I am guessing that most of us historical writers would love to travel back in time (well, for a brief glimpse at least). Perhaps the closest we’ll ever get is to travel to a less culturally frantic part of the globe. ‘We are about to land in New Zealand. Please turn your watches back fifty […]
Historia Interviews: Robyn Young
28 July sees the launch of Robyn Young’s new book Sons of The Blood: New World Rising. This terrific novel, the first of a series, is set in 1483, as Richard of Gloucester seizes the reins of power after the death of his brother Edward IV. It is a rich tapestry of intrigue and adventure […]
The Reichenbach Falls
The tumbling cascades of the Reichenbach Falls loom large in the many worlds of Sherlock Holmes and the works of Conan Doyle, second only to 221b Baker St as a touchstone. The Falls, though, are not only a memorable setting but also a powerful symbol, of an author tired of his creation, of the most […]
I’m beginning to wish my novel was set in Salford in 2015
Dear Dr Darwin, I’m writing a novel set in medieval Mallorca, and I’m a draft-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer, not a planner. My business partner says it’s inefficient to do the research until I’ve written my first draft and know what I need. My critiquing partner says it’s asking for trouble to do the writing first and leave […]
So I put the gravy browning on my legs as I drank my Camp coffee and sang along to Glenn Miller
Dear Dr Darwin, When a wartime-set story is all, “So I put the gravy browning on my legs as I drank my Camp coffee and sang along to Glenn Miller,” or similar? It’s so unsubtle that it ruins my immersion in the story. I know it makes sense to use things that I think lots of […]
‘The history stuff’ is like lumps in the custard
Dear Dr Darwin, I loved doing the research for my historical novel, but a beta-reader friend says that “all the history stuff” is like lumps in the custard. I don’t want to write about Britain in 2014, but if I don’t explain and describe historical things, readers won’t understand what’s happening. Also, they won’t believe […]