In this exclusive conversation with WorldAuthors.Org, we speak with Marketa Barborikova Linden Windsor, an author whose creative journey bridges history, psychology, storytelling, and the arts. Born in the Czech Republic and later rooted in Britain, Marketa has built a multifaceted career that spans writing, journalism, documentary work, and even music.
Her debut novel Queen Margot reimagines the dramatic life of Margaret of Valois against the turbulent backdrop of 16th-century France, blending historical depth with imaginative storytelling. Now, she turns toward a different audience with her upcoming children’s book Polaris, a story about courage, friendship, and discovering inner strength through the journey of a young girl and a lost polar cub.
In this interview, Marketa reflects on the inspirations behind her writing, her fascination with historical figures and global cultures, and how her experiences in film, music, and documentary storytelling influence the worlds she creates. She also shares insights into the message behind Polaris and what readers can expect from her future creative projects.
HELLO MARKETA B. L. WINDSOR, WELCOME TO WORLDAUTHORS.ORG MAGAZINE! PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS?
My name is Marketa (English Margaret) and I am Czech born, British bred author, the entrepreneur, once NHL commentator and sport journalist. I am known under my abbreviated name Marketa B Linden W, now Marketa B L Windsor and my full name is Marketa Barborikova Linden Windsor. I am a person of many trades, but I am not a bully, as certain trolls fantasists with fictional sci fi life describe me and never met me. I am quite a private person with the analytical mind, but I can be mischief with people I know well and also a go getter. My second book will be out in April, it is called Polaris and dedicated to any children big or small. I daresay I like reading the books and coffee and I am a big admirer of Native Americans, my favourite not so much western movie is Treasure of Silver Lake by Karl May with goodies winning, and I have seen Northern Lights perhaps five times. I also like train rides and my favourite dream train trip would be from LA or Chicago to Santa Fe (Lamy) on South West Chief Train. It is on my bucket list. I also believe that we have our lucky star.
YOU ARE THE AUTHOR WITH INTERESTS RANGING FROM HISTORY AND PSYCHOLOGY TO STEM. HOW HAVE THESE DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS SHAPED YOUR STORYTELLING AND THE THEMES YOU EXPLORE IN YOUR BOOKS?
My background in history, psychology, and STEM shapes the way I tell stories. History helps me create rich, believable worlds; psychology allows me to explore my characters’ inner lives; and STEM fuels curiosity and problem-solving within my plots. Together, they let me craft stories that are both thoughtful and emotionally engaging.
YOUR DEBUT NOVEL, QUEEN MARGOT, BRINGS THE DRAMATIC LIFE OF MARGARET OF VALOIS TO MODERN READERS. WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE ABOUT THIS HISTORICAL FIGURE, AND WHAT WAS THE MOST FASCINATING PART OF RESEARCHING 16TH-CENTURY FRANCE?
Margaret of Valois is very underestimated, yet important figure in history, living her own life to the beat of her own drum, on the backdrop of the turbulent times of French court intrigues and religious wars. She was double Queen and the sister of three French kings, the daughter of Catherine Medici. She was strong, intelligent and the maneater, compared to virtuous Elizabeth I. Both women had to carve their own paths amid chaos. I loved exploring an alternate timeline where Margaret’s story intersects with Elizabeth I, imagining how these remarkable women might have influenced each other’s worlds, and highlighting their unique strategies for survival and power.Amid religious wars and court intrigues, each played her own high-stakes “Game of Thrones, navigating these choppy waters in her unique way. We can go on and on why and what’s so fascinating about these two remarkable women.
The interesting historical tidbit about these two is Anne Boleyn (the mother of Elizabeth I.) presence at French court with strong French princess Anne who shaped her upbringing and also the next generation of the independent French princesses. Margaret of Valois was one of them. Elizabeth got the best of two worlds, from her regal great grandmother Margaret Beaufort and her smart commoner merchant grandfather Boleyn, she was a great observer.
If you look on so wide genetical poll to choose from for our political leaders who are not on par with the electorate, you see it as a striking contrast. The mistress of Margaret’s father lost all her power, not her life, when the king died, Anne Boleyn hoped for the crown and was sent to the Tower and the ultimate death as the commoner. The ultimate winner getting it all and no deeds with then fat Henry VIII, just the deeds to the properties bestowed on her was the royal born Anne de Cleves who did not argue with him and no starstruck with abuse of power, throwing the weights around.
These women also shaped the lives of Margot and Elizabeth and their poker face, silence when needed and playing the cards close to their chest. Like in House of Flying Daggers, they were not blind or stupid, they were careful and smart. They were capable to rise up, call to the arms and ring the bells in time of need – with Armada or the warrant arrest for Margot. Think of Catherine the Great who came from the minor German princeling, without any bond to the dynasty. These girls were the royal daughters of their kingdoms, both Queens. They both eventually set up the strong foundation for emerging united kingdoms and passed their blessing and the batons to the next dynasty, often hailing from their rivals – Henry IV or Mary Queen of the Scots. think of Eowyn who won her battles, defeated mocking Witch king, but curtsies to the ruler of the united strong country, exiting to have her own life and happiness.
WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE ABOUT THIS HISTORICAL FIGURE, AND WHAT WAS THE MOST FASCINATING PART OF RESEARCHING 16TH-CENTURY FRANCE?
My inspiration really came from my love of history. I studied the history but I also read boring historical fiction of old masters such as Alexander Dumas, Heinrich Mann about Henry III and it is very long text, similar to Ivanhoe by Scott. Keep it short, it is simple, history itself weaves these plotlines, you do not need to make up anything. When I first encountered Margaret of Valois, I was struck by how extraordinary her life was, not like a passive pawn in these old books, or a side dish left to her own devices. She stood at the center of the French Wars of Religion, surrounded by intrigue, shifting alliances, and constant danger. Yet she is often remembered only through scandal rather than as a political and cultural figure in her own right.
There is also personal link that helped me to understand the delicate situation on my own. I am born on the day of Battle of Boyne, I was raised as a lukewarm Catholic in very secular country of my mother and came to the country of my paternal forebears who are Protestants. It is called Church of England and I often visit a protestant church on Sunday and I have no issues. It helped to heal the disputes in Ireland and Northern Ireland and I am very happy about it. I was born in the country that was very tolerant and it was the case in 16th century compared to volatile France and the changes in the history books and religion by the king for the woman he loved in England, my paternal country.
The protestant uprising started in Kingdom of Bohemia, present Czech republic, influenced by the work of Wicleff, sent by Queen Anne to her brother Wenceslas IV. Think of Hussites and the impact on the new protestant movement across Europe. I read also the historical books by other authors, such as the biography of Charles IV’s other son Sisigmund, the brother of Anne, married to Richard II. It gives you a different point of view, new angle but also that massive global look out of the small box.
It was very intricate global weave of the intrigues. The most fascinating part of researching 16th-century France was discovering how intense and volatile that world was to live in, with the religious wars, the fragile power of the monarchy. And the intricate court dynamics where survival required intelligence, adaptability, and courage. It was a dramatic backdrop, and Margaret of Valois moved through it in a way that was both bold and deeply human. I liked the overlapping her story with the story of Elizabeth I. Very alike, very different.
YOUR UPCOMING CHILDREN’S BOOK POLARIS MARKS A SHIFT FROM HISTORICAL FICTION TO CHILDREN’S LITERATURE. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO EXPLORE THIS NEW GENRE?
The book comes to the world after almost ten years, with extra delay to certain unexpected circumstances. It is a whale of time to change myself and use the different optics, but I still have the free ,sequel’ for Queen Margot in my mind and on few pages. The major influence behind the children’s book was time, a change of gear, and stargazing. I was told about the invisibility of the stars in highly populated urban areas because of city lights by a man who asked me out in an unusual way during a weekend stay in the countryside with a group of our friends. It has never came to my mind before. You always learn something new and I like Northern lights and the navy who used Polaris – North star as the guiding fixture on the sky for the navigation.
POLARIS FOLLOWS THE JOURNEY OF A BULLIED GIRL, CHLOE, AND A LOST POLAR CUB. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE YOUNG READERS AND FAMILIES WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR STORY?
It carries hope and belief in ourselves, discovering hidden inner strength, power of friendship, and self-acceptance along the way. That there is always a light in the darkness and we are guided and navigated by ourselves, so our lives. With little magic along the way.
ALONGSIDE WRITING NOVELS, YOU ARE INVOLVED IN DOCUMENTARY WRITING, FILM PRODUCTION, AND A HISTORY PODCAST. HOW DO THESE DIFFERENT CREATIVE OUTLETS INFLUENCE YOUR WORK AS AN AUTHOR?
They all feed into my writing in different ways, but make my novels more dynamic and richer. The history or any documentary writing is about good research with the factual evidence. Film screen writing sharpens my sense of pacing and visual storytelling. There is always an extra bonus with the psychological insight or just one personal footprint of the historical gossips and people relate immediately. It worked well for teaching history during my practice – the little ice hockey players gave funny answers in the test where was the most northern outpost of Roman Empire – correctly England, Hadrian Wall, the answer was Iceland – the ice, but they remembered the term centurion because they have the helmets.
If you added the real fact that one mad Roman Emperor wanted to conquer the UK with the shells, they remember. If you write the script for the historical blockbuster such as Gladiator III, you need to remove unfortunately too many historical figures and narrow the wide historical background. You pay the attention to sort of documentary writing with few historical facts, precision and dynamic, visual storytelling. The devil is in the detail. You go with the team of the film crew into the microdetails of the preparation of the horses and the chariot cart for the races, with the betting and bribes, but also a close up on the horse eye and the blink, the damaged reins and the wheel, the splinted wheel during the race…so from the big outside look inward. The small indie movie is a different dynamic and the approach, you need to get amazing actors to make a small place and the small story big. By their acting, from inside out. if you do not get good actors and your script is bad and not followed, you get weird sort of the scripted mocumentary reality show such as Big Brother or Sister, with catfighting and remarks in closeted space. Its is all entwined.
EARLIER IN YOUR CREATIVE CAREER, YOU RELEASED THE SONG LIFE IS CONFIDENCE, WHICH IS BEING RE-RELEASED IN 2026. HOW DOES MUSIC AND SONG WRITING CONNECT WITH YOUR APPROACH TO STORYTELLING?
Ha, it is difficult question to answer and I daresay I am not a musician, although I am behind the music arrangement and modern tune of the song as well as lyrics of my rehashed nu jazz single. I am unable to read the music, but I reckon that sense of rhythm, pace and emotion in music and my song writing convey into normal writing. It is all about storytelling. In many ways, both music and fiction are about telling a story that resonates either with you, or with the rest of the world. A song and its lyrics has to capture a feeling or idea very quickly, and that discipline with the craftmanship is linked to the long run writing of the novel or the screenplay. Looking back, I was pretty naïve and very young to write the lyrics for the cover of the swing jazz song from roaring 1930s, in different language, to get into the rhythm as well as the message of the song. It is like the difference between recording the song in the studio with all bells and whistles and then being left at the small stage stripped of all acoustics. I daresay I was very young, just 20 and my real experience was more rooted in theory and the small stage without acoustics rather than in the experienced craftmanship with all bells and whistles, but looking back, I would say I did a good job, The lyrics are fitting and still resonate with me today.
The original title was Life is Coincidence, I changed it with my spontaneity into new tune as well as title Life is Confidence. That’s how you go ahead and ram it in your fragile young age. I read back the tags linked to my old single profile and it states ,angelic voice’ and ,untrained’. The untrained and unaware will describe it perfectly. It is sometimes good to be more childlish to think you can do it. I just changed the word tale into hell now.
I see that I followed the original idea of up and down and then I explored my own path, heavily influenced by the commands to switch off the lights behind myself in the big house, so it is in the lyrics..love is when you don’t switch the light off. My Certain ideas come to you immediately, even the all ideas about the magic power in my children book Polaris and then you think for a day what to craft for the corporate business newsletter as the boss. Is it factual and short enough.
It is a different approach to song lyrics and novel writing. You also write a lot of lyrics and music for yourself, not for others to deliver your lines like in the movie. You adjust it for ,your own mouth’. You know what you are able to sing and deliver. I was supposed to sing out of the blue at the memorial service of one young guy and the question raised by one organiser was about my ability to sing Memory from Cats. I was unknown as a singer and the others assured that I will be fine, I made it ages ago, and they were all teary in the end after Remember That Way and Memory, but the harsh ugly truth is that the voice range gets worse over the time, unlike your skillset, techniques and craftmanship not just in writing develop.
I am able to see richer, more layered lyrics, but often lacking that purity and direct message delivery. Using as a real example from song writing and lyrics – Chris Martin of Coldplay, he has had a certain transformation in the different way. His shift from old metaphoric lyrics pivoting into more direct approach and simpler directive phasing is remarkable in last two years. There is plain, emotional clarity with directly expressing feeling in the moment instead of metaphorical imaginary and poetic abstraction.
He still is a choir boy at heart and writes his music for his high pitch and the voice range shrinks by the age. He loves is emotional expression by yodel switch delivery, that’s why he uses the opera singing coach to stay on the top of the pop and sustain his singing ability. They are more alt rock pop and the yodel switch for fragility is a part of the game, compared to my grunt or rock grit in my nu jazz single that acts as a rhythmic accent, the punctuation behind the playful line of the text. The grunt in my singing on my lyric in my single hits the beat and fits high-energy groove music. So the lyrics as well as any text are about storytelling by different ways, different voice, tune, rhythm, intonation and projecting own feeling.
WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU DELIVER ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN BOOK POLARIS TO OTHERS ?
I would use my dedication at the beginning of my book, it sums up perfectly. To the brave little souls who find themselves a little lost, a little hungry, and a lot brave, this story is for you. It’s for the children, little or big, who dream under vast, starry skies, who feel a pull towards the wild places of the world, and who possess a heart big enough to love a creature that might seem different. May you always find your way, just as Chloe found her strength and the little polar bear found its way home.
This book is a tribute to the unexpected friendships that can blossom in the most surprising corners of the earth, and to the enduring magic that exists when we open our hearts to the wonders around us. For every one who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what secrets it holds, and for every one who has ever felt the silent, powerful bond between themselves and an animal, this is our shared adventure. It is for the dreamers, the adventurers, the ones who believe in the impossible, and for all the quiet moments of courage that ripple outwards to change the world.
May your own journeys be filled with wonder, resilience, lives guided and navigated by ourselves and Northern Star like the ships ages ago, with the unwavering light of hope, much like the aurora borealis that graces not just the polar skies. Remember that even in the face of challenges, the most extraordinary connections can be found, and that love, in its purest form, knows no boundaries.
FINALLY, WHAT CAN READERS EXPECT NEXT FROM YOU AFTER POLARIS, AND ARE THERE ANY FUTURE STORIES OR PROJECTS YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
Certainly not a new book within a year, but the script and so one indie movie about intergenerational bond, memory loss, dementia, manipulation and finding the light in one direction – exit. More documentaries, three are in the pipeline – one is Last Mohican, another is WW2 documentary and the latest one is 3 part historical series. And having fun and coding.
The book will be available in early April 2026 with worldwide distribution, with manga book cover for Japan, the website is www.thepolarisbook.com