Courses
Welcome, curious minds! This page is your gateway to exploring medieval history through immersive, story-driven courses. Here you’ll find two types of learning experiences: the classes I teach for Medievalists.net—structured explorations of medieval culture, warfare, and society—and my own Viking history courses, currently in development, which will dive deep into the people, places, and legends that inspired my novels. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a good story well told, you’re in the right place.
Medievalists.net courses:
The Hundred Years’ War and the Birth of Modern Europe.
Explore the Hundred Years’ War—its causes, key themes, and lasting impact on society, nationalism, and power. Discover how this conflict ushered in the end of the Middle Ages and shaped modern Europe.
Early Medieval Brittany A.D. 800-1100.
Trace the history of Brittany in the early medieval period, from Roman occupation and withdrawal to its rebellions and split from the Frankish Empire, Viking occupation and reconquest, and eventual semi-autonomy entering the High Middle Ages.
My Courses:
History Courses:
The Viking Island
Explore the proposed causes of the earliest Viking raids and invasions of Western France as a means to solve a centuries-old mystery of why they so frequently and persistently tormented the island of Noirmoutier at the beginning of the 9th Century.
COMING SOON
The Namborg Mystery
When the Bretons reclaimed Nantes after nearly thirty years of Viking rule, they expected to find a thriving city at the center of Atlantic trade. Instead, they found ruins. How could a settlement with the perfect harbor, rich trade routes, and fertile lands have been left to rot? Join C.J. Adrien as he unravels one of the great mysteries of the Viking Age: why the Norse failed to build a lasting legacy in Western France while their kin prospered in England and Normandy.
COMING SOON
Writing Courses:
Course: Writing Historical Fiction
How historical should historical fiction be? In this in-depth course, C.J. Adrien guides writers through the delicate balance between fact and imagination. You’ll learn how to build believable worlds, give your characters real agency, and weave history and story together so seamlessly that readers remember the feeling long after they forget the facts.
COMING SOON
Workshop: The Anatomy of a Compelling Story
This hands-on workshop puts the principles of great storytelling into practice. Together, we’ll break down what makes a narrative move —from narrative motivation to causation, structure, and character arcs —so you can synthesize your story from the inside out.
COMING SOON