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| Course: | Plague! Shadow of the Rat King Novel Blog |
| Book: | Enter the Plague! Shadow of the Rat King Blog Archives to see more posts! |
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| Date: | Saturday, 7 March 2026, 2:54 PM |
Description
Welcome to the blog for the hilarious new comedy novel Plague! Shadow of the Rat King about the Undertaker who started the Great Plague of London 1665 to save his dying business!
Click the right arrow to read the latest news in sequence, or navigate using the Table of Contents in the right tab column!
My daily Vlog where I share my thoughts about writing, what I'm working on, and progress towards my goal to go from ZERO Sales to becoming a bestselling author!
The End Daily Vlog #1 - Introduction
My first post ever of my daily Vlog 'The End' - except today is The Beginning! Join me on my journey to go from 0 sales of my new British Comedy novel 'Plague! Shadow of the Rat King', to hopefully becoming a bestseller! Is this Blog for YOU? Find out in this intro video! Click to play!
#2 The End Daily Vlog - Where Did The Idea Come From?
People often ask me where the idea for my new Comedy Novel Plague! Shadow of the Rat King came from... Well, Plague! was actually a MUSICAL before it was a novel! Watch the video to find out more!
#3 The End Daily Vlog - How Do I Divide My Time as a Writer?
How do I divide my day as a writer? Writing recording audiobooks marketing? How does it all get done? Click to find out!
#6 The End Daily Vlog - Do You Prefer to Read or Listen to a Book?
I personally don't listen to audiobooks - but I hear they are all the rage (and I am recording one for my novel now)! So how about you - read or listen? Click here to watch!
#8 The End Daily Vlog - Why Do Authors Choose to Self Publish?
There are many reasons why authors decide to self-publish over finding a literary agent and traditional publisher. For me it was an evolution in my thinking and it's now a decision that I am very comfortable with. In this video you will hear my candid opinions and true-life anecdotes. Click here to watch!
Join me as I review the books I have read recently, and some golden oldies from my past - books that have inspired me as a writer! Available in card or video post format!
Heartstone Review
This is my review of Heartstone by C.J.Sansom in images and video. C.J.Sansom is one of the authors that inspired me as a writer, particularly his attention of historical detail and ability to make it all seem normal, making the past seem present. Have you read Heartstone? What did you think of it? Is it a book you want to read?
Monday Review #2 - Ashes of the Imperium by Chris Wraight
Today we review the 1st book of the Scouring in the Horus Heresy Series - Ashes of the Imperium by Chris Wraight. Is it a return to form after the disappointing Siege of Terra? Click here to find out!
See what inspirations went into my new disaster comedy novel 'Plague! Shadow of the Rat King' about the undertaker who started the 1665 Great Plague to save his dying business!
Let's Bake My Novel!
If my new comedy novel Plague! Shadow of the Rat King was a cake - and novels and authors I have read and loved are the ingredients - what went into the mix? Watch me bake my novel from the books that I have loved and have influenced me!
Memes, behind the scenes and glimpses into my life as a writer!
Self-Publishing Vs Traditional Publishing Meme
A little Batman Vs Superman inspired meme about Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing! It's true - rejection is part of being an author, but I choose to control my cover, my edit, and to reach my audience myself. Watch it here!
Writing Life Wednesdays #1 - My best writing partner - Luna!
My best writing partner - Luna, my cat (not always the best recording partner for my audiobook . Officially, she's a ragdoll, though I think there's something else in there - Burmese? Persian? She is also probably a white walker - look at those eyes! Watch here!
Featuring a retrospective on Plague! The Musical, inspirations for the novel, FAQs and even a quiz: it's a blast!
Find out what awful songs were cut from the musical, and which snuck back into the novel when no-one was looking!
Sadly, for privacy reasons, this is the version without any guests - except you, dear reader!
Laahndon Bridge. A subject of great modern confusion. Don’t go looking for it – it ain’t there! Not anymore. You’re probably thinking of Tower Bridge – the one with the drawbridge that (hopefully) opens up to let ships pass... but that wasn’t built until 1894... (prefer to watch the Youtube video? Click here!)
You might also be thinking of Westminster Bridge – the one that runs up towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and has been the site of some several dramas – everything from The Prisoner to Sherlock Holmes to Spectre (and, tragically, in real life too: the 2017 Westminster attack). But Westminster Bridge wasn’t built until 1750.
Nor should we be fooled by the current rather ugly imposter – for this new ‘London Bridge’ (let’s go Starkers and call it the Mark III) was opened in 1973 – though, to its credit, it is in roughly the right place. But cross it southwards, turn right, and stroll along the Jubilee Walkway, Southwark to see a plaque set into the river wall with an excellent diagram of the seven phases of the Bridge.
The stone Bridge that appears in Plague!, which we shall call ‘Old London Bridge’ (or the Mark I) for clarity, was finished in 1209, and was unlike anything London has seen before or since, festooned as it was in buildings up to six storeys vertical. Think of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, multiply by half a dozen, and you’re close. THIS Bridge (capital letter, please) more or less survived (via various collapses and fires) right up to 1831, by which time the houses had long been cleared. If ever I were to run for election as Mayor of London, it would be entirely on the platform of restoring London Bridge to its Mark 1 glory: just imagine the tourism $$$!
Old London Bridge was finally replaced by a more modern design (the Mark II) built alongside it before the Old Mark I was demolished. This New London Bridge survived until 1968 when, incredibly, it was bought by Missouran entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch for 2 and a half million dollars, and shipped out to the States in pieces. The story (apocryphal but amusing) goes that, upon arrival, McCulloch was furious to discover he had gotten the wrong bridge, and had not managed to snag the rather more iconic Tower Bridge. Furious or not, he reconstructed the new London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
McCulloch had the last laugh, however, as the bridge has become the 2nd biggest tourist attraction in the state, right after the Grand Canyon. Makes you wonder what he could have achieved if he had gone the whole hoedown and stuck it across the Grand Canyon instead, eh?
This is one of the footnotes from the hilarious new historical fantasy novel Plague! Shadow of the Rat King about the undertaker who started the Great Plague of London 1665 to save his dying business!
Read Plague! Shadow of the Rat King now!
Where was Old London Bridge?
Its my favourite historic location for my new comic fantasy novel Plague! Shadow of the Rat King about the undertaker who started the Great Plague of London to save his dying business! Click to see more! #londonhistory #historicalfantasy #17thcentury #greatplague #historicengland #booktube
Time to convince you to read my book!
Book Trope Map for Plague! Shadow of the Rat King!
Want to know EXACTLY what you are getting when you read my new comedy disaster fantasy about the Great Plague of London? Look no further! Available now on Amazon!#historicalfantasy #trope #greatplague #histfic #bookstagram
Where we hear from you the readers!
Community Chill Saturdays 1 - My Posting Schedule
Wonder what to expect and when from Matt Towend Fantasy writer?
On Review Mondays I'll be reviewing books (both recent and older) that are near and dear to my heart and have inspired me as a writer!
On Inspiration Tuesdays I'll be revealing where I got my ideas for stories and characters.
Writer's Life Wednesdays is where I give you a sneak peak into the behind-the-scenes of my life as a writer.
Authority Thursdays is where we deep dive into historical and literary research and themes.
On Book Promo Friday I get to tell you more about why you should read my latest works!
On Community Chill Saturdays I share what you my readers have been posting or asking.
And on Sneak Peak Sundays, I give you a little glimpse into the secret projects I am working on next!
And every day, expect the latest entry into my The End Daily Vlog where I update you on my latest thoughts and progress!
Yep it's all happening here on Matt Townend Fantasy Writer! That's the plan and it's an ambitious one - let's see if I can keep up with it! As or right now, I am on no less than 11 platforms around the internet - Patreon (Sign up for early access to content), Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, X, Bluesky, Threads, Substack, Pinterest, and my own website: Oxford English Masters dot com. Phew! So pick your poison and follow along to see me go from zero sales to (hopefully) bestseller status!
Where I tease my future projects!
Sneak Peak Sundays 1 - The Eyes Have It!
What book is this fine specimen from? You'll NEVER guess! Future clues will get more obvious over time!