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Past Encounters by Davina Blake
If you were born in the 1950's as I was, you will no doubt remember wartime stories passed down to you from your parents. My parents were not old enough to fight in the second world war, but their stories of gas masks and rationing, dried egg sandwiches, and...
The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar – Kim Rendfeld
Sometimes, what the primary sources don’t say attracts my attention. In researching my first novel, The Cross and the Dragon, I learned of two grim realities: In 772, Charlemagne ordered the destruction of the Irminsul, a pillar sacred to the Saxon peoples. War...
The Intended by Sten Eirik
When King Gustav was a boy, all his French tutors were dismissed and taken away. New ones were appointed, true Swedes who would teach him respect for the common man and shield him from the follies of divine right. Voltaire thought of Sweden as the freest nation...
The Art of the Elizabethan Murder Mystery
What does it take to write an Elizabethan Murder Mystery? I asked the actor Jonathan Digby, whose novel, 'A Murderous Affair', is currently flying high in the UK Amazon charts, for some clues. What appeals to you about Elizabethan History? The Elizabethan Age is known...
The Attraction of the Highwayman Image – an interview with Henriette Gyland
Both Henriette Gyland and I have new books out about a female highwayman. Fascinated by finding this out, I invited Henri to come and enlighten us about her novel. Henri's novel is called The Highwayman's Daughter. I asked her: Did you base The Highwayman's Daughter...
The Advantages of Book Blog Tours
I'm about to embark on another Virtual Tour with my new YA book, Shadow on the Highway (FREE on Kindle this week only! US UK ) This will be the third blog tour I have done with my historical fiction books, and I'm really grateful to all the bloggers who are...
Shadow on the Highway by Deborah Swift
' 'The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees. The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas...' So opens the Alfred Noyes poem, The Highwayman. I loved that poem at school, and have remembered the opening lines ever since I was nine years old....
Witchrise by Victoria Lamb – Historical Fiction Highlight
I have been interested in historical fiction for teenagers and young adults for quite a few years, and love to feature it on my blog, Today I highlight Victoria Lamb's latest novel for Young Adults, WITCHRISE, the third in her trilogy of books about Meg Lytton the...
Lies Told in Silence by MK Tod – Historical Highlight
Just occasionally, I'll highlight a new release that deserves wider attention. This week it is Lies Told in Silence by M K Tod. About the Book In 1914 Paris half the city expects war while the other half scoffs at the possibility. With knowledge gained...
Strategos – Island in the Storm by Gordon Doherty
Friday, 26th August 1071. A date scorched into history. In the morning, Emperor Romanus Diogenes led his Byzantine armies to battle against the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan, intent on securing the Lake Van lands for the empire and firmly defining her borders once more. By...
Historical Fiction – Too Many Elizabeths
My latest novel in progress features a cast of real historical characters most of which have the real name 'Elizabeth.' My main character is not called Elizabeth, but her mother is, and her sister. Records show that her aunts on her mother's and father's side are also...
The #historical word origin of ‘Curfew’
As a novelist fascinated by the past, I love it when I come across words that are linked to interesting historical facts. This week I came across a peculiar sort of fire guard called a 'couvre-feu' (french - cover fire). A little research revealed that this fire-guard...
India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy by Carol K. Carr
I can’t imagine anyone writing historical fiction who doesn’t love history. What most people would consider tedious research is an incredibly pleasurable activity for an author. I’m sure I’m not the only writer who has to drag herself away from the reading part of the...
#LuckySeven – lines from my new novel
I was tagged by Barbara Kyle in a game where you have to reveal the seventh line of the seventh chapter of the book you are working on. So here's mine - from my current work in progress which is based around Pepys's Diary. According to the Diary, John Unthank was...
No Quick Fix – The Inherent Complexity of a Good Novel
Recently I have noticed that there has been a tsunami of 'How to' writing guides published, and that these are selling extremely well. In fact it is probably more profitable, and perhaps easier, to write a book about writing a novel than it is to write a successful...