Today I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club in celebration of the 30^th Anniversary of the publication of Helen Hollick’s Arthurian novel, The Kingmaking, as well as Helen’s 70^th birthday. The Kingmaking is the first book in The Pendragon’s Banner trilogy.

Congratulations and best wishes, Helen.

The Boy Who became a Man:
Who became a King:
Who became a Legend… KING ARTHUR
There is no Merlin, no sword in the stone, and no Lancelot.
Instead, the man who became our most enduring hero.

All knew the oath of allegiance:
‘To you, lord, I give my sword and shield, my heart and soul. To you, my Lord Pendragon, I give my life, to command as you will.’
This is the tale of Arthur made flesh and bone. Of the shaping of the man who became the legendary king; a man with dreams, ambitions and human flaws.
A man, a warlord, who united the collapsing province of post-Roman Britain,
who held the heart of the love of his life, Gwenhwyfar
– and who emerged as the most enduring hero of all time.

A different telling of the later Medieval tales.
This is the story of King Arthur as it might have really happened…

“If only all historical fiction could be this good.” – Historical Novels Review

“… Juggles a large cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill.” – Publishers Weekly

“Hollick’s writing is one of the best I’ve come across – her descriptions are so vivid it seems as if there’s a movie screen in front of you, playing out the scenes.” – Passages To The Past

“Hollick adds her own unique twists and turns to the familiar mythology” – Booklist

“Uniquely compelling… bound to have a lasting and resounding impact on Arthurian literature.” – Books Magazine

The Kingmaking is available to read on Kindle Unlimited and at
Universal Link

New Editions for 2023  
Amazon UK • Amazon AU

Sadly, this edition is not available in USA/Canada
Amazon US • Amazon CA • Barnes&Noble

Helen Hollick

Helen is celebrating her 70^th birthday and thirty years as a published author. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy, a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, was accepted for traditional publication in April 1993 by William Heinemann (Random House UK) a week after her 40^th birthday.  The Trilogy has been widely acclaimed since then – and gone through several different editions.

Helen moved from Random House UK in 2006 and went ‘Indie’, now in 2023 to celebrate she has brought out her own fabulous new editions! (The Trilogy is published mainstream by Sourcebooks Inc in USA/Canada. The publisher was offered the new cover designs for free, but declined.)

Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

She writes a nautical adventure/fantasy Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Sea Witch Voyages and has also branched out into the quick read novella, ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with her Jan Christopher Murder Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working as a library assistant.

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She lives with her family in an eighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon with a variety of pets and horses.

For more information about Helen and her books click on the links below
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Newsletter Subscription
Blog • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

More information on the Coffee Pot Book Club and other works of quality historical fiction can be found on Twitter and Instagram

Book Title: The Kingmaking
Series: The Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy (Book #1)
Author:  Helen Hollick
Publication Date: March 2023 (new editions, excl. US/CA)
Publisher: Taw River Press
Page Length: 570
Genre: Historical Fiction / Arthurian Fiction