A How-To Manual for Sainthood?

Well, how did one become a saint in the high Middle Ages? I'm sure it's been a pressing question on your mind.

Today, over at English Historical Fiction Authors I look at the requirements that Thomas Becket had to fulfill in order to become a saint--they might be a little bit more stringent than you had previously imagined....

Oregon City Library Celebration and Author Fair

Today is the 100th birthday of the Oregon City Carnegie Library, and tomorrow is the festival celebrating it. By a strange quirk of fate, the OC library is currently housed in the Carnegie Center, the same building where it opened its doors in 1913. The library has lots of fun events planned which you can read about here.

One event in conjunction with the library festival is the Atkinson Author Fair which will be held across the street in front of "the pink church." I'll be there representing my books as well as some other books put out by Madison Street Publishing. The author fair runs from 10:00am - 3:00pm. Stop by and see me if you're in the area!

The Mirror of Christian Kings--and His Interest in Music

It was going to go up Wednesday, but things got switched around a bit, and so my post about "Henry V: King, Conqueror, and...Musician?" is up today on English Historical Fiction Authors. You know that he beat the French at the battle of Agincourt, but did you know that that victory opened up the way for England to become a world-leader in music? I'd love it if you would head over there and read it and give me your thoughts.

Same Thing or Totally Different? Writing Medieval HF and Regency Romance

Is the process for writing historical fiction the same regardless of the era in which you are writing? 

Today I ponder that question in a guest post over at Philippa Jane Keyworth's site. What are the differences between writing medieval historical fiction and Regency romance? Or is the research and writing process simply more of the same?

Is it just as easy to conjure up the world of Thomas Becket as it is the world of Lizzie Bennet? I'd love it if you would head on over there and give me your thoughts on the matter....

What Makes a King Great?: The Law Code of King Alfred

I've been reading up on King Alfred lately. It's research...but not for a novel. It's actually in preparation for a play that I'm hoping to write (collaboratively) to be performed at one of our church festivals in the fall. And since I've been focusing on Alfred, I decided to make that research do double duty for my monthly blog post over at English Historical Fiction Authors.

If you'd like to learn a little more about the only English monarch who has ever received the title "the Great," head on over and read my post "Alfred the Great and the Importance of the Oath." It's all about the foundations of English law, and Beowulf gets a mention or two, just for kicks.