Part one first draft is done.

Just a quick update on the progress I have been making since my last post. The first draft of part one of the book is now complete with almost 40,000 words that cover the prelude to the fateful battle of Wakefield. During the research I found that history of medieval England is surprisingly well documented in Parliament Rolls, Patent Rolls, Fine Rolls and many other sources including the famous Paston letters. I added several books to my collection to explore other important documents from the period such as Plumpton, Stonor, and Cely letters.

The second part of the book will cover the battle of Saint Albans and the Margaret of Anjou's march towards London. The story so far is given through several points of view including Richard the duke of York, Henry Beaufort the duke of Somerset, John Clifford the baron of Clifford. I have not yet decided whether to include the battle of Mortimer's Cross for the main character of the series will not be present during this fight. Doing so would add the future king Edward IV into the midst of events prior to his coronation.

Research

Any historical novel requires research because the writer does not invent the world but uses the one that existed. In order to paint as accurate a picture as possible, I began acquiring books that detail England in the 15th century and the Wars of the Roses in particular. The world of 1461 saw an incredible amount of research by many authors such as M. Lewis, A. Weir, M. Hicks, and C. Ross among many others.

My reading list so far consists of:

• Fatal Colours: Towton, 1461- England's Most Brutal Battle - George Goodwin
• From Wakefield to Towton, the Wars of the Roses - Philip Haigh
• Battlefield Yorkshire, From the Romans to the English Civil Wars – David Cooke
• Battles and Battlefields in England – Charles Raymond
• Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century – Richard Brooke
• The Wars of the Roses - Alison Weir
• The Wars of the Roses - Martin J. Dougherty
• The Wars of the Roses: A Concise History - Charles Ross
• English Weapons & Warfare 449- 1660  - A.V.B. Norman and Don Pottinger  
• A Brief History of Medieval Warfare - Peter Reid 
• Secrets of the English War Bow - Hugh D.H. Soar
• The Pastons: A family in the Was of the Roses - Richard Barber
• Blood and Roses - Helen Gastor
• The Women of the Cousins' War - Phillipa Gregory
• Richard of York - Mathew Lewis
• Edward IV - Michael Hicks
• The Life and Reign of Edward the Fourth - Cora L. Scofield
• The Family of Richard III - Michael Hicks
• The Nevills of Middleham - K.L. Clark
• The House of Beaufort - Nathen Amin

1461 - Novel.

Background: 

1461 A.D. - the year the first Yorkist King, Edward IV, came to the throne of England after defeating the adherents of the Lancastrian dynasty headed by King Henry VI at the battle of Towton, acclaimed as the bloodiest battle fought on the English soil. Edward's rise to kingship was brought forward by several battles fought in close succession - Wakefield, Mortimer's Cross, Second St. Albans, and Towton.

The  second half of 15th century became the end of the Middle Ages in England as the importance of archery and mounted and armored men-at-arms in battle declined for they were largely replaced by the pike and shot of the 16th century. We know this period of history as the Wars of the Roses that lasted from 1455 until 1487. The characters and battles of this period have been an inspiration for writers of the past such as Shakespeare and Stevenson. Hundreds of years have passed since these momentous events, yet they continue to inspire a multitude of authors today.

The story:

The novel will follow a young archer, named Richard, fighting for the Yorkist cause in 1460 and 1461. He will encounter historical characters such as Richard of York, Lord Clifford "The Butcher", and Richard Neville, known as the Kingmaker, among many others. He will send arrows into enemy ranks, bloody his sword, and run for his life as he seeks glory, revenge, and love.

I intend to continue this story through several novels that will culminate in the rise of the Tudor dynasty in the form of Henry VII.