Nicolai Tegeler, a screenwriter and director, and I had already co-written two thrillers when we decided: Let’s write a historical novel.
We then set out in search of a medieval figure and came across Matilda of Boulogne, Queen of England. What immediately intrigued us was that there wasn’t a single book that told her life story the way it deserved to be told.
Born in 1105 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, she married Stephen, Count of Mortain, in 1125 and was crowned Queen of England on 22 March 1136. These were the known facts up to that point.
But Nicolai and I wondered: What did she do before her marriage? And what happened afterward? This was where things got exciting. First, we brought on board the leading expert on Queen Matilda: Professor Dr. Amalie Fößel from the University of Duisburg-Essen. Through her, we gained access to academic treatises and previously unpublished historical records. We also conducted genealogical research, delving into both Matilda’s family and Stephen’s. As we pieced together all the facts, Matilda’s childhood unfolded before our eyes, allowing us to bring her to life for our readers in vivid detail.
We paid particular attention to Matilda’s role during The Anarchy (1135–1153). Matilda’s husband was captured and imprisoned by his rival, Empress Maud. And here, we see just how courageous Matilda was: alongside the Flemish mercenary leader William of Ypres, she commanded the army to secure Stephen’s release.
At this point in our story, we employed a literary device, weaving in and intensifying the rumours surrounding Stephen and Empress Maud’s relationship – prompting Matilda to…
Well, we won’t give away the resolution, but let’s just say: We looove this twist!
The result is a novel that uniquely blends history, suspense, emotion, and social commentary. A historically grounded yet thrillingly modern tale, interwoven with a tender love story and sharp observations on contemporary events – seen through the eyes of a medieval queen.
What we find especially exciting is that, unlike our previous books, this one wasn’t published in our home country of Germany, but in England. And we see that this acts as a door-opener with publishers in other countries.
We invite our readers to immerse themselves in the life of this bold and fascinating medieval woman, rescuing her from the obscurity of history.