I preach this constantly and then fall down on it myself. I decided to switch from the online backup service I had previously used to another one but (surprise, surprise, Ms. Procrastination) hadn’t gotten around to actually starting the new service. A few days ago I had also backed up Read more…
Quite a long time ago I wrote a post here on writing a believable sword fight scene. It continues to be popular, and I’ve had numerous requests to post more on the topic. I do think there is more to be said. Importantly, I want to clear up one important point. Read more…
A question: Do my readers care what my politics are? Here is why I ask: Best-selling Kindle author John Locke came out with a new book, affectionately known as Howie, on how to build book sales in which he said that novelists should post meaningful articles on their blog, ones Read more…
Samantha Warren over at Mariyta’s Musings introduced me to a fun challenge. The challenge is to read 24 indie authors this year, each with a last name that starts with a different letter of the alphabet. (The challenge allows you to skip any two letters of the alphbet) Novels read Read more…
Editing, how to do it and do it effectively? That is a good question. I’ll give you my opinion. I won’t keep saying in every sentence that it is. Some people will disagree. That’s fine. This is how I feel it should be done. A lot of people will tell Read more…
Suzanne Tyrpak joins me today to share a sample of her upcoming historical novel, Agathon’s Daughter. First, Suzanne, could you tell us a little about it? Agathon’s Daughter is suspense set in the Golden Age of Athens at the time of Pericles. I began researching the book about seven years Read more…
Now I come to the contradictory part and my final rule for writing historical fiction. You have to know the details; you should know them so well that you could walk down a street in your time-period and fit right in. You have to show the customs, which means you Read more…
PROLOGUE September, 1300 “Putain de merde!” Dazed, knocked to his knees by the merchant’s blow, James Douglas leaned against the brick wall. He turned his head toward the River Seine. He might escape in that direction. Blood ran down the back of James’ neck. He grabbed the merchant’s club as Read more…
Your historical fiction depends upon your ability to use historical detail. This is a different world for your reader. You have to supply the images and they have to be the right ones for this world. What is the street like? Does it smell of horse shit? Of smog from Read more…
Caitrina shook her head. Donnchadh said they had gone north and a little east along the pine forest. He pointed to the North Star, faint in the black velvet sky. She rubbed her arms, covered with goose bumps, as they trudged. Even in April, the night air was chill. But Read more…