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.”

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.

15/10/202608/09/2026

Where Vlad Dracula Lived – His Last Years, 1462-1476: Captive. Crowned. Killed.

Vlad Dracula, the Man Behind the Legend visual timeline titled

During his youth, Vladul lived between Wallachia and the Ottoman world; from Ottoman captivity Vlad III traveled to take the throne of his Transalpine land, at Târgoviște; next Vlad, son of Dracul lived exiled in Moldavia and Transylvania; finally he returned to Wallachia, across the Carpathian mountains, for his second and longest reign as Vlad Dracula – but not his last.

Yet, for Vlad Dracula, a first journey ended in exile; this odyssey to the throne will end in chains. As for his last fight – that will make him immortal. But was it what he would have wanted?

01/10/202606/09/2026

Where Did Vlad Dracula Live as Voivode of Wallachia, 1456-1462, Part 5

Vlad the Impaler, Curtea Veche Bucuresti

Curious where did Vlad Dracula live during his second and longest reign of Wallachia, besides Targoviste? Then join my travels today.

Vlad had spent years traveling through the Ottoman lands, Moldavia, and Transylvania—but where did Vlad Dracula live during those years, and which courts, fortresses and roads shaped the man he would become?

17/09/202617/09/2026

Following Vlad III in Moldavia and Transylvania: Exile and New Alliances, 1449–1456, Part 4

The years Vlad III spent in Moldavia and Transylvania, exiled, perhaps at the Edirne Ottoman court too, are the ones we now the least about-almost no records were left. These are the years that sparked my imagination writing the historical fiction saga Blood of Kings, Heart of Shadows.

So what exactly do we know about the time Vlad III spent seeking refuge at the Ottoman court an then exiled at the Moldavia court and in Transylvania? He was not yet calling himself Vlad Dracula, and not yet called Vlad the Impaler either.