Blog
Tuesday Treat – Bargain UK Historical Fiction #99p #TuesdayBookBlog
Found these whilst browsing - Ten fabulous historical reads all at 99p today only plus two of my own young adult novels, also at 99p. Must be something there that appeals to you. Click the books to buy. [gallery size="medium" columns="4"...
Historical Fiction – recent excellent reads #GreatBook
My recent reading. Historical Fiction recommendations. As you know, I read widely, and here are some books which are definitely worth your time. All are beautifully written. Click the title for the UK buy...
Ten Tips for Editing Historical Fiction No.6 Status
Writers of historical fiction are often concerned with the relationships between servants and masters (see this post) because your rank was extremely important in previous centuries. This picture above expresses it well - the servant sees a lot of her mistress's back...
Coffee and History with Annie Whitehead
I was thrilled to discover that one of the historical fiction authors I'd met on facebook, Annie Whitehead, lives very close to me - only a few miles as the crow flies. I couldn't resist the chance to meet up and share our common experiences of writing, editing and...
Two contrasting novels of the 17th century #HistFic
I am always fascinated by the different writing styles that conjure an era, and these two contrasting books prove that there is no one style to bring an era to life. Both books are great reads and I recommend them. Traitor's Knot by Cryssa Bazos This is a wonderful...
Book Club Gold – A year’s free books
I've teamed with 11 other authors to bring you books you will want to talk about. You can download one, or all of the books. Our aim is to provide thought-provoking reads and get people talking, so each book comes with its own set of discussion questions. These books...
Of Ink, Wit and Intrigue – The Life of the Earl of Rochester #Stuart
I'm delighted to welcome Susan Cooper-Bridgewater to my blog today to talk about her novel about John Wilmot the second Earl of Rochester - one of the rakes and rogues of Restoration London that I am fascinated by, and wrote about here. Welcome Sue! John Wilmot, the...
The Outlaw’s Ransom – the romance of Robin Hood
I'm thrilled to welcome Jennifer Ash to my website today to talk about her new novella, The Outlaw's Ransom. Here's a description of the book: When craftsman’s daughter Mathilda is kidnapped by the notorious Folville brothers, as punishment for her father’s...
Love and Resistance in WW2 Germany
I'm delighted to welcome Marion Kummerow to my blog to tell us about her series of books based on the true story of her grandparents. Deborah: I'm interested to know more about your grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi...
Historical Fiction: Ten Editing Tools. No 5 – Foreshadowing
As a historical fiction writer, I often want to include major events in history, and usually these are the 'real' history that inspired the book. By 'major', I don't necessarily mean big battles, (though the Battle of Worcester forms at least one set piece for me) but...
Three great books on The Great Fire of London
Rebecca Rideal - 1666 Plague, War and Hellfire For most of my research books I prefer hard copy, and this is a brilliantly and evocatively written hardback, beautifully produced. Here's are some of the the opening sentences to whet your appetite: 'Pale winter sun...
Launch of Shadow on the Highway with Endeavour Ink
Congratulations to all the authors whose books are the first books to be published by Endeavour Press in print. Wishing the imprint and all the authors much success. Reblogged from the Endeavour Press website: On the evening of March 15th Endeavour Press officially...
Historical Fiction : 10 Editing tools. No.4 – Themes & Threads
One of the most useful things I can do when I have finished a first draft is to examine the themes and the characters and follow their threads. Sometimes a character and a thread can be the same - at the moment I am looking at 'ambition', which is both part of Bess...
Happy New Year to all my followers and readers
2017 is here already and, like most writers, the view from my desktop hardly changes. This Christmas I was able to get out into the fresh air, smell the frost in the atmosphere, and admire the lovely village where I live (and which I too often forget is there). Below...
From Cinderella to Dorothy, the power of shoes to transform
Everyone has a favourite pair of shoes. For me it is a pair of shoes I got married in - black patent with black and white spotted bows on the front. I know, they may not be to your taste, but shoes are very individual things! You can tell a lot about a person, or a...