Gina Rae Mitchell

The Pearl of York: Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan Introduction:

When Margaret Clitherow is arrested on the dark streets of Tudor York, her friends, led by a youthful Guy Fawkes, face a race against time to save her from the gallows. As events unfold, their lives, and our history, change forever.

This is the premise behind The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot, a new historical novel written by Tony Morgan. Please see the special note below about the donation of all proceeds from this book to a special charity!

The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan
Published by Independent on March 1, 2020
Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 235

A gripping historical novel, perfect for the lovers of CJ Sansom and SJ Parris. set in the dark streets and atmospheric buildings of Tudor York. When Margaret Clitherow is arrested for illegally harbouring Catholic priests in The Shambles, her friends, led by a youthful Guy Fawkes, face a race against time to save her from the gallows.

As events unfold, their lives, and our history, change forever. Margaret, known as the Pearl of York, and Guy, famous for his role in the Gunpowder Plot, were raised by prosperous Protestant families. Both became Catholic enemies of the state.

What events could persuade a happily married woman to consider martyrdom, or transform a young Yorkshireman into a terrorist?

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My review of The Pearl of York: Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan

Have you ever wanted to visit York in the Tudor era? This book is your chance. Tony Morgan’s The Pearl of York: Treason and Plot will take you there from page one to the final

The words transport you so thoroughly, you feel the dirt, grime, terror and hopelessness of the poor, immigrants, and Catholics. The righteousness of the Protestants seeps through in every sneer and situation.

As you learn about what swept Guy Fawkes toward the Gunpowder Plot, you agonize over the choices that must be made by all involved. You also realize that many times we simply have no other alternatives.

Young romance in any era can be sweet and touching, yet so easily broken and tarnished.

We all know the eventual outcome of this story, but Mr. Morgan tells a wonderfully imaginative fictional tale of how the Pearl of York and Guy Fawkes arrived at that conclusion.

The amount of research that went into a book like this is astonishing. Every detail is accurate, and the plot moves you steadily toward the dramatic ending. The characters are vivid and well-written to enhance the story.

I highly recommend this story to all lovers of historical fiction, the Tudor era, and great storytelling.

I received a review copy of this book. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

 

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The Pearl of York: Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan

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Author Interview:

What inspired you to write in this genre?

I find history fascinating, particularly key turning points, such as the Gunpowder Plot, which could have changed our whole history. I also think we have a lot to learn and remember today, to prevent us repeating the mistakes of the past.

Do you have a set writing schedule?

I start by planning out the end to end plot. I’m happy to do this in bite-size chunks, but I do like to mull things over, for example when having a walk. Often, I return home brimming with thoughts and ideas about the characters, areas for research or potential twists. I add these to my notes. Bringing everything together, I update and harden the storyline.

Once I have a relatively firm structure, I start the real writing in earnest. For this, wherever possible, I allocate quality time, dedicating half a day to each session to allow me to focus. When I have the manuscript drafted, I move on to refining and editing, and I’m better able to squeeze this in around day to day life.

Do you need silence to write, or can you work in any environment?

I write better in a relatively quiet space. Background noise is okay, as long as it’s insufficiently obtrusive to pierce my concentration.

How do you choose the names of your characters?

I use two approaches. I’m fortunate in some ways, as many of my characters are drawn from history, so they already have given names. For additional characters, my preference is to tap into the material I’m using for research. I select and mix up forenames and surnames which I can prove were in use in that geographical area at that time period. The research sources are fascinating and very varied. For example, a character may take the forename of someone from a tax record and have the surname of a man executed for coining or horse theft!

What do you read for pleasure?

There are quite a few genres I enjoy. A few years ago, I read very many biographies and autobiographies of early 20^th Century explorers, particularly those who penetrated the Antarctic or attempted to scale Everest. I’m not quite sure why, as I’ve never wanted to do those things. I suppose I became fascinated by what people could achieve with so little equipment but such huge commitment and determination. I’d give a strong shout out for Cherry-Gerard’s The Worst Journey in the World. I’ve always loved a good laconic spy thriller and was brought up on Len Deighton. More recently, since writing historical fiction, I’ve started reading much more of that too, particularly the ones where mystery or espionage is involved.

Is there anything you would like my readers to know about you and your book?

I live near York and spend quite a lot of time in the city. It’s an atmospheric enough place now but what must it have really been like for people in the Tudor period? If anyone has been there, I think you’ll get a feel for how little and how much the city has changed over the centuries, and even imagine yourself in today’s streets but back then.

If you haven’t been there, you can visit by reading the book, and sense the hopes and joys of the people. Parts of the population were in constant danger, but everyone lived, loved, ate, worked and some of them went to school, just as we do. The story is ultimately about people, families and the events which changed their lives, for good and bad.

Lastly, all profits from my books and history talks in 2020 will be donated to St Leonard’s Hospice in York. It’s an organization which provides brilliant palliative care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses. At this difficult time, they need our help more than ever. By buying a book, you can have a hopefully great read, and support a fantastic cause.

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The Pearl of York: Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan

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