Anchoresses were medieval women who chose to pursue a particularly demanding form of monastic life, namely complete isolation from the world. Once enclosed, they would typically live out their lives in a small cell, servants delivering their food and the priest hearing their confession being the only people with whom they would have contact. So... Continue Reading →
The Walrus Mutterer Explores the Power of Women in Celtic Culture
Guest post by Mandy Haggith The first of a trilogy of historical novels, The Walrus Mutterer is set in the Iron Age and inspired by a real person, Pytheas of Massalia, who is credited with being the first Mediterranean to discover Britain. In 320 BC he undertook an extraordinary voyage, circumnavigating Britain and travelling north... Continue Reading →
Hester and Me – In Search of an Early Quaker’s True Story
Guest blog by Pippa Brush Chappell One of the first questions my non-fiction-reading partner always asks about a movie or a book is, 'is it a true story?' It used to really wind me up, but now that I’m trying to write a 'true story,' I find myself having to engage with what that actually... Continue Reading →
Herbs and Gardens – 17th Century Home Remedies in New England
Most of us are thankful that we have access to 21th century medicine, and for a good reason. However, our ancestors were not as powerless in the face of disease as it might seem. During a Partnership of Historic Bostons event at the Deane Winthrop House in Winthrop, Mass., Lori Lyn Price, a historian specializing... Continue Reading →
Somewhere Still Explores Rules and Rebellion in the Roaring Twenties
Guest blog by Denitta Ward Jean Ball is coming-of-age in the 1920 Midwest when the rules are made to be broken, and the American society in a state of transition. Social norms are changing, and women are venturing out beyond traditional boundaries. The opulent Prohibition Era is rich in social, economic, gender, racial, and social... Continue Reading →
Women’s History Month guest blogs – a roundup post
March was Women’s History Month, and I made my website available to guest bloggers who write novels about history’s lesser-known women. I had a great response and ended up featuring four posts on topics spanning more than 400 years of history and both sides of the Atlantic. From Martin Luther’s wife in the 16th century... Continue Reading →
Anne Brontë: A Fine and Subtle Spirit
Guest blog by DM Denton In the mid-1990s, while organizing bookshelves, I happened upon my miniature copy of Agnes Grey, Anne Brontë’s debut novel. Flipping through it I stopped at Chapter 24, The Sands, set in Scarborough on the north-east Yorkshire coast. I was reminded of my visit there in March 1974, which took me... Continue Reading →