I never intended to write women who refuse to follow the norms, radical women who refuse to disappear. But I continue to find them.
Or maybe they keep finding me.
Why I Write Women Who Refuse to Disappear
Quills and Quirks: Humor in Historical Fiction
I wrote How Humor Finds a Voice in Historical Fiction for History Through Fiction, a historical fiction publisher, because writing my medieval novel When Secrets Bloom showed me that even in the past shadows’ laughter found a way to bloom.
Humor does more than entertain; it reveals the soul of a character; it gifts a moment of pause in a world of tension, and it builds a surprising bridge between reader and history. Far from softening the blows of the past, wit sharpens our understanding. In this piece, I explore, through examples, how a well-timed quip or a subtle smile can cast light on the darkest chapters, reminding us that even in the gravest of times the human spirit dared to laugh.
Continue reading “Quills and Quirks: Humor in Historical Fiction”Behind When Secrets Bloom: Three Locations in Historical Brașov
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”