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Author Archives: Hana Samek Norton
“But I am a Writer!” The Pestilence of Praise
Hot Takes (noun) Definition: “A quickly produced, strongly worded, and often deliberately provocative or sensational opinion or reaction (as in response to current news)” Merriam-Webster (1st use 2012) Nurturing, supportive, positive, respectful, encouraging, non-judgmental… Has anyone noticed how often these … Continue reading
Posted in writing
Tagged critique groups, writing advice, writing classes, writing potential
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The One Thing Historical Fiction Writers Ought to Know
The Gender-Genre Wars In a recent issue of Writer’s Digest, literary agent Irene Goodman offered her advice on “16 Things All Historical Fiction Writers Need to Know.” Among them was the caution (?) that “This kind of fiction requires high … Continue reading
Posted in random thoughts, Uncategorized
Tagged aspiring writers, authors, characters, genre fiction, historical fiction historical romance romance popoular culutre trashy novels bodice rippers chics in corsets Anya Seton IRene Goodman literary agents Slammerkin Emma Donoghu, history, literature, women writers, writing
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Advice on How to Write Historical Fiction–Not
By the way, did anyone notice that there has been much ‘how-to’ and ‘advice’ offered lately on writing historical fiction ? A perusal of the ‘literature’—and I confess to have done my share—finds that some are more ‘creative’ than others Continue reading
The Lusignans of Poitou
The recent developments in the Middle East revived academic and public interest in the West’s previous encounters with that part of the world. These events created something of a cottage industry of histories and novels recounting the crusades, particularly the … Continue reading
Posted in history notes
Tagged crusades, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Guy de Lusignan, Hana Samek Norton, Hattin, historical fiction, historical fiction writers, historical research, Jonathan Riley-Smith, Mélusine, Richard the Lionheart, Steven Runciman, The Serpent's Crown, The Sixth Surrender
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Starbucks, Mélusine and Me
The ‘brew-haha’ that recently percolated over the 2015 Starbucks holiday cup reminded me of the ever-popular accusation that Starbucks’s logo depicting the legendary Mélusine is ‘in fact’ a demonic image. Historically represented as a bare-breasted woman with the lower … Continue reading
Posted in book promo, history notes
Tagged Angevins, Charles University, Coudrette, Czech Republic, demon, demonic, France, historical fiction, historical research, Jean d'Arras, Lusignan, Lusignans, Martin Nejedly, Mélusine, Parthenay, Starbucks, Starbucks coffee, The Serpent's Crown, The Sixth Surrender
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…on to Fontevraud Abbey (Pt. III)
Fontevraud Abbey: What can one say? The tombs of Henry II, Richard, Isabelle d’Angoulême and Aliénor (dare one be on first name basis with that lady?) It rained. The countryside is somewhat rolling hills with fields and a few forested … Continue reading
…on to Parthenay (Pt. II)
Parthenay: We breezed past Saint Maixent-l’École to get to Parthenay, again approached via a fairly flat ground. Parthenay has a population of about 10,000 and I worried, of course, about driving down a maze of streets to find the hotel, … Continue reading
Posted in book promo, history notes, random thoughts
Tagged France, historical fiction, historical research, Lusignans, Mélusine, Parthenay
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