Susan Holloway Scott and Sharon Kay Penman: Two of My Favorite Writers

Monday, July 20th, 2009 | Reviews, The Writing Life

I did not have to write this weekend, which is a first in…well, let’s just say it’s been awhile since I was able to relax. So, since I did not need to write historical fiction, I read it instead. I am a glutton, and no mistake.

As I mentioned in my last post, on Friday morning I began Susan Holloway Scott’s fabulous novel about Nell Gwyn and Charles II called THE KING’S FAVORITE. Nell was quickly my favorite, too, though not quite in the same way… she was one of Charles’ many mistresses. After devouring Nell’s adventures in a day, I had to go out and buy Susan’s newest book, THE FRENCH MISTRESS. It is about another of Charles II’s lady loves, but this lady does even better for herself than Nell Gwyn…Louise is made Duchess of Portsmouth after delivering the king a healthy child. If historical fiction is your bag, run out and buy Susan Holloway Scott’s work. She is the newest author in my pantheon.

But I can not forget the authors who have been in my pantheon for years. Sharon Kay Penman’s novel, DEVIL’S BROOD, is coming out in paperback this week. So if the hardcover was too daunting, run out and grab the paperback…the intrigues of Henry, Eleanor, Richard and John are featured within, as well as a completely different take on Henry and Alais’ relationship. I, of course, am fascinated by all things involving Princess Alais. The hardcover of this novel is waiting for me in my To Be Read pile; I have not gone to it yet, because I have been neck deep in my own Plantagenet drama. But as soon as my manuscript is locked, I will be diving in and relishing Ms. Penman’s balance of brilliant prose and amazing historical research. From all I have heard, Ms. Penman knocks this one out of the park with DEVIL’S BROOD, her fabulous conclusion to her Henry II-Eleanor of Aquitaine triology.

But Penman fans, don’t despair. Eleanor of Aquitaine will make an appearance in Ms. Penman’s next novel, as yet untitled, about Richard the Lionhearted and the Third Crusade. Richard is one of my all time favorite historical personalities (he features heavily in THE QUEEN’S PAWN), so any book about him by Ms. Penman is bound to be fantastic. She is writing it now, so we all have to wait…Patience is not one of my virtues, but so it goes.

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