History’s Story
Articles on Ancient History
As she researches for her biblical fiction novels, homeschools, and learns more about the Bible, Roseanna shares her knowledge on biblical and ancient world traditions and history, especially as they make their way into her stories.
Sing We Now of Christmas
Did you know WHY we sing so many catchy songs at Christmas? The answer goes back centuries!
Remember When . . . Jesus Celebrated the Passover?
Tomorrow is the day many churches celebrate as Maundy Thursday--the Passover Thursday, the day Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples. Does your church celebrate this day with a meal? Growing up in a United Methodist Church, we would have a Maundy Thursday...
Remember When . . . the Date of Christmas Was Chosen?
I don't know how many times I've heard over the years that Constantine is the one who decided Christmas would be celebrated on December 25, because it was already a pagan holiday, and this would make it easier on his people to convert to Christianity. I pretty much...
Remember When . . . Children Were Expendable?
As a promised, a bit more about Giver of Wonders today. 😉 At the start of the story, my heroine Cyprus is twelve years old. In the very first scene, she experiences an accident that leaves her paralyzed--and the thoughts and fears are quick to bombard her. Her...
Remember When . . . St. Nicholas Came to Call?
It's only a week and a half until November. That means a week and a half until this releases... In all the excitement of visiting England and seeing the settings for my Bethany House books, Giver of Wonders hasn't been talked about much. But now, with November and...
Remember When . . . History Came Alive
I'm a historical fiction writer--and a historical fiction reader. I have always loved to learn history (or reinforce it) through a fictional story. For me, for my mind, that makes facts stick in ways that an article or non-fiction book seldom make it do. It makes it...
Remember When . . . The City Disappeared?
In the final book of my Ladies of the Manor series, which I just finished writing, I have a character from Russia. Now, I've longed loved Russian literature, which has given me a bit of an understanding of that famed Russian soul, but it's been a while since I've read...
Remember When . . . Easter Traditions Began?
So, this past winter I looked up the start of some of our most long-lasting Christmas traditions--namely, Santa Claus. And what I learned made me determined to revive the roots of the tradition, not abandon them altogether as I'd been tempted to do. The Easter Bunny,...
Thoughtful About . . . Santa Claus and Giving
I admit it. Readily. I have occasionally had issue with the Santa question. I have friends who never introduced the concept, and part of me always wished I had put my foot down on it too. Because I never really introduced it. I just let it creep in. Whenever my kids...
Remember When . . . Nero Fiddled?
One of the most interesting aspects of my current biblical fiction is its position on the historical timeline. Not that anything particularly riveting happened in known history in the months during my story. But that's kinda the thing. Big things had happened a few...
Remember When . . . The Old Was New Again?
I've been enjoying my tenure back in Ancient Rome. Much as I miss my Culper Ring characters, it feels a bit like going home to return to the world of A Stray Drop of Blood and dig into life at the Visibullis villa outside Rome. I haven't chatted a whole lot...
Traveling Times in the Ancient World
Yes, this is posting way late. Because I kinda forgot it was Wednesday. Because I was kinda caught up in writing A Soft Breath of Wind. Which I kinda can't apologize for. 😉 But here, belated, are some random historical thoughts, LOL. Fresco of a Roman merchant boat...
When Miracles Were Real
Medieval Miracles, from a 13th century abridgementof the Domesday Book We live in a world of doubt. With special effects and computer graphics, folks can make pretty much anything look real. Look like it happened. But we know better. Right? It's all just show. Made...
Remember When . . . People Were Implied?
As I've mentioned on here before, I'm in the midst of doing the Bible-in-a-year schedule...which I started in July. So I'm still in Kings and Chronicles (it's the chronological Bible, so things are mixed up.) I've read the Old Testament several times in my life, but...
Remember When . . . They Met on the Rooftop?
Posting late this morning because, er, I totally spaced that it was Wednesday, LOL. We're in the middle of a move, and my schedule is all weird. So as I dried my hair and realized I'd completely neglected my blog, I scoured my mind for a topic. Any topic. So this is...
Random Web Searches for a Historical Novelist
Occasionally people say to me something along the lines of "I could never write historical fiction. It requires too much research!" Well, it does, but a lot of it is small. And seemingly random, LOL. I thought it might be fun today to just share some of the crazy-ish...
Ancient Egypt’s Forgotten King
A painting of Abraham's departure by József Molnár I've always been intrigued by Egyptology, so including Egypt in my new biblical idea I'm toying with is a lot of fun. Of course, trying to pinpoint an exact year to set this thing in is more complicated than it...