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Michael Ward

Goodreads Author

Born

Liverpool, The United Kingdom

Influences

C.J.Sansom HilaryMantel ...more

Member Since

August 2019

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Just finished 'Rags of Time' and thoroughly enjoyed it. Reading a great deal of both fiction and non-fiction relating to the 17th century and 'Rags of Time' has certainly impressed me. What are your plans for future writing ? Would you consider an interview for my blog https://aburntship.blogspot.com/ ? Wishing you success.

Michael Ward Hi Mike - So glad you enjoyed 'Rags of Time'. My future plans are focused on writing the sequel, which I'm currently working on. Happy to be interview…moreHi Mike - So glad you enjoyed 'Rags of Time'. My future plans are focused on writing the sequel, which I'm currently working on. Happy to be interviewed for your blog. To set it up, just send me a Goodreads message.
Thanks. Mike(less)

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Michael Ward 'Rags of Time' is my debut novel. I chose historical fiction because I enjoy it myself as a reader.

From the outset I wanted to write about a period l…more'Rags of Time' is my debut novel. I chose historical fiction because I enjoy it myself as a reader.

From the outset I wanted to write about a period less well covered than others like Tudor and Roman. I researched the Stuart era and discovered an extraordinary 40 year section which witnessed civil war, regicide, the Commonwealth of England and royal restoration. During this time there was also a number of dramatic set pieces to feature: the Fire of London and the Great Plague of 1665/6.

It soon became clear that these 40 years not only marked a period of great political and religious change, but also significant advances in science and the birth of Britain's pre-eminence as a maritime and trading nation.

I realised this must have been an extraordinary time to live through, especially in London, the epicentre of this ferment of new thinking. And so the idea for 'Rags' and successive books was born - a series that will allow the reader to walk side by side with my hero merchant Thomas Tallant throughout his life, experiencing with him such a formative and dramatic period in British history.

From the outset, I have tried to interweave the themes of religious, political, scientific and mercantile change around the central murder plot and it was really pleasing to see that this had been noticed and appreciated in my first goodreads review. Big relief!

I am now working on Book 2.

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Michael Ward’s books

Average rating: 4.13 · 1,557 ratings · 140 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Rags of Time (Thomas Tallant, #1) 4.04 avg rating — 849 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Wrecking Storm (Thomas Tallant, #2) 4.19 avg rating — 415 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Drums of War (Thomas Tallant, #3) 4.33 avg rating — 225 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Royal Blood: A HWA Short Story Collection by Judith Arnopp (Goodreads Author), David Field (Goodreads Author), Elizabeth Freemantle 4.08 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 2020	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	London Falling: A Thomas Tallant Omnibus 4.21 avg rating — 19 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Giveaway news

There's currently a giveaway offer of free paperback copies of 'Rags of Time' to UK members, until December 11th.

See:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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Published on November 29, 2019 02:11

Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Ward is currently reading

The Woman in the Shadows

by Carol McGrath (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 18, 2020 03:39AM

Michael Ward is currently reading

The Leveller Revolution: Radical Political Organisation in England, 1640–1650

by John Rees

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Oct 01, 2019 02:31AM

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The White King: Charles I, Traitor, Murderer, Martyr

by Leanda de Lisle (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 01, 2019 02:30AM

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Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Ward joined the group Author Marketing - Resources, Exchanges, & Challenges
Aug 07, 2026 10:40AM · like
Michael Ward made a comment in the group Goodreads Authors/Readers — Introduce Yourself! topic " Hello, I'm Mike (pen name Michael) Ward and I write historical thrillers set in the English Civil War period. I started my working life as a BBC journal ...more "
Aug 04, 2026 01:24PM
Michael Ward made a comment in the group Goodreads Authors/Readers — Welcome Historical Fiction Authors and Readers! topic " If you like murder mysteries from the English Civil War period, why not try my Thomas Tallant series? https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Follow t ...more "
Aug 04, 2026 12:55PM
Michael Ward wants to read The Drums of War (Thomas Tallant, #3) by Michael Ward (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 22, 2026 12:49AM · like
Michael Ward is now following Irvin Rodhe's reviews
Apr 01, 2026 12:31AM · like
Michael Ward wants to read Rags of Time (Thomas Tallant, #1) by Michael Ward (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 07, 2026 12:13AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Rags of Time by Michael Ward. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Rags of Time by Michael Ward <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Michael Ward rated a book it was amazing The Siege of Loyalty House: A Civil War Story by Jessie Childs (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Michael Ward liked a quote “They are voices from the past and their actions have echoed into our world and, unknown to them, they preserved our future.” Anna Faversham
Jan 16, 2025 10:18AM · like · more quotes by Anna Faversham · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Beware the Midnight Train by Anna Faversham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Beware the Midnight Train by Anna Faversham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Michael’s Quotes

“I'm a real self-educated kind of guy. I read voraciously. Every book I ever bought, I have. I can't throw it away. It's physically impossible to leave my hand! Some of them are in warehouses. I've got a library that I keep the ones I really really like. I look around my library some nights and I do these terrible things to myself--I count up the books and think, how long I might have to live and think, 'F@#%k, I can't read two-thirds of these books.' It overwhelms me with sadness."
--David Bowie, quoted in the Daily Beast in a 2002 interview with Bob Guccione, Jr.”
― David Bowie

tags: book-lovers-quotes

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“They are voices from the past and their actions have echoed into our world and, unknown to them, they preserved our future.”
― Anna Faversham, Beware the Midnight Train

tags: reflection-on-life

20 likes