Today is the 1st of May. Here in Sweden, the cherry trees stand in flower, and the magnolia buds are just about to burst into short-lived flowering. I love magnolias. So does my little grandson, but only because magnolias have been around since the dinosaurs. He hasn’t quite grasped that “his” magnolia is not as
Lovely spring comes with a new book! – my May newsletter Read More »
The other day, I received a message telling me a former colleague of mine had died. It was not an entire surprise: my colleague had been struggling with a degenerative condition for quite some time. Still: knowing someone is seriously ill and may die is not the same as them dying. My former colleague was
Today, I am happy to welcome John Anthony Miller on my blog. This prolific author has penned various books, and this his latest is set in World War II, more specifically in Vienna. The author has kindly offered an excerpt (see below) but let us start with the cover and the blurb! Vienna, 1941 Monika
Another Soul Saved – welcoming John Anthony Miller and his new release Read More »
Writing novels set in the distant past has its disadvantages. Like when your heroine ends up in a situation where you just know she’s dying for a piece of chocolate – except that chocolate hasn’t been invented yet. Or when the scene you’ve just written calls for cold fingers clasped around the comforting warmth of
The devil lies in the details – a reflection on writing historical fiction Read More »
In Sweden, we have a saying: “April snow is like sheep’s dung” – i.e. a valuable fertilizer. Me, I’m more of the “damn it, no snow NOW!!!” approach, but these last few days have been so cold there is a faint possibility we will see snow, when what I want for Easter is sun, budding
A month of showers and snow – my April newsletter Read More »
I learned something new today: I had no idea PTSD was called nostalgia back in the 129th century – even if I can well believe people sneered and named the sufferers cowards. I think, sadly, that happens today as well to those permanently scarred by traumatic events. Today, I am hosting Ms Willey who has
Today’s spotlight shines on Nostalgia by Susannah Willey Read More »
“Stupid idiot,” I mutter. “You’re killing her!” “Who?” asks hubby, raising his gaze from his chess app. “Rodrigo!” I sigh. “Silly young man. Seriously, he needs to communicate with her.” “He’s what? Nineteen?” hubby asks (see? He pays attention) “What young man at that age knows how to communicate with a woman he’s in love
I’m the writer. You’re invented – a post about the characters that take over Read More »
Some weeks ago, I posted my review (and her interesting guest post) of Char Newcomb’s latest, Rogues and Kings. Today, she visits as part of her Coffee Pot Book Club – this time with a snippet. And yes, I do believe this book deserves a lot of shout-outs, predominantly because I think it is an
The 16th century was a century of huge upheaval in Europe. Where before there had been ONE church, suddenly there were many variants of the Christian faith. Some of the consequences of the Reformation were good – literacy increased as a consequence of Protestants advocating a personal relation to God which assumed reading God’s word.
When Luther sort of approved of bigamy – of Philip of Hesse and his wives Read More »
I will readily admit Julia Hancock is an unknown historical figure to me – but I did know about her hubby, intrepid explorer William Clark. I imagine an intrepid explorer needs an intrepid wife, and by all accounts Julia was just that. Likely what drove Ms Allen to write about her, right? So: today’s book: West
Going west – Brooke Allen’s book about Julia Hancock Read More »