HT News

Sharon Kay Penman is hosting a book giveaway. You have to work a little bit to gain entry into the drawing but by doing so you could potentially help shape the Reader's Guide for the upcoming rerelease of The Reckoning. Full details can be found here, along with some upcoming release information as well!

HT News

Sharon Penman has announced on her blog that she is going to be participating in a live web chat on January 19 at 8pm E.S.T. At this stage there are some brief details to be found on this page

I was a bit worried that I would either be at work or asleep for it, but I am on holidays so I will be able to be there! Very exciting!

Sharon also talked a bit about what comes next and I have to say, I want to read those books now!

HF News

While I am not sure that we will do a newspaper article like this every time we post HF News, I did have a lot of fun playing around to do this one about Sharon Penman appearing at Historical Fiction Online on the weekend!

Some interviews of interest this week:

Historical Tapestry favourite Michelle Moran has interviewed Sharon Kay Penman about her latest release, Devil's Brood.

Speaking of Sharon Kay Penman, Kelly Hewitt from Loaded Questions posted an interesting interview with her this week. One of the things that was talked about was the next book! I haven't read the new one yet, but I am still looking forward to the next one already. Kelly also interviewed another big name in historical fiction this week - Robin Maxwell. Keep up the good work Kelly.

C W Gortner (author of The Last Queen) has interviewed author C C Humphreys about his latest release, Vlad: The Last Confession, which is about the historical figure, Dracula. Definitely sounds like an interesting read.


Keep reading HF News for details of more interviews, contests, posts of interests.

Countdown to The Devil's Brood

I really am going to try not to overwhelm everyone with the excitement that I feel at the prospect of the latest Sharon Kay Penman book, The Devil's Brood, which is going to be released in October! Chances are there might be a couple more posts at some stage about it.

Having said that, there is now an excerpt up on the website from the book. I have just read it and I am looking forward to the book anymore.

Reading Sharon Kay Penman's writing for me is akin to returning home after a long journey - such a fantastic feeling.

Do you have a question for Sharon Kay Penman?

In October there are at least two historical fiction releases that I am will be trying to get as soon as possible and just devouring! One is Elizabeth Chadwick's The Time of Singing and the other is The Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman.

One of the blogs that I read regularly is the excellent Loaded Questions with Kelly Hewitt, who does an awesome job of interviewing many top authors, including lots of HF authors. For example, in the last week she has an interview with CW Gortner, author of the about to be release The Last Queen about Juana the Mad and an interview with Hilary Jordan, author of Mudbound, which has been getting quite a lot of good reviews around blogland.

Anyway, back to the point, and that is that Kelly has just announced that she has an upcoming interview with Sharon Kay Penman, and that we, the readers who love her work, have the chance to ask the questions! So if you have ever had a question that you wanted to ask Sharon, then now is the time to ask it.

Click here for full details!

The Devil's Brood is done!

I just happened to drop in at Sharon Kay Penman's website and was pleased to see that Sharon has just posted a new note ... and the news is all good (for us readers at least)!

The Devil's Brood, the third book in the Henry and Eleanor trilogy, is finished, and will be being released in October (did you hear my squeal of excitement from where you are??)

Secondly some of her older novels are getting rereleased and thirdly, Sunne in Splendour has been optioned to be made into a movie.

You can get all the details by reading Sharon's Note on her website!

I have been holding off reading the Henry and Eleanor trilogy for ages, but succumbed last year and read When Christ and His Saints Slept. Maybe it is time for me to dig out the second book in the trilogy which is Time and Chance.

Sharon Kay Penman News

Sharon Kay Penman is one of my favourite authors whether we are talking about Historical Fiction or other genres, so when there is at last news about her next release, what else can I do but share!

The Devil's Brood, the third book in the Henry and Eleanor trilogy, has now been listed up on Amazon. There's no cover, no description, nothing other than the fact that the release date is October 9. And just that one little piece of information makes me exceedingly happy!

Expect to hear more about this book from me!

The Sunne In Splendour - Sharon Kay Penman

Sharon Kay Penman's biography of Richard III is one of my favorite books of all time. I have hesitated in writing this review for quite a while because I'm not sure I can do it justice.

There are many things to enjoy. Her construction of the characters, how we slowly get to know them, their motivations and fears. Her description of the political backgroung of that complicated period that was 15th century England. And how she brings Richard III to life in a way that is totally convincing and very human.

The book follows Richard from a young age when he is still in the shadow of his brother till the powerful Earl he becomes under Edward IV reign and finally his rise to throne and his death. Her writing is full of historical detail, she gives us the historical background but also those little everyday happenings that make the story and the characters come alive.

It is inevitable that what stands out more when speaking of this book is her defense of Richard regarding the death of his nephews. She makes a compelling and believable case presenting other suspects and exonerating Richard from the dark legend Shakespeare made known.

Highly recommended!!