Patricia Furstenberg, Writer of Historical Fiction, Children's Books
Travel via Stories
Today we celebrate the Orthodox Easter. I was reminded of these simple words: “Are not two sparrow sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father.“(the Gospel of Matthew 10:29) – the sparrow does nor fall into emptiness, but within a world still held by God.
Continue reading “Are Not Two Sparrows… on Easter Day”
There are stories that refuse to stay in one place. They move through empires and forests, from the hills of Rome to the endless grasslands of the steppe, carried not in stone, but in memory and blood. Again and again, across distant peoples, the same figure appears: not crowned, not tamed, but wild: the wolf.
From the White Wolf and the Lupercal cave in Rome, to the wolfish-blood origin of the Mongols, the She-Wolf Asena ancestry of the Turks and, of course, to the fearless Zalmoxis and the Great White Wolf of the Dacians let’s follow the wolf.
Continue reading “The White Wolf Ancestry of Romans, Genghis Khan, Turks, and Dacians”
We are lucky each winter to spot so many colorful birds in our garden, to have it turn into a theater of feathers and folklore. There are brilliant flashes of color, bold intruders strutting like conquerors, and quite a few picturesque personalities.
I am so happy to share with you not simply a list of birds, but a procession. And each one arrives with a story. Find more African birds and their legends here.
Continue reading “Colorful Birds in a South African Garden, International Bird Day”
In medieval Transylvania shoes were more than mere protection… Yes, like almost everywhere in the world by that time. In medieval Transylvania shoes were markers of identity, status, and survival.
Continue reading “Shoes, Status, and Survival, Historical Footprints from Medieval Transylvania”
Let’s step into historical Brașov, Transylvania, the city that inspired When Secrets Bloom, my latest historical fiction novel. We’ll take a peek at: a mysterious old shop, the three old maids (houses) from Council Square, and the haunting Black Gate.
Continue reading “Behind When Secrets Bloom: Three Locations in Historical Brașov”