SHINING LIGHT ON OUR LADIES - BLOG HOP

 Enjoy this BLOG HOP

Dreamed up and Organized by the indefatigable

HELEN HOLLICK

Helen Hollick is the prolific author of historical books about Medieval England

as well as rollicking sea stories.
(More about her below)

Thank you, Helen.

Ten of us historical fiction writers will be 

PLEASE TWEET: 

#LightOnOurLadies

Week Four - 26th October:

Ladies of the Storm...And stormy these ladies are indeed.

In Helen Hollick's Sea Witch Voyages, her lovable rogue-pirate Jesamiah "finds it difficult to keep his breeches buttoned."

Read more about it here:

http://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/shining-light-on-pirate-captains-ladies.html

More stormy sea stories are on the blog of Anna Belfrage

https://annabelfrage.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/shining-a-light-on-my-lady/ with her "In the Shadow of the Storm,"

and Linda Collison's Barbados Bound.

See here how she gets her lady out of a scrap:
http://www.lindacollison.com/shining-light-ladies/

Week Three - 20th October:


Helen_Hollick

(King Arthur’s women -- 

and, are they different

from the usual romantic descriptions!)

Paired with
Alison Morton

and
Sophie Perinot

Week Two - 13th October:  

Helen_Hollick 
(Women of 1066) with 

Elizabeth Revill 
Diana Wilder 
and 
Regina Jeffers

Week One:

 6th October:  Helen_Hollick (Queen Emma) with

                     Pat  Bracewell and me...(below)

My contribution is:

Princess Nefret

from
Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile

(Book 1 - Legends of the Winged Scarab)

     Princess Nefret, King Aha’s Royal Daughter and Heiress, was still so young, but her eternal soul was already old for it was a reawakened Ba.

This essence, having lived through paradise and cataclysms, was destined yet to live through many other storms for it was a sinner’s soul which had still not found atonement on this earth.
     She is just a girl, precocious and full of mischief. But for her first sixteen years, King Aha all but ignores his lively daughter leaving her upbringing mostly to Amma, her nurse-maid from the day she was born to her dying mother.

     Her education is guided by Ramose, the munificent High Priest of Ptah, a powerful force among the temples along the Nile. Still there are rumors from those who wish him toppled.

     ”Why, in a world of dark looks, do his eyes blaze like the daytime sky?” And Nefret’s own blue gaze adds fodder to the gristmills of suspicion.

     Storm clouds gather over Nefret’s head as the gentle dew of the girl's awakening into a woman brings dark shadows when her forbidden love for the young surgeon priest Tasar drives her to unspeakable deeds. Not even Ramose dares to save her from this trespass against the laws of Ma’at.

     Young Tasar must grapple with his conscience over the innocence he blemished so heedlessly. He has to choose between his priestly calling or whether he should flee from his ancient land with the young princess he has come to cherish.

     A fledgling khamsin grows into adolescence over the desolate sandy expanses of the great desert. When at last the Devil Wind’s hot fury is spent, all life among the dunes seems to have vanished - or has it?

Five thousand years later,
Nefret's golden death mask
is exhibited at the Cairo Museum.

Will this old soul, this sinner's Ba,
be reawakened to brave as yet another storm?
Find out in
Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea (2),
After the Cataclysm (3), and
The Crystal Curse (4).
Look for Book 5 later this Fall.

* * * * *

During this hopping about with our Shining Ladies some wear hooped skirts while others have donned a toga, a pleated linen sheath, or even swashbuckling pirates' boots.

On this, our first Tuesday, I am partnered with
Helen Hollick and Patricia Bracewell.
Both are shining their light on Emma of Normandy - from different viewpoints.

* * * * *

Helen Hollick

    Helen lives on a thirteen-acre farm in Devon, England. Born in London, Helen wrote pony stories as a teenager, moved to science-fiction and fantasy, and then discovered historical fiction.

    Published for over twenty years with her Arthurian Trilogy, and the 1066 era, she became a ‘USA Today’ bestseller with Forever Queen. She also writes the Sea Witch Voyages, pirate-based fantasy adventures.

    As a supporter of Indie Authors she is Managing Editor for the Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews, and inaugurated the HNS Indie Award.

Helen’s view of Emma… 

A woman married at the age of thirteen to a man she despised; when he died the only way to survive and retain her status was to marry the man who had been her enemy.

Forever Queen (US Edition Title) 

A Hollow Crown (UK Edition Title) 

More fascinating insight on Helen's own Blog:

HelenHollick - ShiningLightOnOurLadies

* * * * *

 On to

Patricia Bracewell,  and her EMMA.

Patricia taught high school English before pursuing a writing career. The Price of Blood, is the second book in her trilogy about the 11th century queen of England, Emma of Normandy. Her first book, Shadow on the Crown, has been published in the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, Russia and Brazil as well as in the U.S and Canada. She continues to travel extensively for research, and in the fall of 2014 she served as Writer-in-Residence at Gladstone’s Library, Wales. She is currently at work on the final novel of her Emma of Normandy trilogy. She lives in Oakland, California.

 

Meet Patricia's Emma

  in               

The Price of Blood 

    Emma of Normandy lived in an age ruled by the sword – an age when even women’s hearts had to be forged from steel.

    Warrior’s daughter, bride of kings, mother and peace-weaver, she was England’s only twice-crowned queen whose strength of spirit would bind the wounds of a shattered kingdom.

Find out more on Pat's own Blog
PatriciaBracewell - ShiningLightOnOurLadies

* * * * *

For the next three October Tuesdays, more Shining Ladies!

For one, the man she most despises is the man who owns her heart.

For another, a district nurse must cope with the tragedies of World War II,

and another faces the horrors and tragedies of the American Civil War.

I can't wait to read about all of our Shining Ladies.

 Come back and join us!

PLEASE TWEET: 
#LightOnOurLadies

The Full Shining Light Tour - Check it Out!

  6th October:  Helen_Hollick (Queen Emma) with Pat  Bracewell and 
Inge H. Borg

13th October:  Helen_Hollick (Women of 1066) with Elizabeth Revill
Diana Wilder and Regina Jeffers

20th October:  Helen_Hollick (King Arthur’s women) paired with
Alison Morton and Sophie Perinot

27th October:  Helen_Hollick - the Sea Witch women with
Anna Belfrage and Linda Collison

If you are liable to forget, just bookmark this blog

and come back to check for the Tuesday dates and our The Shining Ladies.