Beyond the Page #19 | Writing Love Into History with Paula Panariello

In Episode 19 of Beyond the Page, I’m joined by historical romance author Paula Panariello to talk about writing love stories within the realities of the past, the research required to make historical fiction believable, and beginning an entirely new creative chapter after retirement.Paula spent decades reading romance before deciding to try writing one herself. What began with a writing workshop and a very rough first manuscript eventually grew into something she never expected: a genuine love of writing.We discuss the familiar tropes and expectations of romance, why predictability isn't necessarily a weakness, and the challenge of creating characters and historical circumstances compelling enough to make readers care about the journey even when they have an idea where it's heading.Paula also takes us behind the research that goes into her fiction, including learning about deafness in Regency-era England and turning to her 100-year-old aunt for firsthand memories of life during World War II.We also talk about self-publishing, marketing, writing as a hobby without allowing it to become another job, and the moment Paula finally stopped feeling like an impostor and realized she really was a writer.Find Paula: https://paulapan.com/Page Chewing BlogPage Chewing ForumSupport Page Chewing on PatreonAffiliate Links that support the show:Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKnsAudible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vaddKindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdDAmazon Prime Free Trial: https://amzn.to/3UptxI9Join Captivate.fmSend a message via SpeakPipe