I am pleased to announce that I will be a presenting author at this year’s Baltimore Book Festival.  If you love books and live within driving distance of Charm City you owe it to yourself to participate in this celebration of all things literary.  The Baltimore Book Festival is jam-packed with opportunities to meet authors, learn about the genres that interest you, and (for writers) improve your craft.  During the course of three days more than 200 authors will appear on eight stages.

Here are the practical details:

Dates: September 28, 29 and 30, 2012

Hours: Friday and Saturday, 12-8pm and Sunday, 12-7pm

Location: Baltimore, Maryland, in historic Mount Vernon Place (the closest landmark is The Walters Art Museum, located at 600 North Charles Street, 21201)

Admission: The Baltimore Book Festival is 100% FREE!

I hope to see lots of fellow historical fiction devotees (both readers and writers) at the festival.  If you are interested in meeting me, hearing me speak, and/or getting your copy of The Sister Queens signed, here is my personal schedule:

Friday, September 28^th

I will be attending the “Author Meet and Greet” in the Maryland Romance Writer’s tent at NOON (12:00 p.m.)

At 1:00 p.m. I will be on the Maryland Romance Writer’s Stage discussing “Getting the Courage to Write.”  Thinking of writing as a second career?  Always dreamed of being an author? I and my fellow panelists will be providing tips for making the transformation.  Come prepared with questions!

Saturday, September 29^th

I will be participating in THREE exciting  panels on Saturday (again, all on the Maryland Romance Writers Stage)

First, at 1:00 p.m., I’ll be sharing the stage with a collection of fantastic authors, including historical novelists Kate Quinn and Stephanie Dray, for a discussion of what defines women’s fiction and how it differs from romance.  We will also be offering readings from our latest works and giving things away.

At 4:50 p.m. I will be participating in a panel called “Trends and Readings in Historical Fiction.”  Interested in where historical fiction is headed next (new time periods, the exploration of lesser-known figures)?  Then you won’t want to miss this presentation.

Finally, at 5:45 p.m. I have the opportunity to close out my festival participation with my FAVORITE presentation — Sex and Historical Fiction Novelists.  Is there a trend towards more sex in straight historical fiction these days? What role can sex scenes play effectively in historical novels?  What preconceptions do we, as readers and writers, have about the sexuality of the past, that may not stand up to historical reality?  This panel, which also features the amazing Stephanie Dray (Lily of the Nile, Song of the Nile) and Kate Quinn (Mistress of Rome, Daughters of Rome, Empress of the Seven Hills), rocked the house (or rather the Barnes & Noble) in Northern Virginia in April. If you missed it then you will not want to miss it now.  All three of us will have something to giveaway at the discussion’s end.

(Click here for the full schedule at the Maryland Romance Writers Stage – some SUPER historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance writing talent will be featured)

Hope I’ve tempted you to mark your calendar!  I can’t wait to see you!