Paul O’Montis: The "Whispering" Voice the Nazis Tried to Silence Today we travel back to the vibrant and transgressive Berlin of the 1920s , an era where cabarets were the epicentre of creative freedom. There, Paul O’Montis shone brightly, an artist who personified the spirit of the Weimar Republic before Nazi barbarism cut his life short and attempted to erase his legacy. From Siberian Camps to Berlin Stardom Born Paul Emanuel Wendel in Budapest (1894), his life was marked

The story of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus  and Dr. Robert "Bob" Schless  is a masterclass in quiet, stubborn heroism. In 1939, while the world watched the shadow of Nazi Germany spread across Europe, this trio from Philadelphia decided to step directly into the "lion’s den" to save 50 children. A Mission Against the Odds In the spring of 1939, the United States was gripped by isolationism and strict immigration quotas. Most Americans were wary of refugees, and the State Departme

Hi, I thought I would prepare a short Q&A about my forthcoming book, Only Breath & Shadow, which tells you about the story and also some background to the real characters that appear in the book. Q: What is the central setting and historical context of Only Breath & Shadow ?   A:  The novel is set in 1930s Vienna , specifically capturing the atmospheric transition from the city’s vibrant coffeehouse culture to the dark reality of the Anschluss  in 1938. It explores the escal

The literary landscape is dominated by stories that refuse to stay in their lanes. Books that interweave fact and fiction, often called "faction" or hybrid narratives, have reached a new peak of popularity as readers seek stories that offer both total immersion and real-world relevance. "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel is perhaps the most famous of all “faction” novels. It is a masterpiece that reimagines the rise of Thomas Cromwell in Henry VIII's court, blending meticulous rese

I am thrilled to announce my next novel, Only Breath & Shadow , the forthcoming continuation of the literary saga that began with Of All...

⭐ I'm thrilled to share the news that my novel, A Remembrance of Death , has received a glowing editorial review and been awarded the...

The real Basil Drewe Compelling characters are the lifeblood of great storytelling. They are what linger in a reader’s mind long after...

The Historical Fiction Company (HFC) is a hybrid-publishing company that give editorial reviews on new books and also run a yearly...

I finally got my pre-publication copies of 'A Remembrance of Death' and opened the Amazon parcel like an expectant parent. I was not...

My A.I. bot tells me that writers are inspired to write stories by a variety of factors, including: - Personal experiences - Imagination...

A Remembrance of Death is set in the final years of a declining British Empire and is a beautifully crafted novel that deals with...

Being shortlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize is a true honour for me. The competition was established by the Yeovil Community Arts...

Writing convincing characters is one of the hardest things to do in any novel. It doesn’t matter what book genre it is; a character must...

18th June 2024. I had forgotten how hard it was to write. The first drafts of the new book - A Remembrance of Death were quickly...

About a year ago, I wrote a blog saying that I had finished the first draft of my second novel, "A Remembrance of Death", and hoped to...

Recently, I received a book review from the Online Book Club where the reviewer wrote that they wanted to know more about some of the...

"Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh...

Memento Mori (Update) I wrote a blog just after Christmas about two questions. First, how were book sales going and the second, whether...

OK! It's been another great week for 'Of All Faiths & None' This week the winners of the Outstanding Creator Awards were published, and I...

The Historical Novel Society was founded in the UK in 1997. At first it was conceived of as something of a campaigning society, because...