Beyond the Pages

A collection of historical fiction insights, book recommendations, and behind-the-scenes stories. Explore immersive settings, strong women, and the moments that shape unforgettable stories.

What You’ll Find Here

Book recommendations and reading lists
Historical insights and research discoveries
Behind-the-scenes writing reflections

Swimming with Spies: Behind the Book Interview

Author Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger steps outside her usual World War II settings for Swimming with Spies, a middle grade novel about the 2014 annexation of Crimea, a girl, and the dolphins caught in the middle of it.

Must Read Historical Fiction New Releases October 2026

From a Gilded Age reformer to a wedding gone wrong, October's historical fiction new releases are full of women refusing to accept the room they've been given. Here are seven worth adding to your list.

5 Cozy Historical Fiction Books for Fall

Five historical fiction novels perfect for slow fall afternoons — atmospheric, dual-timeline, and built for a cup of tea and a blanket.

Masque of Honor by Sharon Virts: The Duel Behind the Story

Sharon Virts didn't set out to write a novel about a duel — she set out to save a house. Here's how a crumbling Virginia estate led her to the true 1819 story behind Masque of Honor.

New Historical Fiction Books – September 2026 (Part 2)

Part two of September's new historical fiction releases — eight more books, including four powerful WWII stories about the women who kept going.