Deborah Heal's Blog, page 6
August 27, 2015
The Genius of Charles Dickens
Perhaps like Merrideth in my upcoming novel A Matter of Time, the closest you’ve ever come to reading a Dickens’ Novel was the Cliff Notes version of Great Expectations. His books are seldom taught in high schools any more. Thankfully, … Continue reading →
August 23, 2015
Dickens in Boston
Charles Dickens, his wife Catherine, and her maid Ann set out from Liverpool January 4, 1842 on the steamship Britannia. The ship later won a blue ribbon for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, but this time the voyage was … Continue reading →
August 22, 2015
It’s all about Charles Dickens
The historical setting of A Matter of Time, book IV in my Rewinding Time Series, is Lebanon, a very small town in St. Clair County in southern Illinois. Its claim to fame—other than McKendree University, the oldest college in the state—is … Continue reading →
June 19, 2015
What Genre Are Your Books Anyway?
“Please Choose the Genre that Best Fits Your Book.” Publishers, agents, editors, promoters—virtually everyone in the publishing industry—always want to know what genre label to past onto an author’s books. I would tell them mine are Contemporary Historical Romantic Sci-fi … Continue reading →
June 16, 2015
Confessions of a Christian Author
When writing Christian fiction, the temptation is always there to soften the Gospel message. Years ago, during a period when I was getting rejection slip after rejection slip for my first book, one agent told me she thought she could … Continue reading →
June 12, 2015
The Science in my Sci-Fi
Quantum Physics in an inspirational novel of history, mystery & romance? Of course! One of the things I like most about being a writer is all the new things I learn along the way. Because my books are primarily historical fiction, the topic … Continue reading →
June 9, 2015
Reading and Writing, Two Sides of the Coin
(Or, “You Write What You Read”) Victor Lindlar is the man attributed with first saying, “You are what you eat” back in 1923. He was referring to nutrition, but the same principle applies to books: You are what you read. … Continue reading →
June 5, 2015
Bibliography for How Sweet the Sound
Here are the books I consulted along with many, but not all, of the websites I visited. I encourage you to read more about the fascinating history of the pirates of the Ohio River. The Springhouse. Vol 2. No. … Continue reading →
May 29, 2015
Getting the History Right in Historical Fiction
Although my major in college was English, and I became a high school English teacher, my second love has always been history. Even as a child, I wished I could go back in time and see what the “olden days” … Continue reading →
May 26, 2015
Getting the Dialect Right in How Sweet the Sound
How Sweet the Sound will be released in late May (God willing and the creek don’t rise). You can get a sneak peek of the cover and a complete book description HERE. Getting the Dialect Right I love it when my characters spout off … Continue reading →
