Kate Forsyth's Blog

How do you reimagine a well-known story and still create a captivating and compelling narrative? I’ve spent the past few years researching and writing my latest novel Psykhe, which is a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Eros and Psykhe. It’s the source of one of the world’s best-known and most beloved fairy tales, […]

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Paul Morgan is the author of two previous novels, The Pelagius Book and Turner's Paintbox, both published by Penguin. He was born in London, educated at the University of Wales, where he studied Philosophy and English, and lives in Melbourne, Australia. His most recent novel is The Winter Palace. In 1939, Anton, a captain in the […]

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The Blurb: If he had died, I would know it in my heart. In 1939, Anton, a captain in the Polish army, says goodbye to his wife, Elisabeth. He is leaving to defend their homeland against the invasion by Nazi Germany and Russia. They make a vow that – whatever happens, however much time passes […]

The post The Winter Palace by Paul Morgan first appeared on Kate Forsyth.

Here is an old German tale about he first Christmas tree, retold by me: A long time ago, in a small kingdom in Germany, there lived a young and handsome count, named Stoneheart by his people because he never fell in love, not once, no matter how pretty the girls brought to his notice.  One […]

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Kate Forsyth – keynote speech at the Historical Novel Society Australasia conference, October 2023 When I was a little girl, the two things I loved most in the world were gardens and stories. I had lots of the second. My mother and my grandmother made sure of that.  But I didn't have a garden. We […]

The post Why We Must Read Historical Fiction If We want to Change the World first appeared on Kate Forsyth.

Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth Chapter 2 Pretending to Be Drowning Spring 1852 Lizzie floated in water, pretending to be drowning. She had to stay absolutely still. If she moved even a little, the bath water rippled and the fabric of her silver-embroidered dress billowed. Then Mr Millais would heave a great sigh. She […]

The post Beauty in Thorns first appeared on Kate Forsyth.

Georgiana Burne-Jones (b. 21 July 1840 – d. 2 February 1920) Georgiana Burne-Jones is one of the central characters in my novel of the Pre-Raphaelites, Beauty in Thorns, along with her daughter Margaret, Lizzie Siddal and Jane Morris, all writers and artists in their own right. The daughter of a God-fearing Methodist minister, Georgie met […]

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Every year, as a Christmas present to myself, I re-read the work of one of my favourite childhood authors. It's a kind of gift of wonder and magic to myself, a reminder of the time when being given books for Christmas was my greatest joy.  This tradition began with my decision a few years ago to re-read […]

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Today we are pleased to welcome Australian author Kate Forsyth to Historical Tapestry.

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I was recently approached by an aspiring author who asked my advice – I thought I’d share with you my response in case it is of help to anyone else: I am currently writing my first novel (in between juggling work and being a mother to my 2 year old son which has made the […]

The post How do you juggle life and writing and other burning questions from an aspiring writer.... first appeared on Kate Forsyth.