Writers want the world to understand their words. Beatrix Potter, William Byrd, and Joseph Pulitzer, however, chose to write in secret code.

Ariel's Lahon's historical fiction, The Frozen River, is a remarkable retelling of the story of Martha Ballard, a real-life American midwife

Olivia Hawker's novel, The Ragged Edge of Night, presents a philosophical question for writers: Should authors share political views?

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is a gem in the WWII treasure trove, based on the life of Lyudmila Pavlinchinko, Russian "girl" sniper.

The Island by Victoria Hislop is an international bestseller about family secrets and the island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony.

Kristin Hannah's novel, The Four Winds,depicts life in The Dust Bowl, but don't make it your only source. Try The Worst Hard Time by Egan.

Gilead is a tribute to the skill of a writer who created a literary work that is readable, relatable, and wondrous all at the same time.

It’s eerie how W. H. Auden’s poem, “September 1, 1939,” written more than 80 years ago, dovetailed so precisely with September 11, 2011.

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain uses the Post Office Mural Project as the basis for a compelling story of art and compassion.

A Family in Six Tones is brutally honest, mother-daughter account of coming to America when Saigon fell and the lifelong effects on both.

Journals and diaries are essential "old-fashioned" methods to preserve snippets of souls: the lives, people, and personalities of our past.