Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen

The Story of Elizabeth of York

(Plantagenet Embers Book I)

by Samantha Wilcoxson.

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She was the mother of Henry VIII and wife of Henry VII, but who was Elizabeth of York? Raised as the precious eldest child of Edward IV, Elizabeth had every reason to expect a bright future until Edward died, and her life fell apart.

When Elizabeth’s uncle became Richard III, she was forced to choose sides. Should she trust her father’s brother and most loyal supporter or honor the betrothal that her mother has made for her to her family’s enemy, Henry Tudor?

The choice was made for her on the field at Bosworth, and Elizabeth the Plantagenet princess became the first Tudor queen.

Did Elizabeth find happiness with Henry? And did she ever discover the truth about her missing brothers, who became better known as the Princes in the Tower?

Lose yourself in Elizabeth’s world in Plantagenet Princess Tudor Queen.

This novel has been selected by the Historical Novel Society as an Editors’ Choice and long-listed for the 2016 HNS Indie Award.

Historical Novel Society: “Wilcoxson makes Elizabeth an invitingly sympathetic character, and the novel’s portrait of Henry VII is truly remarkable for its humanity, a quality of his Tudor novelists often omit.”

Historian and Author Sharon Bennett Connolly: “Samantha Wilcoxson’s novel immerses you in every aspect of Elizabeth’s life; indeed it draws you into the Queen’s own thoughts and feelings; into her inner turmoil surrounding the fate of her brothers, the Princes in the Tower, and her desperate desire for her eldest son, Arthur, to succeed his father as king.”

Historian and Author Annie Whitehead: “There are many references to God, and I found that refreshing, too. Often, novelists forget how strong was the faith of those living through such times, how central to their lives their religion was. The harsh realities of life at this time are also pointed out and we as readers are not shielded from this, nor should we be.”

A Word from the Author

I chose to write about Elizabeth of York for several reasons. The Wars of the Roses is a fascinating historic era, and many of its key players have been well covered in both fiction and nonfiction. Elizabeth had a unique role as a prominent member of the Plantagenet royal family before the dynasty’s downfall and as the first queen of the new Tudor dynasty. Despite the important position that she held, before and after Bosworth, Elizabeth is often only discussed in passing. I wanted to fully feature her life and what it felt like to birth a new dynasty.

Elizabeth of York is quiet in history books, and her true feelings and emotions are fairly unknown. Creating a personality for her was a challenge because of this, but that quietness was also a clue to her supportive and devoted character. I allowed her faith and family loyalty to be the main driving forces in her life.

One cannot write about Elizabeth and Henry Tudor without delving into the mysteries of Perkin Warbeck and the Princes in the Tower. Throughout my novel, I strive to keep the focus on Elizabeth and not let these issues to become the center of her story. She does wonder about the fate of her brothers and is eventually motivated to attempt to discover the truth, but Edward and Richard are not the main characters here. My treatment of Perkin, I will leave as a surprise!

Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen covers the entirety of Elizabeth’s life, from her childhood until her untimely death. I have grown close to her through this process and hope that my readers grow to love her as well.

(Samantha Wilcoxson, June 2018)