100 books like Orphan of the Olive Tree

I’ve always been fascinated by the past, through movies and books. What is it like to live in an age with no cell phones, no internet? People have to work ten times as hard. I eschewed fluffy romances and wanted to get down to the nitty-gritty of a historical era. How they dress, what they eat, the dirt and truth, then throw in obstacles to test my female characters’ strength and self-reliance. As an avid reader, I have no problem with extensive research to get my facts correct. I want to walk in their world and deal with their problems. Then delve deep into the emotions we all experience.

I’ve always been fascinated by the past, through movies and books. What is it like to live in an age with no cell phones, no internet? People have to work ten times as hard. I eschewed fluffy romances and wanted to get down to the nitty-gritty of a historical era. How they dress, what they eat, the dirt and truth, then throw in obstacles to test my female characters’ strength and self-reliance. As an avid reader, I have no problem with extensive research to get my facts correct. I want to walk in their world and deal with their problems. Then delve deep into the emotions we all experience.

I’ve always been fascinated by the past, through movies and books. What is it like to live in an age with no cell phones, no internet? People have to work ten times as hard. I eschewed fluffy romances and wanted to get down to the nitty-gritty of a historical era. How they dress, what they eat, the dirt and truth, then throw in obstacles to test my female characters’ strength and self-reliance. As an avid reader, I have no problem with extensive research to get my facts correct. I want to walk in their world and deal with their problems. Then delve deep into the emotions we all experience.

I’ve always been fascinated by the past, through movies and books. What is it like to live in an age with no cell phones, no internet? People have to work ten times as hard. I eschewed fluffy romances and wanted to get down to the nitty-gritty of a historical era. How they dress, what they eat, the dirt and truth, then throw in obstacles to test my female characters’ strength and self-reliance. As an avid reader, I have no problem with extensive research to get my facts correct. I want to walk in their world and deal with their problems. Then delve deep into the emotions we all experience.

I’ve always been a huge believer of love and romance and happily ever after. I also know that real life and happily ever after aren’t always easy. It took me 45 years to find my Prince Charming (after kissing a lot of frogs). I love reading stories of hope, courage, and promise and strong women who pursue their dreams. They inspire me to keep going and to keep writing. Whether I’m creating women’s fiction, historical novels, fantasy, or romance, my books explore relationships and why people do what they do, and every story focuses on love (what we always strive for) and forgiveness (what we always need). 

I’ve always been a lover of all things history, so it’s no surprise I gravitated to the world of historical fiction for my profession. What moves me the most is how, across time periods and culture, the bonds of family (more specifically sisters), remain one of the most enduring and poignant themes with which almost all can identify. Growing up, my relationship with my own sister was complex and difficult. However, now that we are grown, I can fully appreciate just how much my connection with her shaped—and continues to shape—the person I am. Exploring family ties in literature (both writing and reading) is one way in which I celebrate our common humanity. 

I’ve been fascinated by the transformational power of travel ever since my husband and I unexpectedly signed a lease to an apartment on the Italian Riviera instead of divorce papers. The power of that year abroad saved our marriage, united our family of four in a sacred way, and introduced us to the many cultures of Europe. I learned the crucial difference between taking a trip and embarking on a journey. Capturing a travel experience on the page for those who can’t journey to a destination themselves is a joy and a privilege I don’t take lightly. Publishing this memoir allowed me to pivot in my career to a full-time writer and writing coach/editor.

I’ve always been a huge believer of love and romance and happily ever after. I also know that real life and happily ever after aren’t always easy. It took me 45 years to find my Prince Charming (after kissing a lot of frogs). I love reading stories of hope, courage, and promise and strong women who pursue their dreams. They inspire me to keep going and to keep writing. Whether I’m creating women’s fiction, historical novels, fantasy, or romance, my books explore relationships and why people do what they do, and every story focuses on love (what we always strive for) and forgiveness (what we always need). 

Crystal King is the author of The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was a Must-Read for the MassBook Awards. She is an author, culinary enthusiast, and marketing expert. Her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity, and social media at GrubStreet, Harvard Extension School, and Boston University, among others. She resides in Boston.

I am passionate about the written word and effective communication. My articles and reviews have been published in major newspapers and magazines and for two decades I taught writing on the university level. Travel writing is a subset of my experience as editor of the best-selling In Mind literary anthologies and editor and writer for more than a dozen guidebooks. In addition, I have been “first reader” and editor for prospective authors and shepherded several books to publication, the most recent Red Clay Suzie by first-time novelist Jeffrey Lofton (publication January 2023).