My latest post on the History Girls delves into labyrinths and the secrets behind them. A millenia old construction that has been used for initiations and as a pathway to divine communion. Read more
History Girls: The Elusive Search for Dionysus
A common problem with authors who write novels set in pre-history is trying to deal with the ‘elasticity’ of sources from civilisations without extant written records. My latest post on History Girls is about my elusive search for the Etruscan Dionysus, and reaching across the ether to historians to help me.
A Sweet and Bitter Time by GS Johnston
My guest today is Australian author, GS Johnston, author of The Skin of Water and The Cast of a Hand and Consumption, noted for their complex characters and well-researched settings. His new release is Sweet Bitter Cane, a beautifully rendered novel exploring an Italian woman’s hopeful emigration to an exotic but rigorous life in the Australian cane fields that leads to… read more
History Girls: The Secret Garden: Contraceptives in the Ancient World
My latest essay on the History Girls explores the natural remedies used in the ancient world for contraception including a garden fruit, and a mysterious plant from a distant land. The Secret Garden: Ancient World Contraception.
Who were the Visigoths? by Charlotte Jardine
My guest today is Charlotte Jardine who writes historical fiction, contemporary romance and romantic adventure. Her books feature courageous heroines, big-hearted heroes, adventure and love. Her love of history came from reading the adventures of Asterix and Tintin at a young age and continued into adult life, when she studied Classics and Roman History to postgraduate level at university. While… read more
History Girls: Neo-Classical Revivalism
My latest essay on the History Girls blog on Neo-Classical Revivalism. I’ve fallen in love with Castellani jewellery!
Stretching stories over 2,000 years by Alison Morton
I’m delighted to welcome fellow Romaphile, Alison Morton, to Triclinium again. Alison writes the award-winning Roma Nova thriller series featuring modern Praetorian heroines. She blends her deep love of Roman history with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, adventure and thriller fiction. Today she’ll tell you the background to writing her new short story collection Roma… read more
Guest Post: Research and reaching across the ether
I love research! I was delighted that Mary Anne Yarde asked me to tell the story of how I reached across the internet to various historians for assistance – it ended in my characters voicing an audio-visual exhibition in a museum outside Rome where my saga was set! Read ‘Research and reaching across the ether’ here.
How Art can Inspire Historical Fiction
Inspiration and obsession are two concepts that all writers keenly understand. The inspiration for my Tales of Ancient Rome saga led me to a distant civilization in Tuscany and Lazio, and on a publishing journey from Australia to America. That odyssey lasted 16 years. I’m delighted to have told the story of how my love of art inspired the Tales… read more
On Inspiration: Interview with Crystal King
My guest today is Crystal King who is a writer, culinary enthusiast, and social media expert. Her writing is fueled by a love of history and an obsession with the food, language, and culture of Italy. She has taught writing, creativity, and social media at Grub Street and several universities including Harvard Extension School and Boston University. Crystal received her… read more
