Beyond the Pages

A collection of historical fiction insights, book recommendations, and behind-the-scenes stories. Explore immersive settings, strong women, and the moments that shape unforgettable stories.

What You’ll Find Here

Book recommendations and reading lists
Historical insights and research discoveries
Behind-the-scenes writing reflections

Kerry Chaput on The Secret Courtesan and the Women History Forgot

Kerry Chaput shares the inspiration behind The Secret Courtesan, a novel exploring women artists, historical erasure, and Renaissance Venice.

May 2026 Historical Fiction Releases Worth Reading

From Depression-era Mississippi to wartime Korea, discover eight historical fiction novels arriving in May 2026 that may deserve a place on your TBR.

The Real Spy Tools Used in WWII Resistance Networks

The real tools of WWII espionage were often small and easily overlooked. Discover how radios, codebooks, aliases, and safe houses helped resistance networks survive.

How the Gouzenko Affair Reshaped My Series

I thought I understood where the Cold War began. Discovering the Gouzenko Affair in 1945 Canada reshaped my entire historical mystery series — and the atmosphere my protagonist would inhabit.

Behind the Book: Lisa M. Lane on Murder at the Gasworks

Historian and novelist Lisa M. Lane shares the inspiration behind her Victorian mystery Murder at the Gasworks, including the real history of London’s gasworks and the origins of the Tommy Jones series.