History Through Fiction - The Podcast

The final episode of season 6 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features Jill George, author of the novel A Hopeless Dawn. During the interview, host Colin Mustful chats with George about the painting that inspired her novel, what life was like for the people of Cornwall—the 19th century fishing village featured in her novel—, and the character profiles she creates before starting any novel. Don’t miss it!

Season 6, Episode 12 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features our very own Ezra Harker Shaw, author of the novel The Aziola’s Cry: A Novel of the Shelleys. During the interview, host Colin Mustful chats with Harker Shaw about the values and ideals extolled by Mary and Percy Shelley during their lifetimes, the influence of Lord Byron on the lives and writings of the Shelleys, and the story behind the title of The Aziola’s Cry. Don’t miss it!

Season 6, Episode 11 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features Yangsze Choo, author of the novel The Fox Wife. During the interview, host Colin Mustful chats with Choo about the mythology of the fox in east Asian culture, the tradition of detective novels in Chinese literature, and the years Choo spent writing her first manuscript that was never published. Choo also talks about the joy and challenges of narrating her own audiobook. Don’t miss it!

Season 6, Episode 10 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features Marthese Fenech, bestselling author of historical novels set in 16th-century Malta and Turkey. During the interview, host Colin Mustful chats with Fenech about the rich history of the island country of Malta, her dedication to her craft, and the inspiration that led her to write her Knights of Malta series. Don’t miss it!

Season 6, Episode 9 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features historical fiction editor and founder of Historical Editorial, Jenny Quinlan. During the interview, host Colin Mustful chats with Quinlan about when she discovered her love for historical fiction, how and why she started Historical Editorial, what advice she has for authors when working with an editor, and the challenges and rewards of chairing the Historical Novel Society North American Conference. Don’t miss it!

Season 6, Episode 8 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features Jennifer Ryan, author of the novel The Underground Library. During the interview, host Colin Mustful chats with Ryan about how she creates authentic characters, how the Bethnal Green Library became an underground library during The London Blitz, and how Ryan’s grandmother inspired this and other stories. Don’t miss it!

Season 6, Episode 7 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast has Robin Oliveira, the author of A Wild and Heavenly Place. Host Colin Mustful talks with Oliveira about immigration to Seattle in the late 1800s, her dedication to the facts and extremely thorough research, and how she combined her ancestry with her love of the Pacific Northwest to write this novel. Don't miss!

Season 6, Episode 6 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features ReShonda Tate, author of The Queen of Sugar Hill. Host Colin Mustful chats with Tate about the challenges, personally and professionally, Hattie McDaniel faced after becoming the first black woman to win an Oscar, the relevance of Hattie’s story today, and the reasons behind Tate’s decision to write historical fiction. Be sure to tune in!

Season 6, Episode 5 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast has Candace Simar, the author of Sister Lumberjack. During the interview, host Colin Mustful talks with Simar about how her own family history inspires her stories, what life was like for 19th century lumberjacks, and the history behind the Benedictine Health System. Don't miss this great chat!

Season 6, Episode 4 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast features Elizabeth R. Andersen, author of The Alewives. Host Colin Mustful chats with Andersen about beer vs. ale, how her tech and journalism experience helped her write historical novels, and her choice to go for independent publishing right away. They also discuss the stunning Pacific Northwest, where Elizabeth lives and enjoys hiking. Be sure to tune in!