aka The John Dee Chronicles
J.A. Downes 
RENAISSANCE WEEKLY: Master Whitely, you’ve been at John Dee’s side through some rather extraordinary adventures. How does a young scholar find himself involved in court conspiracies and treasure hunts? NICHOLAS: [grins ruefully, setting down a brass astrolabe he’d been adjusting] Curiosity, mostly. And perhaps a touch of youthful foolishness. [grows more serious] When I first … Read more
We catch up with the dynamic Hanseatic merchant duo who’ve been making waves in both Baltic and English waters RENAISSANCE WEEKLY: Gentlemen, you’re both successful merchants, but Jakob, you’re the seafaring brother while Andrus runs the King’s Lynn operation. How do you divide the business? JAKOB: [leans back in his chair, gesturing with a pewter … Read more
When Weddings Meet Rebellion The most dangerous guest at a Tudor castle? The dead one. I’m delighted to announce that Insurrection: Weddings Can Be Murder is now available in both ebook and paperback! The third book in the Predestination series takes Dr. John Dee and his beloved companions to Allington Castle in Kent, where the … Read more
I’m very happy to announce that final editing is complete on Insurrection (book three in the series) and we’re working on the cover art. As soon as the art is finalised, I’ll give you a preview here, and you can expect the book itself very shortly after that. Watch this space!
Renaissance Weekly speaks with Cristóbal Navarro, the mysterious operative whose loyalties proved more complex than his mission We arranged to meet Cristóbal Navarro at a discreet tavern near London Bridge, where the Spanish agent agreed to speak candidly about his recent activities on England’s coast. Tall and weathered from months of surveillance work, he carries … Read more
An Interview with Thomas Seymour on the Eve of Execution Renaissance Weekly’s final conversation with the Lord Admiral who gambled everything and lost The Tower of London at midnight is a place where ambition comes to die.In a cold stone chamber lit by a single guttering candle, we found Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of … Read more
We talk with the Holy Roman Emperor’s most enigmatic envoy about diplomacy, loyalty, and the art of influence RENAISSANCE WEEKLY: Ambassador Renard, you’ve been at the heart of English politics during some very turbulent times. How do you navigate such dangerous waters? SIMON RENARD: [settling back in his chair with a thin smile] One learns … Read more
RISING STAR: An Interview with the Enigmatic Katherine Arden Renaissance Weekly: We sit down with the mysterious young woman who’s been spotted in the entourage of the renowned Dr. John Dee RW: Katherine, you’ve been making quite a name for yourself in scholarly circles. How did you come to work with the famous Dr. John Dee? Kat … Read more
FREE and available now! The BookCompanion app is available now in Apple App Stores around the world. It offers Predestination book series content and Tudor England history support. Free at the Apple AppStore Compatibility The same app works on iPhones and on iPads, but your device OS does need to be fairly up to date; … Read more
Back in 2018-2019 I was commuting to work by car, about 1 hour each direction. This was in the Calgary area of Alberta, Canada. Most of the roads I travelled were long, straight, and 2-lanes in each direction, with minimal other traffic 😀 I had time to listen … and to think. What I listened to, … Read more