The Historical Novel Society is a ” literary society devoted to promoting the enjoyment of historical fiction.”

They also reviewed Into the Flames and The Wrath of a Righteous Man, bless ’em.

Of Into the Flames they said:  “In this second book of the series, Roy Griffis continues where he left off in the first volume – the violence and dreadful conditions of war, the cheapness of life and the cruelty of man – and all without overstating the gruesome parts… the writing is excellent and easy to read, and the plots are well crafted. Recommended.”

And the reviewer had this response to The Wrath of a Righteous Man:  “In this third volume, Roy Griffis explores the character …

But here is a nice review for “The Old World” from an English website dedicated to Historical Fiction.  

“Without ever sinking to graphic descriptions, Roy Griffis captures the horror and brutality, the terrible injuries and the severe conditions under which those men and women lived for so long. Can love survive these trials?

“With its excellent characterisation, tenderness amongst the carnage and with a fast-paced style, I can thoroughly recommend this book.”

(just as a side note, I find reviews like this fascinating because of things like “with a fast-paced style.”  It’s not how I think of my writing…I just write the story I’m hearing in my head, if that makes any sense.)…

This used to be my ride to work.

Or so I claim in this interview with Historical Fiction author, Maria Grace.

“You can outsource your compassion (and outrage), or you can do something with your own sweat, toil, and money to change the world around you right now. It’s up to us to make God real in the world. We are God’s hands and feet, we are the miracles He promised.”

It was a fun interview.…

“I devoured your “By the Hands of Men” trilogy last week, and am pleased to say that my first thought was to consider how long I should wait until re-reading those three. That has not happened in a very long time.

“High praise intended for you; I’m a life-long voracious reader, with most of my books on paper. I’ll read one, and it might be decades before the same volume floats up again during cleaning or re-arranging to surprise me with a fond memory that inspires a visit.

“Double praise in that when I find a book on the kindle platform *really* good, I’ll purchase it in print. All of your efforts meet that standard.”

Those make my day.

(Oh, …

Ends June 30, 2016.

By the Hands of Men, Book Two:  “Into the Flames” has been nominated.  A vote from fans would be greatly appreciated.  (The fact I’m on the same ballot as Larry Correia and Jim Butcher is pretty exciting, itself)

Now, back to Book Four.…

No Writing Today

Just research.  In fact, as much as work as I have to put into these particular novels, one of the delights of the work is the research.  What I look for in the books I read about regular people in those time (the more obscure the better) is the telling detail, the little facts or quirks or annoyances of daily living that help make that time period feel real and relatable to anyone who’s entered my story.

The joy of research is in discovering something like this:

“A police officer stands next to a member of the “Black Legion,” an underground organization separated from the Ku Klux Klan and actively fought blacks, Jews and Catholics. …