Blog – PamMingle.com

Historical Holiday Cookie Exchange

December 9, 2019 / Pamela Mingle / 12

RAISIN WALNUT TARTS These are ridiculously easy to make, especially if you use pre-packaged tart shells, and so delicious! Of course you can dress them up however you like–with whipped cream on top or a pastry lattice, or holiday designs of your choice. This recipe was my mother-in-law’s, and she always said to use a […]

My Awesome Book Release Week

July 18, 2019 / Pamela Mingle / 0

During the release week of my newest book, Game of Spies, a most amazing thing happened. A Twitter thread about my writing went viral. The source of this tweet was my daughter, Katie. My mom (@PamMingle) started writing romance novels a few years ago (a thread!) pic.twitter.com/LhxWgfE2Yz — Katie Mingle (@katiemingle) June 24, 2019 Over […]

Tudor-themed Rafflecopter Giveaway

July 14, 2019 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Hi, friends. To celebrate the release of Game of Spies, I’m hosting a fabulous Rafflecopter giveaway, from now through midnight, July 22, 2019. The winner will receive a Six Wives tote bag with these Tudor prizes tucked inside: A copy of Game of Spies; a DVD of the 2018 movie, Mary Queen of Scots; an […]

Game of Spies Romance Novel By Pamela Mingle

Game of Spies now available!

June 30, 2019 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I’m thrilled to announce that my new book, Game of Spies, released on June 24. Needless to say, it’s been a very exciting week! Please take a look at a few short blog posts I wrote to celebrate the release. The first is on WriterSpace and tells about my visit to Tutbury Castle, the main […]

What Keeps You Sane in Today’s World?

May 6, 2019 / Pamela Mingle / 2

The state of the world. And the state of your world. In other words, the big picture and the the narrower one pertaining particularly to you and those you love. They may seem like two different phenomena, yet they’re inextricably linked. In the last year, even more so, no matter what your politics. When things […]

Unmarriageable, by Sonia Kamal

January 11, 2019 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Unmarriageable is a delightful contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan. The Binat (as in Bennet) family live in a backwater town called Dilipabad. They had formerly lived in Lahore, but Mr. Binat’s brother “bilked him out of business and inheritance.” After the move, the Binats made some improvements to their home and now […]

Rafflecopter Giveaway for David’s Holiday Gift Tower!

September 17, 2018 / Pamela Mingle / 0

The celebration for the release of MISTRESS SPY continues with this scrumptious Rafflecopter giveaway! Enter to win a David’s Holiday Gift Tower! If you’re the lucky winner, indulge yourself or share the treats with family and friends. Personally, I’d slice up a pear and nibble the Moose Munch Premium Popcorn while enjoying my copy of […]

MISTRESS SPY on Pre-order!

August 7, 2018 / Pamela Mingle / 0

My new book, Mistress Spy, releases on August 27. It’s now on pre-order from all e-retailers and Entangled Publishing. Here’s a blurb: A determined sister . . . Madeleine Vernon’s dreams should be filled with fashionable gowns and prospective husbands. Instead, she dreams of avenging her brother’s death. But when she’s captured by the queen’s […]

New Facebook Group for Historical Romance

July 7, 2018 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Just a short post to ask you to take a look at a new FB page for readers and writers of historical romance. It’s called A Touch of Intrigue. The thirteen authors named above are your moderators. We write about a variety of eras and settings: Medieval, Tudor, Regency, Victorian, American South and West, and […]

Too Many Hissy Fits?

February 21, 2018 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Can you have too much angst in a romance? The same conflict, which, rehashed again and again, continues to thwart the happily-ever-after of the protagonists? Many would say no to that question, but I would disagree. I recently finished reading a historical romance that made me want to scream in frustration. This sprang from the […]

Giveaway for New Newsletter Subscribers

September 28, 2017 / Pamela Mingle / 2

In celebration of the return of Outlander, I’m giving away a lovely sterling silver Celtic bracelet, pictured above. Only NEW subscribers to my newsletter will be eligible. The giveaway begins Thursday, Sept. 28. Sign up right here, on my website. Newsletter subscribers receive updates on new books, giveaways, and tidbits about my research, travels, and even Jane Austen. Coming soon: […]

Countdown to Release Day on Aug. 28!

August 23, 2017 / Pamela Mingle / 0

“I was instantly drawn into this tale of second chances, and I did not want to put my Kindle down.” Tam, Goodreads review “Get a big box of tissues ready, because this is a very emotional story…A lovely heroine with a huge heart.” Petula, Goodreads review “To say that complications ensue is an understatement, and […]

Winner of Rafflecopter Giveaway!

August 23, 2017 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I’m pleased to announce that DEBBIE D’ANGELI is the winner of the Rafflecopter giveaway for The Great British Bake-off cookbook! Congratulations, Debbie, and happy baking. Thanks to all who entered the giveaway. The orange-banana muffins pictured above are NOT from the The Great British Bake-off Cookbook. The recipe is very nutritious, made with ground oats […]

Win a copy of The Great British Bake-Off Cookbook!

August 12, 2017 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Enter my Rafflecopter giveaway to win a copy of The Great British Bake-off Cookbook–Perfect Cakes and Bakes to Make at Home. Choose the ways you’d like to enter–there are multiple options. The cookbook is the official tie-in to the 2016 season that recently ended on PBS. If you love Mary and Paul, Mel and Sue, […]

San Diego in the Winter

April 1, 2017 / Pamela Mingle / 2

I recently returned from a month-long trip to California. Before we left, I had just completed a new book ( A Lady’s Deception ), and I had time, before receiving the edits, for some R&R. We spent two weeks in San Diego and ten days in Carlsbad, a charming beach town north of the city. During our […]

A Lady’s Deception

February 28, 2017 / Pamela Mingle / 0

You might ask, “Why the bluebells?” This is a photo I took on a walking trip in England several years ago. I guess it’s indicative of how much I’m longing for spring to arrive in Denver! I’m pleased to announce a new book coming August 28, 2017. It’s called A Lady’s Deception and is the […]

Librarians and Writers

November 7, 2016 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I’ve always felt that librarians and writers have an affinity for each other and a set of natural connections. At its most fundamental level, the connections between librarians and writers grows out of a common curiosity and a love of books. Ray Bradbury claimed the library was where he gained his true education. “I […]

Writers And Their Pets

July 28, 2016 / Pamela Mingle / 2

Writers and Their Pets “Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.”–Emily Dickinson There is a long and wonderful history of the relationship between writers and their pets. Edith Wharton and Virginia Woolf loved their dogs; Ernest Hemingway his cats. Charles Dickens loved his pet cat, Bob, so much he […]

The Value of an MFA

March 28, 2016 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I recently read, as perhaps many of you did as well, the article called, “How Has the MFA Changed the Contemporary Novel?”, which appeared in the March 6 edition of The Atlantic. The authors say right up front, “We wrote a program to analyze hundreds of works by authors with and without creative writing degrees. […]

Revision: Not as Orderly as You Think

January 6, 2016 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I recently wrote a post over at The Wild Writers about preparing to revise a manuscript. Now that I’ve clawed my way out of revision hell, I have some further thoughts. It’s fine, perhaps essential, during the revision process, to use a favorite checklist. It may be one handed out at a conference or […]

Step Away from Your Desk

October 26, 2015 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Recently I discovered something about my writing routine purely by accident. Lately I’ve been working less and less with paper copies of my manuscripts. Over time, I had accumulated a huge number of pages–mostly of completed novels–with no space to store them. I couldn’t reuse or recycle them fast enough. Sound familiar? In the past, […]

The Mystery of the Lost Cézanne: A Review

October 4, 2015 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Mystery. Romance. Aix-en-Provence. Le Français. Cézanne. What more could you want in one book? The Mystery of the Lost Cézanne, by M.L. Longworth, is the fifth installment in the Verlaque and Bonnet series. It entertains readers with all of the above, plus a cast of unforgettable characters. The mystery itself is set in motion with […]

Mindfulness

September 20, 2015 / Pamela Mingle / 4

Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience. (From Psychology Today) Have you ever tried […]

The Year of Long Books

August 8, 2014 / Pamela Mingle / 0

This has been a year of long books for me. Only three of them, but each in the 700-800 page category. I’ve finished two and put the third on hold. I can’t decide whether to abandon it or stick with it. I’d better make up my mind, because pretty soon I will have forgotten […]

The Importance of Reading for Writers

April 29, 2014 / Pamela Mingle / 0

A piece of advice writers hear frequently is to read in the genre in which you write. Sometimes it’s even, “Read ONLY in your genre.” I definitely take exception to that. Reading primarily in your genre is probably a good idea, but if we limit ourselves to that, we’re missing out not only on great […]

My Top Ten Romances for Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2014 / Pamela Mingle / 4

Let’s begin with Jane Austen. Especially Pride & Prejudice. Those of us who love Austen will never forget the first time we read it, and how we were captivated by the lively Elizabeth Bennet and arrogant Mr. Darcy. Oh, how foolish they both were! But it worked out in the end. 🙂 And forgive me, […]

The Challenge of Writing a Pride and Prejudice Sequel

January 31, 2014 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Writing a sequel to an iconic book like Pride and Prejudice was intimidating. All my insecurities, self-doubts, and uncertainties rose to the surface. The voice of the inner critic rang in my ears louder than usual when I first began writing The Pursuit of Mary Bennet. “You’re trying to be Jane Austen? Are you crazy?” […]

The Pursuit of Mary Bennet

October 22, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 10

In case I haven’t mentioned it…I have a new book coming out next month. November 26th, to be exact. THE PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET is my homage to Jane Austen, a sequel to the beloved PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, about Mary, the middle Bennet sister. I imagined a life for Mary beyond Austen’s rendering, one that […]

Book Love: Me Before You

September 6, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 3

Once in a decade, maybe, a book comes along that I fall in love with. A book that wrenches my heart and makes me gasp. Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, is this decade’s book. Here’s the story outline: A young girl, Louisa, after losing her job as worker in a café, begins a new […]

Paperback Release of Kissing Shakespeare

August 6, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 2

I can hardly believe it’s been nearly a year since KISSING SHAKESPEARE was released! And on Aug. 6, I’m celebrating the release of the paperback. In honor of that occasion, I offer here, drum roll please, a deleted scene from the book. Last year, after KISSING SHAKESPEARE made its debut, YA librarian Joy Davis published […]

The Next Big Thing

April 18, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Today I’m participating in THE NEXT BIG THING. It’s a blog hop that began in Australia and went international. The purpose is to get the word out on middle grade and YA writers and their current or upcoming books. Each of us answers the same set of questions, and we “tag” two other authors who […]

Kissing Shakespeare FAQs

March 9, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 4

When Tania Navarro, age 19, wrote to me about KISSING SHAKESPEARE, she asked several questions. Afterward, I asked her if she would mind if I used them on this blog, since many other people have asked me the same questions. She was kind enough to give her consent. Tania is nineteen and lives in eastern […]

Favorite Teen Novels of 2012

January 31, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Here’s my list of favorite young adult novels from 2012. VACLAV AND LENA and THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS were officially marketed to adults, but in my opinion, not especially humble, they would be great for teens. The links are to my own GoodReads reviews, except for TRAITOR’S SON AND SON, which are linked to professional […]

Looking Back at 2012

January 1, 2013 / Pamela Mingle / 2

For many years I made it a habit to list my writing accomplishments as each year drew to a close. I first got the idea from Cynthia Morris. She suggested it as a way of focusing on achievements rather than on setbacks. I haven’t done it lately, because my critique group has been doing […]

Engage the Senses in your Writing

November 25, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 4

Over and over again, writers are told that in order to enrich their writing, they should strive to engage as many of the senses as possible in a descriptive passage. The easiest, of course, is visual. We tend to stick with that one, because it’s the most obvious and most overwhelmingly present. Readers always want […]

Kissing Shakespeare Discussion Questions

October 18, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 8

Here’s my first go at questions for Kissing Shakespeare. I wrote these with book clubs in mind, since several groups who are reading KS gently prodded me! They’re meant for a casual, if thoughtful, discussion, for teens or adults, NOT for classroom use. Sometime soon, I’ll do a set for teachers. Obviously, the emphasis would […]

How To Have A Great Book Launch Party

October 2, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 1

I wanted my launch party for KISSING SHAKESPEARE to be perfect. So, I put someone else in charge! My husband insisted he wanted to make the arrangements, and after joint planning, he did. Lucky for me, a dear friend of many years, Mary Ellen Kelly, stepped in to offer her help with set-up and clean-up. […]

Quarreling Couples

September 2, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 2

Quarreling lovers. Or soon-to-be-lovers. Or once-upon-a-time were lovers. In any scenario, they’re definitely locking horns with each other in some way. My husband and I got into an argument on this subject. Well…not exactly an argument; more of a disagreement. We were watching the new HBO drama Newsroom, I think episode four. I’ve really […]

Publication Day for Kissing Shakespeare

August 14, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 11

It’s finally arrived. My big day! The release of Kissing Shakespeare, published by Delacorte Press. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, thanks to all who helped shepherd this book to publication: my agent, Steven Chudney, my editor, Francoise Bui, as well as all the behind-the-scenes folks at Delacorte. Thanks also to my critique […]

Writing in the Digital Age

July 25, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Recently I attended a symposium on digital publishing organized by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI. I learned about the proliferation of e-books, POD, and apps, as well as interactive books and transmedia (multiple media). Lisa Rutherford from Coliloquy taught us about active fiction, and a new concept (at least to me) of “living books, […]

Fleshing out Secondary Characters

May 8, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I hate to admit this…but I accidentally found a good way to deepen and add complexity to secondary characters. When I first began writing KISSING SHAKESPEARE, I wanted to try a using a dual point of view. Ahem. It didn’t work out for me. However, I wrote a few chapters from the POV of Jennet […]

The Most Useful Thing You’ve Learned About Writing

April 24, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 4

The Writer magazine has been running a feature called “Writers on Writing” in which they ask a well-known author this question: What is the single most useful thing you’ve learned about writing, and how has it helped you as a writer? So I’ve been thinking a lot about that and wondering if I could distill […]

Chat with FLVS about Kissing Shakespeare

April 8, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 2

A few days ago I had my very first “appearance” related to KISSING SHAKESPEARE. I use quotes because it was a virtual gig. Back in early February, Jenni Newton of the Florida Virtual School asked me to be a guest speaker at their Shakespeare Festival. I hesitated, because my book isn’t out until August. But […]

Characters and Emotion

March 25, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Over at TheWildWriters last week, Claudia Cangilla Macadam wrote a blog post describing her method of getting into a character’s emotions. She acts them out! I can’t specifically recall ever having done that, but I’m planning to give it a try. A way that I frequently use to pick up ideas for describing a character’s […]

KISSING SHAKESPEARE WILL LAUNCH IN AUGUST

March 1, 2012 / Pamela Mingle / 0

After a long hiatus, while working on my revision and copy edits for KISSING SHAKESPEARE, I’m back! More about my revising and copy editing experience in another post. For now I just want to say that Francoise Bui, my editor at Delacorte, and her behind-the-scenes team made it a pleasure rather than a chore. KISSING […]

The Wild Writers Launch Joint Web Site

October 7, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 0

A few weeks ago, my critique group launched a joint web site/blog. Hosted by WordPress, it’s called The Wild Writers. We did this for a number of reasons. First, our combined wisdom about writing is deeper than any one of us alone could claim. Committing to writing two blog posts over the course of several […]

Sir John Soane’s Museum

September 17, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 0

The first time we visited London, several years ago, we decided to check out this small museum. It was once the home of Sir John Soane, a great English architect. To be honest, at the time I wasn’t all that interested, but my husband thought it would be fun to see an actual home rather […]

Research in England

July 11, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I just returned from a trip to England, where my husband and I walked on the Shropshire Way with a group of friends. Afterward, we visited several towns so I could get a firsthand look at architecture, artifacts, landscape, history, and anything else to help me create believable settings for my books. Here are some […]

Kissing Shakespeare

May 19, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 0

My debut novel… KISSING SHAKESPEARE is scheduled for publication by Delacorte Press in 2012. This story of romance, intrigue, secret alliances—and a little bit of magic—is aimed at teen readers. I’d like to thank my amazing agent, Steven Chudney, for the suggestions he made for strengthening the manuscript, and for believing in the story. I’m […]

Outline or Seat-of-the-Pants?

May 6, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 6

I’ve always considered myself a seat-of-the-pants writer rather than an outliner. Lately I’ve been wondering if there’s an in-between technique that can also work. At the 2010 Pikes Peak Writers Conference, Carol Berg did a session on alternatives to outlining. She spoke of the “minimum you must know” before putting pen to paper: Character(s) to […]

Timeline of a Novel

April 19, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 2

Getting the timeline of a novel right can be a real challenge, and I doubt I’m the only one who struggles with it. At the beginning of a book, I resolve to keep track of the timeline as I’m writing. That works out pretty well for the first three or four chapters, before much time […]

Writing Scenes Out of Sequence

April 1, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 3

I’d never done it before—written out of chronological order—except during revision. But after a discussion at Critique Group a few years back, I decided to give it a try. Kissing Shakespeare was my work-in-progress at the time, so I wrote dozens of scenes as they sprang to mind, slotting them in later. And yes, I […]

Present vs. Past Tense

March 10, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 15

When novels written in present tense first began to appear, I thought sure it was a fad. A trend that would disappear as quickly as it had sprung into being, when sane readers and writers everywhere would agree on how annoying it was. Wrong. It hasn’t disappeared; in fact, it’s caught on and stuck. People […]

Pride and Prejudice Trivia

February 18, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Someone in my JASNA group recommended The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, by David M. Shapard, a few years ago. I promptly ordered it, but apart from using it to check a fact every so often, it’s languished on a bookcase ever since. I decided to read it during my stay in Florida. So, for my […]

Working Holiday

February 4, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 2

Isn’t that an oxymoron? I’m in St. Augustine for a month. Since it’s a high of -3 in Denver today, I’m feeling pretty good about that right now. But how does one stick to a work routine in a new place with the surf pounding just outside the window? Although there are new and unique […]

Finish That Novel, Part 2

January 18, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 1

After doling out that sage advice about finishing a book last time, I thought maybe I should offer a few suggestions for those who are stalled. Make a schedule and stick to it. This will look different for everyone. Minimize distractions. Again, this will be unique to each person. Only you can decide what will […]

Finish That Novel!

January 12, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I’m a member of a big critique group, eighteen in all. For the past three years, we’ve submitted our writing resolutions to one of our group members, who compiles them into a handy chart (thanks, Denise!) At our January meeting, we take turns sharing our resolutions from the previous year. We celebrate or gently nudge, […]

Protecting Your Writing Time

January 2, 2011 / Pamela Mingle / 6

Time management. It’s a subject that’s been on my mind lately. It all started when I decided to rejuvenate my blog. I took a fabulous online class called “Blog Triage” from Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield. When I signed up for it, I honestly thought I didn’t have that much to learn. Ha! And ha! […]

To E-read or not to E-read…

December 22, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 1

Are you hoping to find an e-reader under the Christmas tree this year? With the proliferation of devices such as the Kindle, Sony E-Reader, Nook and Nook color, iPad, iPhone, and Android phones, more and more of us who once swore we’d never give up our print books are jumping on the bandwagon. That’s not […]

Holiday Gifts Featuring Colorado Authors, Part II

December 16, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Today I’m moving on to Colorado’s outstanding middle grade and picture book writers. Let’s begin with Middle Grade. As before, the links are to author web sites. Claudia Mills: ONE SQUARE INCH; HOW OLIVER OLSON CHANGED THE WORLD Mary Peace Finley: THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF BLACKWELL STATION Claudia McAdam: RIDDLE AT THE RODEO Ann Nagda: […]

Holiday Gifts Featuring Colorado Authors

December 7, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Subscribe in a reader It’s that time of year…Aren’t there some children, tweens, or teens on your list who would love receiving a book for Hanukkah or Christmas? As a child, a book was (and still is) my favorite gift! Today’s post is dedicated to Tween and Teen books. A follow-up will feature middle grade, […]

Science Looks at the Teen Brain

November 29, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 7

We all have our little rituals. This is one of mine. On Sunday morning, I always read the Sunday supplements while I’m eating breakfast. Because most of the contents of USA WEEKEND and PARADE relate to faux famous people, many of whom I’ve never heard of, it’s been rather pointless the last few years. Yesterday, […]

Steampunk. Who Knew?

November 16, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 3

At our RMC-SCBWI Fall Conference, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a group of young adult librarians at the Saturday lunch. Shamelessly, I wasted no time in picking their brains to get ideas for my YA Lit class, which I’ll be teaching again this spring. One of them said the best book she’d […]

Plotting Simplified

November 6, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 8

Okay, I admit it. Plotting is really challenging for me. I’ve read countless articles and books on the subject, attended so many sessions at conferences, I couldn’t possibly remember them all, and sought advice from the expert plotters in my critique group. I’ve tried using index cards—even made a template for them so I wouldn’t […]

Still in Love with Shakespeare!

October 31, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 5

Do you remember the movie Shakespeare in Love? Won five Academy Awards? I happened to catch it on Encore recently. Having been so immersed in Shakespeare’s world the past few years as I worked on Kissing Shakespeare, I watched it with a new appreciation. I’d already seen it, of course, but this time, it meant […]

Critiques

October 28, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 2

Tomorrow my critique group is meeting here at my home. Aside from dressing in Halloween costumes and gorging ourselves with snacks, we have a manuscript to critique. A year or so ago I wrote about the experience of having my own manuscript, Kissing Shakespeare, critiqued by my group. To say I was somewhat stressed is […]

Misery Lit: Have We Had Our Fill?

May 5, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 4

I recently read that Daisy Goodwin, Orange Prize chair, was bothered by the unrelenting “misery” going on in the books eligible for the prize. In case you’re not familiar, the Orange Prize is awarded to a woman writer of any nationality for a novel written in English. After reading 129 novels, Ms. Goodwin told the […]

Wolf Hall

February 7, 2010 / Pamela Mingle / 11

I savored Wolf Hall. I made it last as long as possible. Like nibbling on a brownie, or spooning tiny bites of ice cream. My strategy worked, too. I got it for Christmas, and here it is, Feb 6, and I just finished it. It’s the kind of book that allows you to savor it, […]

Why Do You Write?

November 17, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 3

Probably none of us would answer that question in quite the same way. Would you keep on writing if you had no hope of publishing your work? If you would, can you explain what motivates you? If you wouldn’t, why not? We’ve talked about this in our critique group, and we disagree. I’d love to […]

Review of The Champion

November 8, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Elizabeth Chadwick has been publishing for years. Why did it take me so long to find her? A writer of historical fiction, her specialty is the Middle Ages. She has nineteen books to her credit. See what I mean about not discovering her before now? Especially since her first book was published in 1989 (The […]

Pam’s Manuscript Critique

October 16, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 2

My heart pounds out an irregular rhythm. I try but fail to suck in one of those deep, cleansing breaths that are supposed to be so calming. Short gulps of air are all I can manage. Sweat breaks out on my forehead. My limbs feel heavy, immobile. Job interview? Nightmare? Am I being chased by […]

YA Fiction: Past and Present

September 22, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 41

Next Spring I’ll be teaching a class on young adult fiction. The class will examine themes which run through both classic and contemporary YA novels, and also study the way in which the genre has evolved over time. I’m looking for your input! What one book defined you during your teenage years? Had the greatest […]

My Sinful Secret

September 8, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Until recently, I was one of those people who never read romances and was proud of it. Ugh. How stupid. How inane. How way, way beneath me. No thanks. Not me. Never. Ever. Then someone in my Jane Austen group suggested I read a Georgette Heyer novel. Supposedly, the next best thing to reading Jane. […]

Jane Austen’s Siblings

August 14, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Last Sunday I pretended to be Cassandra Austen, sister of the famous writer. I was on a panel of “siblings” at the Denver/Boulder regional meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. We panelists fielded questions from our members regarding the sibs-four of the brothers and one sister. The most compelling question for me […]

Review of Sovay

July 7, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Celia Rees is an amazing writer. I was a great fan of her book Vanished, and I think Sovay is even better. With a large cast of characters, it must be difficult to give a distinctive voice to each one, but she manages to pull it off. And Sovay herself is a gem. Bold, adventurous, […]

Lost in Austen

May 21, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Have you seen Lost in Austen, the ITV satire of Pride and Prejudice? When shown on TV, I believe it was in episodes, but the DVD runs continuously as though it were a movie. After watching about 45 minutes of it, I was convinced I wouldn’t like it. The crux of the story is that […]

Attributions: He said, she said

May 13, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

An admonition writers always hear from speakers at conferences is to stick with the venerable “said” as a dialogue tag. Other writers, editors, agents, creative writing teachers, and the authors of writing craft books–all seem to agree. Every time I hear or read this piece of advice, it seems the very next time I pick […]

Lady Julia Grey Mysteries

May 4, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I’ve enjoyed reading Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey mysteries. Not only has Raybourn created two appealing main characters in Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane, but she also has provided a seemingly limitless cast of characters within Lady Julia’s family: her father, her sister Portia, and her many other siblings. The first book in the series, […]

Historical Mysteries

April 12, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I love historical mysteries, especially the English ones. The time peiod doesn’t matter; right now I’m following several series from different centuries. Some crucial ingredients for historical mysteries, at least in my mind, are characterization, period detail, and mood. And of course, a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, with plenty of plot […]

The New Maisie Dobbs, Among the Mad

March 26, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Am I the only Maisie Dobbs fan who didn’t like this book? Judging from the various reviews I’ve read or skimmed, everyone has nothing but praise for it. Although the New York Times crime critic, Marilyn Stasio, did refer to Maisie as “humorless.” In spades. Some of what was wrong with this book could have […]

The Hunger Games

March 17, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 2

I just experienced The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Yes, experienced. I listened to it, read by Carolyn McCormick. You would probably recognize her voice, as I did, from Law and Order. She’s played the part of Dr. Elizabeth Olivet for many years (in addition to her many roles in the theater, movies, and other […]

Hard Face Moon

February 15, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Middle grade readers will love Nancy Oswald’s new book, Hard Face Moon, and teachers and librarians will be thrilled to have a work of historical fiction that ties in so well with the curriculum. Published by Filter Press, a Colorado publisher of southwest history, biography, and historical fiction, Hard Face Moon deserves a wide audience. […]

The Morning Gift

February 6, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

The Morning Gift is a charming historical romance first published in the U.S. in 1985, and probably in England prior to that. In style, it has an old-fashioned feel, like something that may have been written right after WWII. The current edition was published by Speak, a teen imprint of Penguin-Puffin. They’ve also released several […]

My Life in Books

January 25, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 7

Today I’m so happy to launch a new title and new look for my blog! First, the new look. The talented and up-and-coming cartoonist/artist, Corinne Mucha, designed the header just for me. I love it, because not only is it a perfect fit, it’s so cool! The design, the color, the detail, I couldn’t be […]

Critique Group Welcomes the New Year!

January 17, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 3

My critique group met last Friday, our first meeting of the year. After our actual work–critiquing three picture book manuscripts–we revisited the writing resolutions we made last January, what we hoped to accomplish as writers in 2008. Most of us (and we’re a fairly large group) achieved one or more of our goals. Here are […]

A Curse Dark as Gold

January 1, 2009 / Pamela Mingle / 0

A Curse Dark as Gold. What an intriguing title, and an intriuging read as well. I was curious about this book, because I knew it was a fantasy with the feel of historical fiction. My current project is historical fiction with fantasy elements, and I wanted to see how Elizabeth C. Bunce, the author, handled the […]

Skeletons at the Feast

December 19, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 2

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 […]

Jane Austen Birthday Celebration

December 13, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 1

The pleasure of sipping tea and eating scones with Devonshire cream at the Brown Palace Hotel. What more could you ask? Celebrating Jane Austen’s life, books, and characters was the real reason for gathering at the Brown Palace. Every year the Denver/Boulder Regional Chapter (and probably many other chapters) of the Jane Austen Society of North […]

Christmas Book Recommendations

December 9, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Ah, what better gift to give and receive than a book? At least, that’s what all the bookstores and publishers are telling us lately. I’m not including the obvious, such as the Twilight series, or Harry Potter, since I’m sure nearly everyone in existence has already read them (and seen the movies). Here are a […]

No NaNoWriMo For Me

November 26, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 0

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, occurs every November. The goal is to write 50,000 words throughout the month, which would serve as a rough draft, or put you well on your way toward completion of one, depending on the age group you write for. I decided 50,000 words in one month was too daunting […]

Graceling

November 25, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 1

I just finished reading GRACELING, by Kristin Cashore. Even though I’m not a big fantasy reader, I decided to give it a try because of the great press it was getting. Boy, am I glad I did! It’s one of the best YA’s I’ve read. Ever. It’s got everything–a strong, vibrant main character, plenty of action […]

The Red Queen’s Daughter

November 12, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 0

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 […]

Shakespeare Trivia

October 27, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 0

Here are some fun facts about Shakespeare I’ve learned in recent research: Other than his christening in 1564, there is no recorded information about Shakespeare until his marriage. He married a 26-year-old woman named Anne Hathaway when he was 18, in 1562. They had a daughter, Susanna, and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Shakespeare left Stratford-upon-Avon, […]

Catcher in the Rye and High School English

October 18, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 2

Recently on Weekend Edition, Scott Simon interviewed a professor from Oberlin, Anne Trubek, about an article she’d written for Good magazine. She believes The Catcher in the Rye should be retired as part of the English/Language Arts curriculum in high schools. Today’s students no longer identify with Holden Caulfield, a white, upper class, prep school […]

Gossip Girl?

October 7, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 0

I’ve never watched Gossip Girl before, but I’m watching it tonight. Right now. Since I’m writing for tweens and YA’s, I thought I should check out the show whose characters seem to be all over the internet. What’s all the fuss about? Despite the show’s pretty glaring flaws–everyone’s rich, there’s not a person of color […]

Teenage Shakespeare

September 30, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 0

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 […]

Review of Crooked River

September 25, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 1

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 […]

Tudor Books

August 29, 2008 / Pamela Mingle / 5

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.

Contagion

June 13, 2007 / Pamela Mingle / 1

Ever since the uproar surrounding the Andrew Speaker tuberculosis case, I’ve been thinking about how much worse the 1918 pandemic might have been if people then had traveled with the same ease as we do today. Think of all the flights that could have criss-crossed the country, and even the world. Thousands more might have died. Some […]

Writing Community

June 2, 2007 / Pamela Mingle / 0

An unexpected surprise arrived via e-mail last week. Pictures from the 2006 Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference. That was the year Pandemic! won first place in the Young Adult category of the Paul Gillette Contest, sponsored by the Pikes Peak Writers. The contest coordinator, Dawn Smit Miller, sent a link to the photographer’s web site, where […]

A Scientific Puzzle

May 9, 2007 / Pamela Mingle / 1

Something that has puzzled scientists about the 1918 pandemic is that nearly half the deaths were in young adults. Most often, those most vulnerable to death from influenza are the eldest and youngest, the weakest members of society, in other words. Mortality curves for the flu usually are “U” shaped, with the peaks occurring in the very young […]

More on the Pandemic of 1918

April 30, 2007 / Pamela Mingle / 0

The pandemic spread throughout the world in 3 waves: The first wave in the spring of 1918, followed by the second in the fall of 1918. The third wave occured on the heels of the second, in the winter of 1918/19. It could not have happened at a worse time. Thousands of physicians and nurses were in Europe because […]

PANDEMIC!

April 26, 2007 / Pamela Mingle / 2

For the past 3 years or so, I’ve been working on a book called Pandemic! (The exclamation point is part of the title.) It’s YA historical fiction about the influenza pandemic of 1918. To be more specific, it’s about a teenaged girl, orphaned during the pandemic, who struggles to re-build her life in the face of financial […]