Episode Details

Interview with Caren Werlinger The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 23 with Heather Rose Jones

A series of interviews with authors of historically-based fiction featuring queer women.

In this episode we talk about:

• The approach of framing a historic story within a modern character’s interaction with that story. The uses of parallel lives to create reader connection.
• How Caren used dreams and book inscriptions as a way of connecting the present with the past. How present lives can heal past wounds.
• Historic fiction as a way of bringing the past to life and giving women the adventures and stories they’re denied in history books.
• The challenge of researching the small details.
• Using 8th century Ireland as a setting for fantasy adventure. What makes a specific historic context an inviting place for fantastic stories? The “what if” factor. How does history constrain the invention?
• Favourite research sources for early Ireland:
  • https://aliisaacstoryteller.com (Irish folklore and myth)
  • Internet searches for the flora and fauna of 8th century Ireland
• Books mentioned
  • Miserere by Caren Werlinger
  • Neither Present Time by Caren Werlinger
  • The Frontiersmen by Allan W. Eckert
  • Patience and Sarah by Isabell Miller
  • The Chronicles of Caymin 3 volumes beginning with Rising from the Ashes by Caren Werlinger

A transcript of this podcast may be available here. (Transcripts added when available.)

Links to the Lesbian Historic Motif Project Online

• Website: http://alpennia.com/lhmp
• Blog: http://alpennia.com/blog
• RSS: http://alpennia.com/blog/feed/
• Twitter: @LesbianMotif
• Discord: Contact Heather for an invitation to the Alpennia/LHMP Discord server
• The Lesbian Historic Motif Project Patreon

Links to Heather Online

• Website: http://alpennia.com
• Email: Heather Rose Jones
• Twitter: @heatherosejones
• Facebook: Heather Rose Jones (author page)

Links to Caren Werlinger Online

• Website: CJ Werlinger
• Facebook: Caren Werlinger