historical fiction writer, amateur photographer, retired computer guru and math geek
Bonnie and Clyde: the gangster and his moll. The nearly two-year crime spree that captured the country’s attention. The bitter end in a hail of gunfire. We’ve all heard the story, watched the movies, maybe even fantasized a glamorous life on the run. But really—who was Bonnie Parker? In Side by Side and Becoming Bonnie, … Continue reading Book Review: “Side by Side” and “Becoming Bonnie” by Jenni L.Walsh
It's funny where a writing prompt may lead you. The prompt that resulted in the following excerpt suggested I write about something in which I have expertise. But what emerged (don't ask me how) was this story. Not only do I not have any expertise in the subject, I also have no experience in the … Continue reading Writing Prompts and Where They Lead You
Judith Leyster. Do you recognize the name? What if I added a list of her contemporaries? Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer. “Aha!” you might say. “She’s an artist.” And indeed she was. A very gifted seventeenth century Dutch artist, and one whose works were not recognized as her own until the late nineteenth century. She was the … Continue reading Book Review: “A Light of Her Own” by Carrie Callaghan
Have you ever tried visualizing your characters as movie actors? I suppose it's rather like "If my novel were a movie..." but really it's more a means of finding an image that represents your characters' looks and personalities. I've spent some time looking for images that fit Hope and her friends. Sometimes an image will … Continue reading If “Hope” was a movie…
I spent much of my early life hearing stories about "Uncle Jim," aka James D. Benton, my great-great-grandfather's brother. My father, a huge Civil War buff, visited local school groups and historical societies, dressed in Uncle Jim's uniform and sharing his stories of battle conditions. His (unrealized) dream was to publish a book about the … Continue reading Book Review: Death, Disease, and Life at War by Christopher E. Loperfido
We’ve been exploring Ireland these past couple of weeks, a somewhat leisurely tour of the Emerald Isle starting in Dublin on the first of October. Three days in Dublin where we took a walking tour and a bus tour along with wandering the streets on our own. Then a train ride across to the west … Continue reading Ireland: Beauty and Bitterness
When you start a story you never know where it’s going to go. The earliest version of my novel, Hope, looks nothing like it does today. Here’s where it started: I was trying to come up with story ideas, and the thought struck me that it might be interesting to write an unlikable protagonist. Instantly, … Continue reading Origins: Hope
This week I’m spending time in one of my favorite places—the Adirondack Mountains—and the inspiration for the setting of my WIP Hope. We are near the hamlet of Indian Lake in the southwestern part of the Adirondack Park, one of the largest forest preserves in the country. Now most people think New York City when … Continue reading My (and Hope’s) New York State
I grew up in a house rich with history. It was built in the early nineteenth century by a Revolutionary War veteran, home to a future Civil War Surgeon, and--quite possibly--a stop on the Underground Railroad. Central New York is well-known for its participation in the emancipation of slaves and the women's suffrage movement. Seneca … Continue reading Story Origins: And Know They Love You
Throughout the month of July, aspiring authors have been encouraged to share bits about themselves and their WIP on Twitter,#PWPoePrompts. The July 31st prompt? #BoostMyBio. Okay, so this is not July 31st…I’m a day late. I could pepper you with excuses or I could just get on with it: Once Upon A Time... there was … Continue reading #PitchWars #PWPoePrompts #BoostMyBio
Susannah Willey Writes 