Things to do in 18th century Bath

It amazes me that sometimes, in my internet wanderings, when I am trying to find little nuggets of fact amidst the fog of the past that might embroider my novels with authentic detail, Google presents me with nothing exact. I mean, it’s rather obvious that Google and Wikipedia and all other random, non-authoratitive sources, might … Read more

Carlton House: A Lost Palace by Catherine Curzon

Carlton House | Georgians | Catherine Curzon | Philippa Jane Keyworth

George’s first major renovation project was Carlton House, a residence given to him in 1783 when the then Prince of Wales came of age. With the rambling house came a stipend of around £60,000, which the prince was supposed to use to renovate the shabby building.

A hard road… Prue Batten guest posts

One of the best but potentially the most frustrating things about writing historical fiction is research. In my case, within the twelfth century, I am continually learning but I also have to make extensive executive decisions along the way. Academics disagree – it’s the fundamental core of academia, I suppose, that no academic will spontaneously support another’s view on a historical fact.

Ladies Ride Aside – A history of riding side saddle – Helen Hollick guest post

We’ve all seen ladies riding side-saddle in various movies and TV dramas (Downton Abbey as an example.) The correct term is Riding Aside. My daughter rides, competes and jumps aside. (Yes, that is what I said: jumps.) Contrary to belief riding side-saddle, at least with a modern (post Victorian) saddle, is safer than riding astride!

Things to do in 18th Century London

So, I have been editing Fool Me Twice and in my first draft the hero and heroine have a scene where they meet in a public place – quite by chance obviously. The only problem is, that now I’m editing it, I’ve realised that where they meet is not quite appropriate so I’m going to have to … Read more

Marie Antoinette: Queen of French Fashion

I am delighted to welcome Ginger Myrick onto my blog for a guest post and excerpt from her latest historical fiction novel exploring the life of the enigmatic Maria Antoinette – enjoy:   Marie Antoinette was perhaps most iconically known for her sense of style. Although many of the ideas of French fashion we associate with … Read more

Rosanne E. Lortz writes on ‘Switching Time Periods: Some Considerations for HF Authors’

L. P. Hartley wrote: “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” This, as every historical novelist will tell you, is true. But perhaps it is an oversimplification. Perhaps the past is not just one foreign country, but several. Is the process for writing historical fiction the same regardless of the era … Read more

PJK interviews Stuart “Sir Read-A-Lot” MacAllister, writer & blogger.

It is my pleasure to welcome onto my blog today, Stuart MacAllister. Many of you know him as the blogger behind Sir Read-A-Lot and today you can get a glimpse of him not only under that alias, but also under the alias of writer! Enjoy my bloggerinos: Tell me a little about yourself, Stuart? (e.g. … Read more

Fascinating Interview with Maria Grace

I always like reading interviews of other writers. I find it fascinating to learn about the way they write and what they have achieved. That’s why I feel so horribly remiss – I am late in putting this interview into the internet-space-waves as my brain has apparently been replaced by a sieve in recent weeks… … Read more

A Good Old-Fashion Swashbuckler! by Author Shawn Lamb

Yep, those are my favorite types of books and movies, swashbuckling adventure. I couldn’t get enough when I was younger. Top of the list was Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. Being so captivated, I took up fencing with the rapier. While other girls daydreamed about being swept away by Prince Charming, I imagined fighting with D’Artagnan … Read more