Weekly Roundup of History, Archaeology and Writing Wisdom July 19-25

This week my favorites involved thoughts on good writing and recognition of some excellent books more than archaeology, although there’s one good one of the ancient dig variety. Here’s what caught my notice this week:

How voice can make a book. Alison McMahan on Erika Mailman’s Gold Rush book, Woman of Ill Fame Link here.

Jo’s Sunday War Poets Series: this week a reminder of all that was lost in WWI by a somewhat forgotten female poet named Eleanour Norton on the blog Jaffareadstoo. Link here

My review of Susan Spann’s Blade of the Samurai is up on my website, but you also don’t want to miss Erin Al Mehairi’s interview with Susan. Where else will living Japanese history, Agatha Cristie, martial arts, seahorses and intellectual property law all come up in one highly entertaining conversation over Jasmine tea? Link here.

Nancy Bilyeau recently moderated a panel at Thrillerfest about how to end a novel. Interesting responses from the authors. Happy ever after is not always what it’s cracked up to be. Link here.

Good news.Rebecca Cantrell,one of my favorite writers, won the International Thriller Writers award for Best Ebook Original for her novel The World Beneath. In addition to her happy amazement over the award, Rebecca also talks about what great help ITW offers for beginning authors–good to know! Link here.

I don’t usually think of Spain when thinking Bronze Age (4,000 yrs ago), but here’s an interesting article about a BA site in Alicante where the burial was inside the floor of the home in earthenware pots. This is just like the same period in Cyprus. It struck me this summer when we were there because keeping your dead so close is not an idea that later periods embraced. I find these similarities so interesting. One wonders about contact, communication and transmission of customs. link here