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Medieval Studies is FUN!!!
Medieval Studies as a field has gone from the quintessential example of the useless humanities degree that will qualify you for LiKe nO jObS to a strikingly relevant field of expertise that both will save humanity from AI and explains some of the baffling and harmful decisions of the current US administration and their adjacent…
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Meet Stephen
This is the first in a series of blog posts in which I introduce my readers to the main characters, setting, and history of Breaking the Silence ahead of its release, which I am pleased to announce will be early this summer! Preorder your physical copy here! Digital orders coming soon! Meet our Main Character…
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A Cover for Breaking the Silence!
Here it is! The cover features our hero Stephen, an orphaned son of a king who enters a monastery as a novice for safe keeping. Stephen is shown here wearing the black robe of the type worn in Benedictine monasteries in the middle ages. In his arms he holds a cythara, a guitar-like instrument popular…
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How NOT to be Distracted while Writing a Novel
Or anything, really If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’ve tried everything. Or you want to try something new. Or you find yourself getting distracted while writing and are curious about things you might try. This post is not so much advice for the distracted as a product review. But it is an honest…
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I have a shiny first draft!!!!!
I have had it for awhile now, but what with the busyness of the holiday season (and the month of December in general, especially for parents and teachers), I haven’t had a chance to announce it. But… Taming the Beast, sequel to my forthcoming young adult historical fantasy novel Breaking the Silence, officially exists! It…
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Writing When Sick :(
I’m on day 34 of a writing challenge, and I would be lying if I said it was smooth sailing the entire time. About 2/3 of the way through October, I came down with a nasty cold. These are my reflections on powering through writing when I felt like doing anything but. It is inevitable:…
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Time for a Challenge!
It’s fall, and for a good portion of writers who grew up with the NaNoWriMo novel writing challenge, creativity is in the air. And to be honest, I’ve never been able to keep up a daily writing habit without a good, solid deadline. At this point I’ve been writing for decades, but it doesn’t matter…
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I Love a Good Map
In this Breaking the Silence summer update, I muse about maps and what they can add to the experience of reading a novel. (Yes, there will be a map at the beginning of Breaking the Silence, and I’m really excited about it!) Geography and the Novel Geography is hard. Especially to the non-spatially inclined, figuring…
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The Art of the Historical Note
I suppose I knew all along, but never gave much thought to, the fact that once I finished a book I would have to write a whole bunch more things before I could publish it. A whole bunch more things in other genres. One of those things is the jacket blurb, which you can view…
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Announcing: Breaking the Silence
I’m excited to announce that I have officially signed a contract with Tree Shadow Press to publish my novel Breaking the Silence. In the coming weeks and months, look for a new page dedicated to Breaking the Silence, a cover reveal (I have seen the initial drawings, and I’m really excited!), and information about publication…
Out This Summer!
Tiggy McLaughlin
Tiggy McLaughlin is the author of several works of fiction and nonfiction. A historian of the later Roman empire by training, she has published academic articles focusing on the fifth and sixth century in Gaul and the wider Mediterranean world. Her favorite type of music is pop music of all decades, but the dance pop from ca. 2010 whose lyrics reference dancing in the club will always hold a special place in her heart. She lives in Erie, Pennsylvania with her husband and three boys. Her home is very noisy, and she likes it that way.
Tiggy McLaughlin 