Paper Lantern Writers

Destiny Comes Due for my latest heroine!

on October 25, 2024

Almost every writer I know has a tagline, and mine is “Writing historic crime fiction celebrating bodacious American heroines”. On November 1st, you can meet my latest bodacious American heroine, the Widow Ida Morgan.   After her husband is killed in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, grief-stricken Ida Morgan confronts the brash Washington City… Read More


Happy Anniversary to Paper Lantern Writers!

on October 19, 2024

It seems like it was only yesterday, but it was actually FIVE years ago that the “Founding Five” PLW members first met as a group on October 19, 2019 in San Mateo, CA. Well done, my fellow Founding Five…Edie Cay, C. V. Lee, Kathryn Pritchett, and Linda Ulleseit! Long may we all read, write, and… Read More


Historical Fiction List Link: Short Stories & Novellas

on September 13, 2024

Here’s my latest PLW List Link…where I share some fabulous historical fiction short story and novella anthologies. Be ready for suffragettes, Sherlock Holmes, civil rights, and mid-winter moons. And if your favorite historical fiction anthology isn’t included, send the title & authors my way….


Celebrity-Written Novels: A Historical Fiction+ List Link

on August 9, 2024

Hey, have you heard? Or have you read that Keanu Reeves (yes, Neo, John Wick, and Ted himself) has co-authored a novel? Written with best-selling fantasy author China Miéville, The Book of Elsewhere is a “genre-bending epic of ancient powers, modern war, and an outcast who cannot die.” All the hubbub about The Book of… Read More


Historical Fiction Update: PLW Book of the Month

on August 7, 2024

It’s my turn to host the Paper Lantern Writers Book of the Month! As you’ve probably guessed, I’m an ardent historical mystery and suspense reader, and I enjoy finding a series and sticking with it. But reading debut authors? Not so much. (Except for some of the authors I’ve found through Paper Lantern Readers, of… Read More


Historical Fiction Update: Free Fanny Newcomb!

on August 1, 2024

Once more I’m excited to participate in the Paper Lantern Writer’s BookFunnel Giveaway, and for one month only, FANNY NEWCOMB & THE IRISH CHANNEL RIPPER is available for download for free. So if you’re intrigued about smart female Southern sleuths in Gilded Age New Orleans just click here…. And whether you love, hate, or are… Read More


I Happen to Like New York: A Historical Fiction List Link

on July 12, 2024

Just like that most elegant swellegant Broadway bon vivant Cole Porter wrote back in 1930, I Happen to Like New York. And since I like New York and I love historical fiction, it seemed about time to share some favorite New York City Historical Fiction. Wanna see the entire blog? Here’s the link to the… Read More


Happy Birthday to July’s Historical Fiction Authors!

on July 1, 2024

Here’s a little July Birthday Celebration I put together for Paper Lantern Writers. How many of these historical fiction authors have you read? Or, to be entirely honest, how many tv shows or films based on their works have you seen?


Historical Fiction Update: Paper Lantern Writers Beginnings…

on June 22, 2024

Five years ago TODAY, Linda Ulleseit, Kathryn Pritchett, and I attended the HISTORICAL AUTHORS UNITE! ALL ABOUT AUTHOR MARKETING COLLECTIVES session at the Historical Novel Conference in Baltimore. It was heady stuff…hearing authors of the Tall Poppy Writers collective discuss how they amped up their individual book promotion efforts by combining their social media reach…. Read More