History, Honour and Heart: A Q&A with Rhys Sheard, Author of The Trooper and the Queen

In The Trooper and the Queen, Rhys Sheard transports readers to one of the most turbulent periods in British history—the English Civil War. Rich in historical detail, unforgettable characters and gripping action, the novel follows David Truman, a young farrier whose life is shattered by tragedy before he embarks on a remarkable journey through loyalty, loss and revenge.

Blending meticulous research with compelling storytelling, The Trooper and the Queen is far more than a historical adventure. It explores family, identity, honour and the choices that shape us, all against the backdrop of a nation divided.

We caught up with Rhys to learn more about his inspiration, his love of history and the journey behind writing this ambitious debut novel.

The Trooper and the Queen brings the English Civil War vividly to life. What first inspired you to write a novel set during this fascinating period of history?

The English Civil War has always been an area of interest to me, and yet it remains relatively untouched by fiction writers, especially when compared with other conflicts, such as the Napoleonic Wars. With a country divided quite literally in two—brother fighting brother, friend fighting friend—and its blend of politics and religion, it seemed like an obvious period in which to set a novel.

David Truman is such a compelling central character, beginning life as an outsider before embarking on an extraordinary journey. How did his character first come to you?

I think all writers, either consciously or unconsciously, put elements of themselves, as well as people they've known, into their characters. In David Truman, I wanted to create a hero who, on the face of it, isn't particularly heroic. He isn't tall, muscular or handsome; he's a normal man, forced to do the extraordinary by his circumstances, which I hope makes him more relatable. I also wanted to break the trend of modern heroes by writing someone who is morally unambiguous. David, despite his drive for vengeance, is a thoroughly 'good man', with a strong moral core.

The novel balances historical accuracy with an engaging, fast-paced story. How much research went into the book, and what was your favourite part of that process?

The more research you do, the more real a background will feel; but it would be very easy to become drowned in detail. Therefore, I tried to limit my research to specific elements of the period which were relevant to my story: what a cavalryman might have worn, how he would've fought, etc. While I enjoyed the research process, nothing quite compares to starting with a blank page, armed with the detail needed to make a story feel authentic.

Many of the locations, customs and historical figures feel incredibly authentic. Were there any real places or people that particularly inspired scenes within the novel?

Being a Yorkshireman and being familiar with the landscape certainly helped in my decision as to where I'd set my novel. It's hard to go to the North York moors or dales and not feel inspired in some way. Those areas would've been much wilder back in the 17th century, providing a dramatic backdrop for any story.

Some scenes and characters are more based on reality than others. Sir William Wolfe, for instance, is partly inspired by the brutal Lord Derby, though I switched his allegiance to Parliament and made his worst crimes more extreme. There were massacres and atrocities committed by both sides, and the final battle at Howley shows how war can touch anyone, regardless of who they are or where they live.

Although this is a historical novel, the themes of family, identity, revenge and belonging feel timeless. Were those themes something you consciously wanted to explore?

Identity was certainly a theme I wanted to examine. David has a near-constant chip on his shoulder because of his parentage, and over the course of his journey, we see him slowly lose the shame of being born illegitimate.

Another theme throughout the story is that of injustice. Right from the beginning, we see the powerful preying on the weak and powerless, while the victims of their crimes have no means of challenging them. Ostensibly, Sir William and Parliament offer a change to the status quo, which might have made David a willing ally. But the actions of Sir William push David irreversibly onto the Royalist side; thus, he finds himself defending a system he hates. 

Battles, horsemanship and military life are described with remarkable realism. How did you approach writing these scenes so they felt both authentic and exciting?

Again, research is vital to making a scene feel realistic. But in order to capture the human element, I tried to imagine myself back in the 17th century. I asked myself, what would it have smelt like? What would it have sounded like? How would it feel to be tossed into a life-or-death situation? No writer can truly recreate the horror of battle unless they've experienced it themselves. But by making the action scenes as horrid and visceral as possible, I hoped to get somewhere close.

Historical fiction often encourages readers to see familiar events from a new perspective. Is there anything about the English Civil War that you hope readers will come away understanding differently?

When looking at history, it's easy to focus on the main players: lords, ladies, generals, etc. I wanted to present 17th-century society from the bottom and delve into how a typical man or woman might have seen the events taking place around them. As is the case today, the powerful make decisions, and everyone else has to live with the consequences. I wanted to explore how those consequences affect the ordinary man or woman. 

Every author develops their own writing process. What did a typical writing day look like while bringing The Trooper and the Queen to life?

I first started writing while I was between jobs, and once I'd started, I couldn't stop. Having a full-time job means I can only write when time allows, and sometimes it's simply a matter of sitting down and making myself write. Some days I'd write ten pages easily, but on others I'd struggle to get past a single paragraph. What I learned was to keep working, even when I didn't feel like writing. If all I wrote was one sentence, then it was better than nothing, as it kept my imagination active. 

Outside of writing, what are some of your interests or hobbies that readers might be surprised to discover?

While writing is a passion and something I wish I had more time for, I'm most comfortable outside in all weathers. I love walking and travelling, both of which inspire me in my writing process. Being a Yorkshireman, I enjoy my sport and am an avid supporter of Leeds United. 

Where can readers follow your journey as an author and keep up to date with your book?

For any updates on my book and any future works, I'd encourage you to look up the Partnership Publishing blog.