The Inquisitive Inkpot
Exploring Tales and the Art of Telling
Category: Reviews
New Discoveries this National Reading Month
Although National Reading Month is nearly over, I wanted to share with you a gem I’ve discovered. While kids and adults all over find their noses stuck in picture books and novels during National Reading Month, my nose has been stuck in something different:… Continue Reading “New Discoveries this National Reading Month”
Career Advice that Transformed my Thinking
Writers need career advice too. The problem is that there are too many sources out there that trumpet the same theory—regardless of how many times that theory fails. How many of us have heard career advice that goes like this? “Follow your passion and… Continue Reading “Career Advice that Transformed my Thinking”
WWII and Humanity at its Worst
It seems every filmmaker wants a crack at WWII. Considering its historical significance and high moral stakes, it makes sense that people still have a taste for dramas centered on its events. The challenge for writers is to find a fresh angle on such… Continue Reading “WWII and Humanity at its Worst”
When Political and Social Ideas are Born
As much as I enjoy historical fiction, I weary of seeing modern political agendas pasted into historical settings. We’ve all seen it: a character in a book or movie openly shares a fully developed opinion that never would have been expressed during that period… Continue Reading “When Political and Social Ideas are Born”
Transported: When Historical Fiction comes off the Page
Bringing a character to life is a challenge of its own, but bringing an entire era to life—that takes another kind of artistry. My most recent experience of historical fiction reminded me once again of why I love the genre: when done right, it… Continue Reading “Transported: When Historical Fiction comes off the Page”
The Spectacular Hack that Recently Revolutionized my Writing
You can’t buy talent, but you can buy migraine-free writing. In case you missed my post bemoaning the woes of the contemporary writer, I can bring you up to speed in one sentence: screens hurt my eyes. Not just my eyes, but plenty of… Continue Reading “The Spectacular Hack that Recently Revolutionized my Writing”
The Exile: The Story behind the Story
Recently a contact from my alma mater reached out to interview me about The Exile, my first published novel. Fellow Hillsdale College alumna Gianna Marchese, the Editor in Chief of the Student Stories Blog and the college’s Social Media Coordinator, took the time to… Continue Reading “The Exile: The Story behind the Story”
Hatfields, McCoys, and Mental Issues
For all the attention that political and social issues receive in historical dramas, it seems mental issues are rarely addressed. That being said, when I started the History Channel miniseries “Hatfields and McCoys,” I had no inkling that this topic would even surface—and was… Continue Reading “Hatfields, McCoys, and Mental Issues”
Cancer, Monsters, and Catharsis
Have you ever found yourself emotionally unprepared for a book or movie? You know, when you finish it and feel like the wind was just knocked out of you—and not in a good way. There’s a number of ways this can happen: Scenario 1:… Continue Reading “Cancer, Monsters, and Catharsis”
The Aeronauts: What the Skies Teach us about Humanity
Found: a fine specimen of historical fiction and an epic ride. It’s Director Tom Harper’s latest, The Aeronauts. Admittedly I was mostly interested in seeing Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones starring opposite one another again (after first seeing their acting chemistry in The Theory… Continue Reading “The Aeronauts: What the Skies Teach us about Humanity”
