The Agony of Anthologies? – Helen Hollick

I’m always very pleased to welcome Helen Hollick to my writing blog. Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, her historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fact and  fiction blend together.

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was initially published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy.

She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant. Her 2025 release is Ghost Encounters, a book about the ghosts of North Devon.

Helen and her family moved from London to Devon after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and wishing the friendly, resident ghosts would occasionally help with the housework…

Over to Helen!

The last time I organised putting an anthology of short stories together with contributions by several well known writer friends, I told myself ‘never again.’ I rather have this habit of not listening to myself though, for here I am doing it again!

Let’s backtrack: the first anthology I immersed myself into was 1066 Turned Upside Down. The suggestion for this anthology came about when talking with other 1066-related authors at an annual Battle of Hastings re-enactment weekend in Sussex, England. We’d been talking ‘what if King Harold had won’ and the idea blossomed from there – an anthology of various ‘what if’ short stories going through that fateful year.

(Helen bludgeoned me to join in – I was the alternative history specialist, after all. But I had a horror of writing short stories. However,  she was very persuasive. It proved to be a revelation and I consequently produced my own collection – ROMA NOVA EXTRA – which people seem to like. – Alison)

In hindsight, had I been the main organiser I’d have perhaps chosen a couple of different authors to participate. Authors who took marketing, etc. far more diligently. But with its superbly evocative cover the book did – is still doing – well. I learnt quite a few things about producing anthologies with that one, though!

Firstly, choose which authors to invite very carefully. Secondly, be clear about expectations; each author to do their own editing? Any royalties? Marketing?  Who is to design the cover ? All the anthologies I’ve been involved with have been designed by Cathy Helms of avalongraphics.org. Take a look at them. The quality speaks volumes. And YES, you CAN (and do!) judge a book by its cover!

BETRAYAL came next. I wasn’t involved with producing this one, I was just a contributing author, but again, hindsight is a wonderful thing … Most of the contributing authors had their say in various aspects, which while not leading to arguments did cause ‘discussion’. The end result was – is – very good, but that old saying ‘too many cooks’ can be true!

So, onto EXILE. This was my idea, my organising, etc. with various authors contributing by invitation. The end result is superb, with exclusive stories by fantastic writers (including Elizabeth Chadwick.) This was the ‘I’ll-not-do-another-one-though’ title… re-read that first paragraph *laugh*

Here I am, then, talking about the latest anthology FATE: Tales of History. Mystery and Magic. Again with short stories written by a range of superb authors.

So why did I decide to ‘go for it’ and organise another anthology? Take your pick from insanity, desperation, wanting to help other authors and ‘well, I had an idea for a story…’ (Actually, they all apply!)

Marketing is the main reason. Finding new readers is becoming increasingly harder (not quite at desperation level yet, but there are days..!). As authors, we like to think of ourselves as whales in a pond. The harsh truth is, we’re tadpoles in an ocean. It’s probably easier to climb Everest than it is to ‘get noticed’. So marketing is hard, hard work. But several well-known, very good authors all talking about the same subject – the same title – is a good way to get noticed.

I also had a short story I’d written – and didn’t know what to do with it, which led to the idea to organise an anthology with a theme of ‘fate’ in all its meanings, followed closely by the idea (inspiration?) to include my dearest author friends again – but for us all to show what we could do beyond what we are usually known for doing. So, I added the clause of ‘magic’ into the theme of Tales Of History and Mystery – giving us all such a wide, wonderful spectrum to play around with, and enjoy!

The result is an eclectic collection of stories where no two are alike, but should please all readers – whatever their respective preferred genres. So in FATE we have the aftermath of conquest, the pursuit of alchemy, the concern of a mother for her daughter, the shifting of time, the necessity of hidden identity, souls who will linger as ghosts, a warning from the supernatural, the necessity for (justifiable?) revenge. All mingled with the rekindling of romance through a mutual quest, and the preparations for a village celebration. Diverse, entertaining and enjoyable. Hard work to collate together (Oh, those typos that creep in!!!) but you know what … 100% worthwhile.

I’m still going to say ‘I’m not doing it again though.’ (Yeah, right – Alison)

Like I said, I never listen to myself…

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Connect with Helen

Website: https://helenhollick.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social
X/Twitter @HelenHollick https://x.com/HelenHollick
Blog: supporting authors & their books https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/
Monthly newsletter : Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse
https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html

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FATE: Tales of History, Mystery and Magic 

If you had a crystal ball to predict what lay ahead, would you be tempted to use it? Or would you leave the future to the turn of Fate?

Tales of Variety. Tales of History, Mystery and Magic – some comprising just one of these popular fiction genres, others, a mild mixture of all three. 

An Anglo-Saxon woman facing the consequence of conquest; the pursuit of alchemy; the concern of a mother for her daughter; the shifting of time; the necessity of hidden identity; souls who will linger as ghosts; a warning from the supernatural; and the necessity for (justifiable?) revenge. And mingled with the rekindling of romance through a mutual quest, and the preparations for a Cotswold village celebration. (Along with a good tip of illicitly snaffling cakes.)

The binding theme? Destiny… Kismet… FATE!

Buy the ebook from Amazon: https://mybook.to/FateAnthology
Also available on Kindle Unlimited
Paperback: Order from any good bookstore

Available as: Kindle Unlimited, e-book and paperback

Watch the (rather brilliant) YouTube trailer produced by Jean Gill:  https://youtu.be/M9pSrDX8PTQ?si=sqe7R1JpQoGwUjrb

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers –  INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO,  AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO  and RETALIO,  and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories.  Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. JULIA PRIMA,  Roma Nova story set in the late 4th century, starts the Foundation stories. The sequel, EXSILIUM, is now out.

Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines and taste world the latest contemporary thriller Double Identity… Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email update. As a result, you’ll be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.