Smuggling invokes images of pirates on the high seas. And yes, Blackbeard and others have been romanticized over time in stories as well as movies. In researching Angus’ arrival in Philadelphia for Death on the Line, I learned that they would not have sailed all the way up the Delaware River to the city. The […]
Fiction is the art of telling a story. But history is based on facts, though we all know that history is written by one side or the other or from one person’s perspective. So I try to keep in mind that old saying “trust but verify.” How important is accuracy in telling a story? What
The other day, my landlady showed up with a bucket of currants. Don’t get me wrong; I love currants. But what was I to do with a bucket load? I froze most of them in small batches in freezer bags by first spreading them out on a tray in the freezer for twenty minutes. But
Dreams really can come true, and recently one of mine did. Since taking part in the Pompeii Food and Drink Project, I have longed to join a hands-on dig. Twelve years later, working with many of those same people, I joined the Melite Civitas Romana Project, examining the ruins of a Roman Domus and its
When you look back at the past, do you think of a simpler life? Or do you consider it a more difficult time? That is a tricky question as it depends more on your circumstances than the basic elements of daily life. But I think it’s a bit of both. Sometimes, I think it would
Those were the days! Or were they? Read More »