A photographic essay to show what one simply MUST have by one’s side when one has an April deadline. According to my publisher, I must finish Gisborne: Book of Kings by then so it can proceed to the editor… so, sweet stuff needed.
It’s tough being cast as a baddy. It’s what happened to Guy of Gisborne when Robin Hood rose to his (questionable) prominence.
Seriously, how can someone who robbed and killed people because they happened to be wealthy be considered a hero? By the fact that he gave the cash to the poor?
Recently I noticed a review about one of my hist.romances which claimed some degree of anachronism – did people really bathe that much in the twelfth century? In fact my reading has shown there is a complete disparity of opinion over this issue, which meant I must make a choice. I did. I was writing fiction and I chose the scholarly fact that best backed what I wished to say.
Two years ago, I discovered English Historical fiction Authors on Facebook. Subsequently, I began to follow their wonderful blog and being a medieval aficionado (for that, read writer) as well as a Georgian and Regency fan, there were many blogposts which I bookmarked for future reference.
I have a wonderful group of Facebook friends – interesting, interested, kind, generous, and always fun. But two most recently have stood out.
Brian and Yveline Cobb live in France.
We met on Facebook, as one does these days, and over time, he has seen me struggling with Occitán, French etc, and has always offered a little advice. During the writing of Gisborne: Book of Knights, I asked if anyone knew of a twelfth century Templar Commanderie in Aquitaine. No response online, so I went back to my research books and found mention of one in Toulon in Provence. I googled it and found that it is now a private residence and what’s more, that it is for sale. I then asked if anyone knew of it. Whilst Brian didn’t know of the Commanderie exactly, he responded that he knew the area and would be heading that way…
Editor’s comments so far:
‘Once again – everything works. Every. Thing.
Pace, plot, character actions and dialogue, narrative POV voice, structure, tension, all carried off to perfection with sublime imagery.
