Welcome to the Website of Historical Fiction Author AL Kucherenko
I’m best known for the Turnabout series, a saga focused on the time around the formation of England, roughly a thousand years ago.
This website presents both fiction and research that emerged from my work exploring this time period. You’ll also find pieces that speculate on history, collapsed and telescoped by time.
I hope my words ignite your interest in the historical moments highlighted in my novels … those we’re living through today.
The Turnabout Medieval Trilogy
Centuries before the phrase “Turnabout is fair play,” was coined, Medieval powers understood that betrayal will be justified in service of other ideals. In the Turnabout Books The protagonists are betrayed by their choices, their kings, and a war that mocks sacred ideals. The trilogy spans the Norman Invasion of England from 1066 to 1070.
The Middle Ages? Really?
Medieval chroniclers documented that people living 1000 years ago defied predictions that their world would end, just as we teeter at the beginning of a new millennium and wonder if the human species will exist 1000 years hence. Those resilient people faced a world surprisingly like our own: social, economic, and political upheaval compounded by religious fanaticism, deadly diseases, famine, uncertainty, and a persistent sense of doom—yet they prevailed. How could I not write about them?
Book 1: Knights Pawn is Now Available
A Norman mercenary (Alaric) goes against the wishes of his cousin, Wiliam the Conquerer, in supporting the Norman invasion. A terrible tragedy committed in William’s name only solidifies Alaric’s desire for revenge. The king handles this threat as royals often did: face death, or get over it… by taking a royal bride from the family of his enemy. Alaric crashes into the same moral dilemmas faced by contemporary soldiers confronting hostile civilians in Afghanistan, Ukraine, or elsewhere throughout history.
Alaric intends to use his bride (Elise) as a pawn to destroy his enemies. But his new wife is not so easily positioned in this dangerous game. She sees how regime change thunders through villages, awakening the resistance of an unconquered people. Elise has her own agenda and the alliances she seeks are not what Alaric expects. As war wages, she faces off against enemies and traitors at every corner.
The Bayeux Tapestry
Some of the major characters and events depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry are also in my novel Knight’s Pawn. While plenty of authors have done justice to the Battle of Hastings, my interest was in the battle fatigue and events immediately after the battle. The Bayeux Tapestry was vital in assisting my research into what happened that night the dead and wounded and especially Harold’s body. It gave me insight into how the Battle of Hastings affected the surrounding villages. Learning the rich history of the tapestry is something I’ve been eager to share with readers, and it comes up often enough in my blog that I’ve put together a Bayeux Tapestry FAQ.
Hence, my site could be a useful destination if you are curious about the Bayeux Tapestry. I think I can broaden the conversation about it beyond what you’ll get in a brief Wikipedia article.
NEWS
Upcoming literary events and publication updates on forthcoming books.
LATEST POSTS
Read about writing, researching, or the historical nibbles I could not resist.
- The Bayeux Tapestry Returns to England, Reigniting Debate About Its Name
The Bayeux Tapestry’s return to England in the 2026 reawakened debate about changing its designation from a tapestry to embroidery. - King & Conqueror, Made for TV
When I teach others to write, I tell them to put “the dead body” in the beginning. That is my metaphor for the central hook or dilemma that will spur people… Read more: King & Conqueror, Made for TV - Finding Ewyas
Sometimes you have to disregard local knowledge to find hidden gems. - Chasing the Tale
How a plant changed the timeline of my novel Knight’s Pawn. - AWARDS AND LIVE EVENTS
Semi-finalist 2023 International Chaucer Book Award Early Historical Fiction Chanticleer readers liked something about KNIGHT’S PAWN, a character, the plot, or the writing. Chanticleer will announced and fete winners at the… Read more: AWARDS AND LIVE EVENTS