Surviving My First Term As A Doctoral Student I'm very nearly finished with my first semester as a doc student. While I seem to have survived relatively unscathed, I wonder if I'll have as much luck next term when I'll be taking a research statistics class. Let me put this in proper perspective--I haven't taken … Continue reading A Trail of Breadcrumbs: How To Use Foreshadowing In Your Fiction
Author: Meredith Allard
An Interview with C. W. Gortner
Here's my interview with C.W. Gortner. If you love historical fiction, particularly Tudor fiction, then Gortner is your guy. C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies from the New College of California, as well as an AA from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. In 2012, he … Continue reading An Interview with C. W. Gortner
Another Rejection Letter? Here’s an Editor’s Point of View
You mean I have to do work for a PhD? Who would have thought? The truth is, I'm enjoying my work for my doctorate, but it certainly is time consuming. I knew it would be, but crazy me I signed up anyway. I needed a new challenge, and this is it. I'm researching the teaching … Continue reading Another Rejection Letter? Here’s an Editor’s Point of View
Thank you, Robin Williams: A Lesson in Gratitude
I’m writing and posting this quickly before I change my mind, so, as Anne Lamott said in her own post on the same subject, this isn’t going to be proofread to perfection. I don’t usually comment on the passing of famous people since I’m not sure what I can add that someone more articulate than I … Continue reading Thank you, Robin Williams: A Lesson in Gratitude
An Interview With Barbara Taylor Bradford
I've been lucky enough to interview such literary legends as John Jakes and Jean M. Auel. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview another legend, Barbara Taylor Bradford. Barbara Taylor Bradford has written the notable New York Times Best Sellers A Woman of Substance, The Ravenscar Dynasty, and The Women in His Life, among many others. … Continue reading An Interview With Barbara Taylor Bradford
An Interview With Ruth Hull Chatlien
Ruth Hull Chatlien is the author of the historical novel The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte. Here's her take on writing historical fiction. When and why did you begin writing, and did you always write historical fiction? I started my first novel when I was ten years old—so long ago that I don’t remember why I did it … Continue reading An Interview With Ruth Hull Chatlien
Guest Post: Seven Tips to Create Memorable Historical Fiction Characters
Here is a wonderful guest post about how to create memorable characters in historical fiction from Michael Murphy. Murphy is a full-time writer in Arizona. He’s been writing novels for the past fifteen years. Random House Alibi has released his historical mystery The Yankee Club. He is also the author of All That Glitters. * … Continue reading Guest Post: Seven Tips to Create Memorable Historical Fiction Characters
Do You Need to Travel to the Place You’re Writing About?
You don't need to travel to the place you’re writing about, but it’s helpful to go if you can. Sometimes traveling for research happens by accident, when you find a jewel you didn’t know you were looking for. That’s what happened to me when I was in Portland, Oregon and I found my way to Pittock … Continue reading Do You Need to Travel to the Place You’re Writing About?
Books Are Dead? Not While Powell’s Lives.
The amazing Powell's City of Books. Every city needs one. Remember Book Stores? Today I saw an empty store where a Borders used to be, and I sniffled when I realized the building is now a Ross Dress-For-Less. I have nothing against Ross Dress-For-Less—I found some cute luggage there once—but as I drove past I … Continue reading Books Are Dead? Not While Powell’s Lives.
An Interview With Author M. Louisa Locke
M. Louisa Locke is the author of the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series and a trusted authority on independent publishing. The first book in the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series is Maids of Misfortune, and the sequel is Uneasy Spirits, both bestsellers in the historical mystery category on Kindle. Maids of Misfortune is a 2012 B.R.A.G. MedallionTM Honoree. Meredith Allard: When and why did you begin … Continue reading An Interview With Author M. Louisa Locke