Building Blocks of Historical Fiction no 3 – Art and Artifice #HistFic
By Deborah Swift
/ September 4, 2020
What does historical novel give you that film or television doesn't? The answer is a total and intimate immersion. The...
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Morecambe Winter Gardens – a labour of love
By Deborah Swift
/ July 26, 2020
I've just been on a guided tour of Morecambe Winter Gardens. Its not the first time I've visited, but it...
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The Victorian Sickroom – a guest post by Charlotte Betts
By Deborah Swift
/ July 3, 2020
I'm delighted to welcome Charlotte Betts to my blog today, with her lovely informative article on the Victorian sickroom. Charlotte...
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My cold weather reading: ‘After the Fire’ and ‘Those Who Know’
By Deborah Swift
/ June 28, 2020
Here in the North West, we've had a sudden change of the weather from tropical to arctic, meaning my lockdown...
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Building Blocks of Historical Fiction no 2 – Suspicion versus Suspense #HistFic
By Deborah Swift
/ June 15, 2020
Often writers think that in order to convey mystery, or to keep the reader in suspense, they must withhold information....
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Review – Sex and Sexuality in Stuart Britain by Andrea Zuvich #SexyStuarts
By Deborah Swift
/ June 12, 2020
Sex and Sexuality in Stuart Britain by Andrea Zuvich - Review As many of you know, I've had an abiding...
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Tom Williams – ‘Burke in the Land of Silver’ #spies #Argentina
By Deborah Swift
/ June 5, 2020
Tom Williams is the author of several historical novels, including The White Rajah' which I really enjoyed. 'Burke in the...
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Recent Recommended Reads Private Lives by JG Harlond and Daughters Of India by Jill McGivering
By Deborah Swift
/ June 3, 2020
With lockdown in progress, and my new book just finished, I've made time for plenty of reading this month. Here...
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Bob Robbins Home Front Mysteries – J.G Harlond on writing about life in wartime England
By Deborah Swift
/ May 27, 2020
I'm delighted to welcome J.G Harlond today, for a post about memory and research, and the writing of her cosy...
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The Road to Liberation – Excerpt from ‘Stolen Childhood’ #WW2 #WWII
By Deborah Swift
/ May 7, 2020
To mark 75 years since the world celebrated the end of WW2, I'm delighted to host an excerpt from Marion...
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The Gossip’s Choice, an interview with Sara Read #midwifery #17thCentury
By Deborah Swift
/ April 30, 2020
Welcome to Sara Read, whose new book The Gossip's Choice is out next week. As a fellow enthusiast for the...
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Recommended Historical Reads for wet Tuesdays #TuesdayBookBlog
By Deborah Swift
/ April 28, 2020
The Silken Rose by Carol McGrath Married at only thirteen years old to a King she has never met, Ailenor...
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Interview with Mary Anne Yarde – Saints, Standing Stones and an Ancient Curse
By Deborah Swift
/ April 24, 2020
I'm delighted to welcome Mary Anne Yarde to my blog today. Mary Anne is the multi award-winning author of the International Bestselling...
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Ailenor of Provence and Queenship by Carol McGrath #medieval
By Deborah Swift
/ April 11, 2020
I'm delighted to welcome historian and novelist Carol McGrath to my blog today, to tell us about the concept of...
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The String’s the Thing – Manet and fashion by Drema Drudge #art #historicalfiction
By Deborah Swift
/ March 29, 2020
I'm delighted to welcome Drema Drudge to my blog today to talk about Manet's models and their clothing, which feature...
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Review: The Bleak Midwinter by L C Tyler
By Deborah Swift
/ December 2, 2019
The fifth John Grey historical mystery 1668. John Grey is now a Justice of the Peace and lives in the...
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A Place in the World by Amy Maroney – review
By Deborah Swift
/ November 15, 2019
This is the last in the series and I'm sad to see it end. I thoroughly enjoyed this dual time-line...
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17th Century Witchcraft by L C Tyler
By Deborah Swift
/ November 14, 2019
Accusations In 1664, in Bury St Edmunds, the judge Sir Matthew Hale* - great lawyer but ‘as gullible as the...
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Spotlight on Tony Riches’ new novel ‘Katherine – Tudor Duchess’
By Deborah Swift
/ October 2, 2019
Attractive, wealthy and influential, Katherine Willoughby is one of the most unusual ladies of the Tudor court. A favourite...
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New Release! Silent Water by P K Adams – the Cracow Royal Court
By Deborah Swift
/ August 6, 2019
My new historical mystery Silent Water is a personal project in a way that my other writing has not been....
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