Posts by Syrie James
Victorian Christmas Traditions
I put up my Christmas tree last weekend (I love how it makes the house look so sparkly and bright!) and it got me thinking about the way we celebrate this special holiday and about the origins of its traditions. Did you know that we owe many of our most popular Christmas traditions to…
Read MoreThe London House by Katherine Reay — Book Review
From the desk of Syrie James I love historical fiction, women’s fiction, and novels with multiple timelines. It’s a challenging structure for an author, however, since it requires the creation of two or more protagonists who live in different eras, and separate stories that are not only equally weighted, well-structured, and compelling, but must be…
Read MoreHaunting Halloween Giveaway!
Dear Readers, ‘Tis the season for things that go bump in the night! To celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year, I’ve partnered with 5 amazing authors to present a HAUNTING HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY! The lucky winner of this contest will receive all six of the novels pictured below in paperback format. Scroll down to enter.…
Read MoreDown a Dark River by Karen Odden — Book Review
From the desk of Syrie James I’m always up for a good Victorian murder mystery, and I was excited to dive into Karen Odden’s Down a Dark River, the first book in her new Inspector Corravan Mystery series. It’s 1878 in London, when a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse drifts down the Thames.…
Read MorePreview of Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
Hello dear readers, I have the great pleasure to share a first look at the next historical fiction novel from Natalie Jenner, author of the international bestseller The Jane Austen Society. I’m a huge fan of Natalie Jenner and, as you know, of All Things Jane Austen, and I’m excited to share everything I know…
Read MoreVictorian Capes and Cloaks: A Dramatic Fashion Statement
When I was writing my novel Dracula, My Love, I came to a crossroads and knew I was in trouble. In the book, my heroine Mina Harker falls madly in love with Dracula, a brilliant, charismatic, devastatingly handsome being who may not be the evil monster everyone supposes. I couldn’t help falling a little…
Read MoreVictorian Gothic Giveaway!
Hello dear readers! I’m so excited to introduce you to bestselling historical romance novelist Mimi Matthews, whose Gothic suspense novel, John Eyre, releases today. Mimi’s new novel caught my eye because it merges two classics together—Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Bram Stoker’s Dracula—two books that I adore so much, I’ve written novels inspired by both of them. I…
Read MoreJohn Eyre by Mimi Matthews — Book Review
From the desk of Syrie James When I heard that John Eyre was a gender-swapping version of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre mashed up with elements from Bram Stoker’s Dracula—two of my favorite Gothic novels of all time—I was intrigued. I’m such a huge fan of these books that I’ve written novels inspired by both of…
Read MoreAuthors’ Chat with Syrie James and Natalie Jenner
Hello dear readers! I’m delighted to share this video interview between me and the fabulously talented author Natalie Jenner in honor of the paperback release of her wonderful novel, The Jane Austen Society. Please join us at the link below as we discuss the writing of our novels, how we were influenced by Jane…
Read MoreBook Giveaway: Signed Copy of Jane Austen’s First Love
Hello dear readers, To celebrate the launch of my new website, I’m giving away a signed copy of Jane Austen’s First Love, a novel that I’m honored to say was a Library Journal Editor’s Pick of the Year, and the Historical Novel Society called a “masterwork.” Based entirely on real people and inspired…
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