Tracey Warr will give a talk on researching and writing her first novel Almodis: The Peaceweaver, which is based on the extraordinary life of a medieval female lord who ruled substantial parts of southern France and northern Spain in the 11^th century. Almodis de La Marche was the Countess of Toulouse and Barcelona. She was the great-grandmother of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and then Queen of England. Tracey Warr is a writer and art history lecturer based in Laguepie, France and Oxford, UK. Her research included looking at works by medieval writers and historians, inspiration from medieval objects, poetry, manuscripts and cooking recipes, as well as visits to many of the sites she writes about in and around Limoges, Toulouse and Barcelona. Her next novel is set in 10^th century Limoges, Norway and the Isle of Man, focussing on contacts between southern French and Viking cultures.

The talk will be followed by a wine reception and signed books will be available to buy.

Almodis: The Peaceweaver was supported by a Santander University Network Scholarship and shortlisted for the Impress Prize and the Rome Film Festival Book Industry Initiative.

Tracey Warr, Almodis: The Peaceweaver, published by Impress Books, Oct 2011

pbk £6.99 ISBN 978-1-90760-505-5

http://www.impress-books.co.uk