Interview with best-selling historical fiction author Tony Riches + "Mary-Tudor Princess" Giveaway

2018-05-09 20:13

Today we welcome UK author Tony Riches, best known for his Tudor Trilogy. Read our interview where Tony reveals what his next book will be about and why he writes historical fiction.

Tony also runs a giveaway for BookLikes readers -- don't miss a chance to win his newest title Mary-Tudor Princess!

Win Mary - Tudor Princess by Tony Riches

Enter the e-book giveaway

From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy, the true story of the Tudor dynasty continues with the daughter of King Henry VII, sister to King Henry VIII. Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her.

Born into great privilege, Mary has beauty and intelligence beyond her years and is the most marriageable princess in Europe. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies. Will she dare risk his anger by marrying for love?

Meticulously researched and based on actual events, this 'sequel' follows Mary's story from book three of the Tudor Trilogy and is set during the reign of King Henry VIII.

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Everyone loves the Tudors. What new angle are you bringing to historical fiction readers about the Tudor era?

I was born in Pembroke, within sight of the castle where Henry Tudor was born, so I’ve always been keen to know more about how he became King of England. Like most people I knew all about Henry VIII and his six wives, but very little about the life of his father – or grandfather. I’ve now become an expert on the Tudor dynasty and want to help readers understand the true stories behind the myths.

How do you balance historical accuracy with compelling story telling?

They say the events of history can be stranger than anything you could make up. I know from readers that they appreciate my hard work to keep my books as factually accurate as possible. The early Tudors were of course surrounded by servants and people such as clerics and physicians whose lives are lost to history, so there is plenty of scope to be creative. I find it particularly useful to have a ‘sidekick’ or companion for my main characters, as it helps provide the interaction and conflict of the storytelling.

How does setting influence your stories?

I enjoy visiting the actual locations in my books to have a real understanding of the setting. My research has taken me to some amazing places. I followed the footsteps of Jasper and Henry Tudor through the secret tunnels under the town of Tenby in West Wales, to their exile in remote Brittany, and visited Henry’s magnificent tomb in Westminster Abbey.

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Please tell us about your latest book, MARY –Tudor Princess.

I researched Mary Tudor’s early life for my last book, Henry – Book Three of the Tudor Trilogy.

In the Tudor Trilogy I’d moved forward one generation with each book, so it appealed to me to write a ‘sequel’ which did the same. I’d become intrigued with Mary’s story of how she risked everything to defy her brother, King Henry VIII, and marry for love.

What are you working on now?

When I was writing about Mary Tudor I researched the life of her second husband, Sir Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and visited his tomb at Windsor Castle. He was Henry VIII’s best friend and a champion jouster and adventurer, leading an army into France even though he had no military experience. Then he breaks his promise to Henry and secretly marries Mary. I’m now writing Brandon – Tudor Knight, which will tell the story from his point of view.

Where can readers buy your books?

All my books are exclusive to Amazon and available worldwide in eBook and paperback. The Tudor Trilogy is also available as audiobooks and an audiobook edition of Mary – Tudor Princess is currently in production.

About the Author

Tony Riches is a full-time author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the fifteenth century, with a particular interest in the Wars of the Roses and the lives of the early Tudors. Tony was a finalist in the 2017 Amazon Storyteller Awards and is listed 130th in the 2018 Top 200 list of the Most Influential Authors in in the World. For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his popular blog, The Writing Desk and find him on Booklikes at The Reading Desk, Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches.