From reality to fantasy

I see that Hampton Court Palace is hosting a "sleepover" for one night this weekend @ £100.00 per person. I am sad on two counts. Firstly that I don't have £100 at the moment and secondly because I am at the other end of the country and can't actually get there.

I have, as readers of this blog will know, always had an emotional link to the Tudor Hampton Court Palace, so I suppose I should be partly mollified to see that this sleepover is concentrating on the Georgian history of the building. How I would love to see the parts that we mere mortals don't get to see! I asked one of the state warders about the number of rooms out of bounds to the public. Her reply was that we get to see about one tenth of the place. High on my list would be Katherine of Aragon's chamber, which is where I believe Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward VI. I'd also love to explore the young prince's set of rooms, too. And I don't need to add that I wish William III had retained Henry's apartments. There is a staircase behind a door in the Georgian palace that is all that is left of the Tudor building in that section. I often wonder if it was the stairs that led down to Henry's wardrobe.

Henry's great passion was, of course, Anne Boleyn and together they stayed in Hampton Court as often as they could. I've always believed that Anne was framed by Thomas Cromwell, although she didn't help her cause by her behaviour to the King and everyone else. Thinking about her last months, I feel so very sorry for her. She must have been almost paralysed with fear after the final miscarriage, knowing that Henry's eye was straying and the high court officials hated her. I truly believe Henry VIII regretted executing his second wife. That is one of the reasons I resurrected her for The Tudor Enigma series.

The books are historical fantasy, set at Hampton Court, but in an alternate Tudor universe where Henry IX, Anne's son now reigns over England, helped by his beloved mother. The first book, published by Carina Press is out on 26th May in digital format. My hero is the local apothecary, who is also an elemancer - an elemental magician sworn to work for the good of all. Luke Ballard is ordered by Anne Boleyn to find out who is conspiring to kill her son, an order he dare not disobey but which causes him all manner of dangers.

The book is available for pre-order from these sources.

http://ebooks.carinapress.com/AEE18D5D-7ECA-4DD4-9E1F-78E98970009A/10/134/en/SearchResults.htm?SearchID=10971211

http://amzn.to/1eQ3bFl

http://amzn.to/1hFTxzo

http://bit.ly/QjCaic

You can find me on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/britwriterapriltaylor

and on Twitter here - https://twitter.com/authAprilTaylor

Interview with crime writer Lesley Cookman

I'm very happy to welcome Lesley Cookman to the Luke Ballard elemancer blog today.

Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed, Lesley. As a fan of the Libby Serjeant murder mysteries, I stand in awe of someone who is publishing her 13th book in the series. 

1.     Tell us a little about yourself, please.

I started writing for computer and business magazines when my older two children were small, after a varied career which included actor, model, air stewardess and recruitment consultant. I met my late husband while I was working for The Observer and he was working for EMI. Then we both had brainstorms and went self employed – he as a musician and me as a writer. The four children have all become musicians, and one is also a writer.

2.     Talk us through your writing process. Are you a pantser or a planner?

What usually happens is that I have a title and have to find something to fit! Then I’ll have a setting, or a situation, often suggested to me by my eldest son, whom I’m beginning to think I should pay, and I go on from there. I don’t start to make notes until I’m some way in and have to write down timelines or relationships. I frequently don’t know who the murderer is, and it’s likely to change right up until the last minute, so I’m always slightly doubtful when readers say “I knew who it was right from the beginning!” Lucky them. I didn’t.

3.     Tell us about your new book.

Murder In A Different Place is the thirteenth in the Libby Sarjeant Mystery Series, and in response to requests from readers, this time I’ve taken Libby and her gang away from home to the Isle of Wight, one of my all time favourite holiday destinations. Also in response to requests, we learn far more about her friend Harry and his background. 

You can find Murder in a Different Place here - http://amzn.to/1iAlZnd

4. How do you come up with your titles? 

They all have to have “Murder” in them, so we (publishers, sales director, children) come up with a phrase that looks good. As scientific as that.

5. Which books have had the most influence on you as a writer? 

Monica Edwards Romney Marsh series, and later Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Dorothy Sayers. Not Christie!

6. What advice would you give to other writers? 

Keep going – and read. Read as much as you can, particularly in your own genre so you learn what works and what doesn’t, how dialogue is written, what sort of pacing is necessary and how much description is allowable. I re-read a lot of my favourites – see above – and it’s surprising how things have changed. Back in “The Golden Age” of detective fiction you could have pages of description – no paragraphs and no dialogue. An editor would have a field day today!