Eastern Association is an exercise in literary creation. I’m looking to tell the story of the English Civil War through letters, journals, and narrative created by a fictional East Anglia family, the Holyfens, by blood related to the “Puritan network” of the Cromwells and Hampdens. (More practically, it’s a means of forcing me to write to tight deadlines.)

The story starts here. I plan to take the Holyfens at least to the battle of Marston Moor (baseline scenario), and (best scenario) through the death of Cromwell and the "Restoration."

What you’ll see here, though, is pretty much the outline or the bones or the framing of the narrative; a means of researching/writing and working through various plot devices and characters, discovering what works, what doesn’t, and who pops up demanding more attention and control of the story. William Firth, for instance; a minor character who in the course of writing loomed larger and larger, not to mention Prince Rupert, the remarkable nephew of King Charles who commanded that unhappy monarch’s horse, and his pudel-dog Boye. This means that much of what you see here may be tweaked, changed, or disappeared entirely once it gets between covers.

Ultimately what’s here will be merged into a larger narrative more resembling a conventional novel and available between covers and on Kindle. The plan is do to a series of shortish (like 200 pages? And inexpensive!) novels released every year or so, as opposed to a gargantua.

Thanks for your interest, and any questions or comments, please drop me a line at jwholloway (at) mac.com.

Here's some things I like.

The British Civil Wars, The best English Civil War source on the Web

Mercurius Politicus, A brilliant blog about these times

Brits at their Best, The best of England

Archbishop Cranmer, Religio-Political Ruminations, by a great man.

And here's an attempt at writing a How-Do in a sort of 17th century style.

Eastern Association is a Great Repository of the Journals, Letters, and Narratives of the Holyfen family, minor gentry of Huntingdonshire, in England; particularly Sydney Holyfen, a merchant; and Edmund Holyfen, a soldier, and the things they see, and say, and do, in the in the great Tumults now underway in England, descending as is into Battle, between the forces of Arbitrary Despotism, and those that would defend  Our Ancient Rights and Liberties.

In Eastern Association the reader will find Histories, containing Edmund's journals, and historical narrative; News, featuring honest and accurate accounts of these dark times from Anglia Rediviva, a newsbook authored by Sydney, and official documents from a variety of sources; and Letters, which are just that.

The writings are published on the day written by Edmund, Sydney, and their correspondents. The most recent are featured on the landing page.

To see previous days, merely click on "Previous Summaries." Or, press Peruse the Past. The Dots represent publication days; Scroll through the Dots, click one, and you'll be taken to that day.

Or, click on the tabs Histories, News, and Letters, and you may scroll through those items at your leisure.