A Tarnished Crown in a Sparkling Setting
Resolute Books member and author Sue Russell had a fantastic weekend at the official launch of both Resolute and her friend Claire Dunn’s new novel. What did she think of this work of historical fiction? You can find out below.
New enterprises are always fun, but also challenging. When my friend and fellow novelist Claire Dunn came up with the idea of forming an independent collaborative consortium of authors, I was all for it. Over the last year, we have slowly built up what has become Resolute Books into a group of eleven authors, editors and designers.
Our tagline, “For the joy of reading” encapsulates our vision. Beautifully written and produced books to give our readers the best possible experience, ranging across a wide expanse of genres.
Every new enterprise needs a launch and ours was last Saturday in the glorious surroundings of West Dorset. The sun was shining as a selection of authors awoke, drank their tea, munched their toast and set about the serious business of putting up tents, chilling champagne and constructing book displays. As well as being the official launch of Resolute Books, Saturday was the day Claire launched the first volume in the Tarnished Crown series of historical fiction.
6 of our 11 authors. From left to right, Paul Trembling, Edward de Chazal, Claire Dunn, Sarah Nicholson, Ruth Leigh and Sue Russell
Wheel of Fortune is now out in the world and available to be read. I have had the privilege of reading not only this first title but also the second, Sun Ascendant, and can say with confidence that it goes from strength to strength. The research behind the series, fuelled by the author's long-held love of the period, is deep and wide, but it never obtrudes; instead it underpins the narrative and adds a profound sense of credibility to a compelling story of one woman's battle for survival - her own and that of her lands - in a time of turmoil and ever-present danger. The author's knowledge brings the background to vibrant life, and her expressive writing makes for a page-turning and engrossing read.
At the end of this book I emerged, blinking and a little dazed, into the world of today from my immersion in the fifteenth century - such is this author's power of evocation. Even if you are not usually a reader of historical fiction, this series may well turn you into one!
The book duly launched on a tide of French champagne and hand-made canapes, the authors scattered to their homes in other parts of the UK, all clutching their own precious signed copy of Wheel of Fortune. If you would like to get your hands on your very own copy, all you have to do is visit Claire’s website at:www.cfdunn.co.uk or go to Amazon or a good bookshop.
Claire herself has the last word.
“Wheel of Fortune is the story of two men, one woman, and a lie. Born into a period of intense conflict, all Isobel Fenton wants is to live in peace in her beloved manor of Beaumancote overlooking the river Humber and to tend her garden. But no one remains immune to the ripples created by the fight for the Crown and, caught in the web at the centre of power, Isobel must negotiate extremes of courage and moral ambiguity in her bid to survive.”