Guest post by Paula Butterfield It was the middle of another fall quarter, and I was again teaching my course on Women in the Arts. I’d already introduced my students to the floral still lifes of 16th c. Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch, and Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun’s portraits of the 18th c. French court. Each student had... Continue Reading →
Traditional vs. Amazon Publishing
Since the release of my debut novel The Greenest Branch in June 2018, I have been asked many times about my experience as an indie author, and whether I will take that route in the future with my new historical mystery series. Below is what I have told them. I know that many aspiring (as well as... Continue Reading →
La Luministe by Paula Butterfield
If she were alive today, painter Berthe Morisot would be celebrated and admired, but in the 19th century Paris, she was up against formidable obstacles. Women were not allowed to pursue paying occupations, the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts did not accept female students, the society treated "lady painters" as odd (if they were rich)... Continue Reading →
Song of the Siren by C.P. Lesley
Song of the Siren starts off an exciting new series Songs of Steppe & Forest by author C.P. Lesley. It takes us deep into Eastern Europe during the middle part of the 16th century. It was a century that saw the reign of some of the most fearsome and consequential monarchs in history, from Henry VIII to... Continue Reading →
Bringing a Historical Series about the Lesser Known Tudors to Life
Guest post by Tony Riches It all began with my research for a novel about the life of Henry Tudor, who like me was born in the Welsh town of Pembroke. I collected more than enough material for a substantial book – and discovered there were no novels about his amazing story. I think this... Continue Reading →
The Greenest Branch is an Award Semifinalist!
Happy New Year 2019 fellow readers and writers! I hope it is off to a good start for you. Personally, I cannot complain. I will be returning with more historical fiction reviews soon, but for now I wanted to share with you exciting news. The Greenest Branch, my historical novel based on the life of... Continue Reading →
Excerpt from The Column of Burning Spices (Hildegard of Bingen #2)
Chapter 25 Ingelheim, May 1154 Volmar presented the letter of invitation stamped with the royal seal to a guard. We were ushered through an arched tunnel into the inner courtyard, where brightly-dressed courtiers and clerics in dark lawyers’ robes came and went between the buildings ranged along the perimeter. I noted signs of both greatness... Continue Reading →
Grandmother’s WWII Experience Inspires “Threaten to Undo Us”
Guest blog by Rose Seiler Scott Even with my eyes closed, I would have known I was in my Oma’s house. The aroma of woodsmoke and sauerkraut permeated everything from the air to the brightly coloured afghans draped over the couches. When it was time to leave, it was rarely without a small gift--- multi-coloured... Continue Reading →
Writing (and Publishing) a Novel is Doable – Here’s How I Did It
This week marked the release of my debut novel The Greenest Branch, based on the true story of Germany's first female physician. I won't lie - it has been been a long and challenging road. I started in earnest in the summer of 2011, after spending several months researching the life of Hildegard of Bingen,... Continue Reading →
I Wrote a Novel Because I Gave Myself Permission To Do It
Since I published The Greenest Branch, I have been asked by so many aspiring authors how I managed to write a novel from start to finish. They also want to do that - they say - but they don't have the time, or they don't feel competent, or they are afraid that it will fail,... Continue Reading →