The Northumbrian Saga, TNS 2, Writing updates

The Northumbrian Saga out now

Merry Christmas one and all! A quick reminder that The Northumbrian Saga is now available in paperback as well as in ebook formats such as Amazon, Kobo and ibooks. For a full list of retailers check out The Northumbrian Saga page in the menu. If your country or favourite retailer aren't there let me know.… Continue reading The Northumbrian Saga out now

Interesting Articles, Interesting Places, Yorkshire

Return of the Vikings

Seven years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Jorvik Viking Festival and ever since I have been dying to return. It has grown over the years to be one of the largest Norse-themed festivals in Europe, attracting over 40, 000 international visitors each year and providing education as well as a whole heap… Continue reading Return of the Vikings

The Northumbrian Saga, Writing updates

Coming Soon to Paperback

Very excited to let you all know that The Northumbrian Saga will soon be available in paperback form through Amazon.com I really wanted this to have been finished last November in time for the 1150th Anniversary of the first recorded attack on York by Ivar the Boneless and his vikings, however it has taken a… Continue reading Coming Soon to Paperback

Historical Figure Profiles

Historical Figure Profile: Eadwulf of Bamburgh

The Northumbrian Saga follows the life of Aethelwin, a fictional niece of King Osbert of Northumbria and Aelle the usurper of the Northumbrian throne. Whilst these two men were real figures in Northumbrian history, there is one more member of Aethelwin’s family who is based on a real person. Aethelwin is the youngest child of… Continue reading Historical Figure Profile: Eadwulf of Bamburgh

Interesting Places

Hamwic, Anglo-Saxon predecessor of Southampton

Today, Southampton is a modern port city of a quarter of a million inhabitants. Before the mid 9th century however, Southampton did not exist. Originally, a Roman fort often called Clausentum lay on the east side of the Itchen. After the Roman period in England however, a separate settlement moved to the opposite bank of… Continue reading Hamwic, Anglo-Saxon predecessor of Southampton

Interesting Places

Wic wic is wich? The Anglo-Saxon trading settlement

The most prominent type of settlement associated with trading activities in the Anglo-saxon period was the Wic, an Anglo-Saxon loan word from the Latin Vicus meaning a dwelling, farm, hamlet, or subsidiary settlements. The Wics were communities very similar to those found in rural areas with the distinction of servicing trade and industry. Most communities… Continue reading Wic wic is wich? The Anglo-Saxon trading settlement

Interesting Articles, The Northumbrian Saga

Trade

As part of my plans of outlining aspects of early medieval life I was going to write a post on Trade. In The Northumbrian Saga, Leodgar and Aethelwin are both traders of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and with the invasion of the Vikings comes a whole new orbit of trade and trade partners, including Thorstein. As usual… Continue reading Trade