And the Winners Are...

Robinbird and Stuart MacAllister! Each of you has won a copy of Philippa Gregory's new novel, THE WHITE QUEEN, courtesy of Touchstone Books. Please send an email to juliannedouglas05 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net with your mailing information. Many thanks to all who entered and to all the new followers of the blog. I hope you'll return often and join in our discussions.

For those who didn't win, Ms. Gregory's book releases today and will be easy to find in most bookstores. I have a copy that I plan to review in September, so check back then and share your thoughts.

Many thanks to Ms. Gregory and Kelly at Touchstone for making this contest possible!

In the coming weeks, you'll find here on the blog: an interview with author Jules Watson and review of her latest book, THE SWAN MAIDEN; a guest post, giveaway and reader question-and-answer with bestselling author Michelle Moran; the last segment in the story of King François's captivity; a post about his first mistress, the elegant Françoise de Foix; and an Italian ambassador's scathing critique of François's showcase, the château of Fontainebleau. Come back soon!

Book Giveaway: THE WHITE QUEEN by Philippa Gregory

I am pleased to announce that I will be giving away two copies of Philippa Gregory's new novel, THE WHITE QUEEN. The novel, the first in a series set in fifteenth-century England during the Wars of the Roses, focuses on Edward Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Consort of King Edward IV.

Amazon describes the book: "THE WHITE QUEEN tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills." The website includes a Conversation with Philippa Gregory which explores, among other things, Ms. Gregory's switch to this new period in British history and the appeal of Elizabeth Woodville.

To enter the contest to win one of the books, please leave a comment telling me how many of Philippa Gregory's novels you have read. Become a follower of this blog and receive an additional entry! Contest closes at 11 pm PST on Monday, August 17; winners names will be posted on the novel's official release date, August 18. Check back to see if your name was drawn and if so, to provide me your mailing address. Copies will be sent directly from Touchstone, which graciously offered the books for giveaway. Good luck!

I hope to post a review of the book some time in September.