ABOUT OLIVIA HAYFIELD
“These classic, epic style reads are loosely based on the to-ing and fro-ing of English monarchy … think a medieval version of The Crown.”
– Belfast Telegraph
Welcome, Readers!
I’m Olivia Hayfield*, author of modern retellings of historical tales.
Thanks for dropping by. I’m hoping this is because you’ve read one of my books and would like to find out a little more about me. Here goes – brace!
I have dual nationality (UK, NZ), three names (Olivia Hayfield, Cassie Copperfield, Sue Copsey), three author personas (contemporary fiction, romcom, children’s) and two jobs (author, editor). This keeps life interesting, but it does tend to confuse people.
Why would I add writing under pseudonyms to ways in which to confuse? Olivia came into being at the request of my publisher. Sue Copsey, they said, wasn’t ‘glamorous’ enough. (Rude! said my family.) So I made up a new name, and while I was at it knocked a few years off my age. As it turns out, I have had a lot of fun as Olivia (and as Cassie, but she’s very new so … more on her soon!).
What else? We can add ‘history nerd’ to that list. Purely amateur, though if, like the characters in my books, we do get a second existence, I’d like to come back as a history academic, whiling away the hours in ancient libraries.
But as far as the current life goes, when I’m not editing (day job) or writing (most other waking minutes), I usually have my nose stuck in a popular history book. I’m a fan of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser – I read male authors’ takes on history too, but I enjoy the insight of female writers when it comes to historical characters and their relationships. And then I spend many an hour wondering what those characters would be like if they lived today.
Personal stuff: I have two children, a husband, and my other great love is wildlife.
If you’d like news on my books, events, or just chit chat about my writing life, then please do sign up to my newsletter. [Update – I’m so bad at doing newsletters. TIME! I just don’t have any. But I will try to do better.] Or drop me a line on [email protected]. Emails from readers are my favourite things.
*As mentioned, I’m not really. Like her characters, Olivia is a reimagined version of the truth. If you were after that other author (older, less glamorous, not nearly as much fun), the one who writes children’s books and is also a book editor, you can visit her at www.suecopsey.com
“These classic, epic style reads are loosely based on the to-ing and fro-ing of English monarchy … think a medieval version of The Crown.”
– Belfast Telegraph
Welcome, Readers!
I’m Olivia Hayfield*, author of modern retellings of historical tales.
Thanks for dropping by. I’m hoping this is because you’ve read one of my books and would like to find out a little more about me. Here goes – brace!
I have dual nationality (UK, NZ), three names (Olivia Hayfield, Cassie Copperfield, Sue Copsey), three author personas (contemporary fiction, romcom, children’s) and two jobs (author, editor). This keeps life interesting, but it does tend to confuse people.
Why would I add writing under pseudonyms to ways in which to confuse? Olivia came into being at the request of my publisher. Sue Copsey, they said, wasn’t ‘glamorous’ enough. (Rude! said my family.) So I made up a new name, and while I was at it knocked ten years off my age. As it turns out, I have had a lot of fun as Olivia (and as Cassie, but she’s very new, so more on her soon!).
What else? We can add ‘history nerd’ to that list. Purely amateur, though if, like the characters in my books, we do get a second existence, I’d like to come back as a history academic, whiling away the hours in ancient libraries.
But as far as the current life goes, when I’m not editing (day job) or writing (most other waking minutes), I usually have my nose stuck in a popular history book. I’m a fan of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser – I read male authors’ takes on history too, but I enjoy the insight of female writers when it comes to historical characters and their relationships. And then I spend many an hour wondering what those characters would be like if they lived today.
Personal stuff: I have two children, a husband, and my other great love is wildlife.
If you’d like news on my books, events, or just chit chat about my writing life, then please do sign up to my newsletter. [Update – I’m so bad at doing newsletters. TIME! I just don’t have any. But I will try to do better.] Or drop me a line on [email protected]. Emails from readers are my favourite things.
*As mentioned, I’m not really. Like her characters, Olivia is a reimagined version of the truth. If you were after that other author (older, less glamorous, not nearly as much fun), the one who writes children’s books and is also a book editor, you can visit her at www.suecopsey.com
QUEEN, KING, ACE
Britain is broken. It needs a new hero.
‘Avalon. Where King Arthur rests until Britain needs him again.’ Eliza looked over at Ace and smiled. ‘Now would be good.’
Britain is sunk in gloom, its government blundering between crisis and scandal. The country desperately needs a new hero.
Enter Arthur ‘Ace’ Penhalagon, smashing his way to Wimbledon victory and into women’s hearts. Ace has two missions: to be the first man to win the Golden Slam – the Holy Grail of tennis – and to use his fame as a force for good.
Eliza Rose, head of media giant Rose Corporation, shares Ace’s dreams for Britain. For him it’s love at first sight, but ever cautious, she prioritises her career.
When Eliza becomes the target of abuse and death threats from Ace’s fans, he spirits her away to the safety of his native Cornwall. But there, he too must confront his demons. His past is a mystery to Eliza. And what happened to his beloved foster brother, Locryn, who ran away after a dark episode Ace refuses to discuss?
What secrets is Ace hiding?
In that far corner of England, where magic is woven into the fabric of the land, a reckoning awaits. Will love triumph over Fate, or will history, yet again, repeat?
Advance Goodreads reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A thoroughly entertaining retelling of an ancient legend reimagined in post-Covid/post-Brexit Britain. Olivia has expertly combined mystery, romance and a touch of magic while also tackling wider issues about social media and who holds the power in modern society. It has all the feels!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I couldn’t put Queen, King, Ace down as twist after twist was layered on and we rushed to an epic climax. … The book itself doesn’t shy away from big issues, such as stalking and social media bullying, but it grapples with them in a fun way while staying true to the message that they are always unacceptable.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I was thoroughly swept up in this story … history and mythology have been cleverly interwoven to create a compelling dramatic love story. There are lots of delicious Easter eggs and I loved spotting them. Most satisfying.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This book will take you on a ride. The love this author has for Royal history shines throughout the story. The storyline will have you feeling every emotion – you want to just keep turning the pages to see what happens next. Absolutely great read.”
WHERE TO BUY
PAPERBACK
In New Zealand, available from these bookshops:
NZ / The Women’s Bookshop, Auckland
NZ / The Booklover, Milford
OUTSIDE NZ, from Amazon
EBOOK
NOTORIOUS
Rumour has it …
An escapist, compelling page-turner of love, fame and scandal, Notorious is a modern-day retelling of one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries – the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower – and the royal enigma that was Richard III.
From The Belfast Telegraph:
“These classic, epic style reads are loosely based on the to-ing and fro-ing of English monarchy … think a medieval version of The Crown. In this tale, loosely based on the Princes in the Tower mystery, the Snow family is known the world over. Mum Belle is a famous singer, dad Teddy an actor (and party animal), while the children learn to grow up in their parents’ shadows.
“The eldest, Emma, wants to be a writer and hopes that by focusing on her dream career, she won’t focus on that man who doesn’t seem to want to be in a relationship, Rowan Bosworth.
“When an unspeakable event occurs on what is purported to be the most romantic day of the year, the Snow family is ripped apart. Cue Emma facing up to some very unpleasant and unwanted truths about her not so perfect famous family.
“A fast paced read that you’ll adore, whether you have even a passing interest in English history or not.”
– Aine Toner, Belfast Telegraph
“A rattling good contemporary love/detective story which people will enjoy on many different levels.” – Dame Fiona Reynolds, former Master, Emanuel College, Cambridge, and Director-General, The National Trust
Praise for NOTORIOUS
“It’s one thing to write a satisfying crime novel, and quite another to base it on real historical characters and events. Lovers of crime will enjoy the cleverness of the plotting, and history buffs will appreciate how well Hayfield has captured the essence of the original characters’ personalities and their dynamics – the power plays, treason and deceit … an ingenious adaptation of history and a gripping mystery to boot.”
– The Listener
“A royal-inspired romp that sees the infamously murky story of King Richard III and the Princes in the Tower transported to modern day. It’s a clever whodunnit with a bonus love story that’ll have you hooked. ” – Woman’s Day
“Fantastically entertaining, very cleverly done … a lush novel in the Jilly Cooper tradition … An ideal novel for cosy, escapist winter reading. Hayfield will have you suspicious, guessing, and turning pages, each one like the chocolate truffles Lady Madeline leaves in Emma’s bedroom – like Emma, you won’t be able to stop at one or two.”
– Kete: New Books from Aotearoa
“[Olivia Hayfield writes] straight-up great novels that reimagine history … I whooped when it arrived, turned on the telly for the kids, and made myself scarce … [Hayfield] never misses a chance to inject glamour, but there’s real heart to her books.”
– The Spinoff Books Review
“Part mystery, part romance, with lashings of rich and famous people … If you want to be won over by an escapist pleasure read, then Notorious will be Victorious!”
– Woman’s Weekly
SISTER TO SISTER
Following the scandalous revelations about his love life, disgraced media mogul Harry Rose is searching for redemption. His daughters – bright, winsome Eliza and dark, difficult Maria – have taken over the helm at Rose Corp. But while Eliza’s on study leave at Oxford, Maria embarks on a drive to rid the British media giant of sleaze. His legacy under threat, Harry wants Maria out and Eliza in. But hanging between Harry and Eliza is the unresolved death of Eliza’s mother.
Eliza has a vision for Rose Corp. Along with Will Bardington and Kit Marley, enfants terribles of the arts world, she plans a new golden age of British TV drama. But Maria is standing in her way. And then there’s the distraction of her childhood playmate, the twinkly-eyed Rob Studley, and a new threat, from Eliza’s thorn-in-the-side Scottish cousin.
Guided by Harry, Eliza navigates life as Rose Corp’s new queen. But after a stellar start, things take a dark turn, and ultimately Eliza will have to make a choice: career, or love? It shouldn’t be this hard.
Loosely based on the reigns of Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth, Sister to Sister is the sequel to Wife After Wife.
Praise for Sister to Sister
“Even if you’re not an aficionado of Tudor history, there is lots to love in this racy romp about the lives of the rich and fabulous. The historical factor is fun though, and adds another layer to an addictively readable novel … if you’re a fan of Jilly Cooper or something of a history buff, then you’re really not going to want to miss out.” – Woman’s Weekly
“The skill of Hayfield in creating a believable modern storyline that maintains the essence of the historical characters and events makes this book more than simply a light-hearted version of the television show Succession. … in a turbulent summer, Sister to Sister is the perfect escape. ” – The Listener
“The ingenious way Hayfield re-casts and contemporises the Tudor court gives her a chance to have some fun but there remain perceptive observations of modern life, from the influence of the religious right to the relationship problems caused by family dysfunction … an amusing, smart and oddly thought-provoking read with glamour and great heart.”
– Kete: New Books from Aotearoa
“A must-read for history buffs.” – Woman’s Day
“A fun and entertaining read, more than perfect for lock down life. If you love your Tudor history, you will love the many, many Tudor references … All in all, non-stop Tudor intrigue!”
– An Historian About Town (blog)
“… the sequel is just as fantastic in a different way … a fun read but also packed quite an emotional punch for me (I’m not too proud to admit I cried my eyes out!).” – Royalcentral.co.uk
UK / AMAZON OR WATERSTONES
USA / AMAZON – CANADA / AMAZON
AUSTRALIA / AMAZON
NEW ZEALAND / WOMEN’S BOOK SHOP
WIFE AFTER WIFE
A wickedly entertaining and utterly absorbing modern take on the life and marriages of Henry VIII … if he were a twenty-first-century womanising media mogul rather than the King of England.
Master of the universe Harry Rose is head of the Rose Corporation, number eighteen on the Forbes rich list, and recently married to wife number six. But in 2018, his perfect world is about to come crashing to the ground. His business is in the spotlight – and not in a good way – and his love life is under scrutiny. Because behind a glittering curtain of lavish parties, gorgeous homes, and a media empire is a tale worthy of any tabloid.
And Harry has a lot to account for.
“This will delight both Tudorphiles and readers who love a dishy tellall about rich people behaving badly.”
– Booklist (American Library Association, Book Reviews)
“A near-perfect holiday read – a right royal romp, you might say – but its clever conceit, engaging writing, endearing characters and, ultimately, witty social commentary make it near-perfect for any other time of the year.”
New Zealand Herald
Praise for Wife After Wife
“Wife After Wife is intelligent and witty, and although its main aim is to entertain, it runs a solid thread of social commentary about relationships and power over the past few decades.”
– The Listener
“ Brimming with drama, deceit, romance, tragedy and passion. It reminded me of Jilly Cooper or Jackie Collins at their best, except this book is designed for an audience with different attitudes from those of the 1980s.” – Woman’s Weekly
“You don’t have to be a Tudor aficionado to adore Wife After Wife, however, those in the know will be especially delighted with this modern-day retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII. For all others, Hayfield’s clever novel is a delicious read for anyone looking to sink into a big juicy story about love, lust, betrayal and other unfortunate consequences of the heart.”
Renee Rosen
US bestselling author of
Park Avenue Summer
WHICH OF HARRY ROSES SIX WIVES ARE YOU
News
Left: With actor-director Michael Hurst, and New Zealander of the Year Jennifer Ward-Lealand, at the launch in Feb 2020 of Wife After Wife
PODCASTS
- In this Book Bubble podcast I chat with best-selling author Nicky Pellegrino about Henry VIII, and launching a book in the time of Covid bit.ly/2YyQtWh
- And in this one – On the Joys of Binge Reading – I chat with Jenny Wheeler about how I tackled bringing Elizabeth Ist into the 21st century, and the dilemma I faced over that ending.
KIT MARLOWE
This is a piece I wrote for The Spinoff, on that rakehell genius Kit Marlowe, who started life as a peripheral figure when I was writing Sister to Sister, but soon took centre stage. Read this to understand why! https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/26-01-2021/kit-marlowe-died-400-years-ago-but-hes-back-and-sexy-as-hell/
HENRY AND ME
I was invited by the lovely Natalie Grueninger of the popular podcast and website On the Tudor Trail, to write about how I developed the character of Harry Rose. In it I discuss how I set off wanting to bring Henry VIII down, but when I delved further into his character, something unexpected happened… http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/2021/02/10/henry-and-me-by-olivia-hayfield/
News
Above: With actor-director Michael Hurst and New Zealander of the Year Jennifer Ward-Lealand, at the launch of Wife After Wife in February 202
PODCASTS
- In this Book Bubble podcast I chat with best-selling author Nicky Pellegrino about Henry VIII, and launching a book in the time of Covid bit.ly/2YyQtWh
- And in this one – On the Joys of Binge Reading – I chat with Jenny Wheeler about how I tackled bringing Elizabeth Ist into the 21st century, and the dilemma I faced over that ending.
KIT MARLOWE
This is a piece I wrote for The Spinoff, on that rakehell genius Kit Marlowe, who started life as a peripheral figure when I was writing Sister to Sister, but soon took centre stage. Read this to understand why! https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/26-01-2021/kit-marlowe-died-400-years-ago-but-hes-back-and-sexy-as-hell/
HENRY AND ME
I was invited by the lovely Natalie Grueninger of the popular podcast and website On the Tudor Trail, to write about how I developed the character of Harry Rose. In it I discuss how I set off wanting to bring Henry VIII down, but when I delved further into his character, something unexpected happened… http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/2021/02/10/henry-and-me-by-olivia-hayfield/