Historical Fictionistas discussion
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Ancient History (Old Threads)
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Shameless Self Promotion- PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Have just posted a new blog, "Why Doesn't the Dog Bark?" which addresses the set of "why not?" questions that authors need to ask (and answer). More can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
Interesting post, Victoria. Plot holes drive me nuts when reading (and writing!) I also found Rowling's Goblet of Fire to be her weakest book, for the very reasons you sited. It was nearly a wall-banger for me. I read somewhere that Rowling wasn't happy with it either. Her publishers were pushing her for the book and she rushed it. She vowed never to do that again!
My most recent blog post is a review of Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie. Fascinating woman, well-written and researched book. I posted an abridged review on GR. The full review can be found here.
I read the full review on your blog...it sounds great! I'll definitely have to read this one.
I just received Catherine by Robert Massie. I ordered the hardbound book this time since I imagine I will want to look this over from time to time after I've read it and in some ways this may be easier than my Kindle.Also, we were in St. Petersburg so I'm interested in the woman who built Catherine's Palace with its 220 rooms.
Faith wrote: "Interesting post, Victoria. Plot holes drive me nuts when reading (and writing!) I also found Rowling's Goblet of Fire to be her weakest book, for the very reasons you sited. It was nearly a wall-b..."And she could have resolved it with a paragraph or two! Despite the glaring plot hole, I enjoyed the book and how everyone went to the Yule Ball with the wrong person. Reminds me of my own teenage heartaches.
Victoria_Grossack wrote: "We finally put our novels on the Nook! So if you prefer not to support the Amazon, but you still want to read great novels set in ancient Greece - and find out whether or not Jocasta knew if she w..."I liked your books so much they made me jealous (you and I write the same era). Looking forward to the next book.
Laura wrote: "I liked your books so much they made me jealous (you and I write the same era). Looking forward to the next book."I'm so glad you enjoyed them! May I ask which one(s) you read?
Victoria_Grossack wrote: "Laura wrote: "I liked your books so much they made me jealous (you and I write the same era). Looking forward to the next book."I'm so glad you enjoyed them! May I ask which one(s) you read?"
All four of the Tapestry Of Bronze series.
Oh, gosh, wow, thank you! (blushing and grinning). If anyone is interested, the books are Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus - the standalone - and then there is a trilogy covering the life of Niobe: Children of Tantalus: Niobe and Pelops, The Road to Thebes: Niobe and Amphion and Arrows of Artemis: Niobe and Chloris. More information at www.tapestryofbronze.com , where you can also read excerpts and reviews. (Great presents for the friend who like Greek mythology, or for your e-reader while you're traveling.)
The Huguenot Sword 99 cents holiday special!
http://amzn.to/q818MO
In the time of Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu, when being a Protestant could mean death, The Huguenot Sword roamed the streets of Paris by night, defending those faithful to the young heretical religion. The nobility scorned them as ruffians. To the oppressed Protestants they were saviors, but to the Cardinal’s Guards they were a pestilence needing to be terminated.
The situation becomes desperate when those in power launch a bold plan to destroy the group. One wrong move can be fatal. But the ordeal of Paris pales in comparison to the possible annihilation of the faith and people at the Battle of La Rochelle.
http://amzn.to/q818MO
In the time of Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu, when being a Protestant could mean death, The Huguenot Sword roamed the streets of Paris by night, defending those faithful to the young heretical religion. The nobility scorned them as ruffians. To the oppressed Protestants they were saviors, but to the Cardinal’s Guards they were a pestilence needing to be terminated.
The situation becomes desperate when those in power launch a bold plan to destroy the group. One wrong move can be fatal. But the ordeal of Paris pales in comparison to the possible annihilation of the faith and people at the Battle of La Rochelle.
Just finished a 1-inch scale doll of the Minoan Snake Priestess. I did not do the firing or the hair, but the costuming, yes, and the background.The Minoan Snake Priestess:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16...
Now I can go back to finishing up the second Orestes novel to release early next year.
Laura wrote: "Just finished a 1-inch scale doll of the Minoan Snake Priestess. I did not do the firing or the hair, but the costuming, yes, and the background.The Minoan Snake Priestess:
http://img.photob..."
That's fabulous! But do you have a particular use for it?
I keep looking at my walls and wishing I dared to put murals on them...
Victoria_Grossack wrote: "Laura wrote: "Just finished a 1-inch scale doll of the Minoan Snake Priestess. I did not do the firing or the hair, but the costuming, yes, and the background.The Minoan Snake Priestess:
htt..."
It's for display. Ours is a family that loves dollhouse miniatures. Also, the costuming helps me understand exactly how the Minoans and Mycenaeans constructed their clothing.
That's very cool Laura! Do you sell any of them?
Jackie wrote: "That's very cool Laura! Do you sell any of them?"I don't sell the dolls, no. No one has ever asked me to dress one for them.
The worst economic disaster in U.S. history, black storms of dust that ruined people's land and lives, families struggling against losing their homes: the story of a young farm wife, her husband, her son, and her best friend, the high-spirited town outcast, learning how to survive when times are hard.Rain: A Dust Bowl Story, http://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.com
Free.
The Dark Smile of Beauty, Ohagurohttp://bit.ly/uRHfYH
A brief discussion of the practice of blackening teeth as a beauty treaty in the Japanese Heian era, a practice that lingered in some corners until the 19th century.
And you may find the practice also in DREAM OF A SPRING NIGHT, Book One of the HOLLOW REED trilogy.It was certainly practiced by the ladies in Emperor Go-Shirakawa's women's quarters. Life in an imperial harem. :)
Twice a year we at www.tapestryofbronze.com hold a poetry contest to honor an Olympian god. It's our small attempt to encourage creativity and excellence in the spirit of the competitions held in sports and arts in ancient Greece. In order to support education and educators, we have a separate category for the under 18.We have just posted the winning poems, dedicated to Diana/Artemis, at http://tapestryofbronze.com/OdeForm.html
Please check them out!
Very interesting. There's some good poems there.
Fictionistas! Free ebook! My historical thriller, The Grand Mirage will be available for purchase at no cost at Amazon tomorrow and Friday, Dec. 15 and 16. If you like adventure, romance and intrigue, be sure to download it. Enjoy! http://amzn.to/t2qD5R
Our Niobe trilogy made the ancient history specialist's fiction recommendation for 2011! You can read about it here:http://ancienthistory.about.com/b/201...
Although she only talks about The Road to Thebes: Niobe and Amphion and Arrows of Artemis: Niobe and Chloris, I would recommend beginning with the first, Children of Tantalus: Niobe and Pelops.
Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus has also gotten a glowing review from Melisende d'Outremer, of the Women and History blog, who writes: "A must read for those with an interest in the much maligned women of Greek mythology." (The review is available on goodreads.)
But the coolest piece of news was my recent discovery of Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus actually being included on a high school syllabus during this last semester!
Wonderful news Victoria! BTW, I added Children of Tantalus to my Nook. Am looking forward to it.
Hi Folks! My historical novel is FREE for one day only on 28 December, so if you want a good read for the new year check it out. Bound to SarahHope you like it and have a great new year!
Thanks
As I began to research Castro's rise to power in Cuba, I discovered a battle eerily similar to the Spartan's defense at Thermopylae. Only in this actual story, the 300 Fidelistas defeated a modern, well-equipped army of 40,000! Read Rebels on the Mountain, a story of romance and revolution available now at Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Rebels-On-the-M..., Barnes & Nobel - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rebel... , and iTunes
I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pdf, etc.). It is the first in the "Children of the Moon" series, and is told from the first person perspective of a native woman of Costa Rica during the first contact with the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. The book has been posted on the giveaway page of Goodreads; I am making three copies available for free! I am an historical fiction junkie (hence joining this group!) and hope that people enjoy the read. So...enjoy!A Dreaming Moon
Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pdf, etc.). It ..."Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pdf, etc.). It ..."
Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pdf, etc.). It ..."
I.j.parker wrote: "It got much bigger later on. Appeal for common people. And the simplicity of just having to repeat a short phrase, when the other forms of Buddhism were highly esoteric and beyond most people's g..."
Ingrid wrote: "Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pd..."Ingrid wrote: "Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pd..."
Ingrid wrote: "Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pd..."
Ingrid wrote: "Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (Mobi, Kindle, pd..."
Ingrid wrote: "Ingrid wrote: "Tami wrote: "I wanted to take this opportunity to unabashedly peddle my wares here to the Historical Fictionistas! This is my debut novel, and is available in paperback and e-book (M..."
Some news to share:THE HOLLOW REED is now part of Amazon Select and free to Amazon Prime members. Even more exciting: the first book, DREAM OF A SPRING NIGHT, will be free to one and all for a few days only.
Please sample this tale of an imperial concubine during the turbulent Heike wars in Japan's twelfth century.
I see that I am not the only one with a Liverpool (UK) based story (see Craig Brennan’s post 3rd Dec). I thought my novel Ice King, was an historical adventure story, mixed with with politics, but many readers (mainly female readers) have commented that it is more a romance / adventure story.
As both sexes have commented favourably on the story, which has allowed
to maintain its top spot for four months on Amazon US & UK sites for romance / slavery, I am only too happy that it is being read by both sexes. :-o)In 1804 Liverpool was the largest slave trading port in Great Britain, yet her influential traders felt threatened by the success, in Parliament, of the ant-slavery movement. Few, in Liverpool, condemned the 'Trade'.
William King, son of a Liverpool slave trader, sickened by what he experienced aboard a Spanish slaver, was one of the few who did speak out against the Trade.
Charlotte, the daughter of a rival trading company has William in her sights, but William has eyes for another. When Charlotte hears of William’s affections being elsewhere, she directs her attentions to another member of William’s family.
This story, during the dying days of the ‘Trade’, has generational change, moral wickedness, greed, romance and the fortunes of war woven through the lives of father and son caught up in the turmoil that preceded the implementation of the British Trade Act of 1807, which would end Britain's involvement in the slave trade. To Liverpool slave traders, if this Act gained Royal Assent, it could mean their ruin.
There are reviews on both Amazon sites.
On my web site www.geoffwoodland.com there are comments and reviews from non-Amazon buyers.
It is available as an e-book ($0.99) from Amazon & Smashwords in various formats. It is also available in paperback (if you live in Oz I'm cheaper than book shops)
The Bow of Heaven - Book I: The Other AlexanderYes, I wrote a novel, and yes, it's terrific. I am doing everything I can to read more HF, but my wife runs a book club and she insists we tackle everything from Hemingway to Murikami to Zusak. Anyone read "A Long Long Way" by Sebastian Barry? Give it a try, if you can handle getting right down in the trenches of Flanders.
Under the heading of "weird coincidences," I, like Geoff Scouse thought I was writing strictly historical fiction, yet most of my fans have commented that "The Bow of Heaven" feels more like a historical romance. It is also about slavery (among other themes) and has also hovered near the top in Kindle searches for its genre." The only difference is about 1,800 years between our stories. Please visit me at andrewlevkoff.com to learn more.
"'The Bow of Heaven' is superb: a beautifully crafted, electrifying example of just how good historical fiction can be. Don't miss it." - Open Letters Monthly
25 copies of the paperback edition are up for grabs at GR; the giveaway ends Jan. 31. Thanks!
All those who like to write poetry: the new Odes to Olympians contest sponsored by the Tapestry of Bronze is open - deadline April 30, 2012. The deity being honored is Ares/Mars, the god of war. He may be tough for some poets to praise, so if you're feeling inspired, please send in your poem! More information at www.tapestryofbronze.com/OdeForm.html.The Tapestry of Bronze is a set of books set in Greece's Bronze Age and include Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus, Children of Tantalus: Niobe and Pelops, The Road to Thebes: Niobe and Amphion and Arrows of Artemis: Niobe and Chloris.
This is my new blog, Its been open for almost a month. I talk about all kinds of books.http://fireflyreadit.blogspot.com/
Check it out and comment what you think! I'm open to new suggestions!
I wrote an entry on the rigid court rank system that defined aristocratic life in Heian Japan:The Age of Tranquility and Peace: Heian Japan #13: The Narrow Tip of the Pyramid: The Rank System
http://riftwatcher.blogspot.com/2012/...
Just putting this here because this thread seems to be read by authors: Amazon and Goodreads seem to be having some sort of falling out and you can't count on GR to pull info from Amazon. Check your book pages and see if they need to be updated.
I've reduced the price on my historical thriller
to 99 cents for the Kindle edition. Not sure how long I will leave it at this price, but wanted to experiment.
Stephanie Dray, one of our HF group authors, wrote this fun blog post with quiz: Which Bad Girl of the Ancient World are you?
I got Queen Arsinoe II of Egypt.
I talk about something that filled many a Heian Japan official's heart with dread: a provincial assignment
And this also is true. They were courtiers, used to the comforts and ritual of courtlife. Provincial assignments involved work and rough conditions. On the other hand, they brought in loads of wealth as provincial officials ripped off the local peasants and shipped their gains back to the capital where they hoped to enjoy them later. Some went so far as to take the job and the income but sent a substitute to do the work. That's the situation in BLACK ARROW, where Akitada serves as substitute governor in a particularly unpleasant spot.
Queen Dido of Carthage - hello sailor :-o)
In honor of our read this month, my blog is about names in fiction. To read "What's in a Name?" go here:http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
Wanted to remind everyone that there is one more day to sign up for the giveaway of my HF book:
Hope you enjoy!
Hello, everyone. Here's my shameless plug--for an unusual novel that uses fantasy to teach history.
My book called The Jericho River. It's a new and magical way to teach history--a unique blend of fantasy and knowledge--and it's been endorsed by a slate of authors and scholars. I'm self-publishing it this year, and I've just launched a campaign to spread the word and to give readers an early opportunity to own the book, through Kickstarter.com. Please check it out:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1...
The Kickstarter campaign only lasts 28 days--until March 5--so please come soon if you're interested! And please forward the campaign to anyone you think might enjoy The Jericho River.
Thank you very much!
/David
My book called The Jericho River. It's a new and magical way to teach history--a unique blend of fantasy and knowledge--and it's been endorsed by a slate of authors and scholars. I'm self-publishing it this year, and I've just launched a campaign to spread the word and to give readers an early opportunity to own the book, through Kickstarter.com. Please check it out:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1...
The Kickstarter campaign only lasts 28 days--until March 5--so please come soon if you're interested! And please forward the campaign to anyone you think might enjoy The Jericho River.
Thank you very much!
/David
In honor of Valentine's Day, I wrote a piece on Ancient Greek Love Stories (and the power of Eros), which can be found here:http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/...
They may not be the love stories you want in your life, but they may nevertheless be the ones that you have experienced.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
I've was inspired by the recent and current brouhaha in the US about women and contraception to write the following at my blog (not about writing!) - about Men Having Babies in Greek Mythology:http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
My first novel, Confessions of the Creature, a re-imagined sequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, has just been re-published(Feb. 2012) in a new Fireship Press edition. The original (2008) edition of Confessions went out of print 10/21/11."... a compelling, thought-provoking novel with an undercurrent that made me always a little anxious about what will happen next to the characters." Camellia, Long and Short Reviews
"This wonderfully written novel will have any reader hooked right from the beginning. It is an enjoyable and extraordinary story! I hope this will not be the last we see of this author, who obviously has a wonderful talent." Ann Marie Chalmers, Front Street ReviewsConfessions of the Creature
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Fate however, conspired to deal Roche a cruel blow. His life is turned upside down and he finds himself transported to Sarah Island, the most notorious and brutal Penal Colony in the British Empire.
Life on Sarah Island is cruel and harsh, Roche has given up all hope of ever seeing his wife and child again, but his survival instincts learned in the slums of Liverpool drive him on and events unfolding in the outside world mean that his wife and child are also about to suffer the consequences of Pat’s alleged actions.
The hand of fate that had torn their lives apart is now set to make their worlds once again collide. The results are intertwined with deceit, retribution, tragedy and enduring love.
Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Bound-to-Sarah-...