Matthew Harffy
@matthewharffy.bsky.social
Author of the BERNICIA CHRONICLES, the A TIME FOR SWORDS series, DARK FRONTIER, WOLF OF WESSEX. Co-host of Rock, Paper, Swords! The Historical Action and Adventure Podcast.
https://linktr.ee/MatthewHarffy
https://linktr.ee/MatthewHarffy
I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Robert Duvall. He was a wonderful actor who appeared in some of my favourite films. When I was writing Dark Frontier, I could hear his voice when writing the dialogue for Jed White. What's your favourite #RobertDuvall film?
February 16, 2026 at 10:33 PM
I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Robert Duvall. He was a wonderful actor who appeared in some of my favourite films. When I was writing Dark Frontier, I could hear his voice when writing the dialogue for Jed White. What's your favourite #RobertDuvall film?
Saddle up and get yourself down to the saloon* where I'll be spinning yarn about the American West on 24th April.
* Wrexham Carnival of Words (Wrexham Library)
#WrexCarnival @WrexCarnival #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #booklover #western
* Wrexham Carnival of Words (Wrexham Library)
#WrexCarnival @WrexCarnival #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #booklover #western
February 16, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Saddle up and get yourself down to the saloon* where I'll be spinning yarn about the American West on 24th April.
* Wrexham Carnival of Words (Wrexham Library)
#WrexCarnival @WrexCarnival #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #booklover #western
* Wrexham Carnival of Words (Wrexham Library)
#WrexCarnival @WrexCarnival #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #booklover #western
Bumped into a neighbour walking his dog and he told me (the neighbour, not the dog!) he'd just read Dark Frontier! Made my day. It got even better when he said he borrowed it from the library, which I love. If you like crime, historical fiction and the American West, try it out!
February 13, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Bumped into a neighbour walking his dog and he told me (the neighbour, not the dog!) he'd just read Dark Frontier! Made my day. It got even better when he said he borrowed it from the library, which I love. If you like crime, historical fiction and the American West, try it out!
I read somewhere that 70,000 words is the minimum length for a novel. It's still rough and there is lots more to go, but I've got something novel length now at least! #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
February 12, 2026 at 4:53 PM
I read somewhere that 70,000 words is the minimum length for a novel. It's still rough and there is lots more to go, but I've got something novel length now at least! #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
Today is publication day for Essie Fox's haunting new novel Catherine.
Listen to our conversation with Essie on Rock, Paper, Swords!
🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3F5f...
📺 YouTube: youtu.be/42EkcxvnV1I
#GothicFiction #HistoricalFiction #WritingPodcast
Listen to our conversation with Essie on Rock, Paper, Swords!
🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3F5f...
📺 YouTube: youtu.be/42EkcxvnV1I
#GothicFiction #HistoricalFiction #WritingPodcast
February 12, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Today is publication day for Essie Fox's haunting new novel Catherine.
Listen to our conversation with Essie on Rock, Paper, Swords!
🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3F5f...
📺 YouTube: youtu.be/42EkcxvnV1I
#GothicFiction #HistoricalFiction #WritingPodcast
Listen to our conversation with Essie on Rock, Paper, Swords!
🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3F5f...
📺 YouTube: youtu.be/42EkcxvnV1I
#GothicFiction #HistoricalFiction #WritingPodcast
Last night we recorded the March bonus episode for the Rock, Paper Swords! Patreon, all about our journeys into publishing.
Today it's been another day of this story is playing hard to get, but I am beating it into submission!
Today it's been another day of this story is playing hard to get, but I am beating it into submission!
February 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Last night we recorded the March bonus episode for the Rock, Paper Swords! Patreon, all about our journeys into publishing.
Today it's been another day of this story is playing hard to get, but I am beating it into submission!
Today it's been another day of this story is playing hard to get, but I am beating it into submission!
I'll be back this year at the wonderful Wrexham Carnival of Words in April. It's a great festival and I'm overjoyed to have been invited back. Full itinerary and speaker list will be released this Friday. #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing
February 11, 2026 at 11:16 AM
I'll be back this year at the wonderful Wrexham Carnival of Words in April. It's a great festival and I'm overjoyed to have been invited back. Full itinerary and speaker list will be released this Friday. #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing
Reposted by Matthew Harffy
Today’s book recommendation. I’d already read the first seven books in this series but had a break of a couple of years, then I got this for Christmas and had forgotten how much I enjoyed them. #wargaming #miniatures #earlymedieval
February 8, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Today’s book recommendation. I’d already read the first seven books in this series but had a break of a couple of years, then I got this for Christmas and had forgotten how much I enjoyed them. #wargaming #miniatures #earlymedieval
Reposted by Matthew Harffy
Huge thanks to @matthewharffy.bsky.social and @justinhillauthor.bsky.social for letting me witter on about my Princesses of the Early Middle Ages.
This was great fun!
#medievalsky
@penandswordbooks.bsky.social
mybook.to/EarlyPrincess
tinyurl.com/42d58uyd
youtu.be/Q4jHQCuMTdQ
This was great fun!
#medievalsky
@penandswordbooks.bsky.social
mybook.to/EarlyPrincess
tinyurl.com/42d58uyd
youtu.be/Q4jHQCuMTdQ
Sharon Bennett Connolly on Medieval Princesses, Power & the Norman Conquest
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Huge thanks to @matthewharffy.bsky.social and @justinhillauthor.bsky.social for letting me witter on about my Princesses of the Early Middle Ages.
This was great fun!
#medievalsky
@penandswordbooks.bsky.social
mybook.to/EarlyPrincess
tinyurl.com/42d58uyd
youtu.be/Q4jHQCuMTdQ
This was great fun!
#medievalsky
@penandswordbooks.bsky.social
mybook.to/EarlyPrincess
tinyurl.com/42d58uyd
youtu.be/Q4jHQCuMTdQ
Went to a gig last night and had to wake up early this morning to go to the dentist. This has not been conducive to a good writing day! Whatever's the opposite of flow state, I've been in that! Knocking off early. Have a great weekend!
February 6, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Went to a gig last night and had to wake up early this morning to go to the dentist. This has not been conducive to a good writing day! Whatever's the opposite of flow state, I've been in that! Knocking off early. Have a great weekend!
Throwback Thursday with an interview all about the book that started my writing career. Mary Anne asked some insighful questions and I enjoyed answering them. Feels good to take a step back and consider the road I've travelled.
maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/02/thro... #writingcommunity #amwriting
maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/02/thro... #writingcommunity #amwriting
February 5, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Throwback Thursday with an interview all about the book that started my writing career. Mary Anne asked some insighful questions and I enjoyed answering them. Feels good to take a step back and consider the road I've travelled.
maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/02/thro... #writingcommunity #amwriting
maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/02/thro... #writingcommunity #amwriting
Another day of good progress. There is still lots of story to tell and I am not clear on everything yet, but the characters are coming to life a little more each day. #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
February 5, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Another day of good progress. There is still lots of story to tell and I am not clear on everything yet, but the characters are coming to life a little more each day. #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
Throwback Thursday with an interview all about the book that started my writing career. Mary Anne asked some insighful questions and I enjoyed answering them.
Throwback Thursday! ⚔️
We’re revisiting The Serpent Sword by Matthew Harffy, looking back at the novel that launched the Bernicia Chronicles and introduced Beobrand’s journey in Dark Age Britain. 📖
Read the interview in full here:
maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/02/thro...
#HistoricalFiction 💙📚
We’re revisiting The Serpent Sword by Matthew Harffy, looking back at the novel that launched the Bernicia Chronicles and introduced Beobrand’s journey in Dark Age Britain. 📖
Read the interview in full here:
maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/02/thro...
#HistoricalFiction 💙📚
February 5, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Throwback Thursday with an interview all about the book that started my writing career. Mary Anne asked some insighful questions and I enjoyed answering them.
It was a struggle again today, but in the end I hit my target, so I'm happy I perservered. If I waited for inspiration to strike, I would never finish anything! #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
February 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
It was a struggle again today, but in the end I hit my target, so I'm happy I perservered. If I waited for inspiration to strike, I would never finish anything! #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
It's still cold, and SWORDS IN THE SNOW is still number one on Amazon UK.
mybook.to/SwordsInTheS...
Get it now and let us know what you think of it!
mybook.to/SwordsInTheS...
Get it now and let us know what you think of it!
February 2, 2026 at 3:16 PM
It's still cold, and SWORDS IN THE SNOW is still number one on Amazon UK.
mybook.to/SwordsInTheS...
Get it now and let us know what you think of it!
mybook.to/SwordsInTheS...
Get it now and let us know what you think of it!
It's a miserable, rainy day here in Wessex. Perfect for reading a good book. I'm reading NERO by Conn Iggulden. What are you reading? #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
February 1, 2026 at 3:01 PM
It's a miserable, rainy day here in Wessex. Perfect for reading a good book. I'm reading NERO by Conn Iggulden. What are you reading? #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
Another busy day. Working out royalties for the co-written novella, SWORDS IN THE SNOW, payments for the Spanish translator of my novella, DE LA CASTA DE CAIN, an email to a very cool prospective guest for the podcast, and even some writing! Have a great weekend!
January 30, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Another busy day. Working out royalties for the co-written novella, SWORDS IN THE SNOW, payments for the Spanish translator of my novella, DE LA CASTA DE CAIN, an email to a very cool prospective guest for the podcast, and even some writing! Have a great weekend!
Still making good progress, though it was like wading through treacle today! Onward and upward! #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
January 29, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Still making good progress, though it was like wading through treacle today! Onward and upward! #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
We interviewed @CarolynManc (Carolyn O'Brien) last night. While editing, one quote jumped out at me:
"The opposite of fascism isn't communism or socialism, its love and common decency"
The episode will be out on 20th February. Don't miss it!
"The opposite of fascism isn't communism or socialism, its love and common decency"
The episode will be out on 20th February. Don't miss it!
January 28, 2026 at 3:48 PM
We interviewed @CarolynManc (Carolyn O'Brien) last night. While editing, one quote jumped out at me:
"The opposite of fascism isn't communism or socialism, its love and common decency"
The episode will be out on 20th February. Don't miss it!
"The opposite of fascism isn't communism or socialism, its love and common decency"
The episode will be out on 20th February. Don't miss it!
Reposted by Matthew Harffy
Looking forward to hearing from Vaseem, Justin, and Matthew at HNS 2026
Historical crime, empire, action, and setting as character.
We talk The Edge of Darkness with Vaseem Khan on the latest Rock, Paper, Swords episode.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/3Fjg...
📺 youtu.be/Iq7h-dd0taI
#AmWriting #HistoricalCrime
We talk The Edge of Darkness with Vaseem Khan on the latest Rock, Paper, Swords episode.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/3Fjg...
📺 youtu.be/Iq7h-dd0taI
#AmWriting #HistoricalCrime
January 28, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Looking forward to hearing from Vaseem, Justin, and Matthew at HNS 2026
I'm delighted to announce that Justin Hill and I will be at the Herne's Arrow Event in May interviewing cast and crew of the ever-popular Robin of Sherwood TV series. Tickets on sale now!
www.hernesarrowevents.com/
#RobinHood #RobinOfSherwood
www.hernesarrowevents.com/
#RobinHood #RobinOfSherwood
January 26, 2026 at 9:46 PM
I'm delighted to announce that Justin Hill and I will be at the Herne's Arrow Event in May interviewing cast and crew of the ever-popular Robin of Sherwood TV series. Tickets on sale now!
www.hernesarrowevents.com/
#RobinHood #RobinOfSherwood
www.hernesarrowevents.com/
#RobinHood #RobinOfSherwood
A good start to the week. Edited what I wrote on Friday, wrote and edited 1,500 more words. How's your week going so far? #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
January 26, 2026 at 4:45 PM
A good start to the week. Edited what I wrote on Friday, wrote and edited 1,500 more words. How's your week going so far? #author #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting #writer #writing #authors #booklover #bookworm
Spotted by writer friend Gregory Stewart in Wrexham Waterstones. I'm excited to have been invited to speak at Wrexham Carnival of Words again on April 24th! More details coming soon.
January 26, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Spotted by writer friend Gregory Stewart in Wrexham Waterstones. I'm excited to have been invited to speak at Wrexham Carnival of Words again on April 24th! More details coming soon.
No writing today, but lots of editing and other stuff, especially these two episodes of Rock, Paper, Swords! A Patreon bonus and one with Sharon Bennett Connolly. If you are thinking of signing up to Patreon, you have till end of Jan. to get up to 20% off the 1st month. So don't delay!
January 23, 2026 at 4:38 PM
No writing today, but lots of editing and other stuff, especially these two episodes of Rock, Paper, Swords! A Patreon bonus and one with Sharon Bennett Connolly. If you are thinking of signing up to Patreon, you have till end of Jan. to get up to 20% off the 1st month. So don't delay!