<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Brook Allen, Author]]></title><description><![CDATA[Brook Allen]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:05:25 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.brookallenauthor.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: One Fine Voice]]></title><description><![CDATA[My first foray into singing was when I was five-years old.  I sang in my Church's "Cherub Choir". I even remember the song, the moment we were being led into the sanctuary-- everything . From then on, the musical bug was deeply embedded and as I grew up, I continued my interest in Fine Arts. From performing on-stage in community theater musicals until I was in college, singing on international tours, I fostered my love for music. This past spring,  I retired after teaching music for...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-one-fine-voice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a1b7f04882ec6a3ac2ce36</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:03:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_e21f0dcc3ada48dc87308e2cb630a530~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: Secrets in the Woods]]></title><description><![CDATA[Years ago,  when we first moved to Virginia, my husband and I had been book-shopping. Loaded with several bags of good reads, we exited Books-a-Million , back when they were a brick and mortar store in Roanoke. As we were walking out of the double, sliding-glass doors, we were greeted by chaos. Just across the street,  an apartment building had flames shooting out of the roof.  It was one of those moments that we've all had. Transfixed, we stood by dumbly, hearing sirens wail, people...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-secrets-in-the-woods</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69979e36aab309115cb57105</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:47:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_26115c3ccb9a49ba9ebc6521362e7c44~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[REVIEW: To Chase the Glowing Hours]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Readers, I always try to begin each blog post with a few words of my own, but it has been some time since I have been able to share a post myself. This is the week. As the New Year kicked off, I promised that I would share my favorite historical fiction read of 2025, and I want to squeeze that in before the end of the month. First, plenty of people are asking about my current project.  It's going just great! I am presently just past the half-way mark. One of my timelines is complete and...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/review-to-chase-the-glowing-hours</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697bd0adccf6db790cb10d31</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:38:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_6b988a7a91c54c4f915ca74ecc780d7a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: Red Anemones]]></title><description><![CDATA[I remember every detail of when my mother died.  I remember what I was doing, the moment the nurse came to get me, the haunting moment when I appeared in her doorway and she was staring at me with blind eyes ... Whenever a loved one passes  there are always new and defining moments that transpire, affecting you for the rest of your life. For me, it was the change in my father and how he was responding as his dementia pulled him down yet another run in life's ladder. I think he missed her so...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-red-anemones</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69739fb8b5920f4029e8c2a0</guid><category><![CDATA[Excerpts]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:52:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_5b356ff6c3ef4cde8875df9c49614bff~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_900,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[SPOTLIGHT: The Relic Keeper]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have been a really busy author these past months-- not only writing but having a great time doing some in-person events. One of them was this week. A shoutout to all of the lovely residents at The Glebe in Botetourt County, Virginia! It was a pleasure sharing about WEST OF SANTILLANE with you on Monday. One of my favorite stories is Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens.  I also adore the old 1960's muscial that is based upon it--OLIVER! As a young girl, I memorized most of the songs and would...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/spotlight-the-relic-keeper</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69696dce022bfc82f7647003</guid><category><![CDATA[Spotlight]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:17:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_c66c22e5f9fc4faf8b2d8c21f629942d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: The Poinsettia Girl]]></title><description><![CDATA[Happy New Year, readers! Two days ago,  an author friend shared with me a tradition her family enjoys on New Year's. They each select a word for the year--something that is meaningful to them for the next twelve months. She asked me to join in. I decided on "success". Ever since I began writing seriously, I have always had to place my love of writing on the back-burner whenever something came up. When I became a care-giver to my parents, for instance, I immediately stopped work on my Antonius...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-the-poinsettia-girl</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695d59ff98add1bc15813d7b</guid><category><![CDATA[Excerpts]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:35:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_2e065d8b6e7c4739982aa07d45da8c21~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: A Brief History of Madame Guillotine]]></title><description><![CDATA[While in college, I had a remarkable opportunity to study French in Paris in a summer program at La Sorbonne. Completely immersed and having made a promise among the rest of my team NOT to speak English, I found myself learning another language and at times--toward the end of my stay in France--even dreaming in it! I will ever be thankful to my parents who provided for this incredible experience. It was one of the most valuable summers I can remember. Each afternoon,  after classes, a fellow...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-a-brief-history-of-madame-guillotine</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6942d95bf61440030e70343d</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:26:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_203c174f1ece456ba5c9a330b0d5589a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: Richard, Duke of York~ Who was he?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, readers! It is so hard to believe it's December with the Holidays all before us. It's a busy time, shopping, Christmas or Hanukkah-themed activities, as well as time spent with friends and family. I have been participating in some craft-fairs this year, selling my titles and I have been delighted in the number of sales I have made so far. This coming Saturday, I'll be at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Daleville, Virginia from 9am-2pm, signing books. If you are in the area, stop...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-richard-duke-of-york~-who-was-he</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692f8d186b38ed6c8740859f</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:44:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_4da70fb9277b49f1a370b7f2993e6398~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[SPOTLIGHT: Ravenscourt]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are in that part of the year when life takes off at a frenetic pace. I have been so hurried this past week, even though it has been a "good" sort of busy. I mentioned recently how busy book clubs are keeping me. I'd like to give a shout out to the Fincastle Book Club. They welcomed me warmly on a chilly day and shared some delicious cider and cake while I was there. And right outside the venue was the recently repaired grave of John Hancock--brother to my main character, Julia in WEST OF...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/spotlight-ravenscourt</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691737a698ab608cbd16e5e9</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:37:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_41fbbd41590c4f39b148a4a8b365b38d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: What Remains]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's probably almost time  for me to share another update on my current project, so I promise to do so soon. Let's just say that it's coming along at a brisk pace and I'm really thrilled about it. And like today's excerpt, it's a dual timeline. Dual timelines, split timelines, call them what you will-- are written in more than one setting. Once, I read a TRIPLE timeline, and for me--that was just too much! However, I find dual timelines fascinating. An author must choose two periods. In the...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-what-remains</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690df6b696a2942ab27e39f5</guid><category><![CDATA[Excerpts]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:40:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_1c4540b72ed4406e854f9f25c5e624ec~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_630,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: Why some women turn to crime]]></title><description><![CDATA[1924 . . .  It was the year my parents were born. In today's blog post, it was the year that started with a bang--the bang of hold-up theft in stores and banks. This week, we are learning what makes female criminals criminal ! I'd like to welcome Maryka Biaggio to Brook's Journal.  Maryka is a fellow author in the Historical Novel Society , that I speak about so often. We've shared the joy of historical fiction in quite a few locations now, over the past years. Portland, Maryland, San...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-why-some-women-turn-to-crime</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6906b3ed07f57e48208b0dc1</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:05:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_b46e375755dc42cbb2197d39d957550e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_213,h_320,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: Ugarit~Ancient City]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today,  I had a fantastic opportunity to speak at yet another book-club: the BOOKWORMS! I was able to discuss details about WEST OF SANTILLANE, share my research experience, and the many characters in the story. (Warmest HELLO's to my new BookWorm friends!) Book clubs have really taken off over the past decade and a half.  Two weeks ago, I spoke at the FRIDAY AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB which has been meeting since 1935 !!! Oh, the POWER of books! They draw us in, enable our imagination to take...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-ugarit~ancient-city</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f80e342aa3cc1b596af546</guid><category><![CDATA[Excerpts]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:37:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_cc41c08bd81f4034a7aeb5a332791c70~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: The Blackest Time]]></title><description><![CDATA[I remember exactly what I was doing when the Governor of Virginia closed all schools for two weeks at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic....]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-the-blackest-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68e7d9eca5a8e77456dea5b5</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:24:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_1fb966eddc8a47a4aee1bff25ca37d94~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[INTERVIEW: Nancy Jardine and her Silver Sampler Series]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many times in the past, I've mentioned how amazed I am at the comaradarie between authors. I think that 90% of the authors I've had...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/interview-nancy-jardine-and-her-silver-sampler-series</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68df0dd61bafb97a9dc697d3</guid><category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:22:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_f7cc81b800fe4e408d027ed1d7371d01~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: Brontë 101]]></title><description><![CDATA[I speak as a historical novelist when I say that sometimes it is a real challenge to write women protagonists. Most women through...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-bront%C3%AB-101</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d5e95fd150f325c65ca7ee</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:00:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_b95fad81975447fca6f0157400f26712~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: The Price of Loyalty]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's excerpt is from a novel entitled THE PRICE OF LOYALTY. There have been so many excellent examples of loyalty throughout...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-the-price-of-loyalty</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68cc9440b8eb079bcb064a87</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:03:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_6b8132d85be04537988b35c53a54b14b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: A Seax and its Runes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Weapons. They bring both good and bad--protection and destruction of life. That being said, every historical era has had arms that men...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-a-seax-and-its-runes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68af931a5af02259b125a120</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:17:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_06602a07d0ed4ca5bc36b848549fe824~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BLOG: A Message from Brook!]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Dear Readers, I thought that instead of posting a book recommendation this week,  I'd simply write to all of you, simply to update you...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/blog-a-message-from-brook</link><guid isPermaLink="false">689d37997fbeba54803dd52c</guid><category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 02:07:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_6f9908baa37948ee8c71bf64554c0e04~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXCERPT: Marguerite~Hell Hath No Fury!]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I was a child of only eight or so, I fell in love with English history.  It all began with Camelot. The legends of Arthur and his...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/excerpt-marguerite~hell-hath-no-fury</link><guid isPermaLink="false">688aabb4a1ccd6aa398ab983</guid><category><![CDATA[Excerpts]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:15:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_85c6cdfb8f694b519b81dfcfa908a9ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_750,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[SPOTLIGHT: Unspoken~a Dust Novel]]></title><description><![CDATA[My Uncle Tex was an intriguing individual. He once told me he was just a child when my grandparents took him and my Aunt Jane--his...]]></description><link>https://www.brookallenauthor.com/post/spotlight-unspoken~a-dust-novel</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68817c2e251a639c14876773</guid><category><![CDATA[Spotlight]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2025 01:20:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6db60f_bc80b3ac5598461c9875d958f378e6f3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_675,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>1brookallen</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>