How I Write Historical Fiction

Though not a conventional guide to writing fiction - and there are many of these on the market - this is a set of essays and interviews that explores the writing process from the viewpoint of a successful practitioner.

Subjects explored include:

• How to develop a plot?
• How to give birth to realistic characters?
• How to write convincing dialogue?
• How to write about sexual and other assumptions in other times and places?
• How to work round writer's block?
• How to find a publisher, or how to get by without one?

Richard Blake is the author of the Aelric series of Byzantine historical novels. These have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek, Slovak, Hungarian, Chinese and Indonesian. As well as this, he is an historian, broadcaster and university lecturer, who lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.

Praise for historical novels by Richard Blake:

"Fascinating to read, very well written, an intriguing plot and I enjoyed it very much." (Derek Jacobi, star of I Claudius and Gladiator)

"Vivid characters, devious plotting and buckets of gore are enhanced by his unfamiliar choice of period…. Nasty, fun and educational." (The Daily Telegraph)

"He knows how to deliver a fast-paced story and his grasp of the period is impressively detailed." (The Mail on Sunday)

"A rollicking and raunchy read . . . Anyone who enjoys their history with large dollops of action, sex, intrigue and, above all, fun will absolutely love this novel." (Historical Novels)

"It would be hard to over-praise this extraordinary series, a near-perfect blend of historical detail and atmosphere with the plot of a conspiracy thriller, vivid characters, high philosophy and vulgar comedy." (The Morning Star)

Richard Blake is an English writer, broadcaster and teacher. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter. For Hodder & Stoughton, he has written the following six historical novels: "Conspiracies of Rome" (2008), "Terror of Constantinople" (2009), "Blood of Alexandria" (2010), "Sword of Damascus" (2011), "Ghosts of Athens" (2012), "Curse of Babylon" (2013). These have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek, Slovak, Hungarian, Indonesian, and Chinese. In 2015, Hodder & Stoughton republished all six novels in two omnibus volumes: "Death of Rome Saga 1" and "Death of Rome Saga 2." He also writes for Endeavour Press. His first historical novel for Endeavour, "Game of Empires," was published in May 2015. His next in this series, "Death in Ravenna," was published in August 2016. His latest, "Crown of Empire," was published in April 2016. In April 2016, Caffeine Nights published his post-apocalyptic science fiction thriller "The Break." As Sean Gabb, he has written these novels: "The Column of Phocas" (2006 - historical), "The Churchill Memorandum" (2011 - alternate history thriller, A further novel, "The York Deviation" (alternate history fantasy), is awaiting publication. You can follow him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richard.blake.7773 You can also follow him on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BlakeTheWriter His personal website is - http://www.richardblake.me.uk/