Rock, Paper, Swords! - the Historical Action and Adventure Podcast

Matthew Harffy
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Books
  • Updated Biweekly

The Historical Action and Adventure Podcast - making history come alive! Bestselling authors chat about writing action and adventure stories, diving into some of the more quirky and unusual aspects of history, with a detour through music and its role in their process. Each episode covers different exciting themes, often with brilliant guests. Get bonus episodes and more by supporting the podcast on Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast or Buy Us A Beer at - https://ko-fi.com/rockpaperswords https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

  1. 1d ago

    Harold Godwinson, the Bayeux Tapestry, and the Myth of the Forced March — with Professor Tom Licence

    Did Harold Godwinson really force-march his army 190 miles to Hastings — or is that just Victorian storytelling? Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by Professor Tom Licence (University of East Anglia), whose new biography Harold: Warrior King is out 11 August 2026. Tom walks us through the source-by-source detective work that made international news: why the "forced march" from Stamford Bridge doesn't hold up under the Latin, and why the evidence instead points to Harold's army moving by sea. We dig into what the Bayeux Tapestry actually says versus what its images imply, why the Victorians reshaped 1066 into a national origin myth, and why Harold — illegitimate, Anglo-Danish, and a first-generation product of Cnut's conquest — deserves recognition as a genuine military strategist rather than the doomed, headstrong king of legend. Plus: news on Matthew's forthcoming Roman novel, Justin's new novel Bjorn the Fell-Handed, and a Patreon Odyssey bonus episode discount. Get 80% off all Rock, Paper, Swords! Patreon tiers in August with code 80AUGUST26: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Keywords: 1066, Battle of Hastings, Harold Godwinson, Anglo-Saxon history, Norman Conquest, Bayeux Tapestry, medieval history podcast, historical fiction podcast

  2. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    PATREON PREVIEW: Review of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey

    Matthew and Justin review Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of The Odyssey on Patreon this month. Check out this preview of that bonus episode. If you want to hear the full episode and the back catalogue of all previous bonus episodes, sign up to Patreon at 80% DISCOUNT FOR THE WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST ON ALL TIERS ! Just use the code 80AUGUST26 patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

  3. Jul 24

    David Gilman on Barbary Pirates, Slavery & The Knife Maker of Venice

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Matthew Harffy flies solo this week to welcome back bestselling historical novelist David Gilman — former firefighter, professional photographer, and Parachute Regiment reconnaissance soldier turned acclaimed author of the Master of War series. David joins the show to talk about his new standalone novel, The Knife Maker of Venice, the story of a brother and sister torn apart by Barbary pirates in 1604 Devon and sold into slavery across the Mediterranean. David reveals the strange true story behind the book's origins — a half-remembered plaque in Dartmouth that seemingly no longer exists — and shares the deep research that took him from blacksmith's forges to the back streets of Venice with a professional historian guide. Along the way: the brutal economics of the Barbary slave trade, why sword fights are more terrifying than gunfights, David's "pantser" approach to plotting, his wariness of AI for research, and a hair-raising true story about a parachute malfunction. It's a wide-ranging, funny, and fascinating conversation with one of Britain's most reliably thrilling historical novelists. The Knife Maker of Venice is out in hardback and audiobook on 13th August — pre-order now. Keywords: historical fiction, historical novel, Barbary pirates, Venice history, Master of War series, Thomas Blackstone, Hundred Years War, slavery history, Mediterranean slave trade, adventure novel, swashbuckling, author interview, historical fiction podcast

  4. Jul 10

    Your Questions Answered — Writing, Battles, and the Art of Storytelling

    Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are back with a packed episode: first, a candid catch-up on where their writing is at right now, and then a deep-dive listener Q&A that covers some of the biggest questions in historical fiction writing. Matthew has just delivered his Roman novel to his publisher. He's also completed a short story for the forthcoming Stamford Bridge anthology (told from a woman's perspective, covering just a few hours of the battle's aftermath). And he has fresh news: his publisher wants more books! Justin, meanwhile, has delivered his Stamford Bridge short story (after several extensions and a structural breakthrough involving flashbacks), received enthusiastic feedback from his agent on his new contemporary novel, and had his Games Workshop/Black Library pitch approved. It's all happening. The Q&A is a wide-ranging conversation that will resonate with writers and readers alike. Listener Trish Smith fires off a series of brilliant questions: when do you know a story is finished? Do you listen to music when you write? Who do you write for? What does "killing your darlings" really mean? And can you write about something you've never experienced? Listener questions from Matt Muller and Chris Hind take things further: how do you convey the scale of mass combat when your protagonist can only see six feet in any direction? What do authors consistently get wrong about fighting? What's the single best battle scene either of them has ever read? Is there a line between historical fiction and fantasy, and have either of them been tempted to cross it? Can a D&D campaign feed directly into a novel? And is there really an appetite for more Westerns, and if so, why won't publishers touch them? It's a conversation about craft, perseverance, landscape, archetypes, and why Jack Reacher is basically a knight errant. Support the show and unlock exclusive bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

  5. Jun 26

    We Hosted the Robin of Sherwood Reunion! | Behind the Scenes at Herne’s Arrow 2026

    In this special episode of Rock, Paper, Swords, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill take you behind the scenes of the Herne’s Arrow event at Chepstow, celebrating 42 years of Robin of Sherwood. Invited to host the cast and crew panels, Matthew and Justin spent a full weekend interviewing stars including Jason Connery, Michael Praed, Nicholas Grace, Rula Lenska, and many more. They share stories from backstage, unexpected moments with the cast, what it was like moderating panels in front of hundreds of devoted fans, and why the Robin of Sherwood community remains so special four decades on. This episode also features a montage of recordings from around the event grounds, conversations with attendees, and reflections on one of Britain’s most beloved cult television series. Support the podcast: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Get in touch: rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com

  6. Jun 12

    The Crusader Storm with Nicholas Morton

    Rock, Paper, Swords! — Episode: The Crusader Storm with Nicholas Morton Released 12th June 2026 Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by historian Nicholas Morton, associate professor at Nottingham Trent University and author of the new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East (out 4th June 2026). The Crusades are one of history's most argued-over subjects — and Nicholas Morton thinks most people have got them wrong. In this wide-ranging conversation, he makes the case that the wars for the Holy Land were never a simple clash between Christianity and Islam, but a messy, many-sided contest between rival empires, dynasties and cultures. Along the way we talk about the extraordinary cast of individuals who populate his book — from a remarkably long-lived Arab nobleman who witnessed nearly the entire era, to Syriac Christians playing the long game between warring powers. We explore how Muslim Bedouin groups allied with the Crusaders, why Islamic medicine was flowing back to Western Europe, and how the demands of supplying the Crusader States drove a dramatic leap forward in medieval shipbuilding. We also get into the evolution of Crusader castles, the trade routes that made the Middle East the most strategically valuable region on earth, and what — if anything — the medieval period can tell us about the modern one. Plus: how do you write popular history without guessing? Can AI translate ancient Syriac? And is Nicholas Morton already thinking about an Ottoman Storm? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcastAll podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

  7. May 29

    Conn Iggulden: Mud, Blood, and the Art of Historical Fiction

    He's one of the most successful historical fiction writers of his generation — the first author ever to top the UK fiction and non-fiction bestseller charts simultaneously, and the man behind sweeping epics on Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and the Wars of the Roses. After a long time trying to get him on the show, Matthew and Justin finally sit down with the brilliant Conn Iggulden. In this wide-ranging conversation, Conn talks about what drew him to Nero as a subject — a figure loved by the Roman people despite his cruelties, shaped by one of history's most fascinating and ruthless women, Agrippina. He reflects on the challenges of working with unreliable ancient sources, the missing texts he'd give anything to read (Agrippina's autobiography, the lost end of Tacitus), and how he navigates the gaps that historical fiction always has to fill. The conversation takes in Roman slavery, suicide and honour, why visiting a battlefield in person changes everything (including a story about the six-foot-wide exit ramp at Sandal Castle that explains a medieval defeat), and his upcoming novel about the Battle of Arnhem — a project with a deeply personal dimension, since his own father was there. There's also a joyful digression into Dungeons & Dragons, David Gemmell, the famous photo with Bernard Cornwell and George MacDonald Fraser, why fantasy is actually harder to write than historical fiction, and the title dispute between Conn and his brother that's been going on for decades. If you love historical fiction, this one is essential listening. Email the show: rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com Support the show and unlock exclusive bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

  8. May 15

    How Publishing Works: The Life Cycle of a Novel

    Ever wondered what really happens between a writer's first flash of inspiration and the moment a book lands in your hands? In this episode, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill pull back the curtain on the entire journey of getting a book published, and they don't hold back.With nearly 40 published books between them, across traditional publishing, self-publishing, and everything in between, Matthew and Justin walk through every stage of the process: the creative spark (and what happens when inspiration doesn't show up on schedule), the research rabbit holes, the difference between pantsers and plotters, pitching to agents and editors, navigating advances and royalties, structural edits vs. copy edits, cover design battles (stirrups in the wrong century!), title negotiations, publication day anticlimax, translation deals, and the bittersweet moment your book ends up remaindered — or spotted in a second-hand shop.They also dig into the financial realities of publishing that most authors don't talk about openly: what advances actually mean, why earning out matters more than a big payday, what the Society of Authors can do for you, and how PLR and ALCS quietly supplement an author's income year after year.Whether you're an aspiring writer, a published author, or simply a passionate reader curious about how the books you love are made, this is a conversation packed with insight, honesty, and the occasional laugh.Support the show and unlock exclusive bonus episodes on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcastFind us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

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The Historical Action and Adventure Podcast - making history come alive! Bestselling authors chat about writing action and adventure stories, diving into some of the more quirky and unusual aspects of history, with a detour through music and its role in their process. Each episode covers different exciting themes, often with brilliant guests. Get bonus episodes and more by supporting the podcast on Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast or Buy Us A Beer at - https://ko-fi.com/rockpaperswords https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

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