Rock, Paper, Swords! - the Historical Action and Adventure Podcast

Steven Savile returns to Rock, Paper, Swords! to talk about Chronicles: Medieval, the ambitious medieval sandbox game he's writing for Raw Power Games — and A Century of Swords, the 35-author historical fiction anthology launching alongside it on Kickstarter. Matthew and Justin (both contributing authors) dig into the game's Hundred Years' War setting, the anthology's scale, companion novels tied into the game itself, and what backers actually get for their pledge. Plus the usual writing updates and podcast news. 🔗 Steven Savile: https://stevensavile.com 🔗 Chronicles: Medieval: https://www.rawpowergames.com/games/chronicles-medieval 🔗 Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2231020/Chronicles_Medieval/ 🔗 A Century of Swords: https://centuryofswords.net Support the podcast:🎙 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast ☕ Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/rockpaperswords 🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords ✉️ Get in touch: rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com #HistoricalFiction #HundredYearsWar #ChroniclesMedieval #Kickstarter #HistFic

Champion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale returns to Rock, Paper, Swords! — this time with backup. He's joined by 90s action icon Jeff Speakman (The Perfect Weapon) and Chef-turned-director Joe Gatto to talk about Lost Echoes, The Movie: an indie feature adaptation of Lansdale's 2007 supernatural thriller, currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter. Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill dig into the story behind the story — a man who can hear violence echoing in sounds from the past, the alcoholic martial arts mentor who helps him fight it, and why three creators walked away from the traditional studio system to make this film entirely on their own terms. Plus: Speakman's 20-years-in-the-making comeback role, Gatto's leap from private chef to feature director, and why "you can be a dead body in the movie" might be the best Kickstarter reward tier ever devised. Kickstarter & guest links: Kickstarter — Lost Echoes, The Movie: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chefjoegatto/lost-echoes-the-movie Chef Joe Gatto — Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjoegatto/ Joe R. Lansdale — Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeRLansdale Jeff Speakman — Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Speakman5.0/ 🎧 Support Rock, Paper, Swords! on Patreon: patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All links: linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords #LostEchoes #JoeLansdale #JeffSpeakman #IndieFilm #RockPaperSwords

A special, shorter bonus episode — and the final stop on our HNS 2026 Maynooth coverage. Recorded live at the Historical Novel Society's Maynooth conference, Matthew and Justin sit down with historical fiction author MJ Porter (aka Melissa) for the only long-form interview they recorded that weekend. MJ talks ferry-only travel to Ireland, a nervy trip into the Newgrange passage tomb, St Kevin and Glendalough, her Saxon Mercia novels and her latest release about King Offa, what she's writing next, and a surprise same-day release of a Warhammer 40,000 novel. Enjoy this one — normal service resumes next episode! Support the podcast: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast MJ Porter links Website: https://www.mjporterauthor.com Blog: https://mjporterauthor.blog Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/coloursofunison

It's a bumper one this week! Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill spent the weekend of 21–23 August at the Historical Novel Society's 2026 conference in Maynooth, Ireland, and grabbed dozens of short, on-the-spot interviews with historical novelists between sessions, in corridors, and over conference dinners. Across the episode you'll hear from Frances Donovan, Carolyn Morgan, Vaseem Khan, Kevin Connolly, Griff Hosker, Laura Morelli, Martin Lake, Aidan Morrissey, Lawrence O'Bryan, Anna Belfrage, Susan Nolen, Katherine Mezzacappa, Liz Harris, Naveen Sridhar, Krishor Sridhar, Alison Morton, Maybelle Wallis and Margaret Skea — covering everything from a copper-boom sea voyage around Cape Horn to alternate-history Rome, a Sumerian priestess-poet, and a keynote on James Bond and the end of the Raj. Plus: Tolkien's Irish footsteps, the story behind Matthew and Justin's after-dinner speech, and why AI shouldn't get to write your stories. 🔗 Links: https://linktr.ee/rockpaperswords 🔗 Patreon (bonus episodes, including the after-dinner speech): https://patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast (A quick confession for patrons: We always read out the names of Patreon Producers and higher tiers, but in all of the excitement of editing, we forgot to include that in this episode. But that in no way lessens our gratitude to our Patreon Producers: Ben Maher, Andy Maxwell, Ben Fox, George Johnson, Matt Muller, and Tricia! Our VIP, Bader Khrais! And our Legend, Adam Turner! Usual service will be resumed in subsequent episodes.) #HistoricalFiction #HistFic #HNS2026 #HistoricalNovelSociety

Rock, Paper, Swords — the historical action and adventure podcast — welcomes explorer Thor Pedersen, author of The Impossible Journey. In October 2013, 34-year-old Dane Thor Pedersen left home with one absurd rule: reach every country on Earth without ever boarding a plane. No flights, no shortcuts — just cargo ships, buses and trains, through 203 countries. What he thought would take four years took almost ten, including a two-year pandemic lockdown in Hong Kong with nine countries still to go. Along the way he crossed deserts under armed escort, talked his way through hundreds of checkpoints in Central Africa, served as a Red Cross Goodwill Ambassador, got engaged on the summit of Mount Kenya, and got married not once but three times (online, in Vanuatu, and finally at a Danish town hall) just to make the paperwork stick. In May 2023 he set foot in the Maldives and completed his mission — the only person in history to reach every country on Earth without flying — a journey he now tells in full in his memoir, The Impossible Journey: 10 Years. 203 Countries. No Flights. In this episode, Thor talks to Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill about: The email from his father that started the whole obsession Why Central Africa "nearly broke his back" — corruption, checkpoints, and the surreal bureaucracy of getting a single visa Surviving the West African Ebola outbreak while travelling through the region How he financed a decade on the road — corporate sponsorship, crowdfunding, skipped meals, and a very unexpected job at a Danish seafarers' mission in Hong Kong Getting stuck in Hong Kong for two years during COVID-19, with the finish line agonisingly close The love story that ran alongside the adventure, including a proposal on Mount Kenya Turning a ten-year odyssey into a book: the "hero's journey" structure, what he left out, and the reader reactions that stuck with him The documentary film years in the making, and the small taste of it currently on BBC iPlayer Why he's not chasing "most travelled person" status, and what a possible second book — this time about hope — might look like Also in this episode: Matthew and Justin catch up on summer writing projects, the perils of a multi-author historical anthology (the Battle of Stamford Bridge, 1066), a debate about AI-generated book covers, and the $2 million debut novel deal that collapsed over AI authorship questions. About Thor Pedersen: Thor Pedersen (also known as Torbjørn C. Pedersen) is a Danish adventurer and the only person in history to have visited every country in the world without flying — a continuous, unbroken journey completed over nearly a decade. He served as a Red Cross Goodwill Ambassador throughout the project, "Once Upon a Saga," and is now a speaker and author. His memoir, The Impossible Journey , is out now in English and German, with a companion documentary film in the works. Learn more at thorpedersen.dk . Links mentioned in this episode: Thor Pedersen's website: thorpedersen.dk The Impossible Journey (book): Amazon UK BBC documentary feature: BBC iPlayer (search "The Impossible Journey") Counting Countries podcast, hosted by Ric Gazarian (mentioned by Thor) Support the show: Get 80% off all Patreon tiers throughout August 2026 with code 80AUGUST26 — patreon.com/rockpaperswordspodcast . Send us your best email or social media comment and if we read it out on air, you'll win 6 months of free Producer-level Patreon access: rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com

Did Harold Godwinson really force-march his army 190 miles to Hastings — or is that just Victorian storytelling? Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by Professor Tom Licence (University of East Anglia), whose new biography Harold: Warrior King is out 11 August 2026. Tom walks us through the source-by-source detective work that made international news: why the "forced march" from Stamford Bridge doesn't hold up under the Latin, and why the evidence instead points to Harold's army moving by sea. We dig into what the Bayeux Tapestry actually says versus what its images imply, why the Victorians reshaped 1066 into a national origin myth, and why Harold — illegitimate, Anglo-Danish, and a first-generation product of Cnut's conquest — deserves recognition as a genuine military strategist rather than the doomed, headstrong king of legend. Plus: news on Matthew's forthcoming Roman novel, Justin's new novel Bjorn the Fell-Handed , and a Patreon Odyssey bonus episode discount. Get 80% off all Rock, Paper, Swords! Patreon tiers in August with code 80AUGUST26: https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Keywords: 1066, Battle of Hastings, Harold Godwinson, Anglo-Saxon history, Norman Conquest, Bayeux Tapestry, medieval history podcast, historical fiction podcast

Matthew and Justin review Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of The Odyssey on Patreon this month. Check out this preview of that bonus episode. If you want to hear the full episode and the back catalogue of all previous bonus episodes, sign up to Patreon at 80% DISCOUNT FOR THE WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST ON ALL TIERS ! Just use the code 80AUGUST26 patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Matthew Harffy flies solo this week to welcome back bestselling historical novelist David Gilman — former firefighter, professional photographer, and Parachute Regiment reconnaissance soldier turned acclaimed author of the Master of War series. David joins the show to talk about his new standalone novel, The Knife Maker of Venice , the story of a brother and sister torn apart by Barbary pirates in 1604 Devon and sold into slavery across the Mediterranean. David reveals the strange true story behind the book's origins — a half-remembered plaque in Dartmouth that seemingly no longer exists — and shares the deep research that took him from blacksmith's forges to the back streets of Venice with a professional historian guide. Along the way: the brutal economics of the Barbary slave trade, why sword fights are more terrifying than gunfights, David's "pantser" approach to plotting, his wariness of AI for research, and a hair-raising true story about a parachute malfunction. It's a wide-ranging, funny, and fascinating conversation with one of Britain's most reliably thrilling historical novelists. The Knife Maker of Venice is out in hardback and audiobook on 13th August — pre-order now. Keywords: historical fiction, historical novel, Barbary pirates, Venice history, Master of War series, Thomas Blackstone, Hundred Years War, slavery history, Mediterranean slave trade, adventure novel, swashbuckling, author interview, historical fiction podcast

Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are back with a packed episode: first, a candid catch-up on where their writing is at right now, and then a deep-dive listener Q&A that covers some of the biggest questions in historical fiction writing. Matthew has just delivered his Roman novel to his publisher. He's also completed a short story for the forthcoming Stamford Bridge anthology (told from a woman's perspective, covering just a few hours of the battle's aftermath). And he has fresh news: his publisher wants more books! Justin, meanwhile, has delivered his Stamford Bridge short story (after several extensions and a structural breakthrough involving flashbacks), received enthusiastic feedback from his agent on his new contemporary novel, and had his Games Workshop/Black Library pitch approved. It's all happening. The Q&A is a wide-ranging conversation that will resonate with writers and readers alike. Listener Trish Smith fires off a series of brilliant questions: when do you know a story is finished? Do you listen to music when you write? Who do you write for? What does "killing your darlings" really mean? And can you write about something you've never experienced? Listener questions from Matt Muller and Chris Hind take things further: how do you convey the scale of mass combat when your protagonist can only see six feet in any direction? What do authors consistently get wrong about fighting? What's the single best battle scene either of them has ever read? Is there a line between historical fiction and fantasy, and have either of them been tempted to cross it? Can a D&D campaign feed directly into a novel? And is there really an appetite for more Westerns, and if so, why won't publishers touch them? It's a conversation about craft, perseverance, landscape, archetypes, and why Jack Reacher is basically a knight errant. Support the show and unlock exclusive bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

In this special episode of Rock, Paper, Swords, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill take you behind the scenes of the Herne’s Arrow event at Chepstow, celebrating 42 years of Robin of Sherwood. Invited to host the cast and crew panels, Matthew and Justin spent a full weekend interviewing stars including Jason Connery, Michael Praed, Nicholas Grace, Rula Lenska, and many more. They share stories from backstage, unexpected moments with the cast, what it was like moderating panels in front of hundreds of devoted fans, and why the Robin of Sherwood community remains so special four decades on. This episode also features a montage of recordings from around the event grounds, conversations with attendees, and reflections on one of Britain’s most beloved cult television series. Support the podcast: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Get in touch: rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com

Rock, Paper, Swords! — Episode: The Crusader Storm with Nicholas Morton Released 12th June 2026 Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by historian Nicholas Morton, associate professor at Nottingham Trent University and author of the new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East (out 4th June 2026). The Crusades are one of history's most argued-over subjects — and Nicholas Morton thinks most people have got them wrong. In this wide-ranging conversation, he makes the case that the wars for the Holy Land were never a simple clash between Christianity and Islam, but a messy, many-sided contest between rival empires, dynasties and cultures. Along the way we talk about the extraordinary cast of individuals who populate his book — from a remarkably long-lived Arab nobleman who witnessed nearly the entire era, to Syriac Christians playing the long game between warring powers. We explore how Muslim Bedouin groups allied with the Crusaders, why Islamic medicine was flowing back to Western Europe, and how the demands of supplying the Crusader States drove a dramatic leap forward in medieval shipbuilding. We also get into the evolution of Crusader castles, the trade routes that made the Middle East the most strategically valuable region on earth, and what — if anything — the medieval period can tell us about the modern one. Plus: how do you write popular history without guessing? Can AI translate ancient Syriac? And is Nicholas Morton already thinking about an Ottoman Storm? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

He's one of the most successful historical fiction writers of his generation — the first author ever to top the UK fiction and non-fiction bestseller charts simultaneously, and the man behind sweeping epics on Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and the Wars of the Roses. After a long time trying to get him on the show, Matthew and Justin finally sit down with the brilliant Conn Iggulden. In this wide-ranging conversation, Conn talks about what drew him to Nero as a subject — a figure loved by the Roman people despite his cruelties, shaped by one of history's most fascinating and ruthless women, Agrippina. He reflects on the challenges of working with unreliable ancient sources, the missing texts he'd give anything to read (Agrippina's autobiography, the lost end of Tacitus), and how he navigates the gaps that historical fiction always has to fill. The conversation takes in Roman slavery, suicide and honour, why visiting a battlefield in person changes everything (including a story about the six-foot-wide exit ramp at Sandal Castle that explains a medieval defeat), and his upcoming novel about the Battle of Arnhem — a project with a deeply personal dimension, since his own father was there. There's also a joyful digression into Dungeons & Dragons, David Gemmell, the famous photo with Bernard Cornwell and George MacDonald Fraser, why fantasy is actually harder to write than historical fiction, and the title dispute between Conn and his brother that's been going on for decades. If you love historical fiction, this one is essential listening. Email the show: rockpaperswordspodcast@gmail.com Support the show and unlock exclusive bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

Ever wondered what really happens between a writer's first flash of inspiration and the moment a book lands in your hands? In this episode, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill pull back the curtain on the entire journey of getting a book published, and they don't hold back. With nearly 40 published books between them, across traditional publishing, self-publishing, and everything in between, Matthew and Justin walk through every stage of the process: the creative spark (and what happens when inspiration doesn't show up on schedule), the research rabbit holes, the difference between pantsers and plotters, pitching to agents and editors, navigating advances and royalties, structural edits vs. copy edits, cover design battles (stirrups in the wrong century!), title negotiations, publication day anticlimax, translation deals, and the bittersweet moment your book ends up remaindered — or spotted in a second-hand shop. They also dig into the financial realities of publishing that most authors don't talk about openly: what advances actually mean, why earning out matters more than a big payday, what the Society of Authors can do for you, and how PLR and ALCS quietly supplement an author's income year after year. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a published author, or simply a passionate reader curious about how the books you love are made, this is a conversation packed with insight, honesty, and the occasional laugh. Support the show and unlock exclusive bonus episodes on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/RockPaperSwordsPodcast Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

What does it take to spend 50 years championing history's most maligned king and turn that passion into six published novels? This week on Rock, Paper, Swords, hosts Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by Anne Easter Smith, author of a celebrated series of novels spanning the entire York dynasty. Born near Winchester, raised partly in Egypt watching Suez Canal convoys from her window, and a resident of the United States since 1968, Anne has one of the most extraordinary life stories we've heard on the show, and it's all filtered into the rich, meticulous historical fiction she writes. Anne tells us how Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time converted her into a lifelong Ricardian at the age of 21, how a chance meeting at a New York City party led to a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster, and how she built her six-novel York dynasty series from the ground up, always insisting on visiting every location her characters walk through. We also dig into the realities of the publishing industry: the golden age of author tours and dedicated publicists, the impact of the 2008 recession on advances and promotion, and the surprisingly personal dynamics of the agent-author relationship. Anne also previews her upcoming panel at the Historical Novel Society Conference in Maynooth, where she'll join Margaret George and Leslie Carroll to make the case for history's supposed villains: Richard III, Nero, and Marie Antoinette. Before Anne joins us, Justin and Matthew check in on their own writing: Matthew is filling in the historical detail on his first Roman novel (a possible new series set in ancient Rome), while Justin is on deadline for his latest Warhammer novel and thinking ahead to a contemporary shipping story.A brilliant conversation about history, storytelling, the craft of writing, and the power of fiction to make us feel the past. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E0uAV2wuJg0 Support the show on Patreon from just £1/month — bonus episodes, Q&As, and more: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

This week Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by Sunday Times bestselling author Elodie Harper — journalist, classicist, and one of the most exciting voices writing historical fiction today.Elodie's Wolf Den trilogy brought the women of Pompeii's infamous brothel roaring back to life, and her stunning new standalone Boudicca's Daughter follows Solina — the unnamed, overlooked daughter of Britain's most iconic warrior queen — from the chaos of the Boudiccan rebellion to the glittering, treacherous court of Nero's Rome. We talk about what it means to write from the perspective of history's silenced women, the surprisingly complex historical record behind the Iceni rebellion, and the fascinating question of what we can and can't know about Celtic Britain. Elodie also reveals why she chose Tacitus's single phrase — that the ancient Britons "made no distinction between the sexes when choosing commanders" — as a window into an entirely different world, and why she included human sacrifice despite her sympathies lying firmly with the Iceni. Plus: the spark for The Wolf Den (courtesy of historian Dan Jones), the emotional experience of visiting Pompeii's only surviving purpose-built brothel at dusk, the craft decision to write Solina's sections in first person present tense, and why even the villain of the piece — Roman general Paulinus — ended up being surprisingly sympathetic.Boudicca's Daughter is out in paperback on 23rd April. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast All episodes: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords

Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by historian Peter Jones to explore the surprising world of medieval self-help. Drawing on his new book Self-Help from the Middle Ages , Peter reveals how people in the medieval period grappled with many of the same challenges we face today—stress, purpose, resilience, and how to live a good life. From monastic wisdom and practical moral guidance to the everyday advice literature that shaped medieval society, this episode uncovers a rich tradition of self-improvement that predates modern “self-help” by centuries. Along the way, the conversation ranges across history, philosophy, and storytelling, offering insights for writers and history lovers alike. If you’ve ever wondered what the Middle Ages can teach us about modern life, this is an episode not to miss. DELEDDA MASTER: Master in Creative Writing & Translation: https://deleddamaster.com/ Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781529154863 Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

In this episode of Rock Paper Swords , Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by historian and novelist Edoardo Albert to discuss his new book, The Man Who Stopped the Sultan . The book tells the dramatic story of Gabriele Tadino , a Renaissance military engineer whose expertise helped shape the defence of Rhodes during the Ottoman expansion under Suleiman the Magnificent. Along the way we discuss the Italian Wars, the revolution in gunpowder warfare, and the emergence of the professional military engineer. We also talk about Edoardo’s fiction writing and his 30-Second Histories YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@30-SecondHistories Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781472869999 Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by historical novelist Sophie Perinot for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, research, and the realities of the modern book industry. We discuss: Moving from the United States to the United Kingdom Adapting to life in Britain, including experiences with the NHS The importance of the Historical Novel Society conferences How historical research has evolved in the digital age Changing trends in historical fiction What’s shifted in traditional publishing over the past decade Navigating today’s historical fiction market This is an honest and thoughtful look at writing as a profession — community, craft, career longevity, and the changing landscape of historical publishing. 🎧 Discover more episodes: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords ❤️ Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast #HistoricalFiction #PublishingIndustry #WritingLife #HistoricalNovelSociety

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy talk with historical novelist Carolyn O’Brien about protest, power, and forgotten voices in British history. From the Peterloo Massacre to the rise of fascism in 1930s Britain, Carolyn explores how radical politics, women’s lives, and working-class resistance shape her fiction. We discuss writing politically engaged historical novels, the responsibilities of historical storytellers, and why history’s margins often hold its most urgent truths. 🎧 Listen now and discover how history, fiction, and resistance collide. 📚 The Song of Peterloo : https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781789550757 🔗 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords ❤️ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/RockPaperSwordsPodcast

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy speak with historian Sharon Bennett Connolly about medieval princesses, royal daughters, and women’s power in the Early Middle Ages. Drawing on Princesses of the Early Middle Ages , Sharon explores how women shaped dynasties through marriage, diplomacy, and inheritance, and why their influence has often been overlooked in traditional histories of the Norman Conquest. A fascinating conversation for anyone interested in medieval history, women’s history, and the realities behind popular myths. 🔗 https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Buy the book, Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest : https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14768/9781399091022