born august american historical novelist published best known welsh princes trilogy series addition written medieval mysteries queen man finalist best mystery novels mysteries set england france wales english welsh royalty middle ages book stand novel king england wars roses manuscript stolen started rewrote book work generally received recent novels reaching critics praised meticulous research settings events presented fiction career born new_york_city grew new_jersey received bachelor degree austin history received doctor degree worked tax lawyer writer student researched wrote chronicled life page manuscript stolen car found unable write years eventually rewrote book time page book published spent years writing practicing law time practicing law admits considered lives new_jersey early 1980s moved wales research second book dragons second home says history provides material novels writing career end england war roses book characterizes king richard iii healthy misunderstood ruler chose write richard character way fascinated story researching life united_states united_kingdom led believe classic case history rewritten victor finished claims hooked writing plenty material written rebellious sons brothers kings queens hoped write dozen books subject publication began work set primarily wales followed series presents events life king henry_ii eleanor settings middle ages trilogy set 13th century centuries earlier research dragons book series fascinated complexity role women medieval society example welsh women time great deal independence english women wales england noble wife responsibility household complete household knights wife relied household safe published series medieval mystery novels mystery queen man finalist explains reasons turning mystery genre writing historical novels time finished researching writing christ saints slept danger burning time nearly decades enthusiasm middle ages begun flag decided needed change pace long time mystery fan occurred medieval mystery fun write idea took root probably inevitable choose write eleanor surely history memorable women set 12th century presents young medieval book elevated status queen man eleanor queen man cruel grave depict period king henry_ii death eleanor age rules empire son richard captivity son john edge power novel series dragon set period shifts northwest england north wales finally recent novel series prince darkness continues conflict mother sons conflicts addition winner career achievement award historical mysteries trilogy dragons trilogy novels medieval princes novel states think dragons popular virgin territory readers saga better known people familiar medieval wales princes story great king john illegitimate daughter remarkable struck emotional chord readers falls shadow chronicles family relationships king brother law falls shadow bridge novel uses simon rebellion lead conclusion trilogy explains finished dragons knew wanted continue story planned write book share billing grandson later simon daughter soon realized tackle book simon deserved novel decided devote falls shadow simon characterization man increasingly disillusioned sovereign rebels regent attempts rights granted addition story wife sister king novel presents characters welsh ruler london research explains great deal site research visiting castles figured falls shadow visiting reading room local reference libraries home use philadelphia excellent medieval selection helped scenes actually walked path men followed breathtaking stand downs view seen chronicles reign england king henry iii final volume series began dragons conflict welsh prince grandson england king subplot additionally chronicles life character ellen daughter niece negotiated prior death conflict ellen cousin edward soon king edward opposes series series focuses king henry wife eleanor beginning sinking marriage henry birth childhood christ saints slept henry eleanor explains henry_ii eleanor larger life legends greatest medieval kings woman wear crowns england france loved fought stage stretched scots border mediterranean_sea children branded contemporaries devil brood founded dynasty rule england years novel trilogy sic christ saints slept traces beginning union time chance continues story high noon wales floor theirs amazing story enjoyed ride christ saints slept introduces genesis dynasty queen fights secure claim english throne years spent writing novels mysteries set period henry_ii eleanor claims found villains instead focused human characteristics believes henry_ii brilliant king bad father eleanor claims law unto intrigued role medieval queen time chance continues story husband focuses rift henry_ii time chance spans year period henry_ii estranged wife eleanor henry children thirteen years close friend advisor king henry decision elevate archbishop_of_canterbury henry eleanor devil brood opens conflict henry_ii wife eleanor sons decade warfare rebellion pitting sons father brothers eleanor spends period imprisoned henry places characters tightly woven medieval life personal conflict dramatic characters devil brood supposed final volume ready quietly good night children henry_ii eleanor book focuses richard holy land happened eleanor finally released spending sixteen years confinement ordered enforced husband king ransom second half richard life following imprisonment ransom life afterward writing characteristics approach novels present researched medieval life history everyday life present nobility set backdrop political tension power struggles war main characters confront personal drama conflict love conflict family members conflict god conflict friendship conflicted family self king country review praises attention detail combines depth knowledge medieval europe vivid storytelling creating complex events emotional drama 12th 15th centuries set 12th 13th centuries sets characters narrative novels medieval sites exist visited including castles churches areas areas castle important scenes novels devil brood sets characters scenes variety medieval royal residences castles england present day france exist dragons new york isbn london collins isbn falls shadow new_york isbn london joseph isbn new york isbn london joseph isbn series christ saints slept new_york isbn london joseph isbn time isbn london joseph isbn devil isbn london joseph isbn isbn london isbn king isbn london isbn queen man new york isbn london joseph isbn cruel grave new york isbn london joseph isbn dragon new york isbn london isbn prince darkness new york isbn
Sharon Kay Penman