Reading

FREE FANNY NEWCOMB…for just TWO MORE DAYS

on January 29, 2024

January’s Bookfunnel historical fiction book giveaway ends on January 31st, which means my award-winning novel FANNY NEWCOMB & THE IRISH CHANNEL RIPPER goes back on sale. So you’ve got two more days to download FANNY NEWCOMB and other great historical fiction on Bookfunnel FOR FREE!


You had me until “her wedding gown on fire”

on December 28, 2023

One of the things to remember, as you use historical newspapers to research your historical novel or short story, is that “You can’t always believe what you read.” I found this article in the (Thursday September 25) 1919 New York Times and was immediately intrigued. How often do you read of a person being killed… Read More


Thirty-Eight Illuminating PLW Link Lists

on December 8, 2023

‘Tis the Link List before Christmas and today–on the Paper Lantern Writers blog–I’ve lined up the links of all thirty-eight of the previous PLW Link Lists. There are goodies galore in this list, but who can choose between such bright blogs as Eighty Excellent Online Historical Collections, Fashions for the Ages, Gay Subculture of Regency… Read More


A RED-HOT Holiday Read

on December 4, 2023

Are you looking for your next historical mystery? Something kinda cozy but also kinda SPICY? Something that sweeps you onto the vibrant and competitive vaudeville stage of 1919 where a woman has to fight to be heard and seen? Not to mention, solve her lover’s murder…. The Historical Fiction Company says THE RED-HOT BLUES CHANTEUSE… Read More


A Blogging Anniversary!

on December 3, 2023

Four years ago, five Paper Lantern Writers began blogging @ www.paperlanternwriters.com/blog. We posted about Christmas in Hawai’i (Linda), Georgian Christmas Trees (Edie), our favorite books of 2019 (me), the ghosts of Christmas past (C.V.), and Schmutzli – Sinister Sidekick to St. Nicholas (Kathryn). Now there are fourteen Paper Lantern Writers and we’re still still blogging twice… Read More


That’s Entertainment–A PLW Link List

on October 13, 2023

Celebrate Friday the 13th with my new Paper Lantern Writers List List—THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! From puppetry to sports competitions to parades to live theater, we all have our favorite entertainments. In this post I capture some of the historic entertainments that made people laugh, cry, sigh, and sweat through the years. Did your favorite entertainment make… Read More


What happened after “Lizzie Borden took an axe”?

on October 8, 2023

Even if you’ve never heard the famous rhyme about Lizzie Borden, I’m sure you’ve heard about her.                                                                              Lizzie Borden, c. 1890 In August 1892, Lizzie’s father and stepmother were brutally murdered in their house in Fall River, Massachusetts. The size and shape of the bloody chop marks on the bodies suggested that a… Read More


Fifty States of Historical Fiction

on August 11, 2023

Totally inspired by Erin Davies‘ decision to launch a “fictional journey of novels from around the world”, I created a Link List of fifty novels set in each of the united states. I spread my net wide and caught some great books, including some oldies-but-goodies, sparkling indies, and literary prize-winners. Got any other state-based novels… Read More


Eighty Excellent Online Historical Collections

on June 9, 2023

Happy June 9th, International Archives Day! In the spirit of Fifty Fabulous Online Library Historical Collections, Sixty Sensational Online Historical Archive Collections, and 74 Superlative Online Historical College Collections, I’m celebrating the holiday by sharing Eighty Excellent Online Historical Collections over on the Paper Lantern Writers blog. Enjoy! Eighty Excellent Online Historical Collections