough one to choose between Rory Cameron, my Scottish hero in Highland Arms , or Geoffrey de Mortagne, troubled under-sheriff of Gloucestershire in   Dark Deceit . Geoffrey won by a whisker… 1)    What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? My male main character in Dark Deceit is Geoffrey de Mortagne. He is a fictional under-sheriff of Gloucestershire during an early English civil...

I'm so thrilled! Crooked Cat Publishing are due to release Dark Deceit in paperback - with a shiny new cover! It has recently been re-edited and should be available on the 2nd anniversary of the ebook release, in February! Isn't the new cover gorgeous? :-) Blurb: Murder. Betrayal. Hope. On his return from battle at Lincoln, Geoffrey de Mortagne, under-sheriff of Gloucester and spy for the Empress Matilda, assists a dying knight caught in an ambush. Promising to look after the welfare of the knight's only daughter, Geoffrey stays at her manor, investigating the murder. Keen to join the Empress on her progress through England, he is torn between his oath and his duty. Left to defend her manor following her father's death, Alleyne de Bellac reluctantly accepts Geoffrey's support. As she doesn't trust the taciturn stranger, she asks Will d'Arques, an old friend, for help. But loyalties change. Her life in danger and her inheritance at stake, Alleyn...