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.
Next AZ HNS meeting April 5, history of sex, Ann Chamberlin. Links to archaeological finds fr 9000 yr old linen to a bronze Apollo. Historical preservation of sacred buildings. Tips on historical fiction fr Stephanie Dray, character motivation by me, cover art, and lively medieval games by Tinney Heath.
What makes a young woman pick up a sword against a powerful Greek Warrior? My guest post on Linda Collison’s blog “Sea of Words” about character motivation in Hand of Fire.
Reminder: Feb 8th AZ HNS meeting 1-4 with Shona Patel, Teatime for the Firefly. Venetia Lewis guest posting today about Cochise, a band of Apaches and a small sign that tickled her imagination.
New Sappho poems discovered and two good historical fiction reads by JF Ridgely and Cynthia Neale.
Announcing the publication date for my novel, Hand of Fire : September 10, 2014.
Delve in the royal day of the Hittite Queen Puduhepa.
New Egyptian tomb, interviews with Deborah Swift, Sam Thomas, Tom Rizzo & advice on how to write historical fiction.
Lincoln is a popular topic these days with sometimes fanciful results in fiction and movies. This book has a solid historian behind the fantasy. The prosecutor of the Booth conspirators told on his deathbed of a dangerous secret concerning Lincoln’s assassination, but he took the secret to his grave and the provenance of this tale was “by no means sturdy.” The story being too juicy to ignore, Stewart turned to fiction.
Challenged Heroes at RT New Orleans, AZ HNS FEb 8 meeting with Shona Patel, Tucson Festival of Books, ancient Greek foodie techniques, prizes and surveys to rock the HF world. Get it all here!
Flirtations of the most dangerous and serious sort entangle Frances Stuart first in the court of Louis XIV and then in the Restoration court of Charles II. Despite the luscious gowns and extravagant jewels she wins for herself, we don’t envy her the high-wire balancing act she must maintain as she tries to win first one king’s influence and then another, while concealing the tragic secrets that would destroy her family and herself.
