New Releases by Theresa Tomlinson

"A herbwife on a mule may go where warriors cannot - she may see what warriors cannot see and hear what warriors cannot hear " The Monastery at Whitby is ruled over by the powerful and independent Abbess Hild. But when she needs someone to confide in, she turns to the honest warmth of her friend Fridgyth, the half-pagan herb-wife. A divisive and life-altering decision taken at the Great Synod is swiftly overshadowed as the monastery is ravaged by a deadly plague. As she tends the sick, Fridgyth starts to suspect that not all the deaths are natural. Despite Hild''s stern warnings "not to meddle" she sets out to investigate. Can Fridgyth''s wisdom and intuition unmask the murderer and unravel the dark politics surrounding the deaths and clandestine arrival of two young scholars? A SWARMING OF BEES is an absorbing and richly atmospheric murder mystery. Winner of the B.R.A.G. Medallion Award

Egfrid is the prince of Bernicia, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom. When he is captured by Penda, King of Mercia during a raid, all seems lost. But though the fierce warrior Penda hates Egfrid''s cowardly father, he won''t kill the boy. Instead, Egfrid is to be brought up, as hostage and adopted son, in the court of his father''s worst enemy... This fascinating look into a long-vanished past reveals the clashes between small kingdoms, between pagan and Christian beliefs, and between the loyalty demanded by blood and given from the heart. A richly detailed and moving tale, inspired by the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found.

''They tell you that most lumps are nothing. '' Mum''s voice wobbled. ''But mine is cancerous . . . . oh dear. Its a bit of a shock, it really is!'' And so Ellen and her family must learn with the reality of her mum''s breast cancer. Ellen finds solace in her dancing and coupled with an unexpected discovery in the school grounds, she is able to face the difficult times ahead . . .

Theresa Tomlinson has established herself as a talented writer of historical fiction, particularly when pinpointing her home territory on the NE coast of England. Here in one volume are three of her most gripping novels in which she describes the courage and humour with which the fishing families face up to the hard conditions of their lives. THE FLITHER PICKERS of Sandwick Bay spend their days gathering shellfish on the shore - limpets and mussels - and baiting the lines for the fishermen . The story centres on young Liza Welford whose mother is haunted by an accident in the past. In THE HERRING GIRLS, when tragedy strikes the Lythe family, 13-year-old Dory joins the tough world of the Scotch herring girls in Whitby in order to earn money and save her brothers and sisters from the workhouse. Family life is destroyed for Ann and Polly Lancroft in BENEATH BURNING MOUNTAIN when the violent and merciless press-gangs invade the cliffs where men and women create alum crystals for a livelihood - and their home is wiped out by a sudden landslide. Skilfully blending fiction with reality, Theresa Tomlinson has written three moving and absorbing stories of close-knit communities of fisher-folk a hundred years ago whose whole existence is governed by the sea.

"I have seen them!" cried Cassandra. "Iphigenia! Myrina and her young daughter! They are in terrible trouble . . . taken prisoner on a boat . . . stripped of all weapons!" Since the fall of Troy, Myrina has built the Moon Riders into a strong and potent band of warrior women. But the son of Achilles is bent on revenge, and the Moon Riders are displaced from their home and fighting for their lives. Plagued with slavery, storms, shipwreck, and strife, the Moon Riders must accept help from outsiders for their very survival. Only trust in the strong bonds of their friendship will help Myrina, Iphigenia, and Cassandra vanquish their enemies and welcome those who may help them achieve a more peaceful way of life. Like its predecessor, this sequel to The Moon Riders is a powerful blend of intriguing myth and inspired imagination, leavened by romance and unforgettable characters.

Ben Sterndale''s days of freedom are over. There''ll be no more running wild through Ecclesall woods now that he''s got a proper job at Dyson''s Scythe Works. As the Cellar Lad he''s at everyone''s beck and call and it''s hard and dangerous work. His father and fellow workers at the cruicible workshop - the forgers, grinders and the puller out - are striving for change. But as the working people of Sheffield unite to peacefully campaign for their rights, SOMEONE is threatening to FIGHT for a difference - no matter what trouble it may bring. . . . . . . .

In this third and final part of the powerful Forestwife saga the already dramatic and dangerous times of medieval court have intensified. King John has been forced to sign the Magna Carta. He reneges after signing it and this leads to an angry uprising by the foresters, which is dealt with harshly by the destruction of their villages. The Forestwife''s skills and succour are called upon more than ever. Some look to the future, such as Magda and Isobel, who dare to hope for happiness as they marry their sweethearts and begin families. In the moving conclusion of this compelling trilogy, Marion and Robert, whose lives and battles have been so entwined, finally confront the Sheriff of Nottingham and fulfil their destinies.

When a young Amazon woman, Myrina, becomes one of the warrior priestesses known as the Moon Riders, she is well prepared to perform their sacred dances, hunt and fight when necessary. But the Moon Riders who inhabit the plains of Troy are drawn into the troubles of the city and when the visionary princess, Cassandra, becomes Myrina`s confidante, the help of the young band of horsewomen enables Cassandra`s young friend, Iphigenia to escape from the sacrifice planned for her. Hereafter the Moon Riders are drawn into the siege and the ensuing battle. Theresa Tomlinson, combining meticulous research into the Amazon women with the ancient legends of Troy, has created an epic story of tragic dimensions.

Cwen, a poor weaver struggling to make a living at Whitby Abbey, is accused of possessing a valuable necklace; if found guilty she could be hanged. Wulfrun, Cwen''s daughter, sets out to prove her mother''s innocence. Set in turbulent Anglo-Saxon times, this is the story of a resourceful, dauntless heroine, determined and clever as the wolf that she is named for. In WOLF GIRL, Theresa Tomlinson links her enthusiasm for creating strong, adventurous heroines with her interest in history and mythology of the North East Coast of England.

When Grandad Jim comes to stay at Christmas, he brings the Blitz Baby - a tree decoration that he made when he was Jamie''s age. That night, Jamie has a dream of what it was like for his grandad during the Blitz. Jamie realizes that the Blitz Baby is a very special decoration because it has so much history and puts it in a special place on the tree.

A fast-paced action story based around life on the Yorkshire canals in Victorian times. The tale supports the Victorian Britain study of Key Stage 2 History, and is designed for children between the ages of nine and twelve years of age.

In an English seaside town, Matt befriends an elderly woman who helps him fulfill his dream of surfing and learn to accept his having been adopted.

When Magda was just a baby, her mother was murdered, and her father John brought her to live in the woods with the Forestwife. Here she learned to heal sick people and became skillful in archery and fighting. Now Magda wants a life of adventure beyond the forest. When word comes that Lady Matilda and her daughter Isabelle are being held captive by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, Magda is ready. This is the chance of a lifetime to join forces with her father John, and the mysterious Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. Little does Magda know that this is also a chance to come face to face with the scoundrel who murdered her mother.

Ned is only eleven when he starts work in the ironstone mine. His job as a trappy lad is to open a wooden door for the pit ponies as they haul wagonloads of stone through the tunnel. The work is hard and dangerous, and like all miners, Ned knows that a rockfall could spell disaster for them all.

John Robert loves his fisherman father and more than anything else longs to follow himout to sea. But when he hides in the hold of North Star it is not at all as he imagined ...

Plus que tout au monde, le petit John Robert rêve de partir en mer avec son père pêcheur. Un rêve doit pouvoir se réaliser, seulement voilà : voyager clandestinement dans une cale de chalutier n''est pas forcément une bonne idée...

The life of the female bait-gatherers of England''s north-east coast at the turn of the century, seen through the eyes of a young girl who accepts their hardships but has a different vision of her future.