Podcasts about Historical fiction

Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop joins Sarah for the latest installment of the "Best of…" series to share her ALL-TIME TOP TEN historical fiction novels, plus a few popular picks that didn't work for her. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Elizabeth shares her personal definition of historical fiction. How she first found her way to the genre. What draws her to historical fiction and keeps her coming back to it. What works for her in historical fiction — and what doesn't.   All the books mentioned in this episode are linked through Fabled Bookshop or Libro.fm. If you decide to purchase, we'd love for you to use our Fabled links in the show notes — if your budget allows. As a bonus, use promo code SARAH at checkout for 10% off your Fabled order! Prefer audio? You can find the books on Libro.fm and select Fabled as the bookstore you'd like to support. Elizabeth's All-Time Top Ten Historical Fiction City of Thieves by David Benioff (2008) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [18:43] Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum (2004) | Fabled | Libro.fm [21:11] The Winter Rose (The Tea Rose, 2) by Jennifer Donnelly (2006) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [22:45] A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [25:26] The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2008) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [27:37] As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner (2018) | Fabled | Libro.fm   [29:36] The Shoemaker's Wife by Andrea Trigiani (2012) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [31:57] The Winter Sea (Slains, 1) by Susanna Kearsley (2008) | Fabled [33:52]* Greenwood by Michael Christie (2019) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [35:47] The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (2019) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [37:36] The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson(2019) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [37:56] High-Profile Historical Fiction She Didn't Love The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin (2021) | Fabled | Libro.fm  [41:16] The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton (2018) | Fabled | Libro.fm [43:12] Other Books Mentioned Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard (2011)  [4:06] Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (2026) [8:20]  Little House on the Prairie (Little House, 3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1935) [10:00]  Anne of Green Gables (book 1) by L. M. Montgomery (1908) [10:02]  Message From Nam by Danielle Steel (1990) [10:48]  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (2015) [14:44]  The Tea Rose (The Tea Rose, 1) by Jennifer Donnelly (2002) [24:55]  The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) [25:35]  And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (2013) [27:19]  The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (2006) [28:24]  The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (2010) [28:45]  A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner (2014) [31:33]  Big Stone Gap (book 1) by Andrea Trigiani (2001) [32:03]  Outlander (book 1) by Diana Gabaldon (1991) [34:00]  The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin (2004) [41:25]  The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) [42:27]  The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (2026) [42:48]  Homecoming by Kate Morton (2023) [44:01]  *The UK title is Sophia's Secret.

Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.Strong historical fiction does more than recreate the past. It pulls readers into another time, helps them understand what was at stake, and keeps them turning the pages.In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm joined by lawyer, finance and fintech innovator, and historical fiction author Terry Kirk. Terry is the author of Pitfall and Plunder, two financial thrillers that bring major moments in history to life through memorable characters, high stakes, and plenty of suspense.Terry came to writing later in life after spending several decades practising law. She shares how her professional experience inspired her to write fast-moving stories that make the world of finance interesting and accessible, particularly for readers who might otherwise find it intimidating.Her latest novel, Plunder, takes place in London in 1940, as World War II intensifies and America considers entering the war. Terry's protagonist, Frank Cork, has been given an enormous task: find the money needed to help finance the war.We talk about the research required to write historical fiction convincingly, from studying fashion and magazines to understanding how people communicated before email, text messages, and instant access to information. Terry explains why the smallest historical details can make the biggest difference, and how she immerses herself in an era before she begins writing.We also dig into the craft of writing suspense. Terry shares how she keeps a story moving even when the historical realities involve delays, letters, and slow communication. Her approach includes strong chapter openings and endings, changing points of view, and resisting the urge to rely on words like “suddenly” to create tension.As a committed plotter, Terry uses Excel to track her chapters, characters, word count, and story development. She sees the spreadsheet and the blank Word document as two different creative spaces, one for structure and one for imagination.Our conversation also explores writing characters whose lives are very different from our own, the challenges of cultural appropriation, her surprisingly quick path to publication, and the discomfort many writers feel when they have to move from quiet creative work to marketing their books.Terry's story is a lovely reminder that it is never too late to begin writing. After decades in another career, she found that becoming a writer felt like coming home.Listen to learn:How to research historical fiction without overwhelming the storyWays to create suspense and maintain narrative paceWhy chapter endings and multiple points of view keep readers engagedHow plotting tools can support the creative processWhat Terry learned from beginning her writing career later in lifeWhy writers need courage during both publishing and promotionListen now for an honest and encouraging conversation about historical fiction, plotting, publishing, and finding the writing life that feels like home.

Grandpa Bill content of The Greater Portland Crab Capercombines strong Portland, Maine  terms with a curiosity-driven story about turning local history into fiction.Portland's hidden history is a novel—and the real city behind it is even more compelling. Grandpa Bill previews The Greater Portland Crab Caper and explores the waterfront, landmarks, architecture, infrastructure, and local history shaping the story.Discover the Western Promenade, Eastern Promenade, Commercial Street, Casco Bay, the Old Port District, and the real history behind Portland, Maine. Grandpa Bill also shares his creative process, memory techniques, and the historical sources helping bring this fictional project to life. Greater Portland Landmarks and The Maine Historical Society as Key Informational Data and Photo's, where applicable!The Real Portland History Behind a Fictional Greater Portland Crab CaperPortland Maine's Waterfront, History, and the GreaterPortland Crab CaperFrom Portland History to Historical Fictionhttps://rss.buzzsprout.com/2222759.rss#PortlandMaine, #MaineHistory, #PortlandMaineHistory, #LocalHistory, #MaineCulture, #NewEnglandHistory, #PortlandWaterfront, #Casco Bay, #OldPortPortland, #CreativeWriting, #HistoricalFiction, #AuthorJourney, #Storytelling, #MemoryTechniques, #TheGreaterPortlandCrabCaper,

[Bane voice]: The wind rises!!This week we fly with Jiro Hirokoshi and the mysterious Italian man of his dreams! It's Hayao Miyazaki's most personal film to date, featuring some of the most ravishing animation ever committed to film. And believe it or not, it's also the subject of controversy! We'll get into it.Next week it's the great Isao Takahata's final film, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (2013). Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPodReferences:Special FeaturesTen Years With Hayao MiyazakiKingdom of Dreams and MadnessThe Art of The Wind RisesJapanese Policy Forum Toshio Suzuki InterviewPrincess Kaguya delayed to the FallAnother Double FeatureSuzuki Turns Down Ponyo SequelCredits:Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shopThe "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Making of a Witch began when Judy Molland found her own last name in a book about English witch trials.Meaghan is flying solo this week (Shirin is out sick) with a pre-recorded interview she has been sitting on since the spring. Judy Molland is a first-time novelist, a former French and English teacher, and a practising Wiccan who spent years chasing a woman almost nobody bothered to write down.The Making of a Witch, out now from She Writes Press, tells the story of Alice Molland, the last person sentenced to death for witchcraft in England, at Exeter in 1685.Alice Molland: the last witch sentenced to death in EnglandJudy Molland was 25, at her father's vicarage, when she opened Keith Thomas's Religion and the Decline of Magic and found her own surname in it Religion and the Decline of MagicThe line named Alice Molland as the last person sentenced to death for witchcraft in England, in 1685Her father, a Church of England vicar, shut the book and told her never to mention that woman again. That shut the whole thing down for yearsMolland is an unusual name in Devon, which is a large part of why Judy came to think of Alice as her ancestorWriting a novel when the archive gives you one lineThe only record Judy found was a 17th century Assizes entry naming Alice as tried for witchcraft on the bodies of three womenThe page was part Latin, in a hand she could not read. The librarian pointed at the line and did nothing elseMarks on the record indicated Alice was poor, propertyless and alone. That is the whole evidence baseHaving almost nothing turned out to be freeing, because it meant fiction was the only honest way in The Making of a WitchThe dream, the herbs, and a healer nobody could protectTwenty years ago Judy started having the same dream: a horse chestnut wood, a cottage, a dark-haired woman with blue eyes beckoning her down the path. She knew it was AliceAlice learns healing from Goody Luscombe, executed in the opening chapter while Alice, aged ten, is made to watchAlice works with mugwort, slippery elm and comfrey, and her reputation as a healer is exactly what puts her in dangerHelping people is what Alice is for, and it is what will get her killedHearsay trials and how witch accusations actually workedJudy read Exeter court records across two summers. A woman charged with killing a neighbour's pigs by looking at them. A starving widow refused food, then blamed when that household fell illA red bird on a windowsill. A woman seen with a toad. Enough to put someone in front of a courtBeing tried was often the end of a life even without a hanging, because the label followed youThe Pendle witches in Lancashire and the East Anglia trials are the best known English casesWicca, the Exeter Castle plaque, and the sequelJudy went to a Pagan Federation conference in London not long after her father's funeral and described it as coming homeShe became the overseas member of a coven in Devon and helped put up the first English memorial to accused witches, outside Exeter Castle, in the 1990s Exeter Castle witches plaqueThe moon rituals in the novel arrived because they arrived in her own life first. None of it was plannedEvery witch hunt history she read was written by the rulers, never the accused. That was the driving ideaNext is a sequel following Alice's son Tommy, grown up. Judy calls it a novel of revenge. Subscribe on your favorite platform!SpotifyApple PodcastAmazon MusiciHeart RadioPodchaserYoutubeDon't forget to follow us on socials too!InstagramThreadsTikTokBlueSkyFacebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Mystery Unveiled: Stormy Night at Amer Fort Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2026-09-19-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: बारिश की हल्की बूंदों ने जयपुर के आमेर किले को एक रहस्यपूर्ण माहौल में लपेट दिया था।En: The light raindrops had enveloped Jaipur's Amer Fort in a mysterious atmosphere.Hi: किले की ऊंची दीवारों के भीतर, गणेश चतुर्थी का त्योहार मनाया जा रहा था।En: Inside the high walls of the fort, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi was being celebrated.Hi: इसी दौरान, एक ऐतिहासिक चित्रकला प्रदर्शनी भी सजाई गई थी।En: During this time, a historic painting exhibition had also been set up.Hi: इस प्रदर्शनी का आकर्षण एक दुर्लभ चित्र था, जिसने कला प्रेमियों को आश्चर्यचकित कर दिया था।En: The attraction of this exhibition was a rare painting that had surprised art lovers.Hi: आज का दिन विशेष था।En: Today was a special day.Hi: आमेर किले के किसी कोने में, एक विचारशील युवा, आरव, घूम रहा था।En: Somewhere in a corner of Amer Fort, a contemplative young man, Aarav, was wandering around.Hi: वो एक कला इतिहासकार था, जो इस प्रदर्शनी को सफल देखना चाहता था।En: He was an art historian who wanted to see the exhibition succeed.Hi: उसके मन में एक डर था, कहीं कोई तस्वीर गायब न हो जाए।En: He had a fear that a picture might go missing.Hi: उसकी आंखें हर छोटी बात को पकड़ लेती थीं।En: His eyes captured every small detail.Hi: वहीं दूसरी ओर, Sneha थी। एक तेज-तर्रार पत्रकार, जिसे सच्चाई और मान्यता की तलाश थी।En: On the other side, there was Sneha, a sharp-witted journalist, who was in search of truth and recognition.Hi: उसके पास आत्म-संदेह था, लेकिन वो दृढ़ थी।En: She had self-doubt, but she was determined.Hi: फिर आता है Vihaan, एक स्थानीय गाइड।En: Then comes Vihaan, a local guide.Hi: उसके अधिकांश अतिथि उसकी जानकारी और आकर्षण से प्रभावित थे, लेकिन उसका एक गुप्त अतीत था।En: Most of his guests were impressed by his knowledge and charm, but he had a secret past.Hi: वो कोशिश कर रहा था कि उस पुराने आरोप से खुद को निर्दोष साबित कर सके।En: He was trying to prove his innocence against an old allegation.Hi: आखिरकार, वही हुआ, जिससे सब डरते थे - वो दुर्लभ चित्र गायब हो गया।En: Eventually, the very thing that everyone feared happened—the rare painting disappeared.Hi: आरव का दिल तेजी से धड़कने लगा।En: Aarav's heart began to race.Hi: क्या ये विहान की चाल थी?En: Was this Vihaan's trick?Hi: आरव ने देखा, गणेश चतुर्थी के उत्सव ने हर किसी का ध्यान भंग कर रखा था।En: Aarav noticed that the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities had distracted everyone.Hi: Sneha को आरव की शक की कहानी पर विश्वास नहीं हुआ।En: Sneha did not believe Aarav's story of suspicion.Hi: उसने खुद जाँच करने की ठान ली।En: She decided to investigate herself.Hi: उसे लगा कि शायद यहां एक गहरा षड्यंत्र है।En: She felt that perhaps there was a deeper conspiracy here.Hi: आरव के सामने निर्णय था, वो या तो Sneha के साथ मेहनत करेगा या अकेले ही इस समस्या का हल निकालेगा।En: Aarav faced a decision; he could either work alongside Sneha or solve the problem alone.Hi: तूफानी रात जब जोर पकड़ने लगी, आरव और Sneha ने किले के गुप्त गलियारों में विहान का सामना किया।En: As the stormy night gained momentum, Aarav and Sneha confronted Vihaan in the fort's secret corridors.Hi: आंधी-तूफान की गरज के बीच, सबकी सच्चाई खुलकर सामने आ गई।En: Amidst the roar of the storm, everyone's truth was laid bare.Hi: चित्र वहीं था, एक गुप्त कक्ष में छिपा हुआ।En: The painting was right there, hidden in a secret chamber.Hi: सच्चाई सामने आई।En: The truth came to light.Hi: असली अपराधी को पहचान लिया गया, और विहान निर्दोष साबित हुआ।En: The real culprit was identified, and Vihaan was proven innocent.Hi: आरव का करियर बच गया।En: Aarav's career was saved.Hi: चित्र के सुरक्षित लौटने से सबने राहत की सांस ली।En: The safe return of the painting brought a sigh of relief to everyone.Hi: Sneha की इस खोजी रिपोर्ट को बहुत सराहा गया।En: Sneha's investigative report was highly praised.Hi: आरव को समझ आया कि सहयोग और विश्वास की क्या महत्ता होती है।En: Aarav realized the importance of collaboration and trust.Hi: वह अब जलन को परे रख, मिल-जुलकर काम करना सीख गया।En: He learned to set aside jealousy and work together.Hi: Sneha की मेहनत ने उसे सही मायनों में आत्मविश्वास दिलाया।En: Sneha's hard work truly instilled confidence in him.Hi: आमेर का किला अपनी पूरी भव्यता में खड़ा था।En: Amer Fort stood in its full grandeur.Hi: भीतर छिपे रहस्य अब खुले थे, और आधी रात की तूफानी हवा के साथ, सब कुछ शांति की ओर लौट आया।En: The hidden mysteries within had now been unveiled, and with the midnight stormy wind, everything returned to peace. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: लपेट दियाmysterious: रहस्यपूर्णatmosphere: माहौलfestivities: उत्सवexhibition: प्रदर्शनीcontemplative: विचारशीलart historian: कला इतिहासकारwandering: घूम रहाsharp-witted: तेज-तर्रारrecognition: मान्यताallegation: आरोपinnocence: निर्दोषinvestigate: जाँचconspiracy: षड्यंत्रmomentum: जोर पकड़नेconfronted: सामनाcorridors: गलियारोंchamber: कक्षculprit: अपराधीproven: साबितsigh of relief: राहत की सांसcollaboration: सहयोगjealousy: जलनgrand: भव्यताunveiled: खुलेself-doubt: आत्म-संदेहdetermined: दृढ़mysteries: रहस्यinnocent: निर्दोषtruth: सच्चाई

Stewart T. Monti has lived several lives within one journey—Air Force Major, C-130E pilot, university instructor, poet and now historical-fiction author.Tonight on Vigilantes Radio Live, Coach Dini sits down with Stewart for a story-driven conversation exploring the experiences behind his writing and the connected medieval worlds of Mary and Sir Edward and Hillary and Sir Edward.In Mary and Sir Edward, twelve-year-old Mary finds herself protecting a wounded knight carrying information that could stop a traitor's plot. With no army and no sword, she must rely on courage, intelligence and quick thinking to survive.A generation later, Hillary and Sir Edward follows Mary's thirteen-year-old daughter—a gifted horsewoman, chess player and swordswoman confronting a different battle: whether a girl in 12th-century England can step into a role society never intended her to occupy.Together, the stories raise questions that extend far beyond medieval England.What happens when ability collides with expectation?How does one generation's courage change what becomes possible for the next?And who gets to decide what another person is capable of becoming?Stewart also reflects on growing up in a military family, attending the United States Air Force Academy, flying C-130Es around the world, retiring as a Major, becoming an educator and eventually transforming poetry into an expanding fictional universe.Two generations.Two different battles.One enduring message:Never allow the limits of the world around you to become the limits you place on yourself.Welcome to The Frequency of the Fearless—No Surface Talk.Hillary and Sir Edward:https://www.amazon.com/Hillary-Sir-Edward-Stewart-Monti-ebook/dp/B0GP9FKGRCMary and Sir Edward:https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Sir-Edward-Medieval-Narrative-ebook/dp/B0GX2WQCSBBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vigilantes-radio-live--2166168/support.Vigilantes Radio Live! by The Only One Media Group ℗©2026Episode Credits:Produced, edited, mixed, and written by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.Artwork designed by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.Show Introduction by KateSegment jingles composed & produced by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.Additional music licensed through 7th Sign RecordingsLinks:onlyonemediagroup.comhttps://www.instagram.com/vigilantesradio/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-vigilantes-radio-live-29999229/https://www.instagram.com/whodiniblakin3d/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26009230/To support our show, please leave reviews, ratings, or you can help fuel the passion over at buymeacoffee.com/vigilantesradioEmail us at onlyonemgt@gmail.com

ANN MARIE STEWART is the Christy Award® winning author of STARS IN THE GRASS. As a teacher, singer, actress, and filmmaker, Ann has a unique perspective and is prepared to tell and sell a story. The Remnants, which tells the story of her grandparents escaping Stalin's Russia, comes out October 10, 2026 but you can pre-order it today by clicking here: https://a.co/d/09prmfmm. Read a sample here: https://annmariestewart.com/2166-2/Get Ready for Craft&Connect Live! We will have a date set by next week.Watch the interview on Substack: https://lessonsinstory.substack.com/Sign up for my writers' newsletter to learn more about the craft of writing, know when my workshops are and be the first to get exclusive information on my writing retreats. https://katcaldwell.com/writers-newsletterWant more information on my books, author swaps, short stories and what I'm reading? Sign up for my readers' newsletter. https://storylectory.katcaldwell.com/signup You can always ask me writing questions on instagram @author_katcaldwell

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unearthing Secrets: A Night at the Colosseum Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-09-13-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il Colosseo si ergeva fiero e imponente sotto il cielo limpido d'autunno.En: The Colosseo stood proud and imposing under the clear autumn sky.It: Le foglie cadute formavano un mosaico dorato sulle antiche pietre.En: The fallen leaves formed a golden mosaic on the ancient stones.It: Le strade vicine erano animate dai turisti durante il giorno, ma di notte le gallerie sussurravano segreti del passato.En: The nearby streets were lively with tourists during the day, but at night the galleries whispered secrets of the past.It: Luca camminava con passo deciso tra i corridoi del Colosseo.En: Luca walked with a determined step through the corridors of the Colosseo.It: Era un giovane storico, sempre alla ricerca di misteri antichi da svelare.En: He was a young historian, always in search of ancient mysteries to unveil.It: Portava con sé un vecchio diario trovato nella biblioteca di suo nonno.En: He carried with him an old diary found in his grandfather's library.It: Lì, una scrittura sbiadita parlava di un artefatto nascosto, un oggetto perduto che, si diceva, fosse rimasto celato nei meandri dell'arena.En: There, a faded writing spoke of a hidden artifact, a lost object that was said to be concealed in the depths of the arena.It: Luca voleva trovarlo.En: Luca wanted to find it.It: Quell'artefatto poteva essere la scoperta della sua carriera.En: That artifact could be the discovery of his career.It: Ma c'era un problema: Bianca.En: But there was a problem: Bianca.It: Bianca era una curatrice di museo molto pragmatica.En: Bianca was a very pragmatic museum curator.It: Credeva nei fatti, non nelle leggende.En: She believed in facts, not legends.It: “Luca, devi capire.En: “Luca, you have to understand.It: Non possiamo scavare qui senza prove concrete.En: We can't dig here without concrete evidence.It: Non voglio che tu danneggi nulla,” diceva Bianca con tono risoluto.En: I don't want you to damage anything,” Bianca said with a resolute tone.It: “Ma se l'artefatto è davvero qui?” ribatteva Luca.En: “But what if the artifact is really here?” Luca retorted.It: “Questo potrebbe cambiare tutto!” “Non voglio sentire storie.En: “This could change everything!” “I don't want to hear stories.It: Mostrami qualcosa di tangibile,” replicava Bianca, chiudendo la questione.En: Show me something tangible,” Bianca replied, closing the matter.It: Tuttavia, la determinazione di Luca era più forte.En: However, Luca's determination was stronger.It: Decise di esplorare il Colosseo di notte, in segreto.En: He decided to explore the Colosseo at night, in secret.It: Con una piccola torcia, si avventurò tra le ombre silenziose delle antiche strutture.En: With a small flashlight, he ventured among the silent shadows of the ancient structures.It: Il vento autunnale passava leggero, portando con sé l'odore della storia.En: The autumn wind blew lightly, carrying the scent of history.It: Durante l'esplorazione, Luca trovò un indizio criptico.En: During the exploration, Luca found a cryptic clue.It: Un simbolo inciso su una pietra, nascosto dal tempo.En: A symbol engraved on a stone, hidden by time.It: Emozionato, lo seguì e scoprì un passaggio segreto.En: Excited, he followed it and discovered a secret passage.It: Ma a un tratto, il passaggio si chiuse dietro di lui.En: But suddenly, the passage closed behind him.It: Luca era intrappolato.En: Luca was trapped.It: Nel frattempo, Bianca era preoccupata.En: Meanwhile, Bianca was worried.It: Sapeva che Luca avrebbe fatto qualcosa di avventato.En: She knew that Luca would do something reckless.It: Seguendo il suo istinto, tornò anch'essa al Colosseo.En: Following her instinct, she also returned to the Colosseo.It: Le intuizioni di Bianca la portarono esattamente nel punto dove Luca era sparito.En: Bianca's intuitions led her exactly to the spot where Luca had disappeared.It: “Luca!En: “Luca!It: Sei lì?” chiese, sentendo un debole rumore.En: Are you there?” she asked, hearing a faint sound.It: “Sì, sono qui!” rispose Luca, la speranza rinata nella sua voce.En: “Yes, I'm here!” Luca replied, hope reborn in his voice.It: Con l'aiuto di Bianca, riuscirono a riaprire il passaggio.En: With Bianca's help, they managed to reopen the passage.It: Insieme, scoprirono non un artefatto, ma un testo antico, un manoscritto che narrava una storia dimenticata dell'antica Roma.En: Together, they discovered not an artifact, but an ancient text, a manuscript that narrated a forgotten story of ancient Roma.It: Tornati alla luce del giorno, Luca e Bianca compresero che avevano fatto qualcosa di straordinario.En: Back in the daylight, Luca and Bianca realized they had done something extraordinary.It: Decisero di scrivere insieme un articolo sulle loro scoperte.En: They decided to write an article together about their discoveries.It: Luca imparò il valore della collaborazione e della preservazione storica.En: Luca learned the value of collaboration and historical preservation.It: Bianca, invece, iniziò a vedere la bellezza delle leggende e delle scoperte inattese.En: Bianca, on the other hand, began to see the beauty in legends and unexpected discoveries.It: Così, nel cuore di Roma, il compito di unire storia e mito creò un nuovo inizio per entrambi.En: Thus, in the heart of Roma, the task of uniting history and myth created a new beginning for both of them. Vocabulary Words:the Colosseo: il Colosseothe fallen leaves: le foglie cadutethe ancient stones: le antiche pietrethe galleries: le galleriedetermined: decisocorridors: i corridoihistorian: lo storicodiary: il diariolibrary: la bibliotecaartifact: l'artefattoarena: l'arenacurator: il curatore/la curatricemuseum: il museopragmatic: pragmaticaconcrete evidence: prove concretetangible: tangibilesmall flashlight: la piccola torciacryptic clue: l'indizio cripticoengraved symbol: il simbolo incisosecret passage: il passaggio segretomanuscript: il manoscrittoforgotten story: la storia dimenticataarticle: l'articolocollaboration: la collaborazionehistorical preservation: la preservazione storicaintuition: l'intuizionereckless: avventatoinstinct: l'istintodaylight: la luce del giornoextraordinary: straordinario

Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.Some stories begin with an idea. Others begin with a single question that refuses to let go.In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the pleasure of sitting down with bestselling historical novelist Lynn Austin, whose books have touched millions of readers around the world. We talked about her latest novel, The Lumber Baron's Wife, and the fascinating journey behind creating a story that bridges two timelines while remaining deeply rooted in the emotional truths that connect women across generations.One of the things I loved most about our conversation was hearing how Lynn approaches history. She admits she never loved history class because it focused on wars and politics. Instead, she became captivated by diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts that reveal what everyday people, especially women, were experiencing while history unfolded around them. That perspective has shaped her entire writing career.Lynn takes us behind the scenes of The Lumber Baron's Wife, explaining why this is her first true dual timeline novel. Rather than connecting the stories through family alone, she chose to connect them through place. The same historic homes become the bridge between two very different eras, allowing readers to see how love, motherhood, marriage, courage, and resilience remain constant even as the world changes.We also dive into the surprising history behind Michigan's lumber boom, an era that transformed both the landscape and the people who lived there. Lynn shares how learning about the environmental impact of the lumber industry became an important part of the novel and how that history naturally connects with one of her modern-day characters, an environmentalist working to protect the forests that were once devastated.Of course, we couldn't talk about historical fiction without talking about research. Lynn shares her wonderfully practical approach, describing how research becomes what she calls "book soup." She gathers facts, visits locations whenever possible, collects fascinating details, and slowly watches her characters emerge from everything she's learned. Rather than outlining every chapter, she writes as a discoverer, allowing the story to surprise even her.We also spend time talking about something every writer struggles with: finding time to write. Lynn offers refreshingly honest advice about protecting your writing time, setting realistic daily goals, and committing to the work even during the busiest seasons of life. Her own practice of writing five new pages a day has carried her through raising children, building a successful career, and publishing dozens of novels.Before we wrapped up, Lynn gave us a sneak peek at the research behind her next novel, inspired by the remarkable true story of the Hello Girls, the bilingual women telephone operators who served during World War I. It's exactly the kind of forgotten history that has made her novels so beloved by readers.If you love historical fiction, enjoy discovering little-known moments from history, or simply need encouragement to keep showing up for your own writing, this conversation is full of wisdom, practical advice, and plenty of inspiration. I think you'll come away ready to protect your writing time and maybe even visit your local library with fresh eyes.

The Israeli: A Work of Historical Fiction by Phillip Kurata https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYQ7CTRC The Israeli: A Work of Historical Fiction - This page-turning tale, based loosely on the life of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen, explores the terrible effects of ethnic hatred on individuals, peoples and nations. As a new, free Egypt emerges from British colonial rule after World War Two, Eli Cohen, an Egyptian Jew, ignores his mother's warnings and tries to enlist in the Egyptian army. He is shouted out of the enlistment office as an insidious Jew. Later, his closest friend, Sami Azar, is executed by the Nasser regime for participating in a Zionist bombing campaign aimed at thwarting British plans to turn over ownership of the Suez Canal to Egypt. These events turn Cohen into a fervent Zionist and hater of Arabs. The Israeli tracks Cohen's rise as a top Israeli spy, from his resettlement in Israel, his marriage to the beautiful intelligent Nadia and his recruitment and training by the Mossad, Israel's intelligence service. He infiltrates into an unstable Syria where he becomes part of the country's political and military power structure that is bent on destroying Israel. Soon he finds himself under consideration for deputy defense minister.

Send us Fan MailToday we're bringing you our deep dive coverage for The Gods Will Sing Our Song as the follow up to our extremely impactful author interview with young adult romantasy author Autumn Krause. Autumn is the author of four novels (so far): A Dress for the Wicked, Before the Devil Knows You're Here, Grave Flowers, and OUT NOW… her very timely and extremely important fourth novel The Gods Will Sing Our Song, inspired by her own family's experiences in the World War 2 Japanese American Incarceration Camps.We met the lovely and beautiful Autumn at Romantasycon LA where we had the privilege of interviewing her for the Gothica panel, chatting all things horror, dark fantasy, and gothic themes and just knew she was an instant bestie with a big message to share. We encourage you all to pick up this book and experience the perfect balance of fantasy storytelling and real-world history, and listen to our previous interview with Autumn to learn about her family's experiences and the impact Japanese American incarceration during World War 2 had on this book. We give our star and spice ratings, least and most favorites, five sentence summary, and discuss the important tie-ins with real US history, the balance of reality and lived experience with fantasy and folklore, and even go over important facts we should all know. Recently an offering editor at auction described The Gods Will Sing Our Song as a book that changes the way we look at the world. They said that “Books like these have the power to break our hearts and remake them. They open our eyes to injustice and bring a sense of catharsis to those who've encountered its sharp edge. They shout to be seen and heard and remembered - just as we must remember those who came before us, whose joys and scars go on to guide our own life stories. In my opinion, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is exactly such a book.” And we could not agree more. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️We go behind the book with Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her NYT Bestseller The Poison Daughter! Don't miss it! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=e2uOKPVRQjsIhVCbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: A shirt from Gideon's Bakehouse | https://merch.gideonsbakehouse.com/Liz is wearing : A Down the Bond Starborn Crop Tee | Code: Bestiesandthebooks https://www.downthebond.comAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: From Blacksmith's Forge to Market Success: Axel's Daring Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-09-07-07-38-19-sv Story Transcript:Sv: I mitten av Stockholm, under Medeltiden, låg stadens livliga marknad.En: In the middle of Stockholm, during the Middle Ages, lay the city's bustling market.Sv: Det var tid för skördefest, och marknaden var fylld av människor.En: It was time for the harvest festival, and the market was filled with people.Sv: Luften var full av doften av kryddad cider och rostade nötter.En: The air was full of the scent of spiced cider and roasted nuts.Sv: Färggranna stånd kantade gatorna, och höstlöven prasslade under fötterna.En: Colorful stalls lined the streets, and autumn leaves rustled underfoot.Sv: Här kämpade Axel, en ung smed, för att sälja sina hantverk.En: Here, Axel, a young blacksmith, struggled to sell his crafts.Sv: Hans hjärta bultade i bröstet.En: His heart pounded in his chest.Sv: Han hade planerat länge att köpa ett speciellt smycke åt Kerstin, sin barndomsvän som han hemligt beundrade.En: He had long planned to buy a special piece of jewelry for Kerstin, his childhood friend whom he secretly admired.Sv: Men han behövde först sälja tillräckligt med sina verktyg och småsaker.En: But first, he needed to sell enough of his tools and trinkets.Sv: Kerstin, med drömmar om att se världen, gick ofta längs marknadens gångar, nyfiken på allt.En: Kerstin, with dreams of seeing the world, often walked along the market aisles, curious about everything.Sv: Hon kände inte till Axels planer för henne, men hon hejade glatt på honom varje gång hon passerade hans stånd.En: She was unaware of Axel's plans for her, but she cheerfully greeted him every time she passed his stall.Sv: Marknaden var dock ingen lätt plats.En: The market, however, was not an easy place.Sv: Konkurrensen var hård, och erfarna försäljare som Elsa med sitt skarpa öga för kvalitet, dominerade.En: Competition was tough, and experienced sellers like Elsa with her keen eye for quality, dominated.Sv: Hon kunde både köpa och sälja med en skicklighet som imponerade de flesta.En: She could both buy and sell with a skill that impressed most.Sv: Axel, med sin ärliga och blygsamma natur, kämpade för att locka kunder.En: Axel, with his honest and modest nature, struggled to attract customers.Sv: Axel tänkte att han kanske måste sänka sina priser avsevärt.En: Axel thought he might have to lower his prices significantly.Sv: Men då riskerade han att undervärdera sitt arbete.En: But then he risked undervaluing his work.Sv: Han stod där, omgiven av rop från försäljare, fast besluten att inte ge upp.En: He stood there, surrounded by the calls of vendors, determined not to give up.Sv: Plötsligt fick han en idé.En: Suddenly, he had an idea.Sv: Han tog fram sina verktyg och började tillverka en liten fågel i järn, precis där på plats.En: He took out his tools and began crafting a small bird in iron, right there on the spot.Sv: Folksamlingen stannade upp.En: The crowd paused.Sv: Axel arbetade snabbt och skickligt, varenda slag av hammaren visade hans hantverkskunnighet.En: Axel worked quickly and skillfully; every strike of the hammer demonstrated his craftsmanship.Sv: Elsa närmade sig, nu märkbart intresserad.En: Elsa approached, now noticeably interested.Sv: "Du är skicklig, Axel," sa hon med ett leende.En: "You're skilled, Axel," she said with a smile.Sv: "Låt oss göra ett avtal."En: "Let's make a deal."Sv: Hon kände igen kvalitet när hon såg det.En: She recognized quality when she saw it.Sv: De började byta varor, och snart hade Axel tjänat tillräckligt.En: They began to trade goods, and soon Axel had earned enough.Sv: När marknaden började stänga, hade Axel i sin hand något han nästan inte vågade köpa: ett vackert hängsmycke.En: As the market began to close, Axel held in his hand something he almost didn't dare to buy: a beautiful pendant.Sv: Han gick hemåt, tankarna snurrande.En: He headed home, thoughts swirling.Sv: Han hade velat ge det till Kerstin, men tvivlade nu om han vågade.En: He had wanted to give it to Kerstin, but now doubted if he dared.Sv: Några dagar senare stålsatte han sig.En: A few days later, he mustered his courage.Sv: Han fann Kerstin vid brunnen, hennes ögon glittrande i den svaga höstsolen.En: He found Kerstin by the well, her eyes sparkling in the soft autumn sun.Sv: Med fumliga händer räckte han över hängsmycket.En: With trembling hands, he handed over the pendant.Sv: "För vår vänskap," sa han nervöst.En: "For our friendship," he said nervously.Sv: Kerstin log brett, överraskad och glad.En: Kerstin smiled broadly, surprised and delighted.Sv: "Tack, Axel.En: "Thank you, Axel.Sv: Det är vackert."En: It's beautiful."Sv: Axel kände hur stoltheten växte inom honom.En: Axel felt pride swell within him.Sv: Han hade lärt sig värdera sitt arbete och hade även mod att visa sina känslor.En: He had learned to value his work and also had the courage to show his feelings.Sv: I marknadens myller hade Axel funnit mer än bara pengar, han hade funnit sin trygghet.En: In the bustle of the market, Axel had found more than just money; he had found his security.Sv: Snart skulle han återvända, redo att möta världen med nytt självförtroende.En: Soon he would return, ready to face the world with new confidence. Vocabulary Words:bustling: livligaharvest: skördefestscents: doftenroasted: rostadestalls: ståndrustled: prassladeblacksmith: smedtrinkets: småsakercurious: nyfikencheerfully: glattcompetition: konkurrensenkeen: skarpamodest: blygsammaundervaluing: undervärderacrafting: tillverkapausing: stannade uppdemonstrated: visadeskill: hantverkskunnighetnoticeably: märkbartdeal: avtaltrade: bytapendant: hängsmyckemustered: stålsattetrembling: fumligaswelling pride: stoltheten växteconfidence: självförtroendesecurity: trygghetadmired: beundradecourage: modvendors: försäljare

Fluent Fiction - French: From Blacksmith to Destiny: Émile's Bold Leap at Paris Market Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-09-07-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil d'automne jette son éclat doré sur le marché médiéval de Paris.En: The autumn sun casts its golden glow over the medieval market of Paris.Fr: Les étals débordent de tissus colorés, d'épices parfumées et d'artisans talentueux montrant leurs créations.En: The stalls overflow with colorful fabrics, fragrant spices, and talented artisans showcasing their creations.Fr: L'air est frais et les feuilles mortes crissent sous les pas des passants.En: The air is crisp, and the fallen leaves crunch under the feet of passersby.Fr: Les marchands crient leurs offres aux nobles, voyageurs et citadins.En: Merchants shout their offers to nobles, travelers, and townsfolk.Fr: Émile, un forgeron talentueux mais discret, observe la scène animée depuis son stand.En: Émile, a talented but reserved blacksmith, observes the lively scene from his stand.Fr: Émile a travaillé des mois sur son armure.En: Émile has worked for months on his armor.Fr: Il rêve de la vendre à un chevalier renommé.En: He dreams of selling it to a renowned knight.Fr: Remporter une telle vente pourrait changer sa vie.En: Securing such a sale could change his life.Fr: Pourtant, parmi les cris et le tumulte, Émile se sent petit et timide.En: Yet, amidst the shouts and the tumult, Émile feels small and timid.Fr: Les autres forgerons, plus expérimentés, attirent les clients avec confiance.En: The other blacksmiths, more experienced, confidently draw customers.Fr: Émile, bien que déterminé, hésite à élever la voix pour vanter ses pièces.En: Émile, although determined, hesitates to raise his voice to boast about his pieces.Fr: Dans la foule, Émile aperçoit Sir Luc, un chevalier célèbre en train de flâner entre les stands.En: In the crowd, Émile spots Sir Luc, a famous knight leisurely strolling between the stands.Fr: Le cœur d'Émile bat plus vite.En: Émile's heart races.Fr: C'est sa chance.En: This is his chance.Fr: Il serre les poings, rassemble son courage et s'avance timidement vers Sir Luc.En: He clenches his fists, gathers his courage, and timidly steps toward Sir Luc.Fr: "Messire," interpelle Émile d'une voix tremblante mais résolue.En: "Messire," Émile calls out with a trembling but resolute voice.Fr: "J'ai une armure que j'aimerais vous montrer.En: "I have an armor I would like to show you.Fr: Elle est forgée avec soin et précision."En: It is forged with care and precision."Fr: Sir Luc, intrigué par le jeune forgeron, s'arrête et observe les créations d'Émile.En: Sir Luc, intrigued by the young blacksmith, stops and observes Émile's creations.Fr: Il évalue les détails, la finesse des articulations, les gravures délicates.En: He assesses the details, the fineness of the joints, the delicate engravings.Fr: Les yeux de Luc s'illuminent.En: Luc's eyes light up.Fr: "Ton travail est remarquable, jeune homme," dit Sir Luc avec un sourire.En: "Your work is remarkable, young man," says Sir Luc with a smile.Fr: "Cette armure est digne des plus grands.En: "This armor is worthy of the greatest.Fr: Je l'achète volontiers et je parlerai de toi à mes compagnons du court."En: I will gladly buy it, and I will speak of you to my companions at court."Fr: Émile, les yeux pleins d'émotion et de fierté, sait que sa vie vient de changer.En: Émile, his eyes filled with emotion and pride, knows his life has just changed.Fr: Il remercie Sir Luc avec gratitude.En: He thanks Sir Luc with gratitude.Fr: Sa timidité s'estompe, remplacée par une nouvelle confiance en ses capacités.En: His shyness fades, replaced by newfound confidence in his abilities.Fr: Alors que Sir Luc s'éloigne, Émile réalise que ce n'est pas seulement la vente de son armure qui est importante, mais aussi la confiance qu'il a gagnée en lui-même.En: As Sir Luc walks away, Émile realizes that it is not only the sale of his armor that matters, but also the confidence he has gained in himself.Fr: Dorénavant, il se sent prêt à affronter l'avenir et à partager son talent avec le monde.En: From now on, he feels ready to face the future and share his talent with the world.Fr: Le marché continue de vivre autour de lui, mais pour Émile, le bruit s'estompe, remplacé par une harmonie intérieure.En: The market continues to bustle around him, but for Émile, the noise fades, replaced by an inner harmony.Fr: Il est fier de son chemin et de l'art qu'il continue de perfectionner.En: He is proud of his journey and the craft he continues to perfect. Vocabulary Words:the sun: le soleilthe glow: l'éclatthe market: le marchéthe stalls: les étalsfabrics: les tissusspices: les épicesartisans: les artisansthe air: l'airleaves: les feuillespassersby: les passantsmerchants: les marchandsthe armor: l'armurerenowned: renomméthe sale: la ventetumult: le tumultecustomers: les clientsthe crowd: la fouleto stroll: flânerthe chance: la chancecourage: le courageto forge: forgerthe details: les détailsthe joints: les articulationsengravings: les gravuresremarkable: remarquableworthy: dignepride: la fiertéthe harmony: l'harmoniethe journey: le cheminto perfect: perfectionner

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Whispers of the Alhambra: Secrets Unveiled in a Golden Autumn Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2026-09-07-07-38-19-es Story Transcript:Es: Las hojas caían lentamente en los jardines de la Alhambra, pintando el suelo con tonos de oro y rojo.En: The leaves were slowly falling in the gardens of la Alhambra, painting the ground with shades of gold and red.Es: En el aire, se respiraba un ligero aroma a misterio, pues un importante objeto había desaparecido.En: In the air, there was a faint scent of mystery, as an important object had disappeared.Es: Dentro de los muros intrincados, se encontraba alborotada la corte.En: Within the intricate walls, the court was in an uproar.Es: El valioso relicario de la familia real había desaparecido, y todos estaban en busca del responsable.En: The valuable reliquary of the royal family had vanished, and everyone was searching for the culprit.Es: Imelda, una joven sirvienta con ojos brillantes y mente astuta, sabía que esta era su oportunidad de cambiar su destino.En: Imelda, a young servant with bright eyes and a sharp mind, knew that this was her chance to change her destiny.Es: Si encontraba el relicario, su vida de servidumbre podría trasformarse.En: If she found the reliquary, her life of servitude might transform.Es: Observaba en silencio a Rodrigo, el consejero que siempre buscaba caer en gracia a los poderosos del lugar.En: She silently observed Rodrigo, the advisor who always sought to ingratiate himself with the powerful at the place.Es: Él, con una sonrisa siempre calculada, comenzaba a esparcir rumores, sugiriendo que Luciana, la noble orgullosa, tenía algo que ver con la desaparición.En: He, with an always calculated smile, began spreading rumors, suggesting that Luciana, the proud noblewoman, had something to do with the disappearance.Es: Luciana, por su parte, estaba decidida a proteger la honra de su familia.En: Luciana, for her part, was determined to protect her family's honor.Es: Su rostro ocultaba preocupación mientras caminaba por los patios, rodeada de columnas y fuentes serenas.En: Her face concealed concern as she walked through the courtyards, surrounded by serene columns and fountains.Es: Sabía que el escándalo podía destruir la reputación que durante décadas había cultivado su linaje.En: She knew that the scandal could destroy the reputation that her lineage had cultivated for decades.Es: Imelda decidía actuar con discreción.En: Imelda decided to act with discretion.Es: Moviéndose por los pasillos con cautela, escuchaba conversaciones al azar, murmuraciones escondidas tras los tapices.En: Moving cautiously through the corridors, she listened to conversations at random, whispers hidden behind the tapestries.Es: Pronto sus sospechas se volvieron hacia un joven cortesano con fama de ladrón de pequeñas joyas.En: Soon her suspicions turned towards a young courtier with a reputation for stealing small jewels.Es: En una tarde fresca, siguiendo al cortesano hasta un rincón del palacio, descubrió el relicario escondido entre sus ropas.En: On a cool afternoon, following the courtier to a corner of the palace, she discovered the reliquary hidden among his clothes.Es: El dilema llegaba ahora a Imelda.En: The dilemma now came to Imelda.Es: Con la oportunidad de usar este descubrimiento para mejorar su vida, su conciencia pesaba más.En: With the opportunity to use this discovery to improve her life, her conscience weighed more heavily.Es: Decidió que ayudar a Luciana era el verdadero camino hacia su propia libertad.En: She decided that helping Luciana was the true path to her own freedom.Es: Sin hacer ruido, Imelda se acercó a Luciana, siempre con una mirada vigilante en Rodrigo.En: Without making a sound, Imelda approached Luciana, always with a watchful eye on Rodrigo.Es: La noble escuchó con atención, y juntas confrontaron al verdadero ladrón.En: The noblewoman listened carefully, and together they confronted the true thief.Es: La corte asistía en silencio cuando Luciana exponía al culpable delante de Rodrigo.En: The court watched in silence as Luciana exposed the culprit in front of Rodrigo.Es: El escándalo se disipaba y el relicario volvía a su lugar, brillando bajo el resplandor del sol otoñal.En: The scandal dissipated and the reliquary returned to its place, shining under the autumn sun's glow.Es: Rodrigo, capturado en su propia trampa de intrigas, perdió su influencia.En: Rodrigo, caught in his own web of intrigues, lost his influence.Es: La honra de Luciana estaba a salvo, y con ello, la joven sirvienta ganaba algo más preciado que cualquier recompensa: la confianza en sí misma.En: Luciana's honor was safe, and with that, the young servant gained something more precious than any reward: self-confidence.Es: Con el caso resuelto, Imelda supo que su vida podía ser diferente.En: With the case resolved, Imelda knew her life could be different.Es: Los muros de la Alhambra, aunque antaño le parecían una prisión, ahora parecían un espacio lleno de posibilidades.En: The walls of la Alhambra, which once seemed a prison to her, now appeared to be a space full of possibilities.Es: Mientras el otoño seguía su curso, una nueva esperanza crecía dentro de ella.En: As autumn continued its course, a new hope grew within her.Es: Porque al final, el coraje y la honestidad eran los verdaderos tesoros que cambiarían su destino.En: For in the end, courage and honesty were the true treasures that would change her destiny. Vocabulary Words:the reliquary: el relicariothe servant: la sirvientathe courtyard: el patiothe tapestry: el tapizthe web: la trampathe intrigue: la intrigathe lineage: el linajethe reputation: la reputaciónthe scandal: el escándalothe honor: la honrathe consciousness: la concienciathe glow: el resplandorthe mystery: el misteriothe culprit: el culpablethe destiny: el destinothe courtiers: los cortesanosthe corner: el rincónthe opportunity: la oportunidadthe fortune: la graciathe influence: la influenciathe conscience: la concienciathe rumor: el rumorthe jewel: la joyathe autumn: el otoñothe deception: el engañothe honor: la honrathe confidence: la confianzathe honor: la honrathe courage: el corajethe possibility: la posibilidad

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Mystery and Legacy: The Viking Pendant Saga Unveiled Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-09-06-22-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Astrid gikk langs de dunkle korridorene i Vikingskipsmuseet i Oslo.En: Astrid walked along the dim corridors of the Vikingskipsmuseet in Oslo.No: Det var høst, og en kald vind snek seg inn gjennom de åpne vinduene.En: It was autumn, and a cold wind sneaked in through the open windows.No: Hun elsket denne tiden på året, da bladene skiftet farge og formet et teppe av oransje og gult ute.En: She loved this time of the year, when the leaves changed color and formed a carpet of orange and yellow outside.No: Men i dag var Astrid ikke ute for å nyte høsten; hun hadde et mysterium å løse.En: But today, Astrid was not out to enjoy the fall; she had a mystery to solve.No: Ettersom hun var museumsguide, kjente Astrid hvert hjørne av museet.En: As a museum guide, Astrid knew every corner of the museum.No: Likevel hadde hun aldri vært så opprørt.En: Nonetheless, she had never been so upset.No: En gjenstand hadde forsvunnet fra utstillingen.En: An object had disappeared from the exhibition.No: Det var et lite vikinganheng, men med stor betydning.En: It was a small Viking pendant, but with great significance.No: Det var knyttet til en kjent saga om en skjult skatt.En: It was linked to a well-known saga about a hidden treasure.No: Astrid følte en trang til å oppklare hva som hadde skjedd.En: Astrid felt a strong urge to uncover what had happened.No: Plutselig kom Lars forbi.En: Suddenly, Lars came by.No: Han var sikkerhetsvakt, alltid stille, men med en drøm om å bli arkeolog en dag.En: He was a security guard, always quiet, but with a dream to become an archaeologist one day.No: "Astrid," sa han lavmælt, "jeg har hørt om det som skjedde. Hvis det er noe jeg kan gjøre for å hjelpe, si fra."En: "Astrid," he said quietly, "I heard about what happened. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."No: Astrid følte en lettelse over hans støtte.En: Astrid felt relieved by his support.No: "Vi må være forsiktige," hvisket hun. "Jeg tror vi kan finne noe interessant hvis vi ser på overvåkningsfilmene."En: "We must be careful," she whispered. "I think we can find something interesting if we look at the surveillance footage."No: De to satte seg ved sikkerhetsmonitorene.En: The two sat down by the security monitors.No: Plutselig stoppet Astrid videoen.En: Suddenly Astrid stopped the video.No: "Se," sa hun og pekte.En: "Look," she said, pointing.No: En kvinne i en grønn frakk, Sigrid, en dansk scholar, sto nær monteren.En: A woman in a green coat, Sigrid, a Danish scholar, stood near the display case.No: Hun så seg rundt før hun gjorde noe mistenkelig.En: She looked around before doing something suspicious.No: "Vi må snakke med Sigrid," sa Astrid bestemt.En: "We need to talk to Sigrid," Astrid said decisively.No: Lars nikket enig.En: Lars nodded in agreement.No: De fant Sigrid i en lesesal, omgitt av bøker om vikingtid.En: They found Sigrid in a reading room, surrounded by books on the Viking Age.No: "Sigrid," begynte Astrid, "vi må snakke om anhengen."En: "Sigrid," Astrid began, "we need to talk about the pendant."No: Sigrid så overrasket ut, men deretter mild.En: Sigrid looked surprised, but then calm.No: "Jeg ventet på dere," sa hun.En: "I was expecting you," she said.No: "La oss gå et sted privat."En: "Let's go somewhere private."No: Hun førte dem til et hemmelig rom under museet.En: She led them to a secret room beneath the museum.No: "Jeg visste at dere ville komme," sa hun.En: "I knew you would come," she said.No: "Anhenget er del av min families historie.En: "The pendant is part of my family's history.No: Det ble tatt fra oss for mange århundrer siden."En: It was taken from us many centuries ago."No: Sigrid forklarte hvordan hun kun ønsket å studere det før hun returnerte det.En: Sigrid explained how she only wanted to study it before returning it.No: Hun overleverte det forsiktig til Astrid.En: She handed it over carefully to Astrid.No: "Jeg beklager å ha skapt trøbbel."En: "I apologize for causing trouble."No: Tilbake ved utstillingen plasserte Astrid anhenget der det hørte hjemme.En: Back at the exhibition, Astrid placed the pendant where it belonged.No: En indre glede fylte henne, og hun merket at hun hadde oppdaget noe viktig - sin kjærlighet for å løse gåter og dykke dypt i historien.En: An inner joy filled her, and she realized that she had discovered something important - her love for solving puzzles and diving deep into history.No: Lars smilte til henne.En: Lars smiled at her.No: "Godt gjort, Astrid," sa han.En: "Well done, Astrid," he said.No: Og mens de forlot museet, så de ut på høstløvet som danset i vinden, vel vitende om at et kapittel var avsluttet, men at mange flere ventet dem.En: And as they left the museum, they looked out at the autumn leaves dancing in the wind, knowing that a chapter had closed, but many more awaited them. Vocabulary Words:dim: dunklesneaked: snekcorridors: korridorenemuseum guide: museumsguideupset: opprørtexhibition: utstillingenpendant: anhengsaga: sagaurge: trangrelieved: lettelsewhispered: hvisketsurveillance: overvåkningfootage: filmenedisplay case: monterensuspicious: mistenkeligdecisively: bestemtreading room: lesesalsurrounded: omgittcalm: mildprivate: privatsecret: hemmeligbeneath: undercarefully: forsiktigtrouble: trøbbelinner joy: indre gledesolving: løsedancing: dansetchapter: kapittelawaited: ventettreasure: skatt

#1 New York Times bestselling author ELIZABETH LETTS joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss FALLEN FOR FRANCE! We thoroughly enjoyed diving into this riveting story that centers around forgotten aspects of history with North Africa and Europe as the backdrop. We talked about Morrocco and how the first stirrings of WWI were first evident there. We talk about horses, of course, and how they helped us build our civilization. Elizabeth says they are mirrors of our soul – not only are they our friends and helpers, but also they reflect the best aspects of humanity, including bravery, grace, strength. We talk about the destructive instruments of war, such as chemicals, as well as the noble ones, such as warhorses. We talk about the changes at the turn of the century that were about to sweep the world and forever change the roles of women. How did ordinary women wield their power during this time period? We talk about redemption and human connection. We connect those themes to current refugee crises. If you love history and historical fiction – and even if you don't --  join us! You'll be swept up! #THEEIGHTYDOLLARCHAMPION #peacecorps #midwife #historicalfiction #bookstormpodcast #bookstorm #stolenhorse #warhorse #veternarian You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

Lydia Nightingale writes under the pen name L. J. Nightingale. She is an author, an actor, a playwright, and a public historian with a Master of Arts in History and a concentration in public history, and she has written plays about German women in the years right after World War II, including work drawn from her own family. Her father's biological mother was a German army nurse captured by the Russians who escaped the camp and made it back to Germany. Her debut novel Drawn began as a pandemic project in March 2020 and became book one of the Lovett and Swire series. For years before that she believed alcohol made her more creative, and she used to get drunk on purpose to write.In this episode she gets into the January 2019 sober date that changed how she works, the bipolar Type 1 diagnosis she talks about openly because a high school friend she had not spoken to in fifteen years found her old podcast episode and said it gave her hope for her nine year old son, and the two hour writing blocks she asks her husband to end because she will otherwise write until midnight. She also talks about the indie publisher that shut down a couple of months after Drawn came out, the first editions still sitting in the trunk of her car, the second edition she re-released on July 7, and why she will not let AI touch any part of her process. Book two is underway, with no publisher and no deadline except the ones she sets herself. CONNECTDrawn, second edition → https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=cg8ZjG38q6BNf9TVpYfCUzkHXlIqUsaYoMyRfC0QWGo L. J. Nightingale →https://lj-nightingale.squarespace.com/L. J. Nightingale on Instagram → @ljnightingaleROC Vox → https://rocvox.comNew episodes every Tuesday.Recorded at ROC Vox Recording & Production in Bushnell's Basin, NY.Learn more at https://rocvox.com 

Author Tess Woods had always dreamed of her big day, growing up watching her beloved Nana create in-demand bridal gowns. The stories of these dresses became a way for Tess to understand her family's origins in North Africa, which she left in the late 1970s. (Warning: This episode references the loss of a child.)Tess moved to Melbourne from Egypt when she was five years old.At large family gatherings, Tess dreamed of a big, fat, Egyptian wedding with 250 guests, food for days, belly dancing — the works.But after she became engaged to her sweet, mild-mannered Australian boyfriend Paul, Tess' parents' marriage imploded and she decided to elope to Fiji with a wedding party of just 11.Tess' cherished and feisty Nana made her wedding dress and her wedding underwear, and the nuptials were an unexpected hit.Tess and Paul moved their young family to Perth to begin their own story, which would unfold with ambition, tragedy and religion.Further informationThe Cairo Bridal Shop is published by Penguin Random House.This episode refers to the loss of a child. Please contact Red Nose on 1300 308 307 if you need support.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores migration, getting married, homemade wedding dresses, loss of a child, stillbirth, Japanese shrines, Kyoto, philosopher's walk, near death experience, collapsed lung, intubation, fear of death, religion, Coptic Christian, Catholic, lapsed Catholic, catholicism, church, Mass, Perth, physiotherapy, physiotherapist, historic fiction, divorce, family get togethers.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Fluent Fiction - Danish: The Accidental Bell: A Viking Tale of Unexpected Fortune Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2026-08-31-07-38-20-da Story Transcript:Da: Solen kastede et gyldent lys over den gamle vikingeby Ribe.En: The sun cast a golden light over the old Viking town of Ribe.Da: Huse med stråtag stod langs de smalle brostensgader, mens folk gik rundt med kurve fyldt med frugt og grøntsager fra årets høst.En: Houses with thatched roofs stood along the narrow cobblestone streets, while people walked around with baskets filled with fruit and vegetables from the year's harvest.Da: Der var en rolig summen over landsbyen, mens børn legede, og voksne forberedte sig på det kommende efterår.En: There was a calm hum over the village as children played and adults prepared for the coming autumn.Da: Mikkel, en ung mand med nysgerrige øjne, spejdede rundt i byen.En: Mikkel, a young man with curious eyes, gazed around the town.Da: Han havde altid været fascineret af de gamle artefakter, der lå gemt i Ribe.En: He had always been fascinated by the old artifacts hidden in Ribe.Da: Hans søster, Astrid, rystede på hovedet af hans eventyrlyst, selvom hun altid holdt øje med ham.En: His sister, Astrid, shook her head at his adventurous spirit, even though she always kept an eye on him.Da: Deres kusine, Freja, hvis smil altid lovede eventyr, var aldrig langt væk.En: Their cousin, Freja, whose smile always promised adventure, was never far away.Da: "Kom, lad os finde noget spændende i dag!"En: "Come, let's find something exciting today!"Da: udbrød Freja og vinkede Mikkel og Astrid med sig.En: Freja exclaimed, waving Mikkel and Astrid along.Da: Hun havde en flair for at finde dem midt i løjer, og i dag skulle ikke være nogen undtagelse.En: She had a flair for getting them into mischief, and today was no exception.Da: "Vi skal bare holde os fra klokketårnet," advarede Astrid.En: "We just need to stay away from the bell tower," warned Astrid.Da: "Det er landsbyens hellige klokke.En: "It's the village's sacred bell.Da: Det siges, at den kun må ringes i nødsituationer!"En: It's said that it should only be rung in emergencies!"Da: Mikkel lo og sagde, "Bare rolig, vi skal bare kigge."En: Mikkel laughed and said, "Don't worry, we're just going to look."Da: Men hans nysgerrighed fik hurtigt overtaget, og snart befandt de sig nær klokketårnet.En: But his curiosity quickly got the better of him, and soon they found themselves near the bell tower.Da: Freja, som altid var klar til en udfordring, begyndte at klatre op ad den gamle, knirkende trappe inden nogen kunne nå at stoppe hende.En: Freja, always ready for a challenge, began climbing up the old, creaking stairs before anyone could stop her.Da: Mikkel så efter hende nervøst, mens Astrid sukkede og fulgte efter dem begge.En: Mikkel watched her nervously as Astrid sighed and followed them both.Da: Da de nåede top, snublede Mikkel, og hans hånd gled - et højt KLONG!En: When they reached the top, Mikkel stumbled, and his hand slipped - a loud CLANG!Da: lød, da hans albue ramte klokken.En: sounded as his elbow hit the bell.Da: Lyden rungede gennem Ribe, og folk stoppede i deres spor.En: The sound echoed through Ribe, and people stopped in their tracks.Da: En stilhed lagde sig over landsbyen, da folkemængden begyndte at samles ved klokketårnet.En: A silence settled over the village as the crowd began to gather at the bell tower.Da: Astrid kiggede strengt på Mikkel.En: Astrid looked sternly at Mikkel.Da: "Vi er nødt til at fortælle det til de ældste."En: "We need to tell the elders."Da: Med et tungt hjerte gik de tre mod landsbyens ældste.En: With heavy hearts, the three of them walked towards the village's elders.Da: De borede deres blik i de skyldige, mens mængden begyndte at hviske.En: They fixed their gazes on the guilty parties as the crowd began to whisper.Da: "Det er et dårligt varsel," hørte de folk sige.En: "That's a bad omen," they heard people say.Da: Mikkel trådte frem og sagde, "Det var min fejl.En: Mikkel stepped forward and said, "It was my fault.Da: Jeg ringede med klokken ved et uheld.En: I rang the bell by accident.Da: Undskyld.En: I'm sorry.Da: Jeg vil gøre det godt igen."En: I will make it right."Da: De ældste nikkede alvorligt, men før nogen kunne sige mere, kom en pludselig vindkast.En: The elders nodded gravely, but before anyone could say more, a sudden gust of wind came.Da: Klokken svingede hastigt og afslørede en gammel pergamentrulle, der var gemt i dens base.En: The bell swung swiftly and revealed an old parchment scroll hidden at its base.Da: Ældste Svein, den klogeste blandt dem, tog forsigtigt rullen og læste dens indhold højt.En: Elder Svein, the wisest among them, carefully took the scroll and read its contents aloud.Da: Det var en orakelspådom, der bragte gode nyheder og lovede en fremgangsrig høst og tættere fællesskab i Ribe.En: It was an oracle's prophecy, bringing good news and promising a prosperous harvest and a closer community in Ribe.Da: Mængden begyndte at juble.En: The crowd began to cheer.Da: Freja, med et skævt smil, sagde, "Måske var denne hændelse ikke så slem, endda."En: Freja, with a crooked smile, said, "Maybe this incident wasn't so bad, after all."Da: Astid gav Mikkel et klem på skulderen.En: Astrid gave Mikkel a pat on the shoulder.Da: "Nogle gange kræver det lidt uheld at finde noget skønt."En: "Sometimes it takes a bit of misfortune to find something wonderful."Da: Mikkel åndede lettet op.En: Mikkel breathed a sigh of relief.Da: Han indså, hvor vigtigt det var at være ærlig og have tillid til dem, han holdt af.En: He realized how important it was to be honest and trust those he cared about.Da: Sammen kunne de tage sig af alting, selv de mest uventede situationer.En: Together, they could handle anything, even the most unexpected situations.Da: Og så, med solen, der endnu skinnede, fejrede landsbyen en ny begyndelse.En: And so, with the sun still shining, the village celebrated a new beginning. Vocabulary Words:cast: kastedethatched: stråtagcobblestone: brostenscurious: nysgerrigeartifact: artefakteradventurous: eventyrlyststumbled: snubledecreaking: knirkendesternly: strengtomen: varselremains: restergaze: blikguilty: skyldigeelders: ældstegrave: alvorligtgust: vindkastswiftly: hastigtparchment: pergamentprophecy: orakelspådomprosperous: fremgangsrigmischief: løjerswhisper: hviskehum: summenrevealed: afsløredehandle: klarerscroll: rullesacred: helligechallenge: udfordringunexpected: uventedegather: samles

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Ghostly Gala: A Night of Adventure in Roman Ruins Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-08-31-22-34-01-hu Story Transcript:Hu: Aquincum romjai alatt, a nyári csillagos éj fényeiben, Imre és Réka csendesen szálltak, mint a madarak.En: Under the ruins of Aquincum, in the light of the summer starry night, Imre and Réka ascended silently like birds.Hu: A hőlégballon repült, magasra emelve őket Budapest fölé.En: The hot air balloon flew, lifting them high above Budapest.Hu: Csodás volt onnan a látvány, de egy váratlan széllöket megzavarta az utat.En: The view from there was marvelous, but a sudden gust of wind disrupted their journey.Hu: Hirtelen, páni félelemben, zuhanni kezdtek.En: Suddenly, in a panic, they began to fall.Hu: Egy pillanat múlva puhán landoltak az ókori római kövek között.En: Moments later, they softly landed among the ancient Roman stones.Hu: Még éppen magukhoz tértek, mikor furcsa zajok ütötték meg a fülüket.En: They had just regained their senses when strange noises reached their ears.Hu: Színes ruhákban, jelmezekben és régi tunikákban szellemszerű alakok táncoltak körülöttük.En: Ghostly figures in colorful clothes, costumes, and old tunics danced around them.Hu: Imre és Réka megrökönyödve figyelték a jelenetet.En: Imre and Réka watched the scene in astonishment.Hu: Ráébredtek, hogy egy régi római jelmezbál kellős közepén találták magukat.En: They realized they had found themselves in the middle of an ancient Roman costume ball.Hu: Réka suttogta Imrének: „Muszáj valamit tennünk!En: Réka whispered to Imre, "We must do something!Hu: Nem maradhatunk itt örökre.En: We can't stay here forever."Hu: ” Imre bólintott, tudta jól, hogy ez a kaland nemcsak vicces, hanem veszélyes is lehet.En: Imre nodded, knowing well that this adventure could be not only amusing but also dangerous.Hu: Egy gyors ötlettől vezérelve megfogta ejtőernyőjüket, és togat készített belőle.En: Driven by a quick idea, he took their parachute and fashioned it into a toga.Hu: „Én próbálok beilleszkedni.En: "I'll try to blend in.Hu: Te közben vond el a figyelmüket!En: Meanwhile, you distract them!"Hu: ” mondta Imre határozottan, mire Réka egy huncut mosollyal bólintott.En: said Imre decisively, to which Réka nodded with a mischievous smile.Hu: Réka, aki diákkorában tehetséges tornász volt, most lépett előre.En: Réka, who was a talented gymnast in her student days, stepped forward.Hu: Lendületes táncot kezdett, melyet a pillanat ihletett.En: She began an energetic dance, inspired by the moment.Hu: Az ókori szellemek elámulva figyelték művészi mozdulatait.En: The ancient ghosts watched her graceful movements in amazement.Hu: Imre közben megpróbált beolvadni a közönségbe.En: Meanwhile, Imre tried to blend into the audience.Hu: A szellemek izgatottan vitatták jelmezének hitelességét, egy római tiszt megszólalásával: „Ez a tunika új divat lehetett akkoriban!En: The ghosts excitedly debated the authenticity of his costume, with a Roman official exclaiming, "This tunic must have been a new fashion back then!"Hu: ” Imre próbálta mosolyát titkolni, miközben szívverése hangos volt és gyors.En: Imre tried to hide his smile while his heartbeat was loud and fast.Hu: Ezalatt Réka lassan visszaosont Imréhez.En: During this, Réka slowly snuck back to Imre.Hu: A tánc és viták alatt észrevétlen maradtak, ami tökéletes alkalmat adott a lopakodásra.En: Throughout the dance and debates, they remained unnoticed, providing the perfect opportunity to sneak away.Hu: A szellemek figyelmét másfelé terelte az izgalmas párbeszéd, így Imre és Réka csendben kiszivárogtak a romok közül.En: The ghosts' attention was diverted by the exciting conversation, allowing Imre and Réka to quietly slip away from the ruins.Hu: A nap első sugarai éppen akkor értek a földre, amikor kiértek a kriptikus vidámkodásból.En: The first rays of the sun just touched the ground as they emerged from the cryptic merriment.Hu: A hajnal fénye szétoszlatta az éjszakai varázst, és a szellemek lassacskán eltűntek a kövek között.En: The dawn light dispersed the night's magic, and the ghosts gradually disappeared among the stones.Hu: Imre és Réka levegő után kapkodtak, de megálltak, hogy egy pillanatra legalább még egyszer visszatekintsenek.En: Imre and Réka gasped for air but paused to take one last look back for a moment.Hu: „Ez hihetetlen volt” mondta Réka csodálattal, „de örülök, hogy megúsztuk.En: "That was incredible," said Réka in awe, "but I'm glad we made it out."Hu: ” Imre bűntudatosan mosolygott.En: Imre smiled sheepishly.Hu: „Többet kéne készülni ilyen utakra.En: "We should prepare more for such trips."Hu: ” Réka bólogatott és hozzátette: „És rugalmasnak lenni is fontos!En: Réka nodded and added, "And being flexible is also important!"Hu: ”Így folytatták útjukat, készen arra, hogy tapasztalataikat megosszák a blogjukon, és értékes leckéket vigyenek magukkal a jövőre nézve.En: Thus, they continued their journey, ready to share their experiences on their blog and carry valuable lessons into the future.Hu: Az éjszakai kaland emléke örökre velük maradt, hiszen nem minden nap találkozhat szellemekkel valaki a történelem másik oldaláról.En: The memory of the nighttime adventure stayed with them forever, for it is not every day someone can encounter ghosts from the other side of history. Vocabulary Words:ruins: romjaiascended: szálltakmarvelous: csodásgust: széllöketdisrupted: megezavartapanick: páni félelembensoftly: puhánancient: ókorighostly: szellemszerűastonishment: megrökönyödvewhispered: suttogtablend: beilleszkednidistract: vond el a figyelmüketmischievous: huncutgymnast: tornászgraceful: művésziauthenticity: hitelességéttunic: tunikadebated: vitattákopportunity: alkalmatdiverted: terelteemerged: kiértekcryptic: kriptikusmerriment: vidámkodásbóldispersed: szétoszlattasheepishly: bűntudatosanflexible: rugalmasnakexperiences: tapasztalataikatvaluable: értékesencounter: találkozhat

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Unlocking Silla's Secrets: Minjun's Quest in Gyeongju Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-08-31-07-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 여름의 햇살이 눈부신 어느 날, 경주 여름 하늘 아래 민준과 은서는 산책을 하고 있었다.En: One dazzling sunny day in the summer, Minjun and Eunseo were taking a walk under the summer sky of Gyeongju.Ko: 경주는 신라 시대의 유적과 유물로 유명한 도시다.En: Gyeongju is a city famous for its relics and artifacts from the Silla era.Ko: 최근 들어 민준에게 이상한 일이 일어났다.En: Recently, something strange happened to Minjun.Ko: 그는 갑자기 알 수 없는 병에 걸려 밤마다 악몽을 꾸었다.En: He suddenly fell ill with an unknown sickness and began having nightmares every night.Ko: 그의 증상은 전설과 비슷했다.En: His symptoms were similar to a legend.Ko: 그 전설은 사라진 신라의 왕자의 저주에 관한 것이었다.En: This legend was about the curse of a lost prince of Silla.Ko: 민준은 몇 주 전부터 이 병으로 고생하고 있었다.En: Minjun had been suffering from this illness for a few weeks.Ko: 그의 가장 친한 친구 은서는 "병원에 가야 해, 그저 전설일 뿐이야,"라고 말하며 걱정했다.En: His best friend Eunseo worriedly said, "You should go to the hospital, it's just a legend."Ko: 하지만 민준은 고개를 저었다.En: But Minjun shook his head.Ko: "이 전설에 뭔가 있는 것 같아.En: "I think there's something to this legend.Ko: 답을 찾고 싶어."En: I want to find the answer."Ko: 두 친구는 경주의 깊숙한 곳에 있는 묘역을 방문했다.En: The two friends visited a graveyard deep within Gyeongju, where many tombs of the Silla royalty were located.Ko: 민준은 그곳에서 전설에 대해 많은 정보를 찾기를 기대했다.En: Minjun hoped to find a lot of information there about the legend.Ko: 동시에 추석이 다가오고 있었고, 온 도시가 축제 준비로 분주했다.En: At the same time, Chuseok was approaching, and the entire city was bustling with festival preparations.Ko: 추석 전날, 민준은 한 학자의 집을 방문하기로 결심했다.En: The day before Chuseok, Minjun decided to visit the house of a scholar, known as a wise figure in Gyeongju.Ko: 학자는 경주의 지혜로운 인물로 알려져 있었다. 그는 민준에게 많은 전설을 들려주었고, 그 중 하나가 민준의 증상과 관련이 있었다.En: The scholar told Minjun many legends, one of which was related to Minjun's symptoms.Ko: 전설에는 "왕자의 방울"이라는 유물이 등장했다. 그 유물은 과거의 고통을 치유할 수 있다고 전해졌다.En: This legend featured an artifact called the "Prince's Bell," said to heal past suffering.Ko: 시간은 빠르게 지나, 드디어 추석날 밤이었다.En: Time passed quickly, and finally, it was the night of Chuseok.Ko: 하늘에는 만월이 떴고, 도시는 밝고 아름다웠다.En: A full moon hung in the sky, making the city bright and beautiful.Ko: 민준은 은서와 함께 축제의 한가운데 있었다.En: Minjun was in the middle of the festival with Eunseo.Ko: 그 순간, 그의 머릿속에 신비로운 환상처럼 한 장소가 떠올랐다.En: At that moment, a place appeared in Minjun's mind like a mystical vision.Ko: 그는 은서에게 "가야 해.En: He said to Eunseo, "I have to go.Ko: 내가 어디인지 알아,"라고 말했다.En: I know where it is."Ko: 두 사람은 민준의 환상이 이끄는 대로 발걸음을 옮겼다. 그들은 마침내 경주의 오래된 사찰 안뜰에 도착했다.En: The two followed Minjun's vision and finally arrived at an old temple courtyard in Gyeongju.Ko: 그곳에서 오래된 돌 조각 사이, 반짝이는 무언가를 발견했다.En: There, among old stone carvings, they discovered something glimmering.Ko: 그것은 "왕자의 방울"이었다.En: It was the "Prince's Bell."Ko: 그 방울을 손에 들자, 민준의 마음 속 이상한 중압감이 사라졌다.En: As Minjun held the bell in his hand, the strange weight in his heart disappeared.Ko: 특별한 경험이었다.En: It was a special experience.Ko: 민준은 역사의 중요성을 다시 깨달았다.En: Minjun realized the importance of history once again.Ko: 과거는 단순히 이야기가 아니며, 그 안에는 진실이 있을 수 있었다.En: The past is not just a story; there could be truth within it.Ko: 이 경험을 통해서 민준과 은서는 합리적 사고와 전통 속의 지혜가 조화롭게 존재할 수 있음을 깨달았다.En: Through this experience, Minjun and Eunseo realized that rational thinking and wisdom from tradition could exist harmoniously.Ko: 그들은 미소를 지으며 경주의 밤하늘 아래 추석을 즐겼다.En: They smiled and enjoyed Chuseok under the night sky of Gyeongju. Vocabulary Words:dazzling: 눈부신relics: 유적artifacts: 유물illness: 병nightmares: 악몽curse: 저주scholar: 학자symptoms: 증상tombs: 무덤bustling: 분주한festival: 축제artifact: 유물suffering: 고통vision: 환상courtyard: 안뜰carvings: 조각glimmering: 반짝이는disappeared: 사라졌다importance: 중요성rational: 합리적tradition: 전통harmoniously: 조화롭게charming: 매력적인heritage: 유산wisdom: 지혜decisive: 결정적인mystical: 신비로운healing: 치유enigmatic: 수수께끼 같은pondering: 사색

Jenna Bush Hager welcomes Kathryn Stockett to talk about The Calamity Club, her first novel since The Help. Kathryn reveals how the story came together, the historical discovery that changed everything, and why writing honestly meant letting go of what readers and critics might think. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to Late Boomers! We're your hosts, Cathy Worthington and Merry Elkins . In this episode, we dive deep into the world of historical fiction with educator, novelist, and storyteller Dorothy Ward, whose acclaimed novel, Light Which Impresses, beautifully explores themes of identity, resilience, and the enduring strength of women through the lens of history.If you're fascinated by stories that connect the past to our present, or if you're finally ready to write your own narrative, this conversation will both inspire and motivate you.We're thrilled to welcome Dorothy Ward to discuss her journey from lifelong educator to published novelist at the age of 71! We explore why historical fiction is more relevant than ever, what inspired the unique structure of Light Which Impresses, and the meticulous research that brings her story to life. Dorothy Ward shares candid insights about recreating early 20th-century El Paso and the Mexican Revolution, crafting powerful women who defy expectations, and how her own background influenced the narrative.Whether you're a writer, a lover of history, or someone seeking encouragement to start something new in your own life, you'll find wisdom and practical advice throughout this episode.Key TakeawaysWhy Historical Fiction Matters: Dorothy Ward explains how stepping into the past through fiction helps us build empathy and understand today's challenges, especially around topics like migration and resilience (01:28).Inspirations Behind the Novel: The title of Light Which Impresses comes from a 100-year-old Kodak camera manual, a metaphor for memory and the double-edged power of truth (02:54).Unique Narrative Structure: The story weaves together interviews with the protagonist as an older woman and her youthful experiences against a backdrop of revolution, making history come alive and personal (05:47).Strong, Unconventional Female Characters: Inspired by real women of the Mexican Revolution, Dorothy Ward's protagonists break the mold and show the unheralded strength of women throughout history (09:08).The Research Process: Dorothy Ward reveals how she balanced exhaustive research walking tours, period photography, and vintage vehicles with compelling storytelling (17:30).Advice for Aspiring Writers: It's never too late to start! The most important step? Sitting down and writing, planning and talking about writing won't get your story on the page (29:02).Practical Writing Tips: Embrace rewriting, cut down the excess, and always read your work out loud to catch what doesn't sound right (30:50).If today's conversation sparked your curiosity or your creativity, we encourage you to pick up a copy of Light Which Impresses available at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you buy books. Connect with Dorothy Ward and learn more about her work at dorothypward.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Late Boomers wherever you get your podcasts and on our YouTube channel. Leave us a review and share this episode with friends who love history, literature, and inspiring new beginnings.Remember, it's never too late to rethink what's possible.Mentioned in this episode:Late Boomers is part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork. eWomenPodcastNetwork

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Secrets of Yerushalayim: Unveiling a Family Legacy Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-08-26-07-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: ברחובות ירושלים, תחת השמש הלוהטת של סוף אוגוסט, אילאנה ונועם עמדו מול דלת עץ ישנה.En: On the streets of Yerushalayim, under the scorching sun of late August, Ilana and Noam stood in front of an old wooden door.He: הם שמעו שמועות על המעבדה הסודית של סבא שלהם, מוסתרת מתחת לבית המשפחה.En: They had heard rumors about their grandfather's secret laboratory, hidden beneath the family house.He: אילאנה ניגשה לדלת בבטחה, כשהתרגשות בעיניה.En: Ilana approached the door confidently, excitement in her eyes.He: "נועם, חייבים לפתוח את זה," היא לחשה.En: "Noam, we have to open this," she whispered.He: נועם קימט את מצחו.En: Noam furrowed his brow.He: "ממהרים קצת, לא?En: "A bit rushed, aren't we?He: יהיה בטוח לבדוק קודם," הוא אמר בזהירות.En: It might be safer to check first," he said cautiously.He: הוא תמיד היה הזהיר ביניהם.En: He was always the cautious one between them.He: אך בסופו של דבר, סקרנותו גברה על חששותיו.En: But in the end, his curiosity overcame his fears.He: אילאנה דחפה קלות את הדלת, והיא נפתחה בקול חריקה.En: Ilana gently pushed the door, and it opened with a creak.He: השניים נכנסו פנימה.En: The two entered inside.He: זה היה חדר חשוך וגדול, מלא באבק.En: It was a dark, large room, full of dust.He: שולחנות גדושי מכשירים מוזרים, מדפים עם ספרים ישנים, ותרשימים מורכבים על הקירות.En: Tables were crowded with strange devices, shelves with old books, and intricate diagrams on the walls.He: מקום שבו הזמן עצר מלכת.En: A place where time had come to a standstill.He: היא התרחקה מהדלת והחלה להתעמק במדפים.En: She moved away from the door and began to delve into the shelves.He: "תסתכל על זה, נועם!En: "Look at this, Noam!"He: " היא קראה בהתלהבות, מרפקה משיבה ענן אבק לאוויר.En: she exclaimed excitedly, her elbow kicking up a cloud of dust into the air.He: נועם התקרב, מביט בזהירות בספרים הישנים.En: Noam came closer, carefully eyeing the old books.He: כשנועם החל לעיין בכתבים, אילאנה התקדמה הלאה, כמעט בעודו קורא, ולא ראתה את מה שרציף קרה.En: As Noam began to peruse the writings, Ilana moved further ahead, almost mid-reading, without noticing what clearly happened.He: פתאום, היא עמדה מול דלת אחרת, מוסתרת מאחורי וילון כבד.En: Suddenly, she stood in front of another door, hidden behind a heavy curtain.He: "תראה מה מצאתי!En: "Look what I found!"He: " היא אמרה, מחייכת חיוך שובב.En: she said, smiling mischievously.He: נועם נאנח, "אולי נבדוק קודם את החדר הזה?En: @Noam sighed, "Maybe we should check this room first?"He: " אבל אילאנה כבר משכה את הדלת ונכנסה.En: But Ilana had already swung the door open and stepped inside.He: הפעם, הוא הלך בעקבותיה, יותר מוכן לכל דבר שיצוץ.En: This time, he followed her, more prepared for anything that might arise.He: בפנים, הם מצאו חדר קטן יותר, ממולא בהמצאות של סבא שלהם.En: Inside, they found a smaller room, filled with their grandfather's inventions.He: היה שם גם תיבה גדולה עם ניירות ותמונות.En: There was also a large box with papers and photographs.He: "סבא גילה משהו גדול," אמרה אילאנה בהשתהות.En: "Grandpa discovered something big," Ilana said in awe.He: הם עברו על המסמכים, ולפתע נשמע קול דפיקה מתחת לרצפה.En: They went through the documents, and suddenly a knocking sound came from beneath the floor.He: נועם נגע במשהו ופתח דלת קטנה נוספת שהובילה אל מתקן סודי עוד יותר.En: Noam touched something and opened another small door leading to an even more secret facility.He: זו הייתה תגלית פורצת דרך של סבא – פטנט מהפכני.En: It was their grandfather's groundbreaking discovery—a revolutionary patent.He: ריגוש הציפה את אילאנה, "אנחנו צריכים להמשיך את העבודה שלו!En: Excitement filled Ilana, "We have to continue his work!"He: " היא הודיעה.En: she declared.He: נועם הסתכל סביב וחשב לרגע.En: Noam looked around and thought for a moment.He: "נכון, אבל נעשה את זה בזהירות," הוא השיב בהחלטיות.En: "True, but we'll do it carefully," he responded decisively.He: האחים יצאו מהמעבדה, ליבם מלא הבנה והערכה חדשה כלפי עבר המשפחה שלהם.En: The siblings left the laboratory, their hearts full of new understanding and appreciation for their family's past.He: אילאנה הבינה כעת את חשיבות התכנון, ונועם גילה שמץ מהי הרפתקה.En: Ilana now understood the importance of planning, and Noam discovered a glimpse of what adventure is.He: יחד, הם ידעו שמצאו לא רק סוד משפחתי, אלא גם חיבור עוצמתי ביניהם.En: Together, they knew they had found not only a family secret but also a powerful bond between them. Vocabulary Words:scorching: הלוהטתrumors: שמועותlaboratory: מעבדהcautiously: בזהירותfurrowed: קימטbrow: מצחcreak: חריקהintricate: מורכביםdelve: להתעמקshelves: מדפיםdiagrams: תרשימיםmischievously: שובבdocuments: מסמכיםknocking sound: קול דפיקהpatent: פטנטrevolutionary: מהפכניcuriosity: סקרנותhidden: מוסתרתapproached: ניגשהelbow: מרפקהcloud: ענןgroundbreaking: פורצת דרךinventions: המצאותfacility: מתקןdecisively: בהחלטיותbond: חיבורappreciation: הערכהadventure: הרפתקהsigh: נאנחcarefully: בזהירותBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

BRIAN GODAWA: DANIEL, BIBLICAL PROPHECY & THE SUPERNATURAL WORLD OF SCRIPTUREWhat if the Book of Daniel is even more dramatic, supernatural, and historically fascinating than many of us realize?In this episode of The Cross Files Podcast, Michael Basham and Jeri sit down with acclaimed author, screenwriter, and biblical researcher Brian Godawa for a fascinating conversation about Daniel, biblical history, prophecy, spiritual warfare, ancient kingdoms, and the supernatural worldview of Scripture.Brian is known for bringing the ancient biblical world to life through compelling storytelling and extensive research. We explore his creative approach to historical fiction, the research behind his portrayal of Daniel and Babylon, and how understanding the culture and worldview of the ancient Near East can illuminate portions of Scripture that modern readers may sometimes overlook.

Send us Fan MailJudgment Tree with (Gary E. Parker)In this episode of American Civil War & UK History Podcast host Daz is joined by author Gary E. Parker to discuss his fascinating historical fiction novel, Judgment Tree.Rather than focusing solely on famous battles and military leaders, Parker explores the war through the experiences of ordinary people forced to make extraordinary moral choices. The novel examines the complex relationship between power, race, loyalty, conscience, and survival, showing how the consequences of those choices could extend far beyond the battlefield.Grounded in meticulous historical research, Judgment Tree brings the Civil War to life as a deeply personal and often uncomfortable period of American history.Gary's Bookhttps://a.co/0cPGgqn5ACW & UK History's Website.https://www.acwandukhistory.com/ACW & UK History's Pages.https://linktr.ee/ACWandUKHISTORYSupport the show

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Sören's Quest: Unveiling the Secrets of Gamla Stan's Heirloom Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-08-18-07-38-19-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Sören stod mitt i Gamla Stan, omgiven av de smala kullerstensgatorna och historiska byggnaderna.En: Sören stood in the middle of Gamla Stan, surrounded by the narrow cobblestone streets and historical buildings.Sv: Sommarsolen värmde hans ansikte, och turisterna flödade omkring honom som en färgglad ström.En: The summer sun warmed his face, and tourists flowed around him like a colorful stream.Sv: Men Sörens tankar var långt ifrån dem.En: But Sören's thoughts were far from them.Sv: Han letade efter den saknade familjeklenoden, fickuret i guld, som skulle bringa lycka.En: He was searching for the missing family heirloom, the gold pocket watch, which was said to bring good fortune.Sv: Sören, en ung man med svart, lockigt hår och ett ständigt leende på läpparna, arbetade som guide.En: Sören, a young man with black, curly hair and a constant smile on his lips, worked as a guide.Sv: Han älskade sitt jobb, men en oro gnagde ständigt i honom – hans farfars förväntningar.En: He loved his job, but a worry continually gnawed at him—his grandfather's expectations.Sv: Fickuret hade tillhört farfadern, en man av vishet och styrka.En: The pocket watch had belonged to his grandfather, a man of wisdom and strength.Sv: Det sades besitta magiska egenskaper, en välsignelse som förts vidare genom generationerna.En: It was said to possess magical properties, a blessing passed down through the generations.Sv: Trots den ständiga pressen av turisterna visste Sören att han måste hitta klockan.En: Despite the constant press of tourists, Sören knew he had to find the watch.Sv: En dag, när han vandrade längs Västerlånggatan, upptäckte han en ledtråd.En: One day, as he walked along Västerlånggatan, he discovered a clue.Sv: Ett gammalt, gulnat brev föll ur en av farfaderns böcker.En: An old, yellowed letter fell out from one of his grandfather's books.Sv: "Följ ditt hjärta, och du kommer finna vägen," stod det skrivet.En: "Follow your heart, and you will find the way," it read.Sv: Något inom Sören sade honom att detta var början på en resa.En: Something within Sören told him that this was the beginning of a journey.Sv: Sören följde kartan över Gamla Stan i sitt minne, visste att farfar hade en favoritplats – en gömd gränd nära Stortorget.En: Sören followed the map of Gamla Stan in his memory, knowing that his grandfather had a favorite spot—a hidden alley near Stortorget.Sv: Där, vid muren mellan de två smala husen, såg han något märkligt.En: There, by the wall between the two narrow houses, he saw something unusual.Sv: En sten kilade lite ovanligt i marken, nästan som om den inte hörde hemma.En: A stone was wedged unusually in the ground, almost as if it didn't belong.Sv: Med händerna darrande av förväntan och lite rädsla, tog han försiktigt loss stenen.En: With hands trembling with anticipation and a bit of fear, he carefully removed the stone.Sv: Där, i en hemlig fördjupning, låg fickuret.En: There, in a secret recess, lay the pocket watch.Sv: Guldet glimmade i solljuset som en strålande stjärna.En: The gold gleamed in the sunlight like a shining star.Sv: När han höll klockan, kände han en överväldigande frid.En: As he held the watch, he felt an overwhelming peace.Sv: Det var som om hans farfar log mot honom, stolt.En: It was as if his grandfather was smiling at him, proud.Sv: Men i det ögonblicket insåg Sören att hans verkliga arv inte var en klocka, utan styrkan och kärleken hans farfar gett honom.En: But in that moment, Sören realized that his true inheritance wasn't a watch, but the strength and love his grandfather had given him.Sv: Sören placerade tillbaka stenen och gick vidare med ett lättare hjärta.En: Sören placed the stone back and moved on with a lighter heart.Sv: Han visste nu att hans värde mättes inte i en sak, utan i den person han var.En: He now knew that his worth was not measured by a thing, but by the person he was.Sv: Framför sig hade han ännu en tur att guida, och idag skulle han berätta om Gamla Stans historia med hjärta och själ, precis som farfar skulle ha gjort.En: Ahead of him, he had another tour to guide, and today he would tell the story of Gamla Stan with heart and soul, just as his grandfather would have done. Vocabulary Words:cobblestone: kullerstensheirloom: familjeklenodgnawed: gnagdeexpectations: förväntningarwisdom: vishetproperties: egenskaperblessing: välsignelsegenerations: generationernaconstant: ständigaclue: ledtrådyellowed: gulnatrecess: fördjupningoverwhelming: överväldigandeinheritance: arvtrembling: darrandeanticipation: förväntanwedged: kiladebelong: hemmafavourite: favoritalley: grändgleamed: glimmadestream: strömmap: kartasecret: hemlignarrow: smalahistorical: historiskasmiling: leendeguide: guidemeasured: mättessoul: själ

Jon and Leigh kick off this episode of time-travel and cosplay regrets with Liz, the director of Dragon Con's Alternate & Historical Fiction track. We discuss history that could have been, history that was, and all the “what if” storytelling in between. Additionally, we chat about this year’s Dragon Con Cotillion, retro entertainment, steampunk, pirates, and a Dragon Con’s 3 hour cruise. Leave us a voicemail: (813) 321-0884Shop The Unique GeekSuggest a 50 Days Podcast Idea Be sure to check out our Facebook social media thingies. Have a question for the directors or maybe something you want us to try and get info on? Then leave a comment, email us, or call the comment line.Email: 50days[ at ]theuniquegeek.comFacebook: facebook.com/TheUniqueGeekYouTube: YouTube.com/TheUniqueGeek Read the transcript Watch on YouTube The post 50 Days of Dragon Con 2026 – Day 31 – Alternate and Historical Fiction first appeared on The Unique Geek.

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Unlocking Legacy: Alma's Madrid Treasure Mystery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2026-08-16-22-34-01-es Story Transcript:Es: El sol brillaba intensamente sobre Plaza Mayor, en Madrid, mientras Alma caminaba con determinación.En: The sun shone brightly over Plaza Mayor, in Madrid, as Alma walked with determination.Es: La plaza estaba llena de vida, con gente que celebraba la fiesta de la Asunción de María.En: The square was full of life, with people celebrating the feast of the Assumption of Mary.Es: Los aromas de paella y churros flotaban en el aire.En: The aromas of paella and churros floated in the air.Es: Alma sentía la emoción y la energía a su alrededor, pero su mente estaba en otra parte.En: Alma felt the excitement and energy around her, but her mind was elsewhere.Es: Tenía un secreto en el bolso: una carta antigua.En: She had a secret in her bag: an old letter.Es: Había encontrado la carta en el ático de su abuela mientras ayudaba a limpiar.En: She had found the letter in her grandmother's attic while helping to clean.Es: "Tu abuelo dejó algo importante en Plaza Mayor", decía la carta.En: "Your grandfather left something important in Plaza Mayor," the letter said.Es: Alma estaba convencida de que debía encontrar ese objeto.En: Alma was convinced she had to find that object.Es: Era su oportunidad de descubrir un tesoro familiar y dar honor a su historia.En: It was her opportunity to discover a family treasure and honor their history.Es: Carlos, su primo, estaba a su lado.En: Carlos, her cousin, was by her side.Es: "No deberías creer en esa carta, Alma," decía Carlos, escéptico.En: "You shouldn't believe in that letter, Alma," Carlos said, skeptical.Es: "Puede ser solo una broma antigua."En: "It might just be an old joke."Es: Pero Alma no se dejaba desanimar.En: But Alma wasn't discouraged.Es: Sabía que necesitaba ayuda.En: She knew she needed help.Es: Inmediatamente pensó en Miguel, un amigo de la infancia que amaba la historia de Madrid.En: She immediately thought of Miguel, a childhood friend who loved the history of Madrid.Es: Juntos, podrían descifrar las pistas.En: Together, they could decipher the clues.Es: "Miguel, ¿puedes venir?En: "Miguel, can you come?Es: Tengo algo increíble que mostrarte," dijo Alma cuando lo llamó.En: I have something incredible to show you," Alma said when she called him.Es: Miguel llegó rápidamente.En: Miguel arrived quickly.Es: Escuchó la historia de la carta y sonrió.En: He listened to the story of the letter and smiled.Es: "Será como resolver un misterio, Alma."En: "It'll be like solving a mystery, Alma."Es: Los tres se dirigieron a la plaza.En: The three of them headed to the square.Es: El bullicio de la fiesta era abrumador.En: The bustle of the celebration was overwhelming.Es: Había música, gente bailando, y una multitud de turistas.En: There was music, people dancing, and a crowd of tourists.Es: Pero Alma y Miguel se concentraron en la carta.En: But Alma and Miguel focused on the letter.Es: Las pistas hablaban de estatuas y sombras, de lugares escondidos a plena vista.En: The clues spoke of statues and shadows, of places hidden in plain sight.Es: Mientras avanzaba la tarde, Alma se sintió frustrada.En: As the afternoon wore on, Alma felt frustrated.Es: "Debe estar aquí," pensaba, observando las estatuas.En: "It must be here," she thought, observing the statues.Es: Entonces, recordando una línea sobre "el león que protege," miró a la estatua central del Rey Felipe III.En: Then, recalling a line about "the lion that protects," she looked at the central statue of King Felipe III.Es: Alma se acercó al pedestal de la estatua.En: Alma approached the statue's pedestal.Es: Siguió las indicaciones, tocando las piedras, buscando algún signo.En: She followed the instructions, touching the stones, searching for any sign.Es: Alguien había dejado allí, muchas décadas atrás, una pequeña abertura.En: Someone had left there, many decades ago, a small opening.Es: Con emoción, sacó un colgante antiguo.En: Excitedly, she pulled out an old pendant.Es: Era un relicario dorado.En: It was a golden locket.Es: Dentro, había una foto de sus abuelos jóvenes y un pequeño mensaje.En: Inside, there was a photo of her grandparents in their youth and a small message.Es: "Nuestra historia vive en ti," decía con amor.En: "Our story lives in you," it said lovingly.Es: Alma se quedó en silencio, sintiendo una conexión profunda con su familia.En: Alma remained silent, feeling a deep connection with her family.Es: No era solo un objeto valioso, sino un recordatorio de su propio legado.En: It wasn't just a valuable object but a reminder of her own legacy.Es: Por primera vez, se sintió realmente orgullosa de su intuición y su empeño.En: For the first time, she felt truly proud of her intuition and determination.Es: Carlos, al ver su emoción, se quedó sin palabras.En: Carlos, seeing her emotion, was speechless.Es: "Lo lograste, Alma," dijo, sorprendido.En: "You did it, Alma," he said, amazed.Es: Miguel sonrió con complicidad.En: Miguel smiled knowingly.Es: "Siempre supe que tú veías más allá de lo evidente," le dijo.En: "I always knew you saw beyond what was obvious," he told her.Es: La plaza seguía vibrando con la fiesta, pero para Alma, todo se volvió tranquilo.En: The square continued to vibrate with the festival, but for Alma, everything became calm.Es: Había resuelto el misterio.En: She had solved the mystery.Es: Había encontrado mucho más que un simple tesoro; había hallado un pedazo de su corazón.En: She had found much more than a simple treasure; she had found a piece of her heart. Vocabulary Words:the attic: el áticothe aroma: el aromathe feast: la fiestathe assumption: la asunciónthe determination: la determinaciónthe letter: la cartathe secret: el secretothe mystery: el misteriothe statue: la estatuathe bustle: el bulliciothe pedestal: el pedestalthe opening: la aberturathe pendant: el colgantethe locket: el relicariothe youth: la juventudthe message: el mensajethe legacy: el legadothe intuition: la intuiciónthe determination: el empeñothe skepticism: el escepticismothe clue: la pistathe shadow: la sombrathe treasure: el tesorothe honor: el honorthe line: la líneathe emotion: la emociónthe intuition: la intuiciónthe youth: la juventudthe history: la historiathe celebration: la celebración

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Prof. Albert Cheng of Ohio State University and Walter Blanks, Policy and Advocacy Director of EdChoice speak with Carole Boston Weatherford, a New York Times best-selling author of more than 80 children's books and a leading voice in African American children's literature. Weatherford discusses her career writing poetry and history for young readers, including the challenges and rewards of making complex stories accessible through vivid language and imagery. She shares insights into her acclaimed books about Harriet Tubman and Jesse Owens, exploring faith, freedom, perseverance, and racism. Weatherford also discusses her latest book, Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation, which highlights the many contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. history, from the Middle Passage and Black Civil War regiments to HBCUs and the Civil Rights Movement. She explores the Harlem Renaissance and Black literary excellence while discussing how storytelling can help young people understand the people, struggles, and achievements that have shaped America. In closing, she reads a passage from her recent book, Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Buried Treasures: Legacy and Redemption in Røros Mines Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-08-12-07-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Solen sto høyt på himmelen over Røros, og sommerbrisen kysset de gamle, forlatte gruvene.En: The sun stood high in the sky over Røros, and the summer breeze kissed the old, abandoned mines.No: Lars sto ved inngangen, med hjertet fylt av både ærefrykt og uro.En: Lars stood at the entrance, his heart filled with both awe and unease.No: Røros' gamle kobbergruver var fylt av historie og hemmeligheter.En: Røros' old copper mines were filled with history and secrets.No: Lars visste at han hadde en oppgave; å finne og bevare en artefakt hans forfedre hadde gjemt der for lenge siden.En: Lars knew he had a task; to find and preserve an artifact his ancestors had hidden there long ago.No: Lars var en eventyrlysten historiker.En: Lars was an adventurous historian.No: Men denne gangen var hans motiv personlig.En: But this time, his motive was personal.No: I generasjoner hadde hans familie beskyttet minnet om en spesiell arv knyttet til disse gruvene.En: For generations, his family had protected the memory of a special heritage linked to these mines.No: En artefakt som kunne kaste lys over fortidens gåter.En: An artifact that could shed light on the mysteries of the past.No: Men ikke alle hadde edle hensikter.En: But not everyone had noble intentions.No: Ingrid, en gang hans nære kollega, hadde nå samlet en gruppe skattejegere.En: Ingrid, once his close colleague, had now gathered a group of treasure hunters.No: De ønsket å finne artefakten og selge den.En: They wanted to find the artifact and sell it.No: Lars visste at tiden var knapp.En: Lars knew that time was short.No: Han vurderte å kontakte sin bror, Olav, for hjelp, men deres forhold hadde vært anstrengt i år.En: He considered contacting his brother, Olav, for help, but their relationship had been strained for years.No: Han valgte likevel å gå alene.En: He chose, nevertheless, to go alone.No: Med en lommelykt og kart i hånden trådte han inn i den kjølige, fuktige labyrinten.En: With a flashlight and map in hand, he stepped into the cool, damp labyrinth.No: Smale ganger førte ham dypere inn.En: Narrow passageways led him deeper inside.No: Uten forvarsel hørte han stemmer.En: Without warning, he heard voices.No: Det var Ingrid og hennes mannskap.En: It was Ingrid and her crew.No: Lars måtte tenke raskt.En: Lars had to think quickly.No: Han nådde et stort rom.En: He reached a large room.No: Her så det ut som tiden hadde stått stille.En: Here, it seemed as if time had stood still.No: Biter av utstyr lå strødd rundt, og i et hjørne skimtet han et gammelt kiste.En: Pieces of equipment lay scattered around, and in a corner, he glimpsed an old chest.No: Dette var det!En: This was it!No: Men akkurat da han åpnet den, dukket Ingrid opp.En: But just as he opened it, Ingrid appeared.No: "Lars," sa hun, med et triumferende smil.En: "Lars," she said, with a triumphant smile.No: "Gi meg artefakten."En: "Give me the artifact."No: Lars visste han måtte velge sine ord med omhu.En: Lars knew he had to choose his words carefully.No: "Ingrid, denne artefakten er mer enn verdien du ser," begynte han.En: "Ingrid, this artifact is more than the value you see," he began.No: "Den forteller historien vår.En: "It tells our story.No: Historien av Røros.En: The story of Røros.No: Å selge den ville være som å selge vår egen arv."En: Selling it would be like selling our own heritage."No: Ingrid så tvilende ut, men lyttet.En: Ingrid looked doubtful but listened.No: Med sin kunnskap overbeviste Lars henne om artefaktens betydning.En: With his knowledge, Lars convinced her of the artifact's significance.No: Han tilbød henne en annen løsning.En: He offered her another solution.No: "La oss gi den til museet," foreslo han.En: "Let's give it to the museum," he suggested.No: "Det er det rette å gjøre."En: "It's the right thing to do."No: Ingrid nølte, men endelig nikket hun sakte.En: Ingrid hesitated, but finally, she nodded slowly.No: Da de forlot gruvene, så Lars opp mot den klare, blå himmelen med et lettet smil.En: As they left the mines, Lars looked up at the clear, blue sky with a relieved smile.No: Han hadde gjort det rette.En: He had done the right thing.No: Senere den dagen, valgte Lars å ringe Olav.En: Later that day, Lars chose to call Olav.No: De gjenopprettet kontakten, og Lars forstod at familie var viktigere enn noe gull.En: They reconnected, and Lars understood that family was more important than any gold.No: Artefakten ble trygt bevart i det lokale museet, forteller en historie om mot, vekst og skjønnheten av tillit.En: The artifact was safely preserved in the local museum, telling a story of courage, growth, and the beauty of trust.No: Gruvene i Røros hvilte nå stille, og Lars følte en fred han ikke hadde kjent på lenge.En: The mines in Røros now rested quietly, and Lars felt a peace he hadn't known in a long time.No: Han visste at han hadde æret sin slekts arv og bygget en ny fremtid.En: He knew he had honored his family's heritage and built a new future. Vocabulary Words:breeze: brisabandoned: forlatteawe: ærefryktunease: urotask: oppgaveancestors: forfedreadventurous: eventyrlystenheritage: arvnoble: edletreasure hunters: skattejegerestrained: anstrengtlabyrinth: labyrintenpassageways: gangerglimpsed: skimtettriumphant: triumferendesignificance: betydningsolution: løsninghesitated: nøltereconnected: gjenopprettetartifact: artefaktpreserved: bevartcourage: motgrowth: veksttrust: tillitequipment: utstyrscattered: strøddentrance: inngangenflashlight: lommelyktmuseum: museumlight: lys

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unveiling the Legend: A Ruin's Silent Guardian Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-08-12-07-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole estivo bruciava sul colle, dove le antiche rovine dormivano sotto la coltre del tempo.En: The summer sun burned on the hill, where ancient ruins slept under the blanket of time.It: Cicale cantavano incessantemente, riempiendo l'aria di un suono continuo.En: Cicadas sang incessantly, filling the air with a continuous sound.It: Giulia camminava tra le alte erbe ed edere rampicanti.En: Giulia walked among the tall grasses and climbing ivy.It: Era un'archeologa brillante, con gli occhi pieni di curiosità e il desiderio ardente di fare una grande scoperta.En: She was a brilliant archaeologist, with eyes full of curiosity and a burning desire to make a great discovery.It: Lorenzo la guidava fra le pietre millenarie.En: Lorenzo guided her through the millenary stones.It: Conosceva ogni sentiero nascosto e ogni racconto legato a quei luoghi.En: He knew every hidden path and every tale linked to those places.It: C'era una leggenda su un artefatto, un simbolo di potere antico; ma Lorenzo sapeva che non tutto andava svelato.En: There was a legend about an artifact, a symbol of ancient power; but Lorenzo knew that not everything should be revealed.It: La storia della sua famiglia si intrecciava con quella dell'artefatto.En: The history of his family intertwined with that of the artifact.It: "Giulia, devi fare attenzione," disse Lorenzo, fermandosi davanti a un arco crollato.En: "Giulia, you must be careful," said Lorenzo, stopping in front of a collapsed arch.It: "Questo sito è fragile, e vi sono storie su chi ha tentato di scoprire troppi segreti."En: "This site is fragile, and there are stories about those who have tried to uncover too many secrets."It: Giulia ascoltava, ma la sete di conoscenza era forte.En: Giulia listened, but the thirst for knowledge was strong.It: "Capisco l'importanza di rispettare il luogo," rispose lei, "ma questo artefatto potrebbe rivoluzionare la storia che conosciamo."En: "I understand the importance of respecting the place," she replied, "but this artifact could revolutionize the history we know."It: Continuarono a camminare, finché non giunsero a una stanza sotterranea parzialmente crollata.En: They continued to walk until they reached a partially collapsed underground chamber.It: Giulia insistette per entrare.En: Giulia insisted on entering.It: Nonostante i dubbi, Lorenzo accettò di accompagnarla.En: Despite his doubts, Lorenzo agreed to accompany her.It: Ma mentre esaminavano le colonne decorate, il terreno tremò.En: But as they examined the decorated columns, the ground shook.It: Un rumore sordo fu seguito dal crollo di un'altra parte del soffitto.En: A dull noise was followed by the collapse of another part of the ceiling.It: Polvere e frammenti di pietra caddero intorno a loro.En: Dust and fragments of stone fell around them.It: "Lorenzo, dobbiamo uscire!"En: "Lorenzo, we must get out!"It: gridò Giulia, cercando di mantenere la calma.En: shouted Giulia, trying to remain calm.It: Ma mentre si muovevano, Giulia inciampò su qualcosa di duro e freddo.En: But as they moved, Giulia stumbled over something hard and cold.It: Era una cassa di pietra, e al suo interno, un oggetto luccicante riposava avvolto in tessuti antichi.En: It was a stone chest, and inside it, a gleaming object lay wrapped in ancient cloths.It: Era l'artefatto.En: It was the artifact.It: Con un occhio all'oggetto e l'altro al possibile pericolo, Lorenzo decise di fidarsi.En: With one eye on the object and the other on the possible danger, Lorenzo decided to trust.It: Aiutò Giulia ad alzarsi.En: He helped Giulia up.It: Insieme, trovarono un passaggio nascosto che portava all'esterno.En: Together, they found a hidden passage leading outside.It: Il sole caldo le accolse con sollievo.En: The warm sun greeted them with relief.It: Giulia rigirò l'artefatto tra le mani.En: Giulia turned the artifact over in her hands.It: "Questo è un momento importante per me," sospirò, "ma non posso ignorare ciò che rappresenta per te e il tuo passato."En: "This is an important moment for me," she sighed, "but I can't ignore what it represents for you and your past."It: Lorenzo sorrise, riconoscente.En: Lorenzo smiled, grateful.It: "Forse possiamo trovare un modo di raccontare questa storia che rispetti entrambe le cose."En: "Perhaps we can find a way to tell this story that respects both."It: Giulia tornò nel suo studio in città con una nuova prospettiva.En: Giulia returned to her studio in the city with a new perspective.It: Scrisse tutto ciò che aveva vissuto, rispettando il silenzio che avvolgeva l'artefatto.En: She wrote down everything she had experienced, respecting the silence that enveloped the artifact.It: Aveva imparato che proteggere un segreto poteva essere prezioso quanto scoprirlo.En: She had learned that protecting a secret could be as valuable as discovering it.It: Lorenzo capì che poteva fidarsi di qualcuno al di fuori della sua comunità.En: Lorenzo understood that he could trust someone outside his community.It: Insieme, avevano dato nuova vita alla leggenda, intrecciando passato e futuro.En: Together, they had breathed new life into the legend, intertwining past and future.It: La storia delle rovine poteva continuare, rispettata e condivisa.En: The story of the ruins could continue, respected and shared.It: Con il sole al tramonto, le cicale cantavano ancora, e le rovine, custodi di segreti, aspettavano il prossimo viaggiatore.En: With the sun setting, the cicadas still sang, and the ruins, custodians of secrets, awaited the next traveler. Vocabulary Words:the hill: il collethe ruins: le rovinethe blanket: la coltrethe cicadas: le cicaleincessantly: incessantementethe grasses: le erbethe ivy: le ederecuriosity: la curiositàdesire: il desideriodiscovery: la scopertathe stones: le pietrethe path: il sentierothe tale: il raccontothe artifact: l'artefattosymbol: il simbolopower: il poterehid: nascostocollapsed: crollatothe chamber: la stanzaunderground: sotterraneaexamined: esaminavanoshook: tremòthe noise: il rumorethe dust: la polverefragments: i frammentichest: la cassathe cloths: i tessutiwrapped: avvoltogleaming: luccicantethe legend: la leggenda

Lovers of thrillers will especially enjoy this episode, which kicks off with the hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Ellison Weist discussing the recent New Yorks Times list of The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century. Then they transition to a thriller disguised as a memoir by a talented writer who (to their surprise) didn't make the list. Two debut novels entranced Ellison, especially a tense, atmospheric one set in rural Wales. The host duo concludes with two DNF books for which they had high hopes. The books reviewed:The Amateur: Chris BohjalianThe Great Wherever: Shannan SandersThe House of Boleyn: Tracy BormanThe Hill in the Dark Grove: Liam HigginsonFeistyFest Info: https://livefeisty.com/events/feisty-fest/Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/Women's Mechanic Camp in Tucson: https://livefeisty.com/events/bike-mechanic-school-tucson/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themotherrunner/Previnex: Use code AMR15 for 15% off your first purchase at https://www.previnex.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/Currex: Use code AMR15 for 15% off at https://currex.com/Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/ PLUS: Register to win a Free Pair of Sunglasses: https://feistymedia.activehosted.com/f/121

Stay Connected with Strange Inc: https://sendfox.com/StrangeincorporatedJoin our Muslim Creative Community: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScz-QRp8sbRIw2lPEKxl5Ceo9bnMAvP0PatHnh-b8KZd-UolA/viewform?pli=1The Creative Excellence Awards 2026 applications: https://strangeincorporated.org/excellenceawards/Shahida Rahman is an award-winning author and writer, born and raised in Cambridge, UK. Her late father, Abdul Karim, moved to Cambridge from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1957. Shahida writes historical fiction, non-fiction and children's stories; particularly focusing on and raising awareness of South Asian history and heritage. Her first novel “Lascar” was published in 2012 and “An Ayah's Choice” in 2022. “An Ayah's Choice” audio book was published in December 2022. She is currently writing her third novel. In 2015, she was awarded the Arts and Culture Awareness award at the British Muslim Awards. ‘An Ayah's Choice' recently won the Strange Inc Publisher's fiction award.Shahida is a trustee of Karim Foundation (local charity helping families in need) and the only UK female trustee at Cambridge Central Mosque. She is also an advisor to the trustees at the Museum of Cambridge and is involved in several organizations.www.shahidarahman.co.uk

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In this member-first partner webinar at the Alliance of Independent Authors, ALLi Director Orna Ross presses Draft2Digital CEO Kris Austin on the $20 activation fee and $12 annual maintenance fee that landed on indie authors in April with no advance warning. Austin explains what the fees are meant to stop, why authors weren't consulted first, and whether the era of free, open access to publishing platforms is drawing to a close. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Irish author and poet Orna Ross is cofounder and director of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and a passionate advocate for self-publishing and author empowerment. Her books are international bestsellers and have won many awards, including the Goethe Grand Prize for Historical Fiction and a Gold Literary Titan Award for poetry. Her work for ALLi has seen her named one of the top 100 people in publishing by The Bookseller. Born and raised in Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland, she now lives in St Leonards-on-Sea, in the southeast of England, within working reach of London. Her motto: "When in doubt, be braver." About the Guest Kris Austin is cofounder and CEO of Draft2Digital, one of the world's largest digital publishing and distribution platforms for self-published authors and independent publishers. Since its founding in 2012, Draft2Digital has grown to support more than 300,000 authors around the globe, who have collectively released more than 1 million titles. More information can be found at https://draft2digital.com.

In this episode, I talk with Olesya Lyuzna about the second book in her Ginny Dugan series Liars in Paradise. Listen to hear all about: The roots of modern self-help, manifestation, and MLM-style thinking stretch back to the 1920s. Olesya shares how historical figures like Napoleon Hill and the era's get-rich-quick culture inspired the novel's sinister organization, Echelon.  Sometimes throwing away an entire draft is the best writing decision. Olesya discusses scrapping a nearly finished manuscript, rebuilding the story from the ground up, and how the rewrite created a much stronger mystery centered on Jack being framed. Historical fiction can feel incredibly relevant because human behavior doesn't change. We discuss how periods of uncertainty—after war, during economic booms, or amid social upheaval—create fertile ground for cults, scams, conspiracy thinking, and charismatic leaders. Real places often make the best fictional settings. Olesya shares how a supposedly haunted Long Island mansion, Winfield Hall, became the inspiration for Echelon's headquarters, complete with strange history, ghost stories, and Gilded Age excess. Great mystery series let their characters carry emotional scars. Rather than resetting Ginny after each case, Olesya discusses intentionally letting previous losses and evolving relationships shape every investigation, making the series feel more emotionally authentic. All the Bookwild Links:Check Out the Bookwild SubstackSubscribe to Bookwild on YouTubeGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramCheck Out Author Social Media Packages Follow Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mbaErin Ashley @bellametaphor

Ryan and Dylan journey across a sea of monsters to discuss Christopher Nolan's new epic retelling of Homer's Odyssey.

Send us Fan MailToday we have a very special spoiler free author interview episode for you with young adult Romantasy author Autumn Krause! Autumn is the author of four novels (so far): A Dress for the Wicked, Before the Devil Knows You're Here, Grave Flowers, and coming soon…her very timely and extremely important fourth novel The Gods Will Sing Our Song. Out everywhere (including Audible!) on September 1st, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a magical and tragic story inspired by her own family's experiences in the World War 2 Japanese American Incarceration camps.We met the lovely and beautiful Autumn at Romantasycon LA where we had the privilege of interviewing her for the Gothica panel, chatting all things horror, dark fantasy, and gothic themes and just knew she was an instant bestie with a big message we can't wait to discuss with her, and share with you all today! This episode is here for us to get to know Autumn better and to find out what you'll be getting into when you pick up her new book The Gods Will Sing Our Song… which every single one of you needs to go pre-order immediately! We also talk in depth about what inspired her to write this book, and why conversations about the darkest parts of our history are still SO incredibly important to keep having. We'll also briefly discuss her previous releases so you guys know what to expect if you decide to deep dive into the backlog before we do OUR deep dive coverage of The Gods Will Sing Our Song, coming soon! Autumn Krause is a writer, young adult author, a gothic romantic at heart and loves spinning stories full of macabre magic. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where her morbid imagination ran rampant—so much so that her parents became concerned and told her to stop writing stories where everyone dies at the end. Most often, she can be found in Orange County, California, wearing a black lace dress while spending time with her husband and three children. Other times, she can be found out with lanterns in the tradition of Emily Dickinson, searching for herself and stories.Recently an offering editor at auction described The Gods Will Sing Our Song as a book that changes the way we look at the world. They said that “Books like these have the power to break our hearts and remake them. They open our eyes to injustice and bring a sense of catharsis to those who've encountered its sharp edge. They shout to be seen and heard and remembered - just as we must remember those who came before us, whose joys and scars go on to guide our own life stories. In my opinion, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is exactly such a book.”Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: a Twilight Vintage style t-shirt from LambComedy | *  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9JWeP68q2yk-I0EzA/ Liz is Wearing our Besties and the books beanie: https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Every misfit has a story. This one has wings. From internationally renowned author Mark Mustian comes a novel where historical Southern Gothic meets the supernatural, in a story like no other. In the Jim Crow South, a baby is born with strange, wing-like appendages. The townsfolk call him a devil. His mother calls him Johnny Cruel—and to save him, she fakes his death and runs. So begins a life on the margins. Set against the backdrop of 1930s and '40s America, Boy With Wings is a poignant work of Southern literary fiction about one boy's extraordinary body and his lifelong struggle to belong. From a backwoods turpentine camp to a traveling freak show, from found families of outcasts to the halls of power in Tallahassee, Johnny's journey explores the lines between acceptance and exploitation, isolation and love. Is Johnny a monster, an angel, or just a boy trying to live in peace? As he searches for meaning—through love, loss, betrayal, and brutal truths—Johnny must decide whether to keep hiding… or rise on his own terms. Told in vivid, lyrical prose, this tale of identity blends elements of Southern Gothic, outsider fiction, and found family stories. Boy With Wings is a powerful meditation on identity, stigma, resilience, and the quiet miracles that help us soar. Mark Mustian is the author of the novels "The Return" and "The Gendarme," the latter a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and has been published in ten languages. The founder of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, his new novel, "Boy With Wings," is the winner of the Grand Prize for Fiction from Next Generation Indie Book Awards and has received numerous other honors, including winning the Bronze Prize for Historical Fiction from Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY) and being named a finalist for the Hawthorne Award for Fiction. Out now!!!

When author Michelle Collins Anderson debuted her first novel, The Flower Sisters, she joined the podcast to discuss the ten-year journey it took to bring that story into the world. Since then, life has changed dramatically. Her second novel, The Moonshine Women, has become an instant USA Today bestseller, and she's already hard at work on book number three.In this episode, we talk about her fascinating new novel set in the Missouri Ozarks, but we also dive into something much deeper: the pressure that comes after success. How do you create when people are waiting? How do you stay true to your voice when everyone has an opinion? And how do you keep moving forward when the expectations, both internal and external, keep getting higher?Whether you're an author, an entrepreneur, a parent, or simply someone who wonders if you're doing enough, you'll find encouragement in Michelle's honest reflections on creativity, criticism, deadlines, and learning that your worth isn't defined by your latest achievement.Show Notes:Michelle Collins Anderson grew up in the Missouri Ozarks and holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri and an MFA in fiction from Warren Wilson College. Her debut novel, The Flower Sisters, was an instant USA Today bestseller and won the Missouri Library Association Literary Award in 2025. Her new novel, The Moonshine Women, was an IndieNext pick in April 2026 and an instant USA Today bestseller. Michelle's short fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and appeared in Nimrod International Journal, Literal Latté, Midwestern Gothic, Elder Mountain: A Journal of Ozarks Studies, Literary Mama and more. She and her husband have three adult children and live in St. Louis with two sister cats and a rambunctious border collie.To purchase her books, go to https://bookshop.org/shop/michelle_collins_anderson Follow her writing journey at: The Creative Pause on Substack or at www.MichelleAnderson.meShow produced by Jordan Overkamp at playroomstudio.net

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Unearth the Secret: The Hidden Treasure of Budapest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-07-27-07-38-20-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A rákoskelebiai dóm harangjai halkan csendültek a messzeségben, ahogy a nyári nap sugarai gyengéden simogatták a színes tetőcserepeket a Mátyás-templomon.En: The bells of the rákoskelebiai dóm softly resonated in the distance as the summer sun gently caressed the colorful roof tiles of the Mátyás-templom.Hu: Bálint a Lépcső utcának dőlt, egyik lábáról a másikra állt, és a turisták sokaságát figyelte, akik fotóklipeket csináltak, és mosolyogtak a színes épület előtt.En: Bálint leaned against Lépcső Street, shifting from one foot to the other, observing the multitude of tourists who snapped photo clips and smiled in front of the vibrant building.Hu: Mellettük tevődéssel teli vásárlók tódultak be a közeli ajándékboltba, ahol a magyar kultúrából és történelemből merített szuvenírek sokasága várt az érdeklődő látogatókra.En: Beside them, shoppers bustling with activity crowded into the nearby souvenir shop, where a plethora of souvenirs drawn from Hungarian culture and history awaited interested visitors.Hu: Bálint izgult.En: Bálint was excited.Hu: Ez az első alkalom, hogy Budapestre látogatott, és mindenképpen szeretett volna egy tökéletes ajándékot hozni a történelem óráihoz.En: This was his first visit to Budapest, and he definitely wanted to bring a perfect gift for his history classes.Hu: Tanárként arra vágyott, hogy valami olyat találjon, amely elbűvöli a diákjait.En: As a teacher, he yearned to find something that would captivate his students.Hu: Azon tűnődött, vajon egy kis Mátyás-templom modellt vegyen-e meg, ami ugyan látványos, de talán túl szokványos volt.En: He pondered whether to buy a miniature model of the Mátyás-templom, which was indeed striking but perhaps too commonplace.Hu: A boltba belépve balsejtelem járta át.En: Upon entering the shop, a foreboding feeling washed over him.Hu: Katával, a mosolygós bolti eladóval váltott pár szót.En: He exchanged a few words with Kata, the smiling shop assistant.Hu: Kata ajánlotta, hogy nézze meg a könyvek között egyet a magyar legendákról.En: Kata suggested he check out a book among those on Hungarian legends.Hu: Bálint kezébe vett egy gyönyörű kötetet, de nem tudott dönteni.En: Bálint picked up a beautiful volume but couldn't decide.Hu: Az agya teletömve volt kérdésekkel.En: His mind was bursting with questions.Hu: Ekkor Erzsébet, a bolt szelídlelkű, idős tulajdonosa lépett oda hozzá.En: Then Erzsébet, the gentle-hearted elderly owner of the shop, approached him.Hu: "Látom, nehéz dönteni" – mondta csendesen.En: "I see it's a tough decision," she said quietly.Hu: "Tudja, sok turista választja a könnyebb utat.En: "You know, many tourists choose the easier path.Hu: De van egy rég elfeledett legenda erről a helyről, amely kevesen ismernek.En: But there's an old forgotten legend about this place that few know."Hu: "Bálint szeme felcsillant.En: Bálint's eyes lit up.Hu: Erzsébet elmesélte neki, hogy egy régi térkép, amit a bolt egy eldugott szegletében talált, egy titokzatos történetet mesél el a templom alatti elrejtett kincsről.En: Erzsébet told him that an old map, found in a hidden corner of the shop, revealed a mysterious story about a hidden treasure beneath the temple.Hu: Az érdekes mondák a magyar történelem rejtélyes világába vezették a hallgatókat.En: The intriguing tales led listeners into the mysterious world of Hungarian history.Hu: Ezzel a történettel Bálint szívében gyengéd melegség költözött.En: With this story, a gentle warmth moved into Bálint's heart.Hu: Eldöntötte, hogy a térképet vásárolja meg.En: He decided to purchase the map.Hu: Az antiknak tűnő darab mesélte el Erzsébet legendáját képeken és néhány sor bájos versben.En: The antique-looking piece narrated Erzsébet's legend through pictures and a few lines of charming verse.Hu: Ahogy Bálint elhagyta az üzletet, a napfény aranyszínűen ömlött végig a templom udvarán.En: As Bálint left the shop, the golden sunlight poured over the temple courtyard.Hu: Már nem tűnődött tovább.En: He no longer pondered.Hu: Az intuíciójára hallgatva és Erzsébet kedvességével gazdagítva, megtalálta azt az ajándékot, amely minden képzeletet felülmúlt.En: Trusting his intuition and enriched by Erzsébet's kindness, he found the gift that exceeded all imagination.Hu: Tudta, hogy a diákjai érdeklődéssel veszik majd kézbe a térképet, és hogy ez a különleges ajándék emlék marad a számukra – legalább annyira, mint neki maga a Mátyás-templom.En: He knew that his students would eagerly take the map in hand and that this special gift would remain a memory for them—at least as much as the Mátyás-templom was for him. Vocabulary Words:resonated: csendültekcaressed: simogattákmultitude: sokaságáplethora: sokaságacaptivate: elbűvölicommonplace: szokványosforeboding: balsejtelembursting: teletömvegentle-hearted: szelídlelkűtough decision: nehéz döntenihidden treasure: elrejtett kincsrőlantique-looking: antiknak tűnőrevealed: mesél ellegend: legendamysterious: titokzatosintriguing: érdekesovercame: gazdagítvaintuition: intuíciójáragentle warmth: gyengéd melegségdecision: eldöntötteenchanted: elmesélteforgotten: elfeledettcorner: szegletébenportrayed: meséltenarrated: mesélte elcharming: bájosmove into: költözöttcoincide: tódultaksunlight: napfényexceeded: felülmúlt

What can a story set 6,000 years ago teach us about courage, leadership, family, and resilience? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Sarah V. Barnes on her Nautilus awards-winning novel A Clan Chief's Daughter, and She Who Rides Horses. Moments with Marianne Radio Show airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.com Critically acclaimed, award-winning novelist Sarah V. Barnes is both a historian and a horsewoman. Her first novel, She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe, received the 2022 Best Indie Book Award for Historical Fiction, among other prizes. A Clan Chief's Daughter represents the second installment in the She Who Rides Horses trilogy. When not writing stories, Sarah practices and teaches riding as a meditative art. She also offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops. Sarah holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, her dogs, and her horses near Boulder, CO.  https://sarahvbarnes.comOrder on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0i5exSzuhttps://a.co/d/07MV45OQ Discover inspiring conversations with today's leading authors, celebrities, thought leaders, and change makers. To learn more about the Moments with Marianne Radio Show, explore guest interview opportunities, connect with Marianne, and follow her on social media, visit https://www.mariannepestana.comExplore the Moments with Marianne Book Club and find your next great read: https://www.mariannepestana.com/book-club/Listen to the Moments with Marianne Radio Show on KMET 1490AM & 98.1FM, an ABC News Radio Affiliate, weekdays at 8:06 AM PT / 11:06 AM ET and Sundays at 10:06 AM PT / 1:06 PM ET. Learn more at: https://www.kmet1490am.com/moments-with-marianne

How were the texts of the Han dynasty different from those in the Warring States period? How historical circumstances shaped philosophical writing, and how texts in turn shaped Han political culture.

Women who reinvent themselves|Joni Marie Iraci AuthorJoni Marie Iraci, author of the award-winning novel "Vatican Daughter," Joni Marie Iraci, author of the award-winning novel "Vatican Daughter," takes the reader behind the walls of the Vatican to expose corruption and the covered up scandal involving a fictional first American pope. It is also the story of a mother's relentless search for her child while coming head-to-head with the most powerful entity on earth. Read about the little known historical fact of the true papal kidnappings of Jewish children in this intriguing novel. "Vatican Daughter," transports the reader to Italy where the ambiance and landscape serve to give the reader a reprieve from the suspense.Links:https://www.jonimarieiraci.com/Tags:podcast for creatives,creative podcast,podcast creator interviews,professional podcast,creative podcasts,podcast host interviews,creative podcast ideas,Creative Writing,Female centric thrillers,Freelance Writer,Historical Fiction,Reinvention,Returning to college in your later years,Women Empowerment,Women's Issues,Writing A BookSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

326 / How do you build a writing career while juggling multiple passions, a day job, and changing marketing strategies? Lars Headbore shares his one-book-a-year strategy as a historical fiction author and how he connects with readers at in-person events. ✨ This week's sponsor is Bookfunnel: https://bookfunnel.comStarting a writing career later in lifeDefining success beyond sales numbersThe power and limitations of in-person book sellingNavigating major shifts in social media and advertisingCreating unique reader subscriptions and resources for educators

By popular demand, Dee has tracked down the elusive author Sebastian Nothwell for an interview about drawing inspiration from antiques and history. Content Warning for discussion of historical surgery and industrial accidents. Sebastian Nothwell is the author of queer historical romance novels such as Mr Warren's Profession, Hold Fast, and The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall, as well as the queer historical romantasy novels Oak King Holly King and Fiorenzo. You can learn more about his work at his website: sebastiannothwell.com

Julie Owen Moylan's debut novel, 'That Green Eyed Girl', was a Waterstones' Welsh Book of the Month and a runner up for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize. She followed that up with '73 Dove Street' and 'Circus of Mirrors'. Her short film, 'Baby Cakes', won the Celtic Media Award and won at the Swansea Film Festival. She's inspired by finding the fiction in history, thoroughly researching a time, so she can dive right in and create her own world. Her new novel is 'Elizabeth and Marilyn', which takes us back to the summer of 1956. It looks at the intertwining lives of Queen Elizabeth II and Marilyn Monroe, two of the 20th Century's biggest icons, and why for a brief moment they were neighbours. We discuss how art inspires her writing, and reminds her she's done the hard stuff before. You can hear why she doesn't believe in writers' block, why the idea came from, and how she has figured out her best writing process.Get a copy at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutineSupport the show -patreon.com/writersroutineko-fi.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin dig into the life of Alexandre Dumas Père — and it's a wild ride. His grandmother was a slave. His father was the French army's first non-white general. Napoleon destroyed that father, and Dumas never forgot it. He wrote over 100 novels, went broke twice, helped unify Italy, and ran the museums of Naples — including Pompeii. Oh, and he wrote a cookbook. Elyse brings the research, Annie brings the questions, and together they make French history genuinely fun. Hit play. And if you enjoy this, subscribe — a new episode drops every Sunday. Listen to the episode ad-free Table of Contents for this Episode Today on the podcast: Alexandre Dumas Podcast supporters Magazine segment Meet Dumas A Larger Than Life Figure His Father the General Napoleon and Injustice Racism and Early Schooling Dreaming of Stories Paris and The Stage Fame Money and Excess Translations and Travels Serialized Novels Begin Collaborators and Style Breakout Novels Travel Writing Begins Debt and Coauthor Fight Theater Gamble and Backlash Exile Trips and Hugo Visit Garibaldi Adventure in Italy Return and Late Career Shift Stroke Death and Legacy Monumental Output Why Films Love Dumas Romance Action Style History Names Not Facts Panthéon Farewell Patreon Thanks and Perks France Heatwave Update Air Quality and Ozone Alerts France Air Conditioning Debate Heat Pumps and Home Comfort Environmental Concerns and Reality Travel Tips for Staying Cool Hydration and Best Travel Timing Cutting Emissions and Going Electric Newsletter and Next Episode Tease Next week on the podcast Final Thanks and Goodbye Copyright More episodes about French history #JoinUsInFrance, #FrancePodcast, #Francophile, #FranceTravelTips, #RealFrance, #AlexandreDumas, #FrenchLiterature, #ThreeMusketeers, #CountOfMonteCristo, #FrenchHistory, #HistoricalFiction, #ClassicLiterature, #FrenchCulture, #FranceTravel, #VisitFrance, #Paris, #LivingInFrance, #MovingToFrance, #TravelPodcast, #FrenchLife