The Lydiard Chronicles:
The Lady of the Tower (Book #1)
By Love Divided (Book #2)
Written in Their Stars (Book #3)
By Elizabeth St.John
Duty, passion, and power collide in The Lydiard Chronicles, a gripping trilogy inspired by true events. Follow three courageous women—survivors, strategists, and storytellers—who defy the constraints of society to shape their family’s fate and England’s future. Their voices echo through time. Their legacy changed a nation.
The Lydiard Chronicles is an award-winning, best-selling historical family saga which brings to life the remarkable true stories of the St.John family. Spanning three compelling novels—The Lady of the Tower, By Love Divided, and Written in Their Stars—the series follows the legacy of resilient and intelligent women who lived as spies, courtiers, and diarists during England’s most turbulent century, navigating the quicksand of love and war, political upheaval, and personal sacrifice.
Bound by fierce family loyalty and unforgettable love, the women of The Lydiard Chronicles defy the limits of their time with passion, courage, and unshakable independence. They endure captivity in the Tower of London, exile in the Louvre Palace, and the heart-wrenching divisions of the English Civil War—fighting not just for survival, but for their beliefs, their families, and the right to choose their own fate. Meticulously researched and vividly told, this epic saga reveals how these women created history from the shadows, leaving a legacy of resilience, defiance, and enduring influence.
Rooted in original diaries, letters, and family papers, The Lydiard Chronicles offers an intimate, biographical portrait of women who moved behind the scenes of power. Serving as trusted secret agents, military wives, and confidantes of kings, they were deeply engaged in the political and religious conflicts of their time. Through tragedy and triumph, the women of The Lydiard Chronicles shape their destinies—and the fate of a nation—in this richly researched and vividly told historical epic.
Publisher: Falcon Historical
Genre: Historical Fiction
This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.
Writing Interview Questions!
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I didn’t choose the era—the era chose me! I discovered Lucy St.John, my 17th-century ancestor, while researching our family history. When I learned she lived in the Tower of London as the Keeper’s wife and cared for political prisoners during one of the most volatile periods in English history, I was hooked. The personal letters, memoirs, and portraits gave me a vivid picture of a woman navigating war, plague, and political intrigue. I knew I had to tell her story.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult?
Not difficult—more like endlessly fascinating! The hardest part was narrowing it down. That said, finding women's voices from the era can be challenging. Many records focus on men’s political and military accomplishments. But I was fortunate—my ancestors left memoirs, recipe books, and court records. The most surprising discovery was that parliamentarian Lucy Hutchinson’s memoirs were saved from destruction by her royalist cousin, Nan Wilmot. One cousin wrote the story, the other made sure it survived.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
There’s a deep emotional thread of sisterhood and divided loyalty running through the books. Luce Hutchinson, Nan Wilmot and Frances Apsley were cousins—one a Parliamentarian, the other two Royalist. I was fascinated by how their love for each other endured despite being on opposite sides of a brutal civil war. That’s what really makes the story resonate: the tension between public conflict and private loyalty.
If you had to describe your protagonists in three words, what would they be and why?
Resilient, Intelligent, Compassionate.
Each woman in the series—Lucy, Luce, Frances, and Nan—demonstrates incredible emotional strength. They made impossible choices, often without support. Their intelligence guided them through complex political landscapes, and their compassion grounded them in humanity.
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
Staying true to historical fact while shaping a compelling narrative. These were real people, and I felt a deep responsibility to portray them with accuracy and empathy. Balancing documented events with dramatic storytelling took time and many drafts.
Was there anything you edited out of the book that would have drastically affected the story?
I had a storyline involving Frances Apsley that took her deeper into court intrigue than I could ultimately justify with the historical record. It was dramatic—but unsubstantiated. In the end, I chose to remove it. It would’ve made a good subplot, but it didn’t feel authentic.
What are you currently working on?
Officially, I’m taking the summer off. But I am following an intriguing research thread about the theft of Queen Anna of Denmark’s jewels – just when my family were in the thick of the Jacobean Court. I’ve just published a short story about it in the anthology FATE – and if people like it, I may have to write a dual timeline story that ties a modern-day historian into Lucy’s world!
What would you tell an aspiring author who had doubts about their writing abilities?
Doubt is part of the process—but it’s not a stop sign. You don’t have to be perfect to start. You just have to begin. Write what excites you. Write for your own personal growth. Be curious. And remember, your voice matters. You never know who might need your story.
Personal Interview Questions!
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I spend time in my garden—digging in the dirt clears my mind and inspires ideas. Long walks with my dog on the beach. Cosy reads on the couch with my cat on my lap. I also love genealogy, traveling to research locations, and, of course, poking around archives and old churchyards. And precious family time always anchors my life.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An archaeologist or a historical fiction writer. I’m so lucky I get to do a blend of the two—I get to dig up the past and tell real stories through the lives of my characters.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
Probably something sensible like grilled salmon and greens. But I’d rather be having a candlelit feast in a Jacobean manor house—roast duck, spiced pears, marchpane fancies, and a goblet of claret.
What would be a perfect day?
A misty morning walk, time writing uninterrupted with my dog at my feet and my cat on the desk, a surprise research breakthrough, and a homemade dinner with friends and family. If there’s a fire in the hearth and a new book waiting before I go to bed, even better.
What is the best part of your day?
Early morning, before the world wakes up. That quiet moment with a notebook, a fresh mind, and the scent of something blooming outside.
Either or!
Tea or coffee: A pot of coffee to kickstart the day, and tea throughout to refresh and sustain
Hot or cold: Hot—nothing like cupping a warm mug and staring into space…
Movie or book: Book
Morning person or Night owl: Morning person
City or country: Country
Social Media or book: Book
Paperback or ebook: Paperback for pleasure, ebook for travel, hardback for research
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth's works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a family saga set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother's Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley in the treacherous court of Charles II as she risks everything to uncover the dangerous truth behind the discovery of the princes’ bones.
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Thank you for hosting Elizabeth St.John today, with such a fabulous interview. It makes for great reading. :-)
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club