The Lost Books: Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times follows a squire and his friends who set out to recover stolen books and take down the corrupt taxman. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The idea for this novel began with a “prompt” from one of the writing workshops I attend. The (optional) prompt was to write about a holiday song. This did not interest me and I was prepared to write on another topic.

Wait a minute, I thought; what if I have some fun with a song, turn it on its head? That appealed.

I decided on the song “Twelve Days of Christmas.” I would set my story in Tudor Times. I imagined a love-struck swain, young Henry Truelove, wooing his heart’s desire, Morwenna Goodwin, with cartfuls of partridges, waterfowl and other presents that, as it turns out, are unwanted and burdensome.

Soon, Morwenna’s small farm in Cornwall is awash in bird squawks. Morwenna demands that Henry desist sending the birds, though she is willing to keep the gold coins with which to buy a pig for the small free-hold she runs with her Ma and Da.

Henry is undeterred in his determination to win her. But she is of an independent mind, and he will have to go to great lengths to convince her to marry him – or to marry anybody.

This part of the story was fun to write. Soon I began to fall in love with my characters and imagine what their larger lives might hold. I have always enjoyed reading about Tudor times – but most of these books are about royalty and court life and intrigues. I wondered what else was going on, for the more common folk.

One thing that was going on, egregiously so, was the seizure of the monastery and convent lands and goods by Henry VIII, their subsequent destruction and – this is where my heart became engaged – loss of thousands of precious illustrated manuscripts preserved in these holy houses. Fortunately, not all the books were lost and so have come down to us in present times.

I envisioned the rest of my story as a hunt to find and save the holy books. Morwenna, Henry, old Tom who has been cast out of his monastery; Hilda, uprooted from her convent; a former pirate and a gaggle of milkmaids become the “holy pirates” sworn to save the books.

What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?

I see in my characters courage, determination, and ingenuity – this despite the oppressive laws of the times and, often, terrible events.

Friendships and family sustain them. While royal families are involved in intrigue and murder, these characters love and support their families, and become a kind of found family to each other.

The Tudors were obsessed with religion. While religious issues are being fought about at court, with nobles losing their heads, the holy pirates try to reason out what is best to do in any circumstance. When some of their efforts to protect the holy books stray over the line, such as purloining the ledger of an unscrupulous taxman, they decide to do what tends toward the greatest “good.” They have faith in God, but theirs is a practical, rather than dogmatic or political, religion.

Friendship is another strength of my characters. It is the offer of friendship that wins over the nefarious tax collector Godfrey Blount. He makes friends among the holy pirates. And, he learns to dance.

In a time when one’s given station in life was set in stone – commoners were forbidden to wear fancy clothing, so as not to appear above their station – these holy pirates are equals in their mission. They use their wits, their artistry, friendship and faith in their mission to prevail.

What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

I have read many popular books about the Tudor era, such as those written by Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel and others. I have seen the many Tudor-era films and series.  I also ferreted out more scholarly books about the times, such as The Hidden Life of Tudor Women, by Elizabeth Norton; Black Tudors – An Untold Story, by Miranda Kaufmann; and Tudor Cornwall, Portrait of a Society, by A.L Rouse. Writing in the era of Google makes research so much easier, as well.

My most important and influential resource is a large, beautifully illustrated book, The Smithsonian Book of Books, by Michael Olmert. This is among the most treasured books in my own library. It describes in detail how these early illustrated manuscripts were made and who made them. The book is lavishly illustrated with dazzling photos of pages from the illuminated manuscripts.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I am working on a sequel to The Lost Books, featuring the same characters and some new ones. The precious books come under additional threat, which marshals the holy pirates once again to their defense.

There is more romance, and more about life in Cornwall in Tudor times.  I cannot seem to let these characters go.

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