The Synopsis Salt to the Sea Philomel Books (February 2016) by Ruta Sepetys is a gripping, heart-wrenching WWII historical fiction that sheds light on the forgotten maritime tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff. My Salt to the Sea: Vintage book review finds us amidst the brutal winter of 1945, as the Soviet army advances through East […more…]
A character’s clothing isn’t just what they wear—it’s who they are. Learn how to dress your characters in vintage style. In historical fiction, fashion can be a doorway into personality, class, culture, and conflict. With just a few well-chosen details, you can conjure a whole life in the tilt of a hat or the tug […more…]
Smells like Ink & Dust: Writing Vintage Settings by Tam Francis Writing Vintage Settings: Vibes There’s a kind of magic in a room lined with cracked bookshelves, the scent of old paper lingering in the air, a slow fan humming quietly in the corner. When you’re writing a novel with a vintage slant, setting becomes […more…]
I’m thrilled to share this article I was consulted on as a vintage expert written April 25, 2025 by Freda Nkrumah Reading Time: 7 minutes In a world where fast fashion and mass-produced home goods dominate, many are turning to vintage decor to bring character, history, and soul into their spaces. But what is considered vintage, and how does […more…]
Mexican Gothic vintage book review by Tam Francis The Synopsis Mexican Gothic Del Rey Publishing (June 30, 2020) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia fits into a 1950s Gothic style horror mystery with hints of Historical Fiction and romance set a small villiage in Mexico. Receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin, Noemí embarks on a journey […more…]
The Synopsis This Ravenous Fate (Sourcebooks Fire, August 6, 2024) by Haley Dennings is the first book in a lush Sapphic vampire duology set against the backdrop of Jazz Age Harlem, where desire simmers beneath the surface, and death prowls the night. It’s 1926, and reapers—once-human vampires cursed by a horrifying affliction—are stalking the streets […more…]
Texas Jailhouse Music: vintage book review by Tam Francis The Synopsis Texas Jailhouse Music, The History Press (May 2, 2016) by Carolilne Gnagy is a lovely Texas-sized non-fiction that brings to light an almost lost history of iconic Texas music and the players behind bars who contributed to it. For a brief moment in Texas […more…]
Why Look for a Fashion Archeytpe? As I am growing older, I find myself attending more funerals and memorials than I’d like to and while sitting in a church, garden, or hall listening to eulogies, I contemplate my own. What will people say about me when I die? What impression have I left people with? […more…]
