Writers Retreat in Florida
I spent a productive and enjoyable week with three other writers on our self-directed writers retreat.
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Weekly Posts
In Conversation with Terry Shepherd
I had great fun “In Conversation with Terry Shepherd.” We talked for 10 mins about my upcoming release, Flights of Treason, among other topics. Terry is a pro at the interview gig, and we covered a lot of ground. Click through to listen.
The Witch’s Lens by Luanne G. Smith: Book Review
World War I with a fantastical layer added in? Luanne Smith’s novel puts the historical horrors of the “war to end all wars” through an unexpected prism and combines the darkness with redeeming loyalty and friendship. I hope you enjoy my review.
The Romanov Impostor by Jennifer Laam: Book Review
The Romanov Impostor portrays a “what if she’d survived” story of Anastasia Romanov. The novel is an entertaining dive into 1920’s Hollywood with the exciting twist of maintaining Anastasia’s secret in the face of a woman whom she alone knows has to be an impostor. Here’s my review of this fun historical read.
Cleopatra’s Languages: Reimagining a Famous Queen
Ancient sources describe Cleopatra as an amazing polyglot, but to what degree did she really speak a variety of languages and what is the significance of that knowledge? A Dutch scholar has a new “read” on the famous queen and I enjoyed it. I hope you will too.
Writing Workshop: Point of View
I’m teaching a writer workshop on the topic of Point of View at the Avid Reader, the local bookstore in Davis, CA Feb 28th. Join me and my fellow instructor, Tim Schooley.
Medea, by Eilish Quin: Book Review
There’s currently a renaissance of mythic retelling novels. By portraying Medea, Quin set herself an especially hard challenge to create a character we will sympathize and root for. Her solutions to this challenge are intriguing and fairly successful. I recommend this one. Read my review and see why.
Neolithic Narratives: Prehistoric Carvings in Turkey
Interpreting Neolithic carvings and buildings seems perilous at best, but lots of fun. New excavations have upturned the previous understanding of Turkey’s Neolithic monumental sites with their amazing carvings of beasts and men. What stories are they telling?
Gallows Wake by Helen Hollick, Book Review
Hollick is known for her highly entertaining pirate tales that combine spellbinding storytelling with finely researched nautical history. Gallows Wake, 6th in her series, delivers abundantly on that promise. I hope you enjoy my review.
Gutter Disputes, When It Rains in Egypt
We don’t usually associate too much rain with Egypt, but there was enough that a legal papyrus instructs judges how to settle disputes over rain gutters. But did they even have gutters? You may enjoy a snippet of ancient daily life on a subject we all love to avoid dealing with.