Kim Rendfeld
@kimrendfeld.bsky.social
Author of historical fiction. Retired public relations professional. Former journalist. Cat lady. More at kimrendfeld.com.
It’s a bit spooky that I mention the world’s first pandemic in the 6th century just over a week ago, and we all find out the germ might have claimed a victim in modern-day Siberia. (The secretive Russian authorities say it wasn’t that particular microbe, but they have credibility problems.)
Because shingles is revenge of the chicken pox, the findings are not surprising. I was born too late for a chicken pox vaccine, but I am immunized against shingles, a rather nasty disease.
Dan Vergano@danvergano.bsky.social · last wk.First Birth Cohort Eligible for Chickenpox Vaccine Had a Sharp Drop in Shingles Cases www.epicresearch.org/articles/fir...
A post from my archives for LGBTQ+ History month: Charlemagne’s son Charles (called Karl in my novels) was close to Osulf, a British Saxon. Just how close remains a mystery: kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/o...
Osulf: the Prince’s Friend or Lover?
We know the British Saxon Osulf and Charlemagne’s son Charles were close, but just how close remains a mystery. The intrigue centers on a poem by the courtier Theodulf. The Visigoth composed a paro…
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
In the Oct. 13 edition of my newsletter, I will discuss Pippin (best known as Charlemagne’s dad) and how I portrayed him in my novel “Duchess of the New Dawn” before the family was royal. If you want the article in your inbox as soon as it’s published, subscribe for free: substack.com/@kimrendfeld
Friends, if you want to have an impact, you need to vote. To vote, you got to register. Today is the deadline in several states.
Hillary Rodham Clinton@hillaryclinton.bsky.social · last wk.Over a dozen states have important voter registration deadlines today. Check your registration and make a plan to vote at IWillVote.com. Then ask friends and neighbors to do the same.
The online book fair Discover the Medieval World features about 30 novels set between 476 and 1500. Books feature a Byzantine queen, Vikings, Frankish royalty, English royalty, wars, knights, vengeance, quests for power, and love against all odds. Check it out: books.bookfunnel.com/medievalworl...
In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, I will share some posts throughout October about medieval people who may have been queer—no way to know for certain. I’ll start with the 8th century intellectual Alcuin and why he joined Charlemagne’s court. kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/w...
Why Alcuin Joined Charlemagne’s Court
In 781, Alcuin had a choice. Should he accept an offer from Frankish King Charles (Charlemagne) to teach in the brand new Palace School or should he continue serving as master of the Cathedral Scho…
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
In my research for “Queen of the Darkest Hour,” featuring Charlemagne’s fourth wife, I came across a vignette inspiring the question: Would anyone believe an oath would stop murderous traitors from killing the informant? kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2018/10/17/n...
No One Would Believe an Oath Stops Murderers
The ninth century monk Notker the Stammerer has an interesting take on the discovery of the plot to overthrow Charlemagne in 794: “This son of Charles had been plotting the death of the emper…
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
Why am I, in my 50s, just now learning about the Justinianic Plague, the world’s first pandemic lasting off and on from 541 until 750? This bubonic plague killed over half the infected people in a few days and struck Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. #researchrabbithole
WIP research rabbit hole: Assuming a mostly forgotten Queen of the Franks was an Ostrogoth, I needed to map out her relatives and how they might be connected to my heroine.
While working on my WIP, I was reading footnotes for Gregory of Tours’ “History of the Franks.” Often, the gist was, “It didn’t happen this way or at all.” Dang! That story of the 6th century princess eloping with a slave and then poisoning her mother after he was killed was a juicy one.
Early medieval royal adoptions were done to ensure succession. This 737 event did not change who was next on the throne, but it did seal an alliance. kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/09/22/a...
An Unusual Adoption in 8th-Century Lombardy
An 8th-century Lombard king adopted a Frankish prince with no intention of changing his heir.
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
Coming Tuesday on my WordPress blog: The strange-but-true story of an 8th century Lombard king adopting a Frankish prince with no intention to make him the heir. Statuette shows the prince's new hairstyle.
As I prepare for upcoming promotions, I am working under the hood, updating keywords for my creations such as “dark ages novels.” In retirement from the day job, I am still trying to find a balance between the business side of indie publishing and creative writing.
Note from work in progress: Frankish kings and brothers Chlothar and Childebert each named a daughter Chlothsind, which means a female ancestor by that name was important. If only I could find out who that ancestor was. #StepAwayFromtheResearchRabbitHole #ItWouldOnlyBe4Words
Tomorrow, Sept. 11, will be a solemn anniversary here in the U.S. The saddest image for me is the families holding photos of their missing loved ones. Let us not forget.
To write "Duchess of the New Dawn," I didn't need to know the villain's entire backstory, but I did need to understand his motivation. You can read or listen to my latest post, which is about 4 minutes. kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/discoverin...
Discovering a Villain’s Motivation
I didn’t need to invent an antagonist in my novel. Portrayed fictitiously, Swidger was a real-life 8th century Bavarian count who caused trouble.
kimrendfeld.substack.com
Medieval Gold Brooch Restored in the Netherlands by @friesmuseum.bsky.social www.medievalists.net/2026/09/medi... #medieval
Medieval Gold Brooch Restored in the Netherlands - Medievalists.net
A medieval gold and garnet brooch from around AD 600 has been restored in the Netherlands, bringing together fragments found over more than 70 years.
medievalists.net
As I complete my next newsletter featuring an obscure real-life Bavarian count, a challenge is finding an image. A 19th century illustration of a warrior will have to do. If you want the article in your inbox, subscribe to my free Substack newsletter: substack.com/@kimrendfeld
Kim Rendfeld | Substack
A lifelong fascination with fairy tales and legends set Kim Rendfeld on her quest to write fiction. A retired communications professional, she has written four novels set in early medieval times. More...
substack.com
Coming Tuesday: My next newsletter will feature a villain in “Duchess of the New Dawn,” about a Frankish princess who risks everything for the people she loves. He was a real-life Bavarian count. If you want it in your inbox, subscribe on Substack. It’s free. substack.com/@kimrendfeld
Kim Rendfeld | Substack
A lifelong fascination with fairy tales and legends set Kim Rendfeld on her quest to write fiction. A retired communications professional, she has written four novels set in early medieval times. More...
substack.com
Research note for my work in progress: If you’re part of a 6th century ruling family of the Franks, Ostrogoths, Thuringians, or Lombards, the most dangerous people are your own kin. My heroine, Radegund, has ties to all these clans.
Sometimes the most agonizing decision for a writer—one that a reader cares little about—is which spelling of a real-life character’s name to use. Carlomann or Karlomann? Hiltrude or Chiltrude? Pepin or Pippin? Theodebald or Theudebald?
Queen Hildegard, Charlemagne’s third wife, has a presence in three of my novels. In her short life, she exerted a lot of influence, including securing the crown for her sons. A post from my archive: kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2018/05/30/q...
Queen Hildegard: Short but Influential Life
Queen Hildegard, Charlemagne’s third wife, is portrayed as beautiful, pious, intelligent, and benevolent. But don’t let those virtues mislead you into thinking she was a sweet, little flower. Altho…
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
High-ranking, early medieval churchmen were enmeshed in politics. After the 741 death of Frankish ruler Charles Martel, civil war loomed, and Archbishop Boniface had to choose which prince to support. kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/08/25/w...
Whose Side Does Boniface Choose after Charles Martel’s Death?
After the 741 death of Frankish ruler Charles Martel, civil war loomed, and Archbishop Boniface had to choose which prince to support.
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
Were Carolingian free men really being driven into poverty by powerful landowners? 🪙⚔️ David Bachrach takes a fresh look at the evidence and challenges a long-standing theory about Charlemagne’s society and armies. www.medievalists.net/2026/05/were... #Charlemagne
Were Carolingian Free Men Getting Poorer? - Medievalists.net
Did Charlemagne’s free landowners suffer widespread impoverishment? David Bachrach reexamines the evidence behind one of the most influential theories about Carolingian society, military service, and…
medievalists.net
A historian has a new book, "King of the Mercians: Offa." I recall the research I did for my third novel in Offa's relationship with Charlemagne: kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2019/05/22/c...
Charlemagne and Offa, Their Kids’ Failed Betrothals, and Trade
About 790, Frankish King Charles (Charlemagne) had a proposition for Mercian King Offa: one of Offa’s daughters marry one of Charles’s sons. Charles likely saw this as a way to secure an alliance b…
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
A recent cruise in Alaska included a train ride at Skagway. 2 things struck me: the beauty of the landscape and the harsh 1898 journey of desperate prospectors who didn't know what they were doing.
Saint George, the 4th century dragon-slayer and martyr, was popular among early medieval Christians throughout Europe. A post from my archive: kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2019/08/21/s...
Saint George in Dark Ages Britain
Saint George was a popular figure in medieval Christianity.
kimrendfeld.wordpress.com
