First Story Publication!
Celebration! I have had a story accepted for publication, “The Season for Death.” Read all about it in this blog entry.
George R.R. Martin interviews Bernard Cornwell: a link to great ideas about historical fiction
If you’ve ever thought about the relationship between historical fantasy and historical fiction (think Tolkien vs. Forester), how HF writers cope with the strictures of following known history, why Cornwell will never write “alternate” history, how to write a great battle scene, or love either of these writers, you’ll enjoy this interview between Bernard Cornwell and George R.R. Martin.
History and Memory: Lost Civilizations
Some moments in history stay actively in human memory. Others drift silently away until no hint remains. Two recent archaeological digs demonstrate how much we have “forgotten” about the past, one in Israel and one on the Greek island of Despotiko.
Two Ruins, Two Lessons
Two sets of ancient ruins—the graceful temple columns rising against the backdrop of shimmering desert sands in honor of the Mesopotamian god Bel, and a Persian mountain fortress containing a possible Zoroastrian fire altar—these disparate places, one in modern Syria and one in northern Afghanistan, reveal two sides of modern archaeology: the allure of beautiful and exotic locations that connect us to the past and the dangers archaeologists face while digging in the midst of wars and conflict.
A Plan or a Mystical Journey?
A blog post about Judith Starkston’s writing projects and a discussion of whether it’s better to work from a planned outline as a writer or go on a magical mystery tour into unknown territory. Also a link to an eloquent discussion of the subject by Alex Shakar.
Writing Fiction: Truth in Imagined Things
The process of writing fiction is an elusive process. The Wall Street Journal’s “Word Craft” column has once again delivered some excellent pearls about the layered truth and the unpredictable force of imagination in writing.
“Digging the Hits of Yesteryear”: The Archaeology of Ancient Music
Have you ever wondered what ancient music sounded like–Stone Age or a Greek bard? An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education reveals a hot new field in archaeology and some amazing discoveries you’ll even be able to listen to.
Carthage, Rome’s Greatest Enemy, Brought Back to Life in a New Book
A Wall Street Journal review of Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles looks at the social milieu of this great civilization, using excellent new archaeological finds to rebuild this empire’s lost history, wiped from memory by the victorious Romans.
Writing and Motherhood
A lovely article about how writing a novel can be a lot like having a baby by Ann Brashares, author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Happy Mother’s Day, a bit late!
Travels in the Ancient Worlds of Greece and Rome
Here are two travel memories. One, a comical, pastoral memory starring an ancient spring, an irate shepherd and two college girls. The second an inspirational memory from a first visit to the Acropolis in Athens. But perhaps these can’t compete with Francis Rocca’s lyrical article describing the joys of visiting the Roman Forum, a place “Where the Ancient Past is Palpably Present”.