Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
History ReFreshed | Meet The Borgias
History / July 7, 2011

HISTORY REFRESHED…What’s New in Historical Fiction “Over a decade in the making, the Showtime Original Series The Borgias is the sordid saga of one of the most remarkable and legendary families in history.” So goes the tagline for the latest historical drama dominating the airwaves. If you’re one of the viewers fascinated by the series, you’ll be happy to learn that the Borgias inspired not just Borgia series creator Neil Jordan, but a host of historical novelists. Lucrezia, daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the crafty Spanish cardinal who bullied, bought and butchered his way to become Pope Alexander VI, has inspired the most prose.  Though she was the Rodrigo’s adored only daughter, as a pawn in the political machinations of her family, she was married off three times in their ruthless quest to amass wealth and power.  Borgia enemies tarnished her name with allegations of poisonings, incest and debauchery.   Who is the real Lucrezia? MADONNA OF THE SEVEN HILLS LIGHT ON LUCREZIA POISON IN THE BLOOD Veteran historical novelist Jean Plaidy offers two explorations of this intriguing woman.  MADONNA OF THE SEVEN HILLS features Lucrezia’s early life, as she comes of age to find herself, despite her family’s affection, nonetheless…

Catherine Mann | Family Reunions & Writer Retreats!
Author Guest / July 7, 2011

So, imagine the biggest family reunion ever, where the amazing people in your life gather at a hotel.  Nobody has to clean up.  All the meals are at amazing restaurants at some mega-cool tourist site.  Best of all, you get to catch up with so many people at once. Sound awesome?  You bet!  And that’s what the Romance Writers of America (RWA) annual convention feels like to me – the coolest kind of family reunion. I joined RWA when I lived in Shreveport, Louisiana back in… (cough, cough, long time ago, don’t want to age myself too much, LOL!)  Since then, I’ve attended annual RWA conferences held in DC, NYC, Denver, Reno and Dallas.  And it’s always the highlight of the year for me, catching up with my “family” of romance writers and readers. This year’s conference was held in NYC and I hope you’ll enjoy my “family reunion” photos.  I started off the first morning having coffee with reader friends I met years ago through the incomparable Suzanne Brockmann.     The time in between was amazing too – four booksignings – where I got to catch up with readers.  Remembering face to face time with readers is a…