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Home » Weekly Roundup of History, Archaeology and Writing Wisdom Jan 11-17

Weekly Roundup of History, Archaeology and Writing Wisdom Jan 11-17

Lots of news to report before I list my favorites around the web this week.

logo Arizona Chapter of the Historical Novel Society
book cover image Teatime for the Firefly by Shona Patel Poisoned Pen
Arizona Historical Novel Society Meeting February 8 1-4 pm
Speaker: Shona Patel author of Teatime for the Firefly
She will give a visual presentation of the historical backdrop for her novel set in the Assam tea plantations of India. She’s an excellent speaker—not to be missed!

RT Booklovers Convention Logo

In a pleasant turn of events, I’ll be a panel speaker at the RT (Romance Times) conference in New Orleans this May. I’ll be part of a panel entitled “Challenging Readers to Read Challenged Heroes.” My mystery manuscript-in-progress has both an OCD main character (think Monk on tv but an ancient version) and a blind “Watson” (my main character’s sister). I will also get a chance to promote what at that point will be my soon-to-be-published book Hand of Fire. If any of you are going to this wonderful reader’s conference, do go to the Wednesday May 14 Agenda page and add me to your “agenda.” They actually track these things and promote according to popularity. I’d hate to lose the popularity contest…. For those historical writers who are at a loss to find a reader’s conference (there aren’t any for HF, just lots for mystery and romance), this is the place if your book has a “romantic thread.” Looking forward to working on building a fan base.

Tucson Festival of Books LogoCloser to (my) home, all you book lovers should put the Tucson Festival of Books on the calendar, March 15-16. An amazing array of authors giving talks, signing books, schmoozing with us—and you can find me surrounded by some brilliant writers, both local and nationally best-selling, at the Desert Sleuths, Sisters in Crime Booth. Come by and say hello. To anyone who wants an “inside” view and is willing to volunteer in the booth for one or both days, let me know asap via email and I’ll sign you up. When else do you get to rub shoulders with Sharon Kay Penman, Kim Fay, William Kent Krueger, Spencer Quinn, Jeri Westerson, Christopher Reich and so many others that I’d need a whole page to list them single-spaced?

A.
Whether you are an historical fiction author or reader, this annual survey is a really fascinating window into people’s reading habits and how they’ve changed during the last couple years. Survey of Historical Fiction reading habits by MK Todd & HNS’s Richard Lee is out: Link here.

B.
Experiments in Mycenaean cooking: portable souvlaki grills and “nonstick” bread pans. Archaeology goes ancient foodie. I love it! Link here. I would find the theory about “bumps” on the bread pan suspect, except the archaeologist worked with a potter and recreated them and they worked. Hmmm. Anyone for a patent on a modern nonstick pot?

C.
Historical Novel Society Logo
Calling all historical fiction writers: $2000 prize for historical stories in the Historical Novel Society contest. Here are the rules and guidelines: Link here. This is a pretty amazing prize and a great platform.

2 thoughts on “Weekly Roundup of History, Archaeology and Writing Wisdom Jan 11-17”

    1. Hi Dorothy. So glad you found Tucson Festival. It’s an incredible wealth of authors talking about so many topics. And lots of chances to meet, talk, get books signed. Have fun and come by to say hi at the Desert Sleuths Sisters in Crime booth.

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