Portraying the Duke of Bavaria When You Can’t Know All the Facts
Odilo, ruler of the Bavarians and my heroine’s love interest, has a murky background. That means a novelist must fabricate a lot of it, based on her best guesses.
Kim Rendfeld
A lifelong fascination with fairy tales and legends set Kim Rendfeld on her quest to write fiction. A retired communications professional, she has written four novels set in early medieval times. More at kimrendfeld.com.
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Latest posts
Creating an Early Medieval Heroine’s Childhood
Part of writing a novel is creating backstories for your characters, especially your protagonist. Even with historic early medieval characters, that backstory means guesswork and invention.
Release day for ‘Duchess of the New Dawn’
My latest novel, starring the Frankish princess Chiltrude, comes out today, June 16. Find out why she inspired me.
Portraying Charles Martel as a difficult dad
Charles was a hero to 8th century Franks, but people who stood in his way conveniently died. What is a novelist to do when he is the heroine’s father?
A princess without a crown
Chiltrude’s father, Charles Martel, was Francia's mayor of the palace, but he, not that guy on the throne, was really in charge. So, what did that make her?
Was a Dark Ages noblewoman better off as a queen or an abbess?
A high-ranking woman didn’t have any choice in whether she’s be a wife or nun, but either way, she could wield influence.
How Women’s History Affects Fiction in the Dark Ages
If you're looking for gutsy heroines, consider early medieval times