Posts Tagged ‘historical fiction’

New Book to Review, ‘The Queen’s Gamble’ by Barbara Kyle

Barbara Kyle is touring in September with The Queen’s Gamble. Young Queen Elizabeth I’s path to the throne has been a perilous one, and already she faces a dangerous crisis. French troops have landed in Scotland to quell a rebel Protestant army, and Elizabeth fears that once they are entrenched on the border, they will invade England. Isabel Thornleigh has returned to London from the New World with her Spanish husband, Carlos Valverde, and their young son. Ever the queen’s loyal servant, Isabel is recruited to smuggle money to the Scottish rebels. Yet Elizabeth’s trust only goes so far—Isabel’s son will be the queen’s pampered hostage until she completes
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New Book to Review, ‘My Dearest Friend’ by Hazel Statham

Hazel Statham is touring from August 15 – 26, 2011 with her Regency romance novel, My Dearest Friend. Robert Blake, Duke of Lear, is a man of intense emotions who loves deeply and protects fiercely. Devastated and wracked with guilt by the death of his younger brother, Stefan, in the Peninsular War,  he readily agrees to aid Jane Chandler to bring her seriously wounded brother back from Portugal.  Much against Jane’s wishes, he decides to accompany her and together they embark on the hazardous mission to retrieve the young soldier. However, the journey holds many revelations, not least of all the abiding friendship and growing love between the two travelers. 
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New Book for Review, ‘Consequence’ by Hazel Statham

Hazel Statham tours from August 1 – 12, 2011 with her Regency romance novel, Consequence. In the wake of a duel, Marcel Blake, the Duke of Lear, an infamous rake and gamester, leaves London to visit his cousin in Paris. Here he meets and falls in love with Julie, the British ambassador’s daughter. Thinking she would be horrified if she learned of his reputation, Marcel fights the attraction; but when he is wounded while saving her from the unwanted advances of a less-than-desirable would-be suitor, Marcel finds that she returns his affections. Ultimately, vengeance conspires against them; at their wedding reception, Julie is maliciously informed of Marcel’s previous life
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New Book for Review: Historical Fiction ‘Telegraph Island’ by John Milton Langdon

John Milton Langdon is touring in October 2011 with his historical fiction, Telegraph Island. Step back in time to the Victorian age. The industrial revolution in Britain is in full spate and electronic communication is in its infancy. Based loosely on fact author John Milton Langdon weaves a tale of romance and adventure on the high seas and in the Orient. Jason Smiley Stewart — My Life Story describes the life of an average man. Although he is born in humble circumstances, he shows how a combination of perseverance and intelligence aided by a little good fortune, can help any child overcome the disadvantages of a lowly birth status
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In the Aerie of the Wolf Virtual Book Tour 2011

Join Leonora Pruner, author of the historical gothic novel, In the Aerie of the Wolf (Nordskog Publishing, April 2011), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in June on her second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Leonora Pruner While born in Dubuque, Iowa, Leonora Pruner was brought to California by her parents during the Second World War, which has since been her principal residence.  In 1953, she graduated from Westmont College then earned an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1981.  Having married in 1953, she has seen her family expand from two children to thirteen grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. Writing has been an important activity since junior
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The Confessions of Catherine de Medici Virtual Book Tour June 2011

Join C.W. Gortner, author of the historical novel, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici (Ballantine Books May 24 2011), as he virtually tours the blogosphere from June 13th – 24th on his fourth virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. About C.W. Gortner C.W. Gortner is the author of the acclaimed historical novels The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, and The Tudor Secret. He holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall and experienced life in a Spanish
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New Book for Review: When Stars Align by Carole Eglash-Kosoff

Carole Eglash-Kosoff is touring in July 2011 with her historical fiction, When Stars Align. Carole Eglash-Kosoff’s first novel, WHEN STARS ALIGN, is set in 19th century Louisiana, at a time and place where mixed-race relationships are both illegal and unacceptable. How can these defiant lovers–and their love–survive? The time is a crucial period in American history–the Civil War and the years of Reconstruction following it–and the characters are Thaddeus and Amy, who share a forbidden love that can get them both killed. For he is a mulatto ex-slave, and she is white. In the novel, whenever Amy asks if she and Thaddeus will ever be together, his answer is
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Pump Up Chats with Margaret George

Margaret George is the author of six epic biographical novels, all New York Times bestsellers, featuring larger than life characters like Henry VIII and Cleopatra.  Although painstakingly accurate historically, their real focus is the psychology of the characters.  We know what they did, we want to know why. Her latest release is Elizabeth I. Margaret’s research has taken her from the islands of Scotland to the temples of Upper Egypt, with experiences that include snake-keeping and gladiatorial training. She lives in Wisconsin and Washington DC.  Interests include reptile conservation efforts, Middle Eastern dance (aka bellydancing), and archeology.  You can visit Margaret George’s website at www.margaretgeorge.com. On Elizabeth I: a Novel
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New Book for Review: Historical Novel ‘The Confessions of Catherine de Medici’ by C.W. Gortner

C.W. Gortner is touring from June 13 – 24, 2011 with his historical novel, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. Catherine de Medici was one of history’s most powerful women.  She has been called brilliant and bold, but was also known as a vengeful Italian Jezebel who resorted to murder to protect her family’s throne.  Was she the ruthless queen who led France into an era of savage violence? Or was she the passionate savior of the French monarchy? Originally published in hardcover in 2010, C.W. Gortner’s novel THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI (Ballantine Trade Paperback; On Sale: May 24, 2011) challenges the dark legend surrounding Catherine de Medici,
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The Katyn Order Virtual Book Tour May – June 2011

Join Douglas W. Jacobson, author of the historical fiction novel, The Katyn Order, as he virtually tours the blogosphere May 2 – June 30  2011 on his second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Douglas W. Jacobson Douglas W. Jacobson is an engineer, business owner and World War Two history enthusiast. Doug has traveled extensively in Europe researching stories of the courage of common people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. His debut novel, Night of Flames: A Novel of World War Two was published in 2007 by McBooks Press, and was released in paperback in 2008. Night of Flames won the “2007 Outstanding Achievement Award” from
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Historical Fiction Author John Milton Langdon

John Milton Langdon is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and has a master’s degree in maritime civil engineering.  Langdon retired and became a professional writer after an active and rewarding engineering career.  Initially he worked in Britain but from 1972 until 2008, he dealt with project development in Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.  Langdon lives in the Austrian town of Klagenfurt which has a history stretching back to mediaeval times.  Langdon has three children and five grandchildren from his first marriage and two step sons from the second.  Langdon has many interests including travel, the British canals, music and literature
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The Treasure Hunters Club: The Secrets of the Magical Medallions Virtual Book Tour April 2011

Join Sean McCartney, author of the middle grade/YA novel, The Treasure Hunters Club: The Secrets of the Magical Medallions, as he virtually tours the blogosphere April 4 – 29  2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Sean McCartney Sean Paul McCartney (he’s not related to the Beatle) was born in 1971. He graduated from Alfred University in upstate New York with a Bachelor’s in Communications in 1993. From there he played two exciting season traveling around the world with the Washington Generals playing against the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. In 1996 Sean earned his Masters in Education and embarked on a career as
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Pump Up Chats with Paula McLain

Paula McLain received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan and has been a resident of Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony. She is the author of two collections of poetry, as well as a memoir, Like Family, and a first novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives in Cleveland with her family. You can visit Paula McLain’s website to learn more about The Paris Wife at www.pariswife.com. On The Paris Wife Can you tell us why you wrote your book? Hadley Richardson was Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, and yet for many of us, she’s largely unknown. From the moment I found her, in the pages of Hemingway’s
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Elizabeth I Virtual Book Tour May 2011

Join Margaret George, author of the biographical novel, Elizabeth I (Viking Press, April 2011) as she virtually tours the blogosphere in May on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Margaret George Margaret George is the author of six epic biographical novels, all New York Times bestsellers, featuring larger than life characters like Henry VIII and Cleopatra.  Although painstakingly accurate historically, their real focus is the psychology of the characters.  We know what they did, we want to know why. Her latest release is Elizabeth I. Margaret’s research has taken her from the islands of Scotland to the temples of Upper Egypt, with experiences that include snake-keeping and gladiatorial
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with Frank Scully

Frank Scully was born and raised in a small town in North Dakota and received a Bachelor’s degree in History with Phi Beta Kappa Honors and a Juris Doctor degree in Law from the University of North Dakota.  He then served more than five years as a Judge Advocate General Corps Officer in the U. S. Army in the U. S., Vietnam, and Thailand.  After that he attended the prestigious Thunderbird School and received a Masters in Business Administration with honors. In his professional career he has worked as an executive with large aerospace and defense manufacturers and also owned his own small business.  Depending on the vagaries of
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Against All Odds Virtual Book Tour March 2011

Join John Milton Langdon, author of the historical fiction novel, Against All Odds, as he virtually tours the blogosphere March 1 – March 25 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About John Milton Langdon John Milton Langdon is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and has a master’s degree in maritime civil engineering.  Langdon retired and became a professional writer after an active and rewarding engineering career.  Initially he worked in Britain but from 1972 until 2008, he dealt with project development in Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.  Langdon lives in the Austrian town of
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New Book for Review: ‘Biographical Novel’ Elizabeth I by Margaret George

Margaret George is touring in May with her biographical novel, Elizabeth I. It is 1588, and the showdown between England and Spain has finally come.  Elizabeth and her island kingdom stand alone against the strongest country in Europe.  Yet after that triumph, she cannot rest.  There are many other challenges to her, and the ever-hanging question of the succession to the childless queen.  Surrounded by such larger-than-life characters as Drake, Shakespeare, the Earl of Essex, Raleigh, and Francis Bacon, the queen proves bigger than all of them. Her cousin and rival, Lettice Knollys, mother of the Earl of Essex and widow of Robert Dudley, who was Elizabeth’s love and
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The Paris Wife Virtual Book Tour March 2011

Join Paula McLain, author of the historical novel, The Paris Wife (Ballantine Books, February 2011)  as she virtually tours the blogosphere in March 2011 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Paula McLain Paula McLain received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan and has been a resident of Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony. She is the author of two collections of poetry, as well as a memoir, Like Family, and a first novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives in Cleveland with her family. You can visit Paula McLain’s website to learn more about The Paris Wife at www.pariswife.com. About The Paris Wife A
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Outlander Virtual Book Tour February and March 2011

Join Diana Gabaldon, author of the historical science-fiction adventure romance novel, Outlander, as she virtually tours the blogosphere February 14th – March 11th on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Diana Gabaldon Diana Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning, #1 NYT-bestselling OUTLANDER novels, described by Salon magazine as “the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting “Scrooge McDuck” comics.” The adventure began in 1991 with the classic OUTLANDER (“historical fiction with a Moebius twist”), has continued through six more New York Times-bestselling novels–DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, VOYAGER, DRUMS OF AUTUMN, THE FIERY CROSS, A BREATH OF SNOW
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New Book for Review: Historical Sci-fi Adventure Romance Novel ‘Outlander’ by Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon is touring February 14th through March 11th, with her historical science-fiction adventure romance novel, Outlander, the first book in her Outlander series. Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another… In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon–when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord…1743. Hurled back in time by forces
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New Book for Review: Historical Fiction ‘Against All Odds’ by John Milton Langdon

John Milton Langdon will be touring in March 2011 with his historical fiction novel, Against All Odds.  Stepback in time – it’s the Victorian era, when Great Britain is at the forefront of industrial development.  Based loosely on fact, author John Milton Langdon weaves a tale of romance and adventure on the high seas.  “Against All Odds” describes the early years of an average man.  Although he is born into humble circumstances, he shows how a combination of perserverance and intelligence, aided by a little good fortune, can help any child overcome the disadvantages of lowly birth status and a poor education.  If you long for a sense of
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The Tudor Secret Virtual Book Tour February 2011

Join C.W. Gortner, author of the historical mystery novel, The Tudor Secret (Griffin, St. Martin’s Press, February 2011), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in February on his third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. About C.W. Gortner C.W. Gortner is the author of the acclaimed historical novels The Last Queen and The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. He holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall and experienced life in a Spanish castle. He is also a dedicated advocate for animal rights and environmental issues. Half-Spanish by
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New Book for Review: Historical Mystery ‘The Tudor Secret’ by C.W. Gortner

C.W. Gortner will be touring in February 2011 with his historical mystery, The Tudor Secret. The era of the Tudors was one of danger, intrigue, conspiracy, and above all, spies. Summer 1553: A time of danger and deceit. Brendan Prescott, an orphan, is reared in the household of the powerful Dudley family. Brought to court, Prescott finds himself sent on an illicit mission to the King’s brilliant, enigmatic sister, Princess Elizabeth. But Brendan is soon compelled to work as a double agent by Elizabeth’s protector, William Cecil—who promises in exchange to help him unravel the secret of his own mysterious past. A dark plot swirls around Elizabeth’s quest to unravel the
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New Book for Review: Historical Fiction ‘The Katyn Order’ by Douglas W. Jacobson

Douglas W. Jacobson will be touring in May and June ‘11 with his historical fiction novel, The Katyn Order.  The German War Machine is in retreat as the Russians advance. In Warsaw, Resistance fighters rise up against their Nazi occupiers, but the Germans retaliate, ruthlessly leveling the city. American Adam Nowak has been dropped into Poland by British intelligence as an assassin and Resistance fighter. During the Warsaw Rising he meets Natalia, a covert operative who has lost everything—just as he has. Amid the Allied power struggle left by Germany’s defeat, Adam and Natalia join in a desperate hunt for the 1940 Soviet order authorizing the murders of 20,000
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Historical Fiction Author M.M. Bennetts to Guest on Barry Eva’s A Book and a Chat Radio Show

M.M. Bennetts, author of the historical fiction novel, Of Honest Fame, will be a special guest on the popular Blog Talk Radio Show,  A Book and A Chat with Barry Eva (Storyheart). Join Barry and M.M. at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 for A Book and A Chat sit down with historical fiction author M.M. Bennetts. You can listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond and call in your questions to 347- 237-5398. Educated at Boston University and St Andrews, M.M. Bennetts is a specialist in the economic, social and military history of Napoleonic Europe. The author is a keen cross-country and dressage rider, as well as an accomplished pianist,
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Pump Up Your Book Chats with M.M. Bennetts

Educated at Boston University and St Andrews, M.M. Bennetts is a specialist in the economic, social and military history of Napoleonic Europe. The author is a keen cross-country and dressage rider, as well as an accomplished pianist, regularly performing music of the era as both a soloist and accompanist. Bennetts is a long-standing book critic for The Christian Science Monitor. The author is married and lives in England. Bennetts’ latest book is Of Honest Fame. You can visit the author’s website at www.mmbennetts.com. Q: Thank you for this interview, M.M. Can you tell us why you wrote your book? Well, I had begun Of Honest Fame and then set it
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Pump Up Chats with Hazel Statham

Hazel Statham lives in England and has been writing on and off since she was fifteen. Initially she was influenced by Austen, the Brontës, and Sabatini but when she turned seventeen, Georgette Heyer opened up the romance and elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She immediately knew she had found her eras and wanted nothing more than to re-create them in her work.   www.hazel-statham.co.uk.   Thank you for this interview, Hazel.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece? I always received top marks for my essays at school but it wasn’t  until I
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Of Honest Fame Virtual Book Tour November & December ’10

Join M.M. Bennetts, author of the historical fiction novel, Of Honest Fame (Diiarts) as the author virtually tours the blogosphere November 1 – December 17 ‘10 on the author’s first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About M.M. Bennetts Educated at Boston University and St Andrews, M.M. Bennetts is a specialist in the economic, social and military history of Napoleonic Europe. The author is a keen cross-country and dressage rider, as well as an accomplished pianist, regularly performing music of the era as both a soloist and accompanist. Bennetts is a long-standing book critic for The Christian Science Monitor. The author is married and lives in England. Bennetts’
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The Sixth Surrender Virtual Book Tour November ’10

Join Hana Samek Norton, author of the historical fiction novel, The Sixth Surrender (Penguin/Plume) as she virtually tours the blogosphere in November ’10 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! About Hana Samek Norton Hana’s passion for the Middle Ages dates to a childhood exploring the ruins of castles and cloisters in the (now) Czech Republic. She also developed that “lurid taste in fiction,” by reading dog-eared novels full of the drama and melodrama of history. She graduated with an MA from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, and a Ph. D. (both in history, of course), from the University of New Mexico
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Pump Up Chats with Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor for Writer2Writer, her articles focus on increasing productivity through time management and organization. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.      Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.  You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com or the Little Shepherd blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/. You can also find Cheryl on Twitter and
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