Excerpt: Prologue to Show Me the Pretty Bird

Cockatiels are the love of my life. When I feel down they give me joy. Their antics also keep me grounded, something every creative person needs. This winter I decided to take my experiences over the last few years and put them into a comedy play. It’s a glimpse into my world as a bird person and is completely autobiographical. I hope you will enjoy it and if you want to produce this play as a show at your school or community theater, by all means email at the address provided in the front matter of the play.

Prologue

LAUREL stands downstage on the apron and addresses the audience.

LAUREL

(Singing to the tune of “the Brady Bunch” theme)

HERE’S A STORY OF A LOVELY LADY. WHO WAS BRINGING UP TWO VERY LOVELY BIRDS. BOTH OF THEM WITH SNOWY CRESTS, LIKE THEIR MOTHERS. THE YOUNGEST ONE WITH PEARLS.

(Switching to normal voice)

If you are like most people, you have never heard lyrics quite like that applied to that song!  In fact, if you are like most people, you have no clue what the _____ I just said. How do birds have pearls?

Now of course if you are a cockatiel person, you are thinking, ‘yeah, of course one has pearls – but most pearl cockatiels don’t have white crests. Is this cockatiel a whiteface pearl?’ 

If you are really a cockatiel person you immediately want to know the exact genetic history of my bird – Arwen in this case.  To which I am happy to tell you that Arwen is a dominate silver whiteface pearl pied hen and granddaughter of a National Cockatiel Society champion named Caspian. Her mother, Caspian’s daughter, was Cloud, a whiteface pearl pied hen. Arwen’s father was named Sterling and he was a dominate silver whiteface pearl pied.

Are the rest of you completely lost yet? Yeah, I thought so!  That’s because you are used to dog and cat breeds where people value uniform traits. When I say ‘Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’ you know exactly what that dog looks like. Mix another breed with that beautiful cav and you end up with a cute, lovable mutt who will never win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

But parrots are literally of a different class – Aves – and order – Psittaciformes – from we mammals. All captive raised parrots are wild animals socialized around humans, but still retaining their wild instincts. Selective breeding has created what we call ‘colour mutations’ that only change the plumage of our captive raised birds, usually by suppressing a specific hue like yellow – for pied cockatiels – or grey – for lutino cockatiels. 

With cockatiels, the more of these mutations a bird has, the better – in most cases.  Therefore, a whiteface lutino cockatiel – which is what my older bird Mithril is – is more prized than a regular lutino cockatiel. Combining whiteface and lutino gives you a very different looking bird.  In this case, a whiteface lutino which has all white feathers, pink eyes, pink beak, pink skin, and pink nails.

Are you ready for the science lecture to be over yet?  Okay! Good! I swear the point of getting together today is not actually to trick you into a zoology class!  Rather we are gathered today to celebrate the wonders that come with living with cockatiels – and the crazy things I encounter in my regular life when I’m around people who aren’t as in love with these amazing and incredibly bright balls of feathered mischief.

On a technical note I want to mention that what you are about to watch is not always presented in chronological order.  All of my cockatiels across the years have something to say – or do – that conveys the magic that is life with cockatiels.

Part tornado, part fluffy ball of feathers, and mixed with insane capacities for mischief, life is never dull around cockatiels.  By the end of this show, you will know exactly what I mean.

(END OF SCENE)

Available in digital and paperback at a library (including Hoopla) and retailer near you including Apple, Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes/Noble, Everand, and Kobo.

World Building: Beinarian Weddings and Engagement Customs

“High Priestess Wehe blessed them, “Hand to hand, heart to heart, flesh to flesh, blood to blood, soul to soul.  As your souls have found one another, let them never be parted again, in this life or in lives to come.  Let your minds, hearts, and souls be ever enriched by one another.  May your bodies be blessed with children who thrive and live many yen-ars after you are gone…and may you know only love for one another as long as you both shall live.”  Smiling, Wehe embraced both in open court and kissed their cheeks. Bevin then rose and accepted a cup from his steward.  Cups filled with nanla juice were handed to each member of the royal family.  Bevin raised his chalice, “This is my daughter, the hope of Beinan.  Long may she live in love, happiness, and peace.”  — chapter seven, The Great Succession Crisis.

Weddings are common in romance genres, regardless the setting. Marriage is often the goal in our favorite romances, including Jane Austin classics like “Sense and Sensibility” and “Pride and Prejudice.” In the novel “The Great Succession Crisis” the fate of planet Beinan hinges on romancing heiress Princess Anlei and her resulting choice of a husband. No surprise, betrothal and wedding traditions are part of the world building for this book, my first novel and the first book written for the Peers of Beinan series. Here are a few ways that betrothal and weddings differ on planet Beinan compared to the weddings you’ve been to.

Engagement Jewelry

Since the 20th century, western brides are usually given a ring as part of the engagement process on Earth — usually a diamond set in gold or platinum. But in writing the Peers of Beinan, I decided to go a different route. No rings are given or exchanged. Rather the would-be bridegroom offers his intended a necklace, broach, or bracelet featuring his family’s heraldry (see emblazons for all ten Beinarian houses above).

Though I did not realize it in 2012 when I published the book, this symbolic giving the bride a token of his family’s identity is not at all unlike Celtic ceremonies where the bride is brought into her husband’s clan. What that token is or was tended to be family specific, but the idea is the same. As part of the marriage ceremony, the bride leaves her family/clan and becomes part of her husband’s. On Beinan, the heraldic jewelry could be almost anything – but it’s almost never a ring.

In fact during Anlei’s wedding ceremony it is noted that the exchange of wedding rings between her and her husband is extremely unusual and part of Anlei asserting her individuality. She uses her stature as crown princess to defy tradition and have the wedding she wants over what is expected of her.

Sealing of the Betrothal

In medieval Europe, a marriage had to be consummated before it was considered validate. To ensure this, it was often customary for parents and other dignitaries to wait just outside the couple’s bedroom to make sure they did the deed.

On Beinan this is done at the betrothal stage. Once sealed with sex, the wedding becomes mostly a ceremonial formality under Beinarian law. A formal, legal divorce is required to end the relationship – which the authorities rarely grant.

Wedding Dresses

Princess Anyu in a typical Beinarian bliaut.

In general Beinarian women wear styles similar to medieval European women, an understandable product of the 20 years I played in the Society for Creative Anachronism and wore these clothes. As a rule wedding gowns are never white, but a pastel color complimentary to the delicate fabrics the gowns are made of. Bliauts, a high medieval French and Norman style, are favored.

Wedding Receptions

On planet Beinan most couples, except among the poorest families, usually hold two wedding receptions. The first reception is held within xiao-shirs (Beinarian minutes) of the wedding ceremony. But in most cases, there is a second reception held the next morning at breakfast. During this second reception the couple is toasted with the minty Beinarian cocoa that is traditional at formal events. During the first reception an alcoholic beverage is preferred – usually a mead. Music too is different with Beinarian shawms (the precursor to the oboe) traditionally played – as they are at most ceremonial events on Beinan.

While weddings don’t seem that important in science fiction, I find that in creating these small details to the world building helps bring the story alive. Who doesn’t love a wedding to top off a great romance?

Last lines: Novels by Laurel A. Rockefeller

Good morning! I hope you are have a great day so far. Earlier this spring a twitter discussion about the final lines and paragraphs in books inspired me to post the final lines for the thirteen biographies in “The Legendary Women of World History” series plus the award-winning “His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu.” Today would like to post the final lines for my fiction work. Most of these are from the Peers of Beinan series, but not all of them. I start with the books not in the Peers of Beinan. Except for the flash fiction, all of these are available in both digital and paperback editions. Please note that there are two versions of The Poisoned Ground. The regular book by that title is shorter and appropriate for audiences age 10+. The extended “The Poisoned Ground and the Healer Consort” is much darker and more violent for mature audiences ages 17+.

A New Start in the Niobrara for Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley

Audio edition available.

“Anything for an Irish lad and lass!” winked Father Fitzpatrick. “So…would you like a fine bit of bread and ale before we find you a place to stay?”

“What’s the vintage?” asked Brigit.

“1884…a good year for Nebraska ale!” laughed Father Fitzpatrick.

“I’ll drink to that!” chuckled Brigit. Together the trio found a nice table in the café and dined with the luck of the Irish. Brigit and Darcy knew that life in this new place, Nebraska, would certainly not be easy, but with the help of Father Fitzpatrick, at least they just might have a fighting chance at making a home of their own. What more could they want?

The Arban and the Saman

Audio edition available. Music performed by Laurel A. Rockefeller.

Everything that Mongke Gal prophesied came true. In February 1559 a baby was born among the Jianzhou nűzhen. Aisin-gurun Nurgaci was his name. Nurgaci was a great warrior, a great leader who united the fractured tribes and re-ordered the nűzhen society, setting the stage for his son to take back the city built on Zhongdu’s ashes, a city now known as Beijing. In 1654 Biya’s spirit was reborn as Nurgaci’s great grandson Xuanye, a boy no one expected to become emperor. But prophesy has a way of coming true in the ways no one ever expects.  And so, it was that on the 5^th of February 1661 the little boy Xuanye ascended the dragon throne as the Kangxi Emperor, the greatest and wisest emperor the world has ever known.

As for their eternal promises to each other, these too have come true. And so it is to this day. For true love never dies, even if it takes many lives to come together once more. True love is the eternal fire, the Mongke Gal, that brings rebirth to the world and conquers all sorrow, all evil, all pain.

So Mote It Be. Amen.

The First King

Audio edition available

“Over the past twenty eight beinors we have debated.  We have chosen to create an executive for our people, a king elected by this Council who may, with the permission of this august body, transfer power to his best qualified offspring should he rule well until death.  You, Lord Malvyn, are childless, but your wife, our high priestess, is strong and wise, a credit to House Miyoo.  We therefore confer upon you the title of King and ask you serve as our chosen executive to guide us into the stars and into the great migration that is so key to our survival.”

“Wise counselors, I am humbled by your choice.  As this is your will, I shall most conscientiously obey,” bowed king-elect Malvyn.

“So mote it be.” smiled Lady Kendra, pleased at their choice.

Good-bye A672E92 Quintus

Audio edition available

In all, 80% of all manner of life was able to evacuate, including hundreds of thousands of species of flora and fauna.  On the bridge of the Gilráne, Brigid listened as Horatio expertly commanded his star craft as skillfully as his reputation, King Malvyn ever watchful of his conduct. 

Looking back one last time, Brigid bowed in deference to the world that was their home and the goddess who gave birth to all.  With a tear in her eye, Brigid put her hand upon the bulkhead near the window next to her, “Goodbye!”

The Poisoned Ground/The Poisoned Ground and the Healer Consort

Audio edition available

Liam knelt before her, still holding her hand, “Well then there is a question I must ask you.  Do you choose me with your heart?  Will you be with me?”

“Mind, body, and soul!” smiled Cara.  “Let our fates forever be entwined.  You, my perfect knight and I, your princess!”

“Princess you are; there is a royalty to your soul, my dear!  May I always honour you, all that you are!”

Cara and Liam defied King Gareth, staying in Nan-li and continuing to work at the healing center.  Together they invented the eye drops and contact lenses used for generations after to prevent brown eye syndrome.  Their inventions protected their eyes and prevented them from losing their sight to brown eye syndrome – in themselves and in their daughter Gwawr born on BE 5547, beinor 124.  Though the king continued his cruel ways, the love between Cara and Liam offered the abbess the strength to endure and continue her work.  In the yen-ars that followed, “Cara” became the most popular name given by Ten-Arian healers to their daughters in memory of her extraordinary life.  Other abbesses of Ten-Ar would bear the name “Cara.”  But few would ever achieve so much under such tribulations as she who dared defy the tyrant king.

The Great Succession Crisis

Epilogue

“For all appearances, the Great Succession Crisis was, indeed, resolved on BE 6328, beinor 129.  But appearances can be deceiving.  Lord Knight Corann and Princess Anlei’s son, Prince Lyr ascended to the throne on BE 6400, beinor 2 as all in House Gurun hoped — but at a terrible price for all of Beinan.  High Priestess Wehe, Princess Anlei, Lord Knight Corann they all hoped in BE 6328 that the future King Lyr would be able to put the tumult of the crisis behind all of them.  But their hopes failed.  As Corann long suspected, Lord Janus would have his revenge, even from the grave.  Hate filled Janus’ descendants, triggering the violence that was to come, violence that would grow until it consumed Beinan.  What began with a few terrorist bombings grew to civil war with countless innocents murdered.  For my own protection my parents sent me to D425E25 Tertius, as most of you know so well.  But that, dear friends, is another story that I will tell in my next transmission.  The shir-or is late right now.  Time for some rest.  Watch for my next transmission for in it I will tell you how the violence began and grew, how the ghosts of the past came to haunt us all….” finished Queen Anyu.

The Ghosts of the Past

In my mother’s body, a child was quickened by Yelu’s persistence in those last beinors of the Beinarian era.  Across Beinan, the fires emanating from the Ten-Arian monastery, from the temple of Abka Biya, and from the palace spread widely, destroying many familiar and sacred places.  As I set course in my star craft for D425E25 Tertius, my star craft detected a strange anomaly coming out of the temple where I found so much peace.  A small shockwave hit my star craft two xiao-shirs later.  In my mind I heard Lady Laela’s voice and knew that somehow she was behind whatever it was my star craft detected, working unseen and unnoticed though for what purpose I would not understand until I returned to Beinan.

The Beinan I knew was gone.  But deep inside me I knew something else:  that out of the darkness and cold comes a new spring, a new hope.  If I ever doubted it, all I needed to do was listen to the messages left for me on board the Liltaél.  The story of my exile on D425E25 Tertius and of my return to Beinan, planet B345A15 Quartus in Beinarian nomenclature, took me down many unexpected roads.  Many I loved perished in that Great War whose lives I honour across this history of the last yen-ars of the Beinarian Era.  Many hidden things revealed themselves at last.  I am not proud of what I said and did along the way.  But this I affirm forever:  in the darkest night, in the deepest snow, in the bitterest sorrow, there is love, there is light, and there is a new life waiting for you if you simply find the courage within yourself to believe.

Princess Anyu Returns

Epilogue

On NE 1, beinor 3 Queen Anyu sent the first of three transmissions to D425E25 Tertius, a world she never knew the natives called “Earth.”  Four beinors later on NE 1, beinor 7 she sent her second transmission concerning the fall of Beinan to the ghosts of the past. Finally on NE 1, beinor 9 she sent her final transmission regarding her exile on Earth and how she came to be queen.  Under Queen Anyu a new golden age was born, the queen herself living to the age of four hundred thirty four yen-ars and dying on NE 393, beinor 50.  Her twins by Anwell, conceived out of so much sorrow and pain during their captivity at the hands of Morlong and Laela, succeeded Queen Anyu after her.  On NE 375, beinor 1 Queen Anyu crown her son King Rhisiart and her daughter Queen Brigid, the twins ruling as co-sovereigns for over six thousand yen-ars thanks to Laela’s genetic modifications.

Meanwhile in Olos-Mir thrived the half Beinarian-half Amur Lord Daniel, Lord Bevin, Lord Malvyn, Lady Debora, Lady Lorraine, and Lady Anlei, the pain and sorrow of their making transformed by the wise and steady guidance of their guardians, Princess Leonora and her husband Andrew Wu, the same Andrew Wu once forced to serve Lord Yelu as his body guard. 

But that is another story….

Isso não acabou! Trecho do capítulo quatro de Boudicca: a Rainha Breta dos Icenos .

Boudicca é a primeira biografia que escrevi. Verdadeira história da grande rainha Iceni, a biografia leva o relato de sua história pelo historiador romano Tácito e vai além, acrescentando o que sabemos da arqueologia. Profundamente religiosa, com fortes laços com os druidas de Ynys Mon (noroeste do País de Gales), Boudicca enfrentou os romanos quando ninguém mais o faria.

Nesta cena do final do capítulo quatro, Boudicca enfrenta as atrocidades romanas contra si mesma, sua família e seu povo com a coragem que torna seu nome e sua vida verdadeiramente imortais.

Certos de sua vitória e sem mais serem desafiados pelo povo, os soldados romanos entraram em cada casa, tomando tudo que eles considerassem valioso, rendendo qualquer um ainda vivo dentre a nobreza icena, e esmagando muitas das coisas que eles não podiam ou queriam levar. Com as tochas, eles atiçavam fogo sobre os telhados de palha, incendiando metade da vila.

Finalmente, eles prestaram atenção em Boudicca e suas filhas, ainda amarradas e amordaçadas,e sob controle de Marcus’, embora as três se esforçassem para se libertar. Marcus desdenhando de Boudicca, “O nosso governador me diz que uma vez você foi escrava dentre os Éduos – é verdade?”

“Eu sou a rainha dos Icenos, a escolhida de Cathubodva,” proclamou a rainha.

“Tanto fogo e ira,” percebeu Marcus. “Apenas um escravo sente tal ódio.”

“Ou uma mulher,” refutou Boudicca.

“Escrava, mulher, bárbara – qual é a diferença?  Você, Boudicca, é todas as três!”

“Há um ditado em meu povo, Centurião. Cuidado com a guerreira cuja causa é justa – mas se aterrorize com a mulher abandonada e pronta para a batalha. Pois a sua força é a maior de todas!”

“Verdade?” riu Marcus, fazendo um sinal para os dois soldados. Arrastando Alys e Morgan para onde todos as pudessem ver, os Romanos bateram até que caíssem, machucando-as e fazendo-as sangrar antes de arrebatá-las e estuprá-las.

Marcus riu e observou na raiva de Boudicca, “Com ciúme, escrava?”   

“Você convida a ira de todas as suas deusas e deuses. Chamam-nos bárbaros?  Estou sem palavras para a violência e a brutalidade do que têm feito a eles!”

“Fizemos? Acabei de começar.  Talvez eu deveria tornar você minha escravo pessoal para meus aposentos, hein?” considerou Marcus, cruelmente.  “Não… Acho que não. Um escravo adequado sabe o seu lugar. Eu tenho uma ideia melhor!” Com um movimento do pulso, ele acenou para Boudicca ser amarrada a um poste carbonizado, o que fora outrora a sua linda e luxuosa casa.  Forçando Alys e Morgan a assistir, ele pessoalmente açoitou a rainha com trinta chicotadas, esperando que ela gritasse de dor.

Orgulhosamente, Boudicca recusou-se a gritar.  Olhando para sua vítima e agora certo que também s submeteria a ele, Marcus pegou Alys e Morgan e as levou, junto com outros cativos, e saqueou, deixando Boudicca sozinha com os restos de seu reino.

Logo que os Romanos não eram mais vistos e não havia telespectadores, uma garotinha veio até Boudicca, portando uma faca, que utilizou para cortar as amarras de sua rainha, “Sua Alteza, o que devemos fazer?”

“Primeiro, nós temos que curar os nossos ferimentos. Veja alguém livre e forte o bastante para procurar panos de linho ou algodão limpos para podermos usar no auxílio aos feridos. Veja se os Romanos nos deixaram mel e grãos de aveia que possamos usar nos ferimentos. Logo que a gente parar os sangramentos e estabilizar os feridos, devemos verificar os nossos suprimentos de alimentos e garantir que todos hoje comam – especialmente os feridos. Estamos apenas tão fortes quanto os mais fracos. Agora é hora onde devemos todos nos unir,” ordenou Boudicca.

“Mas e quanto aos Romanos?  Nós não podemos deixá-los impunes com nosso povo assim.”

“Se pudermos libertá-los, faremos – mas não hoje. Nós não temos forças. Precisamos nos curar, recobrar as nossas forças. Depois, uma vez prontos, eu juro que nos vingaremos. Deixe os corvos de Cathubodva vir até nós, deixe que o seu poder nos encha!  Nós não estamos derrotados. Isto não é o fim!”

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Libri in italiano: descrizioni dei libri e link al dettaglio

L’italiano è una lingua bellissima. Come autore e storico, sono molto felice di aver lavorato con alcuni brillanti traduttori italiani, tra cui Maria C. Bivona Vexille, milanese, che ha anche tradotto la maggior parte dell’Edizione per studenti e docenti. Il tempo trascorso sia in Italia che in Inghilterra ti offre traduzioni della massima qualità che spero scoprirai mentre esplori i libri che seguono.

Addio, A672E92 Quintus

Fuggi da A672E92 Quintus prima che il Sole diventi nova!

Cosa faresti se sapessi che il mondo sta per finire?

Dopo che la scienza conferma l’imminente distruzione del pianeta A672E92 Quintus, tocca a una squadra di mediatori porre fine alle faide tra le due casate spaziali di Cashmarie e Xing-li. Se falliscono, ogni uomo, donna e bambino certamente moriranno.

Mentre infuria la guerra, due delegati assegnati ai rapporti di pace si riscoprono in una storia d’amore, che si tinge di soprannaturale in una relazione che li renderà leggendari, mentre si sforzano di salutare Quintus A672E92 e partono alla ricerca della loro nuova casa: il pianeta Beinan.

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Boudicca: La Regina Degli Iceni

Perché il corvo della Morrígan sta strillando? Solo i Britanni, amanti della vera libertà, lo sanno!

Nel 43 d.C. la conquista romana della Britannia sembra essere certa, finché un incontro casuale
tra Prasutagus, re degli Iceni, e una schiava fuggitiva di nobile stirpe della tribù gallica degli 
Edui cambia il destino delle Isole Britanniche per sempre.

Sollevatevi in nome della libertà con la vera storia di Boudicca: la regina degli Iceni e scoprite una delle storie più affascinante della storia.

Una biografia creativa dalla serie “Le Leggendarie Donne della Storia Mondiale”.

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Caterina di Valois

La principessa francese dimenticata il cui coraggio ha creato la dinastia Tudor.

La guerra l’ha fatta regina d’Inghilterra. Il suo amore per un uomo del Galles l’ha resa immortale.

Meglio conosciuta come la sposa di Agincourt di Enrico V nell’opera di Shakespeare “Enrico V “, Caterina de Valois fu una straordinaria donna dotata di fede, coraggio e convinzione in un’epoca di donne politicamente potenti.

Figlia più giovane di re Carlo VI di Francia, terrorizzata dalla sua malattia mentale, la principessa Caterina è sopravvissuta alle ingiurie della sua schizofrenia, ad una guerra civile in casa, e alla guerra di Re Enrico con la Francia fino a diventare una delle più affascinanti e coraggiose regine del Rinascimento inglese.

Un saggio biografico della serie Donne della Storia del Mondo. Comprendente un albero genealogico della Guerra delle Due Rose, una cronologia dettagliata, ricco di letture consigliate.

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Cleopatra VII: L’ultimo “faraone” d’Egitto

L’appassionante storia vera della regina più celebre d’Egitto! 

Cleopatra Tèa Filopàtore rifiuta di sottomettersi agli uomini, in un’epoca in cui la società patriarcale romana negava la piena cittadinanza anche alle sue figlie più illustri, e regna in Egitto, determinata a mantenerne l’indipendenza da Roma – ad ogni costo. Dipinta dai sostenitori di Gaio Giulio Cesare Ottaviano (il futuro Cesare Augusto) come una seduttrice senza scrupoli, Cleopatra VII dimostra al mondo di essere capace di tener testa ai tre uomini più potenti dell’epoca: Gaio Giulio Cesare, Marco Antonio e Ottaviano.

Dettagliate cronologia, letture consigliate e bibliografia sono incluse alla fine di questa appassionante storia.

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Eleonora d’Aquitania

Aliénor era la donna più desiderata nel Medioevo – e non solo a causa della sua bellezza. Figlia maggiore del duca Guglielmo X d’Aquitania, ne ereditò, a quindici anni, l’immenso patrimonio e nello stesso anno, venne incoronata regina dei Franchi.

Ma la bella duchessa non ebbe molta fortuna in amore, nonostante due matrimoni e dieci figli. I trovatori ne cantarono ampiamente la bellezza e la dilettarono con le gesta di re Artù ed i suoi cavalieri della tavola rotonda. Segnò il destino di due imperi emergenti e fece dell’Aquitania un fedele alleato dell’Inghilterra. La sua legenda perdura fino ai giorni nostri, questo libro racconta la sua emozionante storia.

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Elisabetta I Tudor: da principessa a Gloriana

“Senza alcuna prova, io vengo, per mano del vostro Consiglio, da voi condannata alla reclusione nella Torre, un luogo più adatto a un bugiardo traditore che a un suddito onesto. So di non meritarlo, tuttavia l’intero regno pare ormai convinto che ciò accadrà”, scrisse la pricipessa Elisabetta Tudor alla sorella regina Maria, mentre le guardie erano pronte a portarla alle prigioni della Torre di Londra.

La regina Elisabetta è forse la sovrana più leggendaria e famosa della storia inglese. Ma la conoscete davvero bene?

In questa bellissima biografia narrativa, esplorerete il percorso da “Lady Elisabetta” a “Gloriana” attraverso la sua relazione con Robert Dudley, una relazione molto più controversa di quanto si creda. Nella collisione tra politica e religione, Elisabetta trova rifugio nella musica, mentre decisioni difficili la aspettano e continue congiure minacciano il suo trono.

Accompagnate Elisabetta nel suo viaggio verso Gloriana per scoprire un lato di lei che non conoscevate.

Il libro contiene sei canzoni medievali ed elisabettiane, una cronologia dettagliata e un elenco di letture consigliate. Il libro è il proseguimento di “Maria Stuarda, Regina di Scozia”.

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Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, La principessa guerriera di Deheubarth

Nata nel 1097, presso il castello di Aberffraw, Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd ap Cynan era destinata a lasciare un segno indelebile nella storia gallese. Figlia di uno tra i più valorosi condottieri del regno di Gwynedd, la principessa divenne coraggiosa e piena di passione – al pari dei suoi fratelli maggiori.

A sedici anni, incontra il principe Gruffydd ap Rhys, l’amore della sua vita e tormentato erede di Rhys ap Tewdur del regno di Deheubarth. Come marito e moglie, combatterono per liberare il Galles meridionale, sfidando I conquistatori normanni e dimostrando il coraggio ed il valore dei gallesi, un coraggio che perdura ancor’oggi nel cuore di ogni uomo, donna e bambino del Galles.

In coda al testo è possibile trovare una dettagliata cronologia che copre circa quattro secoli di storia medievale del Galles e dell’Inghilterra.

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Hildegard von Bingen

Armata di penna e calamaio, riscrisse la storia del cristianesimo medievale.

Hildegard von Bingen non era destinata a passare alla storia. Decima figlia di uno del vassalli del conte von Sponheim, era stata donata dai genitori al monastero di Disibodenberg in segno di gratitudine a Dio, ma soprattutto perché, a causa delle sue visioni, sarebbe stato difficile darla in sposa ad un buon partito.  

Quando succedette a Jutta von Sponheim nel ruolo di Magistra e priora di Disibodenberg, mantenere il segreto riguardo alle sue visioni divenne impossibile. Quanto accadde in seguito, sconvolse non solo la vita monastica per le donne del suo ordine, ma l’intera storia mondiale.  

Scopri la storia della scrittrice più prolifica del Medioevo, la leggendaria Hildegard von Bingen.

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Imperatrice Wu Zetian

La donna più odiata nella storia della Cina!

Viaggia indietro nel tempo di più di mille anni e incontra la prima e unica imperatrice donna della Cina. Nata come Wu Zhao e nominata col titolo reale di “Zetian” poche settimane prima della sua morte nel 705 DC, era la figlia non voluta del Cancelliere Wu Shihuo — troppo intelligente, troppo acculturata, e troppo concentrata politicamente per farne una buona moglie secondo le interpretazioni dell’epoca dei Dialoghi di Confucio. 

C’è da meravigliarsi che ancora oggi rimanga la donna più odiata di tutta la storia cinese e una delle sue più controverse? 

Esplora la vita dell’Imperatrice Wu e scopri perchè il mondo è un posto completamente diverso perché ha osato ciò che nessuna donna in Cina prima o da allora ha mai sognato.

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Ipazia di Alessandria

Mentre il mondo occidentale cadeva nell’oscurità, lei ebbe il coraggio di difendere la Luce.

Nata nel 355 d.C, dopo il regno di Costantino, Ipazia di Alessandria visse il declino dell’Impero Romano, in un mondo in cui l’obbedienza alle autorità religiose era più importante della scienza e dove la ragione e la logica erano viste come una minaccia per il nuovo ordine mondiale. Era il mondo precedente al Medioevo, un mondo impegnato a decidere il rapporto tra scienza e religione, libertà e ortodossia, tolleranza e odio.

Per più di 40 anni Ipazia visse al confine tra gli anni bui e la luce della filosofia classica, delle arti e delle scienze. Sebbene nessuno dei suoi libri sia sopravvissuto ai feroci roghi del fanatismo religioso, Ipazia rimane una delle scienziate più importanti di tutti i tempi.

Questa è la sua affascinante storia.

Include bibliografia, cronologia dettagliata e coordinate di latitudine e longitudine delle principali città dell’Impero romano per consentire al lettore di esplorare le meraviglie celesti con Ipazia.

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Katharina von Bora 

La vita leggendaria di Katharina von Bora Luther!

Nata nel 1499, Katharina venne dapprima inviata presso il convento di Brehna, per poi trasferirsi al convento di Nimbschen, dove prese i voti all’etá di sedici anni, pensando vi sarebbe rimasta fino alla fine dei suoi giorni.

Tuttavia, Dio aveva in serbo per lei un altro piano.

alla vigilia della Pasqua del 1523, insieme ad altre undici consorelle, fuggí, in direzione di Wittenberg, una tappa che doveva essere provvisoria, fino a quando non avrebbe trovato una fissa dimora. Quel che accadde dopo, cambió il mondo per la piccola famiglia, un mondo pieno di musiche originali il tedesco.

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L’Arban e la Saman

Cosa rischieresti per amore?

Corre l’anno 1211 d.C. Cinque anni dopo essere stato dichiarato “khan”, Chinggis Khan e le sue orde di invasori si stanno diffondendo rapidamene su tutta la pianura della Cina settendrionale, proprio nel cuore del nűzhen. Il loro obiettivo: la conquista del potente impero Jìn.

Tra i guerrieri mandati a Liaoning c’è un ufficiale di basso rango (un arban) di nome Mongke Nichan, un uomo spirituale alla ricerca della sua anima gemella al fine di compiere una profezia attesa a lungo dal suo cuore.

Ma trovare la sua metà e convincerla ad accettarlo sono due cose completamente diverse in questa storia d’amore ambientata nel periodo di guerra che ti porterà nel cuore stesso del misticismo asiatico e nella parte più intima dei ranghi della possente Orda Mongola.

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La società patriarcale americana

L’esperienza americana dal punto di vista delle donne.

La società patriarcale americana descrive cosa significa vivere in America per le donne. Sette tematiche relative al patriarcato in America vengono successivamente approfondite nella seconda parte del libro.

• Le tematiche affrontate sono:
• Il patriarcato nel mondo del lavoro
• La padrona di casa come l’ideale della donna americana
• La società patriarcale e l’istruzione
• Il mansplaining
• Violenza domestica e cultura dello stupro
• Società patriarcale e denaro
• Società patriarcale e aborto

Un’indagine onesta della storia e cultura americana per come è stata e viene vissuta dalle donne che sicuramente farà riflettere parecchio e fornirà svariati ed interessanti spunti di discussione.

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Le Terre Avvelenate

Andava tutto bene per la città meridionale di Nan-li — finché una misteriosa pestilenza affligge la città con terrore e agonia. Doverosa di scoprirne le cause, la Badessa Lady Cara è in corsa contro il tempo per trovare una cura solo per poi essere coinvolta nelle pericolose teorie di complotto che potrebbero costarle la vita e quella di miliardi di generazioni a venire.

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L’imperatrice Matilde d’Inghilterra

La ruggente leonessa d’Inghilterra!

Con la sua discendenza reale normanna, sassone e scozzese Matilde, nata nel 1102 da re Enrico d’Inghilterra e dalla regina Matilde di Scozia, era destinata a unificare un’Inghilterra ancora divisa dalla conquista di suo nonno, avvenuta nel 1066. Quando il naufragio della Nave Bianca nel 1120 la rese l’unica figlia vivente dei suoi genitori, Matilde divenne improvvisamente erede del trono inglese in un era in cui la successione era ancora decisa dai witan sassoni anziché dalla volontà del sovrano.

Scoprite la storia della prima donna che ha rivendicato il trono Inglese!

Include l’albero genealogico di Matilde, una cronologia dettagliata e letture consigliate per approfondire gli studi.

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Margherita del Wessex: Madre, santa e regina di Scozia 

Il secolo XI non era il momento migliore per un discendente diretto di re Etelredo lo Sconsigliato e della sua prima moglie Æfgifu di York. Nata in Ungheria, a seguito del fallito tentato omicidio di suo padre, Edoardo l’Esiliato, ordinato da re Canuto III, Margherita verrà inaspettatamente catapultata in Inghilterra, quando il suo prozio, re Edoardo il Confessore, apprenderà che Edoardo l’Esiliato è riuscito a sfuggire al tentato omicidio ordinato dal suo predecessore.

Dopo alcuni anni, le sorti di Margherita e la sua famiglia vedranno un altro inaspettato colpo di scena, da ostaggi politici sotto i normanni, grazie ad una rocambolesca fuga, si ritroveranno ospiti di re King Máel Coluim mac Donnchadh Ceann Mhor a Dunfermline, capitale del regno di Alba.

Con l’arrivo di Margherita, la Scozia non sarà mai più la stessa.

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Maria Stuarda regina di Scozia: il regno dimenticato

La regina Maria Stuarda è stata una delle donne più amate e controverse della storia scozzese. Nipote di re Giacomo IV e di sua moglie Margherita Tudor, la posizione di Maria quale erede apparente al trono inglese e la violenza della Riforma scozzese fanno da sfondo a una delle vite più drammatiche e incomprese del 16° secolo.

Maria regina di Scozia racconta la vera storia di Maria, concentrandosi principalmente sul suo regno, celebrando la sua vita più che la sua morte e dimostrandoci come Maria fosse una donna che precorreva i suoi tempi.

Una biografia della serie “Le leggendarie donne della storia mondiale”.

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Mi Preparo per la Mia Prima Calopsitta

Mi Preparo per la Mia Prima Calopsitta è una guida per te e per i tuoi figli che ti aiuterà a capire come prepararti a portare a casa la tua prima calopsitta.

Diversamente dalla maggior parte dei libri sulle calopsitte, questo non cerca di coprire tutto, ma rimane focalizzato su ciò di cui hai bisogno per essere pronto alla tua nuova vita con il tuo uccello.
 

Ricco di storie personali e di foto, imparerai a conoscere com’è la vita con le calopsitte da tutti gli anni che ho vissuto con loro amandoli. Un libro divertente per chi ama gli animali!
 

Gli argomenti trattati includono:
— Calopsitte come cacatua
— Gabbie principali
— Gabbie da trasporto/ospedaliere (comprese le gabbie per i voli nazionali e internazionali)
— Spazi di gioco 
— Cibo
— Giocattoli
— Posatoi 
— Ciotole per il cibo 
— Comunicare con una calopsitta nuova o timida 
— Prevenzione della psittacosi (la malattia principale che si trasmette tra umani e uccelli)
— Giochi per giocare con il tuo nuovo uccello

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Povertà americana

In questa provocatoria analisi storica ed economica, Laurel A. Rockefeller affronta il tema della povertà, spiegando cosa significhi essere poveri negli Stati Uniti e confrontando quest’esperienza con le modalità attraverso cui gli alleati economicamente più evoluti e più stretti dell’America (Canada, Germania, Francia e Regno Unito) si prendono cura dei loro poveri. Dalle condizioni degli alloggi popolari, alla fame ed alla psicologia dei poveri, la Rockefeller va dritta al nocciolo della questione e provvede efficaci soluzioni a tutti i suoi lettori, soluzioni che dovrebbero essere abbracciate da ogni fascia sociale per assicurare il futuro dell’America e garantire un’America sicura ai nostri posteri.

Parte prima: saggi che esplorano cinque aspetti della povertà in America: mancanza d’empatia, condiscendenza verso la povertà, derisione dei poveri, alloggi popolari e cultura dello stupro.

Parte seconda: analisi che fornisce soluzioni su come affrontare i precedenti aspetti della povertà, al di là dei limiti d’età.

Parte terza: uno sguardo della situazione dei poveri e le politiche in atto per fronteggiare il problema in Germania, Francia, Canada e Regno Unito. Analisi comparativa con questi alleati degli USA e l’impatto della povertà sulle politiche estere e la sicurezza nazionale.

Le fonti sono tratte da: American Express, Forbes, CNN Money, The New York Times, Feeding America, The Shriver Report, Herald Scotland, BBC News, The Joseph Roundtree Foundation, The Huffington Post, e The Toronto Star.

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Sua Eminenza Rossa, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu

Sacerdote. Amante. Statista.

Il Cardinale Armand-Jean du Plessis, duca di Richelieu, è uno dei personaggi politici più famosi di tutti i tempi. Ritratto come cattivo nel celebre romanzo di Dumas “I tre moschettieri”, fu in realtà un servitore fedele del suo sovrano e della sua nazione. Un uomo guidato dalla logica e dalla ragione, trasformò il nostro modo di pensare alle nazioni e alla nazionalità. Secolarizzò le guerre tra nazioni, patrocinò le arti per il bene pubblico, fondò il primo giornale di Francia e rese la Francia la nazione moderna che tutt’oggi conosciamo.

“Sua Eminenza Rossa”, ricco di musica e balli dell’epoca, nonché di romanticismo e passione, ci trasporta alla vivace corte di re Luigi XIII.

Il romanzo contiene otto canzoni d’epoca, preghiere, una cronologia dettagliata e una bibliografia informativa.

Vincitore del premio Godiva Book Award 2019.

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Boeken van Laurel A. Rockefeller in het Nederlands

Nederlands is een prachtige taal. Vaak verward met Duits, is het een aparte taal en de moedertaal van enkele minder bekende maar toch zeer invloedrijke vrouwen uit de geschiedenis. Hier zijn de biografieën van Laurel A. Rockefeller beschikbaar in het Nederlands.

Keizerin Wu Zetian

De meest gehate vrouw in de Chinese geschiedenis!

Reis meer dan duizend jaar terug in de tijd en ontmoet de eerste en enige keizerin van China. Ze werd geboren als Wu Zhao, de ongewenste dochter van Kanselier Wu Shihuo – te intelligent, te opgevoed, en teveel gezet op politiek om een goede echtgenote te zijn volgens de heersende opvattingen van van Bloemlezingen van Confucius. Slechts enkele weken voor haar dood in 705 GJ ontving ze de heersers tiltel “Zetian”.
 

Is het een wonder dat ze tot op de dag van vandaag de meest gehate vrouw blijft in de hele Chinese geschiedenis en één van de meest controversiële?
 

Verken het leven van Keizerin Wu en ontdek waarom de wereld een complete andere plek is omdat zij iets aandurfde waarvan geen enkele vrouw in China voorheen of nadien ooit had gedroomd.

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Koningin Elizabeth Tudor: Reis naar Gloriana

Königin Elizabeth Tudor ist auch heute noch als „Gloriana“ bekannt. Ein Name, der auf den Sieg ihrer kleinen Flotte wendiger Schiffe über die 131 Galleonen der spanischen Armada im Ärmelkanal am 6. August 1588 zurückgeht. 

Aber wie ist dies geschehen und warum wird die späte Regierungsphase Elizabeths als „goldenes Zeitalter“ bezeichnet? 

In diesem wunderschönen biographischen Sachbuch lernen Sie Elizabeth so persönlich kennen wie nie zuvor. 

Ob Sie Fan der Tudor-Dynastie sind, oder dies Ihre erste Entdeckungsreise in die englische Geschichte ist, Sie werden einen wertvollen Einblick in den Geist der vielleicht legendärsten Frau der Weltgeschichte bekommen – erzählt durch die Augen ihrer berühmten, oder auch berüchtigten, Beziehung zu Robert Dudley. Dieses Buch führt die Geschichte von Mary, Königin der Schotten, (erkundet in Buch 3) mit Königin Marys Gerichtsverhandlung und den daraus resultierenden Auswirkungen auf Elizabeth fort.

Enthält sechs mittelalterliche und elisabethanische Lieder, eine detaillierte Zeitleiste und eine ausführliche Liste mit Leseempfehlungen.

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Maria, koningin van Schotland: De vergeten regeringsperiode

Koningin Maria Stuart was een van de meest geliefde en controversiële vrouwen uit de Schotse geschiedenis. Ze was de kleindochter van koning James IV en zijn vrouw Margaret Tudor. Haar status als rechtmatige erfgename van de troon van koningin Elizabeth van Engeland, gepaard met het geweld van de Schotse reformatie, vormt de basis voor een van de meest dramatische en niet-begrepen levens van de 16e eeuw.

Maria, koningin van Schotland vertelt het waargebeurde verhaal over Maria. Het richt zich op haar regering als koningin van Schotland, waarbij er meer aandacht is voor haar leven dan voor haar dood, en toont waarom ze werkelijk een vrouw was die haar tijd vooruit was.

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Livres en français : descriptions de livres et liens de vente au détail

J’adore le français. J’aurais aimé que tous mes livres soient en français – en version imprimée et audio. Le français est la plus belle langue du monde. Voici tous les livres traduits en français jusqu’à présent, ainsi que des liens vers Apple, Amazon et Everand et des descriptions pour chacun.

Aliénor d’Aquitaine: Édition Élèves & Enseignants

Jeune fille, Aliénor était le parti le plus recherché de toute la Chrétienté… et pas seulement à cause de sa beauté. Fille aînée du duc Guillaume X d’Aquitaine, elle avait hérité de son immense duché à l’âge de 15 ans et fut couronnée reine des Francs la même année.

Mais l’amour ne fut pas au rendez-vous pour cette magnifique duchesse, malgré deux mariages et dix enfants. Pourtant les troubadours chantèrent ses louanges, composèrent pour elle les premières chansons d’amour courtois, et c’est en son honneur que furent déclamées pour la première fois les légendes du roi Arthur et des chevaliers de la table ronde. Aliénor façonna deux empires naissants et fit de l’Aquitaine l’alliée de l’Angleterre la plus fiable sur le continent.

Aliénor d’Aquitaine fut une légende à son époque, elle l’est encore à la nôtre. Voici son histoire.

L’édition Élèves & Enseignants contient un guide d’étude après chaque chapitre.

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Au Revoir A672E92 Quintus

La planète A672E92 Quintus tombe en ruines. Alors que l’astre A672E92 prend de l’expansion à l’approche de la fin de son existence, menaçant d’envelopper la planète et tout ce qui y vit, les habitants s’entre-déchirent dans des conflits armés.

La tâche revient à deux invraisemblables délégués de ramener la paix entre les clans et de préparer leur peuple à l’inévitable : l’évacuation d’A672E92 Quintus et la migration de ses habitants vers les étoiles.

Une nouvelle de la série La Noblesse de Beinan.

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Boudicca: La reine des Icènes de Bretagne

Pourquoi le corbeau de Morrígan pleure-il ? Seuls les Bretons ayant à coeur la liberté le savent !

En 43 de notre ère, la conquête de la Bretagne par les Romains semble quasiment certaine – jusqu’à la rencontre fortuite du Roi des Icènes, Prasatagus, et d’une esclave en fuite appartenant à la lignée royale de la tribu gauloise des Éduens, change le destin des Iles Britanniques pour toujours. 

Levez-vous pour la liberté avec la véritable histoire de Boudicca : la reine des Icènes de Bretagne et découvrez un des destins les plus inspirants de l’Histoire !

Une biographie romancée des femmes légendaires de l’Histoire du monde.

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Catherine de Valois: Princess de France, Matriarche des Tudors

La princesse française oubliée dont le courage lança la dynastie des Tudors.

La guerre la fit reine d’Angleterre. Son amour pour un Gallois la rendit immortelle.

Mieux connue comme la fiancée d’Azincourt d’Henri V, de la pièce « Henri V » de Shakespeare, Catherine de Valois était une femme de foi, courage et conviction extraordinaire dans un âge de femmes puissantes politiquement.

La plus jeune fille du roi Charles VI de France terrorisé par sa maladie mentale, Catherine de Valois survécut les ravages de sa schizophrénie, une guerre civile dans son pays, et la guerre d’Henri V contre la France pour devenir une des reines les plus courageuses et fascinantes de la Renaissance.

Une biographie narrative de la série des Femmes Légendaires de l’Histoire du Monde. Comprend un arbre généalogique de la Guerre des Deux Roses, une chronologie détaillée et une liste de lecture suggérée / bibliographie détaillée.

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Chansons de la cour de Beinan

Les chansons et les poèmes de la série de science fiction des Nobles de Beinan réunis en une seule collection. Inclut les poèmes des Contes Perdus.

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L’impératrice Wu Zetian

La femme la plus haïe de l’histoire de la Chine ! 

Voyagez plus de mille ans en arrière dans le temps et rencontrez la première et unique femme empereur de la Chine. Née Wu Zhao et attribuée le titre de règne « Zetian » quelques semaines seulement avant sa mort en 705 CE, elle était la fille indésirable du chancelier Wu Shihuo — trop intelligente, trop éduquée et trop intéressée par la politique pour être une bonne épouse, selon les interprétations contemporaines des Entretiens de Confucius. 

Est-il surprenant que jusqu’à ce jour elle demeure la femme la plus haïe de toute l’histoire de la Chine et une de ses plus controversées ? 

Explorez la vie de l’impératrice Wu et découvrez pourquoi le monde est un endroit bien plus différent parce qu’elle a osé faire ce qu’aucune femme en Chine, avant et depuis, n’a jamais rêvé de faire.

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Marie, reine d’Écosse : le règne oublié

La reine Marie Stuart était une des femmes les plus aimées et les plus controversées de l’histoire de l’Ecosse. Petite-fille du roi Jacques IV et de sa femme Marguerite Tudor, le statut de la reine Marie en tant qu’héritière présomptive du trône, ajouté à la violence de la reforme écossaise, créa la prémisse pour une des vies les plus dramatiques et les moins comprises du 16e siècle.

Marie, reine d’Ecosse raconte la véritable histoire de Marie, se concentrant principalement sur son règne en tant que reine d’Ecosse, célébrant sa vie plus que sa mort et nous montrant pourquoi elle était vraiment une femme en avance sur son temps.

Une biographie narrative de la série des Femmes Légendaire de l’Histoire du Monde.

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Préparer l’Arrivée de Ma Première Calopsitte

Préparer l’Arrivée de ma Première Calopsitte est un guide pour vous et vos enfants, afin de vous aider à vous préparer à accueillir votre première calopsitte. 

Contrairement à la plupart des livres sur les calopsittes, celui-ci n’essaie pas de tout aborder, mais se concentre sur ce dont vous avez besoin pour être prêt pour votre nouvelle vie avec votre oiseau. 

Rempli d’histoires personnelles et de photos, vous allez apprendre ce qu’est la vie avec les calopsittes, suite à mes nombreuses années à vivre avec eux et à les aimer. Un livre amusant pour tous ceux qui aiment les animaux ! 

Les sujets abordés incluent :  
— les calopsittes sont des cacatoès 
— les cages principales 
— les cages hôpital et de transport 
— les espaces de jeux 
— la nourriture 
— les jouets 
— les perchoirs 
— la nourriture 
— la communication avec une nouvelle calopsitte ou une calopsitte timide 
— la prévention de l’ornithose (la principale maladie qui se transmet entre humains et oiseaux) 
— les jeux à faire avec votre nouvel oiseau 

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First lines: Biographies by Laurel A. Rockefeller

If you still use twitter, you may have noticed discussions among the writing community regarding how best to start your latest work in progress. Lots of theories prevail, but often the best way to get ideas on how to “break the ice” on a story is simply to read the opening lines of existing books.

For me, I tend to use two or three strategies, depending on the book. Most of my biographies employ Prologues as introductions. These are usually set after the death of the biography subject (the exception being “Empress Matilda of England” which opens with Thomas Becket arriving at the White Tower to visit his pal, King Henry II Plantagenet). The biography subject is introduced in these prologues through discussion between historical persons, many of them part of another biography I’ve written – but not always! When I do not use a prologue, I open with an original poem. When you realize my first publications were poetry, this makes complete sense.

Here then are the first lines for each of my biographies. All of these books are available in both digital and paperback editions at a retailer near you. Many also available in English language audio edition. See applicable audio links with each book.

Boudicca: Britain’s Queen of the Iceni.

Audio edition available.

“Tell me a story, Mother?” asked an eight-year-old girl with curly dark hair and dark eyes.

“What story would you have me tell, Moira?” asked Keita as she heated milk over the hearth fire, the sleeves of her green woolen tunic dress rolled up neatly and out of the way as she stirred.

Watching her mother, Moira handed her the rennet from a lamb slaughtered the day before, “Tell me about our people.”

Catherine de Valois: French Princess, Tudor Matriarch.

Audio edition available.

“I Margaret take thee Edmund to be my lawfully wedded husband,” vowed Margaret Beaufort in front of the door of the small chapel in Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire where she was born and raised as the daughter of the duke of Somerset, John Beaufort and his wife, Margaret Beauchamp .  At just twelve years old, Margaret’s tiny frame complimented that of her Welsh bridegroom, the twenty-three year old Edmund Tudor whose bloodline as a descendant of the Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Rhys radiated in his dark hair and blue eyes.  The wedding vows taken, their priest opened the big red door into the chapel for the wedding mass.

Mary Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign.

Audio edition available.

Woe to Thee, Oh Scotland

Woe to thee, oh Scotland

Our Pictish mothers’ tears like highland rain

For the queens of old are forgotten

Their valour now seen as depraved.

Where is your love for your queens

For Picts and Scots, Gaels and Brigantes?

For fair Mary your queen — cast aside

And praised instead the Puritan’s hateful hand.

You drove the fairest queen far away

To die disgraced on an English axe

Spilling the fairest and most Scottish blood of all.

And with her died the Scottish heart: brave and free.

Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana.

Audio edition available.

The white sails of the Abigail shined brightly from its three tallest masts.  As the crew readied the ship to depart Plymouth and as the ship’s final passengers boarded, Edward Drinker, a lad of thirteen years from Sussex looked at the water with a mix of excitement and fear.  What would life in the New World be like?  Were things really so bad in England so as to be worth risking so many lives on a four month voyage to Massachusetts Bay Colony?  What would the other passengers think of his family’s Quaker values and beliefs?  Would they be accepted for choosing to worship without a priest or formal clergy, praying together in silence as they waited for inspiration and wisdom from the Holy Spirit?

Empress Wu Zetian.

Audio edition available.

“Miss?  Miss, where do you think you are going?” asked the British soldier gruffly, grabbing the arm of the well-dressed teenaged girl walking down Dongjiaomin Lane, her dark brown hair contrasting against her ruby-encrusted hair pin.

“Hands off me, barbarian!” snarled Hua-Lin with fire in her green eyes.  “I am no coolie, no slave!  Who do you think you are grabbing me as if I were some animal?”

Three soldiers joined the first soldier, surrounding Hua-Lin menacingly. Closing in close to her body, they fondled the silk of her finely embroidered Manchu gown, its design marking her as a great-granddaughter of the Qianlong Emperor.  Laughing, the youngest of the soldiers unbuttoned two of the buttons over her chest securing her gown together while the others pinned her arms behind her back, his intent only too clear to the noble Hua-Lin, “May the ravens and falcons of Abka Hehe devour your heart!”

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd: the Warrior Princess of Deheubarth.

Gwenllian’s Tears

Cry out for me, my people.

Where my blood was spilt, let your voices be heard forever more.

Cymru in all your glory: 

Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Powys, Dyfed

Ynys Môn where I was born!

Let not these conquerors go unanswered

Swear to me you shall never forget.

We are Cymraeg.

We are forever.

Empress Matilda of England.

Audio edition available.

Thomas Becket glided up the Thames to the White Tower, the polished white stones of the castle shining in the light rain. As the boat docked he carefully strode up the path to the heavy gate. Instantly recognized by the guards he walked through confidently, navigating the palace expertly.  Princess Matilda greeted him playfully, “Thomas!  You are back!”

“I am. How are you and your brothers?”

“Father is cross with Richard again.”

Becket laughed, “I’m not surprised.  How old is he now?”

“Four.”

“And you are five now, Matilda?”

“I’m almost six.  I’m a big girl,” proclaimed Matilda proudly.

Becket laughed, “And so you are, Matilda.  And so you are!”

Hypatia of Alexandria.

Audio edition available.

“Magistra, the books you wished to borrow have arrived!” knelt the young novice as her prioress tended a patient at Disibodenberg in Naheland in west-central Germany.

Prioress Hildegard rose and wiped her hands on a towel, “Excellent. Did the brother specify how long I may borrow them?”

“No, Magistra.”

Hildegard headed towards the priory library, “Well then I will have to ask him myself before he departs.”

“May I ask—what is so important about these particular books?”

“They are the writings of ancient Greek mathematicians and astronomers.  Wisdom of the ancient world, a world that was very different from the one we live in today,” answered Hildegard.

Cleopatra VII: Egypt’s Last Pharaoh.

Synesius of Cyrene meandered casually through the library at the Serapeum, its massive domed roof a reminder that this was a Greek, not Egyptian, architectural masterpiece.  Every few yards he stopped and looked at the shelf labels near him. Finally, after about twenty minutes he saw the small figure of his mistress standing next to a distant shelf as she organized the scrolls upon it. Smiling, Synesius approached her with a reverent bow, “Salve, August Mistress!”

Hypatia turned to him and motioned for him to rise, “What brings you to the library so early in the morning, Synesius? I thought you had reading to complete before our class this afternoon.”

Margaret of Wessex: Mother, Saint, and Queen of Scots.

Audio edition available.

The White Tower of London rose up against the foggy Thames River, its glistening white limestone walls concealing its true purpose as a symbol of conquest and dominion over the Saxons and its ruling House Wessex. A royal barge glided up to the Tower from the Thames. Four royal guards marched from the Tower to meet the docking barge as two more guards on the boat rose expectantly. Soberly the princess royal, Matilda, Kaiserin of the Empire of the Romans, stepped onto English soil for the first time in fifteen years. Ceremoniously the guards marched the unwilling princess from the Thames to King Henry’s throne room.

Bowing, Kaiserin Matilda found herself face to face at last with the father she barely knew as a child, “Salve Henrice rege Angliae et Normaniae.”

“Salve Matilde, imperatrix romanorum!” saluted King Henry in return. “Welcome home, Matilda. How was your journey?” asked King Henry.

Hildegard von Bingen.

Audio edition available.

Katharina von Bora rose from her bed wearily to the sound of church bells tolling matins, the cloudy sky outside concealed in the early morning darkness as snow flurried across Nimbschen monastery near Grimma in Saxony.  Easing herself into greater wakefulness, she changed into her simple undyed wool tunic dress that was the foundation of her nun’s habit. Combing her short hair gently and without the benefit of a mirror to guide her hand, Katharina poured herself a cup of water from a stoneware pitcher and quenched her thirst before covering her hair with her veil, slipping on her plain leather shoes, and navigating her way through the cloister.

Reaching the church sanctuary she found herself late, the hall already filled with Gregorian chant, “Ave Maria, O auctrix vite, reedificando salutem, que mortem conturbasti et serpentem contrivisti, ad quem se Eva erexit erecta cervice cum sufflatu superbie.”

Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation.

Audio edition available.

“C’est un rempart que notre Dieu, Une invincible armure, Notre délivrance en tout lieu, Notre défense sûre,“ sang Anne Rochefeuille as she played on the harpsichord at the Château in Avignon. Next to her were scattered open books gleaned from the château’s massive library.

Drawn to the music, Bishop Armand-Jean du Plessis, brother to the Seigneur de Richelieu, sat down near her to listen.  Though the song was heretical in any language, or, more exactly, by a heretic, he loved his Anne’s singing dearly. Putting an arm around Anne, he kissed the back of her neck affectionately, “Bon matins, ma chérie.”

Anne stopped the music to turn and kiss him properly, “Bon matins, Armand.”

Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Eleanor, Fairest Eleanor

Tell me tales of romance and chivalry!

Beautiful ladies in elegant castles

Wooed by knights filled with courtesy and poetry!

Robin Hood fighting for justice!

For her, the troubadours did first sing!

Eleanor, fairest Eleanor!

Forever shall we sing of thee!

Tell me about the real Eleanor!

The daughter who inherited her father’s wealth and lands

More than enough to make her queen of France.

Falconer. Dancer, Singer

Crusader. Lover. Queen. Mother

Ah Eleanor, we do love thee!

More than Matilda’s daughter-in-law.

More than Henry II’s estranged wife

More than mother to kings of England

Eleanor, fairest Eleanor!

Forever shall we sing of thee!

His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu.

A Good Man?

Dreams of red fill my heart

Where once the dry bones of history lay.

The dazzling red velvet cappa magna.

The zucchetto covering his crown.

The sly words spoken in secret.

The blood spilled by his word.

Long ago there lived a cardinal made villainous by a book

An adventurous novel made of cloaks and corsets, swords and pistols.

A Scot whose voice echoes with the ages as he plays the cardinal on screen.

Black leather to make a good man seem villainous.

Who was the real man behind these veils?

The First Minister of France?

A dutiful son?

A man of peace who led armies to victory on the battlefield?

Was he simply the French version of David Beaton or Thomas Wolsey,

Rightfully hated and despised as Dumas teaches us to regard him?

Or was he something more?

A reluctant priest.

His majesty’s servant.

A diplomat.

A good man.

Fourteen biographies with fourteen beginnings! Are you excited to read more? Find links to the Legendary Women of World History series and to His Red Eminence on this blog.

All of these books are available in multiple languages including your choice of French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian. Both Boudicca and Gwenllian are also available in Welsh, part of my commitment to preserving the Welsh language for centuries to come.

Book Trailers: the Peers of Beinan series

If you follow the writing communities on both facebook and twitter, book trailers are often treated as one of the best tools for showcasing an independent author’s books – along with 3D cover art.

Here then are the trailers I made with Rachel Boswick for each of the Peers of Beinan series books.

Good-bye A672E92 Quintus

Say Good-bye to the Beinarian home world.

The Poisoned Ground

The Poisoned Ground. Based in part on conditions in western Pennsylvania.

The Great Succession Crisis

The Great Succession Crisis.

Ghosts of the Past

The Ghosts of the Past is a dystopic adventure set in another galaxy filled with murder, terrorism, and hope despite the world falling apart.

Princess Anyu Returns

What dangers will Princess Anyu face on the hostile D425E25 Tertius?

Youtube videos featuring original music for the Peers of Beinan series.

Music and lyrics by Laurel A. Rockefeller. Performed by Laurel A. Rockefeller

My Lady Fairest Queen. Theme song for “The Great Succession Crisis.”

“I shall Always Find You” from “Ghosts of the Past.”

The hopeful song Lord Elendir hears when he visits the memorial dedicated to the healing center bombing that killed his mother.

“Here Lays My Father and My Lord” from “Ghosts of the Past.”

Princess Constance finds her father King Kendric murdered. Her musical response.

“Coronation Hymn” from “Princess Anyu Returns”

Beinan celebrates the coronation of Princess Anyu as their new queen.

Enjoy all these songs performed in the audio edition of Songs of the Beinarian Court.

Corann Meets His Father. Excerpt from The Great Succession Crisis

Prince Yubi from “Benji, Zax, and the Alien Prince.”

Long before I devoted my life to history education I was a novelist. Yeah, that seems far fetched to me too! But from 2010 to 2012 I actually wrote a science fiction romance. It was intended to be fan fiction for “Benji, Zax, and the Alien Prince,” that beloved part of my youth. Instead The Great Succession Crisis grew into a five (six if you count The First King flash fiction) book series: The Peers of Beinan.

In this scene Lord Knight Corann, now Anlei’s knight-protector, faces his father for the first time since he abandoned Corann and his mother, many yen-ars ago.

Corann Meets His Father. Excerpt from Chapter Five: The Great Masquerade.

“Make way.  Make way for her Royal Highness, Anlei, Crown Princess of Beinan,” cried the herald as Anlei entered the state dining room where the reception for the most important suitors was already in full swing.  Lord Corann kept a single pace behind her, visibly protecting her and yet not overly obtrusively.  Anlei could feel the warmth of his body near her as she moved and felt glad for it in this intimidating setting filled with so many richly dressed Beinarians representing so much power and prestige.

Gazing around the room, she saw her parents, and then noticed several groupings of young men, many with their fathers.  As her presence became noticed, Anlei attended to the posture and disposition of these men.  Many of them were richly dressed with crimson belts, embroidery, and trims to their tunics.  As a group they seemed to be somewhere between thirty and seventy yen-ars with an air of self-confidence and ego, mostly in their physical appearance, she could tell, by the way they preened and showed off as she passed.  These men were obviously interested in a trophy wife, not her.

Overwhelmed by what felt like a wall of men wanting to devour her, Anlei clutched Corann’s arm, trying to conceal her fear.  Corann put his hand over hers, trying to both comfort her and cover the fear in her hand, transforming the grasp into a secure escorting hold.  “Courage,” he whispered into her ear.

Navigating away from the first group of young men as far as she could in the crowd, Anlei bowed courteously but did not approach them too closely.  Suddenly an older gentleman wearing a Ten-Arian broad sword turned into her path, stopping her in her tracks.  His eyes were a bright grey and his hair was a medium brown that curled into wavy locks.  He was 56.8 cun 寸 tall and very athletic in build, his muscles well defined under his fine pale-yellow wool tunic embroidered in silver symbols.  Just as stunning to Princess Anlei was the way his face and the way he carried himself reminded her of Corann. Suddenly she realized who he was, “Good afternoon, my lord.  Would I have the honor of speaking to none other than Lord Cariadoc of House Ten-Ar?”

Lord Cariadoc bowed graciously, “Indeed, Your Highness…but it is House Shem that I represent in your fair hall.  Many yen-ars ago I gave my soul to the Shemai; though I am a brother of Ten-Ar, it is my devotion to my faith that calls my heart first and foremost thanks to my lady wife. I am blessed, Your Highness, to be the father of and extend my name to many sons and daughters.”

“Not all, my lord,” corrected Lord Corann from behind Anlei.  He knew it was against protocol to speak now, but he was eye to eye with his father for the first time in his adult life.  Surely Cariadoc knew from his face who he was. “You have a son, your first born – and he is a Knight of Ten-Ar.”

Cariadoc eyed Corann with veiled contempt, “You are Corann, I presume?”

“I am.”

“What are you doing here?  Are you courting the princess?” demanded Cariadoc.

“I am vowed to her side as knight protector.  No man shall harm her as long as I am alive.  I have a sacred trust to fulfill, to stand always at her side in friendship and in service to her.  Her highness is my dearest friend for whom I would gladly lay down my life if called upon to do so as a true knight of Ten-Ar,” declared Lord Corann with pride.

“A beautiful woman of House Miyoo is a dangerous creature, Lord Knight Corann, I would be careful of falling to the magic of your charge.  You may find yourself in regret one beinor.”

“Is that why you avoid me, Father?  You feel some sort of regret that I exist?”

“You have no father, young one.  All you have is a witch’s spell that entrapped an honorable man into dishonorable lust until you were made of that abomination. “

“I was more than a yen-ar old when you left, Father.  You knew me as an infant and yet you chose to leave.  Do not blame the prayers of House Miyoo for your actions.  No one made you leave.  Nor did anyone make you ignore me all these yen-ars.   How many yen-ars did I train in the monastery – ever once did you speak to me, did you say my name, or admit that I am your son?  I never asked much of you, only that you admit that you sired me.”

“The Shemai help us all that such a spell was cast over my body, that I ever laid with your mother, boy.  Did I lay with your mother, the Lady Cordelia, until you were born of that lust?  You want me to say it?  YES.  I did – for it there has never been a beinor of my life I have not felt the judgment of The Shemai on my head.  He will judge all of Beinan for it; destroy us all because of my lust, because I was too weak to prevent your making.  I have sinned and I can never undo my sin.  This is why I never acknowledged you.  You are a mark of shame upon my flesh, Lord Corann.  You are an abomination before the god I worship.  I beg my wife every beinor to forgive your making and in penance, I have given her many children, only some of whom have survived.  My eldest sons, Kaleb and Janus are here.  THEY are the sons of my hopes and dreams,” asserted Lord Cariadoc.

Anlei felt Corann’s slow temper rising.  It was very difficult to stir Corann to anger, she knew, but this time she could tell, Lord Knight Cariadoc was actually insulting him enough to do it.  Fearing for her friend for whom she cared deeply, her many yen-ars of training and practice asserted themselves, “Perhaps, Lord Knight Cariadoc, in a less formal setting the three of us may re-convene in a quieter place to discuss the past in more serene and genial environments.  Perhaps this is not the best setting for healing old wounds which clearly need to be healed.  Not speaking after all these yen-ars have obviously wounded both of you.  If you are amenable, I would be happy to serve as arbiter in your dispute and help end this misunderstanding between you.  I understand, my lords, that the past is unpleasant for both of you.  But we ARE civilized Beinarian nobles, are we not?  Have we learned nothing from the beinors of clan warfare when such misunderstandings were resolved at the points of blades and arrows, with generations of clan feuds, endless and needless bloodshed?”

Cariadoc tried to suppress a laugh and failed, his guffaw escaping his lips against his will, “Well, young one, you have trained your princess well.  Perhaps this can be settled in more genial environments.  That is, if you really do want a few xiao-shirs of clearing the air between us?”

“Lord Knight Cariadoc – father – I have wanted little else from you in all my life.  Just to sit and TALK to you for a bit.  I am sixty yen-ars old; I do not need a father per se.  But I would like to know who you are and how you have lived your life since you left Lady

Cordelia and me.  And I would like it very much if you would take some miniscule interest in some part of my life.  Right or wrong in what she did; I am innocent in this.  I had no choice in how I was made or why,” answered Lord Corann.

Cariadoc softened, “No you had no choice, you are right.  Your Highness, if you are willing to arbitrate, I am willing conference with your protector in, say, ten beinors?”

“Agreed,” answered Anlei.

“Agreed,” answered Corann.

“Until then,” bowed Cariadoc, leaving them both.

Corann and Anlei tried to recover mentally from the confrontation with Cariadoc which, by this xiao-shir, had left them both with headaches.  Before either could move from their spot, even to look for refreshments, Prince Anwell, her younger brother, rushed up behind her, “There you are.  Where have you been?”

“I might ask the same thing of you, Anwell.  You were not at grandmother’s dinner when father, Corann, and I came back from the Ten-Arian monastery.  I’m surprised grandmother did not have your hide.  You know how grandmother feels about those formal dinners.  You – you – you….”  Anlei could not finish her sentence.

Corann laughed behind her, “My dear friend, can I reasonably presume this is your brother Anwell?  You’ve grown since last I saw you.”

“Friend?  Or lover boy?” teased Anwell.  “Father told me you two were kissing back there in house Ten-Ar.  Any truth, Lord Knight?”

Anlei eyed her brother with contempt, “Lord Corann, this is indeed my younger brother by seven yen-ars, Prince Anwell the Unready, 37 yen-ars old and still acting 17.”

Anwell returned her dirty look as Corann addressed him, “What is true, Your Highness is that I am the sworn protector of your sister and that it is my job to lay down my life in her personal defense should either honor or physical danger be threatened.  I would hate to use my sword on someone as royal as your person, Your Highness, but as I said, my vow to her includes Her Highnesses honor.” Corann met his eyes steely, scaring the irresponsible prince.

“You wouldn’t….” implied Prince Anwell.

Corann put his dominant left hand on the hint and drew the sword two cun 寸 to demonstrate his intent, “I would if you pressed the matter.  Do you intend to keep pressing it, Your Highness?”

Convinced at last, Anwell backed off, “NO SIR!”

Corann smiled and returned the blade to its natural position in its sheath, “I did not think so.”

Lord Prince Bevin, from a few zhang across the room, naturally saw the slight drawing of the Ten-Arian sword and joined the conversation, “Is there a problem here?”

Corann answered him, “Your son does not respect house Ten-Ar, Your Highness.  I had to teach him a small lesson in…respect.”

Bevin laughed, “Well done, my lord. Carry on.”  He strode off to resume his conversations with the fathers of candidates for Anlei’s hand.

Love this scene? Read more in The Great Succession Crisis. Available at a retailer near you including Apple, Amazon, Smashwords, Everand, and Barnes/Noble.

The Peers of Beinan series is (in chronological order):

Good-bye A672E92 Quintus

The First King (written first and integrated into “Good-bye,” it has its own audio edition)

The Poisoned Ground

The Great Succession Crisis

The Ghosts of the Past

Princess Anyu Returns

The Complete Series

The Legacy of Princess Anlei (The Great Succession Crisis, Ghosts of the Past, Princess Anyu Returns)

The Complete Data Files

The Lost Tales

Related Peers of Beinan posts

The Peers of Beinan: a Literary Journey

Peers of Beinan Book Descriptions and Links

The Knighting of a Squire

Excerpt from The Great Succession Crisis: Meeting Lord Cariadoc

Beinarian Slatkos

Erzählbiografien auf Deutsch: Buchbeschreibungen und Einzelhandelslinks

In den Vereinigten Staaten wird Deutsch oft als eine Sprache außer Acht gelassen, die von den Millionen Amerikanern, die deutsche Vorfahren haben, abgesehen von ihrer Herkunftssprache, stammt, darunter auch ich.

Aber Deutschland und die deutsche Geschichte sind tatsächlich von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Welt, mit Beiträgen, die weit über die Vorstellungskraft des typischen Amerikaners hinausgehen.

Deutsch ist eine von vier Sprachen, die bei Audible und anderen großen Hörbuchhändlern erhältlich sind.

Die folgenden Bücher wurden von Laurel A. Rockefeller geschrieben und stehen Ihnen in deutscher Sprache zur Verfügung.

Boudicca, Britanniens Königin der Icener

Warum schreit der Rabe der Morrigan? Nur Britannier mit Herzen für wahre Freiheit wissen es!

Im Jahre 43 n. Chr. scheint die römische Eroberung Britanniens nahezu gewiss – bis ein zufälliges Zusammentreffen von König Prasutagus der Icener und einer entflohenen Sklavin königlicher Herkunft vom Stamm der Aeduer in Gallien das Schicksal der britannischen Inseln für immer ändern.

Erheben Sie sich für die Freiheit mit der wahren Geschichte von Boudicca, Britanniens Königin der Icener, und entdecken Sie eine der berührendsten Erzählungen aller Zeiten!

Eine kreative, Non-Fiction Legendäre Frauen der Weltgeschichte-Biographie.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Catherine de Valois

Der Krieg machte sie zur Königin von England. Ihre Liebe zu einem Waliser machte sie unsterblich.

Catherine de Valois, am besten bekannt, als die Braut Henry des V. aus Shakespeares “Henry V.”, war eine außergewöhnliche Frau, voller Glauben, Mut und Überzeugung, in einem Zeitalter politisch mächtiger Frauen.

Als eine jüngere Tochter von König Charles VI. von Frankreich, der durch seine Geisteskrankheit gequält wurde, überlebte Prinzessin Catherine die verheerenden Auswirkungen seiner Schizophrenie, einen Bürgerkrieg im eigenen Land und den Krieg König Henry V. mit Frankreich und wurde eine der faszinierendsten und mutigsten Königinnen des Renaissanceenglands.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, Die Kriegerprinzessin von Deheubarth

Die heroische Ahnin von Königin Elizabeth Tudor! 

Prinzessin Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd ap Cynan, geboren 1097 in Aberffraw Castle, war immer zu Höherem bestimmt. Als Tochter eines von Gwynedds größten Kriegern wuchs sie stark und voller Leidenschaft auf – ihren älteren Brüdern mehr als ebenbürtig. 

Mit sechzehn änderte sich Gwenllians Leben grundlegend, als sie sich in Prinz Gruffydd ap Rhys, den belagerten Erben von Rhys ap Tewdur von Deheubarth, verliebte. Zusammen, als Mann und Frau, kämpften sie für das südliche Wales und regierten es. Sie stellten die normannische Eroberung von Wales infrage und stellten ein für alle Mal die Ehrenhaftigkeit und den Mut des walisischen Volkes unter Beweis. Ein Mut, der die Jahrhunderte überdauert und in dem Herzen eines jeden Walisers lebt, ob Mann, Frau oder Kind. 

Beinhaltet eine ausführliche Zeitleiste, die 400 Jahre an walisischer und englischer mittelalterlicher Geschichte abdeckt.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Hypatia von Alexandria

Als die westliche Welt in Dunkelheit versank, wagte sie, das Licht zu verteidigen.

Geboren im Jahr 355 der christlichen Zeitrechnung, im Nachhall von Konstantins Regierung, lebte Hypatia von Alexandria in einem zusammenbrechenden Römischen Reich. In einer Welt, in der der Gehorsam gegen religiöse Autoritäten über die Wissenschaft triumphierte, in der Logik und Verstand die neue Weltordnung bedrohten. Es war eine Welt an der Grenze zum düsteren Mittelalter, eine Welt, die über die Fragen Wissenschaft gegen Religion, Freiheit gegen Strenggläubigkeit, Toleranz gegen Hass entschied.

Über vierzig Jahre stand Hypatia zwischen dem dunklen Zeitalter und dem Licht der Philosophie, Künste und Wissenschaft. Auch wenn keines ihrer Werke die offensive Bücherverbrennung religiöser Fanatiker überdauert hat, so bleibt doch ihr Vermächtnis als eine der größten Gelehrten aller Zeiten.

Dies ist ihre faszinierende und wahre Geschichte.

Das Buch beinhaltet außerdem eine Bibliografie, eine detaillierte Zeitleiste und die Längen- und Breitengrade ausgewählter Städte des Römischen Reiches, sodass Sie die Wunder des Himmels gemeinsam mit Hypatia erkunden können.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Kaiserin Mathilde, Herrin der Engländer

Die brüllende Löwin von England!

Geboren 1102 als Tochter von König Henry von England und Königin Matilda von Schottland, war Matildas einzigartige Abstammung von normannischem, sächsischem und schottischem Adel dazu gedacht, das England zu einen, das immer noch durch den Eroberungszug ihres Großvaters im Jahr 1066 geteilt war. Als das Schiffsunglück von 1120 sie zum einzigen überlebenden Kind ihrer Eltern machte, wurde Matilda plötzlich zur Erbin des englischen Throns, in einer Zeit, in der der Witan – und nicht der Wille des Königs – über die Thronfolge entschied.

Entdecken Sie die wahre Geschichte der ersten Frau, die aus eigenem Geburtsrecht ihren Anspruch auf den Thron geltend machte, und lassen Sie sich inspirieren!

Enthält auch Matildas Stammbaum, eine detaillierte Zeitleiste sowie Leseempfehlungen, sodass Sie weitere Möglichkeiten haben, sich weiterzubilden.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Kaiserin Wu Zetian

Die meistgehasste Frau der chinesischen Geschichte!

Lassen Sie sich auf eine Zeitreise ein, mehr als tausend Jahre in die Vergangenheit, und treffen Sie die erste und einzige regierende Kaiserin Chinas. Geboren als Wu Zhao erhielt sie den Herrschertitel „Zetian“ erst Wochen vor ihrem Tod im Jahre 705 vor unserer Zeitrechnung. Sie war die unerwünschte Tochter des Finanzministers Wu Shihuo – zu intelligent, zu gebildet und zu politisch versiert, um eine gute Ehefrau abzugeben; zumindest laut den zeitgenössischen Analekten des Konfuzius.

Kann es somit verwundern, dass sie bis zum heutigen Tag die meistgehasste und umstrittenste Frau der chinesischen Geschichte ist?

Erkunden Sie das Leben von Kaiserin Wu und entdecken Sie, warum die Welt heute eine ganz andere ist: Weil sie zu tun wagte, was weder vor noch nach ihr einer anderen Chinesin auch nur im Traum einfiel.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Kleopatra VII. Ägyptens letzte Pharaonin

Die aufregende und wahre Geschichte von Ägyptens bekanntester Königin!

Kleopatra Theo Philopator weigerte sich, zu tun, was man ihr sagte. In einem Zeitalter, in dem das Patriarchat selbst den hochrangigen Frauen Roms das volle Bürgerrecht verwehrte, regierte Kleopatra ihr Ägypten mit der Entschlossenheit, das Land unabhängig und frei von römischer Kontrolle zu behalten – um jeden Preis. Wenngleich Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (der spätere Caesar Augustus) und seine politischen Verbündeten sie als bloße Verführerin dämonisierten, bewies Kleopatra VII., dass sie den drei mächtigsten Männern der römischen Welt ebenbürtig war: Gaius Julius Caesar, Marcus Antonius und Octavian Caesar.

Enthält eine detaillierte Zeitleiste, Leseempfehlungen/Bibliografie und ein besonderes Easter Egg für Science-Fiction-Fans.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Königin Elizabeth Tudor. Der Weg zu Gloriana 

Königin Elizabeth Tudor ist auch heute noch als „Gloriana“ bekannt. Ein Name, der auf den Sieg ihrer kleinen Flotte wendiger Schiffe über die 131 Galleonen der spanischen Armada im Ärmelkanal am 6. August 1588 zurückgeht. 

Aber wie ist dies geschehen und warum wird die späte Regierungsphase Elizabeths als „goldenes Zeitalter“ bezeichnet? 

In diesem wunderschönen biographischen Sachbuch lernen Sie Elizabeth so persönlich kennen wie nie zuvor. 

Ob Sie Fan der Tudor-Dynastie sind, oder dies Ihre erste Entdeckungsreise in die englische Geschichte ist, Sie werden einen wertvollen Einblick in den Geist der vielleicht legendärsten Frau der Weltgeschichte bekommen – erzählt durch die Augen ihrer berühmten, oder auch berüchtigten, Beziehung zu Robert Dudley. Dieses Buch führt die Geschichte von Mary, Königin der Schotten, (erkundet in Buch 3) mit Königin Marys Gerichtsverhandlung und den daraus resultierenden Auswirkungen auf Elizabeth fort.

Enthält sechs mittelalterliche und elisabethanische Lieder, eine detaillierte Zeitleiste und eine ausführliche Liste mit Leseempfehlungen.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Mary Königin der Schotten

Königin Mary Stuart war eine der beliebtesten und kontroversesten Frauen in der schottischen Geschichte. Als Enkelin von König James IV. und seiner Frau Margaret Tudor, legte Marys Status als rechtmäßige Erbin des englischen Throns, in Kombination mit der Gewalttätigkeit der schottischen Reformation, den Grundstein für eines der dramatischsten und am wenigsten verstandenen Leben des 16. Jahrhunderts.

Mary Königin der Schotten, erzählt ihre wahre Geschichte und legt dabei sein Hauptaugenmerk auf ihre Herrschaft als Königin von Schottland. Indem es mehr ihr Leben als ihren Tod in den Fokus rückt, zeigt es uns allen, warum sie wahrlich ihrer Zeit voraus war.

Eine frei geschriebene nicht fiktionale Biografie aus der Reihe Legendäre Frauen der Weltgeschichte.

Enthält vier historische Lieder.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Seine rote Eminenz Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu

Priester. Geliebter. Staatsmann.

Kardinal Armand-Jean du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu, ist einer der berühmtesten – oder berüchtigtsten – Politiker aller Zeiten. Er wurde im bekannten Dumas-Roman „Die drei Musketiere“ zum Bösewicht gemacht, der echte Mann war ein engagierter, dem König und dem Land treuer Staatsdiener. Er war ein Mann der Logik und Vernunft, der unser Denken über Nationen und Nationalität veränderte. Er säkularisierte Kriege zwischen Ländern, förderte die Künste um des öffentlichen Wohls willen, begründete die erste Zeitung Frankreichs und erschuf Frankreich als das moderne Land, das wir heute kennen.

Angefüllt mit Musik der Epoche, Tanz und viel Romantik, versetzt Sie „Seine rote Eminenz“ zurück an den Hof von König Louis XIII., mit all seiner pulsierenden Lebendigkeit und Farbe.

Enthält acht zeitgenössische Lieder sowie Gebete, eine detaillierte Zeitleiste und eine umfangreiche Bibliografie, damit Sie noch mehr lernen können.

Dieses Buch finden Sie bei Apple, Amazon und Everand

Siehe auch Hörbücher auf #Deutsch

Serious about Series: Retail Links to your favorite series by Laurel A. Rockefeller

If you love to read or love to write for that matter, you know that book series are all the rage. But how do you find all the books in the series you love?

Many, but not all retailers, collect or at least tag books that come from the same series. In my experience these pages are often incomplete – which is why this blog includes all the books from each series in specific posts so dedicated. But what if you don’t want to scroll through all of that here? Easy: browse this post and you will find links to each retailer’s page for each series. Know of any pages I haven’t found (yet)? Comment with those links and I will check them out!

The Peers of Beinan series

genres: science fiction, paranormal romance, social scifi,

Explore a civilization in peril as blood feuds, political corruption, and tyranny seek to rip apart Beinarian society. Strongly influenced by Frank Herbert’s “Dune” series, Gene Roddenbury’s “Star Trek,” Glen Larson’s “Battlestar Galactica,” JRR Tolkien, and Dorothy “DC” Fontana, The Peers of Beinan takes you to a far away galaxy that feels just like home. Social issues explored include climate change, pollution, abortion, terrorism, domestic violence, and many more.

Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords

The Legendary Women of World History

genres: non-fiction history, narrative history, historical fiction, biography, women’s history

Begun in response to a lack of basic historical literacy in western Pennsylvania, the Legendary Women of World History seeks to improve history literacy for readers of all ages. With more than 75% available in audio format, many titles are accessible to children as young as four years old (use parental discretion in deciding age appropriateness). The series spans antiquity through the early 17th century. Most books are translated into multiple languages including Welsh, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian.

Amazon, Audible (minus newer releases Mary Queen of the Scots and Margaret of Wessex), Smashwords, Kobo.

Legendary Women of World History Textbooks

genres: history, narrative history, textbook, social studies, world history, ancient history, women’s history

The Legendary Women of World History Textbooks presents the same core content as the original Legendary Women of World History biographies – but with the addition of study questions after every chapter. These questions are exactly the same sort of questions that were presented in my textbooks in junior high and high school and are designed to promote both home school and public school learning, and augment existing curriculae.

In audio format, only two textbook editions are available: Hypatia of Alexandria Student-Teacher in English and Aliénor d’Aquitaine (Eleanor of Aquitaine in French edition). For reasons unknown, Audible is not offering Alienor, but you can find it on Apple Audiobooks. On Alienor, the student questions appear at the end of the book.

Find the Legendary Women of World History Textbooks series pages at Amazon and Smashwords.

Life with Cockatiels

genres: pet birds, pet guides, cockatiels, budgerigars, parrots, biographies, nature, science

More than any other books, the Life with Cockatiels is the most personal. Grounded in over 40 years of daily experience living with parrots, these books share what works, what doesn’t, and how to achieve a long, happy, and healthy life with your birds. The series starts with “Preparing for My First Cockatiel” which breaks down exactly what you need to buy to prepare your home for what cockatiels need, along with scientific data helping you understand who and what cockatiels are. “Preparing for My Senior Cockatiel” centers on nutrition and changes that come as your bird ages and develops age-related challenges like sight loss, along with practical suggestions on how to make needed adjustments. “Mithril and Me” is a biography for all my birds starting with my first bird, Luke, whom I bought in the third grade, through all my budgerigars and cockatiels from the early 1980s to its publication date in 2021.

All of these are filled with photos, including personal snapshots, to help guide you into a long, happy life with your birds.

Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, Audible

Life in America

genres: American history, modern history, American Revolution, Early Republic, political science, women’s history, patriarchy, women’s rights, poverty

The Life in America series is all things American history. Beginning with the flash fiction “A New Start In the Niobrara for Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley,” the series steps outside of Laurel A. Rockefeller’s medieval history comfort zone. American Poverty and American Patriarchy are topically arranged, beginning with essays whose problems are then addressed in part two of each book with analysis and data from such sources as Forbes, Inc., Feeding America, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Bureau of Justice. The history of patriarchy and the resulting women’s rights movements are explored in depth with many surprises when it comes to women’s legal rights (including reproductive rights and abortion) in the United States. In Founding Mothers the lives of twelve women from diverse backgrounds are explored – both the famous and the largely forgotten. Music enters the series with Founding Mothers in a special appendix showcasing songs popular in colonial America and the Early Republic. Hear those songs sung in the audio edition.

Amazon, Smashwords

Notable Books Not in any series

Two of my books are not in series: the award-winning “His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu,” and “The Arban and the Saman.” Both are historical in nature. Eminence is narrative history just like the Legendary Women of World History whereas Arban/Saman is a straight historical romance with some supernatural elements to it. Find links to these on this blog.

Find books and audiobooks by Laurel A. Rockefeller at your favorite retailer.

Amazon, Audible, Apple Books, Apple Audiobooks, Chirp, Everand, Barnes/Noble, Books A Million, BookBub, Good Reads, and YouTube.

Find books by Laurel A. Rockefeller on the series pages on this blog:

Peers of Beinan

Legendary Women of World History

Legendary Women of World History Textbooks

Legendary Women of World History and Peers of Beinan Dramas

Life in America

Life with Cockatiels

Audiobooks by Laurel A. Rockefeller

News from Spain. Excerpt from Eleanor of Aquitaine: a Play in Four Acts

Alienor d’Aquitaine is one of the most famous women in medieval history. The well-educated daughter of Duke William IX of Aquitaine, her father’s death made her the most eligible heiress in medieval Europe.

In this scene Eleanor learns of her father’s death.

Act I, Scene I

1137. April. Fields outside of Bordeaux, Aquitaine. ELEANOR is hunting with FALCONER near a beautiful lake. BIRD SONG chirps, quacks, and otherwise fills our ears melodiously.  Eleanor feeds her peregrine, Belle, from her gauntlet.

FALCONER

That’s a huge meal you are letting her have right now. She won’t want to take down another bird if you let her have so much at once.

ELEANOR

I don’t need another kill this morning. Besides, she hasn’t hunted since we left Poitiers and been forced to eat the mice we brought along for her. She deserves an extra-large meal this morning. This is our first opportunity to hunt since we arrived.

FALCONER

 I noticed Petronilla decided not to join us.

ELEANOR

Petronilla does not like outdoor pursuits.  Then again, she has no responsibilities to the duchy as I do. I take much more after my father. I love falconry, hunting, and riding in addition to the more indoor and womanly pursuits taught to noble women like dancing, spinning, weaving, and needlework. My father being a wise man, I’m also very well-schooled in household management and finance so that when he or, in time, my husband, is away the family estates will not suffer for lack of a proper administrator. Men may claim superiority to women in all things, but at the end of the day when men are off to war or pilgrimage or some other errand they think beneath the abilities of women it is the woman of the house who maintains each household, great or small, so that there is always money for the essentials of life.

FALCONER

 Like Belle’s food for the long journey here.

Eleanor puts Belle’s hood over her head and tightens it gently.

ELEANOR

Exactly like that.

HERALD ENTERS stage right and rushes to Eleanor.

HERALD

My lady, come quickly!

ELEANOR

What news?

HERALD

 Your father is dead, my lady. A bout of dysentery or poison has killed him. On his deathbed he made King Louis VI le Gros guardian over both your person and your inheritance.

ELEANOR

 Under what terms?

HERALD

 I do not know all the details, Your Grace. Except that you have inherited your father’s title, along with all of his lands and most of his money, all of it to be controlled by King Louis until he finds a suitable husband to transfer it permanently to.

ELEANOR

Messages between Bordeaux and Paris will take at least two weeks. I suggest we all return to the archbishop’s mansion. There is much to do and I cannot accomplish it from here.

(END OF SCENE)

Love this scene? Buy the full play at a retailer near you including Apple, Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble.

The Death of Princes. Excerpt from Empress Matilda of England: a Play in Five Acts

Empress Matilda of England was one of the most influential of the Angevins in medieval England. Yet few Americans have heard of her. Sent from London to live in the Kaiser’s court in Germany, she grew up in Mainz and fell in love with her intended, Kaiser Heinrich V.

In this scene from the play, Matilda spends one last moment with the Kaiser she grew to love.

ACT III, SCENE III

1125 23 May. Utrecht, Friesland. Kaiser Heinrich’s apartment. KAISER HEINRICH lays in bed attended by MATILDA ENGLAND who sits in a chair close to him.

KAISER HEINRICH

Come here, Matilda. I will get better, Liebling. This is not the end of our journey together, though I fear I may never give you children.

MATILDA ENGLAND

 I do not care about children!

KAISER HEINRICH

 Yes you do, if not for your own sake than for the security of my throne—and yours.

MATILDA ENGLAND

Mine? Who I am without you, Liebling?

KAISER HEINRICH

 Someone much greater, Liebling. I was a good Kaiser—but the people loved you and with good reason. Whatever success I had came from God and from you. You were my rock, my salvation, the steady hand that helped me persevere across all the challenges of my life. You who were the daughter of the neglected wife of your father, valued almost entirely because you are thrice royal. You are the greatest of your family, Matilda.

MATILDA ENGLAND

 Greater than my grandmother, Saint Margaret? Surely you speak blasphemy!

KAISER HEINRICH

(laughing weakly)

If it is blasphemy to recognize you for the treasure you are, then so be it. Considering my battles with Rome it can hardly be out of character!

MATILDA ENGLAND

(laughing)

Ja! What is one more insult against the papacy?

KAISER HEINRICH

(pulling her close and kissing her tenderly)

I would make love to you right now except I do not feel strong enough.  Can you forgive that?

MATILDA ENGLAND

(fighting back tears)

Always! Ich liebe dich, Heinrich.

KAISER HEINRICH

 Ich liebe dich, Matilda.

(Matilda weeps hysterically)

Do not cry, Liebling!  Please, do not cry.  I need to sleep a little more, that is all.

MATILDA ENGLAND

Then sleep, my love. May God grant you peace.

MATILDA ENGLAND EXITS. FADE OUT as KAISER HEINRICH DIES. CHURCH BELLS RING SLOWLY IN MOURNING. After ten chimes lights come up slowly over MATILDA ENGLAND dressed from head to toe in mourning white. The bells continue to chime five more times as Matilda speaks, then stop abruptly.

MATILDA ENGLAND

My husband is dead. The husband I did not want but came to love is dead. For eleven years I stood by him, helped him, and guided him with my wisdom and insight as if I were a priestess of old, before the Romans came and with them their patriarchal Church. After fifteen years I barely remember the empire of my father.  My tongue is thickly German. My English and my French are stilted. The German peoples are my peoples. From Löwen to Süpplingenburg to Berlin, Cologne, Mainz, Friesland, and beyond. They are my people and I am their Kaiserin. They love me and I love them.  But is it enough?  Here in the empire we have something similar to the Witan of England. We call it the Kurfürstenkollegium and its members are called Kurfürsten—Electors you might call them. Like the Witan, the Kurfürstenkollegium decides who rules the empire after the death of each Kaiser or sovereign Kaiserin.

Oh that the Kurfürstenkollegium would choose me to succeed my husband! Please God, let them choose me! I must succeed my Heinrich! Otherwise I surely must leave the only home I know and return to England. I do not want to return to England and yet I am certain my father King Henry will summon me back to London, a simple pawn in one of his political games, games that brought him to the throne two years before my birth. I must not be his pawn.  I must stay myself. But who am I? Princess? Pawn? Widow? Imperatrix. Imperatrix romanorum. Yes! I was crowned in Rome. Imperatrix romanorum. The Kurfürsten may vote for someone else. But no one, neither pope nor prince or baron or king can take that one thing that is mine:  I am imperatrix. They can force me to yield my power to a new Kaiser, but they can never take away my coronation as imperatrix.

(END OF SCENE)

Find Empress Matilda of England at a retailer near you including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble.

Eleanor Marries Henry Plantagenet. Excerpt from Eleanor of Aquitaine: a Play in Four Acts

Alienor d’Aquitaine is one of the most famous women in medieval history. The well-educated daughter of Duke William IX of Aquitaine, her father’s death made her the most eligible heiress in medieval Europe.

In this scene, Eleanor weds Prince Henry Plantagenet, son of Empress Matilda of England and her second husband, Geoffrey Plantagenet.

Act III, Scene III

1152, 18^th May. Bordeaux, Aquitaine. Cathédrale-Primatiale Saint-André. ELEANOR and HENRY PLANTAGENET stand in front of ARCHBISHOP as COURTIERS watch. BECKET stands beside Henry as his best man.

ELEANOR

I, Aliénor, duchesse d’Aquitaine, take thee, Henri Plantagenet, duc de Normandie et comte d’Anjou et du Maine, to be my wedded husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life.

HENRY PLANTAGENET

I, Henri Plantagenet, duc de Normandie et comte d’Anjou et du Maine take thee Aliénor, duchesse d’Aquitaine, to be my wedded wife. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life.

(Henry places a jewelled ring on Eleanor’s hand)

With this ring, I thee wed. All my worldly goods, I thee endow. All that I have, I give to thee, Aliénor, duchesse d’Aquitaine.

ARCHBISHOP

What God has joined together, let no man tear asunder.

(making the sign of the cross)

In nómine Patris et Fílii et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

ALL

A-men.

ARCHBISHOP

My lord Plantagenet, you may now kiss your bride!

Henry Plantagenet kisses Eleanor.

BECKET/COURTIERS

(Ad lib cheers)

Hooray!

Félicitations!

Vive le duc et la duchesse !

HENRY PLANTAGENET and ELEANOR acknowledge the cheers with smiles and bows as they EXIT downstage left.

(END OF SCENE)

Love this scene? Buy the full play at a retailer near you including Apple, Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble.

This is not over! Excerpt from chapter four of Boudicca: Britain’s Queen of the Iceni

March, 2014. As women’s history month commenced and I famously queried those around me, asking them to name 10 women from history – which they failed to do, I responded to my anger and frustration by writing. The book: Boudicca: Britain’s Queen of the Iceni. Little did I guess that month that I was creating a new career for myself as a biographical historian. Ten years after initial publication, Boudicca remains a reader favorite and my most popular title in digital, paperback, and audio formats. Translated into many languages, you can listen to it in English, French, Spanish, and German.

The following scene is the famous “this is not over” scene from chapter four and the one featured in the audio excerpt on Audible.

Half an hour later, the red blood of the defeated defenders mingled with the blue war paint on their bodies. Among the wounded survivors was Prasutagus’ younger sister, Princess Maëlle.  Too hurt to keep fighting, a centurion bound her and dragged her.  Boudicca looked into the centurion’s lustful eyes, his intent to make her a slave of his bed chamber obvious to her after her own enslavement.  This was a fate far worse than death, Boudicca knew, yet also a traditional fate the Romans gave to nobles from conquered tribes.

Certain of their victory and with no further challenges from the people, the Roman soldiers went into each home, taking everything they could of value to them, seizing anyone still alive among Iceni nobility, and smashing much of what they could not or did not wish to take.  Lighting torches, they threw fire onto the thatched roofs, sending half of the village into flame.

Finally, they turned their attention to Boudicca and her daughters, still bound and gagged and under Marcus’ control, though all three struggled to free themselves.  Marcus sneered at Boudicca, “Our governor tells me you were once a slave amongst the Aedui – is it true?”

“I am queen of the Iceni, the chosen vessel of Cathubodva,” proclaimed the queen.

“Such fire and hatred,” noticed Marcus. “Only a slave feels such hatred.”

“Or a woman,” countered Boudicca.

“Slave, woman, barbarian – what is the difference?  You, Boudicca, are all three!”

“There is a saying among my people, Centurion.  Be careful of the warrior whose cause is just – but be terrified of the woman scorned and battle ready.  For her strength is greatest of all!”

“Really?” laughed Marcus, signaling at two soldiers.  Dragging out Alys and Morgan to where all could see, the Romans beat them to the ground, bruising and bloodying them before ravishing them and destroying their virtue.

Marcus laughed as he observed Boudicca’s anger, “Jealous, slave?”

“You invite the wrath of all our goddesses and gods.  Barbarians you call us?  There is no word for the violence and brutality you’ve done to them!”

“Done?  I’ve just begun.  Perhaps I should make you my personal slave for my bed chamber, eh?” considered Marcus cruelly.  “No … I think not.  A proper slave knows her place.  I have a better idea!” With a flick of his wrist, he motioned for Boudicca to be tied to a charred post to what was once Boudicca’s beautiful and luxurious home.  Forcing both Alys and Morgan to watch, he personally flogged the queen with thirty lashes of his whip, expecting her to scream with pain.

Proudly, Boudicca refused to scream.  Looking at his victim and now certain she too was now beaten into submission, Marcus picked up Alys and Morgan and took them along with the other captives and plunder, leaving Boudicca alone with the remains of her kingdom.

As soon as the Romans were out of sight and hearing range, a little girl came up to Boudicca with a knife which she used to cut her queen’s bonds, “Your highness, what shall we do?”

“First, we must bind up our wounds.  Get whoever is left and strong enough to search the village for clean linen or wool we can use to help the injured.  See if the Romans left us with honey and with any ground oats which we can use on the wounds.  Once we stop the bleeding and stabilize the hurt we must check our food supplies and ensure everyone eats today – especially the injured.  We are only as strong as our weakest person.  Now is the time we must all come together,” commanded Boudicca.

“But what about the Romans?  We cannot let them get away with our people like that?”

“If we can free them, we will – but not today.  We do not have the strength.  We must heal, recover our strength.  Then, once we are ready, I swear we will fight back.  Let the ravens of Cathubodva come now to us, let her power fill us!  We are not defeated.  This is not over!”

News from London. Excerpt from Mary Queen of the Scots: a Play in Three Acts

The death of King Edward VI of England was a pivotal moment for both the Tudor dynasty in England and the Stewart/Stuart dynasty in Scotland. In this scene from “Mary Queen of the Scots: A Play in Three Acts” Queen Mary learns of the death of her English cousin. The song in this scene is a famous Scottish song from 1545 written and sung in Auld Scots.

Act I, Scene I

1553. Louvre Palace, Paris. Queen Mary’s private apartment. YOUNG MARY sits and plays her lute near a window overlooking the courtyard.

YOUNG MARY

(singing in Scottish as she plays along on her lute)

DEPAIRTE, DEPAIRTE, ALLACE I MOST DEPAIRTE. FROM HIR THAT HES MY HAIRT WITH HAIRT FULL SOIR; AGAIN’S MY IN DEID AND CAN FIND NO REMEID, I WAIT THE PAN’S OF DEID CAN DO NO MOIR.

FRANÇOIS ENTERS stage left excitedly.

FRANÇOIS

 Marie!  Marie! News from London!

YOUNG MARY

Quelles nouvelles?

FRANÇOIS

 Your cousin, King Edward the Sixth!

YOUNG MARY

What about him?

FRANÇOIS

 He’s dead!  He died of consumption three weeks ago.

YOUNG MARY

(crossing herself)

Poor lad!

FRANÇOIS

There is more, ma chérie.  Your cousin Lady Jane Grey, granddaughter of your great aunt Mary and the duke of Suffolk Charles Brandon, she is now imprisoned in the Tower of London!

YOUNG MARY

For what crime?

FRANÇOIS

The king tried to override his father’s last will and testament by making her queen instead of Queen Mary.  For nine days she ruled as Queen Jane before the queen and her sister the Lady Elizabeth entered London to claim the throne officially.  As soon as Queen Mary arrived, all support for Queen Jane disappeared.

YOUNG MARY

The people have spoken!  Let us pray that through the wisdom of Queen Mary we might see England restored to the true religion.”

FRANÇOIS

(crossing himself)

In nómine Patris et Fílii et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

YOUNG MARY

Amen.

(END OF SCENE)

Find Mary Queen of the Scots, a Play in Three Acts at a retailer near you including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and Barnes/Noble.

Self-Publishing: Book Earnings and Royalty Payment Timing

You finally published your latest literary masterpiece. The hard part of the process is done. Now it’s time to publish, get sales, and finally receive that royalty payment for your book.

But how and when you get paid for a sale varies greatly by the publishing platform and retailer selling your book. Here is a look at the timing between when someone buys your book (ebook, paperback, hard cover, and/or audiobook) and when you can expect to actually receive your royalty payment.

Kindle Direct Publishing (kindle books, paperbacks, hard cover books)

Kindle Direct Publishing (abbreviated KDP) pays you 60 days after the last day of every month. This is usually direct deposit into your bank. For example: books sold between December 1st and December 2023 were paid between February 29th and March 2nd, 2024. The difference in the date comes from currency conversions with your bank. This is because Amazon pays each “channel” (their word for the Amazon sites in each different country) separately and in the country-of-sale’s local currency. Sales in Germany are paid in Euros. Sales in Canada are paid in Canadian dollars. Sales in the UK are paid in British Pounds Sterling. You get the idea. Funds leave Amazon on the same date across the board – usually the 29th in every month (or February 28th most years) – but banks usually have to convert these other currencies and that takes time. Hence the three or four day window for all payments to be received, acknowledged, and credited to your bank account.

This 60 day payment lag applies to both kindle books and any paperbacks or hard cover books you publish through KDP. Payments are only sent when they exceed the minimum threshold for direct deposit – usually $10 USD if you live in the United States – otherwise they roll over to the next month and so on until the minimum is met.

Draft2Digital (ebooks, paperbacks)

Draft2Digital is KDP’s leading competitor for paperback books and now, through its acquisition of Smashwords, ebooks. Paperbacks are sent to the exact same retailers that KDP sends paperbacks to. Whereas ebooks are sent to ebook retailers such as Apple, Barnes/Noble, Kobo, and Everand. Whether paperback or digital, each of these retailers reports and pays earnings on its own schedule. According to Draft2Digital, “The stores that payout to you on a 3-month delay would be Kobo, Amazon, and Baker & Taylor. The stores that payout to you on a 2-month delay would be Apple, Barnes and Noble, OverDrive, Hoopla, Bibliotheca, Scribd, and Tolino. D2D Print-on-Demand (paperbacks) can take 3-4 months to verify royalties.

“Verified royalties are paid out to you on the next available payment date after having been added to your account given that the amount owed to you is greater than the payment threshold set on your payment method.

“Please keep in mind it takes 2-3 months to receive your first payment. Many of our stores are reporting the month after the sale and paid to you the following month but we do have stores that pay to us on a 2-month delay and are paid to you the following month.”

ACX (audiobooks)

ACX is Amazon’s audiobook publishing platform. It offers authors both exclusive and non-exclusive distribution contracts and both royalty share and per finished hour payment options. A royalty share contract limits publication to Amazon, Audible, and Apple retail sites. Under royalty share, the narrator and author each receive 20% of the net retail for each book sold. Per finished hour contracts pay the narrator at the time of project completion and can be either exclusive or non-exclusive, each option paying different royalty rates. Exclusive limits publication to Amazon, Audible, and Apple and pays 40% of net retail (same rate as royalty share, but author keeps all of the royalties here instead of sharing it). Non-exclusive pays just 25% of net retail, but allows for broader distribution.

ACX pays 30 days after the completion of each month. For example, sales between January 1st and January 31st, 2024 paid on February 27th, 2024 through direct deposit. As with KDP, if a specific month’s earnings does not exceed the minimum threshold for direct deposit, the earnings for that month roll over until the minimum is met.

Find Away Voices (audiobooks)

Find Away Voices (abbreviated FAV) is ACX’s leading competitor. Featuring expanded distribution to over 50 different retailers, including all of the aggregates used by public libraries and libraries for the blind, FAV puts your audiobooks in more retailers than ACX and pays a much higher royalty rate as well, usually between 50% and 80%, depending on the retailer. With Spotify’s recent acquisition of FAV, all audiobooks posted through FAV are by default available on Spotify. Authors choose which retailers from FAV’s extensive list to publish – or not publish – to.

Since FAV distributes audiobooks to Barnes/Noble, Everand, Apple, Kobo, etc. they receive earned royalties from those retailers on the same schedule as Draft2Digital.

Like KDP and ACX, FAV pays through direct deposit to your bank and generally requires a minimum of $10 USD before it pays royalties. Earn less than $10 USD in a given month and your earnings roll over until you reach that threshold.

Self-publishing can be a tough business. But armed with a little information and a lot of persistence, authors can succeed in this dynamic industry.

For more information about the publishing business please see:

The 3 “P”s of Audiobook Narrators

The 3 Ps of Audiobook Narrators Part Two

Find Away Voices Sales Report: A Detailed Look At “New Start in the Niobrara” audiobook

Why my newest releases are not available for kindle on Amazon.

How to Format Paperbacks Without Createspace’s Interior Templates

Babelcube beware: what authors need to know before signing a Babelcube contract

Going Global: A Look at Translation Options for Independent Authors

Livros em português: descrições e links de varejo

Se você mora nos Estados Unidos, provavelmente não ouve muito o português falado, muito menos escrito. Mas o português é uma língua bonita e decididamente diferente do espanhol, do italiano e do francês. Os livros a seguir são escritos por Laurel A. Rockefeller e estão disponíveis para você em português.

Adeus, A672E92 Quintus

O que você faria se soubesse que o seu mundo está chegando ao fim? Após a ciência ter confirmado a iminente aniquilação do planeta A672E92 Quintus, uma equipe diplomática fica encarregada de controlar a rivalidade cega das duas casas aptas para a jornada espacial, a Cashmarie e a Xing-li. Se falharem, certamente cada homem, mulher e criança perecerá. Como a disputa entre as casas permanece, são designados dois representantes para liderar o tratado de paz, aí surge o romance com um toque extrassensorial, e torna-se lendária a luta para se despedir do A672E92 Quintus e descobrir o seu novo lar: o planeta Beinan.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Boudicca, a Rainha Bretã dos Icenos

Por que o corvo dos Morrígan chora? Apenas os Bretões cujo coração anseia pela verdadeira liberdade sabem! 

Em 43 a. C. a conquista da Bretanha pelos Romanos é quase certa — até que um encontro casual entre o Rei Prasutagus dos Icenos e uma escrava fugitiva da realeza, descendente da tribo dos Éduos da Gália muda o destino das ilhas britânicas para sempre. 

Levante-se para a liberdade com a estória verdadeira de Boudicca: a Rainha Bretã dos Icenos e descubra uma das mais inspiradoras estórias da história! 

Uma narração biográfica sobre Mulheres Legendárias da História Mundial.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Catherine de Valois Princesa Francesa, Matriarca dos Tudor

A guerra a tornou Rainha da Inglaterra. O seu amor por um galês a tornou imortal.

Mais conhecida como a noiva de Agincourt, de Henry V, da peça shakespeariana “Henry V,” Catherine de Valois foi uma extraordinária mulher fervorosa, corajosa, e convicta, em uma era de mulheres politicamente poderosas.

Uma filha mais nova do Rei Charles VI da França, aterrorizada pela sua enfermidade mental, Princesa Catherine sobreviveu às devastações da esquizofrenia dele, a uma guerra civil em seu país, e à guerra do Rei Henry contra a França, para se tornar uma das rainhas mais fascinantes e corajosas da Inglaterra renascentista.

Uma biografia narrativa de Mulheres Lendárias da História Mundial.

Inclui uma árvore genealógica Guerra das Rosas, detalhada cronologia, e uma lista detalhada de sugestões de leitura/bibliografia.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Cleópatra VII: A última governante do Egito

A emocionante história da rainha mais famosa do Egito!

Cleópatra Tea Filópator se recusava a fazer o que lhe era ordenado. Em uma período em que o patriarcado negava cidadania completa até mesmo às mulheres da elite romana, Cleópatra governou seu Egito determinada a mantê-lo independente e livre do controle romano — independentemente do preço. Demonizada como uma simples sedutora por Caio Júlio César Otaviano (o futuro César Augusto) e seus aliados políticos, Cleópatra VII provou ser igual aos três homens mais poderosos do mundo romano: Caio Júlio César, Marco Antônio e Otaviano César.

Inclui uma linha do tempo detalhada, uma lista de leituras sugeridas/bibliografia e um easter egg especial para os fãs de ficção científica.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Gwenllian Ferch Gruffydd. A Princesa Guerreira de Deheubarth

A Heroica antepassada Galesa da rainha Elizabeth Tudor!

Nascida em 1097 no castelo de Aberffraw, a princesa Gwenllian Ferch Gruffydd ap Cynan sempre foi destinada a grandes coisas. Como filha de um dos maiores guerreiros de Gwynedd, ela cresceu forte e apaixonada – mais do que uma partida para seus irmãos mais velhos.

A seus dezesseis anos, a vida de Gwenllian mudou para sempre quando ela se apaixonou por Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys, o herdeiro de Rhys ap Tewdur, de Deheubarth. Juntos, marido e mulher lutaram e governaram o sul do País de Gales, desafiando a Conquista Normanda do País de Gales e provando de uma vez por todas a nobreza e coragem do povo galês, uma coragem que dura ao longo dos séculos e vive no coração de todo homem galês, mulher e criança.

Inclui uma extensa linha de tempo cobrindo mais de 400 anos de história medieval galesa e inglesa.

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Hipátia de Alexandria

Quando o mundo ocidental caiu na escuridão, ela ousou defender a luz.

Nascida em 355 EC, após o reinado de Constantino, Hipátia de Alexandria viveu em um império romano em colapso, um mundo onde a obediência às autoridades religiosas superava a ciência, onde razão e lógica ameaçavam a nova ordem mundial. Era um mundo à beira da Idade das Trevas, um mundo decidindo a questão da ciência versos religião, versos liberdade ortodoxia, versos de tolerância ódio.

Por mais de 40 anos, Hipátia ficou entre a idade das trevas e a luz da filosofia clássica, das artes e das ciências. Embora nenhum de seus livros tenha sobrevivido às agressivas queimadas de livros de fanáticos religiosos, seu legado continua sendo o de um dos maiores cientistas de todos os tempos.

Esta é a sua história verdadeira e fascinante.

Inclui bibliografia, um cronograma detalhado e coordenadas de latitude e longitude para as principais cidades do Império Romano, para que você possa explorar as maravilhas dos céus com Hypatia.

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Imperatriz Matilde da Inglaterra

A leoa destemida da Inglaterra!

Nascida em 1102 para o rei Henry da Inglaterra e para a rainha Matilde da Escócia, a ancestralidade normanda, saxã e escocesa de Matilde estava destinada a unificar a Inglaterra ainda dividida pela conquista do avô em 1066. Quando o Desastre do Barco Branco, em 1120, fez dela a única filha sobrevivente de seus pais, Matilde de repente se tornou herdeira do trono inglês em uma época em que o velho Witan saxão, e não o testamento do rei, ainda decidia a sucessão.

Descubra a verdadeira história da primeira mulher a reivindicar o trono inglês por direito próprio e inspire-se!

Inclui a árvore genealógica da família de Matilde, uma linha do tempo detalhada e uma lista de sugestões de leituras para que você possa continuar aprendendo.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Imperatriz Wǔ Zétiān

A mulher mais odiada da história chinesa!

Viaje no tempo mais de mil anos e conheça o primeiro e único imperador do sexo feminino da China. Nascido Wǔ Zhào e dado o título reinado “Zétiān” apenas algumas semanas antes de sua morte em 705 dC, ela era a filha indesejada do chanceler Wǔ Shihuo – muito brilhante, muito instruída e muito politicamente focada para fazer uma boa esposa de acordo com interpretações contemporâneas dos Analectos de Confúcio.

Ela pode ser de admirar que até hoje ela continua a ser a mulher mais odiada em toda a história chinesa e um dos seus mais controversos?

Explore a vida da imperatriz Wǔ e descubra por que o mundo é um lugar muito diferente, porque ela ousou o que nenhuma mulher na China antes ou desde sempre sonhou.

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Margarida de Wessex

O século 11 foi uma época perigosa para os descendentes diretos do Rei Æthelred II Despreparado e de sua primeira rainha, Æfgifu of York. Nascida na Hungria depois da tentativa falha do Rei Canuto III de assassinar o seu pai, Eduardo, o Exilado, Margarida teve a vida virada de cabeça para baixo pela descoberta do Rei Eduardo, o Confessor, de que o seu pai continuava vivo — e com a consequente reconvocação de sua família à Inglaterra.

Agora, uma refém política mantida viva apenas enquanto serve aos interesses de homens poderosos, Margarida e sua família encontram no convite do Rei Máel Coluim mac Donnchadh Ceann à sua corte em Dunfermline, Alba, a resposta há muito esperada para as suas preces.

A Escócia jamais seria a mesma outra vez.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Maria, a Rainha dos Escoceses, O Reino Esquecido

A Rainha Maria Stuart foi uma das mulheres mais amadas e controversas da história da Escócia. Neta do Rei Jaime IV e sua esposa Margaret Tudor, o status da Rainha Maria como herdeira-parente do trono da Rainha Isabel na Inglaterra, assim como a violência da Reforma Escocesa preparou o palco para uma das vidas mais dramáticas e mal compreendidas do século XVI.

Maria, a Rainha dos Escoceses conta a verdadeira história de Maria, concentrando-se principalmente em seu reinado como rainha da Escócia, celebrando sua vida mais do que sua morte e mostrando-nos porque ela era verdadeiramente uma mulher à frente de seu tempo.

Apresenta uma linha do tempo detalhada, uma lista de orações latinas com suas traduções para o Português e as letras de todas as quatro canções do período apresentadas no livro, incluindo “Depairte, Depairte” (1545) escrita em língua Ânglica Escocesa.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Mithril e Eu: Uma história de amor

Mithril e Eu é a verdadeira história do vínculo especial que se forma entre humanos e pássaros. Começando com seu primeiro pássaro, um budgerigar (periquito) chamado Luke e, ao longo das décadas, Laurel A. Rockefeller leva você a uma jornada especial como só ela pode, aprendendo e crescendo como pessoa ao longo do caminho e amando cada pássaro que entra em sua vida.  Sincero, afetuoso e honesto, “Mithril e Eu” vai aquecer seu coração, fazer você chorar e inspirá-lo ao longo do caminho.

Repleto de fotos pessoais de quarenta anos de vida com pássaros. Perfeito para o amante de animais em sua vida.

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O território envenenado e a consorte curandeira

A Senhora Abadessa Cara encontra-se no meio de uma conspiração real quando viaja para a cidade sulista de Nan-li para investigar um misterioso surto de cânceres que assola a cidade.

Quando o tirânico Rei Gareth usa seu poder para impedi-la de descobrir a verdade, Cara encontra-se encurralada entre o amor e suas lealdades neste romance sombrio, que antecede “Os Fantasmas do Passado”.

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Organização para a Minha Primeira Caturra

Apresente o mundo maravilhoso das caturras aos seus filhos

Organização para a minha primeira Caturra, é um guia para si e para os seus filhos, para ajudar a saber o que é necessário para levar para casa a sua primeira caturra.

Ao contrário da maioria de livros que existem sobre caturras, este não tentam encobrir nada e foca-se em explicar o que necessita para estar preparado para a sua nova vida com o seu pássaro.

Completo com histórias na primeira pessoa e fotografias, vai ficar a saber como é a vida a amar caturras, há muitos anos. Um livro divertido quem adora animais!

Temas:
– Caturras sendo cacatuas
– Gaiolas principais
– Gaiolas de viagem e hospitalares (incluindo gaiolas para viagens áreas internas e internacionais)
– Espaços de lazer 
– Comida
– Brinquedos
– Poleiros
– Dispensadores de comida 
– Comunicar com uma caturra nova e tímida
– Prevenção de psitacose

– Jogos para o seu novo pássaro 

SEGUNDA EDIÇÃO

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Rainha Elizabeth Tudor, Tornando-se Gloriana

A Rainha Elizabeth Tudor ainda é conhecida hoje como “Gloriana”, por conta de sua pequena frota de navios ágeis que derrotou a Armada Espanhola, que possuía 131 galeões, no Canal da Mancha em 6 de agosto de 1588.

Mas como isso aconteceu, e por que a tardia Era Elisabetana ficou conhecida como “A Era do Ouro”?

Nesta bela e criativa narrativa biográfica, você conhecerá Elizabeth como nunca antes.

Se você é fã da Dinastia Tudor ou se esta é sua primeira vez explorando a história inglesa, você ganhará conhecimentos valiosos sobre a mente da, talvez, mulher mais lendária da história mundial, contada pelos olhos de seu famoso—ou infame—relacionamento com Robert Dudley. A história continua com Mary, rainha dos escoceses (explorada no terceiro volume) e seu julgamento e impacto em Elizabeth.

Contém seis músicas medievais e elisabetanas, uma linha do tempo detalhada, e uma longa lista de leituras sugeridas.

Encontre este livro na Apple, Amazon e Everand

Sua Eminência Escarlate, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu

Sacerdote. Amante. Político.

Da autora da série de biografias best-seller “Mulheres Lendárias da História do Mundo” …

O cardeal Armand-Jean du Plessis, duque de Richelieu, é um dos políticos mais famosos – ou infames de todos os tempos. Tornado um vilão no popular romance de Dumas, “Os Três Mosqueteiros”, o homem de verdade era um servidor público dedicado, leal ao rei e ao país. Um homem de lógica e razão, ele transformou a maneira como pensamos sobre nações e nacionalidade. Ele secularizou as guerras entre países, patrocinou as artes em prol do bem público, fundou o primeiro jornal na França e criou a França como o país moderno que conhecemos hoje.

Cheio de música de época, dança e muito romance, “Sua Eminência Escarlate” transporta você de volta à corte do rei Luís XIII em todas as suas cores vibrantes e vivas.

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Território Envenenado

GANÂNCIA CORPORATIVA. CORRUPÇÃO. PRAGA.
A cidade sulista Nanli ia bem até uma misteriosa praga infestar a cidade com medo e pavor.
Cumprindo o seu dever de descobrir a causa, a Lady Abadessa Cara corre contra o tempo para encontrar uma cura quando se vê diante de uma conspiração perigosa que põe em risco a sua vida e a das gerações futuras.

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Hörbücher auf Deutsch: Buchbeschreibungen und Einzelhandelslinks

Hörbücher sind meine Leidenschaft. Seit 2014 habe ich viel in Hörbuchproduktionen in den vier verfügbaren Sprachen investiert: Englisch, Spanisch, Französisch und Deutsch. Obwohl viele meiner Blog-Beiträge Links zu Audioausgaben enthalten, ist es manchmal nützlich, einen einzelnen Beitrag zu Hörbüchern zu lesen, der sich auf Einzelhandelslinks konzentriert. Wenn Sie auf der Suche nach Ihrem nächsten tollen Hörstück sind, scrollen Sie gerne durch diesen Beitrag.

Boudicca: Britanniens Königin der Icener.

Warum schreit der Rabe der Morrigan? Nur Britannier mit Herzen für wahre Freiheit wissen es!

Im Jahre 43 n. Chr. scheint die römische Eroberung Britanniens nahezu gewiss – bis ein zufälliges Zusammentreffen von König Prasutagus der Icener und einer entflohenen Sklavin königlicher Herkunft vom Stamm der Aeduer in Gallien das Schicksal der britannischen Inseln für immer ändern.

Erheben Sie sich für die Freiheit mit der wahren Geschichte von Boudicca, Britanniens Königin der Icener, und entdecken Sie eine der berührendsten Erzählungen aller Zeiten!

Eine kreative, Non-Fiction Legendäre Frauen der Weltgeschichte-Biographie.

Dieses Hörbuch finden Sie bei Apple und Audible.

Catherine de Valois

Der Krieg machte sie zur Königin von England. Ihre Liebe zu einem Waliser machte sie unsterblich.

Catherine de Valois, am besten bekannt, als die Braut Henry des V. aus Shakespeares “Henry V.”, war eine außergewöhnliche Frau, voller Glauben, Mut und Überzeugung, in einem Zeitalter politisch mächtiger Frauen.

Als eine jüngere Tochter von König Charles VI. von Frankreich, der durch seine Geisteskrankheit gequält wurde, überlebte Prinzessin Catherine die verheerenden Auswirkungen seiner Schizophrenie, einen Bürgerkrieg im eigenen Land und den Krieg König Henry V. mit Frankreich und wurde eine der faszinierendsten und mutigsten Königinnen des Renaissanceenglands.

Dieses Hörbuch finden Sie bei Apple und Audible.

Kaiserin Mathilde, Herrin der Engländer

Die brüllende Löwin von England!

Geboren 1102 als Tochter von König Henry von England und Königin Matilda von Schottland, war Matildas einzigartige Abstammung von normannischem, sächsischem und schottischem Adel dazu gedacht, das England zu einen, das immer noch durch den Eroberungszug ihres Großvaters im Jahr 1066 geteilt war. Als das Schiffsunglück von 1120 sie zum einzigen überlebenden Kind ihrer Eltern machte, wurde Matilda plötzlich zur Erbin des englischen Throns, in einer Zeit, in der der Witan – und nicht der Wille des Königs – über die Thronfolge entschied.

Entdecken Sie die wahre Geschichte der ersten Frau, die aus eigenem Geburtsrecht ihren Anspruch auf den Thron geltend machte, und lassen Sie sich inspirieren!

Dieses Hörbuch finden Sie bei Apple und Audible.

Kaiserin Wu Zetian

Die meistgehasste Frau der chinesischen Geschichte!

Lassen Sie sich auf eine Zeitreise ein, mehr als tausend Jahre in die Vergangenheit, und treffen Sie die erste und einzige regierende Kaiserin Chinas. Geboren als Wu Zhao erhielt sie den Herrschertitel „Zetian“ erst Wochen vor ihrem Tod im Jahre 705 vor unserer Zeitrechnung. Sie war die unerwünschte Tochter des Finanzministers Wu Shihuo – zu intelligent, zu gebildet und zu politisch versiert, um eine gute Ehefrau abzugeben; zumindest laut den zeitgenössischen Analekten des Konfuzius.

Kann es somit verwundern, dass sie bis zum heutigen Tag die meistgehasste und umstrittenste Frau der chinesischen Geschichte ist?

Erkunden Sie das Leben von Kaiserin Wu und entdecken Sie, warum die Welt heute eine ganz andere ist: Weil sie zu tun wagte, was weder vor noch nach ihr einer anderen Chinesin auch nur im Traum einfiel.

Dieses Hörbuch finden Sie bei Apple und Audible.

Königin Elizabeth Tudor. Der Weg zu Gloriana

Königin Elizabeth Tudor ist auch heute noch als „Gloriana“ bekannt. Ein Name, der auf den Sieg ihrer kleinen Flotte wendiger Schiffe über die 131 Galleonen der spanischen Armada im Ärmelkanal am 6. August 1588 zurückgeht. 

Aber wie ist dies geschehen und warum wird die späte Regierungsphase Elizabeths als „goldenes Zeitalter“ bezeichnet? 

In diesem wunderschönen biographischen Sachbuch lernen Sie Elizabeth so persönlich kennen wie nie zuvor. 

Ob Sie Fan der Tudor-Dynastie sind, oder dies Ihre erste Entdeckungsreise in die englische Geschichte ist, Sie werden einen wertvollen Einblick in den Geist der vielleicht legendärsten Frau der Weltgeschichte bekommen – erzählt durch die Augen ihrer berühmten, oder auch berüchtigten, Beziehung zu Robert Dudley. Dieses Buch führt die Geschichte von Mary, Königin der Schotten, (erkundet in Buch 3) mit Königin Marys Gerichtsverhandlung und den daraus resultierenden Auswirkungen auf Elizabeth fort.

Dieses Hörbuch finden Sie bei Apple und Audible.

Verwandte Blogbeiträge

Audiolibros en Espanol

Audiolivres en francais

Where to Find Audiobooks by Laurel A. Rockefeller

Livres audio en français : descriptions de livres et liens de vente au détail

Les livres audio sont ma passion. Depuis 2014, j’ai investi massivement dans la production de livres audio dans les quatre langues disponibles : anglais, espagnol, français et allemand.

Bien que bon nombre de mes articles de blog incluent des liens applicables aux éditions audio, il est parfois utile d’explorer un seul article dédié aux livres audio qui se concentre sur les liens de vente au détail. Si vous recherchez votre prochaine bonne écoute, n’hésitez pas à faire défiler cet article.

Dans les versions les plus récentes (de septembre 2022 à aujourd’hui), vous trouverez au moins quatre liens de vente au détail pour chaque livre.

Aliénor d’Aquitaine: Édition Élèves & Enseignants

Jeune fille, Aliénor était le parti le plus recherché de toute la Chrétienté… et pas seulement à cause de sa beauté. Fille aînée du duc Guillaume X d’Aquitaine, elle avait hérité de son immense duché à l’âge de 15 ans et fut couronnée reine des Francs la même année.

Mais l’amour ne fut pas au rendez-vous pour cette magnifique duchesse, malgré deux mariages et dix enfants. Pourtant les troubadours chantèrent ses louanges, composèrent pour elle les premières chansons d’amour courtois, et c’est en son honneur que furent déclamées pour la première fois les légendes du roi Arthur et des chevaliers de la table ronde. Aliénor façonna deux empires naissants et fit de l’Aquitaine l’alliée de l’Angleterre la plus fiable sur le continent.

Aliénor d’Aquitaine fut une légende à son époque, elle l’est encore à la nôtre. Voici son histoire.

L’édition Élèves & Enseignants contient un guide d’étude après chaque chapitre.

Retrouvez ce livre chez Spotify, Apple, LibroFm, Kobo, Hoopla, Barnes/Noble, et beaucoup plus!

Au Revoir A672E92 Quintus

La planète A672E92 Quintus tombe en ruines. Alors que l’astre A672E92 prend de l’expansion à l’approche de la fin de son existence, menaçant d’envelopper la planète et tout ce qui y vit, les habitants s’entre-déchirent dans des conflits armés.

La tâche revient à deux invraisemblables délégués de ramener la paix entre les clans et de préparer leur peuple à l’inévitable : l’évacuation d’A672E92 Quintus et la migration de ses habitants vers les étoiles.

Retrouvez ce livre chez Apple, Audible

Boudicca: La reine des Icènes de Bretagne

Pourquoi le corbeau de Morrígan pleure-il ? Seuls les Bretons ayant à coeur la liberté le savent !

En 43 de notre ère, la conquête de la Bretagne par les Romains semble quasiment certaine – jusqu’à la rencontre fortuite du Roi des Icènes, Prasatagus, et d’une esclave en fuite appartenant à la lignée royale de la tribu gauloise des Éduens, change le destin des Iles Britanniques pour toujours. 

Levez-vous pour la liberté avec la véritable histoire de Boudicca : la reine des Icènes de Bretagne et découvrez un des destins les plus inspirants de l’Histoire !

Une biographie romancée des femmes légendaires de l’Histoire du monde.

Retrouvez ce livre chez Apple, Audible

Catherine de Valois: Princess de France, Matriarche des Tudors

La princesse française oubliée dont le courage lança la dynastie des Tudors.

La guerre la fit reine d’Angleterre. Son amour pour un Gallois la rendit immortelle.

Mieux connue comme la fiancée d’Azincourt d’Henri V, de la pièce « Henri V » de Shakespeare, Catherine de Valois était une femme de foi, courage et conviction extraordinaire dans un âge de femmes puissantes politiquement.

La plus jeune fille du roi Charles VI de France terrorisé par sa maladie mentale, Catherine de Valois survécut les ravages de sa schizophrénie, une guerre civile dans son pays, et la guerre d’Henri V contre la France pour devenir une des reines les plus courageuses et fascinantes de la Renaissance.

Une biographie narrative de la série des Femmes Légendaires de l’Histoire du Monde. 

Retrouvez ce livre chez Apple, Audible

L’impératrice Wu Zetian

La femme la plus haïe de l’histoire de la Chine ! 

Voyagez plus de mille ans en arrière dans le temps et rencontrez la première et unique femme empereur de la Chine. Née Wu Zhao et attribuée le titre de règne « Zetian » quelques semaines seulement avant sa mort en 705 CE, elle était la fille indésirable du chancelier Wu Shihuo — trop intelligente, trop éduquée et trop intéressée par la politique pour être une bonne épouse, selon les interprétations contemporaines des Entretiens de Confucius. 

Est-il surprenant que jusqu’à ce jour elle demeure la femme la plus haïe de toute l’histoire de la Chine et une de ses plus controversées ? 

Explorez la vie de l’impératrice Wu et découvrez pourquoi le monde est un endroit bien plus différent parce qu’elle a osé faire ce qu’aucune femme en Chine, avant et depuis, n’a jamais rêvé de faire.

Retrouvez ce livre chez Apple, Audible

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Cause for Murder: Hypatia Defends the Jews

In 2017 I wrote this paper as part of my work on “Hypatia of Alexandria.” After all this time I do not recall if I published it as a guest post on another blog or simply wrote it and forgot about it. Either way, I think this is a solid research paper deserving your attention. Enjoy

by Laurel A. Rockefeller

Written September 28th, 2017

15^th of March, 415 CE. In front of the Caesareum the greatest philosopher, astronomer, and teacher of the late Roman Empire is skinned alive and torn to pieces in a scene of gruesome murder. All of this is done on behalf of the new Patriarch of Alexandria, a man named Cyril, nephew of the great Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria. Cyril had every motive for murder. Not only was Hypatia beautiful enough to tempt any man into sin (even at the age of sixty), but she dared the unthinkable for a woman:  she was political!

Cyril wanted absolute power.  It wasn’t enough that he was the most powerful man in what was becoming Eastern Orthodox Christianity. He needed secular power too! But the government was still Roman and a largely secular authority at that, despite Constantine making Christianity the official state religion just decades before.  Certainly, the government played no favourites among Alexandria’s three main factions:  Greeks, Jews, and Christians. But it did favour the wealthy and the intellectual elite which was heavily Greek and Jewish. Among the Greeks, none were more influential than Hypatia and her late father, Theon of Alexandria.

Hypatia’s place in Alexandria’s intellectual life made her natural allies to Jewish intellectuals, including the local rabbinate whom Cyril hated and rivalled against. Hypatia held no intellectual prejudices; she would learn from and teach anyone regardless of class, religion, or nationality. No book was forbidden to her nor unworthy of study, a lesson she mastered as she helped her father fulfil his duties as head librarian of Alexandria. Could it be any wonder she was the darling of those with a passion for learning?

To Cyril, such unfettered consumption of books was perilous. In his letter to the Colossians Saint Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” Cyril believed this passionately. Like his uncle before him, that verse guided his belief that not only was Christianity the only one true religion, but that everyone must either convert to Christianity or be killed. And not just any Christianity either.  Every Christian must adopt a very specific form of Christian orthodoxy or else be treated the same as Jews and Pagans.

In this orthodoxy, education of females was unconscionable, even if the Roman government did find educating Roman citizen girls important to maintaining an orderly society. Females were to be silent and obedient and defer in all things to men. On this Cyril felt the epistles of St. Paul were quite clear.

Hypatia therefore represented everything that Cyril hated and found intolerable. An educated woman. A philosopher. A scientist. A pagan. A friend to Jews. She read forbidden books and taught forbidden things. She was political and not just political, she was so respected by the Roman authorities that what she advised was usually done.  In every way Hypatia stood in the way of Cyril’s ambition. She was a threat to Christian life and had to die.

Shortly after Hypatia’s murder, her greatest ally in the Roman Empire, Orestes, governor of Egypt mysteriously disappeared.  Coincidence?

Learn more about Hypatia in “Hypatia of Alexandria” by Laurel A. Rockefeller.  Available at Apple, Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes/Noble, kobo, and a retailer near you. 

Audio edition available at Apple and Audible.

Libros en español: descripciones de libros y enlaces minoristas

Boudica, Reina Británica de los Icenos

¿Por qué está gritando el cuervo de Morrigan? ¡Sólo los británicos con corazón que aspiran a la verdadera libertad lo saben!

En el año 43 de nuestra era, la conquista romana de Britania parece casi segura, hasta que un encuentro casual entre el rey Prasutagus de los icenos y una esclava fugitiva descendiente de la tribu de los eduos en Galia cambia el destino de las islas británicas para siempre.

¡Se levantará por la libertad con la historia real de Boudica: Reina de los icenos de Gran Bretaña y descubrirá una de las historias más inspiradoras de la historia!

Una biografía no ficticia sobre mujeres legendarias de la historia mundial.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand.

Catalina de Valois. Princesa francesa, matriarca de los Tudor

La olvidada princesa francesa cuyo valor catapultó a la dinastía Tudor

La guerra hizo de ella la reina de Inglaterra. Su amor por un galés la hizo inmortal.

Mejor conocida como la novia de Agincourt de Enrique V en ‘Enrque V’ de Shakespeare, Catalina de Valois era una mujer extraordinaria de fe, valor y convicción en una época con mujeres políticamente poderosas.

Hija menor del rey Carlos VI de Francia, aterrorizada por su enfermedad mental, la princesa Catalina sobrevivió a los estragos de su esquizofrenia, una guerra civil en casa y la guerra del rey Enrique con Francia para convertirse en una de las reinas más fascinantes y valientes del Renacimiento.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Cleopatra VII: El ultimo faraón de Egipto

¡La emocionante historia real de la reina más famosa de Egipto!

Cleopatra Thea Philopator se negó a hacer lo que le dijeron. En una época en la que el patriarcado negaba la ciudadanía plena incluso a las mujeres romanas más elitistas, Cleopatra gobernaba su Egipto decidida a mantenerlo independiente y libre del control romano, a cualquier precio que fuera necesario. Demonizada como una simple seductora por Cayo Julio César Octavio (el futuro César Augusto) y sus aliados políticos, Cleopatra VII demostró ser igual a tres de los hombres más poderosos del mundo romano: Cayo Julio César, Marco Antonio y Octavio César.

Incluye una cronología detallada, una lista de lecturas y bibliografía sugeridas; así como un huevo de Pascua especial para los fanáticos de Doctor Who.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Emperatriz Matilda de Inglaterra

¡La leona rugiente de Inglaterra!

Nacida en 1102 del rey Enrique I de Inglaterra y la reina Matilda de Escocia, la herencia real única de Matilda, normanda, sajona y escocesa fue destinada a unificar a una Inglaterra todavía dividida por las conquistas de su abuelo en 1066. Cuando en 1120, el Desastre del Barco Blanco la hizo la única hija sobreviviente de sus padres y Matilda se volvió la heredera al trono inglés en un tiempo en el que el viejo Witan sajón y no la voluntad del rey decidían la sucesión.

Descubre la verdadera historia de la primera mujer en reclamar el trono de Inglaterra por su propio derecho e inspírate.

Incluye el árbol genealógico de Matilda, una línea del tiempo detallada y lecturas sugeridas para que puedas seguir aprendiendo.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Emperatriz Wǔ Zétiān

¡La mujer más odiada en la historia de China! Viaje en el tiempo más de mil años y conozca al primer y único emperador femenino de China. Nacida Wǔ Zhào, recibió el título de su reinado como “Zétiān” pocas semanas antes de su muerte en el año 705 de nuestra era. Fue la hija no deseada del Canciller Wǔ Shì Huo: demasiado brillante, demasiado educada, y demasiado políticamente centrada para fungir como una buena esposa según las contemporáneas interpretaciones de las Analectas de Confucio. ¿Puede ser de extrañar que al día de hoy ella sigue siendo la mujer más odiada en toda la historia de China y una de las más controvertidas? Explora la vida de la emperatriz Wǔ y descubre por qué el mundo es un lugar muy diferente ya que se atrevió a lo que ninguna mujer en China antes o desde entonces había soñado.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Gwenllian Ferch Gruffydd: la princesa guerrea de Deheubarth

¡La heroica antepasada galesa de la reina Isabel Tudor!

Nacida en 1097 en el castillo de Aberffraw, la princesa Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd ap Cynan siempre estuvo destinada a grandes cosas. Hija de uno de los guerreros más grandes de Gwynedd, creció siendo fuerte y apasionada, siendo incluso más que un reto para sus hermanos mayores.

A los dieciséis años, la vida de Gwenllian cambió para siempre cuando se enamoró del príncipe Gruffydd ap Rhys, el atribulado heredero de Rhys ap Tewdur de Deheubarth. Juntos, marido y mujer lucharon y reinaron el sur de Gales, desafiando a la conquista normanda de Gales y demostrando de una vez por todas la total nobleza y valor del pueblo galés, un valor que sobrevivió durante siglos y que vive en el corazón de cada hombre, mujer y niño galés.

Incluye una extensa cronología de más de 400 años de la historia medieval de Gales e Inglaterra.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Hipatia de Alejandría

Cuando el mundo occidental cayó en la oscuridad, ella se atrevió a defender la Luz.

Nacida en 355 d.C., tras el reinado de Constantino, Hipatia de Alejandría vivía en un Imperio Romano colapsado, un mundo donde la obediencia a las autoridades religiosas venció a la ciencia, donde la razón y la lógica amenazaban el nuevo orden mundial. Era un mundo al borde de la Edad Oscura, un mundo que decidía la cuestión de la ciencia contra la religión, libertad contra la ortodoxia, tolerancia contra el odio.

Durante más de 40 años, Hipatia estuvo entre las edades oscuras y la luz de la filosofía clásica, las artes y las ciencias. Aunque ninguno de sus libros sobrevivió a la agresiva quema de libros de los fanáticos religiosos, su legado sigue siendo el de una de los mejores científicos de todos los tiempos.

Esta es su fascinante historia real.

Incluye bibliografía, una línea de tiempo detallada y coordenadas de latitud y longitud para las principales ciudades del Imperio Romano para que pueda explorar las maravillas de los cielos con Hipatia.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

La gran crisis de sucesión

La última heredera posible de la dinastía Gurun tiene ante sí una difícil decisión: seguir los dictados de su corazón y casarse con el caballero que siempre la ha amado o casarse con un rival político ambicioso y cruel con la esperanza de asegurar el futuro de su familia.


¿Qué puede hacer una joven e inocente princesa?


El futuro del planeta Beinan está en peligro cuando la gran crisis de sucesión amenaza a todos los seres queridos de la princesa Anlei en esta romántica precuela de Fantasmas del pasado.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

La Reina Isabel Tudor, Viaje a Gloriana

“Se me ha ordenado por su consejo ir a la Torre, un lugar más apto para un falso traidor que para un súbdito verdadero, lo que, por lo que se, lo quiera o no, aún ante este reino lo soy”, escribió la Princesa Isabel Tudor en su carta de última hora a su hermana la Reina María mientras los guardias esperaban para transportarla a la Torre de Londres.

La reina Isabel es tal vez la soberana más legendaria y celebrada en la historia inglesa. Aún así, ¿crees que la conoces suficientemente bien?

En esta hermosa biografía narrativa, explorarás el camino de Isabel desde “Lady Isabel” hasta “Gloriana” a través de la lente de su relación con Robert Dudley, una relación mucho más contenciosa de lo que la mayoría de la gente cree. Política y religión colisionan, provocando que Isabel se tenga que consolar a sí misma con su música; y una decisión muy difícil se presenta ante ella mientras complots en su contra amenazan el trono.

Toma el viaje a Gloriana y descubre un lado de Isabel que no sabías que existía.

El libro incluye seis canciones medievales e Isabelinas, una línea de tiempo detallada, así como una extensa lista de lecturas sugeridas. Continúa “María reina de los escoceses”.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

María Estuardo, reina de Escocia: El reino olvidado

La reina María Estuardo fue una de las más amadas y controversiales mujeres en la historia de Escocia. Nieta del rey James IV y su esposa Margaret Tudor, con un estatus de heredera aparente al trono inglés junto con la violencia de la Reforma Protestante Escocesa dio lugar a una de las vidas más dramáticas y poco entendidas del siglo XVI.

Este libro cuenta la historia verdadera de María, enfocándose principalmente en su reinado como reina de Escocia, celebrando su vida más que su muerte y mostrándonos a todos nosotros porque era una mujer adelantada a su tiempo.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Margarita de Wessex

El siglo XI fue una época peligrosa para pertenecer a la línea ininterrumpida del rey Æthelred II el Indeciso y su primera reina, Æfgifu de York. Nacida en Hungría tras el intento fallido del rey Canuto III de asesinar a su padre, Eduardo el Exiliado, Margarita vio cómo su vida daba un vuelco cuando el rey Eduardo el Confesor descubrió que su padre había sobrevivido, y la consiguiente devolución de su familia a Inglaterra.

Convertida en un rehén político que sólo se mantenía vivo mientras sirviera a los intereses de los hombres poderosos, Margarita y su familia encontraron en la invitación del rey Máel Coluim mac Donnchadh Ceann Mhor a su corte en Dunfermline, en Alba, la respuesta largamente esperada a sus plegarias.

Escocia nunca volvería a ser la misma.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Preparándome para mi primera cacatúa ninfa

«Preparándome para mi primera cacatúa ninfa» es una guía para ti y tus hijos, para ayudarles a saber cómo prepararse antes de traer a casa su primera cacatúa ninfa.

A diferencia de la mayoría de los libros acerca de ninfas, éste no trata de cubrirlo todo, pero se enfoca en lo que necesitas tener listo para iniciar tu nueva vida en compañía de tu ave.

Con este libro lleno de anécdotas e imágenes, conocerás la vida con cacatúas ninfa a través de mis muchos años en compañía de ellas. ¡Un libro divertido para cualquiera que ame a los animales!

Los temas abarcados incluyen:

•Las ninfas son cacatúas

•Jaulas primarias

•Jaulas de viaje y jaulas hospital (incluidas jaulas para vuelos domésticos e internacionales)

•Espacios de juego

•Comida

•Juguetes

•Perchas

•Recipientes de alimento

•Comunicación con una ninfa nueva o tímida

•Prevención de la psitacosis (la principal enfermedad transmitida entre humanos y aves)

•Juegos para jugar con tu nueva ave

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Su Roja Eminencia, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu

Sacerdote. Amante. Estadista.

El cardenal Armand-Jean du Plessis, duque de Richelieu, es uno de los políticos más famosos o infames de todos los tiempos. Hecho un villano en la popular novela de Dumas, “Los tres mosqueteros”, el verdadero hombre era un servidor público dedicado y leal al rey y al país. Un hombre de lógica y razón, transformó nuestra forma de pensar sobre las naciones y la nacionalidad. Secularizó las guerras entre países, patrocinó las artes por el bien público, fundó el primer periódico en Francia y creó a Francia como el país moderno que conocemos hoy.

Detrás de escena, du Plessis con frecuencia sufría de migrañas paralizantes y malaria. Oculto a la vista, pero siempre a su lado estaba Anne Rochefeuille, su querida amiga, enfermera y amante. Su igual intelectual, Anne trabajó incansablemente para capacitar a su cardenal para lograr la grandeza, su amor mutuo prohibido por la iglesia católica romana a la que sirvió Armand.

Lleno de música de época, baile y mucho romance, “Su Roja Eminencia” te transporta de regreso a la corte del rey Luis XIII en todo su color vibrante y vivo.

Ganador del Premio Libro Godiva 2019.

Encuentre este libro en Amazon, Apple, Everand

Audiolibros en español: descripciones de libros y enlaces minoristas

Los audiolibros son mi pasión. Desde 2014 he invertido mucho en producciones de audiolibros en los cuatro idiomas disponibles: inglés, español, francés y alemán.

Aunque muchas de las publicaciones de mi blog incluyen enlaces aplicables a ediciones de audio, a veces resulta útil explorar una sola publicación dedicada a audiolibros que se centre en enlaces minoristas. Si está buscando su próxima gran escucha, no dude en desplazarse por esta publicación.

Audiolibros disponibles en orden alfabético:

Boudica: Reina Británica de los Icenos

¿Por qué está gritando el cuervo de Morrigan? ¡Sólo los británicos con corazón que aspiran a la verdadera libertad lo saben!

En el año 43 de nuestra era, la conquista romana de Britania parece casi segura, hasta que un encuentro casual entre el rey Prasutagus de los icenos y una esclava fugitiva descendiente de la tribu de los eduos en Galia cambia el destino de las islas británicas para siempre.

¡Se levantará por la libertad con la historia real de Boudica: Reina de los icenos de Gran Bretaña y descubrirá una de las historias más inspiradoras de la historia!

Una biografía no ficticia sobre mujeres legendarias de la historia mundial.

Encuentre este audiolibro en Apple, Audible.

Catalina de Valois. Princesa francesa, matriarca de los Tudor

La olvidada princesa francesa cuyo valor catapultó a la dinastía Tudor

La guerra hizo de ella la reina de Inglaterra. Su amor por un galés la hizo inmortal.

Mejor conocida como la novia de Agincourt de Enrique V en ‘Enrque V’ de Shakespeare, Catalina de Valois era una mujer extraordinaria de fe, valor y convicción en una época con mujeres políticamente poderosas.

Hija menor del rey Carlos VI de Francia, aterrorizada por su enfermedad mental, la princesa Catalina sobrevivió a los estragos de su esquizofrenia, una guerra civil en casa y la guerra del rey Enrique con Francia para convertirse en una de las reinas más fascinantes y valientes del Renacimiento.

Encuentre este audiolibro en Apple, Audible.

Cleopatra VII: La última faraona de Egipto

¡La emocionante historia real de la reina más famosa de Egipto!

Cleopatra Thea Philopator se negó a hacer lo que le dijeron. En una época en la que el patriarcado negaba la ciudadanía plena incluso a las mujeres romanas más elitistas, Cleopatra gobernaba su Egipto decidida a mantenerlo independiente y libre del control romano, a cualquier precio que fuera necesario. Demonizada como una simple seductora por Cayo Julio César Octavio (el futuro César Augusto) y sus aliados políticos, Cleopatra VII demostró ser igual a tres de los hombres más poderosos del mundo romano: Cayo Julio César, Marco Antonio y Octavio César.

Encuentre este audiolibro en Apple, Audible.

Emperatriz Wǔ Zétiān

¡La mujer más odiada en la historia de China! Viaje en el tiempo más de mil años y conozca al primer y único emperador femenino de China. Nacida Wǔ Zhào, recibió el título de su reinado como “Zétiān” pocas semanas antes de su muerte en el año 705 de nuestra era. Fue la hija no deseada del Canciller Wǔ Shì Huo: demasiado brillante, demasiado educada, y demasiado políticamente centrada para fungir como una buena esposa según las contemporáneas interpretaciones de las Analectas de Confucio. ¿Puede ser de extrañar que al día de hoy ella sigue siendo la mujer más odiada en toda la historia de China y una de las más controvertidas? Explora la vida de la emperatriz Wǔ y descubre por qué el mundo es un lugar muy diferente ya que se atrevió a lo que ninguna mujer en China antes o desde entonces había soñado.

Encuentre este audiolibro en Apple, Audible.

Hipatia de Alejandría

Cuando el mundo occidental cayó en la oscuridad, ella se atrevió a defender la Luz.

Nacida en 355 d.C., tras el reinado de Constantino, Hipatia de Alejandría vivía en un Imperio Romano colapsado, un mundo donde la obediencia a las autoridades religiosas venció a la ciencia, donde la razón y la lógica amenazaban el nuevo orden mundial. Era un mundo al borde de la Edad Oscura, un mundo que decidía la cuestión de la ciencia contra la religión, libertad contra la ortodoxia, tolerancia contra el odio.

Durante más de 40 años, Hipatia estuvo entre las edades oscuras y la luz de la filosofía clásica, las artes y las ciencias. Aunque ninguno de sus libros sobrevivió a la agresiva quema de libros de los fanáticos religiosos, su legado sigue siendo el de una de los mejores científicos de todos los tiempos.

Esta es su fascinante historia real.

Encuentre este audiolibro en Apple, Audible.

María Estuardo, reina de Escocia: El reino olvidado

La reina María Estuardo fue una de las más amadas y controversiales mujeres en la historia de Escocia. Nieta del rey James IV y su esposa Margaret Tudor, con un estatus de heredera aparente al trono inglés junto con la violencia de la Reforma Protestante Escocesa dio lugar a una de las vidas más dramáticas y poco entendidas del siglo XVI.

Este libro cuenta la historia verdadera de María, enfocándose principalmente en su reinado como reina de Escocia, celebrando su vida más que su muerte y mostrándonos a todos nosotros porque era una mujer adelantada a su tiempo.

Encuentre este audiolibro en Apple, Audible.

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Last lines: Biographies by Laurel A. Rockefeller

If you still use twitter, you may have noticed a recent discussion among the writing community regarding how best to end your latest book. After all, you have spent weeks or months, sometimes years writing your book, but how then do you best end it?

I like to end my books on a high note – which is odd when you realize that biographies necessarily end with the death of the biography subject. But death doesn’t have to be sad; every one of the people whose stories I am telling have a legacy, an impact on both the lives of those who knew them and on us today.

Here then are the final lines for each of my biographies. All of these books are available in both digital and paperback editions at a retailer near you.

Boudicca: Britain’s Queen of the Iceni.

Audio edition available.

Moira sat and looked intently at her mother, letting her eyes un-focus and letting herself go into the trance that marked the Sight, “You were my mother before.”

“I was.”

“Are we finally together again?  Have I finally found you?”

“Yes, Alys, you have.”

Catherine de Valois: French Princess, Tudor Matriarch.

Audio edition available.

“In time, Jasper and I were allowed to enter King Henry’s service where we all became the best of friends – just as she wanted us to be from the beginning.”

Henry hugged Edmund affectionately, “And so we are.  No brothers can be closer than we are.  Mum would be proud.”

Mary Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign.

Audio edition available.

Nineteen years of imprisonment in England followed.  Nineteen years of sorrow and pain.  Until at last she fell victim to her own envy for Elizabeth’s crown, falling into a trap made for her by English spymaster William Cecil.  In October fifteen eighty-six the nobles of England tried Queen Mary for treason against Queen Elizabeth, the verdict and sentence decided before the trial began.  For weeks Queen Elizabeth debated, delaying the sentence of death.  Until at last on the eighth of February fifteen eighty-seven Queen Mary stood proudly to face her death as the queen she was.  Words of compassion she spoke that morning.  Gifts she gave to all those who were kind to her.  Beneath her black velvet gown she wore crimson, the colour of Catholic martyrs.  She died that day with grace and charm. “In my end is my beginning,” was her life-long motto.  All those who hated her in life came to love her in death with memory warm and glowing. 

And so with love conclude we this tale of love, of courage, of Scotland.

Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana.

Audio edition available.

“The final years of Elizabeth’s reign became known as the ‘Golden Age’ with the queen now called ‘Gloriana’ in honour of her triumph.  Theatre and arts expanded, England grew rich, and the Spanish Empire waned. On the twenty-fourth of March sixteen hundred and three Queen Elizabeth died in her palace in Richmond.  News immediately spread to King James of Scotland, Queen Mary’s beloved son, who was quickly proclaimed King James the First of England, the first king to rule over England, Scotland, and Wales.  The first King of Great Britain.”

“Do you think the divide between England and Scotland will ever heal?” asked Elizabeth.

“Only time will tell, my friend. We may never know.  But think of this:  we will be one of the first from England to live in the new world.  To that I say, let the adventure begin!”

Empress Wu Zetian.

Audio edition available.

“There are people who are smarter, more educated, perhaps wiser in China and around the world.  But this no one can deny:  the world is a better place because she dared defy traditional ideas of womanhood. She dared do what is right, not just for herself, but for all people.”

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd: the Warrior Princess of Deheubarth.

Years passed in constant warfare with the English.  In time Gwenllian’s brother Owain Gwynedd became king after their father.  In Deheubarth younger son Rhys ap Gruffydd became Gwenllian’s greatest legacy.  For from his bloodline flowed the great hope for Wales when Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur was born in Ynys Môn. And though the castle where Princess Gwenllian was born did not survive to Owain’s time her life was still remembered in Gwynedd, in Deheubarth, and across all of Wales.  As Owain helped King Henry the Fifth win against French at the Battle of Agincourt and as he secretly wed the dowager queen Catherine de Valois years later, the story of his foremother Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd stayed ever dear to his heart. Did his grandson, Henry Tudor remember the valour of Princess Gwenllian as he killed King Richard III in fourteen eighty five at the Battle of Bosworth Field?  Who is to say?

The world is a strange place and history has a funny way of making right the evil deeds done against the innocent.  And so one must think that surely in some place beyond this physical world, Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, the warrior princess of Deheubarth watched the coronation of Queen Elizabeth Tudor, a woman born of her blood and legacy, and smiled.

Empress Matilda of England.

Audio edition available.

“Eleanor is right,” added Matilda. “Sooner or later Thomas would have to choose between his duties to the pope and his duties to England. Maybe not now, or this year, or even this decade, but eventually the subject will come up. Right now Becket is your man, your servant, and no one else’s.”

“My mind is made up on this matter,” declared King Henry. “You will be ordained as a priest and elevated as my archbishop of Canterbury.”

Thomas Becket paced before meeting the king’s eyes, “Very well then. Your wish is my command.  But do not say you were not warned by the wisest women in all of England!”

Hypatia of Alexandria.

Audio edition available.

“Hypatia’s murder had a chilling effect on intellectual life in Alexandria. Though it did not immediately end advanced learning in the city, Cyril’s increase in power and authority sent a clear message that anyone who challenged the teachings of the Church, no matter how unintentionally, could expect the same fate.

“What about Bede? Does this mean his books are worthless?”

“Bede was first and foremost a monk,” explained Prioress Hildegard.  “His loyalties were first to mother Church. For all must submit to the rulings of our church leaders and profess agreement with them, no matter if they are right or wrong. To fail to do so is to risk being burned as a heretic. Who will risk that when it is far easier to obey the Holy Father in Rome? And yet … I cannot obey.  The visions God gives me supersedes everything. Popes, bishops, archbishops are all men!  I do not know yet what the answer is to the problem, but this I do know:  I will find the answer!”

Cleopatra VII: Egypt’s Last Pharaoh.

Hypatia shook her head, “More tragic is that these books here in Alexandria are the only records that contradict Octavian and those who sought his favour like Plutarch, books no doubt the Patriarch of Alexandria will see burned at the soonest opportunity.

“Remember that tyranny always comes at the expense of the Truth.  Never forget that. And above all else, never stop resisting those who offer the most convenient explanations for why things are as they are. Be kind and patient with others, civil in your disagreements. Question everything you see and hear. Verify every story. Seek the Truth and the Truth will find you—if you are wise and if your heart is kind.”

Margaret of Wessex: Mother, Saint, and Queen of Scots.

Audio edition available.

“It was my mother who commissioned a proper biography of her, you know. She made sure that everyone who knew and remembered my mother told their story to be recorded. She was such a pious woman, even though in her piety she took away long cherished customs and traditions. And if this new clan system that is rising up in opposition to royal authority endures, then we must count that too as part of Margaret’s legacy.  For it was out of love for her that Malcolm took away so much cherished heritage.  The Picts never wrote things down, you see, unlike the Welsh.  What was lost because of Malcolm’s love for Margaret will never be restored. Alba may endure, but it is a changed land forever,” remembered Matilda.

“We can only go forward, Your Highness. Never back. And though you grieve, rightly, for the loss of your beloved husband Heinrich, surely you must understand:  you too will heal. For you are the hope of many queens and kings. You are the blood unbroken of Princess Bethoc of House Dunkeld of Alba. You are the blood unbroken of Æfgifu of York of House Wessex. And you are the heiress of the Angevin dynasty through your father. Whatever the future holds for you, milady, your legacy, and therefore your grandmother’s, will endure forever.”

Hildegard von Bingen.

Audio edition available.

“But it was not simply the number of books that remains impressive, Katharina. She challenged the severe restrictions put on women, especially by the Church, and won most of the time.  She revolutionized the role of women and won improvements in the lives of women that even today are difficult to catalogue thanks to her wisdom and hard-earned respect from secular rulers. Few people in history have made greater contributions to our society and culture. She did it all through peaceful means. Her sword was her pen, her well-earned reputation as a wise woman, and her willingness to serve God by serving others,” finished Abbess Johanna.

“A true role model for all of us –women and men, religious and secular,” concluded Katharina.

“Do not forget Hildegard, Sister Katharina.  For her example will serve you well if you join Martin Luther’s reformation of the Church.”

“I will not forget and shall apply these lessons for all of my life.  God asks nothing less. Her legacy shall live in my heart. Now and always. A-men.”

Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation.

Audio edition available.

“Disease broke out in Saxony. In December 1552 Katharina fled to nearby Torgau, hoping to escape the Black Death.  Falling, she broke her hip and died. She was buried in St. Mary’s Church in Torgau where she is remembered and honoured as few women are.

“Without seeking power or glory for herself, without high birth or wealth, Katharina von Bora changed our world through the power of love and the power of living her Faith instead of talking about it. Conscious of the attention she received as Martin Luther’s wife, she strove to be the model pastor’s wife, the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31.  She succeeded beyond all imagination.”

Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Youngest son John Lackland ascended the English throne, taking a new wife, also named Isabella, after Isabella of Gloucester secured her annulment from him. Together John and Isabella of Angoulême had five children, despite John’s continued infidelities and persistent agitations. In 1215 John’s agitations towards his clergy and nobility culminated in the Great Charter – the Magna Carta – John’s most enduring legacy.

For Eleanor’s part she spent the remaining years of her life in retirement in Anjou, cared for by the nuns at Fonteyrault Abbey near Chinon. In 1204 she died and was buried there at the abbey.  She was eighty-two years old.

His Red Eminence, Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu.

The world was readying itself for Armand’s exit from the stage of life. Without Anne’s steady hand, Armand found it harder to fight off his illnesses. Often, despite the happiness of his bird’s company, he dreamed of her and remembered the vision of her spirit he saw as she died. The Phoenix, glorious phoenix—and the angel she said was what his spirit looked like. As the usual lethal plots raged and old enemies died off, Armand prepared to die, remembering his Anne and pondering many of the things she said.

Tuberculosis set in, making it hard to breathe. The final illness, these final pains. He was ready. For heaven? For another life as a human being? The Hour of Becomings? A wedding among the standing stones in France? Wales? England? Scotland? He did not know. But he hoped with all his heart that everything that Anne sensed and told him was true—that he would see her soon somehow, somewhere, by some divine plan his humanity could not comprehend. To serve together in government. To teach. To learn. To wed. But most of all to love. 

Fourteen biographies with fourteen endings! Are you excited to read more? Find links to the Legendary Women of World History series and to His Red Eminence on this blog.

All of these books are available in multiple languages including your choice of French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian. Both Boudicca and Gwenllian are also available in Welsh, part of my commitment to preserving the Welsh language for centuries to come.