Egypt food and clothing research took me to a variety of restaurants and friends. When you can’t visit the country where a large chunk of your historical novel takes place, you have to adapt. I’ve written before about Egypt research opportunities in books and films. As a writer, I sought accuracy but also a way to set mood and place…
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Poppies and World War I
What’s the significance of poppies and World War I? Why has a red poppy become the symbol of the War to End All Wars? Several reasons All about poppies Poppies are short-lived perennial flowers. They’re the native flower of my home state, California, though ours are orange. Fragile, paper-thin flowers grow on the end of thin green stalks, about eight inches…
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What is a Coming of Age Story?
What’s a coming of age story? A coming of age story describes the changes that happen in a young person’s life as they mature from childhood to young adulthood. It’s the tale of a hero or heroine’s transition from naiveté to wisdom against the backdrop of any setting. It’s a common genre with many stellar novels. Well known examples Charles…
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What Inspired a Novel About World War I?
Why did I write a novel about World War I? It’s an honest question and one people might be curious about. Very simple. I wrote a novel set during World War I. A Poppy in Remembrance will be launched soon. Why World War I? I did not set out to write a novel about the war. I just went to…
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The Importance of Nellie Bly
Nellie Bly was an important woman in American journalism. She was an inspiration to my heroine in A Poppy in Remembrance, for example. A resourceful and imaginative reporter, Nellie literally created a name for herself in the 19th century. It wasn’t always pretty. Finding her way into journalism Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran during the Civil War, Nellie died a few…
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World War I Movies for Fun and Research
I bet you’ve seen more World War I movies than you think you have. Everyone knows about the classic All Quiet on the Western Front, of course. And a movie scholar could probably come up with the first Academy Award winner: Wings. War Horse came out a few years ago, so you may know that one. PBS fans could counter with…
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