Jacky Atkins

Jacky Atkins

About

My first children's novel, The Mysterious Beach Hut, was published in the USA in April 2009, but I have previousely had poems and short stories published. I live in Cobham, Surrey, with my husband, Richard. We have 4 children and 6 grandchildren, so children play an important part in my life! As well as writing, I am a PA for my husband's firm of Chartered Accountants and Company secretary to my son's company. I am a member of Mother's Union, through which I work as a volunteer playleader in the Visits Hall of a local 'category B' men's prison. I am involved with my church, love travel, walking and gardening

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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Description

<p><span><span>Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask. He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn. Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.</span></span></p>

Story Behind The Book

Reviews

<p style="text-align:center;margin:.65pt 0cm 16.2pt;background:#ffffff;" class="ecmsonormal" align="center"><em><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI';color:#444444;" lang="en-us" xml:lang="en-us"><font size="3">Review of The Mysterious Beach Hut</font></span></em></p> <p></p> <p style="text-align:center;margin:.65pt 0cm 16.2pt;background:#ffffff;" class="ecmsonormal" align="center"><em><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI';color:#444444;" lang="en-us" xml:lang="en-us"><font size="3">By Nickie Croese</font></span></em></p> <p></p> <p style="text-align:center;margin:.65pt 0cm 16.2pt;background:#ffffff;" class="ecmsonormal" align="center"><em><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI';color:#444444;" lang="en-us" xml:lang="en-us"><font size="3">24.06.09</font></span></em></p> <p></p> <p style="margin:.65pt 0cm 16.2pt;background:#ffffff;" class="ecmsonormal"><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI';color:#444444;font-size:10pt;" lang="en-us" xml:lang="en-us"></span> </p> <p></p> <p style="margin:.65pt 0cm 16.2pt;background:#ffffff;" class="ecmsonormal"><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI';color:#444444;font-size:10pt;" lang="en-us" xml:lang="en-us">“No ordinary time travel book for children, this story has many twists and turns which will keep readers of all ages guessing until the unexpected ending. The author skillfully weaves past and present in her tale of two young sisters who sometimes stepped through the door of their beach hut in 2001 and found themselves back in 1914. They wanted to find out why this had happened to them and more about the people they met in the past. The book is lightly written but the explanation and the dénouement are thought-provoking for young and old alike. I couldn’t put it down!”</span><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI';color:#444444;font-size:10pt;"></span></p> <p></p>