Falling Down in the Blogosphere

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Originally posted on A. B. Funkhauser, Author:
Once upon a time, I thought I was savvy.  I had a pretty decent handle on current affairs, could rap credibly along with my teenagers to the latest  gangsta, and ramble at length on the culture of Netflix, why it mattered and what impact it would have on the world at large. And then I tried to build a web site and it all fell apart. Maybe I’m pushing myself too hard. I wasn’t born knowing about widgets, or which themes supported custom headers. I really want a cool slider image on my home page, but Goran…

A practical New Year

Categories: 17th centuryTags: 6 Comments

Continuing with the theme of historical accuracy from my last post, Puzzles in the Historical Record, something can be historically factual, yet inaccurate from an “in practice” perspective. How is this possible? To give a uniquely Canadian example (apologies to the Brits and Americans out there) on the Monday immediately preceding May 25th, most provinces observe a holiday known as Victoria Day. If anyone two hundred years in the future were to reference this holiday, they would be correct to call it Victoria Day. But very few of us actually call it that. Over the years, the most common reference…

Puzzles in the Historical Record: The Highwayman Did It?

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When sifting through historical records, it’s not uncommon to accept at face value the recorded events, particularly when the source is contemporary. But people remember events differently, either naturally or by design. We observe our world through a lens thickened by expectation and human experience. Even well-documented historical events have gaps. The escape of King Charles II is a good example of this. The details of his flight following the Battle of Worcester are contained in the collection of contemporary accounts known as the Boscobel Tracts. These were written during the Restoration, over a decade after the escape. But there is…

Romantic Encounters in a Bustling Market

Categories: Traitor's KnotTags: · · · · · 1 Comment

After offering my readers a steady diet of 17th century warfare and nearly impossible escapes, I’ve decided to change things up a bit, and tell a different story—a romantic encounter from my completed manuscript. Click here to part the veil and slip back in time to 1650 Warwick, England, during the uneasy lull between episodes of civil war. This is an opportunity for a man to prove his mettle and apply himself to the pursuit of his heart’s fancy. Featured Image: Louise Rayner [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Battle of Hamilton

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Shhh! I’m hiding in Sarah Jean’s Close, a public house in Hamilton in 1650. Well, not exactly. Today, I’m a guest of the English Historical Fiction Authors Blog where I tell the story of the Battle of Hamilton, or more recently known as the Battle of Hieton. This action was fought on December 1, 1650 between Scotland’s Western Army and English Parliamentary forces during Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland. Come by for a visit. I promise you political intrigue, warfare and even a charming love story. Featured Image: Memorial plaque of the Battle of Hamilton (Hieton) By User: Supergolden (Taken by User: Supergolden)…