Month in Review - June 2020

Hello, July! I still cannot believe that the month of June has come and the year is already half way over. Summer is in full swing, and the outdoor fun has just begun. But, before I get sidetracked by our Independence Day events, it's time to recap last month. So now, without further ado, here's the list of the most popular blog posts for June 2020, chosen by you, the readers:

1. Empress Elisabeth of Austria: The Perpetual Traveler

Empress Elisabeth of Austria was indeed a perpetual traveler, and you can follow in her footsteps not only in Austria and her birthplace, Bavaria. You find her trail all over Europe and beyond. Sisi traversed the Mediterranean Sea and visited much of Europe and even the Middle East and Africa. Although her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph, would not allow her to visit the Americas or the Far East, she went where most women of her time had never been...

2. #WritersLife: How to Improve Your Writing Skills

Whether you’re writing a book, a magazine article, or your next blog post, practice makes perfect. You don't become a good writer over night, nor should you stop honing your skill.  There's always room for improvement. Every time you sit down at your desk to work on your newest writing project, things get a little easier. Diligent writers also hone their craft by obtaining skills, tricks, and techniques to make their writing more compelling...

3. Book Cover Reveal: AT THE CASTLE OF DREAMS - A Country Girl Empress Novel

I am so excited to reveal the cover of my upcoming historical fiction novel: AT THE CASTLE OF DREAMS, book five of The Country Girl Empress series. To make it a little more interesting, I decided to turn it into a game. Below, you will find two images of the new book cover, but there's a difference. Can you spot it? If so, go ahead and comment that you found it. Spoiler alert! Some of you might be too excited to keep the answer to yourself, and that's alright. So, if you don't want to risk seeing a spoiler, then you might want to avoid reading the comments at first, and don't forget to read on to get the inside scoop...

4. Eight Simple and Free Ways to Support Your Favourite Author(s)

Writing a book takes many hours and dedication. Often it takes an author away from their loved ones. Most writers get paid much less than you might think; most of them write because they love to tell a story. The one or two dollars they make in royalties per book barely buys that next cup of coffee that fuels the next chapter...

5. Writing Historical Fiction: Where to Start?

When I first conceived the notion to write THE COUNTRY GIRL EMPRESS series, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to cover the entire lifetime of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi), set in 19th century Vienna. While I was quite familiar with her life story and the setting already, I knew there was still so much more I needed to research about this timeframe...

by A. Piper Burgi

Piper is the author of several non-fiction books, and recently added five historical fiction novels to her ever-expanding collection of published writings, In the Shadow of Her Majesty, The Country Girl Empress, A Life in the Shadow of the Crown, The Perpetual Traveler, and Excerpts from the Imperial Diary. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads.

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