historical fiction writer, amateur photographer, retired computer guru and math geek
I am way overdue for a Nostalgia teaser, so let's talk about Peleg. Captain/Major Peleg Anthony is Jim's nemesis, and he represents the larger antagonistic force of the US Military in the Civil War which refused to recognize PTSD--what they called "nostalgia"--as a legitimate disorder. Back then, men who exhibited signs of "battle fatigue", both … Continue reading “Nostalgia” update
First of all... this has been a cra-a-a-a-zy week! My dryer starts acting like it's possessed by aliens. My car turns into a zombie. And the heat! High 90's, heat index 105! What the heck? This is New York, not Florida! Now, about that writing: When I started writing Nostalgia I rattled off the first … Continue reading Trash can writing
Bullets flew, cannon roared, but there was something much more insidious that stalked the battlefield and Jim had no idea how to treat it. ~Nostalgia, by Susannah Willey It took awhile to figure out what came next once I published War Sonnets. I wondered if I had another novel in me. I wondered if it … Continue reading Sneak Preview: Nostalgia–A Civil War Novel
Whew! It's been quite a year! But now the Christmas tree is down and ready to recycle, the ornaments and stockings safely packed away until next December, and 2023 is nearly over. A year ago I learned that War Sonnets had received a bronze award from the Historical Fiction Company, the same organization that had … Continue reading 2023: The Year That Was
The phone rings early Sunday morning. It must be my dad—we often share answers to the Sunday Crossword.But today his voice shakes, his emotions barely in check. “Mom is worse.”I can almost hear his tears. Mom’s cancer is back. Just last month she’d assured us everything was as it should be and we believed her—until … Continue reading Saying Goodbye: A Memory
One of the most stressed "rules" of writing is that a prologue is a no-no. Agents hate them. Many readers wont even bother to read them because they think a prologue is a bunch of first-page exposition that contributes nothing to the story. Well, if you read War Sonnets don’t skip the prologue. Why? Every … Continue reading Prologue vs. Epilogue: What’s Your Opinion?
I remember the first time I heard it: Your first novel will never see the light of day. No matter how good you think it is, it’s probably not ready for prime time and it probably never will be. “Not my novel!” I thought. I was indignant. Downright upset. Crushed. How could this—my best work, … Continue reading Shelved: When your “best” just isn’t good enough
A lot has been happening since War Sonnets was launched on July 5th. In July I was honored to be a guest on the local TV show, Bridge Street. And in August I was a guest of the Cato, NY Rotary Club where I shared my writing journey. Would your group (library, rotary, etc) be … Continue reading “War Sonnets” Update
I was a pretty good student in high school. I loved math and science. I got high grades in English. But I hate, hate, HATED history class! Maybe it's because a lot of history involved memorizing dates, and I am not good at memorizing unless you draw me a picture or give me a mnemonic. … Continue reading Confessions of An Historical Fiction Author
It's here! This past Wednesday, July 5, War Sonnets was officially released! I'm so excited to finally see the results of seven long years of research and writing. Orders are rolling in and I've already received my first (3!) 5-star reviews! If you haven't yet ordered a copy, you can get one here, or order … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday!
Susannah Willey Writes 