I’ve wanted to be a writer since I sat up in my cot and read picture books to myself. I thank every person listed above and no doubt a thousand more besides for all they’ve done to help me get this far and I look forward to sharing the next part of the journey with them too.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I am indebted to the creators of many, many books, websites, museums and exhibits for bringing this murky period of history to life for me. Here is a list of just a few sources that readers might enjoy if, having read this work of fiction, they wish to dig for more facts.
Historical Events
Campbell, James, The Anglo-Saxon State (Hambledon and London, 2000)
Davies, Wendy (ed), From the Vikings to the Normans (Oxford University Press, 2003)
De Vries, Kelly, The Norwegian Invasion of England in 1066 (Boydell Press, 1999)
Freeman, E.A., The History of the Norman Conquest of England (Cambridge University Press, 2011 [1867])
Harvey-Wood, Harriet, The Battle of Hastings (Atlantic Books, 2008)
Higham, N.J., The Death of Anglo-Saxon England (Sutton Publishing, 1997)
Hill, Paul, The Road to Hastings (Tempus, 2005)
Huscroft, Richard, The Norman Conquest (Pearson Education Ltd, 2009)
Huscroft, Richard, Ruling England 1042–1217 (Pearson Education Ltd, 2003)
Reston Jnr, James, The Last Apocalypse – Europe at the Year 1000 AD (Anchor Books, 1941)
Stenton, Frank, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 1989, 3rd edition, [1943])
Trow, M.J., Cnut, Emperor of the North (Sutton Publishing, 2005)
Wardle, Terry, England’s First Castle (The History Press, 2009)
People
Bates, David, William the Conqueror (George Philip Ltd, 1989)
Davis, Michael and Sean, The Last King of Wales – Gruffyd Ap Llywellyn c. 1013–1063 (The History Press, 2012)
Marsden, John, Harald Hardrada, The Warrior’s Way (Sutton Publishing, 2007)
Mason, Emma, The House of Godwine: The History of a Dynasty (Continuum-3PL, 2004)
O’Brien, Harriet, Queen Emma and the Vikings (Bloomsbury, 2005)
Stafford, Pauline, Queen Emma and Queen Edith (Blackwell, 2001)
Walker, Ian W., Harold, the Last Anglo-Saxon King (The History Press, 2010)
Life and Times
Jessup, Ronald, Anglo-Saxon Jewellery (Shire Publications Ltd, 1974)
Lacey, Robert, and Danziger, Danny, The Year 1000 (Abacus, 1999)
Mortimer, Ian, The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England (The Bodley Head, 2008)
Quennell, Marjorie, and C.H.B., Everyday Life in Roman and Anglo-Saxon Times (Jarrold and Sons Ltd, 1968, [1959]
Reynolds, Andrew, Later Anglo-Saxon England (Tempus Publishing Ltd, 1999)
Q & A WITH
JOANNA COURTNEY
1. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes, ever since I can remember. My mum says that as a toddler I used to be happy in my cot for hours, as long as I had plenty of books in there with me, and I’ve always been a voracious reader. I loved Enid Blyton and was writing my own boarding-school books by the time I was about ten. English was always my favourite subject, with History close behind.
I did Creative Writing as part of my Duke of Edinburgh Award and always kept writing privately: both long, angsty diaries and short stories. I studied English Literature at Cambridge University and then, when I was working in a wonderful Lancashire mill town and had loads of time on my hands, I started writing again. I discovered that short-story writing really helped me refine my ability to create a narrative. I’ve had over two hundred stories published in women’s magazines and I still love writing them, but bit by bit I’ve crept back to longer fiction – first serials for the magazines and, increasingly, novels.
My children are now thirteen and ten, which has helped me find time to devote to my writing, but I still can’t quite believe that it’s actually happening. All my life I’ve dreamed of having a book on the shelves of a bookshop and now that I’m there, it’s wonderful.
2. Why do you write historical fiction?
I’ve always been fascinated by the past. I remember, as a child, visiting Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and standing over the (presumably re-touched) bloodstain where David Rizzio was murdered by Lord Darnley, and being forcibly struck by the reality of standing on the same spot – the very same boards – where the killing had taken place.
That sense of the layers of human experience through time has remained with me always, and as I moved on in my study of English Literature, I found myself gravitating towards Medieval and Arthurian Studies because I was fascinated by the idea of context – of the cultural lives that surrounded these stories. A story told out-loud to a post-feast crowd of Vikings would have been aimed at creating drama and mood to rouse a live audience, who might well have been about to try and emulate their heroes in battle so needed courage as well as entertainment. In comparison, a nineteenth-century novel, designed to be read in private, would seek to provoke quieter emotion and thoughts for serious discussion later. I wanted to understand more about those differences and inevitably, I guess, that led me into learning more about the way lives were lived in the past. The more I learned, the more I was gripped and I wanted to explore the people who might have lived in those past times in my fiction.
3. How long did it take you to write The Chosen Queen?
That’s a hard question to answer because I think all the years of writing, both as a child and as a short-story writer, have gone into making me the person that could craft this book. Writing the actual novel probably only took a few months, but so much else goes into it – not the least, my research.
Before The Chosen Queen was accepted by Pan Macmillan I wrote another novel set in 1045–52 about Aldyth Godwinson, wife of King Edward. Much of the research for that I used for The Chosen Queen, but all the Welsh history was new to me and had to be carefully studied.
Then of course there’s the editing – I reckon it takes almost twice as long to edit a novel as it does to write the first draft so, in total, a solid year went into creating this particular book.
4. Can you tell us about your book deal moment?
I vividly remember my agent, Kate, sending me through an email from my current editor Natasha, saying how much she loved the book. It was full of the most lovely praise for The Chosen Queen and I printed it off to keep with me as it was so close to my heart. We were going on holiday with good friends the following week, and I remember my friend Brenda reading it aloud on a blowy beach in Wales for all the world to hear. Even hearing it out loud (very loud), it was still hard to believe, but it was true and the contract followed shortly afterwards.
5. How did you come up with the title of the book?
I didn’t. I find titles really difficult – they either come first time or they’re almost impossible to hunt down. The book was initially called The Half Year Queen, which I rather liked because it sounded so poignant, but it didn’t really reflect all the amazing time Edyth spends as Queen of Wales so it wasn’t quite right.
In the end, the lovely team at Pan Macmilllan came up with The Chosen Queen and when we then thought of the titles of the other two books in the trilogy (The Constant Queen and The Conqueror’s Queen) – it all seemed to fit beautifully.
6. Are you writing a new novel at the moment?
I’ve just finished editing Book Two of the trilogy – The Constant Queen – and am now researching the Normans for Book Three – The Conqueror’s Queen. I’m really enjoying the research and it’s going to be a fascinating challenge to turn Duke William ‘the Bastard’ into a romantic hero.
Available on ebook . . .
THE CHRISTMAS COURT
JOANNA COURTNEY
Christmas 1051: King Edward’s royal court has gathered to welcome William of Normandy to England. But as the ambitious Norman duke takes his place amongst the English lords, rumour and speculation are rife. It appears that Willia
m has an ulterior motive for making his timely visit to his childless royal cousin . . .
For Freya, however, who is new to the court, the enticing entertainments of the burgeoning Wessex city of London are far more intriguing than the political machinations which surround the gathering. Enchanted by the wassails, evergreens and crowds of the Christmas celebrations, she and her friend Alodie see the Normans as more of an enticement than a danger.
Even in the daytime, the vast Christmas markets along the sprawling banks of Chelsea village offer endless delights – until a pickpocket cuts through their happiness and throws Freya into the arms of an unlikely saviour. As the feasting and dancing begin, Freya finds herself falling for a man from the wrong side of the Narrow Sea and, with the help of a little mistletoe and wine, 1051 becomes a Christmas to remember . . .
The Christmas Court is perfect for cosy, winter reading. Sumptuous meals, roaring fires and a touching romance will transport you through time to the magic of the medieval Christmas markets.
Coming Soon . . .
THE CONSTANT QUEEN
JOANNA COURTNEY
‘You need not take England without me, Hari, because I will be your constant queen – there with you; there for you.’
Elizaveta is Princess of Kiev, but that doesn’t stop her chasing adventure. Defying convention, she rides the rapids of the Dneiper alongside her royal brothers and longs to rule in her own right as a queen.
Elizaveta meets her match when the fearsome Viking warrior Harald Hardrada arrives at her father’s court seeking fame and fortune. He entrusts Elizaveta to be his treasure keeper, holding the keys to his ever-growing wealth – and eventually to his heart.
Theirs is a fierce romance and the strength of their love binds them together as they travel across the vast seas to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. In 1066, their ambition carries them to the Orkneys as they plan to invade England and claim the crown . . .
The Constant Queen is a powerful, absorbing novel which tells the story of a daring Viking warrior, his forgotten queen and a love that almost changed the course of history.
Praise for The Chosen Queen
‘An absorbing and emotional debut novel’
Candis
‘A beautifully written multi-layered tale with a tremendously authentic sense of place and time . . . an epic feel . . . highly recommended’
Liz Loves Books
‘Gripping, intriguing, romantic’
Tracy Bloom, author of
No-one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday
‘The Chosen Queen is an epic read . . . Rich plots, fascinating characters and detailed historical events’
Compelling Reads
‘A glorious, rich, epic story of love, friendship and sacrifice which will sweep you up and transport you to another time. I absolutely loved this and can’t wait for the next book in the series’
Rachael Lucas, author of
Sealed With A Kiss and Coming Up Roses
‘Wonderful, mesmerizing storytelling that had me hooked from page one, keeping me engrossed throughout the entire novel and still left desperate for more’
Reviewed the Book
‘The story reaches a heart-rending climax. A must read. I loved it’
Freda Lightfoot, author of
The Amber Keeper
‘An atmospheric, vividly written book that took me on a fascinating journey into the past, so much so, that even after I finished the book, I am still wondering about the characters and their world. I simply cannot wait for the next book. I am hooked!’
Shaz’s Book Blog
THE
CHOSEN
QUEEN
Joanna Courtney has wanted to be a writer ever since she could read. As a child she was rarely seen without her head in a book. After spending endless hours entertaining her siblings with made-up stories, it came as no surprise when Joanna pursued her passion for books during her time at Cambridge University – where she combined her love of English and History by specializing in Medieval Literature.
Joanna continued to write through her first years of work and then, once married and living in Derbyshire, in the sparse hours available between raising four children. She has written over 200 stories and serials published in women’s magazines, some of which have been broadcast on BBC radio. Joanna has also won several fiction prizes and written and directed an award-winning play. She teaches creative writing across the country and for the Open University.
Joanna is fascinated by defining moments in history, of which the Battle of Hastings is certainly one. The outcome of that momentous day is one of the big ‘what-ifs?’ of England’s past and she has loved being able to immerse herself in the world of the Anglo-Saxons, Normans and Vikings whilst writing The Queen’s of the Conquest trilogy.
First published 2015 by Pan Books
This electronic edition published 2015 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
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Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-8077-4
Copyright © Joanna Courtney 2015
The right of Joanna Courtney to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Pan Macmillan, does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author, or third party, websites referred to in or on this, book.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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