Tony Riches's Blog

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In the final weeks of World War II, a young American intelligence officer is caught in a web of deceit that stretches from the Pentagon to the war-ravaged streets of Europe. Lieutenant Julius Orlinsky, a veteran of clandestine operations in Prague, is thrust back into the field when a seemingly routine assignment leadsto murder and attempted murder.
German Prisoners on American Soil
My novel Red Snow in Winter is set in the closing weeks of World War II, but, unlike many wartime books, the majority of the story takes place in the United States. The main character is Julius Orlinsky, an American intelligence officer pulled into a dangerous mission.
My novel’s action unfolds in two settings that are uncommon in World War II fiction: Washington, D.C. at the end of the war, and several prisoner of war camps for Germans in America. For this post I would like to share my research on the camps.
During World War II, America’s involvement often evokes images of GIs fighting overseas, but an entirely different operation existed within the continental United States. Starting in 1942, a massive, unprecedented operation began: the transport and internment of hundreds of thousands of Axis soldiers, primarily Germans, in U.S. prisoner of war (POW) camps.
By 1945, more than 425,000 German and Italian soldiers were held in the U.S. This was no local project; this "enemy within" was spread across approximately 700 camps in 46 states, from vast base camps to smaller labor satellite facilities. 

Nebraska POW Mugshot
The sheer scale and geography of this operation is perhaps the first and most surprising fact about the German POW experience in America. For many small-town Americans, the sight of enemy soldiers working outside the wire was a bizarre, immediate reality of a faraway war.An Operation that America Didn’t Want 
The United States tried to resist setting up these camps for so long that it became a serious source of conflict with its Allies. According to the book Nazi Prisoners of War in America, “Due to her early entrance into the world war, Britain had been receiving substantial numbers of German and Italian prisoners for more than a year, and the problem was approaching crisis proportions. 
From Washington’s point of view, the United States simply refused to enter into any agreement which might adversely affect its ability to act independently.” However, Britain’s ability to house enemy prisoners on the island was taxed to the breaking point. Finally, in August 1942, the US “begrudgingly” agreed to house prisoners on American soil.
Confusion Over Identities
At first, the vast majority of enemy soldiers were captured in North Africa. Things were happening so fast that some German and Italian prisoners were processed before the serial-number system for the soldiers was established. 
Once the bureaucratic system was in place, the remaining major challenge was a severe lack of interpreters and foreign language clerks and typists. As a result, prisoners were able to take advantage of the language barrier and “confuse the registration process.” 
Historians now believe that some prisoners with sufficient motivation and resourcefulness were able to take on new identities in the camps, and Americans never knew the true names—or war records—of some of the German pisoners held in the U.S.
A "Surprisingly Pleasant" Captivity
For soldiers accustomed to the brutal conditions of the European front, life in American POW camps was, by many accounts, comfortable. Online historical accounts and official records reveal that the United States largely adhered to the 1929 Geneva Convention, providing conditions that were often better than those of an average U.S. soldier stateside.

Nebraska POW Kitchen
POWs were provided with the same standard U.S. Army rations as their guards, meaning they often ate better than many Americans subject to wartime rationing. Beyond comfortable quarters, camp authorities allowed the men to organize their own activities. Camps were transformed into self-contained communities featuring:Theaters where prisoners staged plays and variety shows.Orchestras and bands that performed for their fellow inmates.Sports leagues that held regular soccer and basketball tournaments.
Michigan POW Soccer
Furthermore, they were paid small wages in camp scrip (POW money) for any work performed. In fact, some historians note that certain POWs returned to a devastated Germany after the war "wealthier than the families they left behind," having saved their earnings. The “Barbed-Wire College” and Re-educationOne of the most ambitious and least-known aspects of the American POW system was the "re-education" effort. Recognizing that many prisoners were young men indoctrinated by Nazism, American officials implemented programs to expose them to American democracy and culture.   
This project was nicknamed the "Barbed-Wire College." Academics and camp commandants established libraries and held courses taught by anti-Nazi prisoners or American personnel. The curriculum covered a wide range of subjects, including American history, civics, and political science. The explicit goal was to help them shed their Nazi ideology and become advocates for a democratic, post-war Germany.
The effort often created an internal ideological struggle. In one striking example, the German-language camp newspapers published by the POWs often split into two distinct factions: one ardently pro-Nazi and another, supported by American authorities, promoting anti-fascist and democratic ideals. This cultural engineering experiment yielded mixed results but remains a unique feature of the American handling of its prisoners. The Dark Side: Internal Violence and MurdersDespite the humane treatment from their American captors, the camps saw some violence. A sobering fact is that dedicated Nazi zealots—the "true believers"—often enforced their political will through intimidation, violence, and murder of fellow prisoners.
Within the wire, a shadow war took place between the pro- and anti-Nazis. Prisoners suspected of being sympathetic to the Allies, deemed "white mice" or "collaborators," were tortured and sometimes executed by their fanatical comrades. 
These killings, which occurred in camps across the country, were often disguised as suicides or accidents. When the murders were discovered, the ensuing trials and executions of the perpetrators were a reminder of the ideological struggle that had followed the soldiers across the Atlantic. An Unexpected Labor Force
Perhaps the most visible and often surprising aspect of the POW system for local Americans was the use of German labor. Due to severe wartime labor shortages, particularly in agriculture, the U.S. Army loaned out POWs to work on local farms, factories, and construction projects.
These German work details were crucial to supporting the American economy and war effort. In many agricultural regions, without the labor of the prisoners, entire harvests would have rotted in the fields. Some of the work locations were truly unexpected:In Georgia, a work detail of German POWs was responsible for tending the grounds of the Augusta National Golf Course, the home of the Masters Tournament.In various Eastern, Midwestern and Southern states, prisoners were sent to work on farms, sometimes "guarded" only by a single, bored, or elderly American soldier, highlighting the general security and good conduct of the majority of the prisoners.The Truth About Escapes
Some prisoners tried to escape. They were caught quickly or turned themselves in because of the language barrier and their disorientation in a vast America. In Texas, which held one of the largest POW populations, from a population of over 78,000 prisoners, only 21 POWs escaped from the major camps in the state, and every single one was caught within three weeks, most of them a lot sooner. 

Texas POW Entrance  There is one prisoner who successfully escaped: Georg Gärtner.  He escaped from a camp in New Mexico in September 1945, after the war had ended but while many POWs were still being processed for return. Some Germans did not want to return to a defeated country, impoverished and heavily bombed. Gärtner successfully went into hiding, living under an assumed identity for nearly 40 years before finally surrendering to U.S. authorities in 1985.
By the time the last German POWs were repatriated in 1946, they left behind a largely forgotten legacy. The American POW camps were more than just internment facilities; they were a massive, temporary social experiment that brought the enemy into the American backyard, shaping the lives of both the prisoners and the citizens who unexpectedly encountered them.

"This is a fast-moving, page-turning espionage thriller set just after the war. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be kept up at night!" --Deborah Swift, author of The Shadow Network

Max Eastern
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About the Author
The stories his father told him about his time as an intelligence officer in World War II inspired Max Eastern to write Red Snow in Winter. He has written about history for several magazines and online publications, with subjects ranging from Ulysses Grant and Benedict Arnold to Attila the Hun. His modern noir novel The Gods Who Walk Among Us won the Kindle Scout competition and was published by Kindle Press in 2017. A lawyer specializing in publishing, he resides in New York State. Find out more ar Max Eastern's website and follow him on Twitter @MaxeasternNYC

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1594, Bishopsgate Ward, London. Within the walls and without, unease and uncertainty lurk beneath the noise and bustle of a smoky, teeming city.
Matthew Cutler, newly widowed and caring for two spirited daughters, takes his position as constable for the parish of Spitalfields very seriously. So when Paulo Brisco, a quiet Venetian perfumer is found brutally murdered in his own shop, Cutler throws himself into his first major crime, and one which threatens to set all Bishopsgate alight.
Being a humble parish constable, Matthew Cutler’s powers are slight – and yet he possesses a skill which most others do not. As a former actor he can employ disguise, to considerable effect and to his unique advantage...
Plunged into a treacherous world of notorious rakes, angry tradesmen and a community seething with anti-foreigner sentiment and suspicion, Cutler must decipher shattered clues and confront a killer whose motive remains a baffling mystery - until the very last.
Step into the dangerous world of Elizabethan London with this cracking murder mystery!

'Through the eyes of Matthew Cutler, the London of 1594 is brought to visceral life, with all the wretchedness and violence that entails.' Richard Cullen

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About the Author

An author for over thirty years, John Pilkington has written plays for radio and theatre as well as television scripts for a BBC soap, but now concentrates mainly on historical fiction set in the Tudor and Stuart eras. He has published over twenty books including the Thomas the Falconer Mysteries, the Marbeck spy series and the Justice Belstrang Mysteries (all pub. By Sharpe Books). He is also the author of a children’s series, the Elizabethan Mysteries (Usborne) and two Restoration tales featuring actress-turned-sleuth Betsy Brand (Joffe Books). His recent mystery The Tivoli Murders (Sharpe) marked a brief venture into the dazzling world of the Victorian Music Hall. His new book Yorick: A Jester’s Tale (Sharpe) is a departure into speculative fiction, telling the Secret History of the famous ‘mad rogue’ whose skull features in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Born in the north-west of England, he now lives in a Devon village with his partner, and has a son who is a psychologist and musician. Learn more by visiting his website at www.johnpilkington.co.uk or find him on Twitter @_JohnPilkington and Bluesky @johnpilkington.bsky.social‬

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US
Full colour, premium quality with over 30 illustrations:
Christmas in the Middle Ages was celebrated with as much joy and enthusiasm as it is today, perhaps even more. Discover the origins of our modern traditions and how people would celebrate Christmas without turkey, tinsel and Santa Claus.

Written by best-selling author and historian, Toni Mount, this well researched and beautifully illustrated book is written in her usual, friendly, easy to read style.

The perfect Christmas gift for the medieval buff in your life (or even yourself), Medieval Christmas is a fascinating look at how Christmas was celebrated in medieval times without turkey, crackers or Santa. What were the origins of Christmas? What did people eat? What music did they listen to? How did they celebrate? This book answers all those questions and more (Amazon Review)

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About the Author

Toni Mount is the author of several successful non-fiction books including How to Survive in Medieval England and the number one best-seller, Everyday Life in Medieval England. Her speciality is the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages and her enthusiastic understanding of the period allows her to create accurate, atmospheric settings and realistic characters for her medieval mysteries. Her main character, Sebastian Foxley is a humble but talented medieval artist and was created as a project as part of her university diploma in creative writing. Toni earned her history BA from The Open University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Kent by completing original research into a unique 15th century medical manuscript. Toni writes regularly for both The Richard III Society and The Tudor Society and is a major contributor to MedievalCourses.com. As well as writing, Toni teaches history to adults, and is a popular speaker to groups and societies. Find out more at Toni's website and find her on Facebook and Bluesky @toniauthor.bsky.social

Available from Amazon UK and pre-order from Amazon US
The 1688 “Glorious Revolution” that toppled James II and VII also veiled his consort in propaganda. Mary of Modena: James II’s Dazzling Queen reveals the extraordinary woman beneath. Lovely and spirited, Mary Beatrice Isabella d’Este is also England’s sole Italian queen
Melusine, My Lucky Charm

Melusine Fontaine

As part of my research for my new book, Mary of Modena: James II’s Dazzling Queen, I was fortunate enough to travel to the Stuart consort’s birthplace in northern Italy. At this stage I was keenly intrigued by this lovely Italian lady, but felt I did not yet know her well enough to tell her tale. 

My husband and I flew first to nearby Bologna; we then boarded a train to Modena. Alighting at the station, we began to make our way through the beckoning maze of streets towards the centre of town, questing for two key sites. 

The first was the graceful pale stone Baroque palazzo ducale (duke’s palace) where Mary—or Mary Beatrice as I took to calling her, so as not to confuse my subject with her step-daughter, Mary II—was born and raised. The second site was the medieval duomo (cathedral) di Modena. Touring the great palazzo, which today functions as an officer training facility for the Italian military, I was able to ‘meet’ Mary Beatrice on the imaginative plane. 

A pious and thoughtful young principessa of the House of Este, Mary Beatrice had once yearned to take the veil. Instead, Pope Clement X persuaded her to marry James Duke of York so she could intercede for oppressed English Catholics. A proxy wedding took place at the Palazzo Ducale. 

I could grasp something of what she left behind when, in the year 1673, the very young woman departed her home forever to travel to the faraway island of Great Britain. Visiting the palazzo was immensely helpful, but touring the duomo was a revelation. 

There I saw the 13th century ‘Artus architrave’ depicting the adventures of King Arthur and his brave knights, which probably formed Mary Beatrice’s expectations of her new home. (She knew next to nothing of contemporary England, but like every other European she was steeped in Arthurian lore.) 

And in the crypt I spied, atop the slim stone pillars, carved lions, griffons…and then, with a start of recognition—I beheld a two-tailed water fairy, the mermaid named Melusine. The sight of her reassured me that I was on the right path.

Maestro delle Metope di Modena, Sirena

A writer should have a lucky charm, a talisman, for companionship on the journey. For many years now, Melusine has been mine. The ancient ancestress of Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid, Melusine inhabits the holy wells of Christendom. 

Her story was written down by the French poet Jean d’Arras in the 14th century. It goes something like this: over the English Channel and faraway, in a deep well at the edge of the town of Lusignan, near Poitiers, there swims a beautiful two-tailed water sprite named Melusine. 

The daughter of the fairy Pressine and the King of Albany—Scotland-- Melusine is born in human form and grows into a graceful maiden. One day, however, she mistreats her royal father; as punishment, her enchantress mother condemns Melusine to metamorphose into a freshwater mermaid each Saturday. 

One day, riding in the forest, Melusine stops to water her horse at a cool fountain. There she encounters the noble Raymondin; they instantly fall in love.  He asks for her hand, and she agrees to marry him—on a single condition. One day out of seven, each Saturday, he may not see her at all. 

If he so much as glimpses her, he will lose her forever. Raymondin asks no questions, but hastens to accept. Now Melusine makes him blissfully contented. Not only does she adore him, she pulls riches out of thin air for him. She magicks him up a church, where they marry; and a castle, where they live happily together. Day after day, month after month, everything is perfect. She gives him many sons. Together the couple found the noble House of Lusignan. 

But the idyll is disrupted when an ill-wisher convinces Raymondin to spy on his wife, claiming that Melusine is entertaining a lover on Saturdays. Peering through the keyhole, Raymondin sees her in her bath, her great green tail flopping out. 

He emits a gasp. Melusine, realising what has happened, rebukes him. Transforming into a dragon, she wheels three times around the chateau, crying aloud, and flies away. Melusine has abandoned the castle, cathedral and village to her people, but she herself vanishes from sight. Returning to mermaid form, Melusine returns to her watery home. She can sometimes be heard keening to announce the death of a family member. But that is all.

.Julius Hubner - Melusine

As well as being honoured as the foundress of the noble House of Lusignan, Melusine is claimed by the members of the House of Luxembourg, as well as others. She is featured on several coats of arms. The mermaid is also featured on a medieval badge, which could be worn by members of a noble family’s entourage. Modern replicas are available, and I have one in my possession. 

It is noteworthy that the mother of Elizabeth Woodville, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, was particularly proud of her water-fairy lineage. Readers may recall this theme from Philippa Gregory’s White Queen: both Elizabeth and Jacquetta are depicted as practitioners of magic. 

The White Queen is of course a novel, but it turns out that the historical Jacquetta did in fact come close to being formally charged with witchcraft in her adopted country of England. The suspicion was that Jacquetta used spells and charms to induce Edward IV to fall in love with her daughter and make her queen. The upshot—Melusine was woven back into the royal family of the British Isles. 

Coat of arms of Isen

I happily display my Melusine badge, and she inhabits my screen-saver also. The familiar sight of my favourite freshwater siren —an image of the doubleness of our human nature, of transformation, of enigma—serves as a prompt: it is time to plunge into writing. I believe that in order to get those words out onto the page, we need ritual.

That means habits conducive to composition-- certain sights, sounds and even scents. In my experience, writing can happen only between certain hours; a portal opens, and for a time an alchemical process can occur. 

Before it shuts again, the fruits of research—the memories of a voyage to Modena, images of portraits and maps, notes compiled from long hours of poring over books and articles, scraps of poetry, music of the time—can begin to transform into a manuscript, a thing in itself. It seems to me that Melusine oversees the whole mysterious process.

Justine Brown

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About the Author

Justine Brown lives in London with her husband, and is the author of several books on a Utopian theme, as well as The Private Life of James II. Born in Vancouver, Canada, Justine travelled widely from a young age. She holds an M.A. in English literature from the University of Toronto, where she developed a broad interest in seventeenth century culture. There she became a Junior Fellow of Massey College. The author of three Utopian-themed books, she runs a YouTube history vlog, Justine Brown’s Bookshelf. Find out more from Justine's website and follow her on Twitter @brown_bookshelf

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Rome 1644: A Novel of Love, Power, and Poison
In the heart of Rome, the conclave is choosing a new Pope, and whoever wins will determine the fate of the Eternal City. Astrologer Mia and her fiancé Jacopo, a physician at the Santo Spirito Hospital, plan to marry, but the election result is a shock and changes everything..

The fourth book in Deborah Swift’s Giulia Tofana Series, The Cameo Keeper, is set in a richly‐evoked 17th-century Rome. In terms of the series, this is a turning point, transitioning the narrative from the survival of Giulia to the ascendancy of Mia — and signals that the shadow of the past could give way to a new era. 

I particularly liked the mercurial villainess, Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, (like several of the key characters, based on a real person), "a woman with no moral compass" who will not take no for an answer. 

I've enjoyed reading the previous books, and highly recommend reading the series in order to gain the most from The Cameo Keeper. However, if you jump in here, expect a strong story that hints at deeper roots.

Tony Riches

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About the Author
Deborah Swift lives in North Lancashire on the edge of the Lake District and worked as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV. After gaining an MA in Creative Writing in 2007 Deborah now teaches classes and courses in writing and provides editorial advice to writers and authors. Find out more at Deborah's website www.deborahswift.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @swiftstory

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1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.
I'm pleased to welcome author Wendy Johnson to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

‘The Traitor’s Son’ is my debut novel, and the first in a proposed trilogy re-imagining the life of Richard III. This first instalment covers Richard’s ten formative years between 1461 and 1471 and tells of how a grieving, fatherless boy grows into a courageous warrior of eighteen. 

It is a story of inner conflict, of love, loyalty, sacrifice—and treachery within the House of York. It culminates in a heart-wrenching dilemma, when Richard is forced to choose between Edward, his blood brother—and king—and the man he has come to look upon as a second father: Richard Neville, earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker.

What is your preferred writing routine?

I try to write every day – on average for around two hours. My habit is to continually edit my work as I go, so that only when I’m happy with what I’ve written do I carry on with the next scene. This can make for slow progress, but in my experience, makes the final edit much easier, because most of the hard work has already been done. 

I enjoy listening to music as I write: sometimes I’ll find authentic medieval music on YouTube, as this helps to set the scene, but mostly I listen to the Wolf Hall soundtrack by composer, Debbie Wiseman. Of course Wolf Hall is set at a later date, but the music is very stirring and I find it helps galvanize my writing. I’ve recently discovered the soundtrack for Lord of the Rings, too, and find that really emotive.

What advice do you have for new writers?

Two things in particular really helped me improve as a writer. The first was advancing my knowledge of how to write—the Writers and Artists Guide to How to Write by Harry Bingham was invaluable. It helped me hone the craft, teaching me such a lot and opening my eyes as to what was required of an aspiring author. 

The second thing was to constantly read the novels of award winning authors and try to learn from them. Both of these things helped me no end and if new writers are serious about their work, I would recommend trying something similar. I think the third piece of advice I would give would be to never give up—it's a hard road, but if you really want to write and are determined to succeed, then you will. Have faith in your work and just keep going!

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

Adverts, articles for Ricardian magazines and Amazon reviews.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

As someone who has been fascinated by the Wars of the Roses for most of my life, I was already very familiar with the history, so I wouldn’t say I was too surprised by anything thrown up by my research. However, while I was writing this first volume, concentrating on the childhood and youth of Richard III, something did occur to me which I decided to incorporate as the major theme of the novel. Richard’s father, the Duke of York, was slain in battle when Richard was only eight years old.

We know from the contemporary record, and from the evidence of his later life, that Richard greatly venerated his father’s memory and its clear he’d felt very close to him. It has often been suggested that this void in young Richard’s life was filled by his elder brother, Edward (later Edward IV), but this has never rung true to me. At the time of their father’s demise Edward himself was only eighteen years of age, and although Richard must have admired his brother’s military prowess and may even have considered him in heroic terms, I believe the ideal candidate for the role of father figure would have been his thirty-seven-year old cousin, Richard Neville, earl of Warwick. 

Edward assigned to Warwick the tutelage of his young brother, and Richard underwent his knightly training in the earls’ household. Warwick must undoubtedly have been an influence on the youth and between the ages of twelve and sixteen Richard must have surely sought the paternal guidance of his cousin, as well as the affection of a father figure. 

The more I thought about this, the more I felt I had to introduce the theme to the novel as I had begun to wonder how Richard must have felt when Warwick rebelled against the king. Should he pledge his allegiance to Edward, his blood brother as well as his king, or did he support Warwick, a man who had become a second father to him? Of course, we know from history, that he supported his king, but was that an easy choice to make? In ‘The Traitor’s Son’, Richard sees both options as a betrayal and this heart-wrenching dilemma forms the main thrust of the novel.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

By far, the hardest scene to write was that which described the battle of Barnet. For most of the other scenes in the book, I felt I had at least some point of reference, but a battle was something I found extremely difficult to imagine.

The historical events were easy to research, but the emotions involved are something the vast majority of people will never have to face. At times, it almost felt as though I couldn’t bring myself to write it, but I knew I had to, as this forms the climax of the novel. I got there in the end, and I’m pleased with the scene, but I didn’t relish having to picture it in my mind’s eye.

What are you planning to write next?

‘The Traitor’s Son’ is the first in a proposed trilogy and I’m currently working on the sequel. The second volume will take Richard up to the age of thirty and will cover the events of 1471 through to the early weeks of 1483. The story will be a rollercoaster ride for my protagonist and will once again focus on the trials and tribulations of the three York brothers – what I like to call the ‘fraternal triangle.’ 

As with ‘The Traitor’s Son’ I want historical fact to be the backbone of the novel and so, as well as having to place myself as far as is conceivably possible in Richard’s shoes, I also need to ensure the storyline is as accurate as it can be and that the characters ring true to their real-life counterparts. The trilogy will end with a final book covering Richard’s all too brief reign, and there is a possibility that sometime in the future, I may choose to write about his brother, George duke of Clarence, a man equally maligned and caricatured by history, but that will be some time in the future.

Wendy Johnson

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About the Author

Wendy Johnson has a lifelong passion for medieval history, its people, and for bringing their incredible stories to life. Her specific areas of interest are the fifteenth century, the Wars of the Roses, and Richard III in particular. She enjoys narratives which immerse the reader in the past, and tries faithfully to recreate the later Middle Ages within in her own writing. She has contributed to a number of historical anthologies and was a runner up in the Woman and Home Short Story Competition 2008. Wendy is also a founder member of Philippa Langley’s Looking for Richard Project, which located the king’s lost grave in 2012. She co-authored Finding Richard III: the Official Account of Research by the Retrieval and Reburial Project in 2014, and in 2019 received the Richard III Society’s Robert Hamblin Award.

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This guide, How to Survive in Ration-Book Britain, will help the time-traveller who journeys back to mid-twentieth century Britain. From 1939 to 1945, the country is involved in World War Two and even after victory is achieved, Britain is cash-strapped and years of austerity follow.
 Throughout, food, clothing, fuel, furniture and items we take for granted today are rationed and people are scrimping, scraping and using their imagination just to get by. 
As cities and towns are bombed, lives lost and homes destroyed, men are called to serve the country, children are evacuated and women are expected to ‘do their bit’ on the ‘Home Front’, maintaining the house as a place of welcome, boosting morale and stretching meagre food allowances to keep everyone fed and fit. 
This is no easy life yet people find lighter moments and ‘carry on carrying on’. Whatever the disaster, somebody will find a way to make tea. The English ‘cuppa’ is the answer to almost every problem. You have to admire their spirit. Enjoy the experience as this book helps you to survive the hazards and live life to the full in Ration-Book Britain.

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About the Author

Toni Mount is the author of several successful non-fiction books including How to Survive in Medieval England and the number one best-seller, Everyday Life in Medieval England. Her speciality is the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages and her enthusiastic understanding of the period allows her to create accurate, atmospheric settings and realistic characters for her medieval mysteries. Her main character, Sebastian Foxley is a humble but talented medieval artist and was created as a project as part of her university diploma in creative writing. Toni earned her history BA from The Open University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Kent by completing original research into a unique 15th century medical manuscript. Toni writes regularly for both The Richard III Society and The Tudor Society and is a major contributor to MedievalCourses.com. As well as writing, Toni teaches history to adults, and is a popular speaker to groups and societies. Find out more at Toni's website and find her on Facebook and Bluesky @toniauthor.bsky.social

Available for pre-order from Amazon UK and Amazon US
Are you looking to keep the ink flowing, or your keys tapping, every day of the year?
In A Prompt A Day, there is a prompt for every day of the year, so you'll never be short of inspiration.
Suitable for poetry or prose, there is something for every writer.

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About the Author
Jennifer C. Wilson is a marine biologist by training, who developed an equal passion for history whilst stalking Mary, Queen of Scots of childhood holidays (she has since moved on to Richard III). She completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Hull, and has worked as a marine environmental consultant since graduating. Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east reignited Jennifer’s pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks ever since. In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and also continues to work on developing her poetic voice, reading at a number of events, and with several pieces available online. Her books are published through Ocelot Press. She is also the co-founder and host of North Tyneside Writers’ Circle, and has been running workshops on creative writing and social media since 2016. Find out more from https://jennifercwilsonwriter.wordpress.com/ and follow Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter @inkjunkie1984 and Bluesky @inkjunkie1984.bsky.social

Available from Amazon UK and pre-order from Amazon US
The formation of the Burgundian Empire by the four Valois Dukes of Burgundy would not have happened without the formidable royal and aristocratic women in their lives. These women, the wives, daughters, nieces, granddaughters and great-granddaughters, were vigorously engaged in the administration of the Burgundian empire, acting as governors and regents, making appointments, securing and making strategic marriages, raising taxes, negotiating treaties, engaging in cultural, religious and political patronage, giving birth to heirs and aiding in the military endeavours of their husbands. 
The history of these women involves numerous countries in Europe, including England, Scotland, France, Brittany, the Low Countries, Italy, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and many others. Some of these women lived in luxurious comfort, and others were bullied and badgered into turning over some or all of their patrimony, allowing these all-powerful men to build an influential and powerful new state comprised of a numerous and varied collection of territories in Western Europe that existed from the late fourteenth century until the early sixteenth century. 
We will meet women who were the daughters of kings, emperors, dukes and counts and even a queen regnant and a saint. The Valois dukes fully entrusted their wives with ruling in their stead while away fighting military and political wars. They used a deliberate policy of making marriages for their daughters and other female relatives into the many houses of Europe for political and territorial gains. 
In the end, the last Valois duke, Charles the Bold, put in motion a marriage for his daughter Mary, which would eventually bring about the end of the mighty Burgundian state, allowing it to be ruled by the House of Habsburg and absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire.
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About the Author
Susan Abernethy’s passion for history dates back fifty years and led her to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is currently a member of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, the Society for Renaissance Studies and the Historical Association. Her work has appeared on several historical websites and in magazines and includes guest appearances on historical podcasts. Her blog, The Freelance History Writer, has continuously published over five hundred historical articles since 2012, with an emphasis on European, Tudor, Medieval, Renaissance, Early Modern and women’s history. She is currently working on her third non-fiction book. You can find Susan on Twitter and  Bluesky @susanabernethy2.bsky.social

Available from Amazon UK and pre-order from Amazon US
‘What do you think of my ladies?’ Queen Elizabeth I is said to have asked a visitor to her court. The visitor, an experienced courtier, is said to have given the perfect answer: ‘It is hard to judge of stars in the presence of the sun’. 
Although overlooked for centuries, as the eye of history has been on the chivalrous and stately men who surrounded the Virgin Queen, the women of the Queen’s world, who attended upon her in public and in private, were of no less influence and sway than the more famous men around her. Indeed, the women of the Queen’s inner circle were far more than just attendants. 
They were the Queen’s friends and confidantes, her all-important support network in a treacherous political world, and by blood or by bond they were her ‘family’. 
This book tells their stories, the stories of the Queen’s ladies, gentlewomen and maids who, between them, served her from the cradle to the grave. 
From governesses to laundresses, this book features them all, with a comprehensive overview of the main positions of attendance accompanied by a biographical index of all the women known to have served the Queen over the course of her life and reign, from the matronly ladies who headed her nursery to the vivacious maids who dazzled her court with their wit and beauty.
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About the Author
Heather Shanette has an M.Phil in Tudor History from Bangor University, Wales, where she spent a decade as a postgraduate researcher and occasional teacher. She is an expert on the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth I and for a quarter of a century has been the webmistress of elizabethi.org, a website dedicated to the Tudor Queen that has helped millions of people around the world learn about her extraordinary life. Find out more at heather's website https://heathershanette.com/ and find her on Twitter and Bluesky @heathershanette.bsky.social