The air was charged, the rain delayed, and the sun had begun its nightly descent leaving a trail of orange mist in its wake. It was a perfect night for a ghost tour through a pioneer village. The spirits must have thought so too, because I have never encountered so much paranormal activity in one…
Category: Writing
10 ways to (somewhat obnoxiously) steer a conversation toward Tudor history: In a variety of real-life scenarios
For some of us history buffs, we must research and daydream in solitude while many of our friends and family have not yet been awakened to the thrill and intrigue of Tudor history. Despair no more! Here is a list of some easy, super casual ways to scratch that history fact-sharing itch with non-history type…
10 historical Valentine’s Day facts worth knowing*
I love knowing random facts, so for Valentine’s Day I put together 10 historical facts about the holiday I feel are (odd enough to be) worth knowing*. These are a hodgepodge of historical facts, several coming from Victorian-era articles and so the dates of some of these traditions are unclear. Let’s focus more on what…
15 “Romantic” texts courtesy of Henry VIII (Modernized!)
For a Valentine’s Day post I thought it would be fun to pull quotes from Henry VIII’s love letters to Anne Boleyn and convert them into modern text messages, so I did! And it was fun. Quote: “The cause of my writing at this time, good sweetheart, is only to understand of your good health…
‘Anna Bollein Queen’ sketch: A fresh interpretation
I consider myself lucky to have stood before The Royal Collection’s sketch labeled ‘Anna Bollein Queen’ and attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger, (1) twice in the last couple of years— once in New York City and again in Cleveland during the fantastic traveling museum exhibition, The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England. It…
10 historical ways to ruin a modern Christmas
In ’Twas the Night Before Tudor Christmas I share many ideas on how to bring a touch of Tudor to a modern Christmas for the enjoyment of all guests, not only history buffs. Playing the role of the Lord of Misrule, I have turned that idea on its head. Let me present you with 10…
10 corny Tudor Christmas movies (best left unmade) + 1 bonus one
I hope you have been enjoying these fictional, comedic movie plots and posters! Here is the final one…plus a bonus one (because they are way too fun to make!). Click here to read the full article.
New article: 10 simple ways to teleport into history
My imagination often takes me on a trip into the past. Sometimes the journey is planned and many times I happen upon a time because it cannot be avoided. Here are 10 ways I teleport back in time*. *Metaphorically. I’m a writer not a magician or scientist. A gravel path. Nothing transports me into the…
A Very Tudor Christmas: An online event with historian and author Claire Ridgway
I am pleased to announce that all participants of historian and author Claire Ridgway’s event, A Very Merry Tudor Christmas, will receive a free e-book copy of ‘Twas the Night Before Tudor Christmas! As a bonus, I had a lot of fun creating a cooking video featuring two recipes from the book which will be…
Christmas in July
Do you celebrate Christmas in July? I didn’t, but having written a Christmas-themed book I now see the benefits… Whether you celebrate or not, I created a Tudor-themed word search that can be printed for your enjoyment and personal use. Please see my free printable page here to download the PDF and print yourself a…