About Me - "The Tudor Enthusiast" (aka Stephanie)
Katherine Beliveau Photography (2021)
I can't quite remember what triggered my love for the Tudor period, but when I think back on it, I believe it started around age 15 - the same time the movie "The Other Boleyn Girl" came out in theaters. Although I had heard of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, I knew very little about the time period (it's not so much a part of our history curriculum here in the States), but I remember walking away from that movie completely in love (and in tears). I started picking up Tudor novels, diving into biographies, and watching as many movies and documentaries as I could. The love for the Tudors grew and grew.
In 2011, I decided to turn my interest in the people and places of Tudor England into a blog and website for me to share my thoughts, tidbits of research, and book recommendations - even if no one read them! What started as a (somewhat) mindless hobby soon became a passionate community of like-minded, history-loving people. I was extremely pleasantly surprised to find that so many people enjoyed what I was writing and visited my website regularly... and so it's grown in the years since. Now, I continue to maintain my regular blog, as well as write book reviews, conduct author interviews, and spotlight any and all Tudor-related news, research, and entertainment.
In 2015 I earned my Master of Studies degree in Modern British and European History from Mansfield College, University of Oxford . Under the supervision of Dr Tracey Sowerby, and through the mentorship of Dr Steven Gunn, I completed my dissertation entitled "The Sunne in Splendour: The Posthumous Reputation of King Edward IV (1485-1603)" - (Yes, I like the late Plantagenet period , too!). Through my time at Oxford, I explored many notable locations related to the Tudor period, read as many books as I could get my hands on, and seriously contemplated pursuing a career in the UK. But, I met my now-husband five days after landing back in America, and the rest is history! I remain an active and enthusiastic member of Oxford's Alumni Association, and consider the university one of the most important and special places in my life. Fun fact: I have a tattoo of the Oxford city skyline on my right arm!
In 2011, I decided to turn my interest in the people and places of Tudor England into a blog and website for me to share my thoughts, tidbits of research, and book recommendations - even if no one read them! What started as a (somewhat) mindless hobby soon became a passionate community of like-minded, history-loving people. I was extremely pleasantly surprised to find that so many people enjoyed what I was writing and visited my website regularly... and so it's grown in the years since. Now, I continue to maintain my regular blog, as well as write book reviews, conduct author interviews, and spotlight any and all Tudor-related news, research, and entertainment.
In 2015 I earned my Master of Studies degree in Modern British and European History from Mansfield College, University of Oxford . Under the supervision of Dr Tracey Sowerby, and through the mentorship of Dr Steven Gunn, I completed my dissertation entitled "The Sunne in Splendour: The Posthumous Reputation of King Edward IV (1485-1603)" - (Yes, I like the late Plantagenet period , too!). Through my time at Oxford, I explored many notable locations related to the Tudor period, read as many books as I could get my hands on, and seriously contemplated pursuing a career in the UK. But, I met my now-husband five days after landing back in America, and the rest is history! I remain an active and enthusiastic member of Oxford's Alumni Association, and consider the university one of the most important and special places in my life. Fun fact: I have a tattoo of the Oxford city skyline on my right arm!
My first book for Pen & Sword, 'Edward VI: Henry VIII's Overshadowed Son', published in spring 2023, can be purchased here! I am now working on my second book for Pen & Sword, centered on the lives of mothers in Tudor England, and I'm so excited to be researching this fascinating topic. You can follow along on my writing journey (keep up with bits of my research and writing process) by catching up with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Now that you know a little bit about me, I hope you'll take the time to explore my website to its fullest extent, and maybe drop me a message to let me know what you've thought! I love hearing from readers, and I'm always interested to know what you'd like me to post more about.
For guest blog posts, book reviews, interviews, and media inquiries, I can be reached either via the contact form below or at TudorEnthusiast@gmail.com.
Cheers!
Stephanie
Now that you know a little bit about me, I hope you'll take the time to explore my website to its fullest extent, and maybe drop me a message to let me know what you've thought! I love hearing from readers, and I'm always interested to know what you'd like me to post more about.
For guest blog posts, book reviews, interviews, and media inquiries, I can be reached either via the contact form below or at TudorEnthusiast@gmail.com.
Cheers!
Stephanie
