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Only Two Weeks Left! Get Your Submissions to the HFC Book of the Year Contest in Today
HFC Book of the Year Contest: Deadline Approaching! Are you an author eager to showcase your literary talents? The HFC Book of the Year contest is just around the corner, with the submission deadline set for **November 29, 2025**. This is an excellent opportunity for writers to gain recognition and celebrate their work within the literary community. About the Contest The HFC Book of the Year contest aims to honor outstanding literary contributions across various genres. Whe
DK Marley
Nov 14, 20252 min read
Poetic Justice for a French Executioner - an Editorial Review of "The Truest Son of France"
Book Blurb: Over 200 years after the death of Louis-Benoit Zamor, the saga inspired by his life comes to an end. As the French Révolution devolves to the brutal Reign of Terror , the executioner's constant hush-swish song of the guillotine's blade rends the Parisian air with cruel indifference. But Louis-Benoit Zamor is determined to survive his own hunt, even if it means severing his connection with Jeanne du Barry. Driven by the mysteries of his past, Zamor will journey fo
DK Marley
Nov 14, 20255 min read
Poison and Power in the Italian Renaissance - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Cameo Keeper"
BOOK EXCERPT Rome, September 1644 As soon as Mia opened the door Donna Olimpia came straight in, looking side to side as if to check no-one could see her. Mia extended a hand in greeting. ‘This way, honoured Signora.’ ‘What’s that smell?’ ‘Lavender, Signora. For making the linen smell sweet.’ She indicated the stairs and the woman went ahead of her, heavy feet and thick ankles under her richly embroidered black skirts. At the top Mia pointed to the door off the piano nobile
DK Marley
Nov 13, 20254 min read
A Father's Sacrifice During WWII - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "A Virtuoso in America"
BOOK EXCERPT: Suzanne and Adrian accepted the contessa’s invitation to dinner for the first week in January. She said there were people she wanted them to meet. Adrian speculated they were people of influence who might be able to help him locate Simon. He looked forward to the dinner. Paul met them in the lobby and rode them up to the contessa’s apartment. When they got off the elevator, Paul took their coats and led them into the parlor. A group of six surrounded the contess
DK Marley
Nov 10, 20253 min read
Imagine Gifting a Piece of History: Unique Finds for Avid Readers
Give the gift of time travel with historical fiction novels and curated book-related items that will delight avid readers and transport them to another era
DK Marley
Nov 5, 20255 min read
The Art of Historical Author Interviews
When I first dipped my toes into the world of historical fiction, I quickly realized that the stories behind the stories are just as captivating as the novels themselves. The art of interviewing historical fiction authors offers a unique window into their creative minds, their research journeys, and the delicate balance they strike between fact and imagination. But how do you craft an interview that truly captures the essence of these authors and their work? Let’s explore the
DK Marley
Nov 3, 20254 min read
Bridging the Eruption of Vesuvius and the Modern World - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "What Remains"
BOOK EXCERPT While she hovered, still in the doorway, bright white light illuminated mountain, cloud and town. Jagged sheets of lightning cast their glow through the doorway, through the high window, through even the gaps beneath eaves and between bricks, invading the furthest reaches of the space before her. Bringing each figure into startling clarity. The light drew both men’s gazes towards the doorway. Her husband saw her first; his eyes widened. His lips formed words. She
DK Marley
Nov 3, 20251 min read
Navigating the Storms of the Impending Spanish Armada Invasion - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Mistress of Dartington Hall"
BOOK EXCERPT Drake Swaggers In Spring, 1588, Dartington Hall Sudden sprays of rain, as hard as volleys of sharp arrows, pelted the window and shook me from slumber. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I realised Gawen was leaning over me as I lay on our marriage bed. I scrambled to sit up and saw that the sky had grown even darker. I must have slept through the afternoon. ‘Good to see you resting. Take good care of the little knave you carry!’ He reached over and patted the mound
DK Marley
Oct 28, 20255 min read
Creating Stunning Book Cover Designs
When I first started exploring the world of historical fiction, I quickly realized that a book’s cover is more than just a pretty face. It’s the first handshake, the initial spark that invites readers into a story set in a different time and place. Crafting a stunning book cover design is an art and a science, especially for historical fiction, where authenticity and allure must dance together seamlessly. So, how do you create a cover that not only captures the essence of you
DK Marley
Oct 27, 20255 min read
A Poignant Exploration of the Unspoken Legacies From Our Ancestors - an Editorial Review of "Red Anemones"
Book Blurb: Moving among generations of a German-Jewish-American family, "Red Anemones" is a poignant exploration of the intricate bonds, untold secrets, and unspoken legacies our ancestors bestow upon us. Natalie Barlow's journey of self-discovery begins when her estranged mother's sudden death releases a storm of unrevealed family secrets reaching back to pre-WWI Germany. As Natalie navigates the complexities of her newly discovered Jewish identity and her ancestral heritag
DK Marley
Oct 27, 20258 min read
From York to Australia, One Young Man's Journey - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Outback Odyssey"
BOOK EXCERPT In 1914, newspapers reported the crisis as it unfolded across the country and shocked the world, sliding into war. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the turning of neutral Belgium, and Britain’s declaration of war began an era. They called it the war to end all wars. James Rushworth could still recall the moment he got the news.He could hear the excitement in the stone masons’ yard in Huddersfield, where he was an apprentice. He felt the call of duty
DK Marley
Oct 27, 20251 min read
The Human Cost of Intolerance and the Cost to Rebuild a Life - an Editorial Review of "Cobblestones: a New Orleans Tragedy"
Book Blurb: The turbulent history of Post-Reconstruction New Orleans collides with the plight of Sicilian immigrants seeking refuge in America. Antonio, a young man fleeing Sicily after avenging his father's murder, embarks on a harrowing journey to New Orleans with the help of Jesuit priests expelled from his homeland. But the promise of a fresh start quickly sours as Antonio finds himself entangled in a volatile clash of cultures, corruption, and crime. In the late 19th cen
DK Marley
Oct 26, 20257 min read
When Desperate Choices Mean the Difference Between Life and Death - an Editorial Review of "Bright One"
Book Blurb: When desperate choices mean the difference between life and death. Inspired by true events, Bright One tells the story of Jetti Finkelthal, Lisajoy Sachs' great-grandmother. In Czernowitz, Romania, this young Jewish mother is forced to face impossible choices as the world begins to collapse around her. As antisemitism tightens its grip and war edges ever closer, Jetti holds fast to her daughter, Berta, with the fragile belief that love and courage might still car
DK Marley
Oct 25, 20255 min read
Survival and Love During the Fall of an Empire - an Editorial Review of "Ugarit"
Book Blurb: An epic of love, survival, and the fall of empires In the shadow of a burning world, two souls must choose between the past they cherish and the future they fear. Spring, 1190 BCE. On the glittering coast of the eastern Mediterranean, the city of Ugarit thrives-its markets vibrant, its libraries vast, its people unaware that the world they know is about to vanish. Yoninah, a healer steeped in ancient wisdom, tends to the wounded and the grieving with herbs, charms
DK Marley
Oct 24, 20254 min read
Widowhood and Second Chances at Love - an Editorial Review of "Marianne: A Sense & Sensibility Sequel"
Book Blurb: Coming soon! Book Buy Link: Follow the author for this release at www.alicemcveigh.com Author Bio: Alice McVeigh has been published by Orion/Hachette in contemporary fiction, by UK's Unbound in speculative fiction (writing as Spaulding Taylor) and by Warleigh Hall Press in historical fiction. Her books have been in the last seven for the UK Selfies Book Award (2024), been a runner-up for Foreword Indies' "Book of the Year" and joint runner-up in Writers Digest Int
DK Marley
Oct 23, 20255 min read
In Search of a Family's Truth - an Editorial Review of "The Art Collector's Wife"
Book Blurb: In 1962 Venice, Italy, seventeen-year-old Isabel is shoplifting and skipping class until she discovers a fantastical secret about her Holocaust survivor grandmother Lila: she has stashed away a collection of Renaissance Art. To be fair, it's not a complete surprise: Lila is secretive about the war and that dreadful time before when the whole living world came to a standstill. More than anything else, Isabel longs to know about her mother and father who perished. T
DK Marley
Oct 22, 20255 min read
Impact of Social Media on Book Reviews
In the ever-evolving world of literature, the way readers discover and engage with books has transformed dramatically. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for sharing opinions, sparking discussions, and influencing reading choices. For historical fiction authors and enthusiasts, this shift presents both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. How exactly has the rise of social book critiques reshaped the landscape of book reviews? Let’s dive into this fasc
DK Marley
Oct 21, 20255 min read
The Psychological Landscape of the Civil War - an Editorial Review of "Nostalgia"
Book Blurb: Coming soon Book Buy Link: Follow the author at www.utterloonacy.com Author Bio: Susannah Willey is the award-winning author of War Sonnets (JUL 2023, Utter Loonacy Press). Awarded a five star “award of excellence” by the Historical Fiction Company, War Sonnets was also awarded third place in the General Fiction Category of its 2022 Book of the Year awards. Susannah Willey was born in 1952 in the small town of Ira, New York where her family settled over 200 years
DK Marley
Oct 21, 20255 min read
A Story of Bravery in the Face of Heartbreak - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Ugarit: Tales of a Lost City"
BOOK EXCERPT: CHAPTER 2: PALACE STREET In the Lower City two days later, Yoninah and her daughter Bat-El were walking hand in hand along Palace Street. It was a fine day in early spring. The winter rains were behind them. The trees were just beginning to send out tentative buds. This was their favorite day of the week. They would make this trip weekly. As a healer in the lower city, Yoninah had to buy fresh medicinal plants for her shop. The two of them, mother and child, mad
DK Marley
Oct 20, 20254 min read
A Native American Time Travel Young Adult Historical - an Editorial Review of "First Rights"
Book Blurb: Historical fiction for young adults. Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/V5r7e Editorial Review: Title: First Rights Author: Jason Ray Rating: 4.0 Stars Jason Ray’s "First Rights" is a gripping read that begins as like a simple young adult time-travel adventure but quickly deepens into something more haunting and personal. It’s the story of Logan, a modern fourteen-year-old who’s yanked out of his own world and dropped into one of the most volatile moments in Native Am
DK Marley
Oct 19, 20254 min read