LJ Trafford
@ljtrafford.bsky.social
I write about Romans. A lot. Someone should probably stop me. Author of the Four Emperors Series set in 68/69 CE and the non fiction How to Survive in Ancient Rome, Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Rome & Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors.
BARGAIN ALERT
How to Survive in Ancient Rome my guide to the city in 95 CE is now only £7.50. Contains crucial information such as which festivals to avoid if you're squeamish, how not to upset the emperor & why you should carry a cabbage with you at all times
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/How-to-Survi...
How to Survive in Ancient Rome my guide to the city in 95 CE is now only £7.50. Contains crucial information such as which festivals to avoid if you're squeamish, how not to upset the emperor & why you should carry a cabbage with you at all times
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/How-to-Survi...
December 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
BARGAIN ALERT
How to Survive in Ancient Rome my guide to the city in 95 CE is now only £7.50. Contains crucial information such as which festivals to avoid if you're squeamish, how not to upset the emperor & why you should carry a cabbage with you at all times
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/How-to-Survi...
How to Survive in Ancient Rome my guide to the city in 95 CE is now only £7.50. Contains crucial information such as which festivals to avoid if you're squeamish, how not to upset the emperor & why you should carry a cabbage with you at all times
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/How-to-Survi...
I grew up watching Carry On films & That’s Life, a TV show that devoted a whole segment each week to vegetables that had grown into amusingly rude shapes, a primordial soup of an upbringing that means I am pre-programmed to enjoy a good knob gag.
the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
November 8, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I grew up watching Carry On films & That’s Life, a TV show that devoted a whole segment each week to vegetables that had grown into amusingly rude shapes, a primordial soup of an upbringing that means I am pre-programmed to enjoy a good knob gag.
the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
Well i had a fabulous day at the #RoystonBookFair as it was general audience I wasn't expecting too much. But I had several fascinating conversations about Romans with punters, gave my 10 minute talk twice because one lady missed it, so I did it again just for her.
And I sold a few books too!
And I sold a few books too!
September 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Well i had a fabulous day at the #RoystonBookFair as it was general audience I wasn't expecting too much. But I had several fascinating conversations about Romans with punters, gave my 10 minute talk twice because one lady missed it, so I did it again just for her.
And I sold a few books too!
And I sold a few books too!
I'm at the #RoystonBookFair this Saturday giving a short talk on how the Romans measured time, why boiled flamingo never caught on with the lower classes & why insomnia caused the death of so many Romans (according to Juvenal).
Come say hi if you are in the area.
www.roystonbookfair.co.uk
Come say hi if you are in the area.
www.roystonbookfair.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I'm at the #RoystonBookFair this Saturday giving a short talk on how the Romans measured time, why boiled flamingo never caught on with the lower classes & why insomnia caused the death of so many Romans (according to Juvenal).
Come say hi if you are in the area.
www.roystonbookfair.co.uk
Come say hi if you are in the area.
www.roystonbookfair.co.uk
I shall be at the #roystonbookfair on 27th September flogging books.
Come say Hi if you happen to be in the area.
Come say Hi if you happen to be in the area.
September 14, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I shall be at the #roystonbookfair on 27th September flogging books.
Come say Hi if you happen to be in the area.
Come say Hi if you happen to be in the area.
With my latest book proposal given the thumbs up, a research purchase
August 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
With my latest book proposal given the thumbs up, a research purchase
I had the BEST 50th birthday. My Mum & my friend Tindi joined us for a shared lunch of 2 massive pizzas, an afternoon board game tournament complete with little trophies to be won & then I stayed up far too late watching Jaws with Mr LJ (my fav film released year i was born)
August 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I had the BEST 50th birthday. My Mum & my friend Tindi joined us for a shared lunch of 2 massive pizzas, an afternoon board game tournament complete with little trophies to be won & then I stayed up far too late watching Jaws with Mr LJ (my fav film released year i was born)
The trajectory of my life
August 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The trajectory of my life
Phil the first of our guinea pigs to work out the proper way to use the hammock
August 2, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Phil the first of our guinea pigs to work out the proper way to use the hammock
Accidentally ate in a Michelin award winning pub declared by Giles Coren as the best pub in all of England.
I should have known something was amiss when I became fiercely protective of my creme brulee. I wasn’t going to let any f**ker even have a taste of it, it was all MINE.
I should have known something was amiss when I became fiercely protective of my creme brulee. I wasn’t going to let any f**ker even have a taste of it, it was all MINE.
July 31, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Accidentally ate in a Michelin award winning pub declared by Giles Coren as the best pub in all of England.
I should have known something was amiss when I became fiercely protective of my creme brulee. I wasn’t going to let any f**ker even have a taste of it, it was all MINE.
I should have known something was amiss when I became fiercely protective of my creme brulee. I wasn’t going to let any f**ker even have a taste of it, it was all MINE.
I'm in the Cotswolds on holiday! And yes it's very picture postcard pretty. Like everywhere. I'm starting to hanker after a multi story carpark, a bit of concrete & vandalism
July 31, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I'm in the Cotswolds on holiday! And yes it's very picture postcard pretty. Like everywhere. I'm starting to hanker after a multi story carpark, a bit of concrete & vandalism
If you're in York today come to Museum Gardens where I have a BARGAIN,all 4 books of the Four Emperors series for £20!!!!
May 25, 2025 at 9:37 AM
If you're in York today come to Museum Gardens where I have a BARGAIN,all 4 books of the Four Emperors series for £20!!!!
What I love most about attending events like Eboracum at York is meeting people & having a good natter about Romans. Great to see so many familiar faces & meet some online followers in the flesh.
May 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
What I love most about attending events like Eboracum at York is meeting people & having a good natter about Romans. Great to see so many familiar faces & meet some online followers in the flesh.
Still on a high from my weekend at the Leicester Roman Festival. I had an absolute blast thanks to my fellow writers & everyone who brought a book or just came for a chat. Special mentions go to @nottstony.bsky.social @ullamr.bsky.social great to meet you both in the flesh.
April 29, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Still on a high from my weekend at the Leicester Roman Festival. I had an absolute blast thanks to my fellow writers & everyone who brought a book or just came for a chat. Special mentions go to @nottstony.bsky.social @ullamr.bsky.social great to meet you both in the flesh.
Hanging out with the Turney.
April 27, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Hanging out with the Turney.
With just a black marker pen, some cardboard & my ability to talk about Romans I flogged a fair number of books on day 1 of the Leicester Roman Festival.
But even more impressive than my sales patter is this incredible structure I watched being made. It's made entirely of cardboard and parcel tape
But even more impressive than my sales patter is this incredible structure I watched being made. It's made entirely of cardboard and parcel tape
April 27, 2025 at 5:33 AM
With just a black marker pen, some cardboard & my ability to talk about Romans I flogged a fair number of books on day 1 of the Leicester Roman Festival.
But even more impressive than my sales patter is this incredible structure I watched being made. It's made entirely of cardboard and parcel tape
But even more impressive than my sales patter is this incredible structure I watched being made. It's made entirely of cardboard and parcel tape
Early a.m. manuscript work. It's far too early in the morning to be writing about this subject.
April 21, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Early a.m. manuscript work. It's far too early in the morning to be writing about this subject.
Easter Sunday lunch. Put the lamb in the slow cooker at midnight.
April 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Easter Sunday lunch. Put the lamb in the slow cooker at midnight.
The tulip bulbs I planted in the winter have become actual tulips.Have spent some hours feeding smugly pleased with my amazing ability to create something living. Which is probably how Monty Don feels every minute of his day. This explains much.
April 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The tulip bulbs I planted in the winter have become actual tulips.Have spent some hours feeding smugly pleased with my amazing ability to create something living. Which is probably how Monty Don feels every minute of his day. This explains much.
Happy Feast of the Annunciation Day.
March 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Happy Feast of the Annunciation Day.
For some reason whenever Mr LJ is pushing me about in the wheelchair this is the image that pops in my head.
Note: There are far too many cobbles in Cambridge. It was both jarring and teeth chattering.
Note: There are far too many cobbles in Cambridge. It was both jarring and teeth chattering.
March 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
For some reason whenever Mr LJ is pushing me about in the wheelchair this is the image that pops in my head.
Note: There are far too many cobbles in Cambridge. It was both jarring and teeth chattering.
Note: There are far too many cobbles in Cambridge. It was both jarring and teeth chattering.
Been into Cambridge today. Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors is in the prestigious Heffers Bookshop in a key spot nestled beside Tom Holland's Suetonius translation. Which is fitting given how much material I lifted from Suetonius for it.
Shelfie Time!
Shelfie Time!
March 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Been into Cambridge today. Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors is in the prestigious Heffers Bookshop in a key spot nestled beside Tom Holland's Suetonius translation. Which is fitting given how much material I lifted from Suetonius for it.
Shelfie Time!
Shelfie Time!
From How to Survive in Ancient Rome. Which is apparently available in both Polish and Japanese.
"Roman gods are always taking sides in wars, getting mortal women up the duff and generally ruining people’s lives. They are not a bit sorry for it."
"Roman gods are always taking sides in wars, getting mortal women up the duff and generally ruining people’s lives. They are not a bit sorry for it."
March 16, 2025 at 8:37 AM
From How to Survive in Ancient Rome. Which is apparently available in both Polish and Japanese.
"Roman gods are always taking sides in wars, getting mortal women up the duff and generally ruining people’s lives. They are not a bit sorry for it."
"Roman gods are always taking sides in wars, getting mortal women up the duff and generally ruining people’s lives. They are not a bit sorry for it."
From Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors.
Elagabalus didn’t so much as tear up the book on traditional values as set it on fire and determine to use a stick of celery instead.
Elagabalus didn’t so much as tear up the book on traditional values as set it on fire and determine to use a stick of celery instead.
March 16, 2025 at 8:33 AM
From Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors.
Elagabalus didn’t so much as tear up the book on traditional values as set it on fire and determine to use a stick of celery instead.
Elagabalus didn’t so much as tear up the book on traditional values as set it on fire and determine to use a stick of celery instead.