With historical fiction, do you prefer to know the actual history before or after you have read the novel? Or does the history matter to you at all? You don’t care as long as it’s a good story?
I started working on my novel again this week. It’s the first time I’ve written something new in months. I’m re-writing the first scene entirely, and this is what I have so far (always subject to change, of course): **** He knows the truth. Cobus held the parchment next to… Read More »Novel Update – Excerpt Included
Pendragon’s Banner by Helen Hollick Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN: 1-4022-1889-3 Pendragon’s Banner is the second book in an Arthurian trilogy by Helen Hollick. The first book, The Kingmaking, shows how Arthur as a young teenager grows and comes to power as the High King of Britain. The second book shows how Arthur… Read More »Review of Pendragon’s Banner by Helen Hollick
For any who are interested, I have a brand new never-been-read copy of Ice Land by Betsy Tobin that I am giving away for free. If you would like to enter your name in the giveaway, just add a comment to this post. I will close participation at the end… Read More »Free Book Giveaway: Ice Land by Betsy Tobin
My site has been nominated for the Best History/Historical Fiction blog over on the Book Blogger Appreciation Week site (BBAW). There are many categories to vote on: Best Literary Fiction Review Blog, Best Cultural Review Blog, Best Publishing/Industry Blog, Best Published Author Blog, etc., etc. In total, there are 40 categories. Pretty… Read More »BBAW Nomination
Ice Land by Betsy Tobin Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Plume (August 25, 2009) ISBN-10: 0452295696 Destiny is everything. At the foot of the tree Yggdrasil, the Norns sit and spin the threads of fate. The shuttle carries the weft through the loom, moving back and forth, back and forth, until… Read More »Review of Ice Land by Betsy Tobin
Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 1, 2009) ISBN-10: 1402215274 He was the son of a traitor. The prisoner of a queen. The lover of two women. The soldier of a king. And the target of something greater than all of these. He was… Read More »Review of Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham
I’ve compiled a list of blog topics related to medieval history, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction writing, or industry news. Here’s a brief rundown: Mark Lord dicusses Medieval Myths about Witchcraft and Sorcery ABC will air an hourlong documentary about the woman behind the boy wizard, “J.K Rowling: A Year in… Read More »Blogs of Interest
In his essay, “The Accu-Thump of Googletarity,” author John Crowley gives his take on writing historical fiction. The particular example he uses is from the World War II era in America, but the principles can be applied to whatever historical period (medieval or any other) you are writing about. The… Read More »Author John Crowley on Historical Fiction