When World Building, What Size is Your Canvas? If I were a painter, I would daub oil paint across a large canvas. I am not a miniaturist, not one for too much introspection. Back in my dancing days, my dance partner and I choreographed ambitious full-length productions with just the two of us. Later, as… Read more »
It would have been much easier—at least, from the point of view of research—to write a novel about the life of painter Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun. Le Brun’s surviving output is extensive. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York did a massive exhibition of her work in 2016. To top it off, she left… Read more »
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Johansen Nack. We’ll be discussing The Blue Butterfly, A Novel of Marion Davies, a historical fiction novel about Marion Davies and the burgeoning Hollywood scene in the 1920s. Have you signed up to be a DIY MFA Radio Insider yet? This is an exciting new monthly newsletter,… Read more »
Today, Lori is interviewing Jody Hadlock. They’ll be talking about The Lives of Diamond Bessie, a haunting tale of betrayal and redemption inspired by a true story. Have you signed up to be a DIY MFA Radio Insider yet? This is an exciting new monthly newsletter especially for our podcast listeners. Every month, you’ll get… Read more »
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Finola Austin. Finola Austin, also known as the Secret Victorianist on her award-winning blog, is an England-born, Northern Ireland-raised, Brooklyn-based historical novelist and lover of the 19th century. Her first novel, Bronte’s Mistress, was published in 2020. When she’s not writing novels or her blog, she works in… Read more »
They say, “write what you know.” But I’ve written a few books, and mostly that wasn’t the case. At all. Even after the release of Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports, I still have never gone wingsuit flying. I haven’t surfed, or climbed Mount Everest, or been in a dogsled race. I have… Read more »
Most often, the questions that I get from readers and writers are about my process of writing historical fiction. Why did I choose the time periods that I did for the story? How did I do the research for four different timelines? Now, fully immersed in the research for my third historical fantasy novel, I’ve… Read more »
Medical fiction is difficult to write for the inexperienced or novice, and moreover for those not in the medical field. However, for those facing or recovering from a medical crisis or for those whose family members or friends have gone through an ailment, the very experience: the pain and suffering and the awesome insecurities associated… Read more »
Full disclosure: the impetus for this article came from my own research about medicine. I was having fun because I was finally getting to use Bald’s eyesalve in my story – though I’m not so sure the character was enjoying it quite as much as I was. Bald’s eyesalve (from a 10th-century medical text) is… Read more »
The universe works in mysterious ways. As I was trying to figure out what my next column would be about, I got a bit of a promotion here at DIY MFA. I am now the Web Editor (among other responsibilities). While reviewing the contact page and submissions guidelines, inspiration struck! I could write my next… Read more »
