Pam December 19th, 2008
I haven’t read anything by Chris Bohjalian since MIDWIVES. Not for any particular reason; I was just busy reading other things.
A few months ago, I listened to an interview with him about his newest book, SKELETONS AT THE FEAST. I was so taken with his description of the story and how he came to write it that I went out and bought a copy of the book the same day. Continue Reading »
Pam November 12th, 2008
I recently finished The Red Queen’s Daughter, a YA historical with significant fantasy elements. The author is Jacqueline Kolosov.
The story centers on Mary Seymour, daughter of Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII. After his death, Catherine married Thomas Seymour. The Author’s Note at the end of the book explains that after her birth, there is no actual record of Mary’s life. So this is a big “what if.”
Mary is raised by a mysterious guardian who schools her in becoming a “white magician.” Her ultimate goal will be to assure the safety of Queen Elizabeth. Once Mary arrives at court, the action picks up. Because she is now surrounded by men and women vying for their share of power, Mary must always be on her guard. She first uses her power to help a young lady-in-waiting who is pregnant. Mary is able to marry her to the man she loves and send her away, thus assuring her own place at court. Continue Reading »
Pam September 30th, 2008
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of research into Shakespeare’s young adult years. From the time he would have finished grammar (elementary) school, until he began to write and act in London, next to nothing is known about his life. (See my post “Shakespeare at Hoghton Tower.)
This opens new opportunities for fiction writers who may want to do some speculating about what exactly happened during that time. Did Shakespeare continue his studies? Did he work? Fall in love? Was he an athlete? Did he poach deer from Sir Thomas Lucy’s land? Since no one really knows, anything goes! Continue Reading »
Pam September 25th, 2008
I’m posting from Chicago, where I’m visiting my daughter for a few days. While it rained yesterday, today is supposed to be warmer and sunny–so I’m hoping for a walk along the lake to get my creative juices flowing!
I recently came across a really impressive middle grade historical novel. It’s CROOKED RIVER, by Shelly Pearsall. It was published a few years ago, but somehow I managed to miss it until now. Set in 1812, it’s the story of a family on the Ohio frontier and what happens when the father brings an Indian to their home to be imprisoned while he awaits trial for the murder of a trapper. The father is a cruel and vindictive man, with little empathy for anyone, even his own daughters. Continue Reading »
Pam August 29th, 2008
Tudor symbol
I recently finished reading Trust and Treason, by Margaret Birkhead. Originally, I intended to use it as a reference for Elizabethan language, grammar, phrases, and word usage, since I’m in the middle of researching that period. However, the story was so captivating, I was quickly drawn in. Continue Reading »