Today, I welcome J.P. Reedman onto my blog, for an interview, and to take a look at one of her books!
Poisoned Chalice
By J.P. Reedman
‘Small, very talkative, ready enough to do evil, shrewd and jocular, extremely cruel and daring.’ Orderic Vitalis on Mabel de Belleme.
Mabel is the daughter of William de Belleme, known as Talvas, the Hard Shield, for his fierceness in battle…and at home. When William murders Mabel’s mother, he is expelled from his castle into exile—but Mabel follows him loyally, despite what he has done.
As the Belleme fortunes gradually return, Mabel is married to an upstanding young lord, Roger de Montgomery, a close friend of the new Duke of Normandy—William, who will one day become the Conqueror of England. Their marriage appears to be successful, with many children, but Mabel remains her father’s daughter in temperament and spirit and soon her reputation becomes fearsome.
Castles and lands are collected like pieces on a chessboard, and those who object to her harsh tactics are dealt with, not by the sword but by Mabel’s secret means. When Mabel plays her game, she seeks to win at any cost.
But when she crosses Hugh Bunel, kinsman of a man she has killed, Normandy’s wicked lady may have met her match…
Buy HERE!
Take a look at some more of J.P Reedman's books HERE!
INTERVIEW
Writing interview questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I have always had an interest in the medieval period, though usually a bit later in time than the Normans…but Mabel’s story was so incredible, I just had to write about her!
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
It was harder than some of the others I have written in because of less documentation. Dates varied all over the place, including even Mabel’s date of birth. Extra children she never had were tacked in. Her mother and her father’s second wife often melded into one.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
William the Conquers and his wife, Matilda of Flanders feature quite strongly as well. They are well known for having a ‘good’ marriage (for the era) but there were several events in their relationship that seem quite horrific today, such as William’s ‘rough wooing’ of his wife-to-be. He threw her in the mud!
If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?
Unfortunate (for her terrible and rather tragic upbringing which set the stage for her later behaviour), tough (behaving like a man in the man’s world of the Middle Ages)…and probably a little bit sociopathic (at least.)
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
Mabel is an ‘anti-hero’, definitely. It was hard to make her sympathetic due to the things she did, particularly as I wrote her story from her first-person viewpoint!
What are you currently working on?
AVOUS ME LIE. It’s in my I, Richard Plantagenet series about Richard III and the Wars of the Roses. It is the novel of his teenage years. I wrote them kind of backwards—his adult life first and next childhood and now teens. Originally I wasn’t going to write his youth, but the series was so successful and so many folks asked…how could I resist?
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
You don’t know unless you try. Just keep writing and revising and learning, and don’t be afraid to ‘kill your darlings.’
Personal Interview questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Travelling around to castles, churches and ancient sites. Just before filling out this questionnaire, I was out on Salisbury Plain visiting some Neolithic burial mounds.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer! I do it full-time now, I just wish my folks were still around to see. I did have little flirtation with a few other things such as acting (I was an extra in a TV show with Johnny Depp!) and anthropology/archaeology (I’ve been on several prominent digs and worked at Stonehenge for 12 years.)
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
Probably chicken steaks with noodles or rice and some salad. A huge Chinese takeaway!
What would be a perfect day?
Sunny but not too hot, out to a ruined castle somewhere, maybe near the sea, then have a nice meal in a nice restaurant watching the sunset.
What is the best part of your day?
I am most productive early to mid-evening. I don’t do mornings anymore!
Either or!
Tea or coffee: I love both.
Hot or cold: Hot mostly but in the summer definitely ice tea rules.
Movie or book: Book!
Morning person or Night owl: Night owl…but not too late.
City or country: Country, definitely. I am in a small town but just dry through the back streets and you come out into a valley full of small villages and old cottages and a great flowing river. You almost expect Hobbits to pop up.
Social Media or book: Book, but like many, I am hooked on social media…
Paperback or ebook: Paperback still, although I do use my kindle regularly.
J.P. Reedman was born in Canada but has lived in the U.K. for nearly 30 years.
Interests include folklore & anthropology, prehistoric archaeology (neolithic/bronze age Europe; ritual,burial & material culture), as well as The Wars of the Roses and the rest of the medieval era.
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