Laurel A. Rockefeller Books

Welcome to “Summer in Scotland,” our month-long celebration of Scotland and in particular the Scotland known and loved by its most famous queen, Mary Stuart, better known simply as “Mary Queen of Scots.” Across Queen Mary’s forty-four years she lived in France, reigned in Scotland, and died in England. Though not all of the places she guested at, lived at, and/or worked from still exist (notably Fotheringhay Castle where she was executed in 1587), these six palaces and castle

“Cymraes ydw i. I have no need for English fashions,” in one simple line from chapter two of “Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, the Warrior Princess of Deheubarth” Princess Gwenllian summarizes her entire life and legacy, a legacy that has touched billions of lives. But who was she and if she was really so influential, why have few people outside of Wales ever heard of her? Born in 1097, Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd was the daughter of King Gruffydd ap Cynan of the Welsh kingdom

Today Donald J. Trump will take the oath of office to become the 45th President of the United States. He does so as the most hated and distrusted person to ever swear that oath, an oath that he refuses to uphold and will never uphold beyond his ability to use the government of the United States for personal profit, something explicitly forbidden by the Constitution of the United States and therefore the oath he is about to take. Taking an oath of office you have no intention

Queen Isabeau of Bavaria in her royal houppeland. As a historian, history is my passion.  I love few things better than seeing a period-correct drama where the costumes are accurately rendered.  But what do you do if your budget is small or you are playing scenes from “Catherine de Valois: A Play in Three Acts” or Shakespeare’s “Henry V?” What if you don’t have years of expertise researching medieval gowns? The following is a general guide for productions of “Catherine de Val

Place of Birth: Normandy Date of death:  2 August 1100 Spouse: none Issue: none Successor:  Henry I Openly homosexual and sceptical of the church in a time where questioning Church doctrine was almost unheard of, King William II was the favourite son of his father, William I (the Conqueror).  In 1087 William inherited the throne of England from his father; his elder brother Robert received Normandy while his younger brother Henry received money. A warrior like his father who

Boudicca knelt, weeping, the blood from his chest wound soaking her dress, “I am here.” “A Roman – scout – I – surprised him.” gasped Prasutagus, trying in vain to tell his wife what happened, knowing the moment he died rage would fill her – rage against Rome. Boudicca kissed him tenderly, “My love, do not leave me!”  Prasutagus kissed her repeatedly, his eyes fixed on hers until they saw no more.  Feeling his spirit leave his body, Boudicca wept, as if her entire life sudden

Originally posted March 27th, 2012 From Resurrection Sunday to Easter: How Ancient German and Christian Celebrations Merged at Easter Easter Sunday-for Christians around the world Easter is arguably the most important holiday in the Christian calendar. The message of Jesus’ act of self sacrifice by allowing himself to be crucified by the Romans as a zealous rebel to Roman authority, his preaching against the legalistic status quos of the time, and the literal or metaphorical

Catherine de Valois is a creative non-fiction biography suitable for young readers exploring the life of Henry V’s queen consort, Catherine de Valois.  Caricaturized by Shakespeare in “Henry V,” the real Catherine you meet in this biography was a woman of great intelligence, courage, and conviction. Available  for kindle and in paperback.  Look for Catherine de Valois in Chinese language edition and in audio edition narrated by Richard Mann later this year. In this scene from

All Wiccan holidays are based on the seasons.  That means that witches in the northern hemisphere celebrate the opposite season holidays as those in the southern hemisphere. As European and American Wiccans prepare to celebrate Samhain, the last and final holiday in the Wiccan calender (the new year beginning on November 1st), let’s turn our thoughts to spring — and our southern neighbors — with this look at Beltane and Beltane music. Medieval Beltane Music It’s almost Beltan

This article published on June 21st, 2012 was originally written in response to the raging gun control debate exploding at the time.  In that debate, I kept hearing ardent defenses of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution which states in full, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Being a history person, I therefore took the time to look into the history of militia

This next article about medieval aviculture comes from my years as Society expert on medieval aviculture in the Society for Creative Anachronism. Parrots and Popinjays: a Brief Look at the Role of 1310s illumination from the Queen Mary Psalter showing a popinjay (Psittacula parakeet) at Christ’s right hand and opposite a falcon. Companion Birds in Medieval Europe An Overview to the Role Parrots, Finches, and Doves Played in Medieval History June 7th, 2012 Medieval illuminatio

Written December 12, 2012, this set of recipes for mulled wines is especially great for warming a cold winter’s day and for bringing holiday cheer.  But why wait until November to enjoy a delicious cup of wine? Mulling Over Wine: Three Favorite Recipes for Your Happy Holidays Classic Medieval Beverage Stands the Test of Time The holidays are here…along with the darkness of winter, biting cold winter storms, and frozen toes. It’s also a time of year when we look back on the ye

Chamomile and English Lavender Iced Tea Winning Recipe from the Barony of St. Swithin’s Bog (SCA) Tea Brewing Competition at 2012 “Spring Thing” July 15th, 2013 Recipe Used for tea brewing competition at the Barony of St. Swithin’s Bog (Aethelmearc) 2012 “Spring Thing” event: 2 TBSP loose chamomile 1 ½ tsp English (culinary) Lavender ¾ cup granulated sugar 4 trays ice 1 quart cold water Follow manufacturer instructions or your favorite method for brewing Makes 1 quart Medieva

The East (Photo credit: Wikipedia) History of the East Kingdom Research is the key to every author’s success.  For the Peers of Beinan series, research into medieval history, science, and the history of the Society for Creative Anachronism all shape the stories each of you enjoy in my books. But finding that information can be a challenge. Fortunately there is a really good website for starting your adventure discovering nearly 50 years of medieval adventures in the Society f

Where in the world is Princess Anyu? Where is Princess Anyu?  You tell me!  If D425E25 Tertius turns out to be Earth, where should the princess spend her seven yen-ar long exile and why? –Laurel A. Rockefeller The Peers of Beinan series http://www.peersofbeinan.com http://www.amazon.com/Laurel-A.-Rockefeller/e/B008YVJJFE/ #writing #plot #return #book #Earth #Princess #story #character #Beinan #exile #quest #medieval #novel #adventure