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

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