Simon Tolkien: From courtrooms to civil wars - writing historical fiction with heart

Simon discusses his latest novel, The Room of Lost Steps - the sequel to The Palace at the End of the Sea - which follows Theodore Sterling’s extraordinary journey from 1930s New York to Civil War Spain.Together, they explore the immense research behind Simon’s sweeping historical duology, how he structures complex projects without losing confidence or momentum, and what it’s like growing up in the shadow (and inspiration) of a literary legend.Tune in for a fascinating conversation about history, storytelling, and the discipline of writing across worlds - both real and imagined.Buy The Palace at the End of the Seaor Buy The Room of Lost Steps (book 2) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersonline.substack.com/subscribe