Pam Nowak – welcome to Paper Lantern Writers! What would you like readers to know about you?

My historical women’s fiction novels focus on real women whose stories have been forgotten, winning a Will Rogers Gold Medallion and a Laramie Award. My multi-award-winning historical romance novels weave fictional relationship stories into historical settings and events. I have a B.A. in history and love the American West.

Tell us more about what you’ve written.

My historical fiction includes NEVER LET GO and NECESSARY DECEPTIONS. Both are fact-based fiction, bringing real women and events to life and allowing readers to experience the past. Her four historical romance titles are CHANCES, CHOICES, CHANGES (a related character series) and ESCAPING YESTERDAY.

Did you choose historical fiction or did it choose you?

It definitely, chose me!  I yearn to discover more about the people within history, their motivations, how they felt. Stories and characters grab hold of me and linger in my head until I let them out. I’ve never considered writing anything but historical fiction. I don’t think I could!

What are three books on your night table right now?

JOHN BROWN’S WOMEN: A NOVEL by Susan Higgenbotham, THE WOMEN OF CHATEUA LAFAYETTE by Stephani Dray, EVERYTHING SHE DIDN’T SAY by Jane Kirkpatrick

Is there a consistent message in your works?

Though I always know what my protagonists will learn about themselves, I often don’t realize themes until they have their character arcs. My themes rise from character development, hopefully artful enough they avoid being overt. Themes have included vulnerability, self-determination, justice, catharsis, self-empowerment, and deception.

What writer has influenced you?

So many writers, each in different ways. My love of historical fiction was first fostered by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Romance character development: LaVryle Spencer, Maggie Osborne, Jill Marie Landis. Deep point-of-view: Karen Witemeyer. Historical women’s fiction: Phillipa Gregory, Jane Kirkpatrick. As a master of skillful theme and motif: Harper Lee.

What brings you great joy as a writer?

I love interacting with readers and hearing that my writing touched them, made them feel deeply, or made history come alive. If I have done that, I know I have succeeded. It melts my heart every time it happens.

Pamela Nowak writes historical women’s fiction and award-winning historical romance set in the American West. Her richly researched historical fiction explores the forgotten stories of real women. Her romances feature fictional women and their relationship stories set into history.

Nowak’s debut novel, CHANCES, was awarded the HOLT Medallion for Best First Book, was a WILLA Finalist, and was named one of the “Top Ten Romance Novels of 2008” and one of the “Top 101 Romance Books of the Past Ten Years” (2015) by Booklist. Her second novel, CHOICES, was released in 2009 to glowing reviews and received a HOLT Finalist Award in Historical Romance. CHANGES, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, won the 2013 Colorado Book Award in Genre Fiction and a HOLT Medallion Finalist Award. ESCAPING YESTERDAY was released in 2015 with positive reviews.

Her debut historical women’s fiction, NEVER LET GO, traces five the lives of five white women who survive an attack on their isolated Minnesota settlement during the 1862 Dakota Conflict. Release is anticipated for 2020.

Pam has been in love with history and rich characters for most of her life. She has a B.A. in history. She was a teacher and the project manager for the Fort Yuma National Historic Site before directing a non-profit homeless shelter. She was named the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year in 2010 and resides in Denver.

Pam loves hearing from readers and invites them to visit her website  or her Facebook author page (Pamela Nowak Author) to send a message or read more about her.

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