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Susan Boulton

Authors on Characters

Penmore Press authors offer a rich and entertaining array of short reflections on characters and how they were created in the novels.  READ

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Susan Boulton

Devilish Doings in England’s Green and Pleasant Land — Susan Boulton, as in the song by the Police, was born in the ’50s and came into the world 200 yards from where Tolkien spent time thinking about hobbits 37 years before. Having loved to read since she was very young, Susan began to wonder if she could actually write a novel. Once she tried she found it addictive. She’s been writing stories, long and short, ever since.

Susan has lived all her life in rural Staffordshire and has a passion for the countryside, its history, its myths, and its legends, all of which influence her work. Her first novel, Oracle, is a steampunk fantasy of political intrigue. She’s also published numerous short stories, including “Jac” (Dark Fiction Spotlight, 2010), “The Giving of Adela” (Tales of the Sword,edited by Dorothy Davis), and “Death Won’t Be Cheated” (Malevolence: Tales from Beyond the Veil, edited by J. Scott-Marryat, 2014).

Married with two grown daughters, Susan now puts her overactive imagination (once the bane of her parents and teachers) to good use in her writing.

Hand of Glory was inspired by Susan’s combined interests in World War I (fueled by family stories of both her grandfathers), the many historical memorials throughout local villages, and a deep appreciation of the myths, folklore, and supernatural stories of her region. You can read more about her influences in the “Author’s Note” below.

Hand of Glory by Susan Boulton

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Hand of Glory

“And all that awake now be as the dead, for the dead man’s sake . . .” In Passchendaele near the end of the Great War, Captain Giles Hardy is trapped on barbed wire, wounded in mind and body, convinced he should be dead. But Giles’s true battle begins after he’s rescued and sent home. In the small town of Stafford, he struggles with terrifying visions of the atrocities he’s witnessed–and a recruit he served with.
The visions lead Giles to a man who exploits the grief of the bereaved with the help of a Hand of Glory, a mythical tool of thieves. A new friend, Agnes Reed, and the ghost of an old one, Corporal George Adams, aid Hardy in his investigation. Now he must catch the thief, destroy the hand, and lay to rest the men who will otherwise never leave the fields of Flanders.

Perhaps it was the snatches of conversations half overheard as a child that led me to study World War I poetry for my GSE exams at the age of 16. Perhaps it was the memorials in every village and town, some large bronze statues on large marble plinths. Perhaps it was a village hall in the village where I was born, built with donations and dedicated to the young men who never returned. All part of everyday life, a backdrop, yet a solid statement of grief that had stuck in every community.

However I gained an interest, it grew over the years. I knew I wanted to write a story about that time, but how? How to show the upheaval, the clash of the old and the new, the dying of old myths and the creation of new ones? Hand of Glory was born out of this desire, and as it began to be written it merged with my love of ghost stories, old myths, and legends from my part of the world. Those beliefs, though submerged beneath the modern world, have become stronger in many ways, changing and growing with each retelling and new generation.

Such is the myth of the Hand of Glory. I needed a supernatural element to bind my story together, a reason for my “ghosts” to return, and a driving force for my antagonist. While looking through one of the many books on English myths and legends that line my bookshelves, I came across a small paragraph about the Hand of Glory, which had been donated to the Whitby Museum in 1935. The article also made reference to the Ingoldsby Legends, a series of poems and stories by Richard Harris Barham under the pseudonym of Thomas Ingoldsby. The moment I read the Nurse’s Story, I knew I had found what I was looking for.

Alphabetical by Author

 

Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat

Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor

Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew

Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War

Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore

Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country

Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean

Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide

Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas

Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood

Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty

Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo

Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood

James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut

James Boschert, Knight Assassin

James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira

James Boschert, Greek Fire

James Boschert A Falcon Flies

James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath

James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara

James Boschert, Storms of Retribution

James Boschert, A Congress of Kings

James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent

James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm

James Boschert, Midshipman Graham

Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone

Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory

Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman

Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy

Kerry Cue, Target 91

John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet

John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide

John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment

John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar

John M. Danielski, Bombproofed

John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire

Leah Devlin, Vital Spark

Leah Devlin, Spider

Leah DevlinForger's Revenge

Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers

Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse

Leah Devlin, The Bends

Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena

Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize

Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette

Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom

Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave

Craig Godfrey, 1814

Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows

Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness

J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man

J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind

J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance

J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald

J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance

Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow

Roger Hileman, In the Blood

Helen Hollick, Sea Witch

Helen Hollick, Pirate Code

Helen Hollick, Bring It Close

Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand

David Hoing, A Killing Snow

David Hoing, In the Blood

J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood

J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King

Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert

M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse

Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella

James Keffer, Brewer's Luck

James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge

James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates

James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home

James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island

Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece

Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies

Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters

Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood

Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders

Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2

Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40

Marc Liebman, Render Harmless

Marc Liebman, Forgotten

Marc Liebman, Inner Look

Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift

Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast

Marc Liebman, Carronade

Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady

Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident

Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp

Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room

Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings

Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet

Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet

John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders

Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards

Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton

M.Howard Morgan. First Fleet

Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder

Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel

Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy

Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn

Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax

R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea

Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm

Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun

Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora

Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora

Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate

Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures

Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull

Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea

Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel

Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries

Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit

Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword

Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter

Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes

Ron Singerton, The Refused

Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted

Steve Smith, Better to Die

Jim Stempel, Windmill Point

Jim Stempel, American Hannibal

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Match

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest

Chéri Vausé, Shadows

Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions

D. C. Wales, The Prick

Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City

Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains

Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood

Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King

Bruce Woods, Royal Blood

Bruce Woods, Dragon Blood

Bruce Woods, American Blood

Alphabetical by Author

 

Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat

Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor

Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew

Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War

Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore

Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country

Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean

Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide

Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas

Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood

Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty

Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo

Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood

James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut

James Boschert, Knight Assassin

James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira

James Boschert, Greek Fire

James Boschert A Falcon Flies

James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath

James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara

James Boschert, Storms of Retribution

James Boschert, A Congress of Kings

James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent

James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm

James Boschert, Midshipman Graham

Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone

Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory

Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman

Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy

Kerry Cue, Target 91

John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet

John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide

John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment

John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar

John M. Danielski, Bombproofed

John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire

Leah Devlin, Vital Spark

Leah Devlin, Spider

Leah DevlinForger's Revenge

Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers

Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse

Leah Devlin, The Bends

Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena

Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize

Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette

Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom

Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave

Craig Godfrey, 1814

Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows

Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness

J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man

J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind

J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance

J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald

J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance

Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow

Roger Hileman, In the Blood

Helen Hollick, Sea Witch

Helen Hollick, Pirate Code

Helen Hollick, Bring It Close

Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand

David Hoing, A Killing Snow

David Hoing, In the Blood

J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood

J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King

Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert

M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse

Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella

James Keffer, Brewer's Luck

James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge

James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates

James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home

James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island

Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece

Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies

Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters

Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood

Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders

Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2

Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40

Marc Liebman, Render Harmless

Marc Liebman, Forgotten

Marc Liebman, Inner Look

Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift

Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast

Marc Liebman, Carronade

Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady

Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident

Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp

Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room

Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings

Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet

Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet

John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders

Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards

Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton

M.Howard Morgan. First Fleet

Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder

Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel

Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy

Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn

Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax

R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea

Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm

Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun

Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora

Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora

Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate

Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures

Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull

Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea

Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel

Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries

Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit

Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword

Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter

Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes

Ron Singerton, The Refused

Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted

Steve Smith, Better to Die

Jim Stempel, Windmill Point

Jim Stempel, American Hannibal

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Match

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest

Chéri Vausé, Shadows

Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions

D. C. Wales, The Prick

Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City

Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains

Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood

Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King

Bruce Woods, Royal Blood

Bruce Woods, Dragon Blood

Bruce Woods, American Blood

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