by Stephanie Dray | Feb 2, 2012 | FAQ, Historical Fiction Genre, Miscellany, My Works, Song of the Nile
The life of Cleopatra Selene is a story so unlikely that magic sometimes seems like the only explanation. But that isn’t why I chose to include magical realism in my book. I included my heroine’s ability to commune with her goddess through bloody hieroglyphs and some...
by Stephanie Dray | Oct 11, 2011 | Historical Fiction Genre, Miscellany
These days, the quickest way to start an internet pie fight is to bring up the subject of historical accuracy in fiction. The discussion almost inevitably breaks down into arguments about personal preference that masquerade as objective tenets of literary faith....
by Stephanie Dray | Aug 15, 2011 | For Writers, Fun Stuff, Historical Fiction Genre, Miscellany, Other Writers
Most novels about Cleopatra focus on the tumultuous events of her adult life–the love affairs, the heart-break, the warfare, and ultimately, her tragic failure. This new novel by historical fiction author Carolyn Meyer zeroes in on Cleopatra’s early life,...
by Stephanie Dray | Apr 18, 2011 | For Writers, Historical Fiction Genre
When an author throws magical elements into a modern setting, its called paranormal romance or urban fantasy. But what about when an author injects magic into a historical setting? Usually we still just call it historical fiction. The use of magic in historical...
by Stephanie Dray | Apr 4, 2011 | Historical Fiction Genre, Miscellany
It may come as a surprise to most people, but the dominant historical setting in commercial fiction isn’t Tudor England. It’s Regency England–the godzilla of the romantic fiction world. I’d like to point out a surprising number of similarities...
by Stephanie Dray | Mar 27, 2011 | Historical Fiction Genre
Historical fiction exists in the sometimes murky world between literature and scholarship. As authors, we rely upon sources both in the public domain and out of it, both contemporary and ancient. Yet, no uniform procedures or system for recording and giving credit to...
