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Tracking Vlad the Impaler: A Winter Journey Through Romania’s Haunted Rails

Join me on a wintry pilgrimage through the heart of Romania. Snow on the Tracks: Shadowing Vlad the Impaler to Sighișoara is a travel essay close to my heart, recently featured as a finalist in the Pilgrimages writing competition on Intrepid Times. This journey by train, from Bucharest to the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the medieval town of Sighisoara, threads through snow-dusted forests,…

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This Women's History Month discover the unsung heroines of Romania’s past—the common women who fought to protect their families and preserve traditions while allowing history to bloom.

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De Crăciun am întâlnit-o pe Chiajna din Casa Mușatinilor de Simona Antonescu. On Christmas I met Chiajna from the House of Mușat, historical novel based on a real personality written by Simona Antonescu. Book review for Women's History Month.

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In medieval Romanian lands, women were restricted by patriarchal laws, with limited rights to inheritance, public office, and divorce, yet still played crucial roles in managing households and preserving family wealth.

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Daughters, Wives, and Queens: Medieval Women in Romania’s History

Exploring the status of women in medieval Romania, across Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania this Women’s History Month reveals a complex picture shaped by diverse historical sources, legal systems, religious influences and, not lastly, legends. Each region presented a distinct profile of women with gender playing a crucial role in shaping their access to knowledge, societal perceptions and,…

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1 March, Magic Threads of Mărțișor: a Tale of Fate, Tradition and New Beginnings

In my short story Threads of Mărțișor, published on Romania Insider, I explore the magic of this tradition through Ana’s journey. In a frozen train station she stumbles upon a red-and-white thread that leads her to an unexpected encounter—one that may change her path forever.

Each year, as 1 March arrives, Romanians welcome spring with Mărțișor, a red-and-white thread woven with luck, renewal, and tradition. More than just a symbol, it carries the weight of history, binding generations through its delicate strands. Read the full Threads of Mărțișor story here. 🙂 I am so excited to share this tale with you! Continue reading 1 March, Magic Threads of Mărțișor: a Tale…

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Where the White Storks Migrate, Folktales and Histories Along their Path

A mustering of white storks migrates from African plains to the Egyptian pyramids, over the Levant and Ottoman palaces to the Romanian delta, witnessing humanity’s triumphs and tragedies unfold beneath their wings.a

For centuries, the white storks migrated witnessing humanity’s triumphs and tragedies unfold beneath its wings. From the old African tribes to the sacred temples of Egypt and the battlefields of the Levant; from the grandeur of Ottoman palaces to the villages of Romania, the white storks have traveled through space and time. They carry no bias, no memory of war or peace. Only the rhythm of…

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The Legend of the Lilly Pilly and How to Make This Delicious Jam

The Legend of the Lilly Pilly tree and how to make this silky and slightly tarty fruit jam.

The Legend of the Lilly Pilly Spirit Long ago, before the land bore the marks of iron and stone, the first people of the great southern lands spoke of a tree unlike any other—the Lilly Pilly. It was said that this tree had been a gift from the Spirit of the Waters who moved unseen through the world, whispering wisdom to those who listened. The elders told stories of how this spirit guided those…

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10 Green Gifts for Valentine’s Day or Any Special Day

Here’s your list of 10 green gift ideas for Valentine’s Day or any special day that are budget-friendly and show a little love to the planet too.

Here’s your list of 10 green gift ideas for Valentine’s Day or any special day that are budget-friendly and show a little love to the planet too. Continue reading 10 Green Gifts for Valentine’s Day or Any Special Day

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Theory of Mind and Its Value in Storytelling

How theory of Mind adds value to the story: creating multidimensional characters, enhancing tension, immersing readers in the historical mindset and deepening their emotional connection with the tale.

In historical fiction, as in all great literature, the ability to understand and convey a character’s thoughts, emotions, and motivations is key. This cognitive skill, known as Theory of Mind—the ability to place ourselves in someone else’s shoes, to attribute mental states to oneself and others—allows writers to create deeply immersive and psychologically rich narratives. Let’s look at the role…

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Discover Why We STILL Tell Stories

We tell stories to share our perspectives, connect with others, and leave a legacy, hoping our words will echo across time, revealing who we were and what we dreamed.

From the moment I learned to read, and even before that, I was drawn to stories. During my highschool years in Bucharest, between chemical formulas and physical vectors, I would write about fictional characters and dreamed locations. The legends and folktales of Romania’s past influenced my tales—the same narratives I had heard as a child, the same words that had stoked my passion for writing…

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Please Vote “The Seagull” in Publication of the Year Non-Poetic at Spillwords Press Awards MMXXV

Please vote for “The Seagull by Patricia Furstenberg” for Publication of the Year (Non-Poetic) in Spillwords' Press Awards. https://spillwords.com/vote/

Please vote for “The Seagull by Patricia Furstenberg” for Publication of the Year (Non-Poetic) in Spillwords’ Press Awards. VOTE here. (You will need to log in first) Thanks to you The Seagull was chosen July’s Publication of The Month on Spillwords Press. Your support can make my story take flight! Vote by January 31st. Continue reading Please Vote “The Seagull” in Publication of the Year…

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The History of Christmas Trees in 9 Merry Short Stories

A fir sprig adorned ancient Rome and Dacian blouses, mistletoe symbolized enduring life, and bread hung like stars to brighten winter days. Candles on fir trees recalled Christ's star, while behind closed doors, Christmas traditions endured Communist era.

Explore the history of Christmas trees through nine short stories and let’s be merry time traveling from ancient Rome and Dacia to the Druids and Saint Boniface, through medieval Germany and the Baltic Renaissance. Follow the journey under the glow of Martin Luther’s candles, which also adorned royal Christmas trees, and even hear whispers of those hidden under Romania’s Communist regime. Let us…

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Whispers of Superstition in a Transylvanian Night, Saint Andrew

Whispers of Superstition in a Transylvanian Night, Saint Andrew. A short story.

I’ve prepared a short narrative for the Night of Saint Andrew that explores the deeply ingrained superstitions of Transylvanian culture. The gates between this world and the realm of the dead are said to open on Saint Andrew’s night in Romania. It is thought that restless spirits, also referred to as strigoi, moroi, or vampires, haunt communities, cause problems for the living, and engage in…

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Romanian Interview on Radio Romania Cultural at Născut în România

On Life and Books on Radio Romania Cultural, Despre Viață și Cărți la Născut în România. Duminică 24Noiembrie ora 4pm, împreuna cu gazda mea, Dana Pitrop. / Sunday 24Nov 4pm (GMT+2), chatting life & books with lovely reporter Dana Pitrop

Dragostea mea pentru povești a început la radio… ***** My love for stories began by the radio… *****Așa că vă invit, cu drag, să îmi țineți companie la radio… ***** Join me on the radio. ***** Născut în România – Invitată: Patricia Furstenberg, scriitoare de origine română stabilită în Africa de Sud (un interviu in limba română / ***** Born in Romania – Guest: Patricia Furstenberg, Romanian-born…

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Historical Tales from the Romanian Highlands Now in Dreamland

Discover the little-known stories that influenced the history and folklore of Romanian highlands now in "Dreamland," described as "a captivating read, delightful and fascinating" and "a magical tour through Romania's history and folklore."

Discover the little-known stories that influenced the history and folklore of Romanian highlands now in “Dreamland,” described as “a captivating read, delightful and fascinating” and “a magical tour through Romania’s history and folklore” through skillfully written 100-word stories. If you enjoyed traveling to the lush Romanian Banat region via forgotten stories you will love today’s highland…

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Kindred Threads in Embroidery, Old Turkish Attire and Calligraphy

Kindred threads of Greek and Romanian embroidery, old Turkish attire and Arabic calligraphy: my daughter invited me to Threads of Tradition: Turks, Turbans and Artistic Innovation exhibition curated by Professor Raita Steyn

Recently I discovered kindred threads between Greek and Romanian embroidery and marveled at old Turkish attire and Arabic calligraphy. My daughter invited me to attend the Threads of Tradition: Turks, Turbans and Artistic Innovation exhibition curated by Professor Raita Steyn from the University of Pretoria, with a live calligraphy demonstration by Master Refik Carikci. Continue reading Kindred…