Lorraine Norwood
Photo by Heather South
I Hear Voices
No, not those kind of voices. My characters speak to me. Sometimes they refuse to cooperate with my outline. Sometimes they speak to me in the worst possible places, like the shower or in the car as I'm driving. Sometimes completely new characters pop up out of nowhere and demand to be heard. I'm glad I don't live in the 14th century – I'd be burned at the stake!​
Welcome!
​​I'm a native of Western North Carolina, home to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in English with honors in creative writing and then pursued a career as a professional journalist for over 20 years, working in print and television journalism.
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My lifelong interest in archaeology and all things medieval led me to a mid-life career change. I earned a second degree in anthropology at Western Carolina University followed by a Master’s Degree in Medieval Archaeology from the University of York in the UK. I was 50 years old when I graduated.
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I know! I know! It sounds crazy, but it was one of those things I just had to do. For many years I participated in excavations in the UK, especially those in York (my favorite city) with the York Archaeological Trust. You can find them here.
The Margaret Chronicles (including the first, The Solitary Sparrow) are set in 14th century England, France, and Germany. Writing historical fiction is fascinating and hard, but it's fun. I love getting stuck down rabbit holes finding facts that will add to my story and authenticate my characters and location.
I'm happiest when I'm writing and the magic moment occurs – the words sing and the hairs go up on the back of my neck. It's been a long road, but I'm pleased that at long last after two marriages, two children, nineteen jobs, three college degrees, and twenty-seven moves (one of which was abroad), I have a room of my own in which to write. Virginia Woolf would be proud.
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Sadly, I've lost my feline writing companions, Snickers and Tuffy. Snickers, shown here, enjoyed using the tape dispenser as his pillow.
My best writing buddy, Sally, age 14. Her greatest thrill was a pup cup on Sunday.
Sadly, Sally is frolicking beyond the rainbow, but she holds a special place in my heart.
My newest writing-buddy-in-training is Honeybee. She loves to chew everything, eat everything, chase cats, and have zoomies before bed. She tries to behave herself when I'm writing. Sometimes she's successful.
