A life of prose

What Historical Fiction Writers Need to Know Imagine this: it’s a stinking hot and sticky day in Sydney. The date’s January 26, 1808. The air is so thick with tension and the scent of gunpowder fills the streets. Then, 700 men of the New South Wales Corps begin their march up towards Government House. Their boots are kicking up dust from the unpaved streets. Drums beat with a call to arms. Bayonets are fixed and the harsh Australian sun reflects

The first time I held Kate Grenville’s: The Secret River in my hands, I could feel the shear weight of tome, the texture of the pages between my fingers and the smell of ink. It was not just a book—it was a deep, introspective look into our nation’s soul. Australian historical fiction does that to people. Every time. It seeps into your body—from the inside out. Now, I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m not that strong a reader,