Wordly Women

Wordly Women: Annie Whitehead

Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

Joining me today as part of my Wordly Women series is the wonderful Annie Whitehead. Author of both fiction and non-fiction books based in Anglo-Saxon Mercia, Annie’s latest book, Murder in Anglo-Saxon England: Justice, Wergild and Revenge is replete with dastardly murder stories.

Sharon: What got you into writing?

Annie: It was just something I always wanted to do – I remember writing ‘The Adventures of Ferdinand the Hedgehog’ when I was around 7 or 8. I think the desire to write history came later, partly influenced by the sorts of novels I preferred reading, and partly from a growing love of history generally, probably beginning when I lived in York for six months. Living there, even as a child, you can’t not notice the history all around you.

Sharon: You write both fiction and non-fiction – is one harder than the other?

Annie: I think they are both equally hard, but they are different. The research is pretty much the same, although with fiction you need every day details as well as the actual historical events, but where they differ is that in fiction you are free to fill in the gaps in the history (although in a way that fits with your plot and with your characters), but if you take them on a journey you need to give details, whereas in nonfiction you can just say, ‘The king took an army to York.’ On the other hand, with nonfiction, you can’t make stuff up, and if you make any pronouncements you have to back those up.

Sharon: Tell us about your books.

Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians

Annie: I’ve written four novels, featuring prominent Mercian characters, including Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, and Penda, the last pagan king. I’ve also written three nonfiction books, one about the history of Mercia, one about Women of the era, and my latest release, Murder in Anglo-Saxon England. I’ve also contributed to two nonfiction anthologies and three and a half fiction collections (the ‘half’ is one that’ll be published later this year).

Sharon: What attracts you to the Anglo-Saxon period?

Annie: I think there’s an element of romanticism, a Tolkien-esque aura if you will. The names are very noble sounding, including one of the main characters of my second novel, Alvar the Kingmaker, whose real name was Ælfhere. I like the characteristics that set the period apart from the rest of the (mainly Norman) Middle Ages and I like, on the whole, their values. Particularly, their treatment of women, which was in many ways better than that of their later medieval counterparts. I also find the personalities interesting and characterful – rich pickings for the novelist.

Sharon: Who is your favourite Anglo-Saxon and why?

King Edgar

Annie: There are so many to choose from! I’ve already mentioned three, but I also find the little-known King Edgar (959-975) fascinating because he breaks the mould. His reign was not especially violent – it was more a time of politics and scheming nobles and there were no ‘Viking’ raids – and Edgar’s love life was, shall we say, interesting. He might have had up to three wives, one of whom was said by some – unreliable – chroniclers to have been a nun!

Sharon: Who is your least favourite Anglo-Saxon and why?

Annie: I’m going to get into a lot of trouble with this, especially from some of my writer friends, but it’s Harold Godwineson. Obviously I’d rather he’d won at Hastings, not William, but I do find his whole family rather unappealing, treacherous and self-entitled. (Sorry, Harold fans!)

Sharon: How do you approach researching your topic?

Annie: I always start with the primary sources, contemporary if possible, looking for any reference to the characters I’m planning to write about. I find out, or remind myself, about the timelines, then I look at the later, usually Anglo-Norman sources, to see where they embellish and flesh out the tales. If I’m writing fiction, I might use some of their more detailed and frankly at times outrageous stories, but if it’s nonfiction, I have to use a lot of scepticism in the pursuit of the truth, or at least getting as close to the truth as I can.

Sharon: Tell us your ‘favourite’ Anglo-Saxon story you have come across in your research.

Annie: I have so many! But one is the tale of King Offa’s daughter, accused of poisoning her husband’s advisor and accidentally poisoning her husband too. He was the king of Wessex. She fled to the Continent where the Emperor Charlemagne set her up in an abbey but she was caught in debauchery there and died in poverty. It’s highly unlikely to be a true story, as we have evidence that her husband probably died in battle and if she fled, she was most likely fleeing the wrath of his successor, who’d been forced into exile by her father and her husband.

Sharon: Tell us your least ‘favourite’ Anglo-Saxon story you have come across in your research.

King Æthelred the Unready

Annie: It has to be the story of the St Brice’s Day Massacre, sanctioned by King Æthelred the Unready, where a number of Danes were chased through Oxford into a church which was then set on fire. It sounds like the scene from a bad Hollywood historical film, but it really happened. We know this a) because we have a charter from the king himself saying that he ordered it and b) charred bones dating to the right time unearthed at the location.

Sharon: Are there any other eras you would like to write about?

Annie: I’ve always been interested in the seventeenth century and the early Stuarts in particular. They are coming out of the shadows a bit more now and there have been some excellent books, both fiction and nonfiction, published recently, but they still take second place to the Tudors, which for me is a shame as it’s such an interesting period of history.

Sharon: What are you working on now?

Annie: I’m working on the novel which I shelved to research and write Murder in Anglo-Saxon England. It’s set in the tenth century and features Mercians, Northumbrians, Vikings and Scots and also has a murder or two thrown in!

Sharon: And finally, what is the best thing about being a writer?

Annie: Something I’ve enjoyed from a very early age is reading – I loved being transported to other times and places, meeting new characters and learning their stories. Writing, for me, is almost the same, and to spend my working days making up similar stories and spending time with those characters is a dream come true. It’s a form of escapism and it’s bliss!

About the Author:

Annie is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has written four award-winning novels set in ‘Anglo-Saxon’ Mercia. She has contributed to fiction and nonfiction anthologies and written for various magazines. She has twice been a prize winner in the Mail on Sunday Novel Writing Competition, and won First Prize in the 2012 New Writer Magazine’s Prose and Poetry Competition. She has been a finalist in the Tom Howard Prize for nonfiction and was shortlisted for the Exeter Story Prize and Trisha Ashley Award 2021. She was the winner of the inaugural Historical Writers’ Association (HWA)/Dorothy Dunnett Prize 2017 and was subsequently a judge for that same competition. She has also been a judge for the HNS (Historical Novel Society) Short Story Competition, and was a 2024 judge for the HWA Crown Nonfiction Award. Her nonfiction books are Mercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom (published by Amberley books) and Women of Power in Anglo-Saxon England (Pen & Sword Books). In 2023 she contributed to a new history of English monarchs, published by Hodder & Stoughton, and in February 2025 Murder in Anglo-Saxon England was published by Amberley Books.

Find Annie at: Website; Buy Annie’s Books; Blog; Facebook; Twitter/X; Instagram; BlueSky.

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My books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

Out now: 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.

Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

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 Michael Jecks, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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

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

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

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©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly, FRHistS

Wordly Women: Toni Mount

Sharon Bennett Connolly1 Comment

In today’s spotlight on Wordly Women, I welcome my good friend, novelist and historian, Toni Mount back to History… the Interesting Bits. Toni writes the fabulous Seb Foxley mystery novels and the non-fiction series How to Survive in…

Sharon: What got you into writing?

Toni: I’ve always been a story-teller. Aged 6, when the teacher was called away – before the days of teaching assistants – she would have me sit at the front of the class and tell them a story. It was usually a mix of various fairytales with princes, princesses, witches and dragons. I like to think I became more sophisticated when I started writing them down in English Composition lessons aged 7 or 8. My imagined ‘First Flight of Concorde’ – the supersonic plane – won the school prize and my head has been full of stories for as long as I can remember. A good many have made it to the page but not all.

Sharon: You write both fiction and non-fiction – is one harder than the other?

Toni: Fiction needs your own ideas; in non-fiction the facts are there, waiting for you to use. Since my novels are as authentic to the period as I can make them, but without the ‘gadzooks’ and ‘forsooths’, they take as much research as the non- fiction books. In both cases, I’m looking to tell a good story. The difference is that non-fiction may have gaps where historians don’t know the answers, such as what was Edward II thinking when he gave Piers Gaveston the queen’s jewellery but in a novel the writer is allowed to tell you why.

Sharon: Tell us about your books.

Toni: I’ve had 30+ books published, half of them novels. My most successful non-fiction books are ‘Everyday Life in Medieval London’ and ‘Medieval Medicine’ both published by Amberley, and ‘How to Survive in Medieval England’ published by Pen & Sword which was recently a no.1 best seller on Amazon. The How to Survive series – my fourth: ‘How to Survive in Ration-Book Britain’ is due to be out in November 2025 – is written for the armchair time-traveller and puts a light-hearted slant on history. ‘How to Survive in Tudor England’ and ‘How to Survive in Anglo-Saxon England’ are the other titles.

My Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Mystery series has quite a following – book 13 ‘The Colour of Darkness’ has just gone off to the publisher MadeGlobal. Seb is a London-based scribe and illuminator in the 1470s-80s whose eye for detail means he spots clues that others miss to solve crimes. Many are true crimes which were recorded in the Mayor’s Court Rolls and remain unsolved – until now. I love the way my characters take over the story, sometimes doing things that never occurred to me. Seb has become a family member, so much so that my sons commissioned a portrait of him for my 65th birthday and it hangs above the fireplace.

Sharon: What attracts you to the period?

Toni: Whether fact or fiction, the Plantagenet period from the 1150s to 1485 is by far the most intriguing for me. Who doesn’t love to puzzle out a mystery? But modern policing is too boring to write about with so much paperwork, hours of CCTV footage to trawl through, fingerprinting, DNA, ballistics, etc. Give me Sherlock Holmes with his magnifying glass every time. The medieval period has even fewer technical complications.

Sharon: Who is your favourite medieval or Tudor personality and why?

Toni: Richard III obviously. I love the controversy. Was he a saint or a sinner? Or simply a human being?

Sharon: Who is your least favourite medieval or Tudor personality and why?

Toni: Henry VIII – a vicious paranoid megalomaniac. What’s to like? (Sharon: I could not agree more!)

Sharon: How do you approach researching your topic?

Toni: I read all I can around the subject; get a feel for the period and ‘live it’ in my head. As I write, if I realise I don’t know something, I make a note of it, check it out and list sources as I go. This is vital for a book which will have references and footnotes but even if I’m working on a novel, I may want to return to a source for further info or to mention it in my Author’s Notes – this is where I tell readers what’s true in the novel, which characters really existed, etc. In ‘The Colour of Darkness’, I did additional research into Medieval Mystery Plays and the ‘Duke of Exeter’s Daughter [a torture device], among other things. For the next novel, I’m reading up on medieval ships and firearms – I think it’s time somebody got shot with a ‘gunne’.

Sharon: Tell us your ‘favourite’ medieval or Tudor story you have come across in your research.

Toni: John/Eleanor Rykenor was a cross-dresser in the 1390s. He claimed to have had sex with nuns ‘as a man’ and didn’t charge them for it but did charge a group of Oxford priests-in-training for his services ‘as a woman’. He/she also said he’d spent a year or more living as a man’s wife. When caught in flagranti in a stable, wearing women’s attire and charging a man for sex, as Eleanor she appeared in court. The authorities weren’t sure what crime to charge her with – homosexuality wasn’t made a criminal offence until Tudor times – so she was charged with misrepresenting the product for sale, i.e. advertising her services as a female without having the appropriate ‘equipment’ for the job. She had to pay a fine for flouting what we would call the Trades Description Act. John/Eleanor is a character in my Foxley novels although he/she lived a century before they’re set. I couldn’t resist using such a fantastic character.

Sharon: Tell us your least ‘favourite’ medieval or Tudor story you have come across in your research.

Toni: The discovery of RIII’s skeleton in a Leicester car park ruined my first ever trilogy [written in 1980s and unpublished]. My premise for the series of novels was that Richard, though wounded, survives the battle of Bosworth and goes on to have further adventures. Henry Tudor, frustrated when he can’t find Richard’s corpse to prove the king is dead, substitutes a crippled beggar to be buried instead. I was about to rewrite the trilogy when the dig discovered the bones and DNA proved it was Richard. How annoying!

Sharon: Are there any other eras you would like to write about?

Toni: Apart from writing about the medieval and Tudor eras, I’ve also written a Victorian who dunnit – ‘The Death Collector’ – making use of unsolved murders from the 1880s, including those attributed to Jack the Ripper. That was great fun to write and I fancy doing a sequel. Also, I wrote a non-fiction book ‘The World of Isaac Newton’ and I think Isaac, with his brilliant brain, has definite possibilities as a sleuth. I’ve published books ranging from Anglo-Saxon England to the 1950s and everything in between has at least been touched upon. Maybe more on the Anglo-Saxons would be interesting.

Sharon: What are you working on now?

Toni: The next novel is brewing: ‘The Colour of Malice’ and two self-published booklets are being prepped. ‘Medieval Christmas’ will do what it says on the tin. ‘Warriors – Men-o’-War’ is a very different beast as a collection of my short stories, something I’ve not done before, from Agincourt to Afghanistan. There are no new titles for non-fiction books at the moment.

Sharon: And finally, what is the best thing about being a writer?

Toni: Playing God with characters [in fiction] and the beauty of words – choosing how best to express your ideas and imaginings on the page. Marvellous!

About the Author:

Toni studies, teaches and writes about medieval history. She is a successful author writing the popular Sebastian Foxley medieval murder series and several non-fiction volumes, including her collection of How to Survive in books. She has created several online courses for http://www.MedievalCourses.com, she teaches history to adults and is an experienced speaker giving talks to groups and societies. Toni enjoys attending history events as a costumed interpreter and is a member of the Research Committee of the Richard III Society.

Toni earned her Masters Degree by Research from the University of Kent in 2009 through study of a medieval medical manuscript held at the Wellcome Library in London. Her first-class honours degree, Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing and her Diploma in European Humanities are from the Open University. Toni also holds a Cert. Ed (in Post-Compulsory Education and Training) from the University of Greenwich.

Find Toni Mount’s books here

Find Toni on Social Media:

Amazon; Website; Seb Foxley website; Facebook: Medieval England Facebook; Seb Foxley Facebook; Twitter

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My books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

Out now: 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.

Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

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, Elizabeth Chadwick and Michael Jecks, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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

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

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

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©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly, FRHistS and Toni Mount

Wordly Women: Paula Lofting

Sharon Bennett Connolly2 Comments

In the third episode of my Wordly Women interviews, I welcome Paula Lofting to History…the Interesting Bits to talk about her writing journey. Paula is the author of the Sons of the Wolf series of novels and has recently published her first none fiction work Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King: Harold Godwinson, England’s Golden Warrior.

Welcome Paula….

Sharon: What got you into writing? 

Paula: When I was a little girl as soon as I could write straight, I used to come home from school sit at the coffee table in our lounge on my feet and write stories. I was particularly fond of ‘composition’ class at school where the teacher would put several titles up for us to choose from to write about. I often had my stories read out to class. 

I guess it was something I always wanted to do. I remember in my teens, writing an epic historical fiction based on the years after the Romans left Britain, but I hand wrote it because I hadn’t learned to type and the typewriter, I had was useless. I thought I was never going to submit because it never occurred to me to just type with one finger! So, I gave up on that idea. I’d written plays, poems, and all sorts of stuff, but I was also in a bad relationship with a man who didn’t want to share me with a pen, so it was difficult until the relationship ended, and I had moved on. It was when the advent of personal computers came along when I realised that I could actually achieve my dream if I wanted to. 

    Sharon: Tell us about your books. 

    Paula: I have been writing a series set in the years leading up to the Norman Invasion of 1066. There are currently two books I have published in the series, and of course a nearly finished 3rd WIP. The series is called Sons of the Wolf, which is the name of book 1 and book 2 is The Wolf Banner, and 3 which I am working on is called Wolf’s Bane. As you can see there is a recurring theme. The theme is not something to do with real wolves but has its origins in my hero’s family history whose ancestors believed that they were descended from wolves. 

    The books tell the story of Wulfhere, a Sussex thegn, and follows the fortunes of his family in the years before the Battle of Hastings took place. It explores the lives of the ordinary people who lived against the backdrop of the political landscape of the time. 

    The series is a chronological account of events that are woven into the tapestry of the family’s lives and also tells the story of the main historical players of the time, such as Harold Godwinson and his clan. The two men’s lives run parallel alongside each other, and their contrasting stories are intricately woven together as is their fate.  

    The books all run consecutively, and you will find there are no gaps in the saga, so where one book ends, the new book starts. I have plans to continue after the catastrophic events of 1066 into the rebellion years. 

    Sharon: What attracts you to the 11th century? 

    Paula: I think that there is a lot of romance around the whole story of two men who fought over their claims to be king of England which people are drawn to. There is the tragedy of the last ‘Anglo-Saxon king’ who is butchered to death on the battlefield: the tall, handsome, charismatic, affable, warrior who fights for his people and his country. There is the underdog and the overdog theme which comes after the conquest and lasts for some time before England begins to melt as though seamlessly into the new regime.  

    Then you have the original Robin Hood type story of Hereward who sort of appears from nowhere to fight the good fight against the baddies after coming back to England from abroad to find a lot of things have changed and his ancestral lands commandeered by invaders. There is so much to play with there, a passionate conglomerate of rich history that evokes and inspires in the most amazing manner. It is an era that sets itself apart from what happens later – the cusp of change from the old world to the new. 

    I find it fascinating. Love… Betrayal… Battles… Bloodfeud. 

    What’s not to love! 

    I have also written a book about Harold Godwinson which is due for release any day now with Pen and Sword. 

    Sharon: Who is your favourite Anglo-Saxon and why? 

    Paula: There were so many extraordinary characters, and a lot I could choose from. For now, I have to go with Harold Godwinson, simply because, although we will never know what his true nature was for certain, what is written in the sources is constant and conjures up a vision of a man who loved his wife, his family, and his country. A man who avoided internal conflict, forced to navigate intrigue, family skirmishes, and the jealousy of the other aristocracy. He was not a perfect man, but in comparison to many rulers and sub rulers in medieval times, there were a lot more who were far more undesirable. During his early tenure as king, knowing that his country was in danger on many fronts, he acted swiftly to gather his armies together and deploy them to defend the shores. He even found time to see to some of his admin duties, all this in the early weeks of his reign. Who knows what he might have achieved if his life had not been so cruelly taken from him so early into his reign. 

    Sharon: Who is your least favourite Anglo-Saxon – or Viking – and why? 

    Paula: Ooo – Can I have one of each?  

    In that case I have to say, the Anglo-Saxon Ealdorman Eadric Streona whose betrayal of King Edmund lost him the battle of Assandun.  

    My least favourite Viking would have been Sweyn Forkbeard who was invading England from the 990s up until 1013. He became king for about 6 weeks before he died in February 1014. His pillaging and burning of England really stank. 

    Sharon: How do you approach researching your topic? 

    Paula: Well, currently I am taking notes from the two major annals, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and the Chronicon ex Chronicis which was the work of the monk, John of Worcester and also in part, someone called Florence. I plan to augment them with other sources that I read, both primary and secondary, to try and find sources that correlate and contradict each other so I can make sure I have all the facts in one place when I come to write the narrative. I am always very grateful to those historians who came before me for having done the hard part of digging through the foundations of the information available to me and try to see the original sources for myself. Its helpful that these authors give guidance in their own work for us new historians to build upon and come up with new ideas. 

    For Historical fiction I have the privilege of being a reenactor and learning the everyday tasks and the little detailed things that experimental archaeology gives us like clothing, food, buildings and battle strategies that often history texts can’t give us. This helps me to build my world as authentically as I possibly can.  

    Sharon: Tell us your ‘favourite’ Anglo-Saxon story you have come across in your research? 

    Paula: Oo I love this question! 

      I have a few, actually: The research carried by Dan Armstrong regarding the Papal Banner. It seems there is little evidence for it in 1066. Readers will need to read the book to find out more about what Armstrong uncovered. 

      Another is the version of Harold’s trip to Normandy that the English chronicler, Eadmer of Canterbury writes in his History of Recent Events in England, a story that makes far more sense, even though it is the only version of this you can find. And considering that Eadmer was not particularly pro Harold, I think it is far more reliable than the Norman sources. 

      I also love the anecdotal tale of Bishop Wulfstan who carried a pair of snips with him to cut the hair long hair of the young men who came before him. He didn’t approve of men with long hair, obviously. Can you imagine, you’re an elite, well-respected member of the elite huscarls kneeling before him as you get to the front to receive holy communion and he reaches over your head and grips your neatly combed and beautifully tied back pony-tail and with one snip, you lose it! And there was nothing you could do about it!  

      Sharon: Tell us your least ‘favourite’ Anglo-Saxon story you have come across in your research?  

      Paula: Oh gosh, I can name lots, but probably the worst, I have to say, is the cruel propaganda used by the Norman scribes such as Poitiers, who was the first one to mention the Papal Banner, and the way they defiled Harold’s character to detract from William’s regicide of an anointed king and make him seem like a saint! 

        Sharon: Are there any other eras you would like to write about? 

        Paula: Yes indeed, but I’m probably never going to achieve them all, here are just a few: 

          Staying in the so-called dark ages, I once started to write an epic about the post Roman Britain era, centring on Ambrosius Aurelianus. It never came to anything because my circumstances were not right at the time, but I would love to give it ago one day.  

          Another is Macbeth, and coming right out of my comfort zone, a story about a highway man. 

          Sharon: What are you working on now? 

          Paula: Edmund Ironside is my new project for Pen and Sword – a non-fiction book, and fiction wise, I am working on finishing the third novel in my series, Wolf’s Bane 

            Sharon: And finally, what is the best thing about being a writer? 

            Paula: Escaping into other times, other places, and building a different world. It gives me a sense of release and I enjoy creating characters I love. 

            It has never really been my aim to sell loads of books and earn loads of money from writing because its not going to be achievable in this day and age. Its more of a hobby really, but if people read my work, then I am very happy, especially if they enjoy it. That’s the most important part to me.  

            About the author:

            Paula was born in the ancient Saxon county of Middlesex in 1961. She grew up in Australia hearing stories from her dad of her homeland and its history. As a youngster she read books by Rosemary Sutcliff and Leon Garfield and her love of English history grew. At 16 her family decided to travel back to England and resettle. She was able to visit the places she’d dreamt about as a child, bringing the stories of her childhood to life. It wasn’t until later in life that Paula realised her dream to write and publish her own books. Her debut historical novel Sons of the Wolf, was first published in 2012 and then revised and republished in 2016 along with the sequel, The Wolf Banner, in 2017. The third in the series, Wolf’s Bane, will be ready for publishing later this year.   

            In this midst of all this, Paula has acquired contracts for nonfiction books with the prestigious Pen & Sword publishers. Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson, England’s golden Warrior is due to be published at the end of February, and a biographic of King Edmund Ironside is also in the pipeline. She has also written a short essay about Edmund for Iain Dale’s Kings and Queens, articles for historical magazines. When she is not writing, she is a psychiatric nurse, mother of three grown up kids and grandmother of two and also re-enacts the Anglo-Saxon/Viking period with the awesome Regia Anglorum. 

            Social Media:

            Website: www.threadstothepast.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wulfsuna?locale=en_GB, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulaloftingwilcox/, x: https://x.com/longshippub, Threads: www.threadstothepast.com, Blue Sky: @paulaloftingauthor.bsky.social 

            Book Links: Sons of the Wolf; Wolf’s Bane; Searching for the Last Anglo-Saxon King: Harold Godwinson, England’s Golden Warrior.

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            My books

            Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

            Out now: 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.

            Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

            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 Michael Jecks, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

            *

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

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

            You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

            *

            ©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly, FRHistS and Paula Lofting

            Wordly Women: Wendy J. Dunn

            Sharon Bennett Connolly2 Comments

            In the third edition of my Author Spotlight series, Wordly Women, I chat with Wendy J. Dunn, author of both historical fiction and non-fiction based in the Tudor period

            Sharon: What got you into writing?

            Wendy: I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn’t read – or love books. By eight, I knew I wanted to be an author. I was ten when a friend had given me a child’s book of English history for my tenth birthday. That book, or rather its chapter about Elizabeth I, changed the course of my life.

            But claiming a writer’s mantle meant walking a hard, long and challenging road. I was born into a working-class family. My parents never encouraged me to write—or even to complete High School. They expected me to follow the normal narrative for a working-class girl: work until I found a husband. I found him at seventeen, married him at eighteen. Ten months later (LOL), we welcomed the first of our four children.

            By the time I married, life had done a good job of knocking down my confidence about ever becoming a writer. I also had this silly, working-class imposed idea that I could not write because I was now a wife and mother. I believed my class and world would not allow it. As I say, I had a lot of silly ideas. But I was very young. It took the traumatic birth of my second son to wake me up at twenty-two and make me remember I had other choices, and my dreams of authoring books. A few months after that, I applied to a local university’s Early Leaver Scheme, and they accepted me. Completing my Bachelor of Arts restored my confidence and returned me to writing.

            With raising a family, working as a primary teacher, and a lot of health challenges along the way, the road was still difficult. Also, my family always comes first. LOL – I can hear them protesting that is not how they see it, but I know it is true. I would have written far more books by this stage of my life if writing came first. While family is at the core of my existence, writing keeps me sane. Writing is also where I have found my authentic life.

            Sharon: You write both fiction and non-fiction – is one harder than the other?

            Wendy: Both are hard – but nonfiction is harder because I am far more passionate about writing fiction than writing nonfiction. I love surrendering to my imagination and being there – back then – with my characters. On a good writing day, I emerge feeling so alive, I could float on air.

            But what makes me passionate about writing nonfiction is my love of research – of finding answers that deepen my understanding of people of the past and sharing that knowledge with others.

            Sharon: Tell us about your books….

            Dear Heart, How Like You This? was my first published novel, and so will forever hold a special place in my heart because it was the novel that proved I could complete a novel, and one also good enough to be published. It tells the story of Anne Boleyn from the point of view of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Tom and I developed an extraordinary relationship when I wrote that book. He became so real we often argued about the direction of the story – and the story would just come to a stop until he got his own way.

            Dear Heart ignited my desire to write about the life of Katherine of Aragon. I wrote the first version of The Duty of Daughters – the novel about Katherine of Aragon’s early life in Castille – through the point of view of the child Maria de Salinas and then faced the fact I needed to write it through an adult point of view. I knew it just had to be Beatriz Galindo, the scholar who may have been Katherine of Aragon’s tutor, but I despaired about pulling apart the book and starting again. So much so, it took completing my Masters of Writing and then my PhD – when I wrote The Light in the Labyrinth as my creative artefact – before I returned to this work, for it to be published in 2016.

            Dear Heart also ignited the inspiration for The Light in the Labyrinth because my first novel left me with so many questions about why Henry VIII murdered the woman he had turned his kingdom upside to marriage. I decided to target this novel to young adults, with the hope adults would like it, too. LOL – I suspect far more adults have read and enjoyed it than young adults. As it became a bestseller in its early published life, I have no complaints about that.

            All Manner of Things is the conclusion to my Falling Pomegranate Seeds duology. All Manner of Things imagines Katherine of Aragon time in England from her arrival in 1501 to 1520, with an epilogue that takes the reader to her deathbed. I used Maria de Salinas, one of Katherine’s closest friends and a fellow Castilian exile, as my narrator, which offered a close view of Katherine’s life.

            All Manner of Things has done me proud since its publication by gaining quite a few awards and being translated into Spanish and published as Mi Hermana, Mi Reina.

            Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life is my first published major work of nonfiction. COVID lockdowns made researching that book difficult. I was stuck in Melbourne, Australia, when I should have been researching in England. But we are fortunate to have a wealth of archival material now available online.

            Sharon: What attracts you to the Tudor period?

            Wendy: I have loved the Tudor period since my childhood. It is a fascinating period with so many fascinating people. For me, this period offers a wealth of stories to draw from for my storytelling, with a cast of archetypes, heroes and villains, with stories of adultery, murder, lust, love, passion, betrayal, tragedy and triumph, family secrets, ambition and vainglory. The Tudors offer a treasure trove of multilayered tales that speak to our shared humanity.

            Sharon: Who is your favourite Tudor and why?

            Wendy: No question about it. Elizabeth I. I know she was not perfect, but she was an exceptionally intelligent human being. The fact she ended up the queen of England, after years of walking a road where any misstep could lead to her death, is such a story of triumph. And the triumph continued all through her life. Elizabeth remained queen for close to forty-four years, despite all the plots to bring her down.  

            Sharon: Who is your least favourite Tudor and why?

            Wendy: Henry VIII. I don’t think I could ever like any man who murders his wives. I confess I wrote The Light in the Labyrinth hoping I’d find him more likeable. Alas, I liked him far less after completing my second Anne Boleyn novel. He was a bully, a tyrant (especially after 1536), possessed little empathy, emotionally abused his eldest daughter and forced her to betray the memory of her mother, all of which broke her spirit, made it harder for women to work in professions – for example, a law early in his reign excluded women from the medical profession, and was, many times, simply cruel.  

            OMG – he annulled his marriage to Anne Boleyn just days before her execution, so how could she be accused of adultery then? But he still executed her!

            Sharon: How do you approach researching your topic?

            Wendy: Books. Many books. And more books. Academic papers. Hours of searching for primary sources to help me with my topic. Living in hope of having funds to get to the places where my people once lived, just so I can walk in their footsteps.

            I build my people – real and imagined – through thorough research. I love researching history and deepening my knowledge about people of the past, which means every book I write increases my own personal reference library.

            Sharon: Tell us your ‘favourite’ Tudor story.

            Wendy: The day they crowned Elizabeth. Whenever I read the primary sources about her coronation, I am always swept away by the joy of the day. By Elizabeth’s joy. And I get an extra shiver up and down my backbone to know Anne Boleyn was remembered on this day. What Elizabeth must have felt to see her mother included in the processional display that celebrated her lineage.

            I have written about this day in Henry VIII’s True Daughter, and also touched on this scene in FIRE FROM THE COMET’S TAIL, one of my short stories:

            One of the honoured women helping carry Elizabeth’s long, heavy mantle up the steps, Kate couldn’t resist doing a dancing step, far too excited and happy to mind the cold.

            Drums rolled and trumpets blared. A thousand voices roared in triumph: Long live the queen. Long live the queen.

            Bess looked over her shoulder at the crowds, and waved. In the sudden hushed silence, before the crowd shouted out as if in one voice, “Elizabeth! God Save Elizabeth!” the wind carried to Kate the well-remembered laugh of another queen. One more shout mounted up, God save the queen.

            Out of the corner of her eye, her aunt seemed standing beside her. Love. Love never dies, or is forgotten, her aunt’s voice said in her mind. Strange. She had no memory of her saying that while she lived.

            Snow-light blinding her again, Kate rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, Bess had entered the ancient doors of Westminster.

            I really look forward to revisiting this day in the novel I am writing now.

            Sharon: Tell us your least ‘favourite’ Tudor story.

            Wendy: The execution of Anne Boleyn. Such an unjust end to her life. I also believe she only gave up hope of a reprieve in her last moments. How awful it must have been for her, knowing Henry wanted her dead so much he set in motion her execution. He may have given her the mercy of the French swordman, but he was merciless in other ways. And to die knowing she was leaving behind her infant daughter who would no longer have her protection. My heart breaks for her!

            Sharon: Are there any other eras you would like to write about?

            Wendy: I hope to live long enough to write about a few women from medieval Spanish history who have caught my attention. Researching Katherine of Aragon’s life has left me with a deep love of Spain and its history.

            Sharon: What are you working on now?

            Wendy: I’m working through the edits of Shades of Yellow, my novel about an Australian woman writing a Tudor novel (not me!), which is scheduled for publication on September 7th. I am also writing a novel inspired by the life of Frances Newton Brooke, a woman who served Elizabeth I even before she became queen until 1592. She is also subject I’m researching for my next nonfiction book for Pen& Sword Books

            Sharon: And finally, what is the best thing about being a writer?

            Wendy: Oh – finding kindred spirits, like you, Sharon! I feel so blessed with the friendships I have made along the way on this writing road of mine – and blessed to have this passion that helps me grow as a human being. Writing turned my life into a true adventure.

            About the Author:

            Wendy J. Dunn is an award-winning Australian writer fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel, which narrated the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their own holdings. It seems very likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally. Wendy is married, the mother of three sons and one daughter—named after a certain Tudor queen, surprisingly, not Anne. She is also the grandmother of two amazing small boys. She gained her PhD in 2014 and loves walking in the footsteps of the historical people she gives voice to in her novels. Wendy also tutors at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.

            Where to find Wendy’s books:.

            Original version of Dear Heart, How Like You This?, New edition of Dear Heart, How like You This?

            Original version of The Light in the Labyrinth. New version of The Light in the Labyrinth.

            Falling Pomegranate Seeds duology: Part One, 
The Duty of Daughters
https://mybook.to/FPS, Part two: All Manner of Things.

            Pen and Sword Books: Henry VIIIs True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life

            Mi hermana, mi reina: La historia de Catalina de Aragn contada por su dama y fiel amiga Mara de Salinas (Spanish Edition)

            Where to find Wendy::

            Website – Newsletter – Facebook – Instagram: wendyjdunnauthor, Bluesky: wendyjdunn.bsky.social, LinkedIn: Dr Wendy Dunn – Academic Tutor and Lecturer – Goodreads – Bookbub

            *

            My books

            Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

            Out now: 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.

            Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

            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 Michael Jecks, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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

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

            You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

            *

            ©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly, FRHistS and Wendy J. Dunn

            Wordly Women: Amy McElroy

            Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

            After sharing the interview with Helene Harrison a couple of weeks ago and introducing my Author Spotlight series, Wordly Women, I was surprised and grateful for the amazing response from readers and writers alike. So, I am going to carry it on, hopefully for a whole year – or at least until I run out of astounding female authors – which could take a while! In the second of my Wordly Women interviews, I welcome Amy McElroy to History…the Interesting Bits to talk about her writing journey.

            Hello Amy!

            Sharon: What got you into writing non-fiction?

            Amy: I had started a blog as a place to jot down my thoughts on books I had read, I did not really expect people to read it, I just wanted to be able to keep track of my reading and the books I had enjoyed. I often read other peoples blogs to find recommendations so thought it would be a good way to record my own thoughts. I ended up joining NetGalley where 99% of the books I requested were non-fiction, and many were published by Pen and Sword and continued to publish my reviews on my blog. Eventually I was approached by Pen and Sword and asked if I had ever considered writing my own book. I had absolutely not thought about it at that point despite my love of history and writing so it came as a complete surprise! After working my way through many thoughts of doubt and imposter syndrome I decided to go for it, why not? I was given an incredible opportunity that I will always be grateful for.

            Sharon: Tell us about your books…

            Amy: My first book Educating the Tudors was published in January 2023 and looks at the education of those well-known Tudor individuals we all know and love (or dislike), including Henry and his siblings, as well as his children. It also covers the education of the general public and the different opportunities available such as apprenticeships. Finally there is a little on who the tutors of the royal household were, and what people did for fun when they weren’t learning!

            My second, Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era, was published in February 2024, the title pretty much gives everything away but it essentially discusses the milestones in the lives of Tudor women; childhood, courtship and marriage, motherhood, employment, widowhood, and death. I loved researching this book, although not all women left behind a Will, those that remain are fascinating!

            My most recent publication is Mary Tudor, Queen of France, which was due to be published 28 February 2025 but came out a little early on 30 January, so you and I now have a shared book birthday! Mary was the younger sister of Henry VIII, and aunt of Mary I. She began to interest me when I was researching my first book and I could not help but keep digging and rushing down rabbit-holes. I do hope I have done Mary justice as she was much more than just a sister to a king.

            Sharon: What attracts you to the Tudor period?

            Amy: There are so many events it is hard not to be interested! Not only are there many fascinating individuals but we have lots of marriages, executions, the Reformation, and events such as the Field of the Cloth of Gold, there is lots for people to read and research. I am also attracted to the Tudor period as it was at the centre of huge changes to education, the Renaissance was in full swing and how it impacted education in England continues to intrigue me.

            Sharon: Who is your favourite Tudor and why?

            Amy: Oh this is a difficult one! If we are referring to monarchs I would have to say Henry VIII. I know, I know, he was a tyrant, but he wasn’t always and he accomplished a lot as king. I am also a little biased in that I enjoy researching his education and continued learning as an adult. If we are referring to any individual in the Tudor era, then that would be Mary, I really enjoyed writing about her and found she is often overshadowed by her brother and whenever someone reads ‘Mary Tudor’ many will assume it to be Mary I. Hopefully my book and those of others will help in bringing Mary out of the shadows.

            Sharon: Who is your least favourite Tudor and why?

            Amy: Haha, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, husband to Frances Brandon and father of Lady Jane, Lady Katherine, and Lady Mary Grey. I will just never understand his actions, especially once Jane was held in the Tower, you would think he would do everything he could to stay out of trouble but no!

            Sharon: How do you approach researching your topic?

            Amy: I generally write a rough chapter plan detailing what I want to cover. When I say rough, I really do mean that but it gives me a start on my research. I then look at what resources do I already have and what do I need. I live in the Midlands so I try to plan my research so that if I need to travel somewhere for a source e.g. National Archives or British Library then I have a clear plan of everything I need from there so I can try and make the most of my time there but giving myself enough time that I can go for another visit if I miss something or find something else I need. I am old school so I write most of my notes by hand which can then take me forever to type up, therefore I try to ensure I have everything I need before I start typing.

            Sharon: Tell us your ‘favourite’ Tudor story.

            Amy: I love the story of Thomas More and Erasmus visiting the royal children at Eltham. Erasmus did not know that was the plan so he was very surprised when they arrived at Eltham Palace and found Margaret, Henry, Mary and Edmund all there. Thomas More had prepared some writing for Henry but Erasmus had come unprepared so was not happy with More! They stayed for dinner and Henry actually challenged Erasmus to write something for him. Erasmus spent 3 days writing a poem which became Prosopopӕia Britanniӕ and praises Henry VII, the princes, and England. He dedicated the poem to  Prince Henry and it was printed in the first edition of Adages in 1500. I think this was both a surprising yet memorable event for Erasmus and was the beginning of his friendship with Henry.

            Sharon: Tell us your ‘least favourite’ Tudor story.

            Amy: I think I would have to say that I really dislike the stories that Henry VII was a miser. The records and accounts show he more than willing to spend a great deal of money when he wished to. He made gifts to his children, spent money on building and was certainly not afraid to show his wealth when it came to impressing ambassadors and visitors to the royal court. Yes, he was very intelligent when it came to money but I think it is unfair for him to have the reputation of a miser.

            Sharon: Are there any other eras you would like to write about?

            Amy: I think if I were to ever write about another era it would likely be the Plantagenets but I’m not sure if I ever will!

            Sharon: What are you working on now?

            Amy: I am finishing up writing a book on Desiderius Erasmus which is due to be published early 2026 then I will be moving on to my 5th book, Teaching the Tudors. This will expand on my first book and focus on some of the tutors we know so well and others that were extremely influential on education during the Tudor era but are maybe not so well known.

            Sharon: And finally, what is the best thing about being a writer?

            Amy: Another hard one! Firstly, getting to know so many incredible historians, I have been made to feel so welcome in the history community by historians I greatly admire such as yourself, Nathen Amin, and Estelle Paranque and others but I can’t name everyone or this may be a very long answer. I have made some wonderful friends including Rebecca Batley, Rebecca Larson, and Helene Harrison and had fantastic opportunities to appear on podcasts like Talking Tudors and Royals, Rebels, and Romantics. But overall, I love history, so I am doing something I love, does it get better than that?

            About the Author:

            Amy McElroy is the author of Educating the Tudors (2023), Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era (2024), and Mary Tudor, Queen of France (2025). Amy has long had an interest in history, beginning with a blog where she shared her love of books before culminating in her own book, Educating the Tudors. Amy is currently writing her fourth book, Desiderius Erasmus and has a fifth in the pipeline with many more ideas for the future. Amy co-hosts the blog, The Tudor Notebook on Substack. She has appeared on numerous podcasts including Talking Tudors, Royals, Rebels, and Romantics, and Tudors Dynasty. Amy has also spoken at events including the Wolves Literature Festival and After Hours at Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

            Where to find Amy:

            Facebook – Amy McElroy; Instagram – @amymcelroy_author; Blue Sky – AmyMcElroy; Threads – amymcelroy_books; Twitter/X – @AmyMc_Books; Substack – The Tudor Notebook; Blog – website.

            To Buy Amy’s Books:

            Educating the Tudors: Pen and Sword Books: Educating the Tudors – Hardback. Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era: Pen and Sword Books: Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era – Hardback, and is also available to order with a signed bookplate at Fox Lane Books. Mary Tudor, Queen of France: Pen and Sword Books: Mary Tudor – Hardback and is also available to order with a signed and dedicated bookplate at Fox Lane Books

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            My books

            Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.

            Out now: 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.

            Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

            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 Michael Jecks, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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

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

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            ©2025 Sharon Bennett Connolly, FRHistS and Amy McElroy