Diana talks to Matthew Harffy

Matthew is very kindly donating an e- copy of any one of his three books to one lucky winner. To enter this competition, please leave a comment on the blog or on the Review post.

Hi Matthew, I am sorry I kept missing you at HNS16 ... whenever I glimpsed you, we were always rushing in opposite directions, so I am so happy to have caught up with you on line.

Hopefully this interview is an interview with a difference and I have tried to come up with some unusual questions!

If your latest book, Blood and Blade, was adapted into a TV show or a film, who would you like to play the lead role?

 

That’s a really difficult question. When I’m writing I don’t picture actors in any of the roles. However, if the Bernicia Chronicles ever make their way onto the screen, I hope they find an actor who has the intensity and physical presence to play Beobrand convincingly. He towers over most of his enemies and is a natural killer, but also has a reflective, tender side. I remember in the recent Rugby World Cup thinking that Dan Biggar from the Welsh team could portray Beobrand convincingly, at least from the physical aspect. I have no idea if he can act!

If, as a one off, (and you could guarantee publication!) you could write anything you wanted, is there another genre you would love to work with and do you already have a budding plot line in mind?

Anyone who knows me well knows I love Westerns and I have often talked about how I would love to write one. I don’t really have much of a plot, but I have written the first paragraphs of a story. The opening lines are:

“A man always remembers his first murder. Just like he always remembers his first visit to the whore house.”

Maybe one day I’ll finish it!

Do you have any rituals and routines when writing? Your favourite cup for example or ‘that’ piece of music...??

I don’t have any rituals. Each book seems to create its own soundtrack though. For The Serpent Sword, I listened to a lot of classical music and film scores, particularly The Lord of the Rings. Whilst writing The Cross and the Curse, I listened to a lot of nature sounds, predominantly thunderstorms and rain. If you’ve read that book you’ll see how that affected the plot. Or was it the plot that made me choose those sounds? More recently, I have been listening to Wardruna, a Norwegian ambient folk band. There are lots of nature sounds and indistinct chanting of runes in the music, giving a very unique atmosphere that sits well with the themes and ambience of the Bernicia Chronicles.

What is the worse book you have ever read? What made it unreadable for you?

I think I would have to say Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy. I had to read it at school and I really couldn’t get more than a few pages in without giving up. Horrible, dense prose with no discernible hook to interest me in the characters or the plot. There have been many other books I have not finished. I am a slow reader, and if I struggle with a story, I give up and move on. Life’s too short to trudge through boring books.

Other than writing full time, what would be your dream job?

Rock singer. I have sung in many bands over the years and I love to perform. I would have to be in a band though, as I really enjoy the camaraderie of being with like-minded people. Besides, I can’t play any instruments!

Coffee or tea? Red or white?

Coffee and white wine. Red wine gives me migraines, which was very annoying when I lived in Spain for many years, which produces some of the best red wines in the world.

If you had free choice over the font your book is printed in, what font/fonts would you choose?

A readable one! Actually, when I first self-published The Serpent Sword, I used a free font (Tallys) that was quite close in design to Jenson, the oldest Roman style typeface, that was created by Nicholas Jenson in the 15^th century. It is very readable and yet gives a hint of the past in its form. (A wonderful font! If only I could get hold of an original set of it!)

Imagine that you could get hold of any original source document. What would it be?

I would love to be able to see the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Beowulf, and Bede. The Lindisfarne Gospels would be nice to have a flick through too!

Historical fiction authors have to contend with real characters invading our stories. Are there any ‘real’ characters you have been tempted to prematurely kill off or ignore because you just don’t like them or they spoil the plot?

No, though it is sometimes hard to know what to do with certain real life characters. I find it is often necessary to gloss over characters, as too many can lead to confusion of the plot. For example, King Edwin had a son that was captured at the battle of Hatfield Chase in 633. In The Serpent Sword, I chose not to mention this son at all, as he is later murdered in captivity and it would only have made things confusing. Now, when writing Killer of Kings, book four in the series, I wish I’d mentioned him, as I could have used him in the plot… ((Big smile here. I *know* that!!!))

Are you prepared to go away from the known facts for the sake of the story and if so how do you get around this?

Oh yes. I always say story over history. My books are meant to entertain, so if I need to stray from the accepted path of fact, I will. Having said that, I try not to, and I always confess in the Historical Notes where I have deviated from the known history or filled gaps. One of the great things about writing about the so-called Dark Ages, is there are very few sources, and information is scarce, so it is quite easy to get away with most plot twists I come up with.

Do you find that the lines between fact and fiction sometimes become blurred?

Not really. But I do often look at the world and think that fact is frequently stranger than fiction!

In the Bernicia Chronicles I am very conscious of the fact that I am not writing history. I am writing a fictional account of a past that could have occurred. I know things did not happen the way I portray them, but I always strive to create a plausible world. I think immersive historical fiction is all about authenticity, not accuracy.

Have you ever totally hated or fallen in love with one of your characters?

I think I fell in love with Sunniva, Beobrand’s love interest, a bit. If you are creating a character you want your protagonist to fall in love with, perhaps you have to fall in love with them a bit too.

When it comes to hatred, well that is a bit more difficult. There are some truly despicable characters in my books, but whilst I would hate them if I met them in real life, I have created them, and therefore to some extent I love them too! If they are odious, they are great characters!

What do you enjoy reading for pleasure?

I like escapist, fast-paced thrillers and historical fiction, for the most part, but I will try anything. Lee Child and Bernard Cornwell are my go-to writers if I want to read something that really grips me.

What drink would you recommend drinking whilst reading your latest book?

A rich, robust ale. Something with hints of fruit, but with a pleasant hoppy, bitterness.

Last but not least... favourite historical author?

Well, I’ve already mentioned Bernard Cornwell, so he’d have to be up there. However, I’d like to give an honourable mention to Conn Iggulden, Larry McMurtry and Patrick O’Brian.

 

Thanks for the thought-provoking questions, Diana. It’s been great fun.

Thank *you* Matthew! Very interesting answers!

 

© Diana Milne July 2016 © Matthew Harffy November 2016

 

Author info:

Matthew Harffy is the author of the Bernicia Chronicles, a series of novels set in seventh century Britain. The first of the series, The Serpent Sword, was published by Aria/Head of Zeus on 1st June 2016. The sequel, The Cross and The Curse was released on 1st August 2016. Book three, Blood and Blade, is due for publication in December 2016.

The Serpent Sword, The Cross and the Curse and Blood and Blade are available on Amazon, Kobo, Google Play, and all good online bookstores.

Killer of Kings and Kin of Cain are available for pre-order on Amazon and all good online bookstores.

 

Website: www.matthewharffy.com

Twitter: @MatthewHarffy

Facebook: MatthewHarffyAuthor

Sharon Reviews: The Serpent Sword by Matthew Harffy

The author has kindly donated a signed copy of the book as a giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning, just leave a comment at the bottom of the blog, or on our Facebook page.The winner will be drawn on Monday 15th January.

Certain that his brother's death is murder, young farmhand Beobrand embarks on a quest for revenge in war-torn Northumbria. When he witnesses barbaric acts at the hands of warriors he considers his friends, Beobrand questions his chosen path and vows to bring the men to justice.
Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, Beobrand faces challenges that change him irrevocably. Just as a great sword is forged by beating together rods of iron, so his adversities transform him from a farm boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall.
As he closes in on his kin's slayer and the bodies begin to pile up, can Beobrand mete out the vengeance he craves without sacrificing his own honour...or even his soul?
The Serpent Sword is the first novel of the Bernicia Chronicles.

The Serpent Sword is Matthew Harffy's debut novel (not that you would know it), and the first installment of his Bernicia Chronicles. Set in the turbulence of 7th century Northumbria, The Serpent Sword is a wonderful story full of action, adventure, betrayal ... and just a little romance. The novel leads you across the countryside of the ancient kingdom of Bernicia, taking you from battlefield, to ancient strongholds or small villages and religious settlements; meeting heroes and villains, friends and foes along the way. The fast-paced action leaves you eager to see how the story ends while experiencing a wealth of emotions along the way.

The two-fold story-line keeps you on your toes, seeing the young hero tackling the enemies of Bernicia - in the forces of Penda and Cadwallon - whilst searching for his brother's killer.
There are some moments of 'head-hopping' in the book, where the author changes the focus of thoughts between the characters. Where this can be confusing in some books, it tends to work well in The Serpent Sword and, to be honest, while it was noticeable at the beginning as I got further into the book, I became less and less aware of it.

The novel is a treasure trove of human experiences; wild, untamed landscapes and people fighting to overcome nature and their enemies in order to make decent lives for themselves.  Life is short and often brutal, and the author does not spare you from the tragedy, but tempers it with stories of deep friendships and a little bit of love.

The story is original and entertaining, with even a little humour thrown in:

 "It cuts the land from east to west," Bassus said. Beobrand thought there could be no way such a huge thing could exist, but it disappeared into the distance in each direction and Bassus seemed serious.
"Who could have built such a wall?" Leofwine had asked as they made their way through a gap in the Wall, amazed at the scale of the stone edifice.
"The same people who made that angel floor back in Engelmynster, I'd imagine," Bassus had answered. "Some say they were giants, but they were just men far to the south. They built the road we're walking on too, I'd wager."
"I wonder what happened to them," Leofwine had pondered.  

The descriptions of fighting are authentic and the author's description of the shield-wall is at the same time accurate and terrifying, thorough and frightening. You can almost hear the clash of arms and the screams of the wounded. The action is frenetic, while the story itself has a depth to it that leaves you speechless.

Matthew Harffy's characters are wonderful creations, exciting, human and - in the case of the bad guys - suitably despicable. From the moment you start reading you are aware you are going on an incredible journey of discovery, though where it will take you and what you will experience along the way are still a mystery.

"Well, Beobrand, Eanflaed here tells me you were in the stables, in the dark. What were you doing there?"Beobrand did not even contemplate lying.
"Grieving for the loss of my brother, sisters and parents, sire," he said, his voice breaking. "I did not want to cry in front of everyone." 
The hall was now completely silent, save for the crackling of the fire and the sound of the dogs crunching bones under the tables. Everyone was straining to hear what was said.

Throughout the novel we follow the adventures of young Beobrand, a young man who has lost more or less everything, and is looking for his place in the world. He is aware of his own demons, but still somewhat naive and easily trusts the wrong people - at first. The Serpent Sword traces the hero's story from his arrival in Northumbria in search of his brother, Octa, through his first disastrous battle, from which he barely survives. But this battle is also the springboard from which his adventure really starts. What follows are a series of events and experiences that turn him from a naive boy learning to fight, into a confident, experienced warrior.

The author has managed to include a wonderful, eclectic mix of characters, who help or hinder our hero on his way; from a friendly young monk, to great war leaders and Sunniva, Beobrand's lover, a  young woman who gives Beobrand a purpose and reason to fight.

Beobrand's nemesis is Hengist; a truly nasty individual. A warrior who appears to have lost all humanity and almost makes Beobrand do the same - almost. 

The enmity between  the two is the driving force behind the novel.

The story is set in 7th century Bernicia - what is now Northumbria - with the action moving from the imposing fortress of Bebbanburgh (Bamburgh Castle) through the wilds of modern-day Northumbria and Yorkshire. Matthew Harffy has done his research well and this shows in his attention to detail; from the weaponry and fighting tactics to the villages and their residents, and the bleak reality that the people need each other - and their warriors - in order to survive. 

The story-line grabs your attention and leads you on many twists and turns, building up to a wonderful, all-consuming climax. The Serpent Sword is a marvelous, action-packed story from start  to finish. It takes you on a roller-coaster ride of action and emotion that leaves you breathless and eager for more, which is why book 2 of the Bernicia Chronicles, The Cross and The Curse is next on my reading list....

 



Matthew Harffy lived in Northumberland as a child and the area had a great impact on him. The rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline made it easy to imagine the past. Decades later, a documentary about Northumbria's Golden Age sowed the kernel of an idea for a series of historical fiction novels. The first of them is the action-packed tale of vengeance and coming of age, The Serpent Sword. The sequel is The Cross and The Curse.
Matthew has worked in the IT industry, where he spent all day writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him. Prior to that he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator. He has co-authored seven published academic articles, ranging in topic from the ecological impact of mining to the construction of a marble pipe organ.
Matthew lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.
When not writing, or spending time with his family, Matthew sings in a band called Rock Dog.
Website
The Serpent Sword
The Cross and the Curse
Facebook
Twitter

Sharon Bennett Connolly has been fascinated by history for over 30 years. She has studied history academically and just for the joy of it – even working as a tour guide at historical sites. She is now having great fun passing on that love of the past to her 10-year-old son. Having received a blog, History...The Interesting Bits as a present for Christmas 2014 she is also enjoying sharing her obsession of history with her readers.