Call the accused.
You are Isabella Capet, daughter of Phillip Capet, King of France, and queen consort of Edward II of England.
I am.
You are charged by History with deposing the lawful king of England and then having him murdered. What do you say to that?
I did depose him but I did it for the good of all England. Not a man stood against me when I arrived on the shores at Harwich, what does that tell you?
As to Edward’s murder, I would say: bring me the proof. Others did that, I had no part in it.
But you knew they were going to kill him?
We offered him retirement, the same concession I was offered when my time came. I lived to a ripe age, I thought he should too.
You knew that couldn’t happen! He was a focal point for rebellion.
If he was a man others would rally behind how was it that I walked in to England with barely five hundred men and marched to London without meeting resistance?
Besides who should they rebel against? I was regent for my son, who was rightful heir to the throne. You’re wasting my time here.
You had an affair with another man while you were still married to the King of England. This man was ruthless and ambitious and he used you to gain power for himself. You allowed it to happen!
There were others?
Don’t be impudent.
Answer the question.
If he used me, or I used him, it did neither of us any good in the end, did it?
Why did you do it? You had a comfortable life. He provided for you. It was your duty to obey. He was king by divine right.
I was born to be a queen also, not to be shut up like a nun and play no part in affairs.
Was it your pride that was hurt then? … Madam?
How would you have felt then, in my situation? How much humiliation was I supposed to stand?
What would your father have said? He taught you to obey, did he not?
He taught me to obey him.
And what about your son? How did he feel when he discovered what you did to his father?
What about what his father did to his mother?
Which was what?
A woman was not born to be so neglected by her husband. I had a right to his company and …must I say it? To physical comforts. Am I not supposed to say this, because I am of a different time, because I was a queen?
He embittered me. He also underestimated me, didn’t he?
It was revenge, then?
Imagine what we might have been, if he had not been so weak. If he had been … a real man.
Isabella, did you ever love your husband?
How dare you ask me that. They buried me in my wedding gown at my express wish. The casket I carried with me to my grave had in it Edward’s heart. Does not tell you something?
It tells me you made your point. My case rests.
Thank you, sir. Now let me.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGBgmrsZLMA&w=420&h=315]
ISABELLA, Braveheart of France, available now from Amazon US and Amazon UK
Also available as POD from Cool Gus publishing.
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good job, Colin.
Powerful stuff! I’ve got my copy.
Thanks Darlene and I hope you enjoy it!
Susie sent me and I’m very glad she did. This book sounds amazing! As a new author, I’d be interested in hearing how your self-pub experience compares to traditional releases.
Susie’s brilliant, isn’t she? To answer your question: from a long time trad published (and still am) writer’s perspective, publishing with CoolGus was just the best. Great cover, (and many of my trad published covers still make my eyes bleed) and no 15 month waiting time etc. I still think though there’s many challenges and pitfalls for the new writer to go straight to indie publishing. I learned so much in the early days from editors at the big houses. And discoverability is much harder when you go indie - having said that, the advertising muscle the big houses have is irrelevant when they choose not to use it - and they don’t for most authors. If you want to learn more you should read Bob Mayer at
…read Bob Mayer at…? Well, luckily I found a link on your blog roll and it’s good stuff. Thanks!
Did the link not come through! WordPress fail! Anyway, I think Bob writes more sense than anyone about writing and publishing. Glad you found his site!
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