What is your favourite historical period to study and to write about, and why?

For my graduate history degree I'm studying the history of church education - specfically for the Lutheran church of the American Midwest during the 19th century.

The American Wild West. As you could probably tell if you've followed my books at all. Also, the Civil War era.

I really like the nineteen forties for the styles and the strength and camaraderie of the people, but I haven't written anything of that sort yet. I also very much like the Victorian era of Europe, and the middle ages.

Asking me to choose my favorite time period is like asking a father to pick his favorite son.

Medieval times were my first love . . . but the Dark Ages and Victorian England/1700s America are also dear to me. Don't make me choose!

Yaaaaaas.

I'm that way as well. The world has so many fascinating stories.

But my views of history have changed over time. At one time I think history was a way for me to explore the exotic - to vicariously experience cultures and places I couldn't travel to in person. So, I studied Britain, the Eastern Mediterranean, Asia.

Now history is more an attempt to understand why my own culture is the way it is - what can I do to help? So, now I'm studying the Lutheran church in America.

My favorite period to study and write about (or, rather, think about writing about, since the parts of my Big Work that will touch Historical Fiction are rather tangential and low-priority) is the medieval period, with the Classical period a fairly close second, followed by the Renaissance. As a reader, though, I find myself really liking the Regency period.