Dorothy Davies is a writer and full time editor who lives on the Isle of Wight, a place steeped in history.  She has been writing for over 30 years, in most genres, but has now centred on historical books.  She enjoys driving, photography, reading, (all kinds of books) music, (only two artists are ever played in her car stereo, ones that make her feel good). She is a medium and has an overwhelming zest for life, despite being ‘elderly’.

My love of history has always been there but up to about five years ago, my work was set in the modern world.  Then I became interested in history (through my spiritual work) and the writing turned around and headed back into the past!  I have three particular periods of history which draw me back more than any others, 15th century, Tudor and biblical times.  I have several books planned on each of these times although there are many other books coming, ranging from our early history to modern day – again.  Sometimes work goes in circles.

My interest in the 15th century is the Woodville (Wydeville) family who have been maligned and misunderstood over the past 500 years or so.  Current writers are slowly turning the tide, I hope to be part of that effort to put right the wrongs done to a family who were fortunate enough to be associated by marriage with a king – at his choosing, not theirs.  It is interesting to explore the motives of people who tried to bring the Wydevilles down.  From the fascinating power broker mother, Jacquetta, through the proud knight and writer Antony Wydeville, 2nd Earl Rivers, to Elizabeth, Queen Consort to Edward IV and mother of the Princes in the Tower, the Wydevilles are a fascinating and ever challenging family to write about.   I self published a small book on the gallant knight, Sir Edward Woodville, relating the story of his association with the Isle of Wight and the disastrous campaign he fought in Brittany, when 440 island men were slaughtered by the French.  Only one boy survived to return to the island and tell the sad story of the losses.  My ambition, which I realised, was to have a memorial plaque placed somewhere on the Isle of Wight to those men, as no record had ever been made of the disaster.  There is now a plaque in Carisbrooke Castle Museum recording the tragedy, by kind permission of English Heritage.  Since that time, an author has produced a full-length book on Sir Edward, so he is getting plenty of publicity right now …

My interest in the Tudor times centres mostly on Katherine of Aragon, the first queen of the great Henry VIII.  It was Henry’s love for his brother’s wife, when she was married to Arthur, Prince of Wales, that began all the problems … my book on Henry VIII’s life, ‘I Diced With God’ will be published this April. 

There will be more books, more people, more articles to come.  I am looking forward to being a part of Historytimes!

Visit Dorothy's website devoted to the Woodvilles by clicking here.