History… the interesting bits!

Well no, not me, I’m slightly older than that. But History…the Interesting Bits is 10 years old! It was 10 years ago today, on 8th January 2015, that I published my very first article, Isabella of Castile, the Controversial First Duchess of York, c.1355-1392. Since then, I have published 542 more posts, including articles, book reviews, interviews, news updates and giveaways; this article will be post no. 544.

First and foremost, I would like to thank each and every one of my readers for sticking with me for a whole decade!

Secondly…

We need to celebrate!

How to celebrate?

Well, many of you will know (hopefully) that may latest book, Scotland’s Medieval Queens: From St Margaret to Margaret of Denmark is being published by Pen & Sword Books in 3 weeks’ time – on Thursday 30 January.

So, how about a competition?

A giveaway?

About Scotland’s Medieval Queens:

Scotland’s history is dramatic, violent and bloody.

Being England’s northern neighbour has never been easy.

Scotland’s queens have had to deal with war, murder, imprisonment, political rivalries and open betrayal. They have loved and lost, raised kings and queens, ruled and died for Scotland.

From St Margaret, who became one of the patron saints of Scotland, to Elizabeth de Burgh and the dramatic story of the Scottish Wars of Independence, to the love story and tragedy of Joan Beaufort, to Margaret of Denmark and the dawn of the Renaissance, Scotland’s Medieval Queens have seen it all.

This is the story of Scotland through their eyes.

Early feedback has been fantastic, with Elizabeth Chadwick and Carol McGrath both giving Scotland’s Medieval Queens a rather glowing – a humbling – endorsement. I received a wonderful review from Heidi Malagisi over at Adventures of a Tudor Nerd, who says “If you want a fantastic introduction to the turbulent world of medieval Scotland and the women who helped shape the monarchy, I strongly recommend you read, ‘Scotland’s Medieval Queens….'”

And NetGalley readers have unanimously (so far!) given it rave reviews:

Scotland’s Medieval Queens: From St Margaret to Margaret of Denmark is available for pre-order now.

I cannot wait for you to read – and hopefully enjoy – Scotland’s Medieval Queens: From St Margaret to Margaret of Denmark. So, as a joint celebration – publication day and History … the Interesting Bits’ 10th birthday, here’s the competition…

A Giveaway!

One signed copy of the brand spanking new hardback of Scotland’s Medieval Queens will go to the lucky competition winner.

It’s easy to enter!

The competition is open to everyone, wherever you are in the world. To win a signed and dedicated copy of Scotland’s Medieval Queens, simply leave a comment below or on social media via my Facebook page, Twitter, Threads, or Bluesky and I will include you in the prize draw.

The draw will be made on Saturday 18 January.

GOOD LUCK!

About me:

Sharon Bennett Connolly, has been fascinated by history her whole life. She has studied history academically and just for fun – and even worked as a tour guide at historical sites, including Conisbrough Castle. For Christmas 2014, her husband gave her a blog as a gift – http://www.historytheinterestingbits.com – and Sharon started researching and writing about the stories that have always fascinated. Sharon also co-hosts the podcast A Slice of Medieval, alongside historical novelist Derek Birks. She regularly gives talks on women’s history, for historical groups, festivals and in schools; her book Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest is a recommended text for teaching the events of 1066 in the National Curriculum. She is a feature writer for All About History, Tudor Places, and Living Medieval magazines and her TV work includes Australian Television’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?‘

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. Heroines of the Tudor World is now available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon. 

Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon,  Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell and DrIan Mortimer, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. 

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Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

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©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS