Wednesday, April 25, 2012

{Give@way} Happy 3rd Birthday, Virgin and the Crab!

WINNER:  Anonymous...email address:  elizapol(at)hotmail(dot)com  Already won on another blog so chose a new winner who is: Oloore...oloore at gmail dot com

Congrats! You will be contacted.


It is three years ago that the first edition of my novel ‘Virgin and the Crab’ first came out, and I would like to thank Michelle for her continued enthusiasm for the story and for helping me to celebrate a little by launching a giveaway contest here today. The story itself is set in England during the twelve year period from 1547 to 1559 in which we saw no less than five different people upon the throne – from the demise of Henry VIII, to his son Edward, followed by Queen (Lady) Jane, then Mary and finally Elizabeth. It was an amazing and, for many, a terrifying time, full hope and despair, passion and romance - and therefore also a perfect backdrop for the attentions of the writer of historical fiction. It has been a wonderful experience, the past three years, telling everybody all about it - and the story itself has, I’m glad to say, been very well received – including Michelle’s wonderful review from 2010 - which, I understand, she is about to dust off and publish again here to accompany this contest. Wishing you all the very best of luck if you enter. Meanwhile, you can find my webpages here on: http://robertparry.wordpress.com and perhaps I will get to meet you over on my Facebook page sometime, too: https://www.facebook.com/RobertParry.author  (Giveaway details at the end of post)



My review of Virgin and the Crab (originally published here in September 2010):

When I finished reading 'Virgin', I told Robert that it should be recognized by a major publisher.  He responded by saying that most publishers will not touch a debut novel of over 100,000 words.  'Virgin' is close to 200,000.  It's a shame because this book is one of the best historical novels I have ever read.  There's no fluff in the pages of this book.  Just straight historical fiction that reads almost like non-fiction, but nowhere near as boring.  Not that I generally think that non-fiction is boring, but some can be real yawners, if you know what I mean.  What I enjoyed most about the book was that I was able to follow what was transpiring with Elizabeth directly parallel to what occurred from before Mary's (Elizabeth's sister) reign and then from the beginning until the end of Mary's reign.  I enjoyed the intrigue that was involved in this plot to protect Elizabeth and to ensure that she would someday take the throne.  There was a lot of breath holding on my part, even though I already knew the outcome.  I liked the way Lady Jane Grey was portrayed here...more as a pawn then a willing participant in seizing the crown.  Which made her end all the more tragic.  Mary was not portrayed in a favorable light.  She comes across as pias, petty and prudish and so full of hatred and the need for revenge for what happened to her mother that she takes religious fanaticism to a new extreme and many people die as a consequence.  I'm on the fence about Mary.  The character of John Dee was very interesting.  I do not know much about him outside of this book, but after reading 'Virgin', I'm compelled to find out more.  Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it portrays my favorite historical figure in the best possible light.  Elizabeth was an enigma...a skillful and powerful ruler who chose to be married to her country instead of a man.  How much of what we know is true?  And what do we not know?  Here in this favorite quote of mine from the book, Elizabeth speaks about the mystique that surrounds her (and John Dee):


Men say he has his darker side.  And many, I know, go in fear of him.  Like Us, a mystique has surrounded our friend, John Dee.  It is good that this has occurred, and We shall keep it so.  But really, in truth, he is a darling of a man - and no more a Crab than I might be a Virgin - though we'll say no more of that!

I highly recommend 'Virgin and the Crab' to all historical fiction lovers and especially to all who adore Elizabeth Tudor.  It's an exciting twist on Elizabeth's path to the throne.  Historically compelling and deliciously suspenseful! I'm looking forward to Robert's next novel!


Giveaway:  Win a print copy of Virgin and the Crab.  Open Internationally.  To enter, leave a comment telling me if you ARE or ARE NOT an admirer of Elizabeth I and why.  Include your email address so I can contact the winner.  Giveaway will end on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:59pm CST.  Good luck!


Photobucket

22 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

I apologize for word verification, but as soon as I changed the settings from only users with Google accounts, I started receiving a ton of spam comments...within one hour of changing the settings. The bots are on high alert apparently.

  1. This novel has been on my wish list for well over a year. I've encountered Dee as an occasional character in other HF novels, but would love to read something more in depth about him. I'm a fan of Elizabeth based on her strength and devotion to duty and country. Thanks for giveaway.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. This novel has been on my wishlist since it first came out because I WON IT IN A SIMILAR GIVEAWAY AND NEVER RECEIVED IT!!! I hope the winner this time actually gets the book they're promised!


    annfesATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been a fan of Elizabeth I for as long as I have been reading historical fiction and that has been a long time. Elizabeth I was and still is an amazing and strong woman. To be a queen in her day had to have been so challenging to say the least and then to reign as long as she did is remarkable.
    Thank you Michelle for the giveaway!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oops...here is my email

    momkelly2003@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Although I don't know a great deal about The Virgin Queen, I am a bit of a fan based on her relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh and her patronage of his explorations of the New World. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. As you can see I have continued my unbroken tradition of forgetting to put my email in the first comment. It's becoming a trademark of mine.

    carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm a fan of Elizabeth I just for her tenacity. I'd enjoy reading this book.

    dkioppolo(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Message from Robert Parry to 'Soft Fuzzy Sweater.'
    I am sorry to learn that you have had difficulty. If you would care to tell me where and when you entered a giveaway and did not receive your prize, I will gladly look into it for you. I have no record, however, of you ever having won any contest for which I have been responsible.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am very much a fan because she fought for her independence and to make her own decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oops, forgot to add my email! Sorry!

    volta2173 at sbcglobal dot net

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have always admired Elizabeth I's ability to survive. She was strong and ruthless, but she had to be.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a fan of Elizabeth I for the same reasons I admire her mother, Anne Boleyn. Both were strong, intelligent women in a men's world. Elizabeth got from being declared a bastard to being the most celebrated English monarch.

    My e-mail is elizapol(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like Elizabeth because she was smart and wit. Her mather was Anne Boleyn, who is my hero. Elizabeth was a great monarch and great women. She was Queen in men world. I love her aged, because it was amazing time. I love read everything about her. My email is magdalenamakowka@wp.pl

    ReplyDelete
  14. I admire Elizabeth for her ability to survive through so much. She is her mother`s daughter. Thank you for the chance!!

    ctymice at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm an admirer of QEI because to survive as a monarch at that volatile time, especially a female monarch, was quite an accomplishment. To do it successfully as long as she did is even more admirable. Shelli
    mljcwsu at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for the giveaway!
    I think I admire Elizabeth I. Compared to many other queens (and kings) before her, she showed strong will, clever mind and devotion to her role as a ruler. Her long and remarkable reign serves as a convincing proof of that. And somethimes I think it's good that she remained childless "virgin", because usually children of such gifted parent would be a disappointment.
    oloore at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thankyou for giveaway. Major admirer of Elizabeth 1. Lomazowr@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would not call myself an admirer of Queen Elizabeth I but I am definitely in awe, I am intrigued. Such strength, such determination in a men's world. I suppose I am an admirer of the woman more than the queen. As to John Dee, I find it hard to comprehend his taking part to the Inquisition. It is a mystery to me but I gather I still have not read enough on him to understand his deepest motivations.
    Thank you for the review and for opening the giveaway to people living abroad.
    cyrano123@live.fr

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am definitely an admirer of Elizabeth I. She was strong of will while still being (mostly) charming. She retained her femininity while weilding her power with as much confidence as any man, and more than some. I always admire quick intelligence, which she had in spades - she may have been even more clever than her brainy father.
    I'd love to win a copy, as I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to afford books again. nrbt@roadrunner.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. It just occurred to me that I still do not own this yet, but I would like to! I was an admirer of Anne Boleyn first.. for her willpower and being steadfast in her beliefs. When I finally got down to her daughter, Elizabeth I, the willpower and steadfastness is magnified by her father's brilliant genes.. she seemed to have taken the best of each of her parents and crafted herself into a ruler when no one else believed she would be able to do it. She did it well.
    (Please enter me! marieburton2004 at yahoo dot com you know who I am already!)
    XXO

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations to Oloore. A copy of Virgin and the Crab is on its way to you. Thank you to everyone who took part.

    ReplyDelete
- See more at: http://www.techtrickhome.com/2013/02/show-comment-box-above-comments-on.html#sthash.TjHz2Px9.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.techtrickhome.com/2013/02/show-comment-box-above-comments-on.html#sthash.TjHz2Px9.dpuf