Blog
Character Development: Identifying Flat Characters and Making them Round
As a first-time author it can be difficult to identify your flat and round characters. But once you identify them, you can work on developing your characters from flat to round.
Press Release: History Through Fiction adds writer, historian, and publicist Patricia Bernstein to its lineup of authors
Patricia Bernstein is the fifth author signed by History Through Fiction. Her upcoming debut novel, A Noble Cunning: The Countess and the Tower, is based on the true story of a persecuted Catholic noblewoman who rescued her husband from the Tower of London the night before his scheduled execution by carrying out an elaborate plan with the help of a group of devoted women friends.
Now Open! Member-only Content Area
History Through Fiction is proud to announce the publication of five historical fiction short stories and one novel excerpt available only in our new Member-only Content Area.
Doing Internet Research for your Historical Novel? Author Beware!
The internet is fast, convenient, and filled with information. But it’s not always right! Before researching your next historical novel, read this blog post to learn why it’s so important to verify what you read.
Book Review - Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
A slog to some, an enjoyment to others. Booth by Karen Joy Fowler offers the perfect mixture of history and fiction. Read our review to learn more.
Women’s History Month: The Past, Present, and Future Struggle for Gender Equality.
March is Women’s History Month in the United States and can be an opportunity for us to learn and reflect on women’s contributions to the US. But the history behind the legislation creating WHM and the state of gender equality now might surprise you…
The Importance of Clarity in Fiction
When I first started writing, I thought my stories needed to be clever and my sentences needed to be complex. I was wrong. The best way to create a good, effective story is through clarity. Read this post to find out what I learned and to read from the example of a literary expert.
OTZI: A WARNING TO ALL HISTORIANS
In 1991, two tourists noticed a skull peaking out of the ice in a gully at the Tisenjoch pass in the Ötztal region of the Alps. What they found was the mummified remains of man who lived 5,300 years ago. Today, he is known as Ötzi, the ice man, and he has a lot to teach us.
Press Release – HTF Now Open For Short Story Submissions
History Through Fiction, an independent publisher of historical fiction novels, is proud to announce that we are now accepting submissions for historical fiction short stories and novel excerpts.
Meet the Spring Intern - Reina Markert
She’s lived in a small mountain village in Ecuador, she’s a former Boundary Waters canoe guide, and she’s got storytelling in her blood! She’s our Spring Intern, Reina Markert.
History Through Fiction Adds New York Times Bestselling Author to its Lineup
Alina Adams is the NYT-bestselling author of soap-opera tie-ins, figure-skating mysteries, and romance novels. Her upcoming novel, My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region, which is a follow-up to her previous historical novel, is set for release in November 2022.
Understanding WWII is More Important Than Ever: Here’s Why - A guest blog post by Elizabeth B. Splaine
WWII novels have always been popular, but nowadays they are more popular than ever. What is it about the history of WWII that keeps readers coming back for more? In this guest blog post, Elizabeth B. Splaine, author of the WWII historical “Swan Song”, analyzes the reasons for our continued fascination with a war that started more than 80 years ago.
2021: Our Year in Review
As 2021 draws to a close, we decided to reflect on the year that was.
10 Tips for Getting Published
Writing a novel is a monumental challenge that takes years of hard work and sacrifice. After all that hard work, you want your story to have the best chance possible at getting published. For all those writers trying to get noticed, we’ve put together a list we’re calling Ten Tips for Getting Published.
Connecting the Past with the Present: The Incredible Power of Historical Fiction
At History Through Fiction, we believe that stories about the past have value beyond their ability to entertain readers—especially those based on real events and people. But how do you harness that value to connect history with the world we see today?
Reckless Love, Reincarnation, and Blackness: An Interview with Natashia Deón
Sarah Burke, intern at History Through Fiction, loved Natashia Deón’s new time-bending novel, The Perishing. Burke also had the opportunity to interview the author about her characters, her inspiration, and her writing process.
The King’s Anatomist is Illustrated. Why Aren’t Other Novels?
As I got deeper into writing The King’s Anatomist, I came to realize that in telling the story of Andreas Vesalius and his great textbook of anatomy, I had to show what I was writing about. Vesalius’s great innovation was to use at least one accomplished artist to enrich his text with beautiful and accurate illustrations.
Johannes Oporinus to the Rescue: The Invaluable Partnership that Changed the History of Medicine
In 1542, Andreas Vesalius needed a printer for his book on human anatomy. But it couldn’t be any printer because he knew his book was revolutionary. Introducing Johannes Oporinus, a dedicated scholarly printer who could help Vesalius change the world.
King Philip II of Spain: Andreas Vesalius’ Boss
A zealous Catholic, King Philip II of Spain was grim, controlling, and distrustful of all but a small circle of advisors. He was also the boss of Andreas Vesalius, the revolutionary anatomist who worked as his imperial physician.
Grandpa Writes a Novel: 3 Key Takeaways from a Debut Novelist
For me, much of writing is problem-solving. I resolved major issues with the plot, the characters, and who the narrator would be by writing sketches of the major characters and making a detailed timeline of Vesalius’ life. But I hunkered down to resolve the small problems as well—problems that can distract and annoy readers.