Tag: York
Living In History
Some were just curious. Some clearly thought I was crazy because their image of England is London and the south.
My standard reply was two fold. First, why NOT York? And second that when I was in York I had the ability to live in history, linger over teas and knock around in pubs. In other words–my dream life.
Then I got the Talent Visa and–after dreaming of it for a decade–moved to the center of York, with Clifford’s Tower as a near neighbor and an easy walk to the Minster for Evensong.
As the end of my first year living in the city, I still get asked why I chose York. So I thought I’d do more sharing, yes of pubs and teas, but most of how I am not kidding when I talk about living in history.
So visitors to the UK, come north. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.
New Year. New Adventure. New Home .
It occurred to me, as I sit at my desk looking out at the surprisingly blue winter sky, that I made a major change in late 2025 and never let my readers know.
After three-plus decades living in Washington, DC metro area, I am now living in York, England and LOVING IT.
I’ve been visiting York for a decade. But now I am not on vacation—I am home.
*Cue the trumpets* I am delighted to tell you all that I’ve been granted the UK Global Talent Visa in Literature as a novelist and that makes the UK my home. A home I am enjoying immensely.
Living in York gives me a chance to connect more closely with friends among the UK historical fiction community. I’ll be sitting on a panel at the 2026 Historical Novel Society Conference in Maynooth Ireland with the uber talented Michelle Moran and Chris Cevasco. I hope to connect with even more of my colleagues during the three-day conference.
Best of all—for this history addict—daily life in York means being steeped in and surrounded by the past, from the rear wall of one of my favorite pubs (The House of Trembling Madness) which dates back to 1180 AD, to the glorious interior of the York Minster, to the countless historical buildings I pass daily just running round the shops or walking to my fitness classes.
York brings history to life, just as good historical novels do. As I hope that I do and will continue to do here at my new desk, with my new view.
