Women's History Month is always exciting. And I have a few events - and even a book coming out - to celebrate!

It's World Book Day! What are you reading? Here's the latest addition to my library, with essays by great historians including Louise Wilkinson, David Stocker and Andrew J H Jackson. I dipped in when it arrived and lost 2 hours!

March is #WomensHistoryMonth and I will be speaking on Lincolnshire's Tudor Heroines at Grantham Museum on Friday 13th March at 2pm. Come and hear the stories of Bessie Blount, Anne Askew, Katherine Willoughby and Katherine Parr ... Tickets are available now. granthammuseum.org.uk/event/talk-l...

#OTD in 1238 Death of Joan, Queen of Scots. Joan had first been betrothed to Hugh X de Lusignan - who then married her mother. Joan used her sisterly relationship with Henry III to keep the peace between England and Scotland #womenshistorymonth historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/12/13/t...

#OTD: 1316 Death of Marjorie Bruce after giving birth to her first and only child, the future King Robert II. Marjorie's short life had been filled with tragedy, warfare and imprisonment as Scotland fought for its independence. #womenshistorymonth historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/07/10/p...

It's March! Which means it's Women's History Month 2026 It's also World Book Day - so go buy a history book about women! (See what I did there? 😉)

I am on the Gone Medieval podcast today, chatting with that lovely chap, Matthew Lewis, about Scotland's remarkable Medieval Queens #medievalsky shows.acast.com/gone-medieva...

From the archives: The story of two Isabels, Isabella of Gloucester and Isabelle d'Angouleme, the wives off King John historytheinterestingbits.com/2020/08/15/t...

We have a real treat in our fabulous new episode of A Slice of Medieval. @derekbirks.bsky.social and I chat with Max Adams on the Kingdom of Mercia. I learned an awful lot! @penandswordbooks.bsky.social @headofzeus.bsky.social #Mercia #podcast soundcloud.com/user-1425259...

Guest Post: Jane Boleyn, née Parker, the infamous Lady Rochford – The Perfect Scapegoat by Monika E. Simon It is a pleasure to welcome historian Monika E. Simon back to History...the Interesting Bits. Monika is here to talk about Jane Boleyn, the infamous Lady Rochford

As it's Valentine's Day, how about a little discussion on medieval couples. Who are your favourites - and was it true love? 💕 #medievalsky

Alice Chaucer: the Making of a Duchess Granddaughter of the father of English literature, Alice Chaucer rose high in Lancastrian court circles, only to change allegiances when necessity called for it. She did what was necessary to protect her son's interests.

On this day in History: 1610 Death of Bess of Hardwick, probably the most famous non-royal Tudor woman.She is renowned for her building projects, her stunning needlework, being the gaoler of Mary, Queen of Scots- and for surviving four husbands #tudorsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2024/12/21/t...

I am delighted to be taking part in this year’s Online History Festival hosted by British History Events! It's a whole weekend of online History lectures with a live Q&A with the historians on the Sunday. All for only £22 @britishhistory.bsky.social historytheinterestingbits.com/2026/02/07/o...

New episode: We are running a series of Tudor Specials in 2026 and in the first of our "A Slice of Medieval Goes Tudor" episodes the inimitable @tonyriches.bsky.social joins us to discuss the first of the Tudors: Henry VII #Tudor @derekbirks.bsky.social @penandswordbooks.bsky.social bit.ly/3OjIV5X

Huge thanks to @matthewharffy.bsky.social and @justinhillauthor.bsky.social for letting me witter on about my Princesses of the Early Middle Ages. This was great fun! #medievalsky @penandswordbooks.bsky.social mybook.to/EarlyPrincess tinyurl.com/42d58uyd youtu.be/Q4jHQCuMTdQ

Huge thanks to @matthewharffy.bsky.social and @justinhillauthor.bsky.social for letting me witter on about my Princesses of the Early Middle Ages. This was great fun! #medievalsky @penandswordbooks.bsky.social mybook.to/EarlyPrincess tinyurl.com/42d58uyd youtu.be/Q4jHQCuMTdQ

Je suis tombé par hasard sur cette petite pépite dessinée : "Medieval Girlfriends", par Juliette Cousin. Un roman graphique sans texte qui réinvente avec finesse le mythe du chevalier tueur de monstres... #vendredilecture #medievalsky #medievalists

Book Corner: Rogues and Kings by Charlene Newcomb Woohoo! A Robin Hood story! Rogues & Kings by Charlene Newcomb is a fabulous adventure set in the midst of the First Barons' War, with Nicholaa de la Haye in a sup[porting role.

On this day in History: 1141 The 1st Battle of Lincoln was fought between the forces of King Stephen and those of Empress Matilda, Stephen was captured, the Empress was declared 'Lady of the English' If only the war had ended on that day.... #medievalsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2020/07/18/t...

Wordly Women: Charlene Newcomb Today, it is a pleasure to be chatting with my good friend Charlene Newcomb, just as her latest book, Rogues and Kings hits the shops

Today, on A Slice of Medieval, Sharon Bennett Connolly and @derekbirks.bsky.social are joined by author and historian, @nathenamin.bsky.social , to discuss the rise and fall of Owain Glyndwr. #medievalsky soundcloud.com/user-1425259...

Ooh, Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets - the sequel to Princesses of the Early Middle Ages - has a release date! 30 August 2026. Princesses of the Later Middle Ages shines a light on the lives and experiences of some remarkable women. mybook.to/LaterPrinces...

Online History Festival: Defining Moments in British History I am delighted to have been asked to take part in this year’s Online History Festival hosted by British History Events! The theme and title of this year’s festival (their 6th) is ‘Defining Moments in British History’

Book Corner: Pilgrim’s War by Michael Jecks Book Corner: I LOVE Michael Jecks' latest book, Pilgrim's War. Set during the First Crusade, it has all the elements of a great novel; good story, strong characters and the occasional twist.

Guest Post: Anne Boleyn Forces Legal Reform by Heather R. Darsie The mother of one of England's greatest monarchs, Anne Boleyn holds the tragic distinction of being the first queen of England to ever be executed. And today, it is a pleasure to welcome historian Heather R. Darsie to History ... the…

On this day in History: 1200 France is placed under interdict after Philip II refused to return to his wife, Ingeborg of Denmark, who he had abandoned - and later imprisoned - the morning after their wedding in August 1193 #medievalsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2017/01/15/t...

Just had the pdf of the new book land - this is the final layout with index - so need to have one last look through, make sure there's no glaring errors. Then its ready to go and will be out in the world in about 10 weeks. Almost there... @penandswordbooks.bsky.social mybook.to/EarlyPrincess

New episode time! Post-Roman Britain Derek and Sharon have a look at what life was like after the Romans left British shores - and whether or not King Arthur really existed #Podcasts @derekbirks.bsky.social @penandswordbooks.bsky.social #Romans #medieval soundcloud.com/user-1425259...

I have always had a soft spot for Eleanor of Brittany. Captured as a teenager, she spent almost 40 years imprisoned in various castles in England. And all because she had a greater claim to the throne than King John and his son, Henry III. #medievalsky historytheinterestingbits.com/2015/01/24/e...

Totally!

Wordly Women: Catherine Hokin I am stepping out of my medieval comfort zone today to chat with Catherine Hokin. It is always nice to stray into other eras and see what they have to offer; Catherine is a historical fiction author who focuses on the twentieth century.

#OTD in 1148 Death of William de Warenne during the Second Crusade. Warenne had accompanied his cousin, Louis VII on the Second Crusade and was killed in the fighting in the Battle of Mount Cadmus, Laodicea. #medievalsky @penandswordbooks.bsky.social historytheinterestingbits.com/2021/10/30/e...

Very good to hear time-travelling historian Dr Ian Mortimer on A Slice of Medieval podcast talking about his new book (out now in hardback and as an audiobook) MORTIMER's A-Zs of ENGLISH HISTORY. @derekbirks.bsky.social @thehistorybits.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-1425259...

The Society invites applications for the following three funding programmes, with deadlines 23 to 31 January 2026 bit.ly/3LbxDQb > RHS Workshop Grants > Applied History Fellowships, in association with @ihr.bsky.social > Fellowships, for completion of a History PhD, also with the IHR #Skystorians

Wordly Women: Carol Ann Lloyd Happy New Year! Tudor expert Carol Ann Lloyd joins me for the first edition of Wordly Women of 2026

Happy New Year! I just popped in to say Happy New Year to all my readers. Thank you for your support in 2025 and here's to a fabulous 2026 for all of us! Lots of love, Sharon xx

Happy New Year! A special treat for the last day of 2025 is Derek and I chatting with the inimitable Dr Ian Mortimer, whose knew book, The A to Zs of English History is enlightening! And at the end, we have a little teaser for what to look out for in 2026.... soundcloud.com/user-1425259...

#otd (or thereabout): 1135 Stephen of Blois is crowned King of England, stealing the throne from his cousin, Empress Matilda. His usurpation of the crown would spark 19-year war in during which the chroniclers claimed "Christ and His Saints slept". historytheinterestingbits.com/2023/12/22/t...

These are just a few of the books from authors who have all been interviewed for the Into the Greenwood podcast! Including... @benitocereno.bsky.social @icysedgwick.bsky.social @thehistorybits.bsky.social @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social

Wordly Women: Ann M. Beggs For the last Wordly Women of 2025, Anne M. Beggs steps into the spotlight to talk about her love of horses and 13th century Ireland

Ooh! This sounds fun! 😍😍😍😍😍

It is not Christmas until the A Slice of Medieval Christmas Special has dropped. Derek and Sharon have a nostalgic look back at some of their favourite episodes of the last 3 years. Do you have a favourite? Merry Christmas! @penandswordbooks.bsky.social @derekbirks.bsky.social bit.ly/4oZlaNe

Had a fabulous time chatting with Jess at the Herstory podcast, talking about Scotland's medieval queens, their role in and contribution to Scottish history @penandswordbooks.bsky.social #medievalsky open.spotify.com/episode/4eg8...

Elizabeth Mure, Robert II and a Question of Legitimacy New: The story of Robert II, the first Stewart king, and his first wife, Elizabeth Mure. Their marriage was rather unconventional and not without controversy

Book Corner: Swords in the Snow by Matthew Harffy and Steven A. McKay A fabulous new novella featuring Little John and Friar Tuck, written by Steven A. McKay and his partner-in-crime Matthew Harffy

Book Corner: Mortimer’s A to Zs of English History by Ian Mortimer New review: Mortimer's A to Zs of English History has to be one of the best books I have read this year. It is such a fun read - and informative!

Wordly Women: Anna Belfrage For my latest edition of Wordly Women, it is an absolute pleasure to welcome my dear friend, Anna Belfrage.

All I want for Christmas is ... a good book! But which one? Our guests have some suggestions... #podcast #medievalsky @penandswordbooks.bsky.social @derekbirks.bsky.social @patbracewell.bsky.social @angusdonald.bsky.social @historylauren.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-1425259...