Judith Starkston has spent too much time exploring the remains of the ancient worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Their myths and clashes inspire her fiction and open gates to magical realms. She has degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories, and her novels imbue fantasy with the richness of ancient worlds. The first book in her Trojan Threads Series, Hand of Fire was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Priestess of Ishana, the first in her historical fantasy Tesha series, won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. Judith is represented by Richard Curtis.
Here are some posts I enjoyed around the web this week: Shakespeare’s Curtain Theatre excavated, Tarkhan Dress Oldest clothing dated, Mayan ruins or not, MM Bennetts finalists, gallery of historical novels
AZ Historical Novel Society, quail babies and some posts I enjoyed this week around the web: literacy in Pompeii, a huge stash of Roman coins found in Spain and keeping guns out of fairy tales.
Some posts from around the web that I enjoyed this week: the many genres of Cuneiform, mystery of Roman Britain skulls, the worst reading ever (but funniest), 2,500 yr old seals fr Jerusalem
Alison Morton guest posts about her novels of alternative Roman history. Ever wonder what alternative history is and is it looney? (no…) Teaser: the women get equal rights. Now that’s remarkably alternative! Alison knows her Romans and her world building, which makes this fiction very engaging.
Some posts I enjoyed this week around the web: Mary Beard, author of SPQR, new history of Rome takes on age-repelled trolls, the Colosseum gets a makeover, Hatshepsut carving found, book giveaway tips and Roman skeleton mosaic in Antioch
Don’t miss the Tempe Book Festival Saturday April 16. I’ll be speaking from 11-12. Posts I enjoyed this week: ostracon shopping lists show early literacy in Biblical period, Babylonian school exercise using the Pythagorean Theorem 1300 years before Pythagoras. And my travels this week (which may not qualify as interesting…)
Review of Call to Juno, the 3rd in Elisabeth Storrs series set in the ancient Etruscan and Roman world. “A book for long, delicious savoring.”
Some posts I enjoyed this week: DNA and microbes starred this week revealing decimation of early peoples of America, Hannibal’s route over the alps, the contents of ancient Greek trade. Then there were those lead curse tablets from Athens…
Some posts I enjoyed around the web this week: a critique of Kolb on Troy’s location, a collection of 4 novels of ancient times by Stephanie Dray, Libbie Hawker, Rebecca Lochlann, Cheri Lasota, Analyzing skeletons found near Athens to reveal ancient politics and websites most helpful for writers.
RESURRECTING DANAË Rethinking the Role of Perseus’s Mother: a discussion by Laura Gill of her novel about this marginalized woman from Greek mythology
