Gamebook Friday: Alice in the New Forest

Earlier this week, on our way to the coast for a couple of days, three quarters of Family Green stopped off at Lyndhurst in the New Forest, for a spot of lunch and a walk. Said walk took us through Lyndhurst itself and past the church of St Michael and All Angels, where a certain Mrs Reginald Hargreaves is buried.

St Michael and All Angels, Lyndhurst.

The Hargreaves family plot in the churchyard.

Why am I sharing this information with you? Because before she married profressional cricketeer Reginald Hargreaves, Mrs Hargreaves' maiden name was Liddell, and her Christian name was Alice.

The plaque beside the Hargreaves plot.

Naturally, just down the hill from the church are the Mad Hatter Tea Rooms. I mean, why wouldn't they be?

The Mad Hatter Tea Rooms, Lyndhurst.

The eponymous Hatter.

If you have yet to experience Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, the original ACE Gamebook, you can pick up a copy here. I will also have some signed copies for sale at the Somerset Comic Con at the end of the month.

Thought for the Day

"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."

~ H. G. Wells

Riddle of the Runes Unleashing

I was fortunate to be among the guests who attended the launch of Dr Janina Ramirez's first* children's book, Riddle of the Runes, at Hatchards on Piccadilly last night.

When I arrived, I climbed flight after flight of stairs, following the sound of much merriment and excitement, to the top floor, where I was welcomed by the team from Oxford University Press with a glass of something cold and sparkling, which was nice.**

As well as Dr J, her family, friends and colleagues, others in attendance included Professor Kate Williams, Helen Czerski, Bettany Hughes, and Neil Gaiman, who literally popped in a minute.***

Following speeches by Liz Cross, Head of Children's Publishing at Oxford University Press, and the author herself...

Janina then spent the rest of her time sat behind a desk, signing books...

And patiently posing for photos, like this one...

Achievement unlocked: Dr Janina Ramirez calls you a legend.****

I was interested to learn that writing fiction is what Janina has always wanted to do, and was the reason she studied English Literature at Oxford. Everything else that has happened since, including her medievalist history and art history studies - not to mention her broadcasting career! - were simply a deviation from her original plan. But now she's back on track and celebrating being a bestselling children's author.

Then it was off to the pub for more merriment and lots of chat.

Much as I am enjoying Riddle of the Runes, and as thrilled as my own shield maiden is to have received her own signed copy, those of you who are still patiently awaiting Beowulf Beastslayer will no doubt be as intrigued as I am about Janina's next book, due out next March.

* Of many, I am sure!

** Not to mention most welcome. It was very hot.

*** How rock and roll is that?

**** Which is right up there with the time Charlie Higson publicly called me one of the world's leading experts in the gamebook genre.

Thought for the Day

“When it comes to the past, everyone writes fiction.”

~ Stephen King, Joyland

The Battle of Bosworth: What really happened?

Today is the 531st anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth, but really happened on that late summer's day in a field just outside Leicester?

Was it Henry Tudor who won the day? Or was it, as The Black Adder would have us believe, actually a Plantagenet victory?



Or was it something else? To discover the 'truth' you must read Adrian Chamberlin's The Suns of York, available now as part of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu.

When The Boot Was On The Other Foot

When The Boot Was On The Other Foot

A poem to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815

In 1815, the French said 'Adieu!' 

When Wellington showed them just what he could do. 

The Iron Duke's boots 

Met Napoleon's glutes, 

And old Boney met his Waterloo.

(c) Jonathan Green, 2015

Better get used to the idea, bud.

A Surfeit of Peaches

A Surfeit of Peaches

Or

Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be A Bad Thing

A poem to commemorate the 800^th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta on 15^th June 1215

King John was a rogue and a tartar.

(He murdered his poor nephew Arthur.)

At fair Runnymede,

His Barons decreed,

He agree to the terms of their charter.

But for Lackland things soon got much worse.

(Some said he was under a curse.)

Legend has it a monk

Off’t a cup, which when drunk,

Made him call for the aid of a nurse.

Was it dysentery? Poison? Malaise?

(‘Twas at Newark John ended his days.)

A surfeit of peaches,

So History teaches,

Caused his death, due to gluttonous ways.

(c) Jonathan Green, 2015