In an earlier blog post, I mentioned that I’ve begun a slow read of Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies. Though I possess a Christine de Pizan coffee mug, and her work is often referenced in books on medieval history, I’ve never read this text. I’m using the Audible version of … More Refining Gold: City of Ladies Reflection #1
A few weeks ago, Joseph Bottum’s Poems Ancient and Modern substack shared John Saxe’s “The Blind Man and the Elephant.” This 19th-century comic verse describes six blind men trying to understand an elephant by touch. The poem reaches what Bottum calls an “obvious” conclusion — that none of them can be completely right because of … More An Elephant and Three Blind Poets
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Dr. Lucy Worsley is one of my favorite author-historians, and I’ve been anticipating her book Queens and Kings: An Unusually Personal History of the Monarchy since she announced it on social media. I enjoyed her previous books on Georgian history: Jane Austen at Home and The Courtiers. She was Chief … More Book Review: QUEENS AND KINGS by Lucy Worsley
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ I’m thrilled to review another virtual course on medieval women! This is my third course with Nathen Amin and Dr. Nicola Tallis, and each course has been a delight. I’ve taken The Tudors: The Creation of a Dynasty and Wars of the Roses: Power and Personalities. Nathen and Nicola are … More Course Review: Women Who Shook the Medieval World
On Saturday I was part of A Taste of Tudorcon: eight speakers from Tudorcon 2026 presented a preview of their talks. It was a live event on YouTube with a fun chat option where we could talk with viewers. Here’s my video: The previews include a wide range of topics — Elizabethan fashion, the Spanish inquisition, … More A Taste of Tudorcon
I’ve decided to study Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies. I’m participating in an online close read of this medieval text that will span the next 11 months. Christine de Pizan (1364-1430) received an exceptional education and published her own books, dedicating her work to royalty. She was widely read during … More The Urgent Pull of Poetry: Christine de Pizan & Langston Hughes
Get excited! I’m presenting virtually at Tudorcon 2026 in October! At Tudorcon 2025, I spoke about poetry in the Tudor Court: What is Tudorcon? Tudorcon is a conference about Renaissance history and culture. Its founder, Heather Teysko, runs The Renaissance English History Podcast, which is a fabulous resource for history lovers. Tudorcon takes place in … More Tudorcon, Tudor Scroll, and More!
In his TED presentation, Jacob Collier conducts an orchestra through a song they don’t know and haven’t rehearsed. He builds each part systematically, telling the musicians the notes and techniques to use. Collier revises and affirms as the sections come together. He teaches a few lines, allows the orchestra to play, then moves on. It’s … More Why the Best Teachers Are Actually Conductors
We often think about disabilities in isolation — as if someone won’t share limitations with a person possessing a different diagnosis. But the most interesting thinking comes from putting different ways of living in conversation. These discussions unearth common ground and help us build a more inclusive world. Conversation propels imagination, and imagination builds solutions. This … More Where Do We Thrive? A Teacher’s Theory
Tracy Borman is a formidable Tudor historian and a purposeful writer. I’ve read many of her nonfiction books, including Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, The Private Lives of the Tudors, and Crown & Sceptre. Borman’s work is consistently engaging, lively, and well-researched. The House of Boleyn is Borman’s latest historical novel, and it was released … More Book Review: THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN by Tracy Borman
My second poetry collection, At Every Stage I’ve Been, is coming out in October 2026. Through Friday August 14, you can still get the pre-order discount! Pre-orders during this time help the book’s print run and publicity, as well as my author royalties. The Poems Here’s the synopsis: In her second poetry collection, Emily K. … More Last Week to Pre-Order My Book with Discount!
For the past few years, I have embarked on an independent study of medieval and Renaissance Europe. I’ve read 30+ books and enrolled in several digital courses. I’ve attended live video discussions with historians and participated virtually in a Tudor conference. I’ve just finished Dr. Lacey Bonar Hull’s 16-week course, Women in Late Medieval England. … More Course Review: Women in Late Medieval England
I’m excited to share my interview with Voices from the Field, Elana Gordon’s Substack dedicated to educators and evidence-based strategies. Elana was one of the hosts for the Teaching That Succeeds conference. In my interview, I discussed how I engage students with poetry, Shakespeare, and novel studies. Read it here. I’ve been impressed with Substack’s … More My interview with Voices from the Field
As a blind woman, I live most of my life by ear. While I have some usable vision, it is inconsistent and unreliable. The sounds of my world make more sense, giving clearer information. So building poetry from my personal soundscape is not a far stretch. But for those who can readily see – or those … More Poets Need to Listen
