Eileen Thornton

Eileen Thornton

About

Since beginning a comprehensive writing course with The Writers Bureau in 2001, my articles and short stories have been published in a variety of magazines.  These include Heritage, Scottish Field, The Lady and People’s Friend.  In 2005 a couple of my short stories were included in two quite different anthologies. The first story was in an International Anthology, published in June, while the second appeared in Café Ole – Too Hot To Handle, which was launched in Glasgow during August.

My debut novel, The Trojan Project, an action thriller, was published at the end of May 2008 by Austin & Macauley Publishers Ltd.  Details of my novel can be found on my website. www.eileenthornton.co.uk   I also review books for newbooks a bi-monthly magazine informing the public of new books on the shelves. 

I am a member of the Society of Authors, the Society of Women Writer’s and Journalists, The Edinburgh Writer’s Club, The Borders Writer’s Forum, Mystery Women, as well as being an Associate Member of NAWG (National Association of Writers Groups).

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

0.0
0 ratings

Description

<p>Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame.<br /><br />This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers.<br /><br />This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end.<br /><br />Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective.<br /><br />Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY.</p>

Story Behind The Book

Reviews

<div style="border-right:medium none;padding-right:0cm;border-top:medium none;padding-left:2pt;padding-bottom:0cm;border-left:#000000 .75pt solid;padding-top:0cm;border-bottom:medium none;"><span style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">(5 Stars)  Terrifyingly Real -  An Edge of the Seat Thriller from Start to Finish!</span></strong><span style="font-size:10pt;color:#000000;"></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;">The Trojan Project is, without a doubt, one of the finest thrillers by a debut novelist I have read in a very long time. This book had me hooked from page one and the storyline was so terrifyingly plausible that it sent shivers down my spine. Eileen Thornton weaves an ingenious plot and the characters are all too recognisable as normal, everyday people caught up in a horrendously frightening situation, where no-one is what they seem and no-one knows who to trust. The villains of the piece are all the more villainous because of <em>what</em>, rather then <em>who </em>they are, and I found myself cheering for the heroes of the book as they slowly unravelled the mystery behind the ghastly Trojan Project. The truly chilling part of this tale is that the scenario the author has skillfully created just might happen one day, and as a result, I found my heart beating a little faster at times as the chilling reality of that fact made itself so clearly evident. The book reminded me very much of the works of one of my own literary favourites, Robert Goddard and that is probably the highest compliemt I can pay to this author. The Trojan Project is without a doubt a beautifully crafted and chillingly superb read and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with a love for the thriller genre. Bravo, Eileen Thornton!</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:#000000;"></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><br />Brian L Porter  -  </span><span style="color:#000000;">Author, A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper   <br /></span><span style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman';">The Preditors &amp; Editors Best Thriller Novel of 2008 Award Winner.<br />-------------------------------------------------------<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><br />This story kept me on the edge of my chair from page one!<br /></strong>Masterfully written, Eileen Thornton has captured the essence of events that are plausible and have a very real possibility of coming about in our world today.<br />This a very thrilling story that draws the reader in and holds them captive until the very climax of the book.<br />I have not read much of the Suspense/Thriller genre, however, if any of the future titles by this author come available, I will certainly be looking for them with relish.<br />This is a must title for any fan of the genre!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">Donald Drake, author of The Coming of The One<br />---------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span><strong><br />This book is not to be missed!<br /></strong>It will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the last page. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait for Eileen Thornton’s next book. Terrrrific!!!!!</span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span></span> </p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span>Gina Brandom</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">----------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span><strong><br />What can I say...couldn’t put the book down until the end!</strong> <br />If I had the money I’d purchase the FILM RIGHTS as this book would make a cracking BRITISH FILM....awaiting her next book.</span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span></span> </p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span>Malcolm Bogaert<br /></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';">The Trojan Project - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat<br /><br />'A strange light appears in the night sky above the Cherviots. A mist descends, shrouding the hills and valleys. Is it a natural phenomenon or something more sinister?'<br /><br />Sarah had planned to be at a friends house for the night and her two daughters were to stay with a neighbor until her husband Pete returned to pick them up. He and three of his field workers had gone up to Top Meadow to check on Pete's sheep herd. But, unknown to Pete, his daughter Jose came down with a sore throat and Sarah decided to stay home with her children.<br /><br />Sarah had tried to call Pete to tell him that she was with the children but couldn't get through. The only sound coming through her cell phone was static. Apparently the hills were blocking the signal. Sarah wasn't that concerned knowing that Laura would tell Pete that the kids were with her at home. But as the hours passed, Sarah started to worry about Pete absence. It was getting late and he always called when knew he would be delayed. As she stood outside their home watching for his headlights to come up the road, she noticed a strange light hovering over the valley. As the light died out a green mist rolled in. Fear rose in Sarah as she stood watching. Everything was so still and quiet. Nothing was moving, not even the cows in the field. As Sarah's fears increased she went in to check on her sleeping daughters. They had slept through the whole phenomenon but to ease some of her worry and fear she decided to spend the night in their room. Surely, by the time morning came, Pete would be in their own room sound asleep.<br /><br />The next morning Pete was still missing. Sarah phoned her friends and neighbor in hopes that someone would know something about, not just Pete, but also the lights from the night before. But her calls were unanswered. In hopes of finding someone to ease her fears for Pete, she loads the girls into her car and headed down to the valley. She hadn't gone far when she runs across Dave. Dave had been with Pete the day before and informs her that Pete, as well as everyone else from the valley, is dead. While telling her his story, Sarah started noticing that his flesh was melting from his body. His dying words to her is a warning to not touch anything nor anyone.<br /><br />In Sarah's attempt to find someone to help her and explain what has happened she drives to the next town to speak with the police there. Andy, the young constable on duty, actually believes she has lost her mind as she describes what she has seen. But when his superior comes in and hears about the death of Dave, who is one of his best friends, he heads to the valley to check it out for himself. As Sarah and Andy wait for his return, the military show up with full protective suits and weapons. And when they asked for Sarah by name, something tells Andy that he should take Sarah's story seriously. He also fears for her safety with these men and tells the Sergeant that Sarah had gone back to her home and that the woman and children there with him are his own wife and kids. As the military unit leaves, he convinces Sarah that their life in in danger and they must leave immediately before they come back.<br /><br />Follow Sarah and Andy as they are chased by the military all the way to London. See what happens when two unexpected people show up in London after surviving the light and mist. And find out exactly what The Trojan Project really is, who created it and why.<br /><br />When I was a child, my family moved to Utah. I remember two nights that a neighbor came to warn us of the lights in the sky. The first night she knocked on our door around midnight. She was yelling and crying, trying to tell us there was a burning ball of light in the sky. The next night she came to tell us there was a burning rod of fire in the sky. Both nights we all went outside to see these lights for ourselves. And both nights we saw exactly what she saw. I can remember being scared but I couldn't take my eyes off the lights as they moved across the sky. Later we were told the lights were experimental air crafts being tested by the military. I never really believed that story, but after reading The Trojan Project, I think I believe it now .<br /><br />Great book. It will make you stop and wonder what really goes on behind our backs and how much is covered up forever. </span></p> <p></p></div>