As you’ve seen with the Roma Nova adventures, the whole idea of history taking an alternative path fascinates many people. I was delighted to be invited to join with a group of other authors a little while ago to explore that unique year in English history – 1066. Although there had been mingling of cultures and commerce before, this was the year that Saxon England died and the Norman ascendancy changed the country forever.
Like anybody else interested in history, I knew the general drift of the dramatic stories of courage, shipwreck, blackmail, invasion, self-belief and the romantic allure of ‘the last stand’. Inserting an 11th century Roman into that was a research challenge, but enormous fun. The Mitela of that period, Galla, had a thrilling adventure as well as making a significant intervention in ‘history’.
 My guest, Helen Hollick knows this period like the back of her hand. So I was intrigued (no, bursting with curiosity to be truthful) about why she had thought up the idea of alternatives to the history we know.
So tell us, Helen, why?
Well why not? *laugh*. Seriously, speculative ‘what if’ fiction apart from being highly popular is immensely interesting as a subject of debate between anyone interested in history. What if the Romans had not invaded Britain (as they didn’t invade Ireland or too far into Scotland), what if the White Ship had not sunk – Henry I’s son would not have drowned, would have become the next king, therefore, no civil war between Stephen and Mathilda, no Henry II and no Plantagenets… What If Richard III had won at Bosworth, Katherine of Aragon had borne a healthy son to Henry VIII – the subjects are endless, and one alternative can lead to another. 1066 is a prime example, and 1066onites (is that a viable word?) like nothing more than speculating whatcould have happened if King Harold II had won that day on a battlefield seven or so miles from the coast at Hastings. Harold followers (as I am) also like to place him in a good light – he is an English hero to many, he died nobly, defending his kingdom against foreign invasion by a ruthless tyrant.
Do you think alternative history can be considered as historical fiction?
Oh yes, definitely! (The clue is in the word ‘fiction’). Fiction isn’t real, it’s made-up imagination, so why shouldn’t alternative ideas, scenarios, beginnings and endings with ahistorical feel or connection be regarded as quality fiction – providing it is written well and comes across as believable and plausible. Your own Roma Nova series, Alison, is a very good example. The events and the people are not real, it never happened or existed, Roma Nova is not a real place – but – it could have been. The stories are written so skilfully with meticulous research and exquisite detail that many a Roma Nova reader cannot understand why we cannot find the place on a map! And in a way, is not all historical fiction speculative and even alternative? No one knows for certain the actual facts, after all!
In the anthology 1066 Turned Upside Down, only one of the contributing authors writes in the alternative history genre – me. One other writes science fiction and you and Joanna Courtney managed the whole project. So how did you go about persuading other very well-respected writers of standard historical fiction to join in?
Oh I’m very good at twisting arms… Those of us who write ‘straight’ historical fiction jumped at the chance to change the course of history. In one of Joanna’s stories Harald Hardrada of Norway wins at Stamford Bridge in September 1066 (which could then lead to more debate: Duke William of Normandy had already landed on the south coast – would Hardrada have also fought him? Would he have won or lost? If he lost, the Norman Conquest would still have happened…) In one of my two stories included in the anthology, William’s fleet was defeated at sea by the English Navy (although I confess, this isn’t really speculation, I very firmly believe that this happened.) In a way all of the stories in the collection are ‘alternative’ in that they are all ‘what if’ based, but I specifically wanted you, Alison, aboard as I felt, at the time (a good few years ago now!) that the history of Roma Nova should be expanded. I remember saying to you: “But if Roma Nova was real, and it has survived until the present day its people would have been most concerned about the events of 1066? Surely they would have at least taken note, if not directly intervened?” And I also really wanted to know what Duke William would have thought of women holding the reins of power.
Do you have any plans to explore other ‘what ifs’?
Yes, although organising such things is not as easy as it first looks! I would like to explore the possibility of a follow-up ‘History Turned Upside Down’ instead of concentrating on a single year, have an alternative ‘what if’ for each century: What If Boudicca had won? What if Alfred The Great had lost to the Danes? What If the Black Death had come much later? What If … what if… the possibilities could fill several huge tomes. I’d like to have something in common tucked into each story, maybe a ring or a facial feature for a character, or each story must have a horse, dog or cat in it, or… well, you get the drift! I might get around to organising this project in 2022. Watch this space – applications to join in, welcome!
You can buy 1066 Turned Upside Down from these retailers: Amazon Nook Kobo Apple
Helen Hollick moved her family from north-east London in 2013 to an eighteenth-century North Devon farm house through being a ‘victim’ on BBC TV’s popular Escape To The Country show. Talk about changing your life’s time-line! She enjoys her new rural life, and has a variety of animals on the farm, including hens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats, goats, Exmoor ponies and her daughter’s string of show jumpers.
Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) novels that explore events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she also writes a pirate-based nautical adventure/fantasy series, The Sea Witch Voyages. She has contributed to two short story anthologies, 1066 Turned Upside Down and Betrayal.
She’s now branching out into the quick read novella, ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with her new venture, the Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working for thirteen years as a library assistant. Another divergence from her personal time-line…
Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She also runs Discovering Diamonds, a review blog for historical fiction, a news and events blog for her village and the Community Shop, sometimes assists as ‘secretary for the day’ at her daughter’s regular showjumping shows – and occasionally gets time to write…
Connect with Helen
Website: www.helenhollick.net
Blog: www.ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenHollick @HelenHollick
Amazon Author Page (Universal Link) http://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
Newsletter Subscription: http://tinyletter.com/HelenHollick
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HelenHollickAuthor
Discovering Diamonds Historical Fiction Review Blog :
https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.co.uk/
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. Double Pursuit, the sequel, is now out!
Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
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Do you ever wish things might have turned out differently in the past, or that we could know all those enticing titbits of hidden history? In all the short story collections I’ve participated in, I’ve always written on this theme.
So in the two previous posts about short stories, we’ve looked at alternative outcomes to 1066, then at multiple aspects of the 1229 year history of Rome (in the West).
This time, we’re going for a whole stretch of history. Spanning eras from post-Roman Britain to the present day, this collection brings to life legendary moments of deceit as well as imagined episodes of treachery.
In The Idealist, you meet Roma Nova’s much-loved Carina and Conrad again. Carina is in top snappy form as you’d expect but she’s devastated to discover a dark piece of Mitela family history from the 1840s which could rebound into the 21st century and bring ruin and exile for her, her children and family into perpetuity. (So nothing too drastic… 😉 )
I know, writing a dual timeline short story was madness, but you do get 12,000 words from me!
In stories by the other authors, you’ll encounter princes, soldiers, noblewomen, knights, highwaymen, pirates, and ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. All of these characters have something in common, though – betrayal. Collectively, these stories illustrate the truth that whatever its source – family, foe, lover, comrade – betrayal has devastating consequences.
Based on two continents and in five countries, the Historical Fictioneers include Judith Arnopp, Cryssa Bazos, Anna Belfrage, Derek Birks, Helen Hollick, Amy Maroney, me, Char Newcomb, Tony Riches, Mercedes Rochelle, Elizabeth St John and Annie Whitehead.
And with these colleagues three of the four benefits of writing such collections were fulfilled many times over:
- an opportunity to stretch your writing muscles
- fun to join in a project with writing colleagues (new and old)
- a chance to strut your stuff to their readers and beyond
The fourth, ‘sometimes you make a few bob’ doesn’t apply as we made the decision to offer the collection free of charge on Amazon, Apple, B&N Nook, Kobo and many other ebook retailers. You can go to them all via this link: https://books2read.com/BetrayalAnthology
Here’s an extract from my story set in 1849/the present about Statia Mitela who was much too much of an idealist for her own good. And she never dreamed it could affect her 21st century descendant, Carina.
Outskirts of Rome, Italy, 2nd July 1849
‘Mercury be thanked,’ Statia rasped when she saw the ancient milestone ‘Roma VI.’ And these would be six good Roman miles. She swallowed hard which made her dry throat worse. Despite the broad-brimmed riding hats the four of them wore, the brutal heat of the early July sun beat down, exhausting them all. Statia pulled up her mount under the shade of one of the occasional clumps of pines and patted his shoulder almost absent-mindedly. The poor horse, a hired animal, was as weary as she was. And as dusty from the road.
‘Domina?’ Her leading companion drew up beside her.
‘I need a drink, Valerius,’ she said and swivelled round in her saddle. The other two riders were only a few paces behind. ‘And so do the animals.’
‘The Anio below us would be best and we can rest by the bank.’
They picked their way down to the river where Valerius supervised the two servants watering the horses. After a few moments, he left them to it and sat by Statia on the wool rug she had pulled from her saddle pack.
‘Yes,’ she said as he stared at it. ‘I know. Well and good for the mountains we’ve come through from the Adriatic, but inappropriate for Rome in June. But even though we’re incognito, I don’t want to enter Rome with grass stains or mud on my breeches’ arse.’
Valerius laughed. The first time, Statia noted, since they’d left Roma Nova eleven days ago under the cover of darkness. She hadn’t known what a terrible sailor he was until they’d slipped out of Pula in Istria on the merchant ship. He’d kept a pale, grim, nearly green face until they’d landed safely at Aternum, or Pescara as the Italians called it now.
A former Praetorian centurion, Valerius was used to travelling fast through mountains on ramshackle cold trails. These days, he guarded her home, the Domus Mitelarum, but more than that, he gave her, informally, wise counsel almost as a father would. He’d tried to stop her mission, calling it demented, but had given in with a grunt when she said she would go with or without him. Now they were near Rome, Statia was starting to have her doubts. Perhaps she should have stayed on the farm at Castra Lucilla where she knew what she was doing.
No, she must go on, whatever the cost. She had promised and that was an end on it. She knew the consequences could be harsh, but she was sure the imperatrix would see the justice of it. Well, Statia hoped she would. Constantia Apulia’s disinclination to help the new Roman Republic played on Statia’s mind. Consulted in strictest confidence, Councillor Branca, the imperatrix’s chief advisor, had pointed out to Statia that it would be reckless and would have to be carried out in the utmost secrecy if she insisted on going ahead.
Despite their friendship since childhood, a running dispute over land near Castra Lucilla had soured their relationship. Branca desperately wanted back the spelt fields that had been sold by her ancestor to Mitela in the fifteenth century. However, despite their bickering Statia had felt obliged to consult Branca about her self-imposed mission as the latter was the Imperatrix’s chief councillor. Statia hadn’t been fully reassured by Branca’s words but she hoped the councillor would act honourably and support Statia if there were repercussions.
——
Branca. Hm. Was Statia right to trust her? And what was the secret mission that nineteenth century Roma Novan Statia was engaged on? And how di the repercussions run down the centuries?
Download a free copy of Betrayal and you will find out! https://books2read.com/BetrayalAnthology
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. Double Pursuit, the sequel, is now out!
Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
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 In my previous post, I outlined four good reasons for joining with other writers to produce a book of short stories.
- an opportunity to stretch your writing muscles
- fun to join in a project with writing colleagues (new and old)
- a chance to strut your stuff to their readers and beyond
- sometimes you make a few bob
My first time was for a collection of speculative stories around that iconic English history event –1066. Nine of us wondered about how things could have gone differently. More here, plus an excerpt about a Roman in a very strange situation…
But today, I’m looking at RUBICON, described by Discovering Diamonds Reviews as “An engrossing mix of style, pace and subject: political, warfare, greed, sacrifice, alternative, mischief, humour…”
How did I become involved?
In early 2019, I was invited to join a writing project organised jointly by the Historical Writers Association and Sharpe Books. In July 2019, the result was a collection of ten fabulous stories of Ancient Rome.
Now, a number of my fellow authors were old friends and their books were already on my bookshelves or my Kindle; total joy to read their familiar characters’ mini adventures. But through this new collection, I discovered new authors and thus new windows into different aspects of the Roman world.
So what’s in Rubicon?
Soldiers, statesmen and spies, not to mention pioneers, palace shenanigans, politics in Britannia, pirates, battles, faith, greed, sacrifice and the lives of ordinary – and extraordinary – Romans, such as Ovid, Marcus Agrippa and a young Julius Caesar, and imaginary ones like Roma Nova’s founders Apulius and Mitelus.
Plus, an exclusive interview with each author – why write and why Rome? Ancient Rome from the Republic through to the dusk of Empire was, of course, always about people who were so different, yet so like us.
Authors & Stories Featured in Rubicon:
Nick Brown – Maker of Gold
Gordon Doherty – Eagles in the Desert
Ruth Downie – Alter Ego
Richard Foreman – A Brief Affair
Alison Morton – Mystery of Victory
Anthony Riches – The Invitation
Antonia Senior – Exiles
Peter Tonkin – The Roman
L.J. Trafford – The Wedding
S.J. Turney – The Praetorian
Where can you buy Rubicon?
Ebook: Amazon UK Amazon US
Paperback: Amazon UK Amazon US
Here’s an excerpt from the beginning of Mystery of Victory
Rome, AD395
‘No!’
A tall man about forty years, Lucius Apulius, a young senator from an old family, darted forwards to block the soldiers. The centurion drew his sword and thrust it in Apulius’s face. The tip travelled down to touch the skin at the base of Apulius’s throat. The young senator didn’t flinch, but an arm as inflexible as iron barred him going further. His father.
‘Sheath your sword, centurion,’ Apulius senior commanded. ‘The Curia is no place for weapons.’
The soldier snorted. ‘Begging your honour’s pardon,’ he said, ‘but that don’t mean much these days. I take my orders from the Augustus. Stand aside.’
Neither of the Apulii moved. The centurion sheathed his sword and moved away to supervise the legionaries shuffling round them, sweating as they pulled a builder’s handcart up the steps and between the banks of seating towards the altar of Victory.
The statue soared over them, golden, wings outstretched, one leg forward, escaping her wind-caught robe, her feet barely touching the globe. Victory’s arm, bent at a shallow angle at the elbow, offered the laurel crown to the winner. In her other hand, she grasped a palm branch, the tip resting on her shoulder.
When the Romans seized her after Pyrrhus of Epirus abandoned her in Tarentum, she ceased being Nike, who had fought alongside the Olympian gods against the Titans, and became Victory. Octavian brought her to his city after defeating the Egyptian queen Kleopatra and her lover Marcus Antonius. When he recast himself as Augustus, he placed golden Victory in the Senate and recast her as the symbol of Rome, her numen. While she stood, Rome would never fall.
Fresh from his victory at the Frigidus River, four hundred years after his god was born, Theodosius the Christian had marched into the Senate, paused and stared at the statue of Victory with his hard fanatic’s eyes.
Now, twenty of Theodosius’ soldiers plodded into the Curia. They ignored the shocked faces of the senators whose first loud protests faded to mutterings, which died when the centurion gave a curt command to the work party to line the approach to the ancient square altar, swords out and ready.
‘In Jupiter’s name, stop!’ the younger Apulius shouted, the only one to break the silence.
The centurion turned slowly, a cynical look on his face as he looked Apulius up and down. The only sound in the curia came from metal on cloth and the creak of leather boots. Every eye was on the two men.
‘Jupiter? That old women’s tale?’ the centurion said after a pause. He snorted. ‘Christ is our god, and the only one. You’d do well to remember that. Sir.’ He added in a tone half a breath off a sneer.
He flicked his fingers impatiently at the four legionaries surrounding the altar. They hesitated. A trace of incense hung in the air as it had for hundreds of years. They glanced at the watching senators, the walls, the floor, each other, but none dared to look up at Victory. Apulius wished she would come off her globe and take flight, scattering them like panicking sheep.
—————–
But what happened to the statue of Victory? Bag a copy of Rubicon and read on…
You can buy RUBICON here:
Ebook: Amazon UK Amazon US
Paperback: Amazon UK Amazon US
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. Double Pursuit, the sequel, is now out!
Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
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