Alina Adams is the NYT-bestselling author of soap-opera tie-ins, figure-skating mysteries, and romance novels. Her upcoming novel, My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region, which is a follow-up to her previous historical novel, is set for release in November 2022.

As 2021 draws to a close, we decided to reflect on the year that was.

Writing a novel is a monumental challenge that takes years of hard work and sacrifice. After all that hard work, you want your story to have the best chance possible at getting published. For all those writers trying to get noticed, we’ve put together a list we’re calling Ten Tips for Getting Published.

At History Through Fiction, we believe that stories about the past have value beyond their ability to entertain readers—especially those based on real events and people. But how do you harness that value to connect history with the world we see today?

In 1542, Andreas Vesalius needed a printer for his book on human anatomy. But it couldn’t be any printer because he knew his book was revolutionary. Introducing Johannes Oporinus, a dedicated scholarly printer who could help Vesalius change the world.

Leonardo da Vinci. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Of course you’ve heard of him. Best known as an artist and inventor during the High Renaissance, Leonardo was an Italian polymath who excelled in many subjects. What you may not know, and what Leonardo kept private during his lifetime, were his accomplishments in the field of human anatomy. 

To get from one place to another in the sixteenth century, people could go by foot, horse, or cart. The options were limited and no matter their choice, it was slow. Those who went by foot could make 20 to 30 miles a day depending on the conditions. By horse, a traveler could go 30 to 40 miles a day. By cart or carriage, distance covered could be much less because of the deplorable conditions of most roads.

I always thought writer’s block meant blank pages and tufts of hair yanked out from stifled thoughts. My situation was different. I knew what to say. But some malevolent force was preventing me from continuing. This is a story about my first, and I hope last, experience with that debilitating situation, and how I overcame it.

Attention to detail makes Defne Suman’s novel, The Silence of Scheherazade a joy to read. Scenes come alive with meticulous descriptions of the foods, aromas, sounds and sights that are aptly described. Intricate particulars of life during WWI make this book a great read.

Recently, I came across Our Ohio Story, a web serial by Kate McCord that tells an American story through a patchwork of sequential chapters, character sketches, and cultural reflections. It’s so engaging. It’s a wonderful way to use fiction to teach and get people really thinking about history.

On his journey from Brussels to Zante, Jan visits old friends and recounts many memories from his life with Andreas. In this excerpt, Jan and his assistant Marcus have stopped at the University of Padua, a school where Andreas was formerly the chair of surgery and anatomy.