fourteenthcenturyfiend.com

Well folks, send out the heralds and blow the trumpets.

I am delighted to announce that after weeks of discussions with my editor at Amberley, we have today signed off on the front cover of my book.

Here it is….

The image is taken from a beautiful manuscript held by Corpus Christi College Cambridge, who kindly gave me permission to use it.

The image depicts the coronation of Edward II in February 1308. Surrounded by his magnates, lay and ecclesiastical, Edward receives in the literal and symbolic sense, his somewhat doomed inheritance. The next nineteen years would go on to witness political calamity, brutal murders, revenge and betrayals on epic proportions. Many of the men surrounding the king in this image would desert him in 1326, some more actively involved than others in ultimately bringing him down from power. I’ve always found this image intensely powerful on so many levels and so I am delighted to have it on the jacket.

The brief I gave to my editor and the designer was to make the jacket look rich, colourful and bold because this reflects the medieval world in which Edward II lived. It has always been important to me that the imagery used and the look and feel should be full of integrity that best reflects the period. I would like to think that they have most certainly achieved that.

Within the next few weeks the book will be available for pre-order. Once this becomes possible I will of course let you all know and also post the links to the various sites, including all good bookshops, were can you purchase it if you wish.

At the moment, I am currently working every hour of the day and night to finish off and tidy up my manuscript which I have to submit to my editor on 31 May. After that the team at Amberley really get to work turning my manuscript into a physical book. I can’t wait.

The release date for the hardback is Wednesday 15 November, just in time for Christmas!

Lastly, I also have exciting news about a potential book launch, but you will have to wait just a little longer for that as we firm up details.

With very best wishes to you all

Stephen