And the winner is……

Penman

     Thank you all for taking part in our first book giveaway.  It ended at midnight and the winner is Anne Meltzer.   As soon as you send me your address, Anne, I’ll put your copy in the mail to you.   This was fun and I’ll like to do it again from time to time.  When a hardback book is remaindered (goes out of print), an author is usually given the opportunity to buy it at cost, and most of us do so.  Sometimes an order goes astray; I never had any spare copies of Here Be Dragons because of such a slipup.   I’ve exhausted my supply of Sunne in Splendour over the years, and am almost out of copies of When Christ and His Saints Slept.  I do have extra copies of The Reckoning and Time and Chance.  I also have paperback copies of most of the historicals and the mysteries.  Would you be interested in a future giveaway with The Reckoning or Time and Chance or one of the paperbacks as the prize?

        Thank you so much for the vote of confidence in my writing; that means more than I can say.  I loved your comments, which were thoughtful and insightful and occasionally funny, and will respond to them at a later date.  I was just using the 21st century California book as a hypothetical, so you needn’t worry—no way I’d ever want to write a book set in our time!  

        I hope you all had a good New Year’s.   I spent mine with my editor on Long Island and had a lovely visit; we had a dramatic snowstorm on New Year’s Eve which was great fun since we didn’t have to go out in it.   We also got to discuss my ideas for books after Lionheart—writers don’t feel secure unless we have other books glimmering on the horizon; we also need time to think about future books and let them marinate mentally.  I’ll start with the bad news, at least for my mystery readers.  The Justin de Quincy books are in limbo for now.  The sales have dropped off and my publishers on both sides of the Atlantic prefer that I concentrate upon the historical sagas until the economy improves.  I hope my mystery readers understand that the market dictates a decision like this; there are so many authors writing mysteries these days that the competition is intense.   But I haven’t abandoned Justin, hope to resurrect him when circumstances allow it.

     So I will not be doing a mystery after Lionheart, as originally planned.  What is next then?   Well, it is not carved in stone, but it seems likely now that I will be staying in the 12th century for my next two books—which makes me very happy since this is the century in which I feel most at home.   Remember I mentioned my interest in writing about the real Balian of Ibelin?   Well, my editor likes the idea, too.   For those of you who’ve seen Kingdom of Heaven, my Balian and Orlando Bloom’s Balian share the same name, but not much else.  Well, they are both tall, and they both held Jerusalem against Saladin, but that‘s about it.    I’ve always thought that reality usually trumps fiction when we’re dealing with the MA.  What scriptwriter could top the antics of the Angevins?  And the real Balian of Ibelin’s life was so dramatic that it did not need any Hollywood embellishments. 

      Nor was drama lacking in the life of Constance de Hautville, heiress to the throne of Sicily.   She may not have been threatened by Byzantine pirates as Eleanor of Aquitaine was on her way home from Crusade; interestingly enough, Eleanor was saved by Constance’s father, King Roger II, whose fleet came to her rescue.  But Constance faced down a mob when they burst into her residence in Salerno and came close to losing her life.   And this was only one of the extraordinary episodes in the life of this strong-willed, remarkable woman.  When I first discovered her story, I remember thinking that she deserved a book of her own, and I am delighted that there is a good chance this may come to pass.  

        One of the many aspects of writing about Balian and Constance that appeals to me is the spillover from Lionheart.  Balian will be a character in my account of Richard I’s crusade, as he was a key player in the politics of Outremer, their name for the Holy Land, loosely translated as “the land beyond the sea.”   I think that would be a good title; anyone agree with me?    And Joanna will have a role in Constance’s book, for the latter was the aunt of Joanna’s husband, King William II, and Joanna loyally supported Constance’s claim to the Sicilian throne.  

         Again, circumstances could force a change of plans.  But as of now, this is the path I hope to travel after Lionheart is done.   And it is very heartening to know you’re all willing to travel it with me.   

           I almost forgot.  I am doing a live web chat at the Schuler e-Studio on Monday, January 19th, 2009, at 8 PM.  You can visit the website at www.Schulerbooks.com for further details.   I hope some of you will drop in.

 

January 7, 2009

        

0 thoughts on “And the winner is……”

  1. I agree with you about the title and all of your plans sound very exciting to me! I’ll be looking forward to hearing more news. I completely agree with you about the history of the Middle Ages, particularly pertaining to the Crusades. You really can’t make it better than it already is and it always makes me a little sad that filmmakers include little reality in their historical epics. I avoided Kingdom of Heaven on the recommendation of my history advisor and I’ve never really felt compelled to see it since.
    Anyway, best of luck with your plans! They sound great to me. Unfortunately I’ll be back across the pond on Jan 19th and will be asleep during your web chat. Will there be a transcript available? =)

  2. Oooh, good, now I can start anticipating the next few books. I just finished Devil’s Brood and I always feel bereft when I finish one of your books because I know it will be years before the next one comes out. That’s not meant as a criticism – good writing takes time and your books are always worth the wait, it’s just that there are so few authors that I wait for so impatiently! I would love to have a chance to win any of your books in future giveaways. Even better would be a chance to meet you and have my own copies signed. Even though we live in the same state I never seem to catch up with you on any of your personal appearances. Do you by any chance have any plans to do any readings in New Jersey this year?

  3. I think the title “The Land Beyond the Sea” is brilliant. It is intriguing, almost mysterious and much better than a title with “Outremer” in it. Wandering in a bookstore, I would be compelled to pick up a book titled “The Land Beyond the Sea”, but would pass right by a book with a title of “Outremer”.
    I would love future giveaways. What a prized possession to have an autographed copy of a book by a favorite author!
    Over the weekend, I re-read a favorite book, Katherine by Anya Seton. I read it for the first time as a teenager and fell in love with it. I know it is a classic and I still love it, but as I read it I kept thinking “I wonder what Sharon would do with this subject?” To widen the scope, a book about Queen Isabelle, Roger Mortimer, Edward III, Edward’s children (another Devil’s Brood?), Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke. There are so many interesting characters, events, intrigues that I could see a new series of books. Would you ever consider writing about this time frame?
    I have the web chat on my calendar and am looking forward to it!
    Julia

  4. The plans for the next book sound great, and I agree that Land Beyond the Sea sounds like a good title, but I am sure that there is every possibility that that will change many times between now and then!
    When I first saw the time for the webchat, I was a bit disappointed because I would be at work, but then, I looked at the date, and yay! I am on holidays so I will be there!

  5. Your plans sound wonderful! I especially like the idea of a book on Constance de Hautville. It’s too bad about Justin de Quincey, but sometimes there are circumstances beyond one’s control. And I would definitely would be onboard with the giveaway.

  6. I have long been a huge fan of yours, and have learned to look forward to dropping into a different century in a land with which I have no prior knowledge… Wales being an excellent example. I also have a penchant for the MA and enjoy learning the many overlooked daily facets of life in that time that you weave through your stories.
    I also like the title, Land Beyond the Sea, but have always loved the way you titled Here Be Dragons – because of the maps and an overriding fear on the part of the English of what lay across that border. As Marg pointed out, titles often change over the course of writing the book… maybe you will stumble upon something that will influence this title as well?
    I just finished Devil’s Brood, which took me so long to read my husband wondered if I wasn’t enjoying it… I answered that I was enjoying it so much that I was really dragging it out so I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to the characters! (And knowing how very sad the ending was to that particular family saga was another deterrent…)
    Thank you for many, many hours of escape!

  8. Sharon, that is great news about Balian of Ibelin. I’ve always thought he deserved a novel. I’ll really look forward to reading that one. Have you read Pagan’s Crusade by Catherine Jinks? That covers the background to the fight for Jerusalem as a tongue in cheek Young Adult novel.
    Does this mean you will be heading out to the Middle East to do your research?

  9. Thirteen years ago I sat on the stool in my kitchen, tears streaming down my face as I read The Reckoning. My youngest child had started pre-school and I found time to read again. Lucky for me a friend gave me a copy of The Reckoning!
    Today I finished The Devil’s Brood with a sense of sadness and loss. Such vibrant characters and such torturous decisions. Thanks to Sharon Kay Penman for another good read, although my family will be happy to see my face out of the book for a while.
    I do have a question: Here Be Dragons shows John visiting Henry at Chinons in June 1189 just prior to Henry’s death. However Devil’s Brood shows John leaving LeMans and no future meetings between John and Henry. Have I mis-read — or did John see Henry during his final illness?
    Thanks.

  10. Love the title “Land beyond the Sea!” Bummer about your mystery series – I do love Justin – but I understand. I’m excited to know that there will be more to read after Lionheart. Also – I would love a signed copy of any book, so another give away would be fun. looking forward to your web chat!

  11. Of course we would love for you to do a giveaway for Time and Chance or The Reckoning…how could anyone not want a chance to have an autographed copy of ANY book you wrote?? Plus, the Reckoning is my second favorite book of yours–just like Victoria said, I cried and cried over that book…and then read it again! 🙂
    As a side note, have you ever read any of Alison Weir’s books? I’ve just been reading Time and Chance again while I’m waiting to get Devil’s Brood and it made me want to reread Weir’s history of Eleanor. Actually, it was The Sunne in Splendour that got me interested in her…I was looking for more books to read about that time period and I picked up her books on the princes in the Tower and the War of Roses. Anyhow, just wondered if you were familiar with her work.

  12. Hi Sharon,
    I for one am glad your future plans will be keeping you in the middle ages for the time being — I’ll look forward to learning more about some of these people!
    The Reckoning is the only one of your histories that I don’t own yet, so I’d definitely be interested in such a giveaway! I don’t need a 2nd copy of any of your other books, but, as Mary commented above, I wouldn’t mind having my own copies autographed (I already have Sunne and Dragon’s Lair autographed — I met you back when you were in San Mateo promoting Dragon’s Lair).
    BTW, I just ordered the biography of Henry II that you mention in your research recommendations, and also a biography of Eleanor (and plan to add Crouch’s book on Marshall later). You did mention that you’d be adding recommendations for the characters in your earlier books — any idea when that might happen? I’ve already read Kendall on Richard and Warwick, and Maddicott on de Montfort, and I’m guessing that I should get Warren on King John (since Amazon keeps telling me so!), but I’d love to see what else you’d recommend.
    I most likely won’t be able to make your web chat, but it sounds like fun!

  14. I’m sad to hear about Justin, I was hoping your next mystery would deal with Justin’s heritage and if he truly is related to Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, as you hinted at in Dragon’s Lair. Ah well, they say patience is a virtue 🙂

  15. “Bereft” is exactly how I felt when I read Hal’s death scenes. Knowing it was coming didn’t ease the pain at all. It is also how I feel as I come to the conclusion of Devil’s Brood. After waiting so long for it and knowing it could be as long before I get my hands on Lionheart I hate approaching the last page. Write with the wind, Sharon. Lionheart can’t come out too soon for me. The Plantagenets offer so many amazing true stories just keep going. The Normans in Sicily? pick any one and I’ll read it.
    Just as “writers don’t feel secure unless we have other books glimmering on the horizon;” your readers feel the same.
    I’m in NJ too. Please let us know if you will be reading nearby.

  16. Sharon – I’ve been a big fan of your work since high school. Part of the reason is I share your deep interest in medieval England, but I think you would do a great job writing about revolutionary America, ancient Rome or other historical times and places. I guess whether readers follow you depends in part on their interest in that particular time and setting, but I think most of your long-time fans would be intrigued enough to follow regardless, and you might expand your base even further.
    Specifically on the revolutionary America idea, the premise you touched on is a fascinating and little-discussed one. It truly was a civil war, and not just among Tories, Patriots and the “undecideds,” but there were also ethnic and inter-colonial tensions at play. Indian tribes and confederations divided over which side to support, as did German, French and other immigrant communities.

  17. Hello,
    I have just found your blog and am so excited—I am just starting Devils Brood–was thrilled to find it at the bookstore—I loved your Welsh histories so much that when we were getting married in 1993 and my inlaws asked where we wanted to honeymoon I didnt miss in answering “Wales”. We went, and it was an amazing trip (the only time I’ve ever been out of the US–except Canada!) We went to all the Welsh castles I could find. Anyhow, I’m ready to get into Devil’s Brood now, –though no books have ever matched the magic of the Welsh histories for me!! Maryann

  18. Sharon,
    Sometime earier on your blog you mentioned that St. Martin’s Press was talking about releasing ‘Here Be Dragons’ and ‘Falls the Shadow’ in Amazon Kindle format. I’ve been eagerly checking Amazon each day, but so far it hasn’t happened. I have emailed the publisher but they have not replied to me. Do you have any idea when the books might be released in ebook format?
    One more question… do you have an estimated publication date for ‘Lionheart’?
    As you might have surmised, I am a big fan of your books, and have them all in paper format, and the ones available in Kindle format also:)

  19. Every time I read one of your books I feel like I am actually visiting the time & place of the story. The truth is certainly stranger than fiction and the characters you have written about are so fascinating.Even though I know how the stories are going to end I find myself hoping that this time Hal won’t really die….I just finished Devil’s Brood and like some of the other readers commented I found myself trying to read more slowly so I could savour the book and make it last. I can’t wait for the next book!

  20. Hello,
    The ideas you mentioned in your blog sound really exciting and I cannot wait to read them. I especially like to read about people in history that I know little about, there are more suprises that way when im reading them! Maybe thats why I loved reading about Joanna and Llewelyn in Here Be Dragons.
    I also wanted to say how much I agree with you about Hollywood embelishments. It fustrates me no end when films,programmes (“The Tudors” with Jonathan Rhys Myers) or in some cases books (e.g The other Bolyen girl by Philippa Gregory) don’t just embelish but re-write history! Obviously writers need to fill-in the gaps, but not to the extent that well known facts and events are exchanged for falsehoods.
    Sorry to hear about the mysteries, im going to miss Justin and will wait patiently for his return! Mystery readers maybe interested in the Matthew Shardlake mysteries by C.J sansom.Have you any read any of these Sharon?

  21. Hello Sharon,
    I just discovered your blog this week and have been catching up! I read Sunne years ago and adored it, but school prevented me from getting a chance to read any more of your works. I am working to remedy that, however, as I got a plethora of gift cards to bookstores for Christmas and just got 4 of your works. I’m thrilled to get started on them this holiday weekend! 🙂
    I’m so glad I stumbled across this blog, not only for your insights but for the awesome book recommendations. My wish list has grown rapidly in the last couple days!
    Regarding your earlier post about following authors across times, I definitely would read whatever you chose to write, although I do like it when my favorite authors stick to their more familiar ground. BUT I also think authors should write as they are inspired, so I know that anything you write will be excellent if that’s what your muse wants you to do. My preference is and likely always will be medieval England, but anything MA is fascinating regardless of the location. I must say, though, I’m really looking forward to a book about Balian. I don’t know anything about him except what was portrayed in Kingdom of Heaven, and I *know* that isn’t accurate. I hope I will get the chance to have you set me straight with a book about him. 🙂
    I have your live chat on my calendar and hope to pop by. If I miss it, I will look forward to a blog update. 🙂
    I didn’t mean to ramble on like this… Sorry.
    Have a great day!

  22. After finishing Devil’s Brood recently, I felt as though I had actually lived in the MA and couldn’t wait to discover more about the period. I have been reading through A Distant Mirror (subtitled “The Calamitous 14th Century”) by Barbara Tuchman and find it provides a good opportunity to learn about life in those times while waiting for your Lionheart book. I wish we could visit other eras the way we visit countries…

  23. Hi Sharon
    As one of your many UK fans, I am patiently awaiting the release of Devil’s Brood over here. Not long to go now….
    I am, however, utterly gutted that Justin is being mothballed for a while, as I love your mystery stories. But I understand you have to pay the bills, let’s just hope better economic times are around the corner so that your publisher will think it worthwhile.
    Now, how does one pick a favourite from all of your excellent books? If I have to say it, then Here Be Dragons would be my choice, but I love them all and re-read them often. They are the best form of escapism.
    I have been enjoying finding out which other authors you like to read, and now have a list to keep me occupied for some weeks (or even months) to come. Like another of your fans, I also enjoy Alison Weir’s biographies, although I have not been so keen on her forays into fiction. I have also read some Philippa Gregory, but feel she is far too liberal in her interpretations of historical “facts”. I still have all my copies of the Ellis Peters’ Cadfael series, and am working my way through the C.J.Sansom novels. These are enjoyable, but I still prefer the 12th century!
    Best wishes
    Sally

  24. I’ve been a long time fan, but it was only today, after setting down Devil’s Brood, that I thought to see if you had an active website. It was a fantastic book, though I had not been able to get my hands on a copy of Time and Chance, so I was left to filling in the blanks from my own knowledge of the period, and your magnificent recapping throughout. Unfortunatly, unlike some of your readers, I had no concept of how much of the book was left, so eager was I to continue reading, and was therefore very disappointed when I found myself suddenly looking at the back cover!
    I am looking very forward to your next book, though am saddened that we will not be having another appearance from Justin in the near future. The thought of a book from a different time period is intriguing, though I tend to love my MA books. I also agree that Hollywood need not embelish on history, for fact is much more entertaining, but then again, I enjoyed Kingdom of Heaven for what it was, a fanciful work of fiction with spectacular scenery!
    Cheers again for a great read. Vanessa (Australia)

  25. Sharon,
    I hope you had a restful holiday – and are enjoying this three day weekend! I look forward to your chat tonight – I’ve never been involved in one and think it will be interesting. I am sorry about Justin and his hiatus – when the next one comes out it will make reading it more fun! I look foward to Lionheart and hope that the books on Constance and Balian come to fruition. It’s hard to say which of your novels are my favorite, but Sunne is probably it. My mother had me read a book about Richard years and years ago, that portrayed him to be the exact opposite of what history protrayed him – Daughter of Time I believe was the name. So when I read Sunne I was absolutely tickled to death – these portrayals make much more sense than what history has lead us to think.
    I enjoy most historical fiction, but Susanna Gregory and Margaret Frazer are two authors that I have enjoyed. I picked up Susanna’s book because I had read four of Philipa Gregory’s and wanted to see what she was like – favorites right along with Ellis Peters and Justin de Quincy! Would love for you to do a book tour down in Virginia – health permitting – how are you doing with that pesky mono? Hope you’re better!

  26. Sharon,
    I hope you had a restful holiday – and are enjoying this three day weekend! I look forward to your chat tonight – I’ve never been involved in one and think it will be interesting. I am sorry about Justin and his hiatus – when the next one comes out it will make reading it more fun! I look foward to Lionheart and hope that the books on Constance and Balian come to fruition. It’s hard to say which of your novels are my favorite, but Sunne is probably it. My mother had me read a book about Richard years and years ago, that portrayed him to be the exact opposite of what history protrayed him – Daughter of Time I believe was the name. So when I read Sunne I was absolutely tickled to death – these portrayals make much more sense than what history has lead us to think.
    I enjoy most historical fiction, but Susanna Gregory and Margaret Frazer are two authors that I have enjoyed. I picked up Susanna’ book because I had read four of Philipa Gregory’s and wanted to see what she was like – favorites right along with Ellis Peters and Justin de Quincy! Would love for you to do a book tour down in Virginia – health permitting – how are you doing with that pesky mono? Hope you’re better!

  27. To bad about the technical difficulties in the 1/19 chat. I look forward to when it will be rescheduled.
    Like Suzanne (above) I will also miss Justin and his detective work. I hope one day Eleanor will find another case for him!

  28. Hi Sharon –
    I absolutely would love to have a chance to win an autographed book! I’m sorry to hear that the Justin mysteries are put on hold. But, selfishly, I’m glad that the decision was to put the mysteries on hold and not Lionheart. While I enjoy the mysteries, I LOVE your historical fiction novels. Your novels have a special “shelf” on my goodreads – books that make me ignore the kids. 🙂
    Godspeed with Lionheart.

  29. I discovered Sunne a long time ago and enjoyed it so much I went searching for your other books. I devoured the Welsh trilogy (adored them!) and then the first two Henry II books. As time wandered on, I read your books as they were printed and was excited for Devil’s Brood which I just finished.
    It is very exciting as a reader to have the chance to comment on a writer’s blog (a very new thing indeed for those of us who have been reading almost 60 years!) and lovely to be able to tell you how much that means.
    I was particularly interested in revisiting the Angevins at this time since I am about to take the stage as Eleanor in The Lion in Winter. It gives me insight into her motivation and thoughts at the time (even though as you say in your author’s note Goldman’s version is not exactly based on historical fact!). Since my husband is both playing Henry and directing the show (for a small professional theatre in PA), it is both amusing and daunting to play these remarkable characters.
    I look forward to every book you write.

  30. Hi Sharon,
    Not having a computer myself it has taken me some time to get to your blog. I have just spent the last few hours reading the whole thing. One of the things I have found most interesting is finding out the other authors both you and your readers like. It will help fill the voids that occur all too often between books by all my current favourite authors.
    I have just been looking over my bookshelf and I am reminded that I have started a lot of historical fiction novels that I have never finished. Historical fiction has to be good to get me hooked. All too often I find myself going back to my old favourites which I am not alone in saying include principally ‘Here be Dragons’ and ‘Falls the Shadow’. I used those books as well as ‘The Sunne in Splendour’ to plan my itinerary for my last two trips to England and Wales.
    I got into historical fiction by accident. My father was always an avid science fiction and science fantasy reader and he bought ‘Here be Dragons’ when it had been incorrectly classified at his local bookstore. I found it discarded on his bookshelf and started to read. I had read the whole thing in a week. I was 17 years old at the time and I am not exaggerating when I say it changed my life. I read all of your books as soon as they are released, then my mother reads them, then we discuss them. In regards to ‘Devils Brood’ we are still debating whether Henry or Eleanor is more at fault in the demise of their marriage. She is a vocal advocate of Eleanor’s while I have a secret weakness for Henry. The character I was most surprised about was Geoffrey. I knew that Richard and John had brothers but your writing made them real. I didn’t like Hal much but I cried so much when Geoffrey died (even though I knew he was going to).
    One of my other favourite authors is Sara Douglass. She is a fellow Australian and well known here in Australia I am not sure how well known she is in the rest of the world. Sara mainly writes science fantasy and her work is brilliant (check out the ‘Axis’ trilogy). Sara has also written a ‘sort of’ historical fiction trilogy, ‘The Crucible’. Sara puts her authors note at the front of the book to explain that her story is set in a paralell universe. A lot of the facts are the same but not all. I am sure it will annoy some readers but I found the books very compelling, especially by the third installment.
    Another great Australian author is Juliet Marillier. She writes about ancient Ireland and Scotland and a lot of her books have supernatural elements. Her trilogy set in ancient Scotland, ‘The Bridei Chronicles’, has the most perfect mushroom character. He pops up in the first book and takes over the next two.
    Jules Watson, another Aussie, also writes about ancient Scotland.
    For anyone who is a fan of ‘The Mists of Avalon’ by Marion Zimmer Bradley, her other Avalon books that link from ‘Web of Darkness’ are also well worth reading.
    Maurice Druon’s ‘The Accursed Kings’ are great, especially the volume on ‘The She-Wolf of France’. They have also been made into a great French television series.
    ‘In a Dark Wood Wandering’ by Hella Haase is a great classic historical fiction novel.
    ‘Forest of Dreams’ by Sophie Masson has an interesting section about a young womans affair with Richard Lionheart.
    Another of my favourites is ‘The Lost letters of Aquitaine’ by Judith Koll Healey. It is a story about Alais Capet and what happens after she is sent back to France following the failed betrothal to Richard Lionheart.
    I hope these books give some people the same enjoyment they have given me. I will also try some of the other authors suggested to fill the time until your next book is released. I can’t wait!

  31. Hi Sharon,
    i have JUST found you here and while part of me says – “STOP TALKING and WRITE!!!’ the other part says thanks for all this insite and goss and reading suggestions to tide us over till we have another of your books to devour. (and then re-read to savor…)
    i love hearing/ reading who you like to read and why and what your thinks are for future books – and as many have already said – you write it we’ll read it! (…and no-doubt enjoy it and still want more!)
    i have enjoyed and re-read all your books (including Devil’s Brood) to date and i am particularly pleased to have some other authors to discover while i await Lionheart. my favourite is “…Dragons”, maybe because it was the first i read and i fell in love with Llewellyn… the idea of Constance and Bailian are GREAT (how fast can you write??)
    I have to admit to actually enjoying ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ for the romance of the story while being mindful that it was bound to have had a heavy ‘Hollywood’ hand. Why can’t they just stick to the story and not meddle so badly in an effort to spice it all up?
    i love Diana Gabaldon’s ‘outlander’ series too but my most recently enjoyed book was Geraldine Brooks “People of the Book” which works backwards tracing the history of an illustrated Haggadah. This was fascinating. i didn’t, however, enjoy her book “March” as much.
    i intend to find and read some of the suggested books listed and hope it is enough to get me thru’ to Lionheart and beyond!
    thanks! Sue

  32. Oh, nooooo!! I just popped over to check in and saw the news about Justin. Oh, this is awful. Of course I understand and it’s not your decision, but I was so looking forward to his next adventure. Sigh. I’m very sad now. 🙁

  34. Your site and posts are very interesting ! Thanks for providing such a great resource. With so many junk sites out there it’s refreshing to find one with valuable, useful information ! I’ll be back to read regularly !
    Thanks,
    Jeanine

  35. I was going to write something witty, but I have to just say — you are one of the most amazing writers out there. I have yet to read a historical book that approaches your excellence. Thanks for keeping my love of books alive. I can’t wait until Lionheart!

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