KAREN CHARLTON
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Welcome to the official website of historical novelist KAREN CHARLTON

A FREE Bumper Sack of Summer Reads

13/5/2012

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A FREE Bumper Sack of Summer Reads

FREE books for your summer beach read!

I am taking part in a promotion with eight other novelists.  We are offering book lovers the chance to win signed copies of our novels to enjoy beside the pool.

The promotion runs from 7 May to 11 June 2012.
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 Nine writers from Ireland, Britain, France and Spain have banded together to offer some lucky person a chance to win
‘A Bumper Sack of Summer Reads.’  

Simply go to author Kristin Gleeson’s website,
www.kristingleeson.com and leave a message that mentions ‘Bumper Sack of Summer Reads’ and you could be the lucky winner! 

But hurry!  This fabulous offer only runs between 7th May and 11th June 2012.
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‘What better treat for book lovers than a FREE sack of books?’ says Kristin Gleeson, the offer’s coordinator.  ‘It reminds me of going to the library when I was young, coming back with a pile of books and taking ages to decide which one to read first.  It was like a feast for me.’  Her own book, Selkie Dreams, an historical novel set in 19th Century Belfast and Alaska is one of the books included.

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The sack contains a wide variety of books and there should be something for everyone to enjoy.  For a wet weekend or a day on the beach, the thriller, Mrs. Jones by B.A. Morton (second prize winner at the Yeovil Literary Festival) offers a gripping pacey read about a New York cop and an English woman who witnesses a murder.

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For historical thriller lovers there’s Gallow’s Curse, by Karen Maitland, set in Medieval England. The year is  1210 and King John has seized control of the Church.  In the village of Gastmere  Elena, a servant girl, is dragged into a conspiracy to absolve the sins of the manor.

 


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Or if political intrigue and romance ticks boxes for you, Jean Gill’s Song at Dawn, set in 12th Century Provence is just the ticket.  Love, music and political intrigue surround Estela in the royal court of Narbonne.

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Garden fans, especially tulip lovers, might enjoy The Chosen Man by J.G. Harlond, set against the backdrop of the great ‘tulip fever,’ in the 17th Century, when the price of tulip bulbs might fetch more than a rare gem.  

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Dave Evardson offers a book for fantasy lovers with The Fenwold Riddle. Brave young Marshal Dominic Bradley is charged with finding a way through the impenetrable wall that encloses the land of Fenwold. 


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Runner- up for the McKitterick Prize and BBC Radio 4 programme ‘A Good Read’ selection, Frances Kay’s gripping novel, Micka is about two boys who take a game to dangerous ends. 

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Those who like a bit of supernatural spice to their reading would love Moonyeen Blakey’s The Assassin’s Wife, a tale of a young woman seer whose vision of two princes in the tower leads her into danger.  

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And last but not least, check out my own historical novel Catching the Eagle, based on the true story of our regency ancestor who was at the centre of Northumberland’s most notorious miscarriage of justice.


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Returning to the 'scene of the crime'

12/5/2012

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Returning to the 'scene of the crime'

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Last month, I was invited to give a talk and a Power Point presentation at Kirkley Hall - the 'scene of the crime' in Catching the Eagle. Malcolm Watson, Chairman of the Friends of Kirkley Hall kindly organised this fabulous event. To my delight, over fifty people turned up to learn about the novel and the research behind it. I still find it amazing that people are prepared to pay hard cash just to hear about the true story behind Catching the Eagle.

Apart from the Friends of Kirkley Hall I also met John Turner from the Ponteland Local History Society. John helped me with the early research into the life and crimes of Jamie Charlton. Thanks, John.

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At the book signing afterwards, several guests told me that they suspected they were descended from other characters in the novel, including: the landlady of the Seven Stars public house, 'Ma Shotton,' and Michael Aynsley's floozy, 'Lottie MacDonald.' However, I was glad that no-one in the audience stood up and announced that they were desended from my villain, Michael Aynsley. I haven't been very kind to the Kirkley Hall steward in Catching the Eagle and this could be a very tricky situation if it ever arose.

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Then I discovered that the current owners of North Carter Moor farm (the home of William Charlton) were also at the event. Now this was a scary moment, too. Last summer, Chris and I went to the farm to introduce ourselves and ask permission to take some photographs. Unfortunately, no one was at home so we were cheeky, stalked around the boundaries and took loads of photographs anyway. We did push an explanatory note through the farm's letterbox, in case any of their neighbours later reported suspicious burglarious activity. (You can never tell with us Charltons.)

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Chatting with the guests
I completely forgot all about this little escapade of ours until Mr. and Mrs. Potts introduced themselves to me at Kirkley Hall. Startled, my first thought was that they had come to serve me a writ for trespass. Fortunately, they just wanted me to sign their copy of the novel. Lovely people. Everyone was very kind and hospitable and the whole event was a fabulous night out for me.

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Paperback discount deal

7/3/2012

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Paperback discount deal

The paperback version of Catching the Eagle is due for release in June 2012. 

At the moment, The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide) are offering my novel with a pre-publication 25% discount. 

You can pick up a copy for only £9.74. 


The Book Depository

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Book signing @ Waterstones, Newcastle, Emerson Chambers

11/1/2012

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Book signing @
Waterstones, Newcastle,
Emerson Chambers
Blackett Street
Saturday 14th January,  1-3pm

I am looking forward to returning to Northumberland this weekend for my book signing in the county's largest branch of Waterstones - I just hope that the weather remains mild.  I have heard rumours that at this time of year when we drive through the Tyne Tunnel, we come out the other side into a different weather system. ;)

Waterstones organised a great press release about the event last week.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/book-reviews/2012/01/07/chance-to-meet-karen-charlton-and-barry-stone-61634-30075059/

I'm looking forward to meeting Barry Stone as well.  :)  The more tips I can pick up from other authors, the better.
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Library Talk at Skelton Library on Wednesday

9/1/2012

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Talk about Catching the Eagle at Skelton Library on Wednesday

There may still be chance to grab yourself a ticket for my appearance at Skelton Library on Wednesday 11th January.  They cost £2 and all proceeds are going to to the library.  It starts at 10am and is scheduled to finish at mid day.
 
Apart from reading from Catching the Eagle,  I will also be talking about how we uncovered our family black sheep, Jamie Charlton, and how I turned his dramatic story into a novel and secured a publishing deal.

Looking forward to meeting you there.
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Post Title.

8/1/2012

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'Catching the Eagle' reviewed in The Daily Mail

5/1/2012

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Catching the Eagle reviewed in The Daily Mail

Wow! And Wow again!

I've just got word from my publisher that Catching the Eagle has been favourably reviewed in The Daily Mail!  The review has just leapt up on their website and we think that it will appear in tomorrow's newspaper.

It is fabulous, fabulous news.  The link is below and I've copied and pasted the review into this post:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2082654/HISTORICAL-FICTION.html?ito=feeds-newsxml 

CATCHING THE EAGLE BY KAREN CHARLTON
(Knox Robinson Publishing £19.99)
 A break-in at the steward’s office at Kirkley Hall in Northumberland on April 3, 1809, became a cause célèbre when local man James Charlton was accused of stealing over £1,100.

Acquitted at his trial following a huge public outcry, his family thought it the end of the matter. But he was later re-arrested and transported on the evidence of a convicted burglar, whose death sentence was subsequently commuted.

Charlton’s novel, based on true events surrounding her husband’s ancestor, is the first in a projected trilogy.

Told with gritty realism, Catching The Eagle is a suspense-filled page-turner, which spares nothing in its descriptions of the hardships and injustices suffered by the poor at the turn of the 19th century.

Its ending leaves the reader poised perfectly for the next volume - for which I can hardly wait

Kathy Stevenson

Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2082654/HISTORICAL-FICTION.html#ixzz1icd9Funx 
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Northumberland Book Launch - Cancelled

29/12/2011

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Northumberland Book Launch - Cancelled

Unfortunately, in this life we cannot win 'em all. 

Sadly, my Northumberland Book Launch at Kirkley Hall (due to take place on 8th January) has had to be cancelled because of  unforeseen circumstances.

While I am disappointed, I am not downhearted.  I have had such a fantastic twelve months and far more than my fair share of luck during this time. 

Thank you to everyone who tried to help me with this Book Launch - especially the staff at Kirkley Hall, Malcolm Watson of 'The Friends of Kirkley Hall' and John Turner from The Ponteland Local History Society.  I look forward to seeing you all again in 2012.

My apologies to anyone who was hoping to attend this event and is now disappointed.  Hopefully, I can meet you at another one of my forthcoming Northumberland events.  Please keep an eye on the dates and venues on my 'Events' page.  More dates are to be added soon.
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Booksignings

22/12/2011

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Book Signings...

I've got three in the bag now - two at branches of Waterstones and one for The Guisborough Bookshop.  Does that make me experienced enough to comment?  Probably not.  But I'm going to comment anyway.  :)

I was quite nervous when I crept into Waterstones Middlesbrough for my first official book signing two weeks ago.  I kept fiddling with the lovely new red pen my Dad bought me for book signing.   But I shouldn't have worried;  the staff were lovely and I soon got into the swing of it.  In fact, when I think about it, I've never met an unpleasant person in a bookshop - customer or member of staff.   Bookshops just don't attract the chavvy types, do they?  Everyone in these hallowed vaults is cheerful, helpful, literate and - as it turned out - prepared to listen for a few minutes to the ramblings of a nervous, new author.

Before my first signing I did a little research on the Internet.  I was unsure what to expect so I thought I'd google the experience and prepare myself.  There wasn't much on t'internet but I did find an interesting article from another author on:  'The Etiquette of Book Signings.'  It seems that this jaded lady has a problem with rowdy queues, members of the public who always want her to read their own half-written novels and several individuals who didn't know when to stop talking and move on. 

Gosh, I thought.  Crowd control.  It is going to be like being back in the classroom,  surrounded by noisy and demanding individuals, all shoving their work under my nose for marking.

No, it wasn't.  Maybe Martina Cole or Stephen King occassionally have experiences like this...but the above is definitely not the experience of an unknown newbie like me.  There were not been any rowdy queues awaiting my arrival in Waterstones.  I didn't come home with an aching wrist from signing my name two hundred times.  Nor did anyone pass me a dog-eared manuscript and a red pen... 

Read More
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Teesside Book Launch @ Middlesbrough Library

13/12/2011

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TEESSIDE BOOK LAUNCH @ MIDDLESBROUGH LIBRARY

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Chris, Ross and Beth pose with me for the Middlesbrough Gazette photographer
Friday 9th December 2011: Flanked by my wonderful family, loyal friends and several members of the public who had all braved the freezing weather, we arrived at the beautiful library in the centre of Middlesbrough for my Teesside book launch.  The first job of the night was an interview with a reporter from the 'Middlesbrough Gazette' and a photo session.

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Talking about the research and discovering the skeleton in the family closet
Then I moved to the main table to talk about how Chris and I had discovered the family 'black sheep' and how I had turned the story of Jamie Charlton into a novel.

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Reading Chapter Eleven
Helped by my good friends Jill and Sam (his excellency, the Cultural Attache for Boosbeck) we read a few extracts from Catching the Eagle and I answered questions from the audience.  In the background, was an great slide show prepared by my daughter, Beth.

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Book signing
Finally, there was time for chatting with our guests and signing a few copies of the novel.

It was a lovely evening which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I sincerely hope that everybody else enjoyed it as much as I did.

Thanks to Jill and Sam for helping me with the reading; to Iain Wolstencroft for the photographs and to Sara Dennis of Middlesbrough Library for organising the event.

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Photos courtesy of Iain Wolstencroft
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