In the glamorous, glittering and dangerous court of king Henry VIII and his queen Katherine of Aragon, the desperate desire for a healthy male heir overshadows all. Plagued by a series of miscarriages the queen is left grappling with the weight of her singular duty to provide a son for the Crown. Amidst this turmoil the queen turns to Sarah Menendez, the most highly skilled midwife in England. Sarah, exiled from her homeland and concealing her true identity must serve the queen and battle her deepest fears. As Sarah strives to save the queen from the perils of childbirth, the specter of her own past threatens to unravel the carefully crafted identity Sarah has created for herself and her young daughter.
In a world where power, politics and religion collide, Sarah finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue and deadly danger. The fate of the queen’s unborn child, the survival of the midwife and her daughter, and the stability of the kingdom hang in the balance. Sarah Menendez must employ all of her skills, cunning and courage to protect those she holds dear as well as the life of the queen and her unborn child.
The Tudor Queens’ Midwife is a gripping tale of secrecy, sacrifice and religious turmoil amongst the most opulent court the world has ever seen.
Writing Interview questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I chose to write my trilogy in the 16th century because I have been studying this period for a couple of decades and I know it very well. Tudor history is a passion of mine.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
My trilogy is fictional, so I did not feel compelled to make every detail 100% historically accurate. I did do research though and it was not easy to find out the history of Jews in England in the 16 century because they were illegal there since 1200, so they were hidden. Fortunately I did manage to piece together enough factual history about them to make my book accurate.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
My characters in the book have ties to Jewish mysticism and this will become very apparent in the second book in the trilogy.
If you had to describe your protagonist, in three words, what would those three words be and why?
My protagonist Sarah is highly skilled, modest and determined.
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
The most challenging thing for me was when I had to kill a character. I literally cried and cried!
Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?
No.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently writing a book for Pen and Sword Publishers about the midwives, childbirth customs and the health history of the Tudors. I have my third book in my fictional trilogy to finish and the second to edit as it will be coming out either in September or December of this year.
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
I think that if someone is a very avid reader, chances are pretty good that you can write something, even if it’s just a short piece!
Personal Interview questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I am not writing I am cooking or doing something with my Cavalier King Charles spaniels; I have several and they always need grooming, walking, or being played with.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child I wanted to become a forensic scientist.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
Dinner tonight is coq au vin. I would rather be eating homemade ravioli from Cucina Alice in Lugano, Italy.
What would be a perfect day?
A perfect day doesn’t exist, but most of my days are pretty good, so no complaints!
What is the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is at either end: getting up and greeting my dogs and walking outside with them, and going to sleep after reading a book that I am enjoying.
Either or!
Tea or coffee: I drink a big cup of coffee in the morning and a relaxing tea before bedtime.
Hot or cold: I hate hot weather, but I am not a fan of very cold either. If I had to pick it would be cold.
Movie or book: I am very picky about what movies I consider worthwhile, so I would choose a book.
Morning person or Night owl: Morning person, definitely.
Social Media or book: I don’t really “do” social media, so book.
Paperback or ebook: I have both e-books and paper.
Brigitte Barnard is an amateur historian of Renaissance English history and an author of the trilogy The Tudor Queens' Midwife, of which the first book in the series is available. She is currently writing a non-fiction book about Tudor midwifery for Pen and Sword publishing house.
Brigitte is a former homebirth midwife, and she lives at home with her husband and four children. She also raises Cavalier King Charles spaniels.
Thank you so much for hosting Brigitte Barnard today, with such a fabulous interview.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club