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Within the Fetterlock, by Brian Wainwright, is a book that I felt should be published. It probably would have been published anyway, but I made sure that it happened.
Within the Fetterlock is the story of Constance of York, cousin of King Richard II of England. She's not your garden-variety heroine, but she's not anachronistic either. As a publisher, I loved this story so much, I was compelled to publish it -- and my instincts have been proven right. It is, by far, our most popular book. And the author? Well, one cannot say enough good things about Brian Wainwright. In addition to being talented, he is a delightful and charming man (and he's not paying me to say that!).
The reason Within the Fetterlock is the first book I wanted to write about on Indie Market Place is because it is representative of the types of books many independent publishers hope to publish. It is not, in any way, inferior to books published by major publishers. I can say this with confidence for a number of reasons. It was, for example, a semi-finalist in the historical fiction category in the 2005 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards. In addition, it has received terrific reviews both from readers and from review publications. In short, Fetterlock is the kind of book that should be published. It is, however, also the kind of book for which an author might have difficulty in finding a publisher because it is very long (530 pages in a 5" x 9" trade paperback), and because it is the type of old fashioned saga that is not a format currently preferred by major publishers (unless your last name is Follett).
I did not become a publisher to make a fast buck -- as if that were even possible -- I became a publisher to make sure that books like Within the Fetterlock are published. Here are some reviews of the book that have vindicated my decision:
"Brian (Wainwright) is a prodigiously talented author who brings to vibrant life the characters and complex political events of an often overlooked era of British history. I think his characterisation is wonderful, as is his detail and scene setting. The sights, sounds, smells etc of the 14thC just blaze to life."
—Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Greatest Knight
"Although his mastery of the complicated myriad of events that began the Wars of the Roses is impressive, Wainwright’s true forte lies in his vivid characterization. All the characters in the novel, including the minor players, are richly illustrated. Constance is a passionate woman, intelligent, brave, forthright and tenaciously loyal to those she loves. And although she ultimately obeys her husband, she is also capable of a degree of independent thought and action that does not at all conform to the ideology of the age.
Wainwright wisely avoids the stereotypes of hero and villain – his characters are refreshingly three-dimensional, and he examines the hopes, fears and passions that drive them to the courses they pursue. Although the novel’s intrigue, love, hate and war give it a gripping pace, it is the depth of the storytelling that transports the reader to medieval England and makes this book such a good read. Wainwright brings the novel to a compelling conclusion, although after the nonstop twists and turns, the end of the novel feels almost abrupt. Nevertheless, Within the Fetterlock is an exciting and historically detailed account that brings to life the politics and people who populated 14th century England . Highly recommended."
—Bethany Skaggs, The Historical Novel Review, August 2004
"Despite the overwhelming cast of characters, including the Lancasters , Yorks , Gloucesters, Mortimers, Despensers, and Hollands , the story never bogs down in genealogical minutiae but is carried along by the intrigue and suspense. Nor does Wainwright spare us detail. "Constance, making her way back from one of the overflowing garderobes, had gathered the spare folds of her sideless surcote in the crook of her arm to save it further punishment," he writes, a deceptively simple picture that conveys the mountain of knowledge of the medieval England that Wainwright brings to the story. History buffs and anybody who likes good historical fiction will love Within the Fetterlock for the intricate political intrigues and rivalries the story involves, which ultimately had enormous historical implications involving the British throne, and from which William Shakespeare derived his timeless histories."
—Charles Rammelkamp, Renaissance Magazine
Within the Fetterlock (ISBN 10: 0-9722091-1-5; ISBN 13: 978-0972209113) is available at most online bookstores.
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