Wonderful news for James and Sarah/Elizabeth fans. The last draft of Down Salem Way is finished. Really! Okay, the book is not finished finished because it needs final edits and other odds and ends, but the light at the end of the tunnel is bright and clear and within reach. This is where the manuscript … Continue reading Did That Word Exist Then? Language in Historical Fiction
writing historical fiction
Researching the Victorian Era
Writers Can Watch TV and Call It Work There’s a joke I’ve seen on Pinterest, a cartoon of a writer watching TV. The character says, “I’m researching!” to the cynical-looking people standing nearby. For those of us who write fiction, we know that watching TV or movies, listening to music, or going for walks really … Continue reading Researching the Victorian Era
Anne Bradstreet: An Inspirational Colonial Woman
Who is Anne Bradstreet? While researching historical fiction, occassionally I’ll stumble onto a fact, or an event, or a person that helps to bring my story to life in a way even I hadn’t envisaged. This is what happened when I discovered Anne Bradstreet while writing Her Dear & Loving Husband. As with most things … Continue reading Anne Bradstreet: An Inspirational Colonial Woman
Writing the Love that Dare Not Speak Its Name in Historical Fiction
Here's author Laurel Deedrick-Mayne talking about her new novel, A Wake For The Dreamland, and her experiences writing historical fiction about a gay character during World War II. * * * * * How do we write the love that ‘dare not speak its name’ within the genre of historical fiction? I confess that even writing … Continue reading Writing the Love that Dare Not Speak Its Name in Historical Fiction
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
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
Writing Historical Fiction: The Trail of Tears
My interest in the Trail of Tears began four years ago. At the time, I was teaching U.S. history and I taught the Trail of Tears in some depth to my students. One day, not long after the 2008 presidential election, I was flipping the television channels and stopped long enough to listen to a … Continue reading Writing Historical Fiction: The Trail of Tears