Follow Nora
Welcome
Welcome to my website which marks a new chapter in my life! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun).
After a long journey of writes, re-writes and bouts of self-doubt, I have decided to self-publish my first historical novel, Distant Hills. It is the first of a series of books about unconventional heroines who rebel against the norms and rigid expectations of society. I like to imagine my heroines as iconoclasts, challenging the accepted wisdom of their time. Of, course, I am writing fiction.
Distant Hills takes place in the early 18th century when women were seen as not much better than children. Education for women was thought to be a waste of time. My heroine Kate Hardy, in Distant Hills, is educated and she challenges the hero, Marcus Huntley, at every turn.
But that comes later in the novel. First, she must endure the lowest time of her life.
Recent Posts
About Nora
Nora Ryell lives in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada with her family. She is a graduate in Honours English from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Distant Hills is her first novel…
Category Archives: Distant Hills
Ferdinando Paleologus and Historical Oddities in Barbados
After a brief hiatus, I am back to writing. I’ve also been travelling with family and was fortunate to vacation in Barbados – an island I absolutely adore. Aside from the fact that it’s always hot and this winter the … Continue reading
Reflections of 2018
Happy New Year to all! 2019 has begun and I pause after the holidays to reflect on the past year. 2018 was a real mixture of highs and lows. In April our eldest son was married in Niagara Falls in … Continue reading
Sarah Churchill Duchess of Marlborough
Last week I wrote a bit about Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough who was an unusual woman for her day. For one thing, she was very intelligent and politically savvy though she had never received a formal education. Her friendship … Continue reading
The Favourite
The Favourite is going to be in movie theatres soon. I can hardly wait. The film stars Olivia Colman as Queen Anne of England, Rachel Weisz as Sarah Jennings and Emma Stone as Abigail Masham and it is about the … Continue reading
Historical Accuracy – Getting It Right!
Writing historical fiction can be challenging but for me fun! I mentioned in my last blog that I enjoy immersing myself in a particular time period so I love describing a particular place and time but accuracy is key. Luckily … Continue reading
