Category: Books

Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Renaissance England

7/1/2013

I want to keep adding to my reference library, mainly as a way to thank other authors who've compiled the information that allows me to write historical fiction.
I wish I'd had "Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Renaissance England, by Kathy Lynn Emerson, earlier. It would have save huge amounts of time. The books is well organized and is packed with detailed information on all aspects of Renaissance England. I've been researching this period for years and still find much I didn't know. It also clarifies some of the things I've found difficult to research. For example, there's an excellent list of alternative cosmetics to ceruse, which I found very interesting.
"Writer's Guide..." was first published in 1996 by Writer's Digest Books in Cincinnati Ohio. I highly recommend this book to all of your period writers out there! It's an excellent addition to my research library!

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The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

6/25/2013

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This book is a must have for anyone doing serious Shakespeare research. It's definitely my first go-to for information. Ms. Hummel has compiled fascinating, highly detailed information from primary sources. It's a beautiful publication full of colorful photos, illustrations and maps. The appendix contains a handy year by year chronological outline that helps me track important events. The information is presented in context with the politics of the Elizabethan period and Ms. Hummel's conclusions are well supported and surprising. She skillfully explains why there are few pieces of Shakespeare's original work and proposes possible (or probable) activities during his "missing years." As an historical writer, I found the thoroughness of her information extremely helpful. As a lover of history, I thrilled the twists and turns of her interpretation of known events (yes, we historians thrill at stuff like that). This hardback is so elegantly published I can't bear to mar it with notes and highlighting, but I refer to it almost daily in my writing. Thankfully, the chronological sequencing makes it easy for me to locate any information I need. I couldn't put it down!

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Herb Study Day

6/23/2013

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This weekend I'm in Las Vegas watching my nephew compete in American Ninja Warrior. That means VERY late nights (3:30 on Friday), long waits, and exciting watching of some amazing athletes. In my free time I've been studying herbs. I'm compiling a data base I hope to use in my writing. My first source for information is from "Culpeper's Color Herbal" based on the original "The Complete Herbal" published in 1649. He wanted to produce an herbal the commoner could use, based on local English herbs that were easily found. The version I use is published by Sterling Publishing Company in New York, 1983. It includes many colored illustrations of the herbs and modern medical uses of each plant. As you study herbs, you quickly see that many plants are recommended for the same ailments. What isn't as apparent is that only certain herbs might be available during each season, so a variety of options was important to the self healer. I highly recommend this book to any historical writers and herbalists. The information on current medical usage is invaluable to those of us trying to learn how to use this ancient knowledge.

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Author

Jodee Steffensen
AKA
J.D. Steffensen

Jodee (J.D.) Steffensen

Historical and Romance Writer, Amateur Herbalist, and Seeker of adventure, new knowledge and all things good!

Hobbies? I've adored cats all my life. I came to love Shakespeare when I was introduced to him in college. I developed an interest in herbs when a dear friend was diagnosed with cancer. I learned about the complex politics of Shakespeare's world when another friend gave me a book, "Shadow Play," by Clare Asquith.

Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Renaissance England

The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

Herb Study Day

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