Cathie Dunn writes...

I'm so thrilled to share my latest release with my followers: Ascent , the story of Poppa of Bayeux. Set in the early days of the new county of Normandy, it's a tale of danger, adversity, and love. Ascent is the first in a new series, House of Normandy , detailing the lives of the women behind the famous men who forged Normandy. Little is known about them, so I made it my task to bring them back to life. Whilst the series is fictional, I include real events, which they likely witnessed or heard of.  Poppa of Bayeux is a fascinating woman. Following a Viking raid on Bayeux by the (in)famous Rollo, she is wed to him in the Danish custom – by handfasting outside Church grounds. She must have been very young – too young to bear children, as their son and daughter were both born years later. Statue of Poppa of Bayeux, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain The Catholic Church had little to do with it, and although priests were not happy, they still accepted it in the early days. That did...

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...

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...

I'm over on the Inkslingers blog today, revealing my favourite bits of research. Come on and join us! We don't bite! Researching Historical Tidbits See you there! :-)

Today, I welcome author Mark Patton to My Place. Mark's historical novel, Undreamed Shores, is a fascinating tale of discovery and adventure. Handing over to Mark... I’m Mark Patton, and I write historical fiction set in early periods. I was born in Jersey, studied archaeology & anthropology at Cambridge, and have since gone on to teach the subjects at several universities in the UK and continental Europe. I have published several non-fiction books on aspects of European prehistory, and my first novel, Undreamed Shores , is set in around 2400 BC, the period which saw the building of Stonehenge, and the appearance of the first metal objects in the British Isles. The novel is an epic journey narrative, taking in Southern England (Dorset, Wiltshire), the Channel Islands (Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey) and Northern France. It draws not only on my understanding of the archaeology, but also on my intimacy with the landscapes and seascapes, based on many years of walking and bird-...

Today, I want to share an incredible building in one of my favourite towns: La Tour Marguerite  in Argentan. Back in October 2007 (that long ago, sob!), hubby and I took the car to Normandy, France, and stayed in a farm B&B on the outskirts of the pretty, old market town of Argentan . It was one of our best ever breaks, full of touristy stuff, historical visits, relaxation, walks, good food and friendly people. You can find photos of our trip on Flickr . Argentan is first noted officially in the 11th century, and it was an important town during the day of the early Norman dukes, then the Plantagenents, and later the French. Not far from Falaise (William the Conqueror's home town), it played a strategic role. Eleanor of Aquitaine stayed for a while and talks were held here to reconcile Henry II with Thomas Becket. Argentan is full of historic buildings - churches, houses, a donjon. Folk were very friendly, especially as we spoke in broken French rather than English. ...

Woohoo! ~happy dance~ Today,  Dark Deceit , the first in The Anarchy Trilogy, is released through Crooked Cat Publishing !  I began the story in late 2003, and finally it sees the light of day. It had numerous versions, with critiques partners in different places along the way. It survived my Novel Writing modules during my Creative Writing studies, endured 3 years in a drawer while I wrote & released Highland Arms, and finally was taken apart - and re-assembled - with the help of my wonderful critique partners. My big thanks goes to them!  Win a Copy! Comment below to win an electronic copy!  Make sure to leave your email addy... Dark Deceit is now available on  Amazon UK ,  Amazon US  &  Smashwords ! Blurb: 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 ...

Two days until Dark Deceit is out!  ~happy dance~ Dark Deceit is the first in The Anarchy Trilogy, set in 1140s Gloucestershire and Normandy. Murder, changing loyalties, betrayal - and hope. A historical novel with suspense and romance elements, it tells the story of Alleyne, a young heiress forced to defend her family manor following her father's murder, and Geoffrey, investigating under-sheriff with issues of his own. After calling Will, an old friend, for help, Alleyne must decide which man to trust. The wrong decision could lead to danger and loss. 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 he...

Dark Deceit has come a long way since its inception. The initial story began in south Wales, at Taffs Well train station, to be precise, in the autumn of 2003. As I waited for the train to Cardiff, the outline of a story set in medieval England and Normandy first struck me. Scribbling frantically into my notepad throughout many such waits, the story developed nicely. Of course it helped that I spent my weekends in the company of a well-travelled re-enactment group. Clad in a handmade (not by me, I must admit) shift and dress, leather shoes and belt, a pouch hanging from it, and hair covered by a plain wimple, I enjoyed explaining historical points to visitors. Learning to be an archer - easy peasy for a Sagittarian like me - and watching the others cook (yumm, roast pork!), bake (griddle cakes, anyone?), doing needlework (I'm useless!) and making braces (necessary for an archer) brought with it a sense of an experience of a different life. People really used to live like ...

~happy dance~ My new historical novel, Dark Deceit , has a release date:   Friday, 10th February 2012!  So excited! ;-) In the final editing stages, just going through with a fine tooth comb, then it'll be ready. It's going to be released through Crooked Cat Publishing  - check out my Author Page !  I just love the cover! So dark, so forbidding. Laurence, who designed the cover, has caught the right atmosphere, just what I wanted to portray. Dark Deceit, the first in The Anarchy Trilogy, is going to be available on Amazon, Smashwords, B&N and other electronic retailers. Here's the blurb: On his return from battle at Lincoln, Geoffrey de Mortagne, undersheriff 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 while he investigates the murder. Keen to join the Empress on her progress through England, he is torn betwee...

I'm so excited! Dark Deceit , part 1 of 'The Anarchy' trilogy, will be released in spring 2012 through Crooked Cat publishing ! Crooked Cat is a new ebook publisher based in the UK. Dark Deceit weaves a tale of murder, changing loyalties, betrayal and hope. Set in Gloucestershire, England and Perche, Normandy, Geoffrey de Mortagne, undersheriff and staunch supporter of the Empress Matilda, returns from the Battle at Lincoln to witness an attack on a knight. During his investigations, he meets the knight's young daughter and offers his help. Keen to return to Matilda's side following King Stephen's capture, he is torn between duty and a promise he gave to a dying man. Left to defend her manor, Alleyne de Bellac accepts Geoffrey's assistance. But when she summons an old friend of her father's, she discovers how swiftly loyalties can change. Her life in danger, Alleyne must decide who to trust. In the end, will she trust the right man? Discover E...

No, actually Norman Legacy didn't end on a full stop. It ended with a question mark. But to get to the point... I completed it! ~bounce~ Murder. Politics. Lust. Revenge. Loss. Love. It's all here. This story, a historical novel set in Gloucestershire and Normandy in 1141, had its humble beginnings at a South Wales train station, a few weeks after we took the car to Gloucester and Hereford on a day trip, passing through the Welsh Borders on the way. The area is stunningly beautiful and full of history, dotted with castles, ruins, abbeys and cathedrals. No surprise I was inspired. The first few chapters received positive critiques from members at Writelink, and later, after our move to Scotland, I re-wrote the lot during my Novel Writing course, including a switch of the later setting to Normandy following our holiday there (see previous posts about how incredible Normandy is). But then I hit the brick wall. The words stopped. In a way that was a blessing in disguise - i...

Piety and Tourism: Mont St Michel Finally, our last exploration led us to the highlight of our stay: the amazing Mont St Michel. An estimated couple of hours’ drive from ‘home’, we decided nonetheless to take the scenic route through the countryside, rather than opt for the faster motorways north, then west. We set off toward Domfront, a small medieval town halfway between Argentan and le Mont. I was taking it easy with the driving. We enjoyed views across the green fields by the roadside, soft rolling hills dotted with sheep and cows. We passed through some lovely forests, leaves falling onto our car, turned softly golden in the autumn sun. We sadly didn’t stop off in Domfront, conscious of the time, but we could see medieval church spires in the town centre as we passed. This was one place to aim for another time, as it had more ‘old’ architecture. But we nearly stopped in a picturesque village called Ducey not far from the end of our journey. One of the reasons to stop would h...