I have been busy for the last two years organising the Historical Novel Society UK 2024 conference, which has a stellar lineup of speakers and events, including Diana Gabaldon, Bernard Cornwell, S.G. MacLean, Ian Mortimer, Kate Quinn, Jane Johnson, Elizabeth Chadwick, Elizabeth Fremantle and many more. The conference is just around the corner now –…
Becoming Trobairitz
This week, The Occitan University was in my home village of Laguepie in southern France for its annual visit. The university consists of a packed week of Occitan language classes and workshops and events on Occitan culture, including cooking, dancing, music, history, literature, and radio. The week culminated in a magical street party of impromptu…
Into the Map Workshop
I am presenting Into the Map, a writing workshop, tomorrow in the village of Laguepie 82250 France at Tresors du Viaur, Tuesday 23 July 10.30am-12.30pm. Robert Louis Stevenson tells us that ‘even when a map is not all the plot … it will be found to be a mine of suggestion.’ We will be looking…
Be Your Own Troubadour
Be Your Own Troubadour with Tracey Warr and Amandine Rey Thursday 18 July and Friday 19 July 10am-12 noon Salle des Fetes, Laguépie 82250 In French, English and Occitan Create your own troubadour vida (introductory, often boasting autobiography) and tenso (debate song, usually between a man and a woman about love) or canso (love song)….
The Spy’s Daughter
Blog Guest: An Interview with Historical Fiction Author Tony Riches about his new book, Frances – Tudor Countess I’m very pleased to welcome historical fiction author Tony Riches as a guest to my blog today. Tony is an author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the…
Love’s Knife
I have been serialising my new novel, Love’s Knife, on Substack for £5 a month for paying subscribers, with a chapter published every Saturday. It’s not too late to join in reading. You can review the chapters and cast of characters on the Hub post. Subscribers receive a free paperback or ebook (which can be gifted)…
French Historical Fiction Summer Reading
Set in France that is, rather than written in French. My novels in the House of La Marche series are part of this promotion, which runs until the end of July https://books.bookfunnel.com/FrenchHistoricalFictionSummerReading/fpa4u298b9
Tea and Female Lords
I was invited to talk about medieval Occitan female lords at a delightful tea party this week with 12 women who all live near me in southwest France. The sun dappled the table shaded by vines and wisteria, the teacups chinked delicately, the apple and rosemary cake melted on the tongue, wild flowers burgeoned and…
Treading the Ground: Researching for a Medieval Novel
I’ve just returned from a research trip to Narbonne, Carcassonne, Aigues-Mortes, and Conques. There’s nothing like treading the ground to inspire writing. I thought a photo-journal of the trip might be of interest for some of you. NARBONNE I am giving a couple of talks on medieval Occitan female lords over the next few months….
Female Lords in Medieval Occitania
‘In the 11th to 13th centuries, in the Occitan-speaking territory of what is now known as southern France, a significant proportion of lords—10 to 12%—were women.’ Head to France’s Splendid Centuries Facebook page to read my guest post on Female Lords in Medieval Occitania. I am presenting a talk on Almodis de La Marche, countess of Toulouse…
Tracey Warr Writing 