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Ana’s Top 5 PLW Historical Fiction Q&A blogs

By Ana Brazil
August 29, 2023

Way back in December 2019 when we launched our PLW website, I started a weekly PLW Q&A post. I thought it’d be a good way for the historical fiction community to get to know us (back then there were only five of us—Kathryn, C.V., Edie, Linda, & me) and also for us to get to know each other better.

We’ve now grown to fifteen Lanterns, and the PLW Q&A is a monthly blog feature, with multiple organizers. We’ve approached each Q&A with honestly and open-heartedness, which makes the Q&A one of my favorite PLW website features. I had to make some hard choices in putting this post together, but here are my five favorite Q&A posts:

What is the most surprising thing you learned while writing your book? (February 28, 2020)—Surprise! Although sometimes the work of writing is about our works-in-progress, sometimes our writing is really about learning more about ourselves or our families. Kathy, Katie, Linda, C.V. and I respond.

Reflections on a Year of Pandemic (June 18, 2021)—I thought I knew how all of my fellow Lanterns felt about the pandemic, but it took this Q&A to know what everyone really felt. Of course, we’ve always been honest in our Q&As, but in this blog we were exceptionally honest.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Most Difficult Scene to Write (September 17, 2021)—Every novelist has at least one…that scene they know they need to include in the novel but they also dread writing. Mari, Linda, Kathryn, Rebecca, Edie, C.V., and I admit to ours.

What is Your Love Language? (February 18, 2022)—Love makes the world go ‘round, but how we show that love to family, friends, and others differs greatly. Mari, Linda, Edie, Michal, and Anne chime in.

What is the Spark that Prompted Your Book? (June 16, 2023)—Every novel has some type of origin story. These are the sparks that inspired Pamela, Mari, Vanitha, and me to get writing.

So that’s my list of favorite Q&A blogs. Got your own favorite Q&A blog post to share?

Written by Ana Brazil

Ana Brazil writes historical crime fiction celebrating bodacious American heroines. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Historical Novel Society, and a founding member of Paper Lantern Writers.
Ana's latest historical mystery is THE RED-HOT BLUES CHANTEUSE, which features murder, mayhem, and music in 1919 San Francisco. Her award-winning historical mystery FANNY NEWCOMB & THE IRISH CHANNEL RIPPER is set in Gilded Age New Orleans.

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1 Comment

  1. Anne M Beggs

    These are such god choices – and it is good to know the incentive for starting these Q&As. TY Ana.

    Reply

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