First and foremost, I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all my readers for sticking with me through the years. I really appreciate your support and messages of encouragement. And I hope you will continue to read and enjoy my articles and books.
I have a few things happening at the moment, so thought I would just do a short post sharing my news, just so you don’t miss it!
LAST EVENT OF THE YEAR!
11 October 2023
Rounding off a fabulous year, my last event is part of the amazing Lincoln Book Festival and -appropriately enough – is about Nicholaa de la Haye!
Forgotten Heroine will be held in the gorgeous lecture theatre at the Lincoln Museum (formerly known as The Collection), on 11 October, 2023, at 6.16pm.
Tickets are just £7!
Tickets are on sale now from the Lincoln Book Festival website, just click HERE!
Book News
Kings and Queens: 1200 Years of English and British Monarchs
14 September sees the release of a new book I have collaborated on, Iain Dale’s Kings and Queens: 1200 Years of English and British Monarchs draws together some of the best historians around today (and me).
An essay on every individual who sat on the British and English throne, compiled and edited by Iain Dale.
‘We all know about Queen Victoria, Edward VIII and Queen Elizabeth II, but how much do we really know about other monarchs? Yes, we know William the Conqueror beat King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. We know George III was mad, but what else do we know about his 60 year long reign? We know Henry VIII famously had six wives, but do we know much more about him, other than he was very fat?’
From Alfred the Great to Charles III, each essay examines the monarch, their role and what they tell us about British history. Why has the British monarchy, unlike so many others, endured? Kings and Queens will attempt to answer this question, and many others, providing valuable insight into British history and how Britain is ruled today.
Women of the Anarchy
In 1135 Stephen of Blois usurped the throne, stealing it from his cousin, Empress Matilda (Maud), and sparking a 19-year civil war that would become known as The Anarchy, one of the bloodiest periods in English history. On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown.
Both women are granddaughters of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland and descendants of Alfred the Great of Wessex. Empress Matilda was the first woman to claim the throne of England in her own right, but did not gain the support of the barons. When Queen Matilda’s husband King Stephen was captured by the Empress’s forces, it was down to her to keep the fight going, and to negotiate for her husband’s release. ‘Women of the Anarchy’ demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.
Coming 15 January 2024
Available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.
My new online shop is now open!
Signed books available with just a few clicks!
Well, I have finally taken the plunge and set up an online store for all my books – they will be signed, of course. Purchases will be despatched within 24 hours (48 hours on a weekend) of placing your order – guaranteed. If you already have the book, you can also order signed bookplates.
Please do visit and let me know what you think.
Books by Sharon Bennett Connolly
Podcast:
If you haven’t yet, 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 discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved. We now have 23 episodes in our library, with many more to come, including discussions on Christine de Pisan and Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians (with guest Annie Witehead).
My Books
Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online store.
Out now: King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye
In a time when men fought and women stayed home, Nicholaa de la Haye held Lincoln Castle against all-comers, gaining prominence in the First Baron’s War, the civil war that followed the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215. A truly remarkable lady, Nicholaa was the first woman to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Her strength and tenacity saved England at one of the lowest points in its history. Nicholaa de la Haye is one woman in English history whose story needs to be told…
King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is now available from 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, of the successes and failures of one of the most powerful families in England, 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. Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey is now 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.
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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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©2023 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS