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Dear Readers,
Most of you know my protagonist, Richard III, as Shakespeare's villain, the wicked uncle who murdered his little nephews, the Princes in the Tower. But that is his “Tudor” face, given him by propaganda. It's not the one depicted in The Rose of York. While the fictitious villain of the Tudors makes great reading, my readers have found the truth even more fascinating. From the mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to Richard III's Romeo and Juliet love story with Anne Neville (which may have inspired Shakespeare's play a hundred years later), to the Cain and Abel aspect of his relationship with his brother George, his story is imbued with myth. Here is a true-life knightly hero battling injustice in Malory's England.
I first became interested in this king when I saw his portrait at the National Portrait Gallery, London. That portrait gave the lie to Shakespeare's depiction of him as an ugly hunchback and the more I read, the more difficult it became to reconcile his actions with his reputation in history as an evil villain. To the contrary, his life brimmed with honorable deeds that spoke of idealism and faith in God. His passion for justice changed our lives in the modern world, but like his great love story with his beloved Anne, it seems to have become history's secret.
Just so you know, all the books in the Rose of York series stand alone and can be read in or out of sequence, and each has won its own awards without the judges being aware the book they were judging was part of a larger series. That's the beauty of the grand epic saga known as the Wars of the Roses! It's so immense it can be taken apart nicely. I think you'll find that, even after nearly six hundred years, Richard's story speaks to us today. In my article “Richard III: A Thoroughly
Modern Man” you can see what I mean.
To those who have written me, I wish to express my deep appreciation for your kind praise and encouragement, especially the honor of comparison to Plaidy and Seton, my two favorite authors. I love hearing from you, so please do continue to contact me with any questions, suggestions, or comments you might have. I can be reached via email, snail mail, message board and guestbook. And to those who have inquired about the sequels, I am delighted to announce that both THE ROSE OF YORK: CROWN OF DESTINY and THE ROSE OF YORK: FALL FROM GRACE are finally here.
Let me hear from you. And “Happy Reading”!
Love & War
Set in Malory’s England during the Wars of the Roses, this acclaimed winner of a remarkable seven awards tells the true story of two star-crossed lovers -- Richard of Gloucester and Lady Anne Neville -- before they become King and Queen of England. A stirring tale of romance and intrigue.
Crown of Destiny
Richard III is said to have murdered his royal nephews for the throne but this second historical novel in THE ROSE OF YORK series-- winners of a remarkable eleven awards-- tells a different, well-documented and dramatic tale: In a court rotten with intrigue, the late Edward IV’s detested queen makes a grab for power, forcing Richard of Gloucester into an excruciating decision that changes history.
Fall From Grace
Defying Shakespeare portrayal of Richard III, this well researched novel concludes THE ROSE OF YORK series-- winners of a remarkable ten awards, including the first place prize in the Francis Ford Coppola NEW CENTURY WRITERS AWARDS. Set in Malory’s England, it traces Richard’s remarkable reign, his passion for justice and undying devotion to Anne, and delves into the still-unresolved mystery of his nephews’ disappearance. A stirring saga of courage, sacrifice and love.
 Copyright © Sandra Worth - All Rights Reserved
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