Did you know that there were numerous attempts on Queen Elizabeth’s life (this would be the first Queen Elizabeth) Anne Boleyn’s daughter, my niece?  

Let’s chat about one such plot.

In 1558, William Parry was convicted of treason and attempting to assassinate the queen. Can you imagine the gall? This incident became known as Dr. Parry’s Plot. Bring it up at any tavern and opinions fly around faster than any gossip about Jeffree Star.  

Now, here is why there is so much to talk about. First Dr. Parry managed to not only get away with attacking one of his creditors, but he also got a royal pardon and a seat in Parliament. 

Can you even believe that?

Working as a spy and a double agent, he was paid enough to relieve a bit of his considerable debt, which was a lot considering he made the coins of a spy but lived like a duke.  It became quite profitable to inform on fake Catholic plots against the queen. He was walking on thin ice. At any time it could be found out that he was double-dipping with his espionage against the crown. 

Now, there are a few versions of the attempt against Her Majesty. In one story, Parry attempted to engage Sir Edmund Neville in a supposed plot to kill Elizabeth, only so that he could rat out Neville and become a well-paid hero to Queen and Country.  Others say that Neville ratted out Parry. A few other people thought Parry was going to plant a blade in the queen’s heart, but he backed out at the last moment. Either way, Dr. Parry was finally tried and convicted, 

Unfortunately for the doctor, his argument—that he had never really meant to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I—fell on deaf ears. He was hung, drawn, and quartered at Westminster within a fortnight.

Talk about dead on arrival…

Next time we will discuss another such plot that was meant to take down Queen Elizabeth, The Virgin Queen. (As if anyone really believes that, the way she carried on with Robert Dudley)

-Jane, The Lady Rochford

My husband, our girls, and I went on a family trip to Victoria, BC. Why? Because I was whining that I hadn’t had a decent scone since we left Ireland.  While on this trip, I was having a bad lupus day and my whole body hurt, but my feet were the worst; it felt like the bones of my feet were slowly being crushed. We stopped at LaConnor Inn in LaConnor, Washington. 

It was the smallest town I had ever seen.  The inn was comfortable, cozy, and right across the street from this amazing restaurant.  We went inside to check-in and behind the desk stood Chloe: blonde-haired, big-eyed, dressed in pink and ruffles. Even with the giant pink sneakers she had on, she looked like a Victorian-era porcelain doll.  

We checked into our rooms, and I asked my oldest to go downstairs and get some change or something. I don’t recall. She would not go down without her younger sister. It was so funny. My soon-off-to-college daughter was terrified of the girl behind the counter. I thought, and still do think, she was absolutely adorable, in the girliest of ways. My oldest thought she was one of those haunted dolls, like Annabelle. I thought… But what if she were a ghost? My youngest thought it was hysterical, and my husband, as always, just shook his head and walked away. 

During that trip, I found myself watching a lot of YouTube because walking wasn’t an option. Though we did walk down the short street that was this whole town,  my feet just couldn’t do it long-term. So, I was watching videos on YouTube, and one of the videos was about those coincidence photos, you know the ones. Where right before a couple’s wedding, they find a photo of the bride at Disney World and the groom in a stroller with a family in the background.

I knew I had to write this story.  So, check out Snapshots in Time.  It’s got it all: romance, a tower, a dash of time travel, and, of course, a ghost.”

You can also look forward to two posts a month, ranging from my top ten lists, book reviews and of course taking you along with the creation of my next two books.  Everyone is busy, I know, so I am going to send out one newsletter a month unless something super exciting happens.

I am working on a short story series, called “Afterlife Transportation Services” Well, not really working on it, more like playing with the storyline.

Here’s a little visual into that series., meet Dee.

She’s hundreds of thousands of years old.  She’s not just a reaper, she is THE Reaper.  The Reaper in charge and she has decided that the afterlife needs some redecorating.

I am so looking forward to an amazing new decade, one filled with love, laughter and of course, literature, and for all of you, I wish the same.

Cheers,

Alex