Danny Saunders's Blog
April 21, 2015
March 10, 2015
Membership The Marie Stuart Society
Newly member of The Marie Stuart Society: www.mariestuartsociety.org "The Marie Stuart Society promotes further study of her life and times through research, lectures, activities and publications."
February 25, 2015
February 2, 2015
2nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards
"That said, I appreciate the way you have taken huge historical events and personalized them through individual characters. You have a keen eye for constructing personalities, with all of their small assets and flaws."
- Judge, 2nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards.
- Judge, 2nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards.
December 23, 2014
November 3, 2014
Historical Novel Society (Book Review)
Reviewed by Joanna Urquhart
The Captive Queen: A Novel of Mary Stuart
By Danny Saunders
In his historical fiction debut, Danny Saunders takes his readers to 16th-century Scotland and the storied reign of Mary Queen of Scots as it’s encountered by pretty young Englishwoman Charlotte Gray, who has fled from London with a dark secret and managed, through luck and good conversation, to achieve a place in Mary’s household as a favored lady-in-waiting (where, as Saunders ironically has her think, “her life would never be bad again”). When a figure from Gray’s past re-appears and threatens her with blackmail, she is almost relieved when Mary gives her an assignment to go undercover and spy on the machinations of John Knox.
Saunders expertly merges that plot-line into the forward momentum of Mary’s larger story, culminating in her long captivity in England and the many plots that grew up around her as Queen Elizabeth’s prisoner. Readers see the familiar saga of Mary’s life from the unusual viewpoint of Charlotte Gray, and Saunders keeps the whole narrative moving along at a confident pace, although he too often resorts to purple prose, breathless dialogue, and repetitive descriptions. The paperback is a beautiful little thing, beautifully produced.
www.historicalnovelsociety.org/review...
The Captive Queen: A Novel of Mary Stuart
By Danny Saunders
In his historical fiction debut, Danny Saunders takes his readers to 16th-century Scotland and the storied reign of Mary Queen of Scots as it’s encountered by pretty young Englishwoman Charlotte Gray, who has fled from London with a dark secret and managed, through luck and good conversation, to achieve a place in Mary’s household as a favored lady-in-waiting (where, as Saunders ironically has her think, “her life would never be bad again”). When a figure from Gray’s past re-appears and threatens her with blackmail, she is almost relieved when Mary gives her an assignment to go undercover and spy on the machinations of John Knox.
Saunders expertly merges that plot-line into the forward momentum of Mary’s larger story, culminating in her long captivity in England and the many plots that grew up around her as Queen Elizabeth’s prisoner. Readers see the familiar saga of Mary’s life from the unusual viewpoint of Charlotte Gray, and Saunders keeps the whole narrative moving along at a confident pace, although he too often resorts to purple prose, breathless dialogue, and repetitive descriptions. The paperback is a beautiful little thing, beautifully produced.
www.historicalnovelsociety.org/review...
September 9, 2014
Readers' Favorite (Book Review)
Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite
The Captive Queen, A Novel of Mary Stuart by Danny Saunders takes a different perspective on Mary, Queen of Scots. The research is good enough that readers will be invested in the plot from the first couple of chapters. Although from a historical perspective Mary is an interesting and tragic woman, author Saunders throws in a secondary story to pique interest. Charlotte Gray is an Englishwoman charged with a crime. She escapes England and ventures to Scotland where she hopes to become an attendant to Queen Mary. Charlotte's entrance into the court brings a bit of speculation and mystery to the era and her character is well written. The bulk of the book is concerned with Mary's flight from Scotland to England where she seeks assistance from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Instead of being granted asylum, Mary is virtually imprisoned for nineteen years while one scheme after another prevents her from taking her rightful place on the throne of Scotland.
Much has been written about Mary, Queen of Scots but The Captive Queen takes a different perspective on history. Saunders' introduction of the alluring Charlotte Gray gives an additional air of mystery to the novel and it makes the reader speculate when she will appear and disappear in the plot. I particularly liked the way Saunders portrayed the sturdiness of Mary. He made her very human while also elevating her to the status of her rightful place in history. Even those who have read much about this era in history will appreciate the author's efforts at emotionally restoring Mary to her birthright on the throne of Scotland.
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
The Captive Queen, A Novel of Mary Stuart by Danny Saunders takes a different perspective on Mary, Queen of Scots. The research is good enough that readers will be invested in the plot from the first couple of chapters. Although from a historical perspective Mary is an interesting and tragic woman, author Saunders throws in a secondary story to pique interest. Charlotte Gray is an Englishwoman charged with a crime. She escapes England and ventures to Scotland where she hopes to become an attendant to Queen Mary. Charlotte's entrance into the court brings a bit of speculation and mystery to the era and her character is well written. The bulk of the book is concerned with Mary's flight from Scotland to England where she seeks assistance from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Instead of being granted asylum, Mary is virtually imprisoned for nineteen years while one scheme after another prevents her from taking her rightful place on the throne of Scotland.
Much has been written about Mary, Queen of Scots but The Captive Queen takes a different perspective on history. Saunders' introduction of the alluring Charlotte Gray gives an additional air of mystery to the novel and it makes the reader speculate when she will appear and disappear in the plot. I particularly liked the way Saunders portrayed the sturdiness of Mary. He made her very human while also elevating her to the status of her rightful place in history. Even those who have read much about this era in history will appreciate the author's efforts at emotionally restoring Mary to her birthright on the throne of Scotland.
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
July 30, 2014
July 24, 2014
NOOK Book (Barnes & Noble)...
The Captive Queen: A Novel of Mary Stuart is now available on NOOK Book (Barnes & Noble):
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
July 23, 2014
iBookstore (Apple)
The Captive Queen: A Novel of Mary Stuart is now available on iBookstore (Apple)
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/isbn9...
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/isbn9...
