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.
www.joannacourtney.com
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.
www.alison-morton.com/
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.
www.annabelfrage.com
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.
www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk
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.
www.elizaredgold.com
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.
www.gkholloway.co.uk
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.
www.helenhollick.net
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.
www.richarddeescifi.co.uk
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