Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 26
June 6, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'The task of a writer'
June 5, 2025
A Writer's Moment: Imagine That!
June 4, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'Did that really happen? Or was it all in my imag...
Imagine That!
“I like reading history, andactually most authors enjoy the research part because it is, after all, easierthan writing.” – Ken Follett
Born in Wales on this date in 1949,Follett has carved out arguably the number one spot in the world as an authorof historical fiction-thrillers. Since the publication of his firstbook Eye of the Needle in 1978 he has sold a remarkable 380million copies (and counting) achieving a rare three number ones in a row onthe New York Times Bestseller List with his “Century Trilogy.” His newest book, just on the market, is histake on the mystery of Stonehenge’s creation, titled Circle of Days.
Follett studied Philosophy incollege but found himself gravitating toward Journalism. After a postgraduate course in journalisticwriting he joined the staff of his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo inCardiff before becoming a reporter for the London Evening News. In the mid-1970s he left journalism forpublishing and was working as an editor at Everest Books when he wrote Eye,hoping it would be published so he could pay off a car loan.
That worked. He’s now authored 44 books – and counting. No more car loans.
Follett likes the process ofcombining his imagination with “real” people from the historical times he isdepicting. “I like to create imaginary characters and events arounda real historical situation,” he said. “I want readers tofeel: ‘Okay, this probably didn’t happen…but it might have.’”
'Did that really happen? Or was it all in my imagination?'
“I like reading history, andactually most authors enjoy the research part because it is, after all, easierthan writing.” – Ken Follett
Born in Wales on this date in 1949,Follett has carved out arguably the number one spot in the world as an authorof historical fiction-thrillers. Since the publication of his firstbook Eye of the Needle in 1978 he has sold a remarkable 380million copies (and counting) achieving a rare three number ones in a row onthe New York Times Bestseller List with his “Century Trilogy.” His newest book, just on the market, is histake on the mystery of Stonehenge’s creation, titled Circle of Days.
Follett studied Philosophy incollege but found himself gravitating toward Journalism. After a postgraduate course in journalisticwriting he joined the staff of his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo inCardiff before becoming a reporter for the London Evening News. In the mid-1970s he left journalism forpublishing and was working as an editor at Everest Books when he wrote Eye,hoping it would be published so he could pay off a car loan.
That worked. He’s now authored 44 books – and counting. No more car loans.
Follett likes the process ofcombining his imagination with “real” people from the historical times he isdepicting. “I like to create imaginary characters and events arounda real historical situation,” he said. “I want readers tofeel: ‘Okay, this probably didn’t happen…but it might have.’”
June 3, 2025
A Writer's Moment: 'Sharing gods, monsters and heroes'
'Sharing gods, monsters and heroes'
“Fairy tales are stories of triumphand transformation and true love, all things I fervently believe in.” –Kate Forsyth
Born in Australia on this date in1966, Forsyth is the author of more than 60 books ranging from Contemporary andHistorical Fiction to Young Adult and Children’s fairy tales, and Poetry collections. She earned her most acclaim for herhistorical novel Bitter Greens, interweaving a retelling of Rapunzel withthe true-life story of the 17th century Frenchwoman who first sharedthe tale. Her most recent book is TheCrimson Thread, a retelling of the Minotaur’s myth but set in Greece duringWorld War II.
A journalist by training, Forsyth isthe direct descendant of Charlotte Barton, author of Australia’s first knownchildren’s book. Like her famous ancestor, Forsyth also hasauthored a number of children's books, including The Gypsy Crown. DragonGold and the heroic fantasy series Rhiannon's Ride. She’s earned Australia’s topaward for children’s literature 5 times and the Australian FairyTale Society Award “for her inspiration and contribution to Australian fairy taleculture.”
Forsyth’s work in journalism hasincluded writing and editorial positions at Hair and MoneyWatch and authorship of numerous freelance articles for magazines andjournals like Vogue Australia, Black+White and AustralianCollections.
“Storytelling,”she said, “is as old as speech. It existed before humans first began to carveshapes in stones and press their hands upon the rocky walls of caves. When ourancestors crouched about the campfire at night, they told each other tales ofgods and heroes, monsters and marvels, to hold back the terrors of the night.Such tales comforted and entertained, diverted and educated those who listened,and helped shape their sense of the world and their place in it.”
June 2, 2025
'The emotion of all ages'
“My opinion is that a poet shouldexpress the emotion of all the ages and the thought of his own.” –Thomas Hardy
While Hardy wrote poetry throughouthis life and regarded himself primarily as a poet, his first collection was notpublished until 1898 on his 58th birthday. Born inDorset, England on this date in 1840, he initially gained fame as the author ofnovels, including many that are still selling, and are still being made intomodern day movies, like Far from the Madding Crowd and Tessof the d'Urbervilles.
Hardy wrote to examine and challengethe social constraints on the lives of those living in VictorianEngland. He criticized beliefs, especially the ones relatingto marriage, education and religion, that limited people's lives and causedunhappiness, making him a popular advocate for ordinary people.
A prolific writer, he produced 20novels, dozens and dozens of short stories, several plays, and 15 volumes ofpoetry – a medium in which he could share ideas and explore new causes even inhis later years. He literally composed poetry until his finalbreath, dictating his last poem to his wife while on his death bed in 1928.
Time changes everything,” Hardywrote about his willingness to try new things, “except something within uswhich is always surprised by change.”
