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History Through Fiction - The Podcast

Colin Mustful
Marilyn Monroe
World War II
The Choir
Eve Arnold
The Last Of Earth
Bruges
Fordlandia
Publishing Industry
Harlem
Great Game
Short Fiction
Photography
Imperialism
Tibet
British Empire
Cartography
Manfred Von Richthofen
World War I
Story Craft
Marguerite Porete

History Through Fiction founder and editor Colin Mustful talks with historical novelists about their craft of weaving history and fiction to create engaging, historically detailed stories.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes159Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Fiction

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Artwork for History Through Fiction

Latest Episodes

In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, Colin Mustful speaks with author Jann Alexander about Unspoken, her Dust Bowl novel set in the Texas Panhandle. Through the terror of Black Sunday, the threat of dust pneumonia, and the wrenchi... more

In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, Colin Mustful speaks with Shawn P. McCarthy, author of Local Honey, a novel set in 1951 Massachusetts where postwar optimism collides with class division, lingering trauma, and the uneasy cost ... more

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In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, Colin Mustful speaks with Ray Welling, author of Byline for the Dead, a historical mystery-thriller rooted in the 1934 Auto-Lite strike and the violent labor uprising known as the Battle of Tol... more

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In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, Colin Mustful speaks with novelist Lee-Anne McAulay about her debut historical novel Echoes on a Fractal Line, a dual-timeline story set between present-day Scotland and the 1715 Jacobite Risin... more

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In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, Colin Mustful speaks with Joe Paone, author of The Baron’s Daughter, about forbidden love, family duty, and the human cost of war in southern Italy on the eve of World War I. Listeners are invi... more

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In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful speaks with Brynn Barineau, author of Jungle of Ashes, about the astonishing true history behind her novel: Henry Ford’s attempt to build a rubber empire in the Brazilian Ama... more

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In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful is joined by author Tiffany L. Warren to talk about A Harlem Wedding—her richly researched historical novel inspired by the real life of Yolande Du Bois, daughter of W.E.B. D... more

In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful talks with historical novelist Veronica Leigh, author of The Keeper of Lost Daughters, about a story born at the crossroads of war, memory, and faith. Set in wartime and post... more

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Recent Guests

Brynn Barineau
Author of Jungle of Ashes; lives in the US
Independent author, History Through Fiction title
Episode: Brynn Barineau on Writing Jungle of Ashes and the Rise and Fall of Fordlandia
Tiffany L. Warren
Author of A Harlem Wedding
Episode: A Harlem Wedding with Tiffany L. Warren
Veronica Leigh
Author of The Keeper of Lost Daughters
Read More Press
Episode: The Keeper of Lost Daughters: Veronica Leigh on Faith, Family, and Post‑War Poland
Katherine Scott Crawford
Author of The Miniaturist Assistant
Episode: Katherine Scott Crawford on The Miniaturist Assistant, Memory, and a Haunted Charleston
Liisa Kovala
Author of Like Water for Weary Souls
Author
Episode: Empowering Women Writers with Liisa Kovala
Janet Rich Edwards
Author of Canticle
Canticle (novel)
Episode: Faith and Defiance in Medieval Bruges with Janet Rich Edwards
Cecil Beckett
Winner of History Through Fiction's third annual short story contest; author of The Blood of Englishmen
Independent author
Episode: Season 10, Episode 8 - Cecil Beckett
Carol M. Cram
Author of The Choir
Author, The Choir
Episode: Season 10, Episode 7 - Carol M. Cram
Mirta Ojito
Author of Deeper Than the Ocean
History Through Fiction (press/brand affiliated with the author)
Episode: Season 10, Episode 6 - Mirta Ojito

Host

Colin Mustful
Host of History Through Fiction and related podcast output; founder/editor of History Through Fiction

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Faith and Defiance in Medieval Bruges with Janet Rich Edwards
Q: Tell me about Aleys and how you built her character in relation to Marguerite Porete.
Aleys is a headstrong, mystical young woman inspired by Marguerite Porete; her journey through potential excommunication versus personal integrity becomes the emotional and moral backbone of the story, shaped by the Beguine community and the era's religious turbulence.
Season 10, Episode 1 - Vanessa Riley
Q: How do you balance historical accuracy with storytelling and reader engagement?
She describes her process of heavy research, cross-referencing archival material, and then filling gaps with informed conjecture that remains faithful to the era's realities, while prioritizing character-driven narrative and emotional truth.
Season 10, Episode 1 - Vanessa Riley
Q: What drew you to this time period and Jacquotte Delahaye as a heroine?
Riley explains that Jacquotte embodies the tension between traditional roles for women and the urgent need for autonomy in a world where piracy and empire collide; she chose a figure who could illuminate the broader African and Caribbean histories often left out of mainstream narratives.
Empowering Women Writers with Liisa Kovala
Q: Just to give us kind of a look behind the curtain, how from a craft standpoint do you weave all that together? Do you have an actual board with scenes and postcards or what do you do?
She describes using spreadsheets, timelines, and large butcher-block paper with movable notes to map the narrative, ensuring the mystery elements unfold logically while preserving character development and the historical context.
Empowering Women Writers with Liisa Kovala
Q: I'm excellent. I wanna just start right away here, dive into the setting of this novel, Northern Ontario, 1930s. Why did you choose that setting, and what makes it a part of the story?
Kovala explains her personal connection to Sudbury and Northern Ontario, the Depression-era experiences of Finnish immigrant families, and how the setting shapes the characters' struggles and opportunities, including the influx of women into urban life and the mining economy's impact.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About History Through Fiction

What is History Through Fiction about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Historically grounded conversations with historical novelists, focused on how researchers translate real events, places, and figures into engaging storytelling. Episodes cover a mix of eras—from colonial and maritime history to World War II and beyond—highlighting rigorous research, narrative craft, and the tradeoffs between accuracy and drama. A notable throughline is the emphasis on underexplored perspectives, archival digging, and the craft of weaving memory, place, and character into accessible fiction. A standout aspect is the breadth of guests, who are often seasoned authors, historians, and researchers discussing their writing processes, publishing journeys, and methods for integrating historical detail with compelling storytelling, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to History Through Fiction?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History Through Fiction:

1. Self-Publishing with ALLi
2. Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
3. Not Just the Tudors
4. Gone Medieval
5. SmartLess

How many episodes of History Through Fiction are there?

History Through Fiction launched 6 years ago and published 159 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on History Through Fiction?

Recent guests on History Through Fiction include:

1. Brynn Barineau
2. Tiffany L. Warren
3. Veronica Leigh
4. Katherine Scott Crawford
5. Liisa Kovala
6. Janet Rich Edwards
7. Cecil Beckett
8. Carol M. Cram

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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