Interesting mix on the bookshelf. Could get a little confusing.

I recently asked for feedback on sample covers for my next historical novel. After some disastrous AI-heavy efforts, I have decided to go with this one. It's very striking, imo, and captures the 'feel' I was looking for.

Lest I forget: here are my pics of one of the Viking graffiti/runic scriptures at Hagia Sophia. The name HALFDAN is apparently legible, or even 'HALFDAN WAS HERE' or similar.

Drama at Dara (3). The climactic moments of Belisarius's great victory at Dara in 530.

byzantine5.substack.com/p/drama-at-d...

"Ok, so which one of you stupid bastards added William Wallace to the group chat?"

(Nerdy historical joke not at all inspired by current events)

#OTD in 1796 Napoleon Bonaparte married his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais.

Not tonight, Josephine. Oh no, actually, tonight is good.

Roll up, roll up, fellow authors - my offer of guest spots on my blog still stands. Let's be 'aving you! Just PM me and we can set it up.

Oooh, my series is at #1 and #2 on Amazon hot new releases - HOT, I tell you!

That will show the bastards who said I would never amount to anything. Actually nobody has ever spoken to me like that. My childhood was fine. I think I dropped an ice-cream once. But still.

HOT.

OUT NOW - KINGBREAKER (I): REBEL AND TRAITOR

"This arm upholds the house of Lancaster."

1461. England is at war, and John de Vere is just getting started...

#newrelease #kindle #histfic #medieval #York #Lancaster #historicalfiction #historicalfiction

shorturl.at/6E1iO

OUT 5 FEBRUARY - KINGBREAKER (II): A STAR AND STREAMS

“Treason! Treason!”

1470. The rival houses of Lancaster and York prepare for the final clash…

#newrelease #kindle #histfic #medieval #York #Lancaster #historicalfiction #historicalfiction

shorturl.at/6SDGb

An original 1843 edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, in which successful entrepreneur and fundraiser for Union workhouses, Ebenezer Scrooge, is swindled out of his savings by a criminal consortium. A cautionary tale.

#OTD in 1688 James II of England and VII of Scotland (or vice versa) fled from London to Paris after being righteously deposed/wickedly betrayed during the Glorious Revolution/Protestant Propaganda Orgy.

There. All bases covered, I think. *Wipes brow*

#OTD in 1431 Henry VI of England was crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris.

Also on this day, in 1653, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.

As any fule nose, these both worked out fantastically well. Mm-hm.

#OTD in 1294 Edward I issued a pardon to one Ieuaf ap Adda, lord of Trevor in Denbighshire, for the death of an English soldier, Roger Eyton. The pardon was granted at Conwy Castle, where Edward was supposedly besieged by the Welsh. Odd.

Attached is a pic of Ieuaf's tomb at Valle Crucis abbey.

#OTD in 1890 the Hunkpapa Lakota leader, Sitting Bull, was killed at his home on the Standing Rock Agency, Grand River, South Dakota.

The death of Sitting Bull helped to trigger the Wounded Knee Massacre, in which nearly three hundred Lakota people were shot dead by the US army.

Hey look, it's this guy.

(Guaranteed million likes and shares. Probably).

#OTD in 1542 Mary Stuart became Queen of Scots upon the death of her father, James V. She was apparently married to Timothy Dalton, until he was blown up by some hairy men.

Feel free to add flesh to this narrative.