Welcome to History Writers Day (weekend) 2022, organised by the fabulous @Book2Cover on Twitter. Started last year, this is a weekend of History Writers sharing their books, special offers, and just an opportunity to celebrate all things history and historical fiction. That it just about coincides with the first-year book birthday for The Automobile Assassination is excellent.
So, first, a little bit about myself. I mainly write stories set in Saxon England in the years before the events of 1066. Whereas some authors might write a series in a few different periods, I’ve opted to tell as many stories from the 600 years of Saxon England as possible. Starting in the seventh century, and running up to about the 1040s (at the moment – the series will run up to 1066 when it’s finished), there is so much material to work with. I tend to write about the ‘lost’ characters, and events, and I love battles and politics, and sometimes, a bit of a love story as well. But mainly fighting, and politics. I enjoy a war of words just as much as a war of swords:) And my characters are likely to be a bit ‘fresh’ with their language (The Ninth Century series – I’m looking at you).
And, when I’m after a bit of light relief, I write the odd 20th-century mystery because sometimes I just want my characters to be able to get into a car and not worry about their horse.
For History Writers Day, I have paperbacks for sale on the blog, (which I hope will work), and I’m also running a competition to win a signed copy of The Automobile Assassination and Warrior of Mercia (2 separate prizes). Just sign up for my newsletter, and receive a free short story set after the events of the Gods and Kings trilogy, and I will pick two lucky winners. I will post worldwide! I will close the competition on 1st December 2022, but you will still get the free short story if you sign up after that date.
If the book you’re after isn’t available, please drop me a line at mjporterauthor@gmail.com. I do have other books in stock, but there’s just too many to pop them all on the blog.
Not in writing order, but rather, in chronological order, here are the books I’ve written. The majority are indie published, but I am also working with the wonderful Boldwood Books to bring my Saxon stories to a wider audience. An increasing number of titles are available in audio format and hardback, as well as ebook and paperback. I’m not adding lots of links other than ones for the series on my blog, but you can find my author page on Amazon here. Select titles are also available widely, including The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, the Gods and Kings Trilogy and Cragside, a 1930s mystery.
Tales of Saxon England
Gods and Kings Trilogy (The Seventh Century) The story of the mighty pagan, Penda of Mercia
Pagan Warrior
Pagan King
Warrior Kings
The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles (The earlier Ninth-Century) Boldwood Books
Son of Mercia
Wolf of Mercia
Warrior of Mercia
Eagle of Mercia (May 2023)
The Ninth Century Mercian Series (the later Ninth-century)
The Last King
The Last Warrior
The Last Horse
The Last Enemy
The Last Sword
The Last Shield
The Last Seven
The Tenth Century Series – the forgotten women of the 10th century
The Lady of Mercia’s Daughter
A Conspiracy of Kings
Kingmaker
The King’s Daughters
The Brunanburh Series (with Boldwood Books) mid-tenth century
King of Kings (February 2023)
The Lady Elfrida Books – the tenth century – England’s first crowned queen
The First Queen of England, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
The King’s Mother
The Dowager Queen
Once A Queen
The Earls of Mercia Series (the last century of Saxon England through the eyes of the Earls of Mercia)
The Earl of Mercia’s Father
The Danish King’s Enemy
Northman Part 1 and Part 2
The King’s Earl
The Earl of Mercia
The English Earl
The Earl’s King
Viking King
The English King
The King’s Brother (June 2023)
20th-century mysteries
Cragside – A 1930s mystery
The Custard Corpses
The Automobile Assassination
As a reader of historical fiction, I also have a very active blog, hosting blog tours, showcasing others writers, and sharing my love of 20th-century Golden Age mysteries and cosy crime.
Do please think about following me on your social media channel of choice, or on the blog. All links can be found here, and yes, I am also on Mastodon.
I hope you enjoy History Writers Day 2022. I know I will.
M J Porter 