Hereford Times - 7th January 2016 - Page 41
Hereford Times - 7th January 2016 - Page 41
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Image Details
| Date | 07/01/2016 |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Format | |
| Language | English |
| Area | Hereford Times |
| Collection Holder | |
| Date of Publication | 7th January 2016 |
| Transcription |
herefordtimescom Thursday, January 7, 2016 THE HEREFORD TIMES 41 Theatre, music and dance, film DVD, exhibitions, gig guide, puzzles Royal life and love revealed ACCLAIMED historical novelist Anne O’Brien, who lives just out- side Pembridge, publishes her lat- est, The Queen’s Choice, next week. Formerly a history teacher, Anne turned to writing novels when she and her husband George moved- from Beverley in Yorkshire’s East Riding to the 18th century cottage they now live in. “I had always thought I’d like to write and I started by writing a few short stories and had some success with them and won some local prizes. That made me look at it more seriously. When we moved here, my husband said ‘Now is your chance. See if you can.’ So I did. The rest is, quite literally, his- tory! “I decided I wanted to write something historical and tried a Regency romance, not knowing whether it would get anywhere.” Having won a competition run by Mills & Boon in conjunction with the Yorkshire Post, Anne @iQueeN’s CHolcef 5 Mother. Queen. 1‘. . By Philippa May 01432 274413 philippa.mayfrliherefordtimes.com Twitter @htnewsroom approached them and wrote his- torical romances for M&B for sev- eral years before moving to main- stream publisher Mira in 2010 for the publication of Virgin Widow, which has been followed by a fur- ther seven titles, the most recent of which is The Queen’s Choice, which tells the story of Joanna of Navarre, Queen of England and wife of King Henry IV. Attending the marriage of Richard 11, King of England in 1396, Joanna encounters Henry Bolingbroke, the Earl of Derby. Their attrac- tion is immediate and mutual, despite Joanna’s marriage to the much older John, Duke of Brittany Several years later, Henry has been crowned King of England having overthrown the tyrannical Richard, and the recently wid— owed Joanna is surprised to receive a proposal of marriage from him. To accept means losing her sons, and abandoning her Regency of Brittany, but unable to discard her still-strong feelings for Henry, Joanna reluctantly agrees. However, life in England is not what Joanna had expected. Accustomed to having her previ- ous husband‘s ear and a say in matters of policy, she is shocked to find herself shut out of politics and regarded by many as an enemy for her Breton heritage. Henry is distracted by rebellions from all corners of the country, and the repeated attempts upon his life lead him to suspect every- one — even his wife. Both are too proud to confront the distance that is growing between them. Alone, and with no one to confide in, can Joanna overcome her pride and make amends with her husband? And if the two recon- cile. can Henry maintain his hold upon the Crown and establish himself as rightful King? “Research does take time," says Anne, explaining how she approaches the daunting task of bringing history alive. “For the first month or six weeks of a new novel I do intensive research to block out the outline of the story. Then, although the research is not complete, I like to start writ- ing to get the structure in place and then I research as I go, other- wise it bogs me down. “From my point of view,” she adds, “the historical facts, if we know them, have to be kept accu- rate so it has to be real history I don’t feel free to change dates to suit my purposes. And I can‘t have a character acting in a way that‘s contrary to the outcome of their life. I can’t for example. make them softcentre when their char— acter is well documented as being the opposite. That said. there is a great deal of opportunity for the novelist to develop relationships between characters » all conversa- tions are entirely the work of the novelist. It‘s in the interactions between the characters that you can make history. “A fast-moving, compelling account of one wilful royal wom- an’s determination to defy power- ful dynastic expectations and marry the man she loves.’ said the Lancashire Evening Post of Anne’s previous novel The King ’5 Sister. The Queen ’5 Choice is published by Mira Books on Thursday. January 14. Anne O’Brien v 4‘ COURTARD HEREFORD WHAT’S ON THE SWING COMMANDERS *1}:ngon Fri 15 Jan, 7.30pm CREAM VOODOO ROOM: C“ F T U :7 "i L i: TAlCHl \\ Cour & Q1-GONG 1N HEREFORDSHIRE This Ancient Chinese martial art is suitable tor people at all ages. Get Head- hunted/.2 / Sat 16 Jan, 8pm Performed slowly the movements enhance the sense of wellbeing, help improve balance, posture, Flexibility & the immune systems by releasing tensions within the body & the mind LlVE EVENTS LlVE SCREENlNGS WEEKLY CLASSES IN BODENHAM, BROMYARD, HEREFORD, s WEOBLEY t ll_l\l ‘ DAY TIME LOCATTON CAFE BAR . . — . V, .r. a Monday OOlO 3O Brcmyord Methanis' Hall New bl "13 W .e Exniei i loNb , , _ . 1 ~ _, 10.001190 Boaenham \iilage Ha to .t. 5 e EDUQAT‘lQN 140015 00 HopelondsVH \‘veoble\ H .3 she V qulhlEbb , THE BIG 19 00—2100 Holmer Parish Hall Heie‘ozd g Egg—[Eliclb‘gT‘l/C‘DN KNlGHTS (D) (lb) Tuesday 9 30-l0 30 Homelands VH \Vecblex H ”a fine . . ............................................... ”.3012 30 Canoe Cer‘rze Castle Green Hete‘o’o Sat 9 Jan,11am 8: Wed 13 8: Thu T4 14 0015 00 Rose Garden “huge He'eic’d » - - , ~ - 2:399? . .4??? .................... is 0019 00 Masonic We? BW is “3‘ “ herefordtimes i . ‘ , y P ‘ ‘ 01432 340555 1815-1015 Silohn‘sMeihodistchoich Hewtorc .ms Wednesday 10.0011 30 Bodenham Village Hall, H ‘d shire H _ _ courtyard'orgUk Thursday 1000-“ 30 Hampton Pork URC Heretord » \ \ L H g For further information conloct 01432 830332 |
| Newspaper name | Hereford Times |