Persecuted by Christians but Protected by the Church? Jews in the Middle Ages

People's Crusade attacking the Jews

One thing I unearthed during my research on the First Crusade was the schizophrenia in Christian views regarding the Jews. On the one hand we have the People's Crusade spreading a path of havoc through the Rhineland, killing all the Jews they could find since the Jews killed Christ. On the other hand we have the bishops from those same cities in the Rhineland standing up against the Crusaders and condemning their actions. On the one hand we have regional robber barons like Count Emico declaring that, "Anyone who kills a Jew will have his sins forgiven." On the other hand we have popes like Alexander II declaring that the lives and property of the Jews are not to be harmed.

Today on English Historical Fiction Authors I write about the Church's role in the medieval persecution of the Jews...not exactly what popular history might lead you to believe....

GIVEAWAY - The Splintered Oak: A Short Story of the First Crusade

To make a long story short...The Splintered Oak: A Short Story of the First Crusade is now available on Amazon. (Keep reading to find out more about the giveaway....)

It's rather amazing how quickly the publishing process can work when only e-books are involved. Yesterday, I sent the manuscript off to my proof reader. Her kids have been spending their summer at the pool, which gives her a lot of reading time. She sped through the story and gave me her edits this morning. I made changes and then uploaded the book to Amazon around 9:30am. Shortly after lunch time, a quick search revealed that The Splintered Oak is now a published work.

This short story is a tale I really wanted to put into my First Crusade novel, Road from the West, but since that book focuses on the southern branch of the Crusade, and this story comes from the northern branch, try as I might, I couldn't jimmy it in. It works very well as a standalone short story, however, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Here, without any more ado, is the cover and the blurb.

A Tale of Danger, Duplicity, Cunning, and Conviction 

Archbishop Rothard would like nothing more than to find out which of his three clerks is spying for the Holy Roman Emperor, but when a crowd of Crusaders come clamoring to kill the Jews of Mainz, he must set his own plans aside and make the difficult decision of which side to take....

I would like to give away a copy of this new release to one of my blog readers! I am offering winner's choice of a Kindle copy or a PDF if the winner is from the US, or a PDF if the winner is international.

Please comment on this post with your e-mail address to enter the giveaway. The giveaway will end Friday, July 11, at midnight PST.

Thanks for reading!

The Romance of Commerce: Medieval England and the County of Flanders

My post on English Historical Fiction Authors got somewhat out of hand this month. I started with a princess locked up in a tower until her knight in shining armor came and rescued her. I ended with a discussion of the wool trade in England and the trade route with Flanders. The two things fit together. I promise.

If you'd like to know how, click on over to English Historical Fiction Authors, and while you're there, you can find out what exactly is going on in this picture....

Meet My Main Character, by Rosanne E. Lortz

I've been tagged by Debra Brown over at English Epochs 101, and now, I get to tell you a little bit about the main character in one of my writing projects. I've talked before about my First Crusade novels on here, so I think I'll talk about my other novel in the works....

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

My main character is Harold Emison, the Earl of Anglesford, but he goes by Haro to family and friends. He is fictional.

2) When and where is the story set?

The story is a novel of romantic suspense set in Regency England. It is also, very loosely, based on the people and events surrounding the Norman Conquest (mostly because I'm such a nerd that I can't NOT write about the Middle Ages).

3) What should we know about him/her?

Haro's father has died recently, and Haro has become, quite unexpectedly, the new Earl of Anglesford and the head of the family.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

Unbeknownst to the family, Haro's father had imperiled all their fortunes through his addiction to the gaming table. Haro is forced to find a way to restore the family fortunes, even if it means marrying a rich mill owner's daughter. But when he jilts his cousin to marry an heiress, tempers flare, family members clash, and events at the old family estate lead to murder most foul with Haro the prime suspect....

5) What is the personal goal of the character?

Haro's personal goal is to take care of his mother and family, even if he has to sacrifice his own personal desires and true love to do it.

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

The working title of the novel is To Wed an Heiress...or A Fatal Conquest. I still haven't decided which one I like better.

7) When can we expect the book to be published?

Oh dear. I'm not sure on that one. Life has been very challenging lately and writing has been thrust onto the back burner. I would very much like to have this novel (and the second one of my First Crusade novels!) finished by the end of this year, but we shall see....

Thanks for visiting the post, and I will tag five historical fiction authors to answer these questions as well  once I have contacted them and have their permission. They'll be introducing their main character to you in a few days.

1) Philippa Jane Keyworth

2) Paula Lofting

3) Scott Howard

4) Nancy Bilyeau

5) Stephanie Moore Hopkins

Three Arguments concerning Richard the Lionheart

Now is the winter of our discontent....

Actually, I just wanted to say that line because I like it, not because it has anything to do with this blog post. Although, it has been a very bad winter (and now spring) for sickness around here! Cold, flu, cold, flu, over and over again. We're still finishing up a bout of the former right now.

I didn't get an EHFA post up in March, due to all the health drama, but today I break my blog silence with a post on "Was Richard the Lionheart a Homosexual?" There are three standard arguments to "prove" that he was. I address them each in turn. Click on over and a have a read if you like.... :-)