Delighted to receive a surprise in the mail: the Cyrillic edition of Catherine, Called Birdy. #CatherineCalledBirdy #medievalliterature #middlegrade #historicalfiction

Catherine, Called Birdy: bit.ly/3xGYDvS

When was England’s Elizabethan Era? From 1558 to 1603, during which Queen Elizabeth the First ruled England. 45 years. My books Alchemy and Meggy Swann and Will Sparrow’s Road are both set during her reign. #ElizabethanEra #alchemy #theater Meggy: bit.ly/3pYrzgB Will: bit.ly/3ABAjhQ

In 1997, The Ballad of Lucy Whipple won the John and Patricia Beatty Award from the California Library Association. I am delighted that Lucy and I received this recognition. We find ourselves among an outstanding list of books. I hope you’ll read them. bit.ly/4hBYmBo

“We heal in community … we heal with the support of others who have been through what we’ve been through, even if their personal stories differ from ours. “ I invite you to read about the important storytelling projects led by poet, writer, and educator Merna Hecht. bit.ly/4AFmCLC

I used David Macaulay’s Castle for researching my books. Read one or both; watch the PBS video “Castle.” You might even find a castle-building kit to apply what you’ve learned.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcK1...

Around the time of my novel The Midwife’s Apprentice, Joan of Navarre became Queen of England after marrying Henry IV (in 1402). Her mother was Jeanne de Valois, daughter of the king of France. Her father was Charles II, King of Navarre. Learn more about Joan of Navarre. bit.ly/3ThL5Gc

A big thanks to Erica for recommending Catherine, Called Birdy as one of her favorite Newbery Award Books: "This short novel is told in a diary format and is 100% hilarious. Ages 9 and up." #medieval #historicalfiction #humor What Do We Do All Day: bit.ly/4gYM6vP Book: bit.ly/3xGYDvS

60 years before Catherine, Called Birdy is set (1290), Richard, Earl of Cornwall (brother of Henry III) “exchanged three of his manors for a small parcel of land on the north Cornish coast.” Why? Tyntagel features prominently in the story of King Arthur. #BritishHistory #KingArthur bit.ly/46YgZdR

In BookPage Alice Cary wrote: “Despite serious topics, Millie McGonigle is a lively book filled with humor, love and transformation. Millie gradually learns to navigate her grief, deal with her fears and shift her focus from war and death to life and the living.” bit.ly/4zUZYi1 Book: bit.ly/3uFu1sM

Enjoying my three books set in medieval times? You may enjoy The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer. He transports you back in time, providing answers to questions typically ignored by traditional historians. bit.ly/4dfQWCs

Road trip? Perhaps you remember the Battle of Hastings in 1066? Ruins of Battle Abbey built by the Normans when William, Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England. William built the abbey to commemorate lives lost during the Battle, after Pope Alexander II ordered him to do so. bit.ly/3VbAxZB

Our summer road trips involved a number of medieval sites around England. Catherine, Called Birdy is set in 1290. Kirkus Reviews said about my first book: “Birdy’s tenacity and ebullient naiveté are extraordinary; at once comic and thought-provoking, this first novel is a delight.” bit.ly/3172bXA