Michael Schmicker's Blog - Posts Tagged "hns"
Awaiting My Fate
I've been nervously waiting for the last two months to learn my fate.
The Historical Novel Society is the premier, online gathering place for historical fiction aficionados worldwide; the informed taste-maker for the genre; and they held The Witch. Their reviewers call it like the see it -- no unearned praise; criticism where it's merited. Debut novels notoriously suffer from pacing problems, plot holes and assorted weaknesses, and I'm painfully aware of the many in mine (I primarily write non-fiction). So I held my breath yesterday when I opened the email from the Society's indie reviews managing editor, Helen Hollick, and clicked on the link to Steve Donoghue's review.
Steve can be intimidating. Here’s what greets you when you hand your baby over to him:
"Steve Donoghue is a writer and editor living in Boston with two dogs (one good, one very bad) and uncounted thousands of books (a good many of which are historical novels). He writes regularly for The National, Kirkus Reviews, and The Washington Post, reviews frequently for Open Letters Monthly (where he’s also the Managing Editor), and is the US/Worldwide editor for the Indie branch of the Historical Novels Review, where he’s thrilled to come in contact with a steady stream of promising authors and interesting novels."
In short, he’s a pro. Your literary sins –mortal and venial – will be uncovered. Would Steve still find me a “promising author” with an “interesting novel?” I was about to find out.
Here’s the verdict: http://bit.ly/1GFFd6Z
Thanks, Steve. I might attempt that sequel after all!
P.S. Hope Boston has finally dug out from its winter deep freeze, and you’re happily back walking your basset around Boston Commons.
P.P.S. If you love to read or write historical fiction, join the Society. Membership is only $50 a year; you can access 12,000+ reviews; and I hear they throw a fun conference (in Denver, next month). Click here: http://historicalnovelsociety.org/
The Historical Novel Society is the premier, online gathering place for historical fiction aficionados worldwide; the informed taste-maker for the genre; and they held The Witch. Their reviewers call it like the see it -- no unearned praise; criticism where it's merited. Debut novels notoriously suffer from pacing problems, plot holes and assorted weaknesses, and I'm painfully aware of the many in mine (I primarily write non-fiction). So I held my breath yesterday when I opened the email from the Society's indie reviews managing editor, Helen Hollick, and clicked on the link to Steve Donoghue's review.
Steve can be intimidating. Here’s what greets you when you hand your baby over to him:
"Steve Donoghue is a writer and editor living in Boston with two dogs (one good, one very bad) and uncounted thousands of books (a good many of which are historical novels). He writes regularly for The National, Kirkus Reviews, and The Washington Post, reviews frequently for Open Letters Monthly (where he’s also the Managing Editor), and is the US/Worldwide editor for the Indie branch of the Historical Novels Review, where he’s thrilled to come in contact with a steady stream of promising authors and interesting novels."
In short, he’s a pro. Your literary sins –mortal and venial – will be uncovered. Would Steve still find me a “promising author” with an “interesting novel?” I was about to find out.
Here’s the verdict: http://bit.ly/1GFFd6Z
Thanks, Steve. I might attempt that sequel after all!
P.S. Hope Boston has finally dug out from its winter deep freeze, and you’re happily back walking your basset around Boston Commons.
P.P.S. If you love to read or write historical fiction, join the Society. Membership is only $50 a year; you can access 12,000+ reviews; and I hear they throw a fun conference (in Denver, next month). Click here: http://historicalnovelsociety.org/
BRAG Medallion Award
Just found out that The Witch of Napoli has earned a 2015 BRAG Medallion award. A real honor.
You'll find some quality historical fiction on their website (www.bragmedallion.com). In an ocean of uneven indie prose, the medallion serves as a welcome beacon, guiding readers safely through the shoals of some embarassing literary wreckage out there.
I've already reviewed BRAG winner Helena Schrader's "Knight of Jerusalem" on Goodreads; and have teed up on my "To-Read" list books penned by a half-dozen other BRAG awardees, including Historical Novel Society's Helen Hollick (The Sea Witch Voyages Series) Aargh!; Sophie Perinot and colleagues ("A Day of Fire"); Paula Lofting's recent BookBub selection ("Sons of the Wolf"); Glenn Craney (two-time BRAG awardee); Janet Oakley ("Timber Rose") and J.D. Smith ("Tristan and Iseult"). Smith is a member of the vibrant Triskele Books collective whose authors include Liza Perrat, author of the excellent WWII novel "Wolfsangel" I reviewed on Goodreads.
Strong writers, all. I'm honored to share their online shelfspace.
You'll find some quality historical fiction on their website (www.bragmedallion.com). In an ocean of uneven indie prose, the medallion serves as a welcome beacon, guiding readers safely through the shoals of some embarassing literary wreckage out there.
I've already reviewed BRAG winner Helena Schrader's "Knight of Jerusalem" on Goodreads; and have teed up on my "To-Read" list books penned by a half-dozen other BRAG awardees, including Historical Novel Society's Helen Hollick (The Sea Witch Voyages Series) Aargh!; Sophie Perinot and colleagues ("A Day of Fire"); Paula Lofting's recent BookBub selection ("Sons of the Wolf"); Glenn Craney (two-time BRAG awardee); Janet Oakley ("Timber Rose") and J.D. Smith ("Tristan and Iseult"). Smith is a member of the vibrant Triskele Books collective whose authors include Liza Perrat, author of the excellent WWII novel "Wolfsangel" I reviewed on Goodreads.
Strong writers, all. I'm honored to share their online shelfspace.
