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Guest Post & Giveaway with Helen Hollick, Author of Pendragon’s Banner

October 30, 2009 by Darlene

Welcome everyone. I’m pleased to have Helen Hollick, author of Pendragon’s Banner here at Peeking Between the Pages today. I reviewed Pendragon’s Banner, the second book in The Pendragon Trilogy yesterday and you can see my review here. It was fantastic! Well I enjoy having Helen guest post here and this time around I asked her about the history behind the trilogy and this is what she had to say…

I “discovered” Arthur after reading Mary Stewart’s Hollow Hills and Crystal Cave, both of which I enjoyed. Even though there was a fantasy element, Merlin’s “magic” seemed plausible, and the characters came alive. What intrigued me, the books were set in a more realistic time period – the post Roman era. Ms Stewart’s author’s note added to my interest as she explained that Arthur – if he had actually existed – was more likely to have lived in these Dark Ages of circa 420 – 520 AD.

This intrigued me and straight after I re-discovered the wonderful Roman books of Rosemary Sutcliff (Eagle of the Ninth, Mark of the Horse Lord, Frontier Wolf etc) As I was working as a library assistant at the time I had almost unlimited access to books, so I started researching the “matter of Arthur” and found myself decidedly hooked.

I had been writing for years, mostly fantasy and science fiction, but I began a new project of attempting to write Guinevere’s story. This became a dismal failure as my scribblings were utter rubbish. (Thank goodness I have no copies of them ) I could never get beyond chapter three.

Then I read Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon. A good book, but I did not like her portrayal of Guinevere. At one point I threw it across the room shouting “Oh pull yourself together you silly woman ” I mean, she was the Queen, yet she was behaving like a spoilt child.

By this time several years had passed. I was now married with a baby daughter . When she started nursery school and I knew I would have several hours to myself each day I decided to have another go at “my novel”. I would write the Arthurian story that I wanted to read. No myth or magic. No Holy Grail, round table, Merlin or Lancelot. Just the story of what might have really happened. And Gwenhwyfar – as I was to call her – would be a feisty woman who was capable of defending herself and giving Arthur a piece of her mind when necessary.
But still the story would not come.

Then I realised why. My heart (and imagination) was not focussed on Gwen, but on Arthur. I needed to write his story, make him the main, lead character. And once I realised this I was off, writing as if there was no tomorrow.

Incidentally, I also found A Hollow Crown difficult to write, partly because I had lost a very dear friend who died suddenly just as I was about to start writing it, but also because Crown is the Saxon Queen Emma’s story. It seems I prefer male characters as the lead inspiration
I researched, I wrote. Every spare moment I was scribbling away. “When I write my bestseller” I would say to friends and family. I got used to the tut of a response and the rolling eyes.

I then hit a brick wall. I suppose I lost heart and confidence. Why was I bothering? Who was going to read my rubbish, let alone publish it? I stopped writing. Writers block – big time. For six months I did not write a word – could not write a word. Then I gave it one more go and joined a writers’ group.

Within the first ten minutes I realised I was in the wrong place. A lovely group of ladies, but they all had problems to solve and wanted to do so via expressive writing. I was not going through a divorce, broken relationship, deep depression or the menopause.

We were given an A4 sheet of lined paper and the exercise of writing our feelings down. “Express yourselves” the tutor said. “Write what you feel.”

I had been trying to do that for the past six months

I sat there. Not a word in my head. I had to write something. Anything. So I wrote the first word I thought of. Then the second, the third….

Then I wrote “sword” followed by “battle”. Before I knew it I was writing a battle scene… this battle scene:

“With an exhausted grunt of effort Arthur, the Pendragon, raised his sword and with a sharp intake of breath brought it down through the full weight and momentum into the skull of an Anglian thegn. Another battle. Arthur was four and twenty years of age, had been proclaimed Supreme King over Greater and Lesser Britain three years past by the army of the British – and had been fighting to keep the royal torque secure around his neck ever since.”

Which became the opening paragraph of Pendragon’s Banner, book two of my Trilogy

Main Website: www.helenhollick.net
Blog profiles: www.acorne.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Monthly Journal: www.helenhollick.net/journal.html

~~~Helen, as usual it is such a pleasure having you here at Peeking Between the Pages. Thanks so much for sharing this fantastic guest post with all of us! I’m on the edge of my seat already waiting for the last book in the trilogy, The Shadow of the King.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Courtesy of Paul at Sourcebooks I have one copy of Pendragon’s Banner to share with one lucky reader. What can you do to enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you do make sure to let me know. I want to make sure you get the extra entry.
  • For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

This giveaway will be open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Good luck everyone!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kalynnick says

    October 30, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    Would love to win..please enter me in. Thanks:)

    kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

  2. Jo-Jo says

    October 30, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    I love how this story came together for Helen once she realized that she needed to focus on Arthur. What a great guest post and I'm soooo hoping I win this copy!
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  3. Jo-Jo says

    October 30, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    I'm also a follower.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  4. holdenj says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Would love to win this! I remember reading some of those Mary Stewart books too.

    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  5. holdenj says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    I'm also a follower!
    Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  6. Kathy says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    I collect books on King Arthur so this is on my must read list.
    Would love to win a copy, thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    kathydetweiler@gmail.com

  7. Kathy says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    I'm a follower

  8. Kathy says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    Tweeted here
    https://twitter.com/kdet62/status/5288554111

  9. Katy says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    Helen sounds like such an interesting lady, and her books sound intriguing. 🙂

    srfbluemama at gmail dot com

  10. Katy says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    I'm a follower too.

    srfbluemama at gmail dot com

  11. Katy says

    October 30, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    And I just tweeted the giveaway @afewmorepages 🙂

  12. Linda says

    October 30, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    I've read The Kingmaking, and love the fact that Ms. Hollick writes a realistic version of King Arthur, minus the magic and mysticism. I esp. loved the way Arthur acquired Excalibur. I'm anxious to read Pendragon's Banner.

    I follow through Google Reader

    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

  13. April says

    October 30, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    Wonderful guest post! No need to enter me, I happily have my own copy of this great book, lol.

  14. fredamans says

    October 30, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    I would love to win this book.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  15. fredamans says

    October 30, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    I follow via Google connect

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  16. fredamans says

    October 30, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    Blogged contest: http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2009/10/contests_30.html

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  17. bermudaonion says

    October 30, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    It may have taken her a little to figure it out, but it seems like she's found what she needs to be writing about. I'd love to be entered. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

  18. Mitz says

    October 30, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    Hi Dar,
    Just happen to come across your blog today and became a follower. Love your dog Buddy, he's so cute. I have pekinese and greatdane. Anyway would love this book. I like to read all types of books.

    Follower & putting on my blog roll at http://paranormalbooklovers.com

    misty_labean@yahoo.com

  19. Staci says

    October 30, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Isn't it funny how and when inspiration comes?? Glad that it did.

    stacijoreads@gmail.com

  20. Veens says

    October 31, 2009 at 1:59 am

    Wow..that's some insight!
    dnt enter me!

  21. Anonymous says

    October 31, 2009 at 4:19 am

    I never thought of Arthur the way the author does. I always glamorized his being. I'd love to read the book.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  22. Mitzi says

    October 31, 2009 at 4:46 am

    I'm a friend follower.

    Would love to win this one!!!

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

    Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!!!

    Mitzi H.

  23. Bridget says

    October 31, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Hi, Dar! Don't enter me, but I just blogged about this on Win A Book.

  24. throuthehaze says

    October 31, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    Count me in please
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

  25. throuthehaze says

    October 31, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    follower
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

  26. Beth (BBRB) says

    November 1, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    This looks great! Please enter me!

    BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

  27. Beth (BBRB) says

    November 1, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    I'm a follower.

    BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

  28. Alice Teh says

    November 2, 2009 at 5:55 am

    Hi Dar, no need to enter me for this giveaway but I'd like to say hi to you and Helen Hollick. 😀

  29. Pamela Keener says

    November 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    Would love to win.
    pk4290@comcast.net

  30. Jemima says

    November 2, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    I would love to win: thereadingjourney[at]gmail[dot]com

  31. Jemima says

    November 2, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    I am also a follower: thereadingjourney[at]gmail[dot]com

  32. Anonymous says

    November 3, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    please enter me.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  33. Andrea says

    November 3, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Enter me in. I also am a follower.

  34. Zibilee says

    November 3, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    No need to enter me, I just bought a copy of the book. I am really excited to get the chance to read it, it looks like a great series.

  35. Jenny Girl says

    November 4, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Don't enter me.

    I totally love her reaction to Gwen in Mists of Avalon. I felt the same way. Just wanted to slap Gwen, that silly woman.
    Excellent post ladies.

  36. lag123 says

    November 6, 2009 at 2:22 am

    Please count me in.

    lag110@mchsi.com

  37. lag123 says

    November 6, 2009 at 2:23 am

    Please count me in!

    lag110@mchsi.com

  38. lag123 says

    November 6, 2009 at 2:23 am

    I follow via google reader and google friend connect.

    lag110@mchsi.com

  39. Stacie says

    November 6, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    Please count me in.

    I follow.

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

  40. MoziEsmé says

    November 7, 2009 at 5:08 am

    Would love to read this!

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

  41. MoziEsmé says

    November 7, 2009 at 5:09 am

    I'm a follower

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

  42. MoziEsmé says

    November 7, 2009 at 5:09 am

    I'm a follower

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

  43. g.g. says

    November 7, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    this looks like a really good book..thanks for the chance to win it.

    anjamie4 AT gmail (dot) com

  44. Marie says

    November 7, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    I really want to read this one 🙂

    marielay@gmail.com

  45. Marie says

    November 7, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    I am a follower.

    marielay@gmail.com

  46. Helen Hollick says

    November 9, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    thank you everyone for your kind words – it means a great deal to me to receive such wonderful support!
    H.

  47. Anonymous says

    November 12, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Interesting how you started the story with just 2 words. I like to read books set in this period. Would like to win this one.
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

  48. budletsmom says

    November 12, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    I would love to win this book, please enter me in your giveaway.

    budletsmom at yahoo dot com

  49. MarionG says

    November 16, 2009 at 3:31 am

    I have always been a fan of books on Arthur. polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmail *dot* com Would enjoy reading this.

  50. MarionG says

    November 16, 2009 at 3:32 am

    Hi. I'm a follower. polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmail *dot* com Books about Arthur I can't get enough of. Cheers.

  51. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:27 am

    Sounds like a great book!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

  52. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:27 am

    Already a loyal follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #1

  53. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:28 am

    Already a loyal follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #2

  54. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:30 am

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/5757730243

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #1

  55. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:30 am

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/5757730243

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #2

  56. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:30 am

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/5757730243

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #3

  57. Cheryl says

    November 17, 2009 at 4:33 am

    Please include me in a chance to win this book. Thank you
    cak444@hotmail.com

  58. Anonymous says

    November 17, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    Please enter me.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  59. Haleyknitz says

    November 18, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    enter me please 😀

    +1 haleymathiot at yahoo.com
    +2 follower
    +3 tweeted at twitter.com/haleymathiot

  60. pixie13 says

    November 20, 2009 at 5:16 am

    I'm always looking for new Arthurian books to read; this one looks interesting. Please count me in. Thanks!
    I'm a follower

    gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

  61. CherylS22 says

    November 20, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    I'd love to read this book – please enter me!
    Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

  62. CherylS22 says

    November 20, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    I follow ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

  63. Anonymous says

    November 23, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Please enter me.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

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