Please join me in welcoming historical author Xina Marie Uhl to the Reading Room today.
Thanks for joining us today, Xina. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do for a living?
I write full time: part of the time I write fiction and part of the time I write nonfiction educational books for young people, though Covid-19 has disrupted the nonfiction work for now. Writing is something I do about 6 days of the week, and it occupies an important part in my day. Some days it is harder than others to actually accomplish, though.
What’s your home life like?
Pretty quiet these days. There’s just my husband and me, three dogs, and one 21-year old cat. I’ve worked from home for 13 years now and it is so nice, though it does have its challenges, like anything.
What are your hobbies?
Hiking, travel, research, photography, and mosaics. Of these, hiking is the one I spend most of my time doing. I find it restorative to be alone in the quiet with just my dog for company.
What’s a dream you have? How are you working toward this dream?
I want to see one of my stories as a video. Along with the help of some talented people, I’m working at filming a short script I wrote. It’s exciting but also somewhat scary since I’ve never done such a thing before. I have a few scripts laying about here and it would be so fun to bring them to life.
What historical period is your favorite? Why?
It’s hard to pick just one. My original favorites are the Ancient Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East. The sweep of history involved so many fascinating expressions of human societies. The Assyrians brought the heavy foot of conquest down on their enemies, and created fantastical art while doing it, the Greeks debated and discovered many philosophical and scientific methods; their development of drama and comedy affects us today, and the Romans evolved from stoic and practical farmers to builders of roads, bridges, and aqueducts that remain today. I could go on and on.
What subjects do you like to give historical talks about? Why?
I’ve taught World History and California History in addition to writing about various time periods such as the Ancient Mediterranean, the Old West, and Antarctica and the Arctic from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, so I’m game to talk about just about anything, though favorite subjects include women, explorers, Alexander the Great, and the artistic and scientific achievements of the ancient world.
Necropolis cover
Xina’s novel Necropolis is a fantasy greatly influenced by ancient history.
When prison guard Conyr rescues a young priest from execution, he sets off a dangerous adventure that brings allies in a scheming politician, a mischievous urchin, and a beautiful tavern server. Together, the group must navigate a maze of power-hungry rivals, skilled assassins, and deadly sorcery. For the young priest’s lost memory holds the key to more than his past, but the fate of two cities.
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How to find Xina online:
Website: www.xuwriter.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/xinamarieuhl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XinaMarieUhl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xuwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xuwriter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Xina-Marie-Uhl/e/B00E7AKNR4
Newsletter signup link http://bit.ly/30qhIAS (Includes a free short story when you sign up)
And please join us for Spooky History on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. (PT) The Zoom meeting is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Library in their series of History Talks held monthly on various historical topics.
Click here to register: bit.ly/HTSpookyHistory
Hope to see you there.
Linda McLaughlin