1066 Turned Upside Down
By
With a foreword by C.C. Humphreys
Have you ever wondered what might have happened if William the Conqueror had been beaten at Hastings in 1066? Or if Harald Hardrada had won at Stamford Bridge? Or if Edward the Confessor had died with an heir ready to take his crown? If so – here is the perfect set of short stories for you.
1066 Turned Upside Down explores a variety of ways in which that momentous year could have played out very differently.
Written by nine well-known authors the stories will take you on a journey through the speculative ‘what ifs?’ of England’s most famous year in history.
READERS’ COMMENTS
“1066 Turned Upside Down is the exemplar for how analytical counterfactual history should be done, combining the best elements of fiction and non-fiction to create an immensely impressive achievement.”
“As a collection, the quality of the writing is exceptional and the variety of possible outcomes presented is truly fascinating.”
“The collection is assembled in such a way that between the ‘alternatives’ are the related facts as they happened, as far as historians and archaeologists know – which still leaves room for these experienced writers’ imaginations.”
“A book I will read and re-read. I heartily recommend it”
“The real joy of a collection of stories like this is, of course, that you are likely to be introduced to writers you may not have come across before.”
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Today, something different to familiar history: we feature 1066
Turned Upside Down author Alison Morton and an excerpt of a story from her
alternative Roma Nova thriller series...
A ROMAN INTERVENES
by Alison Morton
Roma Nova is an imaginary country, a remnant of the Western Roman Empire. Founded (in the author’s imagination) in AD 395 by dissident pagans when Theodosius enforced Christianity throughout the Empire, the tiny mountain state has negotiated or fought its way through the unstable, dangerous times of the Roman dusk and the Early Middle Ages. Daughters, as well as sons, carried weapons to defend their homeland, their gods, and their way of life. Fighting danger side-by-side with brothers and fathers on equal terms reinforced women’s status and enhanced their roles in all parts of Roma Novan life, including that of ruler. But like their ancestors, the 11th century Roma Novans have determination, war-fighting skills, and engineering genius. Outside the usual circles of alliances, they often act as intermediaries, overtly and covertly. They know other people’s secrets…
Currently living under the shadow of the Eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantine Empire as we know it), Roma Nova dances carefully, but sometimes has to give in to its much larger cousin. Hence the presence of Countess Galla Mitela, chief advisor to the imperatrix of Roma Nova, at the court of William of Normandy. Could these tough, strange people negotiate between Saxon England and Normandy, appointed Harold and ambitious William? And did they have an alternative plan?
‘Domina.’ The Praetorian centurion nodded his head in the direction of a small boat coming towards us. I leaned over the side and watched as two men scrambled up the rope ladder one of our sailors had let down.
The first over the rail was a dark-haired, close-shaven sturdy man who had little trouble heaving himself on board. He was followed by a slighter man who had hitched his long tunic up into his belt to scale the side and fidgeted as he smoothed it back down. His head was shaved on the crown; a priest. The first man, dressed in a maroon tunic with embroidered edging, and a silver belt, cast around, passed over Claudia and me, and addressed himself to the centurion.
‘I am Gilbert de Boscville. Where is your commander?’ he said in Latin with an accent so thick I could barely understand.
The Saxons had warned us about de Boscville; he was one of Duke William’s close aides, a harsh ruler of his lands and fiercely loyal to his master. I nodded to the centurion, who drew back.
‘I am Galla Mitela, imperial councillor and Countess of the South, leading the Roma Nova delegation,’ I began. ‘May I present Claudia Apulia, daughter, and heir of Imperatrix—’
‘Where is the commander?’ he interrupted and waved impatiently.
The servants froze. Some gasped. The centurion drew his sword and closed the gap between Claudia and de Boscville. The remaining Praetorians took a step closer to me.
De Boscville frowned, but stepped back at the centurion’s fierce glare.
‘My Lord de Boscville, you are insolent as well as ignorant,’ I said in my coldest voice. ‘Have the goodness to wait until I have finished speaking. And listen to each word carefully.’
Claudia stared at me. Perhaps she had never heard me reprimand anybody so severely.
De Boscville flushed and the features on his dark face drew closer. ‘I do not deal with women. Where is the senior man? I am to escort him and his delegation to my lord duke.’
‘Then you are destined to be disappointed. He does not exist.’ I flicked my hand impatiently. ‘Are we to remain here all night waiting on your dignity? If Duke William does not wish to hear the latest news from England, then we will set sail now.’ I turned and waved to the shipmaster. ‘Plot a course downriver away from this barbarian place and find us a berth for the night. Tomorrow we return to Roma Nova.’
‘At once, domina.’ He bowed and hurried off waving arms and shouting.
‘The Praetorians will see you off my ship, Lord de Boscville, or you will be sailing with us.’ I turned my back on him and grasped Claudia’s arm.
‘What are you doing?’ she hissed at me as we entered the little cabin amidships.
‘Tactics, my girl. You wait and see.’
‘But Mother will kill you if you don’t see the duke. She says you have to stop this war.’
‘We’ll see him, don’t worry.’ I smiled to myself and counted the heartbeats that passed...
Does Roma Nova succeed? Does the Delegation stop the war between Normandy and England? Find out in 1066 Turned Upside Down!
1066 Turned Upside Down is a collection of eleven alternative history short stories of a ‘what if’ nature imagined by nine well-known successful authors:
JOANNA COURTNEY Ever since Joanna sat up in her cot with a book, she’d wanted to be a writer and cut her publication teeth on short stories and serials for the women’s magazines before signing to PanMacmillan in 2014 for her three-book series The Queens of the Conquest about the wives of the men fighting to be King of England in 1066. Her second series, written for Piatkus is Shakespeare’s Queens exploring the real history of three of the bard’s greatest female characters – Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cordelia.
Joanna’s fascination with historical writing is in finding the similarities between us and them –with an especial goal to provide a female take on some of the greatest stories we think we know.
ALISON MORTON writes the award-winning alternative fiction Roma Nova thriller series featuring tough, but compassionate heroines. She blends her deep love of Roman history with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical, adventure and thriller fiction. A ‘Roman nut’ since age 11, she started wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women. She has recently branched out into a contemporary crime setting with Double Identity, the first of a planned series.
ANNA BELFRAGE Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy set in 14th century England. Anna has also published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. His Castilian Hawk - returning to medieval times and her most recent release, The Whirlpools of Time, a time travel romance set against the backdrop of brewing rebellion in the Scottish highlands. Anna has won several awards including various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards.
ANNIE WHITEHEAD is an historian and prize-winning author. Her main interest in history is the period formerly known as the ‘Dark Ages’. Her first novel, To Be A Queen, is the story of Aethelflaed (daughter of Alfred the Great), who came to be known as the Lady of the Mercians. Alvar the Kingmaker, tells the story of Aelfhere of Mercia, a nobleman in the time of King Edgar. Cometh the Hour goes further back in time to the seventh century, to tell the story of Penda, the last pagan king of Mercia. Annie has twice been a prizewinner in the Mail on Sunday Novel Writing competition, she won first prize for nonfiction in the new Writing Magazine Poetry and Prose competition, and was the inaugural winner of the HWA (Historical Writers’ Association)/Dorothy Dunnett Society Short Story Competition and is now a judge for that same competition.
Annie has had two
nonfiction books published. Mercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom (Amberley
Books) has been an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Women of Power in Anglo-Saxon England
was published by Pen & Sword Books in 2020.
www.anniewhiteheadauthor.co.uk
CAROL McGRATH is the author of The Daughters of Hastings Trilogy. Her fifth historical novel, The Silken Rose, first in The Rose Trilogy, published by the Headline Group, is set during the High Middle Ages. It features Ailenor of Provence and was published in 2020. The Damask Rose about Eleanor of Castile was published in 2021. The Stone Rose, Isabella of France, follows in 2022. Carol has also written Historical Non-Fiction for Pen & Sword.
ELIZA REDGOLD is an author and ‘romantic academic’. Her bestselling historical fiction includes her Ladies of Legend trilogy, starting with Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva released internationally by St Martin’s Press, New York. Her historical romances are published by Harlequin Historical, London (Harper Collins). They include Playing the Duke’s Mistress, Enticing Benedict Cole, The Scandalous Suffragette, and The Master’s New Governess. They have been translated into multiple languages including Italian, Polish, Czech, Danish, and Swedish, and are available internationally.
G.K. HOLLOWAY After graduating from Coventry University with an honours degree in history and politics, he worked in education in and around Bristol, England, where he now lives. After reading a biography about Harold Godwinson, he studied the late Anglo-Saxon era in detail. When he had enough material to weave together facts and fiction he produced his novel. 1066 What Fates Impose, a story of family feuds, court intrigues, assassinations, plotting and scheming, loyalty and love, all ingredients in an epic struggle for the English crown.
HELEN HOLLICK moved from London in 2013 and now lives on a thirteen-acre farm in North Devon, England. Born in London, Helen wrote pony stories as a teenager, moved to science fiction and fantasy, and then discovered the wonder of historical fiction. Published since 1994 with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy, followed by her 1066 era duo. She became a USA Today bestseller with her story of Queen Emma: The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK), and its companion novel, Harold the King (titled I Am the Chosen King in the U.S.A). She also writes the Sea Witch Voyages, a series of pirate-based nautical adventures with a touch of fantasy. Commissioned by Amberley Press she wrote a non-fiction book about pirates in fact, fantasy and fiction and a non-fiction book about smugglers, published by Pen and Sword.
Recently she has
ventured into the ‘Cosy
Mystery’
genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, the first of which is A Mirror
Murder. She runs Discovering Diamonds, an independent online review site for
Historical Fiction, primarily aimed at showcasing Indie writers.
She occasionally gets time to write.
RICHARD DEE was a Master Mariner and ship’s pilot, now living in Brixham, South Devon. His novels include Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as the exploits of Andorra Pett, a reluctant amateur detective.
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Thank you for choosing that particular excerpt. It represents perfectly what Roma Nova is about. ;-) It took some hard research to dig into the eleventh century and think about what it would look like to a Roman descendant but it was fun!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are happy with the choice. Best of luck with sales.
DeleteThank you so much for hosting the blog tour for 1066 Turned Upside Down. We really appreciate all that you do.
ReplyDeleteMary Anne
The Coffee Pot Book Club
My pleasure.
DeleteThank you for hosting 1066 Turned Upside Down today. I recall that Alison was reluctant to join us when we originally thought up the idea for the book, but I pointed out that her alternative history Roma Nova series would have had a past history, and would have been concerned about the 1066 situation...I'm so glad that she took up the challenge because we ended up with a cracking good story!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release. I wish you the very best.
DeleteHa! I just LOVE Roma Nova - and Roma Nova heroine facing off with Duke William...Ah, yes!!!!
ReplyDelete