C.L.R. Peterson Blog
Book Reviews & More
Troublemaker or Saint?
In this time of restricted travel, many people feel confined or even trapped in their circumstances—valid emotions, of course! But just imagine what your options might have been if you were Hildegard of Bingen, born in 1098 as child #10 to a family of the German lower...
Dutch Heroes or Villains?
What would you do if you were a David in a small nation, facing down a Goliath, a giant enemy who appeared to be coming to destroy your town and kill everyone you loved? Would you try to reason with him, run, hide, or fight? The Dutch people confronted this dilemma in...
Compassion or Collapse!
How would you describe the current mood in your part of the world? In many places, today’s theme might be division rather than unity. Is our time unique? Over the centuries, internal divisions accelerated the decline of many powerful civilizations—ancient Greece, the...
Enjoy great historical fiction this summer!
How will you relax, if you have the opportunity, after many difficult months? I offer two suggestions for your reading enjoyment, both historical fiction, but each quite unique, followed by an interview with author Maryann Philip. The Moonlight School, by Suzanne...
People, Places, Times
People, places, historical objects, or time periods—which interests you more when you’re choosing a novel? This month, we’re focusing on a recent trend—time-split novels, in which stories from the past impact the present, sharing a key element: often a place,...
Venice says Thanks!
Imagine this: a pandemic strikes. Waves of deadly contagion decimate the community. After months of hopes and false alarms, the outbreak finally subsides. Sound familiar? Actually, I’m talking about Venice, ravaged by over seventy plague epidemics from the 1300s to...
Get My New Short Story!
Verona, 1571.
When Caterina welcomes her husband’s brilliant student, Alessandro, into their home, she has no idea how he will heighten the danger her family faces as the Inquisition closes in.
Immerse yourself in rich historical detail and high emotional stakes in this dramatic story of danger and conscience!