Guest author: Jennifer C. Wilson and her Kindred Spirits - by Alex Marchant
Over recent months, I’ve
widened the circle of authors I ‘know’ (‘know’, in quotes, because most I’ve ‘met’
online via social media rather than in person) and the variety of genres in
which they write too, ranging across historical fiction, thrillers, children’s
picture books, queer fiction, YA, romance, fantasy and all points betwixt and between.
But the original core of authors I first encountered online are firmly rooted
in my own current ‘genre’, if such it is: Ricardian fiction. That is, writing
inspired by King Richard III.
I’m not sure there is any
other English monarch who has his or her own particular brand of fiction, which
in fact spans many more regular ‘genres’ – from the more obvious – historical
fiction and romance – to the perhaps less obvious, such as time-slip, detective
and paranormal fictions, and even opera. And we all have a single aim – to bring
the story of the real Richard III to the wider public, to help restore his
reputation after the damage inflicted by William Shakespeare and various
writers who preceded him, all working under the Tudor dynasty founded by the
man who usurped his throne.
This wide spectrum of genres
means that this story can be brought to a wide spectrum of readers too, which
is great for furthering the message. You don’t fancy romance? Try a straight
historical take, with some brutal battles and politicking at its centre. Prefer
a lighter read, with a three-sentence summary of the complexities of the Wars
of the Roses? Why not check out the children’s/YA version. Looking for
something just a little different? That’s where my guest today comes in.
I first ‘met’ Jennifer C. Wilson
when two of our books were about to share a publication day – 2nd October, King
Richard’s birthday. But Jen was way ahead of me, having already published the
first two of her Kindred Spirits tales
– the first set in the Tower of London, the second on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile – revelling
in the (after)lives of the communities of ghosts who just might inhabit those
iconic places because of connections during their lifetimes. A third Kindred Spirits followed soon after, based
at Westminster Abbey, although the October launch was of a time-slip romance, The Last Plantagenet?
There’s a thread running
through most of these books, the clue being in that last title. And here’s Jen
to tell you a little about her latest publication, Kindred Spirits: York, and her work in progress...
Jennifer C. Wilson says:
Hi Alex, and thanks for letting me share
your blog space today. Although we haven’t met (yet), I feel we’ve a lot in
common, especially when it comes to our leading man, and, dare I say it without
sounding cliched, our muse? I could probably write this entire post without
mentioning his name, but then what would the search engines think of us!
I know I’m a latecomer to the
Richard III writing community, but it is such a lovely group to be part of. I’m
so glad I managed to get a foot in the door, and be part of a group which is
bringing this maligned monarch to new audiences with every release. For me, I
couldn’t find a ‘way in’ to writing a traditional historical fiction approach
to Richard’s story, however hard I tried. It wasn’t until the Kindred Spirits idea struck me that I
finally got there. Why did it have to be a traditional historical fiction
approach after all? Others were already great at that, so why not do something
different? After all, surely having a range of ‘responses’ to Richard III could
only be a good thing?
Following the discovery of
Richard’s skeleton in Leicester, and his reburial, there had been a real surge
in the already-turning tide of opinion, and being part of that has been nothing
but a joy. I’ve also found that, weirdly, I’m struggling to write when he isn’t
part of the cast now. In my most-recent release, Kindred Spirits: York, I jumped at the chance to have Richard come
back to a city which clearly meant a lot to him. What would he think of the
Richard III Experience, for example, or of the Henry VII one, for that matter? He
doesn’t necessarily hang around for the whole book, but having him there even
for part of it made the words flow so much more easily.
At the moment, I’m reworking a
border reiver romance, which I had always imagined as being set in the 1530s.
But the words just weren’t flowing, and I’d been floundering for weeks. Then,
in a flash of inspiration, I had it: Richard had been Warden of the West March
in the early 1470s. So, although it will mean a bit more research to get some
of the details right, I’m now moving the book back sixty years or so, to when
Richard would have been active in the area. He won’t be a major part of the
plot, he may not even actually appear ‘on page’, I haven’t decided yet. But
strangely, although I’ve not yet started the rewriting, I’m already feeling a
lot more excited than I was previously.
I guess that shows me who I
need to be writing about going forward. Now, I just need to work out how to
write him into my contemporary romance…
About Kindred Spirits
In the Kindred
Spirits series, we meet the ghosts of historical characters, in a range of
contemporary settings. Have you ever wondered what Richard III and Anne Boleyn
might have in common, what Mary, Queen of Scots is getting up to now, or what
happens when the visitors leave some of the most popular attractions in the
country? Well, here’s your chance!
In the fourth of the series, we’re heading to York, and a whole new
community of ghosts are ready to greet us, including some visiting favourites,
taking advantage of a much speedier transport system than they were ever used
to…
Kindred
Spirits: York
In the ancient city of York, something
sinister is stirring...
What do a highwayman, an infamous
traitor, and two hardened soldiers have in common? Centuries of friendship, a
duty to the town, and a sense of mischief – until they realise that someone is
trying to bring chaos to their home.
Joining forces with local
Vikings, the four friends keep an eye on the situation, but then, disaster
strikes.
Can peace be restored both inside
and out of the city walls?
Published by
Crooked Cat Books, 31 January 2019
Praise for the Kindred Spirits series
“A light
hearted, humorous, and at times tender read which you'll enjoy whether you like
history or not.”
“This
light-hearted, imaginative read is a new take on historical fiction but make no
mistake, this is not only a fun read but an educational tool.”
“A brilliantly
unique idea from a distinctive new voice in fiction.”
“A darn good
read.”
Praise for Kindred Spirits: York
Another joyous ghostly romp from the pen of
Jennifer C. Wilson. The nightly ghost walks around the ancient city of York
will never seem the same again after you read this – with its tales of kings
and queens, saints and sinners (Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes anyone?), spending
their afterlives among the iconic streets and sites of the town they frequented
in life. But this is no sleepy existence: unruly spirits are disrupting the
lives of both the living and the dead. With Romans, Vikings, medieval warriors
and traitors to the Crown never the most natural of companions, it takes little
to stir them up to wreak some light-hearted ghostly havoc – until, that is,
events take a shocking turn....
With early special guest
appearances from some of my own favourite Yorkists (and a less-agreeable Tudor
hanger-on) visiting a city they once loved, the book offers another sparkling
cast of the dearly (not-quite) departed. What’s not to like? Except thinking
once again ‘I wish I’d had that idea!’ – Alex Marchant, author of The Order
of the White Boar.
I love this series and it’s going from
strength to strength. This one was great, the author has created a little gem.
From Richard III taking a day trip to Harry Hotspur, Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes
protecting their city, this is probably my favourite so far. Really looking
forward to seeing where the author has us visiting next. – Amazon Reviewer.
About Jennifer
Jennifer C.
Wilson is a marine biologist by training, who developed an equal passion for
history and historical fiction whilst stalking Mary, Queen of Scots on
childhood holidays (she has since moved on to Richard III). Enrolling on an
adult education workshop on her return to the north-east of England for work
reignited her pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks
ever since.
In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and has
been working on a number of projects since, including co-hosting the North
Tyneside Writers’ Circle. Her Kindred Spirits novels are published by Crooked
Cat Books and her time-slip novella, The
Last Plantagenet?, by Ocelot Press.
She lives in North Tyneside, and is very proud of her approximately
2-inch sea view.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inkjunkie1984
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