historical fiction writer, amateur photographer, retired computer guru and math geek
Yes, Napoleon is a character in Nostalgia. Yes, he was my ancestor. An yes, that was his name. Go figure. In Nostalgia, Napoleon is Jim's cousin (in real life they were not related) The fictional Napoleon lives next door to Jim. His father, Isaac, is a veteran of the Mexican Wars and a raging alcoholic, … Continue reading Napoleon Bonaparte Drown
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
Okay, I admit it. I wouldn’t have read The Circle of Ceridwen if I hadn't seen it offered as a freebie. But I downloaded it, and I read it, and now I'm hooked. Only eleven more books in the series! Of course I am an historical fiction freak, and I do especially love British historical … Continue reading Book Review: “The Circle of Ceridwen” by Octavia Randolph
(Photo: Captain/Dr. James Dana Benton, or, as he is known in Nostalgia, Dr. Jim Banyon) Yes, I know. I posted my first chapter of Nostalgia a few weeks ago. So if you feel like skipping this version, you won't hurt my feelings. But as I mentioned in this post I got frustrated with what I'd … Continue reading More “Nostalgia”
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
I promised a sneak preview a couple weeks ago, and finally I have something to show you: an advance image of my second novel, "Nostalgia," a novel about PTSD in the Civil War. Once again I have an ancestor to guide me. My great-great-great uncle. Dr. James Dana Benton, was a surgeon in the 111th … Continue reading Coming soon…
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
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 