Rock, Paper, Swords! - the Historical Action and Adventure Podcast

Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are back with a packed episode: first, a candid catch-up on where their writing is at right now, and then a deep-dive listener Q&A that covers some of the biggest questions in historical fiction writing. Matthew has just delivered his Roman novel to his publisher. He's also completed a short story for the forthcoming Stamford Bridge anthology (told from a wom...

In this special episode of Rock, Paper, Swords, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill take you behind the scenes of the Herne’s Arrow event at Chepstow, celebrating 42 years of Robin of Sherwood. Invited to host the cast and crew panels, Matthew and Justin spent a full weekend interviewing stars including Jason Connery, Michael Praed, Nicholas Grace, Rula Lenska, and many more. They share stories from ba...

Rock, Paper, Swords! — Episode: The Crusader Storm with Nicholas Morton Released 12th June 2026 Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by historian Nicholas Morton, associate professor at Nottingham Trent University and author of the new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East (out 4th June 2026). The Crusades are one of history's most argued-over subjects — an...

He's one of the most successful historical fiction writers of his generation — the first author ever to top the UK fiction and non-fiction bestseller charts simultaneously, and the man behind sweeping epics on Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and the Wars of the Roses. After a long time trying to get him on the show, Matthew and Justin finally sit down with the brilliant Conn Iggulden. In this wide-ra...

Ever wondered what really happens between a writer's first flash of inspiration and the moment a book lands in your hands? In this episode, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill pull back the curtain on the entire journey of getting a book published, and they don't hold back. With nearly 40 published books between them, across traditional publishing, self-publishing, and everything in between, Ma...

What does it take to spend 50 years championing history's most maligned king and turn that passion into six published novels? This week on Rock, Paper, Swords, hosts Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by Anne Easter Smith, author of a celebrated series of novels spanning the entire York dynasty. Born near Winchester, raised partly in Egypt watching Suez Canal convoys from her window, an...

This week Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by Sunday Times bestselling author Elodie Harper — journalist, classicist, and one of the most exciting voices writing historical fiction today. Elodie's Wolf Den trilogy brought the women of Pompeii's infamous brothel roaring back to life, and her stunning new standalone Boudicca's Daughter follows Solina — the unnamed, overlooked da...

Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by historian Peter Jones to explore the surprising world of medieval self-help. Drawing on his new book Self-Help from the Middle Ages , Peter reveals how people in the medieval period grappled with many of the same challenges we face today—stress, purpose, resilience, and how to live a good life. From monastic wisdom and practical moral guidance to the ev...

In this episode of Rock Paper Swords , Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill are joined by historian and novelist Edoardo Albert to discuss his new book, The Man Who Stopped the Sultan . The book tells the dramatic story of Gabriele Tadino , a Renaissance military engineer whose expertise helped shape the defence of Rhodes during the Ottoman expansion under Suleiman the Magnificent. Along the way we disc...

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by historical novelist Sophie Perinot for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, research, and the realities of the modern book industry. We discuss: Moving from the United States to the United Kingdom Adapting to life in Britain, including experiences with the NHS The importance of the Historical Novel Society...

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy talk with historical novelist Carolyn O’Brien about protest, power, and forgotten voices in British history. From the Peterloo Massacre to the rise of fascism in 1930s Britain, Carolyn explores how radical politics, women’s lives, and working-class resistance shape her fiction. We discuss writing politically engaged historica...

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy speak with historian Sharon Bennett Connolly about medieval princesses, royal daughters, and women’s power in the Early Middle Ages. Drawing on Princesses of the Early Middle Ages , Sharon explores how women shaped dynasties through marriage, diplomacy, and inheritance, and why their influence has often been overlooked in tra...

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy are joined by bestselling author Vaseem Khan to discuss historical crime fiction, empire, and his novel The Edge of Darkness . Vaseem talks about writing crime stories set in post-colonial India, the challenges of research and authenticity, and how history, setting, and action combine to create gripping fiction. The conversat...

In this episode of Rock Paper Swords , Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill speak with novelist Essie Fox about her latest book, Catherine – a Gothic retelling of Wuthering Heights told from Catherine Earnshaw’s perspective. Essie explores the enduring power of Emily Brontë’s novel, the risks and rewards of retelling a literary classic, and why writing Catherine as a ghost opened up new emotional and th...

In this end-of-year bonus episode, Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill reflect on the past year of reading, writing, and podcasting — and look ahead to what’s coming next. They discuss the books that shaped their thinking, Bernard Cornwell’s The Winter King , Tolkien, Roman history, Churchill biographies, audiobooks, and the reality of trying to finish novels before Christmas. A thoughtful, funny, and...

A Christmas Mystery with a Twist! 🎄In this festive episode of Rock, Paper, Swords!, hosts Justin Hill and Matthew Harffy sit down with author Gareth Rubin to discuss his unique "You Solve the Crime" novel, Murder at Christmas ! Gareth dives into what it’s like to write a modern-day, Poirot-style mystery where the reader is tasked with solving the case. He also reveals the fascinating st...

In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , hosts Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill welcome writer and academic Dr Victoria Whitworth to discuss her new book: The Book of Kells: Unlocking the Enigma Victoria takes us deep into the world of early medieval art, manuscript culture, monastic life, and the enduring mystery behind one of the most iconic artefacts of the British Isles. From pigments and parch...

Join hosts Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill for a captivating chat with Michael Jecks — master of medieval murder, creator of the Templar and Bloody Mary series, and author of over 40 historical mysteries . From co-founding the Medieval Murderers to exploring how the publishing world has transformed over three decades, Michael shares his insights into plotting crimes, juggling multiple series, and k...

What really happens at literary festivals? In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , historical fiction authors Matthew Harffy ( Bernicia Chronicles , A Time for Swords ) and Justin Hill ( Shieldwall , Viking Fire ) sit down to talk about the highs, lows, and hilarious moments of literary festivals — from meeting readers and other writers to book signings, panels, and the chaos of travel and deadl...

Actor, writer, historian, and national treasure Sir Tony Robinson joins Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill on Rock, Paper, Swords! to talk about his first adult novel , House of Wolf — the opening volume in a bold new Anglo-Saxon trilogy. From his fascination with King Alfred the Great to how a tragic loss reshaped his creative life, Sir Tony discusses storytelling, optimism, and finding new purpose i...

What did it really mean to face death in the Roman arena? 🏛️ In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , hosts Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill talk with historian and bestselling author Dr Harry Sidebottom about his new nonfiction book, Those Who Are About To Die: Gladiators and the Roman Mind. Drawing on archaeology, ancient texts, and years of research, Harry reveals the brutal truth behind the Rom...

What happens when a medieval manuscripts scholar teams up with a bestselling thriller writer? You get The Tales of the Lawless Land — a gripping historical adventure series set in the chaos of the 14th century. In this episode of Rock, Paper, Swords! , hosts Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill sit down with Beth and Boyd Morrison , the brother–sister duo behind the swashbuckling adventures of Gerard Fo...

🔥 Meet Tacfarinas — the forgotten African rebel who defied Rome under Emperor Tiberius.⚔️ Archaeologist Dr Joanne Ball reveals how his guerrilla war shook the empire and rivals Arminius and Spartacus.https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwordsSupport us on Patreon:⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast🍺 Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/rockpaperswordsWas Tacfa...

Author Simon Tolkien (grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien) joins the Rock, Paper, Swords! podcast to talk about his powerful historical novels, his research into the Spanish Civil War, and his work with Amazon’s Rings of Power.⁠ https://linktr.ee/RockPaperSwords Support us on Patreon:⁠⁠ ⁠ https://www.patreon.com/RockPaperSwordsPodcast 🍺 Buy us a beer and get a shoutout by heading to ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/ro...

Our guest today is Angus Donald , author of the Outlaw Chronicles , about a medieval gangster called Robin Hood, a 17th-century series about an unusual but rather brilliant chap called Holcroft Blood. And writing as Angus Macallan, he has also tried his hand at fantasy with the Gates of Stone . We previously had Angus on the podcast to talk about his Fire Born series, set in 8th century Europe. Hi...