Howard Aiken 📚
@howard-aiken.bsky.social
Blogger, writer, and reader. Looking for an agent for my real-world 14th-century historical fiction trilogy "Cruz Espada."
Blog: https://unexpectedangles.wordpress.com
Blog: https://unexpectedangles.wordpress.com
#WritersCoffeeClub 17/11: What role does race play in your work?
I'm currently #writing about the 14th-century. There were Moorish kings in Iberia, slaves of all races were sold at markets from Marseilles to Venice and the world's richest man was the King-Emperor of Mali. It was a different time.
I'm currently #writing about the 14th-century. There were Moorish kings in Iberia, slaves of all races were sold at markets from Marseilles to Venice and the world's richest man was the King-Emperor of Mali. It was a different time.
November 17, 2025 at 9:28 AM
#WritersCoffeeClub 17/11: What role does race play in your work?
I'm currently #writing about the 14th-century. There were Moorish kings in Iberia, slaves of all races were sold at markets from Marseilles to Venice and the world's richest man was the King-Emperor of Mali. It was a different time.
I'm currently #writing about the 14th-century. There were Moorish kings in Iberia, slaves of all races were sold at markets from Marseilles to Venice and the world's richest man was the King-Emperor of Mali. It was a different time.
A recent photograph:
September 16, 2025 at 9:24 AM
A recent photograph:
#WordWeavers 16/9: Share a snippet with a colour in it.
Content Warning ⚠️ Colours *and* smells!
This is from Chapter 1 of book 1 of my "Cruz Espada" #histfic trilogy.
The tanneries are still there to this day. Apparently they don't smell quite so bad now.
#writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Content Warning ⚠️ Colours *and* smells!
This is from Chapter 1 of book 1 of my "Cruz Espada" #histfic trilogy.
The tanneries are still there to this day. Apparently they don't smell quite so bad now.
#writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
September 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#WordWeavers 16/9: Share a snippet with a colour in it.
Content Warning ⚠️ Colours *and* smells!
This is from Chapter 1 of book 1 of my "Cruz Espada" #histfic trilogy.
The tanneries are still there to this day. Apparently they don't smell quite so bad now.
#writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Content Warning ⚠️ Colours *and* smells!
This is from Chapter 1 of book 1 of my "Cruz Espada" #histfic trilogy.
The tanneries are still there to this day. Apparently they don't smell quite so bad now.
#writing #WriteSky #writingcommunity
#WritersCoffeeClub 2/9: Describe your aesthetic.
Mine is "Historical Fiction that might actually have happened." So "no" to magical or fantasy characters, and "yes" to consistency with the known historical record. I call it "hard histfic".
#books #writing #histfic #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Mine is "Historical Fiction that might actually have happened." So "no" to magical or fantasy characters, and "yes" to consistency with the known historical record. I call it "hard histfic".
#books #writing #histfic #WriteSky #writingcommunity
September 2, 2025 at 6:55 AM
#WritersCoffeeClub 2/9: Describe your aesthetic.
Mine is "Historical Fiction that might actually have happened." So "no" to magical or fantasy characters, and "yes" to consistency with the known historical record. I call it "hard histfic".
#books #writing #histfic #WriteSky #writingcommunity
Mine is "Historical Fiction that might actually have happened." So "no" to magical or fantasy characters, and "yes" to consistency with the known historical record. I call it "hard histfic".
#books #writing #histfic #WriteSky #writingcommunity
#ScribesAndMakers 7/31. How did it go? Any changes you want to make next month?
I did it! I'd love to add another 10k words during August, but I suspect that will be a steeper hill to climb.
I did it! I'd love to add another 10k words during August, but I suspect that will be a steeper hill to climb.
July 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
#ScribesAndMakers 7/31. How did it go? Any changes you want to make next month?
I did it! I'd love to add another 10k words during August, but I suspect that will be a steeper hill to climb.
I did it! I'd love to add another 10k words during August, but I suspect that will be a steeper hill to climb.
The celebration 🍺.
July 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The celebration 🍺.
Every writer has a basic productivity metric - the word count. When the writing is going well, it is the best assurance one can have that one's time has not been entirely wasted. Without word count, one has nothing, just ideas that never made it onto the page.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
July 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Every writer has a basic productivity metric - the word count. When the writing is going well, it is the best assurance one can have that one's time has not been entirely wasted. Without word count, one has nothing, just ideas that never made it onto the page.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
#WritersCoffeeClub 07/23 Share a description you're proud of.
This is from my current WIP "The Blood Cross" set in Europe and North Africa during the first half of the 14th-century.
#writing #histfic #writesky
#writingcommunity
This is from my current WIP "The Blood Cross" set in Europe and North Africa during the first half of the 14th-century.
#writing #histfic #writesky
#writingcommunity
July 23, 2025 at 5:29 AM
#WritersCoffeeClub 07/23 Share a description you're proud of.
This is from my current WIP "The Blood Cross" set in Europe and North Africa during the first half of the 14th-century.
#writing #histfic #writesky
#writingcommunity
This is from my current WIP "The Blood Cross" set in Europe and North Africa during the first half of the 14th-century.
#writing #histfic #writesky
#writingcommunity
On my morning walk into Oxford along the Isis.
July 11, 2025 at 12:13 PM
On my morning walk into Oxford along the Isis.
Advertise your account with just one image.
June 29, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Advertise your account with just one image.
It's certainly necessary for me. Published authors are a vital inspiration. Just as any good painter will have looked at the work of other artists as they develop their style, a good writer must study the work of other writers.
#writing #histfic #writesky #writingcommunity
#writing #histfic #writesky #writingcommunity
June 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It's certainly necessary for me. Published authors are a vital inspiration. Just as any good painter will have looked at the work of other artists as they develop their style, a good writer must study the work of other writers.
#writing #histfic #writesky #writingcommunity
#writing #histfic #writesky #writingcommunity
One of the advantages of my particular niche in #histfic (real-world, no magic) is that if I'm ever stuck on a plotline, a bit of research on the time I'm writing about will usually turn up real dramatic events that I can weave into my story.
#writing #writesky #writingcommunity
#writing #writesky #writingcommunity
June 22, 2025 at 9:29 PM
One of the advantages of my particular niche in #histfic (real-world, no magic) is that if I'm ever stuck on a plotline, a bit of research on the time I'm writing about will usually turn up real dramatic events that I can weave into my story.
#writing #writesky #writingcommunity
#writing #writesky #writingcommunity
#WordWeavers 17/6: Are there any midsummer traditions in your world?
My world is 14th-century Europe where the tradition is St John's Eve. In "The Blood Cross" my hero's homecoming to Seville is on Noche de San Juan, and there, it is a *spectacular* event #fires
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
My world is 14th-century Europe where the tradition is St John's Eve. In "The Blood Cross" my hero's homecoming to Seville is on Noche de San Juan, and there, it is a *spectacular* event #fires
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
June 17, 2025 at 7:05 AM
#WordWeavers 17/6: Are there any midsummer traditions in your world?
My world is 14th-century Europe where the tradition is St John's Eve. In "The Blood Cross" my hero's homecoming to Seville is on Noche de San Juan, and there, it is a *spectacular* event #fires
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
My world is 14th-century Europe where the tradition is St John's Eve. In "The Blood Cross" my hero's homecoming to Seville is on Noche de San Juan, and there, it is a *spectacular* event #fires
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
Your choice of course, but the cognitive dissonance is striking. From your recent blog:
June 17, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Your choice of course, but the cognitive dissonance is striking. From your recent blog:
#WordWeavers 6. What object would you use to represent the sensory feel of your story?
It would be a "misericorde", a surgical medieval weapon (think heavy duty ice-pick) hidden in a book.
You'll probably have to click on the image below to see the full picture.
#writing #histfic #WriteSky
It would be a "misericorde", a surgical medieval weapon (think heavy duty ice-pick) hidden in a book.
You'll probably have to click on the image below to see the full picture.
#writing #histfic #WriteSky
June 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
#WordWeavers 6. What object would you use to represent the sensory feel of your story?
It would be a "misericorde", a surgical medieval weapon (think heavy duty ice-pick) hidden in a book.
You'll probably have to click on the image below to see the full picture.
#writing #histfic #WriteSky
It would be a "misericorde", a surgical medieval weapon (think heavy duty ice-pick) hidden in a book.
You'll probably have to click on the image below to see the full picture.
#writing #histfic #WriteSky
June 5, 2025 at 8:53 AM
#PennedPossibilities 669 — MC POV: With whom do you feel most at home?
She calls herself Maria, and she owns a sailors hostel in Calais. She's older than me and was born in the Emirate of Granada. Alone together we talk in the Arabic of Al-Andalus. In public we speak French.
#writing #histfic
She calls herself Maria, and she owns a sailors hostel in Calais. She's older than me and was born in the Emirate of Granada. Alone together we talk in the Arabic of Al-Andalus. In public we speak French.
#writing #histfic
May 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
#PennedPossibilities 669 — MC POV: With whom do you feel most at home?
She calls herself Maria, and she owns a sailors hostel in Calais. She's older than me and was born in the Emirate of Granada. Alone together we talk in the Arabic of Al-Andalus. In public we speak French.
#writing #histfic
She calls herself Maria, and she owns a sailors hostel in Calais. She's older than me and was born in the Emirate of Granada. Alone together we talk in the Arabic of Al-Andalus. In public we speak French.
#writing #histfic
My prequel (w/t The Blood Cross) is now truly under way as a WIP. The major plot points are outlined, and the link to the sequel established. Passed 20k words last night. Target is 80k. Commodity markets have driven all kinds of human behaviour for six centuries.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
May 6, 2025 at 8:10 AM
My prequel (w/t The Blood Cross) is now truly under way as a WIP. The major plot points are outlined, and the link to the sequel established. Passed 20k words last night. Target is 80k. Commodity markets have driven all kinds of human behaviour for six centuries.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
May 1, 2025 at 9:13 PM
#ScribesAndMakers 24th April 2025. Show us an image that inspires your creativity (with source in the alt text.)
That would be this, a deeply ambiguous medieval symbol, the Cross of Santiago, and worn by the knights of the Order of Santiago.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
That would be this, a deeply ambiguous medieval symbol, the Cross of Santiago, and worn by the knights of the Order of Santiago.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
April 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
#ScribesAndMakers 24th April 2025. Show us an image that inspires your creativity (with source in the alt text.)
That would be this, a deeply ambiguous medieval symbol, the Cross of Santiago, and worn by the knights of the Order of Santiago.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
That would be this, a deeply ambiguous medieval symbol, the Cross of Santiago, and worn by the knights of the Order of Santiago.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
The implications for 21st century literature could be quite profound 🤔
www.linkedin.com/posts/ken-ch...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ken-ch...
April 23, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The implications for 21st century literature could be quite profound 🤔
www.linkedin.com/posts/ken-ch...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ken-ch...
#WordWeavers 22. Would your story work in a vastly different setting?
"The Plague Angel" might work as a near-future dystopian movie, but I think we have too many of those already.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
"The Plague Angel" might work as a near-future dystopian movie, but I think we have too many of those already.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
April 22, 2025 at 5:39 AM
#WordWeavers 22. Would your story work in a vastly different setting?
"The Plague Angel" might work as a near-future dystopian movie, but I think we have too many of those already.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
"The Plague Angel" might work as a near-future dystopian movie, but I think we have too many of those already.
#writing #histfic #writingcommunity
#WritersCoffeeClub April 22. Earth Day! Who’s your most travelled character? Your least travelled?
That would be my hero. Born in Seville, grew up in Fez, sailed the seas, and now serving in the secret service of the Church.
Least travelled is my heroine, who moved from home to convent at age 12
That would be my hero. Born in Seville, grew up in Fez, sailed the seas, and now serving in the secret service of the Church.
Least travelled is my heroine, who moved from home to convent at age 12
April 22, 2025 at 5:30 AM
#WritersCoffeeClub April 22. Earth Day! Who’s your most travelled character? Your least travelled?
That would be my hero. Born in Seville, grew up in Fez, sailed the seas, and now serving in the secret service of the Church.
Least travelled is my heroine, who moved from home to convent at age 12
That would be my hero. Born in Seville, grew up in Fez, sailed the seas, and now serving in the secret service of the Church.
Least travelled is my heroine, who moved from home to convent at age 12
One of the benefits of being a "planner" in #writing is that the task presents itself in manageable chapters which can be written in any order. Today, I am writing the final chapter of my prequel (W/T "The Blood Cross"), which will link the reader to Chapter 1 of "The Plague Angel".
#histfic #WIP
#histfic #WIP
April 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM