Scott Oden
@orcwriter.bsky.social
Author of whimsical tales disguised as found manuscripts. Specializing in mouse-run libraries, and gardens where magic blooms between dewdrops. The mushrooms insist they're 'philosophically inclined.'
https://claudemoreaugarden.wordpress.com/
https://claudemoreaugarden.wordpress.com/
Pinned
Scott Oden
@orcwriter.bsky.social
· Jul 22
Books by Scott Oden
Since 2005, I’ve been writing a myriad of historical adventure, fantasy, and sword-and-sorcery . . . as well as a side-trip into cozy fantasy in the style of Grahame and Milne. This page is m…
scottoden.wordpress.com
In a strange crashing together of worlds, I created a page where you can find ALL of my author-direct work -- from straight historical fiction to historical fantasy to the gentlest of cozy fantasy:
scottoden.wordpress.com/books-by-sco...
scottoden.wordpress.com/books-by-sco...
Let's take a moment to catch our breath, hydrate, and ponder what you'd like to see in the pages of my newsletter! There's a poll!
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
A Moment's Pause
Let Your Voice Be Heard . . .
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Let's take a moment to catch our breath, hydrate, and ponder what you'd like to see in the pages of my newsletter! There's a poll!
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Most of us view kings through the lens of Alexander, or through their fictional counterparts. The late Achaemenid Persian kings lived their lives in a state of scripted and stage-managed seclusion. Witness the average day in the life of Darius III . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
The Theatre of Royalty
A Day in the Life of Darius III
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Most of us view kings through the lens of Alexander, or through their fictional counterparts. The late Achaemenid Persian kings lived their lives in a state of scripted and stage-managed seclusion. Witness the average day in the life of Darius III . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
This whole notion of "finding yourself" as you age presupposes you've already been successful enough to afford to spend vast amounts of money on retreats and post-modern ashrams. But what if you're a cashier or a clerk? Sorry, no self-revelation for you . . .
www.npr.org/2026/02/09/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/09/n...
Need a new path in midlife? There's a school for that and a quiz to kickstart it
Schools across the country are offering courses and retreats for people 50+ who want to reinvent themselves and embrace lifelong learning and discovery.
www.npr.org
February 15, 2026 at 6:01 PM
This whole notion of "finding yourself" as you age presupposes you've already been successful enough to afford to spend vast amounts of money on retreats and post-modern ashrams. But what if you're a cashier or a clerk? Sorry, no self-revelation for you . . .
www.npr.org/2026/02/09/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/09/n...
Reposted by Scott Oden
I wrote this 7 years ago, but its worth a share here for Valentine's. What initially interested me about #Hephaistion was the fact his friendship with/love for #AlexandertheGreat (and Alexander's for him) seems to have been the Real Deal.
#ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #blueskyancient #Hephaestion
#ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #blueskyancient #Hephaestion
Alexander & Hephaistion: Historical Besties for V-Day
awomanscholar.blogspot.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:01 PM
I wrote this 7 years ago, but its worth a share here for Valentine's. What initially interested me about #Hephaistion was the fact his friendship with/love for #AlexandertheGreat (and Alexander's for him) seems to have been the Real Deal.
#ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #blueskyancient #Hephaestion
#ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #blueskyancient #Hephaestion
Left saddened by Funeral Games, Renault's last novel, I picked up a newer alternative: Shadow of the Lion by Ruth Kozak:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Funeral Games
Mary Renault's Final Novel Just Hits Wrong
open.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Left saddened by Funeral Games, Renault's last novel, I picked up a newer alternative: Shadow of the Lion by Ruth Kozak:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Reposted by Scott Oden
Part 2 of conspiracies: the Philotas Affair (on which I've published). Only half an hour, so not an in-depth look, but covers the main bits, including the actual conspiracy vs. Philotas getting caught up in it via "crisis thinking."
#ancientbluesky
#classicsbluesky
#blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat
#ancientbluesky
#classicsbluesky
#blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat
Conspiracies at Alexander's Court, pt. 2: Philotas Affair
YouTube video by Let's Talk Alexander the Great & Ancient Macedonia
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Part 2 of conspiracies: the Philotas Affair (on which I've published). Only half an hour, so not an in-depth look, but covers the main bits, including the actual conspiracy vs. Philotas getting caught up in it via "crisis thinking."
#ancientbluesky
#classicsbluesky
#blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat
#ancientbluesky
#classicsbluesky
#blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat
Writing ancient dialogue that sounds right is equal parts art, craft, educated guesswork, and sheer necromancy . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
The Language of Ghosts
Writing Ancient Speech That Sounds Ancient Without Being Unreadable
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Writing ancient dialogue that sounds right is equal parts art, craft, educated guesswork, and sheer necromancy . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
As a kid, I got told I can be anything I want to be; as an adult, I tell myself everyday I'm a failure because I'm not in a place of career/financial safety.
I'm a horrible parent to myself . . .
I'm a horrible parent to myself . . .
Likewise, but “If you’d just APPLY yourself” can still reliably make my shoulders go up around my ears.
February 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
As a kid, I got told I can be anything I want to be; as an adult, I tell myself everyday I'm a failure because I'm not in a place of career/financial safety.
I'm a horrible parent to myself . . .
I'm a horrible parent to myself . . .
I'm having a Bad Brain night, guys. The world, work, stress about trying to live and thrive in a world that doesn't care if I do either . . .
All the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" recriminations are bouncing around in my skull. Not sure how to fix any of it. Not sure if one can even write one's way...
All the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" recriminations are bouncing around in my skull. Not sure how to fix any of it. Not sure if one can even write one's way...
February 11, 2026 at 3:50 AM
I'm having a Bad Brain night, guys. The world, work, stress about trying to live and thrive in a world that doesn't care if I do either . . .
All the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" recriminations are bouncing around in my skull. Not sure how to fix any of it. Not sure if one can even write one's way...
All the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" recriminations are bouncing around in my skull. Not sure how to fix any of it. Not sure if one can even write one's way...
Age verification?
My first strongly worded letter was about some sub-standard copper I was duped into buying . . .
My first strongly worded letter was about some sub-standard copper I was duped into buying . . .
Age verification? My palace economy was decimated by the Sea Peoples
February 11, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Age verification?
My first strongly worded letter was about some sub-standard copper I was duped into buying . . .
My first strongly worded letter was about some sub-standard copper I was duped into buying . . .
Age verification?
I worked at Blockbuster when JURASSIC PARK came out. On VHS.
I worked at Blockbuster when JURASSIC PARK came out. On VHS.
Age verification? My first anime was "Space Cruiser Yamato"
Age verification? On my middle school basketball team we all chewed lemon-lime Gatorgum.
February 10, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Age verification?
I worked at Blockbuster when JURASSIC PARK came out. On VHS.
I worked at Blockbuster when JURASSIC PARK came out. On VHS.
Using seemingly random bits of detail to shed light on characters . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Carved Horses and Curse Tablets
Using Ephemeral Details to Illuminate Character
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Using seemingly random bits of detail to shed light on characters . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
I would rather write one book brimming with humanity, its ills and foibles, its beauty and its truth, than 1000 cookie-cutter books like this article describes . . .
“If I can generate a book in a day, and you need six months to write a book, who’s going to win the race?” God this is bleak
The New Fabio Is Claude
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I would rather write one book brimming with humanity, its ills and foibles, its beauty and its truth, than 1000 cookie-cutter books like this article describes . . .
Reposted by Scott Oden
February 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Historical fiction as art restoration, and in some cases . . . art forgery:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
An Empire of Air
Historical Fiction as Art Restoration (or Art Forgery)
open.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Historical fiction as art restoration, and in some cases . . . art forgery:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Using incomplete information, biased opinion, and outright lies to build a believable world . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Beneath the Steel, Silk, and Gold
Reconstructing Achaemenid Daily Life from Fragments and Greek Distortions
open.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Using incomplete information, biased opinion, and outright lies to build a believable world . . .
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Went looking for upcoming ancient historical fiction titles, and I came away pleasantly surprised. The genre's not dead, per se, but it is kind of in hibernation . . .
Here's an overview of what's coming, courtesy the Historical Novel Society.
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Here's an overview of what's coming, courtesy the Historical Novel Society.
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Don't Light That Pyre Just Yet . . .
A Look at Upcoming Titles in Ancient Historical Fiction
open.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Went looking for upcoming ancient historical fiction titles, and I came away pleasantly surprised. The genre's not dead, per se, but it is kind of in hibernation . . .
Here's an overview of what's coming, courtesy the Historical Novel Society.
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Here's an overview of what's coming, courtesy the Historical Novel Society.
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
#BookSky, I'm looking for recent and upcoming titles in the sub-genre of ancient historical fiction (straight HF, so no alt HF or historical fantasy), similar to GATES OF FIRE and the like. I'm most interested in Classic Mediterranean, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Phoenician, etc. Can you suggest any?
January 30, 2026 at 3:47 AM
#BookSky, I'm looking for recent and upcoming titles in the sub-genre of ancient historical fiction (straight HF, so no alt HF or historical fantasy), similar to GATES OF FIRE and the like. I'm most interested in Classic Mediterranean, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Phoenician, etc. Can you suggest any?
If the recent posts I'm writing on Substack strike your fancy, then perhaps drop a tip in Ye Olde Tip Jar!
ko-fi.com/K3K72OC14
ko-fi.com/K3K72OC14
Buy ScottOden a Coffee
Become a supporter of ScottOden today!
ko-fi.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:34 AM
If the recent posts I'm writing on Substack strike your fancy, then perhaps drop a tip in Ye Olde Tip Jar!
ko-fi.com/K3K72OC14
ko-fi.com/K3K72OC14
The benefits and perils of first and third person, and how to decide which voice is best for your ancient historical fiction tale. Brought to you by the decision to turn The Persian from a third person chronicle to a first person confession:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Confession Versus Chronicle
First vs. Third Person in Ancient Historical Fiction
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:17 PM
The benefits and perils of first and third person, and how to decide which voice is best for your ancient historical fiction tale. Brought to you by the decision to turn The Persian from a third person chronicle to a first person confession:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
Bring back the mass-market paperback!
Inspired by @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social, a distinctly Logan's humor elaboration of why I love Mass Market Paperbacks.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Devotion to the Paperback
Why Fat Books are Dumb and Wrong
substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Bring back the mass-market paperback!
A look at frame stories -- what they are, why use them, and how to make the best of them in your own work:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
The Architecture of Memory
Frame Stories in Historical Fiction
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:43 PM
A look at frame stories -- what they are, why use them, and how to make the best of them in your own work:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
The key to any successful historical novel is research: how much, what sources, building your library, and when to stop:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
The Bugbear of Research
How Much Is Too Much?
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:22 PM
The key to any successful historical novel is research: how much, what sources, building your library, and when to stop:
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/soden/p/...
