Genre
Audiobooks
Authors
Press
About
Contact Us

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
Order directly from Penmore Press to receive your bulk purchase discount. ORDER
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
“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.

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 Devlin, Forger'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 Devlin, Forger'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
About Us
Company Profile
Leadership Team
Our Catalog
Publish With Us
Sales & Rights
Bookseller & Retail Orders
Permissions
Subsidiary Rights
Media Rights
Content Development
Terms of Use
Penmore Press
Penmore Press US
Press Room
Publicity Contacts
Bulk Sales
Customer Service