This week, I’m publishing a short extract from my story, ‘The List’, which is set in occupied France. The story originally appeared in an anthology entitled Pearl Harbor and More: Stories of WWII – December 1941, published by eight authors of wartime fiction. The short stories were set in locations around the world and commemorated theContinue reading “Excerpt from ‘The List’, a WWII short story”
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
Courtship and Marriage Corsican-Style
In Corsica, relations between the sexes have always been regulated by unbreakable codes of honour. I researched courtship and marriage customs on the island for The Corsican Widow, which is set there during the 18th century. The Corsican ideal of honour is central to the story.
This Book is Worth More than Rubies to Me
This book doesn’t look like much, I know, and the subject may seem a little abstruse – Everyday Life in Corsica in the 18th Century. But this was the only copy available outside faraway libraries; the very last one I could get hold of. Why is it so important to me? Because it’s invaluable for oneContinue reading “This Book is Worth More than Rubies to Me”
History People #1: Wartime Fiction: Wandering Off the Beaten Track
This is the first in a series of guest posts by fellow historical fiction authors. Dianne Ascroft, who writes World War II fiction, kicks it off with some thought-provoking reflections on unusual settings for wartime fiction and what readers are looking for. Thanks for joining us today, Dianne.
History: a thing of the past?
Today, I’m delighted to welcome guest blogger Olga Swan, who also lives in SW France. Lamplight, the first in her David Klein, war-reporter, series is released tomorrow by Crooked Cat. Olga’s post gives us a flavour of her series, which spans the build-up to World War II and the war itself, and outlines some of theContinue reading “History: a thing of the past?”
Nursing in World War I: the French Experience
Writing a credible historical novel is like doing an obstacle course with your hands tied. A significant challenge for me in writing The House at Zaronza was to find out about nursing from a French viewpoint on the Western Front during World War I, where about a third of the novel is set. Countless books existContinue reading “Nursing in World War I: the French Experience”
How was it for you?
This blog has been a bit quiet recently, but there’s a reason for that. Along with countless others, I emerged from National Novel Writing Month on 30th November, having just about snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. I hit the requisite 50K words on 25th November, but I’m still feeling a bit shell-shocked.
On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Author @LizaPerrat
On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Author @LizaPerrat Today I’m delighted to welcome an author who also lives in France, but on the other side near Lyon. Liza Perrat and I know each other only virtually, but somehow I feel I know her better than that already! She is the author of two terrific historicalContinue reading “On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Author @LizaPerrat”
BLUESTOCKINGS: The Victorian Campaign for Female Education – Guest post by @carolJhedges
Today’s guest on the chaise longue is novelist Carol Hedges. She’s written a number of very successful books, the latest of which are Victorian crime thrillers. A passionate environmental campaigner and devoted grandmother, Carol is also noted for her clever wit and punning Tweets. And she always has something interesting to say. Here she is onContinue reading “BLUESTOCKINGS: The Victorian Campaign for Female Education – Guest post by @carolJhedges”
On the Chaise Longue with Vanessa: Meet Novelist Cathie Dunn @cathiedunn
It’s my great pleasure today to welcome fellow Crooked Cat author and historical novelist Cathie Dunn to the chaise longue. She’s a versatile writer, who has written about different periods and places in history. She’s also very fond of cats, so Felix is in his element.
Vanessa Couchman 