Rock, Paper, Swords!

Link Tree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords⁠ Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠ Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to ⁠buymeacoffee.com/rockpaperswordsBuy UPRISING, this week's sponsor from Paul Bernardi! Buy link for Paul Bernardi's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F38L728ZWe don't have a guest today, instead Steven and I are going to talk about something that has been in the news this week and its impact on history and how we perceive the finality of historical events. But before that we're going to give you some updates on what we've been up to and some changes to our Patreon.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g9ejy3gdvohttps://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/407781/these-fluffy-white-wolves-explain-everything-wrong-with-bringing-back-extinct-animals

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to buymeacoffee.com/rockpaperswords Our guest today has designed countless book covers, including all of Steven's independently published books! Oliver Bennett is a graphic designer and co-founder of MoreVisual, a graphic design and digital media company based in Leicester, England. Founded in 2013, More Visual specialises in a wide range of graphic design services such as website design, logo design, and corporate identity design. You can find everything a writer might need on More Visual's author portal: https://bookartwork.com/ Welcome to RPS, Oliver Bennett!

Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠ You can buy us a beer and get a shoutout too, by heading to ⁠buymeacoffee.com/rockpaperswordsDonovan Cook is the author of the Ormstunga Saga series set in the Viking world and inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. His second series, The Charlemagne's Cross Series, is published by Boldwood Books.Donovan was born in South Africa but raised in England, where his fascination with Medieval History, especially the Vikings and Norse Mythology, took root. His newest book is Woden's Spear, the beginning of a new exciting series called The First Kingdom.Welcome to RPS, Donovan!https://www.donovancook.net/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords "You can actually buy a version of Gungnir on ebay although it looks more like a fantasy weapon than historical     LINK  or this one which is more realistic but just the head £155."

Support us on Patreon from as little as £1 per month: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Today's guest is Edoardo Albert. Edoardo is a British writer of Italian and Sri Lankan descent. He writes about Britain in the early medieval period (between the Romans leaving and the Normans arriving), the 40th millennium in the Warhammer universe, and lots of other things besides. He has written several novels and also his fair share of non-fiction, so there is a lot for us to talk about.Welcome to RPS, Edoardo!https://edoardoalbert.com/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords

Matthew Harffy has a brand new Western novella out NOW, and it's a prequel to his novel DARK FRONTIER. Buy it on Amazon, but first give this episode a listen, it's a good laugh.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Dies-But-Once-Frontier-ebook/dp/B0DYJV6KF1

Support us on Patreon from just £1 per month: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Today we're going to cover a couple of subjects. One that will be of use to all aspiring writers and anyone who is interested in the mechanics of writing a page-turner. The other will be interesting to anyone who would like to see behind the scenes of the production of a high-end computer game. In this case, HOOD, the game Steven worked on a few years ago. I've always loved games, so I am looking forward to learning more about the process of its creation. Hood - Outlaws and Legends Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords You can find out more about our books on www.matthewharffy.com and www.stevenamckay.com/

KING OF WESSEX is out today! You can now buy the whole trilogy in paperback or on Kindle . Steven is really excited to see what people think of the way the story ends ... UK LINKUSA LINK

If you enjoy the show please support us on Patreon from as little as £1 per month: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast ELIZABETH FREMANTLE is an award winning author of historical fiction. Her most recent novel, DISOBEDIENT, about the Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, won the HWA Gold Crown 2024. Her first novel, QUEEN'S GAMBIT, about Tudor Queen Katherine Parr, was adapted as the major motion picture FIREBRAND, starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law. She has written several other novels set in the Tudor period and, as E.C. Fremantle, a pair of  historical thrillers. Welcome, Liz, to RPS! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords

Support us on Patreon from as little as £1 per month for great perks: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Today we thought we'd take a look at other literary genres that fans of historical fiction particularly enjoy, and why it might be the case. Now, we haven't completed a scientific study or even conducted a poll on readers' habits so this is just our thoughts and opinions. Feel free to chime in here or on social media and let us know what you think! Useful links:  https://www.literature-map.com/ Robert Silverberg - The Second Trip - just 99p on Kindle UK! Please note, I didn't remember the plot when I mentioned it in the episode - I read it more than 30 years ago - but apparently there's graphic sexual assault scenes so be aware of that if thinking of reading it. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast 

Support us on Patreon from as little as £1 per month: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast A. D. Rhine is the pseudonym of Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson. Ashlee holds graduate degrees in medieval history from the University of St. Andrews and theological studies from Duke University. Danielle holds a master of arts in law and diplomacy from Tufts University. Their novels Horses of Fire & Daughters of Bronze, is an epic retelling of the Trojan War, the story they have always dreamt of writing together. We met Ashlee and Danielle in Devon at the HNS Conference in September last year. We had a great chat over coffee, but knew we had to get them back on the podcast for a longer discussion of their collaborative writing process and their books. Welcome back to RPS A. D. Rhine. Take the "What's your ancient archetype" quiz here - https://www.adrhine.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Happy New Year listeners! Patrons get bonus episodes every month and we thought we'd share one with you so that you can get a taste of what you are missing. We've done episodes on all sorts of topics from reviews of movies and TV series, aspects of writing and publishing and, in 2025, we're going to write a novella together, and we'll be giving patrons an inside look into the process of our collaboration, from initial planning, through writing, editing and finally the cover design and publishing. Patrons also get a free copy of our non-fiction book! Our first bonus episode, was a chat about one of our very favourite authors, David Gemmell, and in particular his debut novel, Legend. So, without further ado, here's that episode and, if you'd like to hear more and get the other perks, sign up to Patreon! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gemmell https://www.wisdomofgemmell.com/wisdom-of-david-gemmell-archive/

Thank you listeners for your support in 2024. We've had an AMAZING year, topped off by our time at the HNS Conference, and it's all thanks to your support. Cheers, and here's to a great 2025 for us all. If you enjoy the show and feel like you could support us for as little as £1 a month, check us out on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other great perks! patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Support us on Patreon, where you can even give a loved one a GIFT subscription: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Welcome to the RPS Xmas Special 2024! We take a look at some of the best seasonal books like Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol", movies like Lethal Weapon (!), and all the classic music we enjoy at this time of year. Like "Wassail The Night Away"! We also discuss the possibility of us collaborating on a Christmas novella TOGETHER in 2025... It's a fun, if slightly rambling and disjointed episode, but hey, it's Christmas. God bless us, everyone. The History Quill Convention 2025 https://thehistoryquill.com/convention-2025/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Jane Johnson is from Cornwall and has worked in the book industry for 30 years as a bookseller, publisher and writer. For many years she was responsible for publishing the works of JRR Tolkien, and later worked on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, spending months in New Zealand with cast and crew (she wrote the official visual companions to the films). The authors she publishes include George R.R. Martin, Dean Koontz, Robin Hobb, Mark Lawrence and Raymond E Feist. While she was in Morocco in 2005 to research The Tenth Gift she met her soon-to-be husband, a Berber tribesman from a village in the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Returning home, she gave up her office job in London, sold her flat and shipped the contents to Morocco and they were married later that year. They now split their time between Cornwall and Morocco, and Jane still works remotely as a Fiction Publishing Director for HarperCollins. We met Jane in Dartington Hall at the HNS Conference back in September and you can listen to that short episode (and watch the video on our Youtube channel), but when we read her CV, we knew we had to get her back for a full episode. Welcome back to RPS, Jane Johnson! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords 

Matthew Harffy has a new book out on December 5th called Shadows of the Slain. We chat about it in this episode, and you can buy it at the link below! Buy the book: https://mybook.to/ShadowsOfTheSlain Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Dr Ian Mortimer is best known as the Sunday Times-bestselling author of the four Time Traveller's Guides - to Medieval England, Elizabethan England, Restoration Britain and Regency Britain - as well as four critically acclaimed medieval biographies, a prize-winning novel and several other titles. His books have been translated into sixteen languages. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He has been described by The Times as 'the most remarkable medieval historian of our time'. He lives in Devon, where Steven and I met him recently at the Historical Novel Society Conference. We had a lovely chat with him there and you can listen to that episode or even watch the video on our YouTube channel. But we didn't have time for a full episode and there were so many more questions we wanted to ask, so we are delighted to have Ian back on the podcast. Welcome back to RPS, Ian! Useful links: https://www.ianmortimer.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords

https://mybook.to/HereticPriory Steven's new winter novella is out today! Well, it's actually TWO stories in one collection - The Heretic of Haltemprice Priory is the main story, a novella that sees Tuck, Will and Little John joining forces again to investigate some eldritch happenings at a medieval priory just before Xmas. The second tale, The Christmas Hunt, features Tuck and John searching for Will who's gone missing after chasing some thieves off his farm during a snowstorm on Xmas Eve. Find out a little bit more about the stories in this bonus episode and please do buy the new book here: https://mybook.to/HereticPriory

Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠ We're thrilled to welcome a true writing legend to the podcast today, and one of my favourite authors! With a career spanning over four decades, Joe R. Lansdale is the award-winning author of more than 50 novels and countless short stories, spanning horror, crime, westerns, and more. His unique voice, dark humor, and vivid storytelling have earned him fans all over the world, TV series and film adaptations of his work, and numerous accolades, such as the British Fantasy Award, the American Horror Award, the Edgar Award, and eleven Bram Stoker Awards! Most recently he has published Sugar on the Bones, the latest in the extremely popular Hap and Leonard series, and the movie of his novel, The Thicket, starring Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis and James Hetfield has just been released. In October he has a collection of stories coming out entitled: In the Mad Mountains: Stories inspired by H. P. Lovecraft. Welcome to RPS, Joe R. Lansdale. Useful links: https://www.joerlansdale.com/  Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords 

Last year we released a festive rock song called "Christmas is Coming" (you can find the normal version AND an acoustic version on streaming services) and we had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year. "Wassail The Night Away" is our best song yet! We hope you all love it and it helps make Christmas 2024 the best one ever. Find it on all major streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes, YouTube etc and add it to your winter playlists! Support us on Patreon! Our Top Fans and Producers got to hear "Wassail The Night Away" days ago and you too can get bonus content by supporting us and helping us with our running costs from as little as £1 per month! patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Welcome to this year's Halloween Special! Today we're discussing the master of cosmic horror himself, HP Lovecraft! Author of stories like The Call of Cthulhu, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Thing on the Doorstep, and a ton more.  Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born on August 20, 1890 and died March 15, 1937 when he was just 46. He's inspired authors like Stephen King and bands like Metallica. Was he any good? Join us this Halloween to find out! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast  HPL's works for FREE online - https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/ “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward” - https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/cdw.aspx Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Complete-Fiction-of-HP-Lovecraft-Audiobook/B07NRT2886 Francois Baranger - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dunwich-Horror-Francois-Baranger/dp/1624650775 LOVECRAFTIAN MUSIC: Sulphur Aeon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3QYogaCuP8&ab_channel=vanrecords Ulthar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBS6giWHZPA&list=OLAK5uy_nJIYHBigjHNxQkChry2S06JNgP9MosXfk&index=2&ab_channel=Ulthar-Topic Nile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3iQbAB_yrY&ab_channel=Nile-Topic Metallica - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vSH9pMzHm0&ab_channel=Metallica-Topic Morbid Angel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYACQcg3_Fg&ab_channel=EaracheRecords

Support us on Patreon and get bonus episodes every month: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Guy Windsor is a swordsmanship practitioner, instructor, researcher, writer, and also an entrepreneur. On his website swordschool.com he states his mission in life is to restore historical martial arts to their rightful place at the heart of our culture. He has a blog, books, has developed training courses, and is the host of a podcast called The Sword Guy. As Steven and I often write about swords and combat, Guy seemed like a perfect guest for the podcast. Welcome to RPS, Guy Windsor. Useful links: https://swordschool.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords

Steven's new novel is out on Monday, 7th October 2024! Book 6 in the Warrior Druid of Britain Chronicles, THE VENGEANCE OF MERLIN is finally here after a 2 year break! We have a quick chat about that book as well as what Matthew is working on right now, and what's to come for us both in the coming months (including an EXCLUSIVE reveal of Steven's new Forest Lord novella's title). Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Support us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠ Hailing from Staffordshire, James Wright has been involved with the world of archaeology for over twenty years. Both Archaeologist and conservation stonemason, James combined both disciplines as Archaeological and Historic Buildings Assistant at Nottinghamshire County Council between 2004-2010, where he ran the Castles of Nottinghamshire Project. James then moved on to work as a buildings archaeologist and historic stone specialist for the Museum of London Archaeology until the autumn of 2016. He has worked in several areas of the heritage sector but his principle interest is buildings archaeology and he has experience of working on properties from the eleventh to twentieth century. In 2020, James began writing the Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog which investigates and debunks commonly believed and repeated stories about ancient buildings. This project has subsequently been picked up as a book option – Historic Building Mythbusting – by The History Press and will be released on 6 June 2024. Welcome to RPS, James Wright. Useful links: https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords  If you enjoy the show please leave us a 5 star review where you can, and spread the word!

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! I don't think Diana Gabaldon needs much of an introduction! We were lucky enough to sit down with her at the conference for an interview. Author of the Outlander novels which have also been made into the HUGELY successful Starz TV show, Diana was funny, friendly, generous with her time, and gave us probably the best answer EVER to the question, "What do you listen to when you write?" Do NOT miss this interview! We talked about her planned novel Red Ant's Head, how her lead female character guided her to create the Outlander series, and, of course, Dwarf Metal! https://www.dianagabaldon.com/ Windrose - "Diggy Diggy Hole" -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34CZjsEI1yU Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

HNS 2024! The last of our roving interviews, we have three brilliant authors for you here, give the episode a listen and check out their work! Patricia Bracewell Elizabeth R Andersen Jan Foster Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, and a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel: How we sold over 750,000 books! ⁠patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠

Welcome to the second part of our "roving interviews" series from the Historical Novel Society Conference 2024. In this episode we speak with Michael Jecks, Christopher M. Cevasco, Kelly Urgan, and Victoria Hopkins. Apologies for the audio, we hope you enjoy the interviews! Find out more about our guests at the links below. ⁠MICHAEL JECKS⁠ ⁠CHRISTOPHER M. CEVASCO⁠ ⁠KELLY URGAN⁠ ⁠VICTORIA HOPKINS⁠ Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, and a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel: How we sold over 750,000 books! ⁠patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠

HNS 2024! While we were at the Conference we conducted some roving interviews - in the grounds of Dartington Hall, or even in the White Hart pub! Check out the first three of them, collected here in one short bonus episode. They are also available on our YouTube channel is videos. AD Rhine are a pair of friends who write novels about the Trojan War. CC Humphreys is an actor, playwright and novelist. He's appeared in The Bill and Coronation St which will impress our fellow Brits! His books look superb too! Tracey Warr is a novelist and she also organised the Conference so we owe her a huge THANK YOU for inviting us and making all these interviews possible. Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, and a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel: How we sold over 750,000 books! patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

HNS Conference 2024! Kate Quinn, Alison Morton, and Ruth Downie dressed in Roman garb and delivered a superb talk at the Conference. We grabbed them for a quick interview in the grounds of Dartington Hall which we can share with you now. (Please forgive the audio, we were talking to them outside using little handheld microphones.)

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! In this episode we chat with Jane Johnson. Novelist, editor, even publisher of the likes of George RR Martin, Raymond E. Feist, and Tolkien! She also worked on the Lord of the Rings movies. A really interesting guest we're sure you'll agree! https://www.janejohnsonbooks.com/ Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! In this episode we had a chance to sit down with Elizabeth Chadwick for a quick chat. Her new novel The Royal Rebel is out now, be sure to check it out! https://elizabethchadwick.com/ Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! David Gilman has been on the show before but we got to sit down with him in person for this interview. David is a superb writer and a genuinely lovely guy and any time we get to spend with him is always a privilege. His latest book To Kill A King is out now! https://davidgilman.com/ Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! MJ Porter has written around 60 books in the past decade. Yes, sixty! And they're good too! Hear us chat with her in this new episode we recorded at the HNS Conference. We spent a bit of time with her while we were there and she was great company. https://mjporterauthor.blog/ Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! Bernard Cornwell has been on the show before but this is the first time we've actually met him in person. He's our historical fiction hero so you can imagine how hyped we were to sit and chat with him about Sharpe, and what's next for his writing with perhaps some HUGE news if you're a fan of Uhtred and The Last Kingdom... He'd only just delivered the keynote speech at the conference then signed a TON of books for people so we were very grateful that he took some time to speak with us again. A true inspiration to us all. https://www.bernardcornwell.net/ Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

Michael Jecks is renowned for his historical mysteries. With a focus on medieval England, his extensive body of work includes multiple series, such as the immensely popular "Knights Templar Mysteries" and "Medieval West Country Mysteries." Jecks' novels, intricately woven against historical backdrops, delve into the lives of knights, nobles, and common folk, offering readers a compelling journey through the complexities of the past.  His newest book is ONE LAST DANCE BEFORE I DIE in which the detective protagonist is thrust into the dangerous underworld of arms-dealers, drugs and prostitutes in 1920s Shanghai. Welcome to RPS, Michael Jecks! https://www.michaeljecks.co.uk/ If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, a free copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page. https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave us a 5 star review wherever you can online and share our posts on Facebook, X, and so on to help us get the word out there

Historical Novel Society Conference 2024! Welcome to the first in the series of interviews we conducted with the authors and guests at the HNS Conference at Dartington Hall this year. Keep an eye on our podcast feed AND our YouTube channel for more in the coming days from the likes of Bernard Cornwell, David Gilman, MJ Porter, and Diana Gabaldon. Historian Dr Ian Mortimer spoke to us in this episode just before delivering the after dinner speech at the conference. We chatted about his books (like the Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England), music to write battles to, and an interesting tip on how to feel close to the period you're writing about. https://www.ianmortimer.com/ Join us on Patreon for monthly bonus episodes, a FREE copy of our book Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel, and more perks. patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find out more about the Historical Novel Society (and become a member) here - https://historicalnovelsociety.org/

Clive Mantle starred as Little John in the 80s classic series Robin of Sherwood. You might well also have seen him as Great Jon Umber in Game of Thrones, Simon Horton in The Vicar of Dibley and Mike Barratt in Casualty. He has also narrated over 180 audio books, and voiced animated characters, including Gator in Thomas the Tank Engine. As if that wasn't enough, Clive is also an award winning author. 'The Treasure at the Top of the World', the first in the Freddie Malone series of books, was released in 2018 and won the People's Book Prize 2019. Welcome to RPS, Clive! If you're a fan of Robin Hood/ Robin of Sherwood become one of our Top Fans or Producers over on Patreon to get access to our bonus episodes, one of which is all about RoS! patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network” (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick), “The Huntress,” “The Rose Code,” and “The Diamond Eye.” All have been translated into multiple languages. Her newest novel, The Briar Club, tells a powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era. It is out in July 2024.  Kate is one of the headline speakers at this year's Historical Novel Society Conference in Devon, UK and we are both looking forward to meeting her in person in September, but until then, welcome to RPS, Kate Quinn. Useful links: https://www.katequinnauthor.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Shauna Lawless burst onto the fantasy scene in 2022 with her debut The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, the first book of the Gael Song series, which was nominated for Best Fantasy Debut by the British Fantasy Society and went on to win The FanFiAddicts Award for Best Traditional Debut. The sequel, The Words of Kings and Prophets was released in September 2023.  The final book, The Land of the Living and the Dead, will be published in September 2024. Welcome to RPS, Shauna.  If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, a free copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page. https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Useful links: https://shaunalawless.com/

If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, a FREE copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page here - https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast D. V. Bishop is the author of the award-winning Cesare Aldo historical thrillers set in Renaissance Florence. The Aldo novels have won the Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger and the NZ Booklovers Prize, been shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, and longlisted for many more awards. The newest novel is A Divine Fury and is published on 20th June 2024! https://dvbishop.com/ David was also the editor of the Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000AD at one point - that's right, he was literally Tharg. Thrill power overload in this episode!

If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, a free copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page. ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠⁠ Today Matthew interviews Steven and they discuss Sword of the Saxons, book 2 in the Alfred the Great trilogy. Vikings, great battles, Athelney, and, most importantly, did Alfred burn the cakes?! Find out in this episode and be sure to buy the book HERE.

If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive BONUS EPISODES every month, a FREE copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠⁠⁠ We've been invited to cover the 2024 Historical Novel Society conference this year as the official roving podcasters! Bernard Cornwell, Diana Gabaldon, Kate Quinn, and loads more huge names in historical fiction will be there and we can't wait to bring you all the news and gossip from the event. Find out more in this short bonus episode! You can also find out more at the HNS website - https://hns2024.com/

If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, a free copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page. ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠⁠ Today Steven interviews Matthew Harffy about his brand new book - Dark Frontier! This is a real change for Matthew as the novel is a western, his first ever. So we chat cowboys, the problem of realism/racism, research, movies, and more. Check it out, and be sure to buy your copy of DARK FRONTIER! Buy now: https://mybook.to/HarffyDarkFrontier

If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, a free copy of our book, Tips on Writing, Publishing and Marketing your Book, and other cool perks, check out our Patreon page. ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast⁠ Katie Daysh is an author from the Isle of Wight who loves to explore unheard voices in fiction. In her historical fiction, she enjoys placing queer characters at the heart of the narrative. Her stories are often set on the sea and illuminate themes of friendship, loyalty and mental health issues. Her debut novel, Leeward, was published by Canelo in 2023, followed by The Devil to Pay in 2024. Useful links: https://www.katiedaysh.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X https://twitter.com/rock_swords  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

If you would like to help us with our running costs, and get exclusive bonus episodes every month, and other cool perks, check out our patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Born and raised in Detroit, now living in Nashville, Tennessee, Cody C. Engdahl describes himself as a practitioner of the Southern Gentlemanly Arts, an amateur fiddler, cook, whiskey connoisseur, and armchair historian. He is the author of five historical novels. His latest is The Prussian Prince, a swashbuckling adventure that'll take you into the heart of the Austro-Prussian War and book 5 of the Long Century series. Welcome to RPS, Cody! Useful links: https://codycengdahl.wordpress.com/ https://www.techspot.com/news/102875-40000-ai-narrated-audiobooks-flood-audible-dividing-authors.html

Today we have a special guest who we think will be of particular interest, especially to aspiring writers. Kit Nevile is a Commissioning Editor at publishers Canelo. He is particularly interested in thrillers, horror, and action/adventure books, and just so happens to be Steven's editor! Before working at Canelo he was at Persephone Books and Whitefox publishing services, both in an editorial role. In this episode we will try to find out what a commissioning editor actually does, what they look for in a new book, how he thinks the publishing business will change in coming years, how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact things, and lots more! Welcome to RPS, Kit Nevile! https://www.canelo.co/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast  X: x.com/rock_swords

This episode is sponsored by Paul Bernardi's brand new historical thriller Blood Feud. Please check it out HERE! On today's episode we're talking about what IS "historical fiction". It's a genre that seems to encapsulate so many other genres, crime, thrillers, action and adventure… but what actually makes a story historical fiction? The Historical Novel Society defines the genre as works "written at least fifty years after the events described". Do you agree with that? What about alternative history? What about novels that were written as contemporary fiction but are now hundreds of years old? What about fiction set in a time SO remote that it's essentially speculative? We discuss these points and more! Take a listen to this fascinating topic and please let us know what you think constitutes "historical fiction". Useful links: Support us on one of our 3 tiers on Patreon - patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_fiction If you're an author or publisher and would like to sponsor one of our episodes, please get in touch. You can find us on social media or email us at rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com

Yes, Matthew and Steven have written a non-fiction book together! It's called Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel and it comes out on Thursday April 25th 2024. You can pre-order it now, and it will also be available to read with Kindle Unlimited. Check it out at the links here - https://mybook.to/RPSTipsForWriting The book will also be FREE to our Patreon TOP FANS and PRODUCERS so if you'd like to sign up, head over to Patreon now and check out our tiers: patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Whether you're a novice or a veteran of the writing world, Tips for Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Novel is an indispensable companion for every author's journey. Pre-order your copy now!

Justin Hill has skilfully crafted bestselling stories that traverse a diverse range of settings, from the captivating landscapes of China to the tumultuous epochs of the Early Middle Ages, to the nightmare, war-torn future of the universe of Warhammer 40k.  He is the recipient of several prestigious literary accolades, including the Somerset Maugham, Betty Trask, and Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prizes, and his works have earned acclaim from publications such as the Sunday Times, Washington Post, and The Times, where his books have been celebrated as notable additions to their annual lists. Welcome to RPS, Justin Hill! Useful links: https://www.justinhillauthor.com/ We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X @rock_swords SUPPORT us on Patreon!

Simon Turney, aka S.J.A. Turney, hails from Yorkshire, England. His passion for history shines through in his more than 50 novels, where meticulous research meets immersive storytelling. From ancient Rome, to medieval Europe, Turney's versatile body of work brings the past to life with vivid characters and compelling narratives. In his latest novel, Caracalla, the fourth and final novel in the Damned Emperors series. Simon is back in Rome, this time in the 2nd century where the rivalry between two brothers threatens to tear the empire apart. Welcome to RPS, Simon Turney! https://simonturney.com/ Remember you can now support us on Patreon and get some nice perks like bonus episodes every month! Check it out and please consider helping us keep the show growing in 2024 and beyond! patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

Useful links: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/908155.Douglas_Jackson https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast  We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast and X @rock_swords You can find out more about our books on www.matthewharffy.com and www.stevenamckay.com/ Douglas Jackson traded his role as assistant editor at The Scotsman for a full-time writing career in 2009. With novels published under his real name and the pen name James Douglas, Jackson has carved out a niche in historical fiction. His debut, "Caligula" (2008), weaves a tale of intrigue in the court of the famously mad emperor, followed by "Claudius" (2009) and the long-running Gaius Valerius Verrens series, starting with "Hero of Rome" (2010). His latest novel is Blood Roses, a thrilling crime novel set against the backdrop of 1939 Warsaw and the beginning of the Second World War. Welcome to RPS, Douglas Jackson! Thanks to our Patreon Producer, Luke Gauci!

Something of an unplanned episode today. We were supposed to be interviewing someone but they didn't turn up! Since we still needed an episode we decided to go ahead and discuss researching the locations in our books, including some of our favourite trips to those places. As this was completely unscripted and we'd not prepared for it we do go off on tangents here and there, but we hope you find something useful or at least entertaining in our chat! We've rearranged the Zoom call with the guest who didn't appear so look out for that in a future episode (if he shows up!)... Remember you can get bonus episodes and other nice perks by becoming one of our patrons. Join up at the link below: patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast