Hildeburg

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Sandra Wagner-Wright

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Saxon Heroines

Literature & Fiction

synopsis

Synopsis
Seventh century England is a hodgepodge of warring Anglo-Saxon states filled with shifting alliances and treacherous grabs for royal power. Kings rise and fall, depending on Woden's Luck. Northumbria, the damp kingdom north of the River Humber, is a state riven with rivalries and kings determined to expand at any cost. Women have no obvious role in a warrior society, but by using their wits, four women—two queens and two abbesses—make monumental changes. One woman marries a pagan king and successfully converts him to Christianity before he dies in battle. One becomes the most powerful abbess in Northumbria and holds the Great Synod at Whitby Abbey, which brings the kingdom back to the Roman Church. Another becomes queen and keeps political alliances strong despite different religious denominations. The fourth woman ushers in a new age by negotiating with kings and churchmen to establish one united church in the Northumbrian kingdom. Based on true events and people, this is the story of Northumbria through the eyes of the most important women of their time.

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Author Biography

Sandra writes historical fiction. Her latest book, "Ambition, Arrogance & Pride" focuses on 18th century Salem MA. Sandra also blogs about history, travel, and other topics that catch her attention. For more information about Sandra, visit her website https://www.sandrawagnerwright.com

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Author Insight

Hildeburg

Allow me to introduce the Saxon heroine who inspired my latest book, St Hilda of Whitby. In the story she goes by the Anglo-Saxon name Hildeburg. Like many women in history, Hildeburg is present but not known. She presided over an important church synod in 664. Presided isn't really at the correct word. Hildeburg was abbess of the monastery at Streoneshalh (now known as Whitby) where the synod was held. But who was she? Who were other important women at the time, and how did they navigate a warrior society at a time of social change? These are some of the questions I wanted to answer.

Book Excerpt

Saxon Heroines

I shouldn’t be here. I’m supposed to be in the Queen’s Hall helping my mother. I roll onto my back and squint at the sun until clouds move in front of it.

Someone calls me. The voice gets louder as it nears my hiding place. The doe lifts her head again, whirls, and leaps into the brush, her fawn trying to keep up.

“Hill-day!” the voice shrieks.

I push myself up, brush off my clothes, and turn around. I see that it’s one of the shepherd boys.
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