C.F. Dunn's Blog

THE TWELVE DAYS OF RESOLUTE CHRISTMAS – DAY 1From snowy landscapes and glittering hoar frost which comes straight from a Christmas card, to cosy firesides with children reading their new Christmas books and new worlds unfolding through literature, to Christmas tables with a beloved face missing and the loneliness that only comes from being in a crowd, join the authors of Resolute Books as they share some of their stories of Christmas with you and take you through the Twelve Days of Resolute Christmas.Today our author CF Dunn – novels of history, mystery and suspense kicks us off with her reflection. You can buy Claire’s historical novel. Wheel of Fortune, on most online bookstores.Claire says: “My Christmas cake isn’t going to win any prizes for the best decorated. In previous years I’d spend ages getting it just right and the results just about passed muster. The last couple of years, however, has seen a sea-change. In the days before Christmas the kitchen becomes a mass of pots and pans, the air fragrant with spice and zesty oranges and with windows condensing steam. It’s a time for carols and contemplation and I’ve been reflecting on Christmas traditions – specifically the cooking and baking my great-grandmother and grandmother relished at this time of year. I wondered what went through their minds as they stuffed turkeys, chopped suet for the mincemeat, and rolled out pastry. And I thought that probably their concerns were similar to mine. Beyond the immediate needs of getting the timing right and the inevitable last-minute dash to the shop for a forgotten ingredient, they lived through wars, epidemics and shortages much as we are doing now. I wasn’t as aware of such things as I am now, although the threat of the Cold War stalked my vintage childhood. My parents and grandparents kept such fear at bay, wrapping their children in the sights and sounds, warmth and promise of Christmas, insulating us from the harsher realities of life – the strikes, power cuts and winter ‘flu. Perhaps that is why we perpetuate the customs with which we grew up. The world was no more a safer place then as it is now, but we do not remember the threat, only the impression of security. There is certainty in the past gilded as it is by nostalgia.”  #twelvedaysofchristmas #advent #resolutebooks #bookstoread #authorscommunity #winterreads #christmasbooks

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Firstly, welcome E.M Carter and many congratulations on the outstanding first book in what promises to be a gripping series for Young Adults. I confess that even as an adult, I devoured Repression Ground and eagerly await the second book in the Newland Trilogy.

Q What and whom would you say have given you inspiration as a writer of Young Adult fiction?

When I was a teenager Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell had a deep effect on me – I found the way he wove together both imagined, terrifying futures and some realities in the present fascinating, and I knew from then I wanted to write something in that genre one day. As I read more dystopian fiction – both the literary classics like The Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World, and newer popular fiction like The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Giver, I was more and more drawn into the genre and found myself imagining scenarios and then great big storylines – I got to the stage where I couldn’t not write it.

Q When the world is already dark enough, why write a dystopian novel? 

I think dystopian fiction can be both powerful and speak truth to power at the same time. Dystopian fiction basically takes something we can observe around us and then throws it into a world where it is taken to extremes, and so it can shine a light on the oppression and hatred we see in the world now – in other words, it’s not just about an imagined world, but about the world now and what it could look like. I think the best dystopian fiction gives both a sense of darkness and of moments of light and hope shining through, but often the darkness must seem as though it is winning in order to build up a sense of both suspense and authenticity. In our world, it does often seem as though evil wins out, and hope is patchy, and dystopian fiction can echo this in a way that amplifies the power of hope through courage and friendship, through normal people finding the tenacity to break down walls – both small walls in their lives, of false narratives and lies they have lived under, and of big oppressive narratives in government and societal systems. 

Q In Repression Ground, Girl C doesn’t think that she fits in, and it is clear from your insightful book that you have a special interest in people who feel out of the loop in some way. Can you tell me why that is and why you choose to write about them?

All my life I’ve lived with a debilitating chronic illness and so often felt I haven’t fit in – at school but also through life in general, because of my weakness. I’ve seen this reflected in so many stories around me and also in my children’s lives where neurodiversity has caused others to look down on them and others like them. Girl C is a character close to my heart: she is completely indoctrinated, having been brought up by the state, and yet fights within herself to understand what it means for her to live in a world where worth is measured by productivity when she is told she is worthless and useless because of her own neurodiversities. In Newland, conditions like dyslexia and dyspraxia are not even named, let alone supported, because all that matters is a pushing through work ethic, and so Girl C thinks she must be ‘defective’ as that is what she is told. 

Again, I see this as a reflection on our society and how we sometimes don’t support those who struggle with these things or who are too ill to work, and how in fact we can see them as weak and useless. The Covid pandemic really brought this home for me, with the ‘survival of the fittest’ narrative so strong on social media: those people getting sick are the weaker, the older; do they really matter? So in my writing, I’ve taken some of these narratives and carried them into a nation under a fascist dictatorship to see how they play out to the extreme and how a handful of flawed, wounded kids change the world. 

Q You are not only a multi-published author, but have recently joined Resolute Books as an editor and designer. How do you juggle writing with editing?

It’s not easy! I adore editing and designing – bringing fellow authors’ books to life is a great privilege for me – but within that I do need to try and establish my own boundaries in terms of writing time. I haven’t always been great at that, but I try to do things like take one day a week for my own writing, and sometimes block out whole weeks or even months where I don’t do outside work in order to really get stuck in. It’s so important to balance time, but as a disabled writer and editor it isn’t always simple.

Q Repression Ground is the first book in the Newland Trilogy. What do readers have to look forward to in forthcoming books?

The second and third books, Rebellion Ground and Redemption Ground, will be out in 2024 and will continue the story through to a high-stakes conclusion. Some readers aren’t too keen on trilogies or series that don’t allow the books to stand alone, but this genre often features stories that extend across multiple books because people love to continue a story and wait to find out more. For my books readers will see character development and unexpected character arcs through each book as well as a big story of courage and hope in a world that would squash it. 

Q Beyond the Newland Trilogy, do you have any thoughts for future books or series?

I’ve actually written another novel, but in a completely different genre – women’s UpLit fiction! I’d love to get this published, so watch this space. Beyond that, I’d love to write more dystopian stuff – I have the bug!

 

Liz, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy writing and editing schedule to join me here. All the best for Repression Ground and I eagerly await book two – Rebellion Ground – due for release in 2024!

 

E.M. Carter (Liz) is an award-winning author, poet and editor who loves writing in all genres as she can’t get enough of words. She is the author of the dystopian Newland Trilogy: Repression Ground, Rebellion Ground and Redemption Ground. Liz was the poet in residence for Wellington in Shropshire for 2022/23. For other writers, she offers a freelance service editing, formatting and designing books. She likes to spend her days clad in vintage turquoise dresses trying not to eat chocolate and is proud to be a grammar pedant.

Liz’s Repression Ground is available through Resolute Books HERE. Book two, Rebellion Ground, is available for pre-order HERE.

Links to your other books/website/social media etc.

Find Liz here: https://emcarter.carterclan.me.uk/

X, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok: @LizCarterWriter

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The Princes in the Tower: the traditional historyFor the first time since their disappearance from the Tower of London in 1483, new groundbreaking evidence for the Princes in the Tower’s survival into the reign of Henry Tudor is more compelling than the evidence against.

The recent documentary aired on Channel4 laid out the bones for an alternative narrative surrounding the 540 year old mystery of the disappearance of Edward V and Richard Duke of York – the Princes in the Tower.

 

Richard III – not the wicked uncle

The traditional view that Richard III murdered his young nephews has long held sway in the public imagination and persisted among some academic circles; but this has been challenged by a number of historians and many of those who believe that the princes survived their uncle’s reign. Until now, however, a lack of firm evidence had such views dismissed as far-fetched or wishful thinking.

Philippa Langley and Rob Rinder

Now, after extensive research in Continental archives by a team of researchers led by Philippa Langley,  and with the knowledgable contribution of historian  and Chair of the Richard III Society – Matthew Lewis – grains of truth finally grind the clumsy cogs of Tudor myth as new documentary evidence surfaces to throw light on this age old enigma. Even so, plenty of individuals will no doubt deny the plausibility of the latest findings that has set received history on its head. 

Henry VII – the new villain?

It stretches credibility beyond breaking point to believe that four different sources from various geographic locations and events, surviving in disparate archives today and relating to the same missing individuals and more closely contemporary to them than any hitherto, could possibly all be forgeries or about conveniently invented imposters.  No.  They are authentic accidental survivals of seeming inconsequence when seen alone, but vice-like when set together around their own close events.  

The authenticity is redoubled by the inconvenience of their consequences, not just for the previously accepted Tudor account, but for the Plantagenet one too.  Richard III is no longer the princes’ killer, but his protection of them adds new ambiguity.  Was it his hope that his sister – Margaret, Dowager Duchess of Burgundy – would hide and protect them for an (as yet) unclear future purpose? 

It is hoped that many more incidental documents that, until now have resided in Continental archives, will illuminate the motives behind the boys’ disappearance. Time will reveal all.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-princes-in-the-tower-the-new-evidence

 

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*AUCTION ALERT!*(UK only)Reading and literacy have always been close to my heart so I’m delighted to be taking part in this year’s CHILDREN IN NEED by offering a signed and dedicated copy of WHEEL OF FORTUNE for auction. Sign up and bid online using the link below https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/detail/auction_id/childreninread2023/show_id/240194#buzz_expend_240194 A book always makes a great present, so why not get ahead of the Christmas rush and help support this magnificent cause at the same time?The annual online charity fundraiser is organised by Children in Read through Jumblebee.co.uk. It’s good fun and gives UK readers the opportunity to buy a signed and dedicated book or illustration.Last year, items in the Authors and Illustrators’ auction, raised a total of £24,061 for BBC Children in Need. This year CHILDREN IN READ has already exceeded this amount and there are still three days left to bid.The money goes directly to the charity – and the bidding is currently less than the retail price for a book that makes a perfect gift. Thank you for supporting this great cause!https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/detail/auction_id/childreninread2023/show_id/240194#buzz_expend_240194

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I’m excited to announce that WHEEL OF FORTUNE is a **finalist** in the Page Turner Awards 2023 for best historical novel! Or am I the finalist?  https://bit.ly/3rU6Ei0 Whichever it is, I am grateful to all those lovely readers who have voted for Isobel and me. Let’s face it, poor Isobel needs all the help she can get if she is to make it to Book 2 in THE TARNISHED CROWN series…

If historical fiction is your thing, and you’re looking for an immersive story of intense love, loyalty and treachery during the 15th century Wars of the Roses, you can find Isobel and WHEEL OF FORTUNE as a paperback and ebook at Amazon. https://amzn.to/45cx8JJ

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If you want to understand people, study hens seems perfectly reasonable advice to me, at least, it does now.

In terms of life ambitions, I have had a few. I wanted a smallholding since my early teenage years. This desire developed after my burning interest in medieval history, but before I became involved in specialist education and long before I began to write. In terms of outcomes, the smallholding lagged way behind and only became possible once we moved to somewhere with a big enough garden. Even then, my attempts to husband the land have been somewhat thwarted by the horrendous soil we have here. But chickens – yes, chickens – have headed the list of to-dos and, ten days ago, 8 feathered ladies arrived to take up residence in their new home.

I put my interest down to my DNA inherited from generations of farmers. Working the land and being close to all that is green and growing, mooing, and crowing, must somehow have become embedded in my psyche because my birthday wish-list as a fourteen year old included a book on self-sufficiency by John Seymour. I have it still, looking a bit tatty around the edges, but no less loved.

Which brings me back to chickens – or to Matilda, to be precise – the dippiest hen I have ever met. Matilda is one of two Chamois Laced Padovanas and 6 other hens from https://www.pipinchicksilkies.com/live-poultry-shop/and I’ll no doubt be writing more about her in the future. She is joined by her sister – Myrtle, two Lemon Laced Padovanas (who have yet to be named), two big Gold Laced Wyandotte girls – Big Sue and Little Sue – and the two pencilled Wyandotte bantams – the youngest of the bunch. Small the bantams might be, but they have fearsome personalities.

What do hens have to do with writing, you might ask? Everything and nothing. For one thing, they make a marvellous foil to sitting and writing, and for another, time spent in their company inspires a surprising number of  ideas for character traits. The question is, do I really want a chilly Felice Langton or a moany Joan in my flock? Thankfully, none of my ladies appear to be that way inclined, even if Big Sue does get a bit picky now and again. The upshot is: if you want to understand people, study hens.

 

 

 

 

 

CF Dunn is an award-winning novelist of history, mystery and suspense. 

She is currently writing The Tarnished Crown series, the first of which, Wheel of Fortune, is described by novelist, Elizabeth Chadwick as ‘The best Wars of the Roses novel I have ever read.’.

Now living in the South West of England, her love of history is equalled only by her delight in the natural world and the unruly sea by which she lives with her family a nd assorted animals in suitably rambling historic surroundings.

 

 

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Wasn’t it a brilliant day? Even several weeks after WHEEL OF FORTUNE’s book launch I’m still buzzing. The sun shone, crowds gathered, and everything ran on rails.

I’m also taking a step back and reviewing the event as a whole. My first thought is that releasing a book involves so much more than writing it and throwing a party. Yes, the lengthy process of editing and negotiations over cover design – all the itsy-bitsy aspects of producing the final version – is complex and time-consuming and I can’t thank LizCarter at Resolute Books enough for all her input and support.

The event itself was something else again, involving lots of people and moving parts especially as we weren’t launching just one book, nor even two, but two books AND a business. This required mega amounts of coordination and a first-class honours degree in organisation. Thankfully, the members of Resolute Books have this in bucket loads. 

Thanks to everyone at Resolute Books and fellow Resolute authors: Paul Trembling, Sue Russell, Ruth Leigh Writes, Edward de Chazal, and Sarah Nicholson. We were spoilt for choice with a superb selection of meats, pies and local cheeses from Framptons Of Bridport, and delicious canapés and St James cake by talented Nick Leigh.

The very gifted Jason Smith of Social Shapes organised photographs of the event (herding authors is no easy task I can tell you) and ensured it was recorded for posterity. Lovely guests  travelled from far and wide and bought many books (thank you!) and we had eight dogs to add to the joy of it all. Congratulations to Paul Trembling for his release of his chilling crime novel, LOCAL KILLER and to Resolute Books for making it a day to remember. 

 

 

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The countdown to the book launch has begun with just over two weeks to go until Wheel of Fortune‘s release. And I’m still waiting for delivery of the books. It’s always the same at this point – the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trepidation, those first-night nerves. This is the sixth book launch I’ve done since 2012 and I’ve never not had the books for the big day. There’s always the risk that the much anticipated box won’t arrive in time, that the distributer has mislaid the order. Or perhaps the lorry has been waylaid by book-loving gremlins en route… No, that last is implausible. Gremlins don’t read.

Meanwhile, preparations continue apace. Not only is Wheel of Fortune due for release by Resolute Books on 20th May, but my good friend and author, Paul Trembling, is launching the latest instalment in his Local series – Local Killer – on the same day. I had the privilege of seeing an ARC  (Advance Reader Copy) of Local Killer a while back and it is a cracking read. I’ll be writing a full review of Local Killer shortly.

It struck me how different our writing styles are, reflecting the different genera in which we write. His – taut, sparse, tense – the epitome of great crime thriller writing. Mine – with tension woven throughout a longer, multi-layered narrative, where the historical landscape is peopled by complex personalities negotiating a web of political and personal dilemmas. The varied styles of   authors writing in different genera is one of the aspects of literature I find so enjoyable – mystery, suspense, thrillers and, of course, history – set in any location and in any period. When it comes down to it – and whatever the genre – it’s all about story.

There is one type of story of which I am not particularly fond, the one where the author has a queue of eager readers waiting for a signed copy of her book – and an empty table. I haven’t read that story yet and I’m determined not to write it. Roll on 20th May and my box of books!

 

Local Killer by Paul Trembling and Wheel of Fortune by C.F. Dunn are published through Resolute Books on 20th May 2023

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Wheel of Fortune is the first book in The Tarnished Crown series spanning the turbulent years of the fifteenth-century Wars of the Roses.

The Earl looked dispassionately at the boy still kneeling by his uncle’s body. “He bears his family’s shame; he is nothing.” He turned his back and stood for a moment contemplating the blank face of the sky. Then he breathed out, a long breath it seemed, held for an eternity. “It is done,” he said. “Justice is served.”

It’s 1469. England is in turmoil. For almost ten years, the charismatic Edward IV has ruled with the Earl of Warwick’s support, but now rebellion threatens the fragile peace.

Strong-willed and determined, Isobel Fenton is resolved that nothing will separate her from her beloved manor of Beaumancote – even if it means marrying Thomas Lacey.

But Isobel is unaware of the importance she and her land represent, nor of the agenda of the formidable Earl in whose care she finds herself.

As unrest boils into war Isobel is drawn into the very heart of the conflict. Can she escape from the web in which she is trapped, and will she ever find her way home?

Wheel of Fortune is out 20/05/20. Please visit the  Resolute Books website for buying options. 

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It has been my pleasure recently to receive a review copy of  The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ by Annie Try.  This is written for young adults and I am the first to admit that I have passed the point where I can get away with claiming to be in that age group. Indeed, it is many years since I read fiction aimed at mid-to-late teens. However, the subject of this contemporary novel intrigued me as it deals with a vulnerable girl and her life-changing experiences – something close to my heart given my decades of working with young people in similar situations.

Emma is a LAC – a Looked After Child – and she bears the emotional scars that often accompany young people who have been in the ‘system’. Through her eyes we learn of the trauma of a disturbed childhood and her desperation to be normal. Even though she is now settled in a caring family and supported by an exceptional Social Worker, Emma’s past haunts her. Her lack of emotional security leads to unpredictable behaviour and outbursts that have, until now, alienated her from previous placements.

But things are about to change. On the cusp of her sixteenth birthday, Emma discovers a passion for dance. With the help of her friends and the support of her carers, Emma’s exceptional ability enables her to connect with the emotional side that has, for so long, held her back.

This is a book for young adults written from Emma’s point of view and using language accessible to a wide range of ages. It is clear that the author has an in-depth understanding of young people in Emma’s situation. We see and feel Emma’s emotional roller-coaster ride, how she develops, and her coming to terms with her past and hopes for the future. Refreshingly, the roles of Susie the carer and Jen the Social Worker are depicted in a constructive light, showing the positive impact professional, dedicated individuals can have on a broken life. There are times when Emma’s behaviour is anti-social and self-destructive. We are led to understand those behaviours from not only Emma’s perspective, but also the impact on those around her and the tireless efforts of her friends and carers to help her. Through this interaction, Emma learns to understand and reflect on her actions and how she might change them in the future.

This is an engaging, well-written book offering a rare insight into the unique world of Looked After Children by an author with many years of experience working with young people. The story is told with insight and compassion and without judgement or sentimentality. It offers a realistic view of what it is like to be a Looked After Child from both the carers’ and the young person’s points of view. Past trauma is dealt with clearly but without resorting to overly dramatic details. There is a subtle faith element, although faith is not the focus of the story, but rather a natural result of Emma’s search for identity and belonging.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ and highly recommend it for mid to older teens and adults alike.

 

Annie Try has an MA in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University. She is a speaker at book clubs, libraries,  schools and churches and runs workshops in Creative Writing. Contact her at:

https://annie-try.co.uk/

http://annie-try.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/Annie_Try/@annie_try

https://www.facebook.com/annietrywriter

 

 

 

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