#ThrowbackThursday Easter Book Recommendation | A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna M. White

Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Today I’m sharing my recommendation for Roseanna M. White’s fabulous historical fiction novel. A Stray Drop of Blood is Roseanna’s debut book and one of the first fiction books I reviewed when I started blogging in 2010. A Biblical era fiction gospel story, it’s fitting to repost my book recommendation during Holy …

Fiction Friday | Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

Narelle here. I’m excited to welcome Michelle Shocklee to our blog today and share our interview about her new book, Appalachian Song, that released October 3, 2023. Fast Five Hobbits or Mad Max? Hobbits…as long as I’m invited to their Hobbit house. Books or TV? Books. Always. Sun or snow? Snow. Desert or sea? Sea. …

How to make your story’s setting feel real

Characters, setting, plot―these are the three main building blocks of a great story. In my last blog post here, I shared how I find the characters for my next story. Today, I’d like to share some things I do to create memorable settings for my historical novels. Some of these tips could work just as …

Writer’s Inspiration | Exploring the Past

A few weeks ago I was presented with the opportunity to take my daughter to the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, NSW. I might’ve grumbled at the time (my other daughter was returning from India that same day and I wanted to know All The Things!) but I went, because I realised this was …

Introducing Cindy Morgan and The Year of Jubilee

Narelle here. I’m delighted to welcome Cindy Morgan to our blog today. Cindy’s debut novel, The Year of Jubilee, will be releasing on April 18, 2023. Fast Nine Let’s start by asking Cindy to answer some quick-fire questions. Long black or flat white? Flat White Kiwis or koalas? Koalas! Mangoes or kiwifruit? Mangoes Cricket or …

Historical Fiction Book Recommendation – Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem

Today I’m sharing my book recommendation for Code Name Edelweiss, the fabulous new historical fiction spy novel set in 1930’s Hollywood from Stephanie Landsem. Here’s the Book Description: “What I am looking for—what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss—is a spy.” Adolf Hitler is still a distant rumble on the horizon, but a Jewish spymaster and …

Book Review | Dreams of the Heart by Penny Zeller

Today I am reviewing Dreams of the Heart by Penny Zeller releasing on 7 March. The Blurb Sometimes the hardest battles take place in the heart. Poverty and abuse at the hands of her drunkard father leaves Hannah Bane trapped and alone. Without hope, she prays for a miracle just on the off-chance God will …

Writing the next story: how to choose the right characters

Does anything satisfy more than writing “The End”?  In my case, it’s writing “Finis” for my Roman-era stories. It’s time for a celebratory cup of tea, a special dinner, a relaxing stroll…and planning the next story. How do we know what that next story should be? The characters, the setting, the plot, the theme…how do …

Adding Front and Back Matter to Give Our Readers More

When we create a novel for our readers to enjoy, we might start with the first sentence of chapter one, but we shouldn’t consider it finished when we type “The End” after the last sentence of the story. It’s time to write the front and back matter to give our readers more. We can add …

Book Review | Forgotten Memories by Penny Zeller

Today I am reviewing Penny Zeller’s new book releasing on Tuesday 30 August. Book Description The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow …