Here's Chapter 17 from my book Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction. Enjoy. * * * * * There’s no such thing as writer’s block. If you’re having trouble writing, well, pick up the pen and write. No matter what, keep that hand moving. Writing is really a physical activity. ~Natalie Goldberg … Continue reading Writing Historical Fiction: Moving Past the Blank Page
Author: Meredith Allard
What Did Kitchens Look Like in Colonial Salem?
As George Francis Dow said in the preface to his 1935 book Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the details about colonial life are sketchy, “For why keep an exact record of doings with which every one is familiar? It follows that many of the every day happenings, the manners and customs of … Continue reading What Did Kitchens Look Like in Colonial Salem?
What Writing About Immortality Has Taught Me About Time
Boo! Did I scare you? It's hard to believe that this Saturday is already Halloween. I hope you'll have a wonderful day, whether you're getting into costume and going to a party or just hanging out at home, passing out candy. For me, this Halloween will be a quiet one, but that's how I like … Continue reading What Writing About Immortality Has Taught Me About Time
The Art of Noticing: Why Writers Should Pay Attention to Ordinary Things
Recently, I’ve been writing about Thoreau and Oliver and how they remind me to pay attention to the world. There’s magic to be found in the ordinary world, even if we don't always take the time to recognize it. We walk through our days surrounded by small but still remarkable things: the way the afternoon … Continue reading The Art of Noticing: Why Writers Should Pay Attention to Ordinary Things
What is the Color of Autumn?
October is the month for painted leaves. Their rich glow now flashes round the world. –Henry David Thoreau As someone who loves New England, that’s often the first place I think of whenever I think of autumn. I happen to live in the desert in Southern Nevada near Las Vegas. Actually, I can see the … Continue reading What is the Color of Autumn?
From My Commonplace Book: Mary Oliver on the Wonder of Being Alive
I recently watched the documentary about poet Mary Oliver on PBS–Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World. Oliver's poetry, like Thoreau’s essays, is an invitation to pay attention. She writes about ordinary things, like nature, animals, walking, water, weather, silence, and yet her poems are never ordinary. Birds, fields, even a walk through … Continue reading From My Commonplace Book: Mary Oliver on the Wonder of Being Alive
An Afternoon at Walden: What Thoreau Taught Me About Paying Attention
Even if you haven’t read anything by Henry David Thoreau, you’re probably familiar with some of his famous aphorisms: “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” “I was not born to be forced. I will … Continue reading An Afternoon at Walden: What Thoreau Taught Me About Paying Attention
The Hidden Connection Between The Professor of Eventide and the Loving Husband Series
Are you ready to read the next book in the Loving Husband Series? Drum roll please… No, your eyes are not deceiving you. The Professor of Eventide is indeed the next book in the Loving Husband Series. Yes, for those of you who figured it out, Jonathan Ferrars is James Wentworth, everyone's favorite preternatural professor. … Continue reading The Hidden Connection Between The Professor of Eventide and the Loving Husband Series
Enter Eventide College: An Excerpt from The Professor of Eventide
If you haven't read The Professor of Eventide and you'd like to give it a try, the novel is now available at an autumn price of $1.99. And just for fun, because autumn is my favorite time of year, Her Dear & Loving Husband is also on sale for $1.99. Here's an excerpt from The … Continue reading Enter Eventide College: An Excerpt from The Professor of Eventide
What Really Happened in The Professor of Eventide? (Spoilers!)
Okay, friends, it’s time for the spoilers! edition of #Ask Me Anything about The Professor of Eventide. This is the first time I’ve done a spoilery Q&A about one of my books, but I’ve had some questions that require divulging more specific information. As an author, I feel strongly that readers should make their own … Continue reading What Really Happened in The Professor of Eventide? (Spoilers!)