Many people ask me how I became interested in the French renaissance. It’s a long story. The year I was five, I lived with my grandparents to go to grade one. It was the most formative of my life. Escaping from the position as a middle child of three, I became a pampered only child. …
How I Became Interested In The French Renaissance Read More »
This post was originally published on The Writing Desk. The sixteenth century French court dazzles on the surface. But beneath its glitter, danger lurks for those caught up in its flux. Based on actual historical events and characters, this riveting story will keep you turning the pages until the end. It is also a timeless …
Tony Riches of The Writing Desk interviews me about The Importance of Pawns Read More »
This post was originally published on Ruins & Reading. The story behind The Importance of Pawns or how I developed my debut novel is long and tortuous. Yet you could not have asked about a topic closer to my heart. Historical fiction has been my favourite genre since I learned to read at five. At …
The Story Behind The Importance of Pawns or How I Developed My Debut Novel Read More »
On tour today, the topic is the history in The Importance of Pawns. Before I wrote fiction I studied history, so you could say history is in my blood. And here’s a secret. My mother was a history teacher (among other steps in her career)—including author! I learned what I know about powerful women breaking …
The Blog Tour Continues Today! Welcome to Day #4 of The Importance of Pawns (Chronicles of the House of Valois) hosted by the Coffee Pot blog tour. I am thrilled that the Blog Tour continues today at Tony Riches’s The Writing Desk. I admire his writing and Mary Tudor features in my book. Two of …
The Book Tour Continues Today!The Importance of Pawns Read More »
You’ll find my brief history of the life of Princess Renée de France, a stanch Huguenot, at The Freelance History Writer. I recently wrote a guest blog post there to celebrate the launch of my novel The Importance of Pawns. In the post, I give an overview of the tumultuous life that Princess Renée lived. …
A Brief History of Princess Renée de France: Staunch Huguenot Read More »
March 10, 2021, finally, and today’s release day for The Importance of Pawns. I cannot tell you how excited I am to send my baby out into the world. She has grown up now and is ready to face the world on her own. I hope you will love her but if you don’t, as …
Who are the real women behind the a bit about the novel and the truth about its four principal characters. Importance of Pawns Plot Danger lurks beneath the glitter of the sixteenth Century French court for Claude and young Renée, heiresses to the rich duchy of Brittany. Their mother, Queen Anne, lies dying. King Louis, …
Go on tour with The Importance of Pawns. On March 10, the awarding winning Coffee Pot Book Club announces the release of my new book, The Importance of Pawns. It’s going on a blog tour to promote the book starting March 15. The tour features 10 “stops” between March 15 to May 17. Watch here …
Born on 25 October 1510 at the Château de Blois, Renée de France’s life did not begin as difficult. She was the second daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne of Brittany. Blessed with a Golden Infancy Unusually for the times, Louis stayed in the queen’s chambers during Renée’s birth. Even though they had …
Who are the four women in The Importance of Pawns who dominate the action? At the centre of the plots are Princess Claude and Princess Renée of France, the elder and younger daughters of the French King and Queen. The third, Baronne Michelle de Soubise, Renée’s Gouvernante*, fights to shield herself and the two daughters …
Who was Queen Claude de France ? First, she was daughter of Queen Anne and King Louis XII of France. Next, she was Duchess of Brittany in her own right. Third, she married François I, possibly France’s most well-known king. Yet she is practically unknown. And she remains for many either a cypher or an …
