About the Author
Liz Sevchuk Armstrong
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(pen name for Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong)
At age 12, Liz heard the name “Hotspur” in Shakespeare’s play Henry IV—and it changed her life forever. Within hours, she began paging through encyclopedias and scouring libraries to learn about the real-life Sir Harry and King Henry. She didn’t find much, beyond discovering that Shakespeare, in exercising artistic license, distorted key details. (For instance, he turned Hotspur, an experienced and respected commander, about 40 years old, into a headstrong youth.) So she gave up, for a time—a long time.
After majoring in journalism at Indiana University, Liz spent decades as a reporter and news editor, focusing on government institutions ranging from tiny village councils to the U.S. Congress, White House, and Supreme Court. Along the way, she won more than 20 awards for news coverage, including in-depth or investigative reporting, and also picked up honors (in stints away from news) for editorial work for non-profit organizations. In addition, she earned a graduate degree in history and, years after first pursuing Hotspur and King Henry, made their clash the subject of her master’s project. Her scholarly research into obscure elements of medieval British politics and her background as a journalist chronicling contemporary government provided valuable insights for writing the Epic of Hotspur.
Book I, To Remain Vigilant, from BWL Publishing Inc., won Chanticleer Reviews and Media’s international Chaucer Award for best 2024 historical novel set in the dark ages-medieval era. The second volume, To Be Worthy in Honor, also from BWL, debuted in May. Efforts now proceed on the final book in the trilogy, tentatively titled To Tread on Kings.
Liz lives in a small village in the Hudson River Valley and welcomes ideas, questions, and feedback from readers or prospective readers. She can best be contacted via e-mail:
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