Category: Literary Thoughts

Vine Leaves Press (VLP) is an independent publishing house based in Australia, with an international staff and roster of authors, that offers something of value for every literate reader. Writers and readers depend on small presses like VLP to promote and disseminate the work of authors whose voices might otherwise not be heard. Under the leadership of the multi-talented Jessica Bell (writer, musician, artist), VLP publishes memoir, creative nonfiction, literary essay collections, novels, short story collections, poetry, vignette collections, and writing reference books. Please check out their website http://www.vineleavespress.com/ to find something for yourself and all the appreciative readers in your life.

When I write historical fiction, I keep the focus on the characters. The settings and events around them frame the narrative, but readers must care about the people experiencing them. This is equally true of engaging contemporary or futuristic fiction. Good fiction writers relegate their research, however fascinating it may be to us, to the background of the tale. Whenever something I learn about history motivates me to write about it, I first ask myself “What is the story I want to tell? Who is it about? How do the players act and how are they acted upon?” Answering these questions is how I bring history to life in my fiction. Read more of my thoughts about the art and craft of writing in REFLECTIONS.