Albany author Amy Ullrich to launch Among the Valiant, the final adventure in her Heroes of Wessex trilogy

Amy Ullrich is launching the final book in her Heroes of Wessex series this month, wrapping up in one last adventure the fiction she has woven around the life of Alfred the Great.

Alfred, the only king of England afforded “the Great” as a title, lived from 849-901 and has been a fascination for Ullrich, an artist and author from Albany.

Among the Valiant wraps up her trilogy of stories and it sounds like a belter.

“While working to implement King Alfred’s plans for rebuilding the kingdom, Edwin, Edith and Cedric face a new threat — a mysterious foe who moves unseen through the land, striking without warning and sowing fear among the people,” goes the synopsis.

“They discover they must confront an enemy whose strength is greater than they ever imagined. The fight could cost them everything.”

It has been 18 months in the making, as Ullrich is fastidious in her research and she is full of admiration for a historical figure probably best known for burning the cakes.

It’s a small detail from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a compilation of annals telling the history of the Wessex dynasty — compiled on Alfred’s orders — which gave Ullrich the idea for the novel.

“It was a record of Alfred fighting against four Danish ships and capturing them all that inspired me,” she said.

“The characters have to deal with an unknown threat, different to anything they have faced before.

“One of their struggles is with their own fear and the book details how they grow in their faith as people living in a Christian time but probably unable to read the Bible.”

Surprisingly, there is a plaque to Albert in St John’s church in York Street, placed there to mark 1000 years between the deaths of the Saxon king and Queen Victoria.

It’s a connection which delights Ullrich, who is an artist as well as author.

“It’s so fascinating that there is a link between Alfred and little old Albany,” she said.

While the trilogy is aimed at teenage readers, Ullrich has discovered she also has an older audience and she’s hoping many will turn up for the launch on September 19.

Ullrich will be speaking at the launch about Alfred’s connection with Albany and why he is relevant today.

It will all happen at the CWA Hall at Serpentine Road at 10.30am where the book will be available.

It will also be sold online and at Due South Arts and Crafts in Stirling Terrace.