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. 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

    1h 18m

  2. 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

    1h 12m

  3. May 1

    Anne Easter Smith on Six Novels, a Lifetime of Research, Richard III, and the Changing Face of Publishing

    What does it take to spend 50 years championing history's most maligned king and turn that passion into six published novels? This week on Rock, Paper, Swords, hosts Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by Anne Easter Smith, author of a celebrated series of novels spanning the entire York dynasty. Born near Winchester, raised partly in Egypt watching Suez Canal convoys from her window, and a resident of the United States since 1968, Anne has one of the most extraordinary life stories we've heard on the show, and it's all filtered into the rich, meticulous historical fiction she writes. Anne tells us how Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time converted her into a lifelong Ricardian at the age of 21, how a chance meeting at a New York City party led to a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster, and how she built her six-novel York dynasty series from the ground up, always insisting on visiting every location her characters walk through. We also dig into the realities of the publishing industry: the golden age of author tours and dedicated publicists, the impact of the 2008 recession on advances and promotion, and the surprisingly personal dynamics of the agent-author relationship. Anne also previews her upcoming panel at the Historical Novel Society Conference in Maynooth, where she'll join Margaret George and Leslie Carroll to make the case for history's supposed villains: Richard III, Nero, and Marie Antoinette. Before Anne joins us, Justin and Matthew check in on their own writing: Matthew is filling in the historical detail on his first Roman novel (a possible new series set in ancient Rome), while Justin is on deadline for his latest Warhammer novel and thinking ahead to a contemporary shipping story.A brilliant conversation about history, storytelling, the craft of writing, and the power of fiction to make us feel the past. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E0uAV2wuJg0 Support the show on Patreon from just £1/month — bonus episodes, Q&As, and more: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

    1h 26m

  4. Apr 17

    Elodie Harper | Boudicca's Daughter, The Wolf Den Trilogy & Writing Ancient Rome's Forgotten Women

    This week Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by Sunday Times bestselling author Elodie Harper — journalist, classicist, and one of the most exciting voices writing historical fiction today.Elodie's Wolf Den trilogy brought the women of Pompeii's infamous brothel roaring back to life, and her stunning new standalone Boudicca's Daughter follows Solina — the unnamed, overlooked daughter of Britain's most iconic warrior queen — from the chaos of the Boudiccan rebellion to the glittering, treacherous court of Nero's Rome. We talk about what it means to write from the perspective of history's silenced women, the surprisingly complex historical record behind the Iceni rebellion, and the fascinating question of what we can and can't know about Celtic Britain. Elodie also reveals why she chose Tacitus's single phrase — that the ancient Britons "made no distinction between the sexes when choosing commanders" — as a window into an entirely different world, and why she included human sacrifice despite her sympathies lying firmly with the Iceni. Plus: the spark for The Wolf Den (courtesy of historian Dan Jones), the emotional experience of visiting Pompeii's only surviving purpose-built brothel at dusk, the craft decision to write Solina's sections in first person present tense, and why even the villain of the piece — Roman general Paulinus — ended up being surprisingly sympathetic.Boudicca's Daughter is out in paperback on 23rd April. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All episodes: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

    1h 19m

  5. Apr 3

    Self-Help from the Middle Ages: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life (with Peter Jones)

    Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by historian Peter Jones to explore the surprising world of medieval self-help. Drawing on his new book Self-Help from the Middle Ages, Peter reveals how people in the medieval period grappled with many of the same challenges we face today—stress, purpose, resilience, and how to live a good life. From monastic wisdom and practical moral guidance to the everyday advice literature that shaped medieval society, this episode uncovers a rich tradition of self-improvement that predates modern “self-help” by centuries. Along the way, the conversation ranges across history, philosophy, and storytelling, offering insights for writers and history lovers alike. If you’ve ever wondered what the Middle Ages can teach us about modern life, this is an episode not to miss. DELEDDA MASTER: Master in Creative Writing & Translation: https://deleddamaster.com/ Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781529154863 Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

    1h 13m

  6. Mar 20

    The Man Who Stopped the Sultan: Gabriele Tadino and the Siege of Rhodes – Edoardo Albert

    In this episode of Rock Paper Swords, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by historian and novelist Edoardo Albert to discuss his new book, The Man Who Stopped the Sultan. The book tells the dramatic story of Gabriele Tadino, a Renaissance military engineer whose expertise helped shape the defence of Rhodes during the Ottoman expansion under Suleiman the Magnificent. Along the way we discuss the Italian Wars, the revolution in gunpowder warfare, and the emergence of the professional military engineer. We also talk about Edoardo’s fiction writing and his 30-Second Histories YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@30-SecondHistories Buy the book:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781472869999 Podcast links:https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Support the show on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

    1h 23m

  7. Mar 6

    Sophie Perinot on building a historical fiction career across two countries — and how publishing has changed along the way

    In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords!, Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by historical novelist Sophie Perinot for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, research, and the realities of the modern book industry. We discuss: Moving from the United States to the United Kingdom Adapting to life in Britain, including experiences with the NHS The importance of the Historical Novel Society conferences How historical research has evolved in the digital age Changing trends in historical fiction What’s shifted in traditional publishing over the past decade Navigating today’s historical fiction market This is an honest and thoughtful look at writing as a profession — community, craft, career longevity, and the changing landscape of historical publishing. 🎧 Discover more episodes:https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords ❤️ Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast #HistoricalFiction #PublishingIndustry #WritingLife #HistoricalNovelSociety

    1h 20m

  8. Feb 20

    Massacre, Resistance, and Love: Carolyn O’Brien on Peterloo and 1930s Britain

    In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords!, Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy talk with historical novelist Carolyn O’Brien about protest, power, and forgotten voices in British history. From the Peterloo Massacre to the rise of fascism in 1930s Britain, Carolyn explores how radical politics, women’s lives, and working-class resistance shape her fiction. We discuss writing politically engaged historical novels, the responsibilities of historical storytellers, and why history’s margins often hold its most urgent truths. 🎧 Listen now and discover how history, fiction, and resistance collide. 📚 The Song of Peterloo:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781789550757 🔗 More episodes & links:https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords ❤️ Support the podcast:https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

    1h 18m
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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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