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Interview with Clare McHugh
Interview with Clare McHugh, author of The Romanov Brides, a novel about the future Empress Alexandra and her siblings
cplesley
Mar 15, 20247 min read


Interview with Stephanie Dray
Interview with Stephanie Dray about her latest novel, about the life of Frances Perkins: "Becoming Madam Secretary"
cplesley
Mar 8, 20245 min read


New Books Network Interview: Kate Quinn and Janie Chang
New Books Network interview with bestselling authors Kate Quinn and Janie Chang about their co-written novel, The Phoenix Crown
cplesley
Mar 1, 20242 min read


Food and Character
An exploration of food as an indicator of character in novels, citing Ruth Reichl and her work
cplesley
Feb 23, 20242 min read


Taking Inventory
Inventory of everything I have been doing to clear the decks, much of it associated with writing, so that I can return to my current novel
cplesley
Feb 9, 20243 min read


The Longue Durée of Russian Imperialism
A look at long-term historical attitudes that contribute to Russian imperialism, including in modern-day Ukraine
cplesley
Feb 2, 20244 min read


Bookshelf, Winter 2024
My bookshelf, Winter 2024: Stephanie Dray, Laurie R. King, Clare McHugh, Andrea Penrose, Kate Quinn and Janie Chang, Deanna Raybourn
cplesley
Jan 12, 20246 min read


Writing Plans for 2024
A look at my writing plans for 2024, as well as other book and editing news
cplesley
Jan 5, 20243 min read


The Why of Writing
The why of writing fiction, and thoughts about whether it is best to focus on the story or the sales
cplesley
Dec 29, 20234 min read


New Books Network Interview: Isa Arsén
New Books Network interview with Isa Arsén, whose debut novel Shoot the Moon looks at the Apollo Space Program
cplesley
Dec 15, 20232 min read


Adjusting to Co-Writing
Thoughts on the pluses and minuses of co-writing and what it adds to a novel project
cplesley
Dec 8, 20233 min read


New Books Network Interview: Alice Sherman Simpson
New Books Network interview with Alice Sherman Simpson, author of The Winthrop Agreement, about a young woman in early 20th century NYC
cplesley
Dec 1, 20232 min read


A Deeper Look at The Merchant’s Tale
Deeper look at The Merchant's Tale, a historical novel co-written by P.K. Adams and C.P. Lesley and released in mid-November 2023
cplesley
Nov 22, 20233 min read


Daily Life in Saxon England
The latest Uhtred book by Bernard Cornwell: a study of daily life in Saxon England, with recipes
cplesley
Nov 17, 20234 min read


Holiday Roundup 2023
Holiday roundup of 2023 books by Rhys Bowen, Bernard Cornwell, Clara McKenna, Erica Neubauer, Anne Perry and Karen Swan
cplesley
Nov 3, 20235 min read


Interview with Clara McKenna
Interview with the writer Clara McKenna, author of the Stella and Lyndy historical mysteries and other novels
cplesley
Oct 27, 20236 min read


New Books Network Interview: Stephanie Cowell
New Books Network interview with author Stephanie Cowell about her latest historical novel, The Boy in the Rain
cplesley
Oct 20, 20232 min read


Fall 2023 Bookshelf
List of novels on my Fall 2023 Bookshelf, all recent historical fiction or historical mystery, set in the 19th and 20th centuries
cplesley
Oct 6, 20235 min read


Interview with Heather Redmond
Interview with Heather Redmond, author of numerous mystery novels, most recently "Death of the Sisters"
cplesley
Sep 29, 20236 min read


New Books Network Interview: Louise Hare
New Books Network interview with Louise Hare, author of the Canary Club mysteries and other novels
cplesley
Sep 22, 20232 min read
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