Tony Riches
Tony Riches was born in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, UK, and spent part of his childhood in Kenya. He gained a BA degree in Psychology and an MBA from Cardiff University.
After careers in the Royal Air Force, the NHS and Local Government, he is a full-time author of historical fiction.
His Tudor Trilogy has become an international best-seller and he is in regular demand as a guest speaker about the lives of the early Tudors.
His blog, The Writing Desk, has over 1.4 million visitors, and his popular podcast, Stories of the Tudors has had over 270,000 downloads.
Tony has returned to Pembrokeshire, an area full of inspiration for his writing. In his spare time he enjoys sailing and sea kayaking.
Tony can be found at:
Website: tonyriches.com
Bluesky: @tonyriches.bsky.social
Instagram: @tonyriches.author
Facebook: facebook.com/tonyriches.author
Twitter: @tonyriches
Tell me what inspired you to write your book?
I planned the Elizabethan Series as two interconnected trilogies. The first three books explore the lives of three Elizabethan men. All Queen Elizabeth’s favourites, they each see her very differently. Drake is in awe of her, Essex teases her and Raleigh is the captain of her guard.
The next three books in the series are about three of Queen Elizabeth’s ladies, who also see quite different facets of her complex personality. Penelope was an obvious choice as the first of these. Her great-grandmother was Queen Elizabeth’s aunt, Mary Boleyn. Her father was Sir Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, and her mother was Lady Lettice Knollys, banished from court for her secret marriage to the queen’s great favourite, Sir Robert Dudley. Penelope lived life on her own terms, and most people have never heard of her, so I thought her time has come.
The Tudor Trilogy
What came first the character or the world?
It’s always the real life character who draws me in, particularly when my research reveals their true story is quite different from what most people think they know
How hard was it to get your first book published?
I had a few false starts, but once I found a publisher the rest was straightforward
How long did it take to write?
I usually write a book a year, researching and visiting actual locations, writing through the autumn and winter, then editing in the spring – before the whole process begins again.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
I recently saw Katie Melua in concert and find her music is the perfect accompaniment to writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPvFxbnPr1Q&list=PLucbF6BvW-ajJQu6CKs0szkMIDNSbBIOb
How many publishers turned you down?
One – but I have turned down several since
What kind of reactions have you had to your book?
My Tudor Trilogy reached #1 on Amazon historical fiction in the US, UK and Australia.
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
A mother once contacted me to say I was responsible for her teenage son reading books and developing an interest in history.
What can you tell us about your next book?
I am now writing my fourteenth historical novel, the fifth in my Elizabethan series.
Do you take notice of online reviews?
and my newest book, Penelope – Tudor Baroness, has average reviews of 4.4 / 5 which is encouraging.
The Elizabethan Series
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
Yes, I wrote about my adventures in Mombasa, in ‘The Shell’
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I was a senior local government officer
Which author(s) inspire you?
Hilary Mantel and C J Sansom
Which genres do you read yourself?
I like to read a wide range of genres but particularly enjoy well-researched historical fiction
What is your biggest motivator?
Making my children proud of my books
What will always distract you?
Internet ‘rabbit holes’ when I’m doing online research
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
100% as I will not agree a cover until I’m completely happy it is as good as it can be
Were you a big reader as a child?
Yes
What were your favourite childhood books?
I enjoyed reading the classics from an early age
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
Yes – I love the bookshops in Hay-on-Wye
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
Yes – I love the bookshops in Hay-on-Wye
Do you have any rituals when writing?
I like to write a minimum of 500 words a day
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
Five physical books and a dozen more on my Kindle
What is your current or latest read?
The Fortune Keeper, by Deborah Swift
Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?
More books by Deborah Swift
Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?
I’m currently producing the audiobook edition of my new book, Penelope -Tudor Baroness
Any events in the near future?
I’m being interviewed on several podcasts
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII and began the Tudor Dynasty, was born in Pembroke, where I was born. I began to study his story when I returned to the area. I found several accounts of Henry’s life, but no novels which brought the truth of his story to life. The idea for the Tudor Trilogy occurred to me when I realised Henry Tudor could be born in book one, ‘come of age’ in book two, and rule England as king in book three, so there would be plenty of scope to explore his life and times. I also took part in the successful campaign for a statue of Henry Tudor to be placed in front of Pembroke Castle.
