Camelot is less a romantic kingdom than a lusty and fragmented realm in this spirited retelling of Arthurian legend, the second novel in Hollick’s trilogy. Over the years, Arthur Pendragon and Gwenhwyfar have accumulated a vast array of estranged relatives, rivals and half-mad adversaries. Among the most formidable of their enemies are Winifred, Arthur’s embittered ex-wife, who’s plotting to ensconce her son, Cedric, as heir to the throne, and Morgause, a manipulative priestess who wants to consolidate her power in the north to become queen of the realm.
Hi, guys! We’re lucky enough to have Heather Hollick, author of Pendragon’s Banner, stop by on her blog tour today. She has written a most fabulous King Arthur based historical fiction series and has also graciously agreed to answer a few of my questions about her writing career.
Hi, Heather! Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. First, this is Fumbling with Fiction, so I have to ask, in your writing career have you ever had a big “Oops!” moment?
Several! A few of them were not my fault though! There were two that were highly embarrassing. When The Kingmaking was originally published in the USA the wrong file was sent, so the books were printed from an un-corrected proof file. I gave up counting after the 360th error, the funniest of which was Arthur’s bread-stubbled chin. It should, of course, been beard-stubbled chin.
And a huge blooper appeared in the very first paragraph of Pendragon’s Banner – Anglican Thegn as in Church of England was printed, not Anglian Thegn as in East Anglian. As we are talking about Pagan Saxons here…. Sigh.
And I will confess we have found three errors in this edition of Pendragon’s Banner – how they slipped in I don’t know. Basically: ignore the date April 456 when you come to it!
Can you tell us a little about the editorial letter you received for Pendragon’s Banner? Is there anything major that changed from draft one to the final draft we can read off the shelf?
Not really I’m afraid as I wrote the Trilogy quite a few years ago now and this edition is a most welcome reprint. The original draft was also part of one entire manuscript which eventually became The Kingmaking and the first half of Pendragon’s Banner. When I submitted it to my agent I had no idea that my novel would make a trilogy!
It seems like writers today are always looking for the next big original idea. What are some tips you have for putting a new spin on a classic tale, like that of King Arthur?
Try to think of something different – something that has not been done before, or perhaps write the story from a different character’s perspective, not Arthur’s. Maybe set it as science fiction, or in a parallel world, or a time slip? All it needs is a good imagination!
I intend to write another serious historical fiction novel next year (after I have firmly established my adventure-fantasy pirate based Sea Witch Series). I am going to write a follow-up to my novel about the 1066 Battle of Hastings – Harold the King. I have been putting it off because I really do not want to write about Duke William of Normandy again (William the Conqueror). I have decided to twist things around, however, and write the story of the men and women who rebelled against him.
Main Website: www.helenhollick.net
Blog profiles: www.acorne.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Monthly Journal: www.helenhollick.net/journal.html
http://www.helenhollick.net/culpa41.html –For Heather Hollick’s own hints and tips for aspiring writers.
1 Comment
October 17, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hi Chandler, have you read Shiver? It’s really page-turning. You should interview Maggie Stiefvater on your blog.
Hope things are going well.
Chaya