Every story has a beginning.The Earl of Mercia's Father.Leofwine, newly made the Ealdorman of the Hwicce, will make enemies and allies alike as he begins to make a name for himself at the court of King Æthelred II in the final years of the tenth century.(Previously published as Ealdorman and Viking Sword- this edition is entirely revised to enhance the reading experience of those concluding the story of Lady Elfrida, England's First Queen, and wishing to read on).Every story has a beginningEngland: The Second Viking AgeLeofwine, still recovering from the murder of his father at the Battle of Maldon, must serve his king, as England experiences a fresh wave of Raider attacks orchestrated by the very man responsible for his father's death, Olaf Tryggvason.On a diplomatic mission to Norway, Leofwine is compelled to ally himself with Olaf Tryggvason, and when they're attacked by the Danish king, Swein Forkbeard, seeking retribution for Olaf's previous trickery, Leofwine is severely wounded.Surviving the attack, Leofwine returns to England to find he's been all but replaced, and the king is as weak as ever. Leofwine must fight for his position and influence amongst an unruly mob of self-interested nobles, while coming to terms with his life changing injuries and new responsibilities, as both a husband, father and ealdorman. To make England safe again, he must also force his frightened king to combat a new wave of Viking Raiders with an offensive attack on those who aid the Raiders.The Earl of Mercia's Father is the first book in the epic Earls of Mercia series charting the final century of Anglo-Saxon England, as seen through the eyes of Ealdorman Leofwine, the father of Earl Leofric, the Earl of Mercia, and ally of Lady Elfrida, England's first queen.The Earl of Mercia's Father is where readers of The First Queen of England, and The King's Mother trilogies will first encounter Leofwine, the ealdorman of the Hwicce, and ally of Lady Elfrida.The Earls of Mercia Series The Earl of Mercia's FatherThe Danish King's EnemyNorthman Part 1Northman Part 2The King's EarlThe Earl of MerciaThe English EarlThe Earl's KingViking King The English King (coming soon)PRAISE FOR THE EARLS OF MERCIA SERIES"This is a fantastic series of books, by an author who certainly knows his subject. I was into the Roman invasions but am rapidly converting to the Britons!" Amazon Reviewer"A must-read for fans of Viking age England. This promises to be a very good series of which I can't wait for the next instalment." Amazon Reviewer"Intriguing, well-written stories about the early days of Great Britain between Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror... at the time Athelred was King... the story is written from the perspective of one the emerging Earl's who sits on the Witan (counsel). The time period show the interplay between Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries (Viking raiders) as well." Amazon.com ReviewerABOUT THE AUTHORI'm an author of fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed) and historical fiction (Anglo-Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest), born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since the end of Anglo-Saxon England. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building and told from a very young age that it housed the bones of the long-dead kings of Mercia, it's little wonder that my curiosity in the Anglo-Saxons ran riot. I can only blame my parents!I write A LOT. You've been warned!Find me at www.mjporterauthor.com and @coloursofunison on twitter