Wait! What?! This statement made by a reviewer took me aback. I write historical fantasy, time travel, romance, and historical fiction. Academically and professionally, I am a public historian and cultural heritage consultant. Had I botched incorporating aspects of history and heritage that badly?

Perplexed, the first things I asked myself after hearing this remark were:

Did I fail to world-build properly? Did I fail to include historically or culturally significant things? Did I ne...