Barbara DENVIL - Blessop's Wife

All the other historical situations described in my novel are accurate according to what is known from historical records. The actions of the Woodville family, the difficulties following King Edward’s death, the circumstances of his death (though not the cause), and the election of Richard III as king following the declaration of King Edward’s marriage as bigamous, are all absolutely accurate according to contemporary accounts and the remaining official documentation.

I am much indebted to many historical experts and books for my research on this era – both those Tudor sources clearly antagonistic towards Richard III’s reign and those contemporary and less politically biased accounts, then also to those more modern and muted studies which attempt to cut through the old propaganda, presenting a more open-minded summary of whatever can be discovered concerning this eventful and puzzling time in history.

I have the greatest pleasure in acknowledging the enormous help and encouragement which has been given to me throughout the months I spent writing this book by my family and friends, in particular my daughter Gill and my granddaughter Emma without whom I could not have reached this stage. I also wish to thank the two much admired experts on the historical era that serves as a background to my fictional story.

The first of these, Annette Carson who has recently been a major part of the Looking For Richard project, backing Philippa Langley and John Ashdown Hill in discovering the exact place of Richard III’s long lost grave in Leicester, England, in August 2012 and so, with the negotiated co-operation of the archaeological team at Leicester University, finding his certified remains. She is also the author of three excellent non-fiction books on the life of this medieval king and the mysteries and controversies surrounding him. Her remarkable first book, Richard III: The Maligned King , has now been followed by outstanding others. The second historical expert is Brian Wainwright, author of the brilliant books Within the Fetterloch , The Adventures of Alianore Audley and more.

I am immensely grateful to both for their immense generosity and expertise, for although I write fiction, I am extremely serious about the absolute accuracy of my backgrounds and the authenticity of all historical facts included in my stories. But naturally, should any mistakes have crept in unannounced, the fault is mine.

Barbara Gaskell Denvil

My passion is for late English medieval history and this forms the background for my historical fiction. I also have a love of fantasy and the wild freedom of the imagination, with its haunting threads of sadness and the exploration of evil. Although all my books have romantic undertones, I would not class them purely as romances. We all wish to enjoy some romance in our lives, there is also a yearning for adventure, mystery, suspense, friendship and spontaneous experience. My books include all of this and more, but my greatest loves are the beauty of the written word, and the utter fascination of good characterisation. Bringing my characters to life is my principal aim.

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