Lyrical, Gothic and Historical: Kate’s Letter Receives Praise from the Historical Novel Society #TueNews

Courage HNS Historical Novel Society review, Kate's letter a tour-de-force

J Lynn Else, reviewing for the Historical Novel Society (HNS), wrote a wonderul critique for our anthology COURAGE: Tales of History, Mystery and Hope, highlighting Kate’s Letter, my contribution: “Woven with magic and folklore, this beguiling tale unfolds with haunting grace.”

31/10/202631/10/2026

Reading Over the Weekend: Blood has a Voice by Hestelle van Staden

Reading over the weekend with Patricia Furstenberg

Welcome to Reading Over the Weekend, where reality can send a chill down your spine without the help of Halloween. This weekend I’m exploring Blood Has a Voice: Stories from the Autopsy Table by Hestelle van Staden, a sobering glimpse into the world of forensic pathology in South Africa, where daily violence leaves its mark, the dead have stories to tell, and someone must listen.

30/10/202630/10/2026

Why Vlad the Impaler Is Not Dracula the Vampire: The Myth Debunked

Vlad Dracula Overlooking Castle and Lands on a map

Was Dracula a bloodthirsty medieval prince who returned from the dead, or did history give us two very different men sharing one unforgettable name?

Traditionally, Halloween is not a Romanian tradition, we have the Night of Saint Andrew, but each year I tried to understand another aspect of this this autumn-inspired celebration, from Vampire History You Never Knew of to Romanian Mythical Monsters, from Romanian, end-of-autumn traditions to 13 Scary Places from Transylvania… and more seasonal lore and spooky stories.

28/10/202628/10/2026

When an Old Map of Constantinople Meets Istanbul City Today

Istanbul Galata bridge view of Europe and Asia Moody Monochrome Waterfront with Fishermen

While looking at an old map of Constantinople, Istanbul today, I felt lost even if I knew my way around. Some buildings were there, while others not yet. Old maps can be unsettling, but ancient maps of cities you just visited even more so.

24/10/202626/09/2026

Reading Over the Weekend: Brody Cody Children’s Books by Toni Pike

Welcome to Reading Over the Weekend where we celebrate the BRODY CODY stories by Toni Pike, books that entertain, spark the imagination, and sometimes leave us looking at the world through a child’s eyes.