Unpacking the latest batch of books. Since last November, I have been working on reissuing my five historical novels under my own imprint, Meanda Books. Daughter of the Last King, The Drowned Court and The Anarchy – my trilogy on medieval Wales are all available now in hardback, paperback and ebook. Coming next, The Viking…
Tag: medieval Wales
Happy May Day
Happy May Day! The Anarchy, the final book in my medieval Wales trilogy, is published today. The novel deals with the 12th century succession crisis after King Henry I lost his only legitimate male heir in a shipwreck and tried to make his daughter, Empress Maud, his successor. It also covers the Welsh uprising against…
Untangling Nest ferch Rhys
In the 12th century, the Welsh noblewoman, Nest ferch Rhys, was married to the Norman steward of Pembroke Castle, Gerald FitzWalter. One dark night, soon after Christmas, the Welsh prince of the neighbouring kingdom of Powys, Owain ap Cadwgan, broke into the castle where Nest, Gerald, their children and household were sleeping. Owain was accompanied…
Interview with Elizabeth Chadwick
Elizabeth Chadwick’s new historical novel, The King’s Jewel, launches today. The publication of any new book by Elizabeth Chadwick is eagerly awaited by her many avid readers. I was especially keen to interview her about this novel since it centres on medieval Wales and Nesta ferch Rhys and Gerald of Windsor. This interview is the first…
New Books
The revised editions of my Conquest trilogy, with new covers by Jessica Bell, are available on preorder now and publication starts on 1 March, Saint David’s Day. Saint David is the patron saint of Wales.
Helen of Wales
Shortly after Christmas, 1106,* the Norman steward of Pembroke Castle in Wales, Gerald FitzWalter, and his wife, the Welsh noblewoman Nest ferch Rhys, were invited to feast with Gerald’s bitter enemies King Cadwagn and his son Prince Owain. Cadwagn gave lip service to the Norman king but Owain was one of the lead rebels harrassing…
Talking on Nest ferch Rhys at Carew Castle this weekend
I am talking about the turbulent life of the Welsh noblewoman, Nest ferch Rhys at Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, including a tour of the castle, on Sunday 18 September 2022 at 11am and again at 2pm. Nest is the heroine of my Conquest trilogy and Carew was one of her castle homes. It may have…
A Welshman’s Beard
This final week of the Blog Tour for my latest novel, The Anarchy, features a review from Jean M. Roberts on The Books Delight: ‘‘The writing is immersive and the pace crisp. The author has skillfully woven a mystery into the narrative. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, especially those with an interest…
‘I love libraries and would be quite happy if I could just squat in one’
The Blog Tour continues for The Anarchy, my latest novel set in 12th century Wales and Normandy. This week there is an interview with me on B for Book Review in which I talk about where I write, how I write, whether I like the ‘bad’ or the ‘good’ characters best, and who I would…
Second career novelist
Three years ago I was launching my fourth historical novel set in early medieval Europe, The Drowned Court and M.K. Tod interviewed me about being a second career novelist. We talked about my journey from being a contemporary art curator and critic, to an art history academic, to a historical novelist and how I used…
Tracey Warr Writing 