This month, we’re doing something a little different at Radiant Lit. Instead of a featured author, we decided that we would have a theme. Being the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic disaster, we knew that not only would there be a lot of great books coming out, but also some fantastic stories of bravery and heroism.

Though none of us were alive at that time, the Titanic disaster encapsulates a moment in history and all of us have some connection to it. I told my children just the other day that when I was growing up, we didn’t know where it was. It had just disappeared. There was a mystique behind that and even after it was found, that mystery and magic never went away. I devoured pictures, videos – everything I could find on the story. It’s hard for me to believe it’s been a hundred years because it’s always felt like it was so close to our modern history.

Surprisingly enough, that’s also what the creators of Downton Abbey said about why they chose that same time period to place their show. They wanted phones, cars, electricity and other things we recognize so that there would be something familiar for us. When Jill and I talked about a theme for the month, Downton Abbey dovetailed so nicely with the Titanic theme that we decided to put them together. Several of our staff members (myself included) are absolute Downton fangirls. Since series two just ended and now we have to wait, we thought it would be nice to supply you with some substitutes. Of course nothing can really take the place of Maggie Smith in full regalia or the fantastic love story between Bates and Anna, but we’re going to do our best to help you with your Downton fix.

We hope you enjoy our  Titanic and Downton highlights! And if you have other suggestions, requests for book reviews or anything else you’d like to share with us, please drop me an email at lori@radiantlit.com and let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Lori