Ask the Author: Linda Holeman
Answered Questions (21)
Linda Holeman
Emma, I'm sorry - I really don't know how to bring attention to a blog, apart from, I suppose, social media platforms. I do see some people using Facebook and Instagram and X to let their followers/friends know they have a new post on their blog.
I've never had a blog - I just had a blog section on my former website, but I've just revamped the website and made it much more streamlined, and took out the blog. So again, I'm sorry not to be able to be much help on this topic!
And I'm always happy for a shout out! Thanks, Emma.
I've never had a blog - I just had a blog section on my former website, but I've just revamped the website and made it much more streamlined, and took out the blog. So again, I'm sorry not to be able to be much help on this topic!
And I'm always happy for a shout out! Thanks, Emma.
Linda Holeman
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Linda Holeman
Nice to hear from you again, Kat! The order is The Linnet Bird, The Moonlit Cage, and then In a Far Country. They are very loosely linked generationally, but each is also written to be stand-alone...still, if you're going to read all three it makes sense to read them in that order! Thanks for your interest!
Linda Holeman
Great, Kat! I hope you were able to get what you wanted. As to your question, I didn't didn't actually abandon my western clothing, but did dress in a culturally respectful way. Sometimes I wore a head cover, especially in the smaller villages. But many Moroccan women in the cities dress in European-style clothing, or some combination of their own culture and the general western world fashions. I felt comfortable with my choices, and was never made to feel that I stood out...but I was definitely aware, as I am in every country I go to, of proper attire and manners, so as to honour that country.
Linda Holeman
Hi again, Kat! Well, it's really great to hear your enthusiasm...thank you! It's hard for me to recommend one of my books (like who is my favourite child) but the one that's always garnered the most interest is The Linnet Bird, set in Liverpool and Calcutta in the 19th century. Unfortunately, it - and others - aren't on shelves after a few years, so ordering online seems to be the most successful way to get a copy. I also have a special affinity for The Lost Souls of Angelkov, as it's set in Russia and the genesis for the novel is an actual story from my Russian side of the family. My website could supply information in terms of which book might interest you the most - there's a bit about each one there. In any case, thanks again for being so supportive of my work! Enjoy this weekend of sudden freedom in Toronto...!
Linda Holeman
Hi Kat! Thanks for reaching out - and for reading! I have visited Morocco twice. The first time I went, I fell in love with a lot of aspects of the country and its cities. I realized I'd love to write a book set in such an unbelievably rich atmosphere...so I did! Marrakech especially spoke to me (and on both trips I spent the most time in that city). Once I was in the thick of the writing, I had the opportunity to go back the second time for more in-depth research. Since I knew a lot of the things I wanted my character to experience, I made sure to fit in everything I could (including spending time with a Blue Man who was the ultimate gentleman in taking my daughter and myself on an amazing journey through the Atlas Mountains and into villages and finally to camp in the desert). I did love writing The Saffron Gate, all my memories so clear and at times almost overwhelming with the beauty and intrigue. Thanks again for reading, Kat - your interest and support is much appreciated.
Linda Holeman
Hi Susan - thanks for your question. I actually haven't thought of a sequel...but maybe it's not a bad idea! I do love that place and era. I've gotten away from writing YA for a while now, but have recently been reconsidering. It's a great genre to explore, especially historically. - L
Linda Holeman
Hi Terri - thanks so much for getting in touch; I appreciate your kind words. I am just finishing a novel - still a ways to go with editing etc so not sure when it will be available. But there is one coming!! Happy reading - Linda
Linda Holeman
So many great fictional couples to choose from! For today, I'll go with Sarah Woodruff and Charles Smithson, from The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles. What I like about these characters is that while at one point they are clearly in love with each other in a clearly doomed relationship, we NEVER REALLY KNOW if they end up together. And we want them to so badly! We're shouting at them to just find a way. Sarah is a strong and independent woman, shackled by the Victorian world of the 1860s and 70s. Charles is also shackled - and perhaps not as strong as Sarah - but has more opportunity to break free. Does he or doesn't he? Fowles cleverly gives us three possible endings to the novel and what might have happened between Sarah and Charles. I think the ending we choose speaks more about who we (the readers) are than about the characters. Thought-provoking and interesting!
Linda Holeman
Hi! Thank you so much for your interest in my books! I'm sorry about your search for the Italian version of The Devil on Her Tongue. I'm also waiting to see the Italian version. The novel was bought by an Italian publisher a few years ago but so far it hasn't been published by them. So you won't find it in Italian yet. I'm hoping you'd be okay reading it in English...?
Again, thanks again.
Best wishes,
Linda
Again, thanks again.
Best wishes,
Linda
Linda Holeman
Hi again, Sena,
I have just recently finished a novel, but everything is too new to start talking about! And I have many, many notes for the next one...that writing will start soon. As to my personal favourite of my own written novels - very hard to answer that. There are characters and aspects in each novel that I still feel involved with, long after they've been published. The Linnet Bird was very important for starting my historical novel writing for the adult reader (I'd already written a few for the YA market), and led me to embrace the genre, so I think of it with great fondness. I also loved working on The Lost Souls of Angelkov, as it came out of my own family history, so I felt a kind of "kinship" with some of the created characters. That's about as close to answering your question as I can come! Thanks again for your interest and support. - Linda
I have just recently finished a novel, but everything is too new to start talking about! And I have many, many notes for the next one...that writing will start soon. As to my personal favourite of my own written novels - very hard to answer that. There are characters and aspects in each novel that I still feel involved with, long after they've been published. The Linnet Bird was very important for starting my historical novel writing for the adult reader (I'd already written a few for the YA market), and led me to embrace the genre, so I think of it with great fondness. I also loved working on The Lost Souls of Angelkov, as it came out of my own family history, so I felt a kind of "kinship" with some of the created characters. That's about as close to answering your question as I can come! Thanks again for your interest and support. - Linda
Linda Holeman
Hi Sena,
Thanks for your question, and for your kind words. Interestingly, I hadn't been to either Calcutta or Simla when I wrote The Linnet Bird. I was a single mother and couldn't leave home for a long exploration/research trip at that point. So all my descriptions of those places in India were written exclusively through my own endless and almost obsessive reading - both fiction and non-fiction. But then later, after the publication of The Linnet Bird but during writing The Moonlit Cage and making notes for In a Far Country, I did go to India and spent a glorious month travelling through various areas. Now I have come to realize that in the writing of historic fiction (at least for me) it helps to start my research at home. Once I'm into the novel, I understand what, exactly, I want and need to know about the country I'm writing about, so I can narrow down my travel search. I love the fact that I have found a way to combine my two great loves: writing and travel. Thanks again, Linda
Thanks for your question, and for your kind words. Interestingly, I hadn't been to either Calcutta or Simla when I wrote The Linnet Bird. I was a single mother and couldn't leave home for a long exploration/research trip at that point. So all my descriptions of those places in India were written exclusively through my own endless and almost obsessive reading - both fiction and non-fiction. But then later, after the publication of The Linnet Bird but during writing The Moonlit Cage and making notes for In a Far Country, I did go to India and spent a glorious month travelling through various areas. Now I have come to realize that in the writing of historic fiction (at least for me) it helps to start my research at home. Once I'm into the novel, I understand what, exactly, I want and need to know about the country I'm writing about, so I can narrow down my travel search. I love the fact that I have found a way to combine my two great loves: writing and travel. Thanks again, Linda
Linda Holeman
Hi Vanessa,
Thank you so much for your support - and I'm so glad you enjoyed The Devil on Her Tongue! As the book came out a few years ago, I'm no longer involved with signings or appearances for it, as those events usually happens around the release of a new book or in the few months following. But again, I appreciate you being in touch! Best wishes, Linda
Thank you so much for your support - and I'm so glad you enjoyed The Devil on Her Tongue! As the book came out a few years ago, I'm no longer involved with signings or appearances for it, as those events usually happens around the release of a new book or in the few months following. But again, I appreciate you being in touch! Best wishes, Linda
Linda Holeman
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your support!! I appreciate hearing from you.
I do love writing historic fiction and can't imagine not focusing on "beautiful settings"...I travel specifically to search out inspiring and unique parts of the world. As to your question of an Asian heroine: I have spent time in both Japan and China, and, interestingly, I just this week returned from six weeks travelling in SE Asia, and was very moved by much that I experienced. All to say - I do seem to keep being pulled back to that part of the world. I haven't specifically thought about a book featuring an Asian woman, but I don't always have control over where my mind takes me as I start planning the next book...so who knows! Thanks again, and have a wonderful holiday season.
Thanks for your support!! I appreciate hearing from you.
I do love writing historic fiction and can't imagine not focusing on "beautiful settings"...I travel specifically to search out inspiring and unique parts of the world. As to your question of an Asian heroine: I have spent time in both Japan and China, and, interestingly, I just this week returned from six weeks travelling in SE Asia, and was very moved by much that I experienced. All to say - I do seem to keep being pulled back to that part of the world. I haven't specifically thought about a book featuring an Asian woman, but I don't always have control over where my mind takes me as I start planning the next book...so who knows! Thanks again, and have a wonderful holiday season.
Linda Holeman
Hi Marlene - thanks so much for your interest in my work. To date, an American publisher has yet to purchase US rights to publish or e-publish this book - so it's only available in Canada right now (or amazon.com as used, as you say). Sorry for this inconvenience, and hopefully it will be rectified soon!
Best, Linda
Best, Linda
Linda Holeman
Hi Kathleen - it seems that the 19th century calls to me most often. Four of my six historical novels have been set in that era. I have no logical explanation for this choice, but because there were a number of "turning points" for the world in general in the 19th century, there is rich history to work with, and I'm drawn in to research and work with and around some of those major events. For similar reasons I chose the 18th century for The Devil on Her Tongue - because of my interest in the flourishing wine trade in Portugal at that point, as well as the horrific earthquake that shook the country. Thanks for your interest!
Linda Holeman
I was traveling in the Algarve in Portugal, and stood on a cliff at Cabo de Sao Vicente. It's the most southwestern point of Europe, and was known as "the end of the world" by sailors leaving Portugal in the 17th and 18th centuries. I found it highly evocative, standing on that windy, salt-sprayed cliff with the huge expanse of sea and sky before me, and I started to envision one young sailor setting out. The story did not end up being about that sailor, but I needed the vision to begin The Devil on Her Tongue.
Linda Holeman
I would say that I don't "get" inspired to write so much as I just "am" inspired to write, because writing is so much a part of who I am that it feels a little empty to not be working on something. I do need to take time between novels to get my equilibrium back after the long hard slog of creating a world peopled with fictional characters. But after that fallow period, bit by bit I find myself dreaming about another character, and gradually the excitement builds to the point that I can hardly wait to get started again. On a regular basis I don't have any routines or rituals to inspire me for the day's work. I get a cup of coffee and sit at my desk and read over what I wrote the day before, and just get going. I'm more creative in the morning, so I know that the more I get done earlier, the sooner I can leave my desk!
Linda Holeman
Read! Read a lot of both fiction and non-fiction, and stretch yourself in your reading: if you only read about lives that are similar to yours, you're limiting yourself. The wider we read, the more open to new writing we become - as well as gaining a freedom to take the huge leap that is the start of writing,all writing. I would tell you to repeat one word, over and over to yourself: courage! You have to find the bravery to not only take a chance on exposing what's in your head and your heart, but you will have to be brave and disciplined enough to stay with it for a long time.
Linda Holeman
I love that I get to spend half of my life in an alternate universe! I feel very "alive" while creating new characters and a world I haven't actively experienced myself, and I do become part of that world. I learn so much as I'm writing, not just about the place and time and subject I'm researching, but also about myself, as I create the characters that will inhabit the novel. Creating a hierarchy of characters is a slow and painstaking journey, one that sometimes makes me stop and wonder about my choices. But as each one finally emerges, full and rounded, it's a magical feeling.
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