Blog
Spotlight on Tony Riches’ new novel ‘Katherine – Tudor Duchess’
Attractive, wealthy and influential, Katherine Willoughby is one of the most unusual ladies of the Tudor court. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Katherine knows all his six wives, his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and his son Edward. When her father dies,...
New Release! Silent Water by P K Adams – the Cracow Royal Court
My new historical mystery Silent Water is a personal project in a way that my other writing has not been. It is set in the 16th century—an era that has many fans among historical fiction readers. But the setting is different to what the readers are used to. It does...
July’s Recommended Historical Fiction
Now my next two novels are with their publishers I've had more time for reading, and so here are two books that are well-worth your time and money. The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth StJohn I've a massive interest in the seventeenth century and have written nine books...
Severed Knot : Ingenio – Sugar in 17th Century Barbados
Congratulations to Cryssa Bazos on the release of her romantic thriller, Severed Knot. The novel is set mostly on a 17th Century sugar plantation in Barbados. Here's Cryssa to tell us more about what the manufacture of sugar involved. Ingenio We have a complicated...
Recent reads and reviews of Historical Fiction
The Doubtful Diaries of Wicked Mistress Yale by David Ebsworth 'For is that not the secret of life? To keep open as many of our options as possible for as long as we may dare. And if my only remaining option to keep them alive...' This is the first of a trilogy set in...
The appeal of the 17th Century to a novelist by Jemahl Evans
Today I'm pleased to welcome Jemahl Evans to my blog to tell us why he's chosen to write three novels set in the 17th Century. Over to Jemahl. I’ve always been fascinated by the Seventeenth Century; it is the great turning point in British history. The divisions of...
The Fascinating Facts about Smugglers by @HelenHollick
I'm delighted to welcome Helen Hollick to the blog today to tell us a little about her new book. Helen is a great champion of historical fiction, and now has turned her researcher's eye to bring us two great non-fiction books - one on Pirates, and the latest on...
Building Blocks of Historical Fiction – no.1 Balance
Each historical novel is different, and each requires attention to the balance of the book, depending on whether it is a thriller, a saga, a romance, or a portrait of a well-known figure. A recent historical novel I read was very heavy on the dialogue - and...
How a cemetery in Bodmin, Cornwall inspired the idea for a Time Travel novel
I'm delighted to introduce Diane Scott Lewis to talk about her new book, Beyond the Fall, and the visit that inspired it. A Cemetery in Bodmin, Cornwall inspired the idea for a Time Travel Over a decade ago my husband and I visited Cornwall, England so I could...
The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau
The Blue is a novel which wears its research lightly and moves at a cracking pace. Genevieve Planche is a strong-willed and adventurous character, who refuses to settle for the dull life of a porcelain painter and instead sets her sights on becoming a true artist....
The East India Company – The Palace of Lost Dreams
I'm delighted to welcome historical novelist Charlotte Betts today, to tell us the history of the East India Company. My review of Charlotte's most recent novel, The Palace of Lost Dreams is at the bottom of this article. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY The Company of...
Secrets of Historical Fiction versus Non-Fiction by Annie Whitehead
I'm delighted to welcome Annie Whitehead to my blog today. Annie is both a historical novelist and a historian, and here she lets us into her writing secrets. Over to Annie: September 15 2018 saw the publication of my first full-length nonfiction book. I’m incredibly...
Shades of Historical Fiction – finding the right tone
The website Writers Write gives us 155 words to describe a writer's tone. There are probably many more than this, as each writer's tone also conveys what we call 'voice'. Tone conveys your attitude towards your subject, your audience, and your personal perspective on...
Author update Summer 2018
My blog has been somewhat neglected for the last couple of months because I have become involved in two exciting new projects, at the same time as releasing my second book in the Pepys Trilogy. The Black Death I am collaborating with a group of historical fiction...
Historical Fiction – The Ending is in the Beginning
How many of you have found a book has been ruined by its ending? Me too. Turns out that in fact we are hard-wired to wait for that pay-off, that final few moments of the story when it gives us its meaning. Here's what a scientific experiment told us about endings: The...