Emma Batten -
Author of Historical Fiction set on Kent's Romney Marsh.
Romney Marsh is a fascinating place. Once under the sea, it has evolved over the last two millennia to be the low-lying land we see today. The countryside can be bleak, but reed-lined drainage ditches and red-berried hawthorn have their own special beauty. The seaside villages can easily be dismissed if you look no further than the arcades and ice-cream shops, but they have a colourful history. And then there is the shingle spit at Dungeness: a truly unique landscape favoured by artists, film-makers and writers.
What about the people who used to live there? We can only imagine what their lives were like.
My stories take readers from the 13th century, when a great storm destroyed the coastline and a river changed course overnight, through to life in Victorian and 1920s Dungeness, then on to WW2. Although predominantly fiction, I work very hard to give readers an accurate sense of Romney Marsh through the ages and do a lot of research.
What's new for 2020?
The Pendant Cross set in Anglo-Saxon times has been released (April 2020). It is set in West Hythe and Lyminge.
I now offer talks on the self-publishing process and my author journey, or the research I've done to create my series set in Dungeness, Lydd and Ashford.
The Kent Wildlife Trust have given me the opportunity to run workshops for beginners. The first two were highly successful and I look forward to repeating this in October 2020, as well as running a new workshop at Bilsington Priory.
Also for 2020: Still Shining Bright - a prequel to Secrets of the Shingle! To be published in November.
All novels are available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and as paperback novels.
The paperbacks are for sale in the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre (New Romney - currently open Friday, Saturday and Sunday), Mary's Tearooms (Dymchurch), The Chocolate Deli (Hythe), Avocet Tearooms (Rye Harbour), Salts Farm (near Rye), The Cosy Kettle (Hamstreet), Waterstones Ashford. Also by clicking on the links below or if you live locally please contact me through this website as I can offer the best price. Prices below include postage. If you would like more than two books please contact me as I can offer a reduction on postage.