Cruising on the Danube and it’s Sunny!

Bumped into this gentleman in Budapest yesterday.

Wordly Women: Gillian Bagwell

Time for another edition of Wordly Women! Today I get to chat with one of my favourite writers, Gillian Bagwell, who has written a wonderful novel about one of my Tudor Heroines, Bess of Hardwick.

I’ll be visiting the Hofburg Palace in Vienna soon, so I’m starting The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki.

European leaders to join President Zelensky's meeting with the felon in the gilded office.

I’m working in the garden today, hoping the revising goes more smoothly out of doors.

I loved the episode.

Fascinating podcast episode a while back about beer and ale, in ancient and medieval times on Rock Paper Swords with @matthewharffy.bsky.social and @stevenamckay.bsky.social.

open.spotify.com/episode/0vxT...

💯

Our next name story explores the archaeology of the place-name 'York', written by Diana Whaley, Emeritus Professor of Early Medieval Studies @newcastleuni.bsky.social. Explore the name's development reflected in the people/languages + layers of influence shown in buildings/archaeology.

"In total, 190 manuscripts have been conserved, catalogued and digitised. More than 7,000 pages of medieval medical recipes are now freely displayed on the Cambridge Digital Library."

www.lib.cam.ac.uk/stories/curi...

Rare portrait of Emily Brontë by her brother Branwell has gone on show at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth for the first time since 2008. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Enjoyed a marvelous evening last night, tapping my feet to the lively sounds of the Scots trio @skyrieband.bsky.social. Check them out on Spotify.

Cannot wait to read MERE by Danielle Giles.

180y ago, the Great Hunger killed over a million people in Ireland as the Great Powers stood by & ignored the horrific suffering of children.

Famine stalks Gaza, babies are arriving at the makeshift triage & dying. The death toll from genocide will grow as famine & disease murder more. Donate:

QUESTION: How many times are you going to revise this scene before you are satisfied with it? ANSWER: 40 times. So far. (gnashes teeth) #writers #writing #screaming

Watching the series 'Careme' had me madly Googling to learn more about the historical figures. (I love when that happens.) Great show, that offers a fascinating slant on Napoleonic France.

Had a fab time chatting with the wild guys at Rock Paper Swords. Still trying to get the hang of how BlueSky works!

At my desk. Today’s assignment: imagine the final moments of King Cnut at Shaftesbury Abbey. What happened? Who was there? May take me awhile…

Looking forward to talking about my Ladies of Magna Carta at
Worcester Cathedral's Medieval Fest in August
14 August, 6.30pm at the Bishop's Palace
Tickets available now!
#medievalFest #womeninhistory
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ladies-of-...

I recently chatted with historian/author Sharon Bennett Connolly about writing and history as part of her Wordly Women features. Which historical figures to I love? Which do I hate? Find out here: historytheinterestingbits.com/2025/07/19/w...

I’m still getting used to it. Thank you for the re-post!

New on my website, a post about England's mysterious Silbury Hill. www.patriciabracewell.com/blog/