Episode #62: Queens and Empresses with Sharon Bennett Connolly

Sharon Bennett Connolly is the best-selling British author of several non-fiction history books. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Sharon has studied history academically and just for fun – and has even worked as a tour guide at a castle. She also writes the popular history blog, www.historytheinteresngbits.com and co-hosts the podcast A Slice of Medieval, alongside historical novelist Derek Birks.

Sharon regularly gives talks on women’s history, for historical groups, fesvals and in schools; her book Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest, is a recommended text for teaching the Norman Conquest in the Naonal Curriculum. She is a feature writer for All About History and Living Medieval magazines and her TV work includes Australian Television’s Who Do You Think You Are?

Tune in for a fun conversation and great beer!

Sharon’s Readings:

00:00 Start

11:16 The Young Bride’s First Duties

29:12 Stephen’s Coronation

46:43 Matilda at the Helm

Chris’s Cocktail Pairings:

08:01 The Nikolaschka from Germany

26: The Mourning Cocktail

43:39 Belgian Brownie

Interview Highlights:

15:21 The Wreck of the White Ship: a king’s tragedy

21:33 How oppressed were women in medieval times?

24:06 How a British author ended up on Australian TV

31:33 Widows and abbeys: the real reason

38:17 Why history is important (and a real-life vampire!)

51:50 Women, Leadership, and Leading Warriors

54:43 Do we ever learn from history?

COMING NEXT MONTH:

Like any good soldier’s son, Frank Warner moved with his family from fort to fort, accepted each change, and was ready to move again. Then, in 1960, Frank’s father was ordered to Fort Huachuca (WahCHOOka), Arizona. This was the fifth Army post of Frank’s childhood, the first place he never wanted to leave. So when his father was ordered to Vietnam in 1963, sending Frank and the rest of the family to Pennsylvania, the uprooting wasn’t easy. Frank’s book, “Tumbleeweed Forts: Adventures of an Army Brat,” describes the joys of living in Fort Huachuca, and the heartache of leaving it behind.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology NEW THEMES: MUSIC; FAITH
Laura will be selling her books, premium rabbit fertilizer & more at the Morristown Farmer’s Market, 130 W Morris Boulevar, Morristown, TN on July 5.
Laura will be at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, TN on October 26 and 27
See Laura’s interview at Central Valley Talk
See Laura’s interview with Rob & Joan Carter at INDIE NOVEL SOURCE

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.