Mud, Mystery, and Roman Mail
Meet the Real Dig Behind Of Silver and Secrets
Okay, confession time: I’ve never met an old ruin I didn’t want to poke around in. So when it came time to create Caelum Academia—the fictional archaeological site in Of Silver and Secrets—I went looking for a real-life dig that had all the drama, depth, and dirt-smudged charm I could ask for.
Enter Vindolanda.
Tucked away in the rugged beauty of Northumberland, Vindolanda is the kind of place history nerds dream about. Built waaaay back in AD 85 (yes, eighty-five, as in before indoor plumbing was even a thing), this Roman fort stood strong on the Empire’s northern frontier for over 300 years. Three. Hundred. Years. That’s longer than Jane Austen has been on your bookshelf.
But what really makes Vindolanda sparkle—aside from the mud, moss, and military vibes—is what archaeologists found buried deep in the soil: wax writing tablets. Hundreds of them. We're talking ancient to-do lists, shopping notes, birthday party invites (really), and even a letter from a soldier’s mom. These timeworn scraps gave us a peek into everyday Roman life—and yes, they absolutely inspired the tablets discovered at Inman Manor in the book.
So while Bram and Eva are fictional, their hunt for history? That’s got its muddy boots firmly planted in real ground.
Want to know what the tablets in Of Silver and Secrets reveal? You'll have to read to find out so get your copy now at your favorite bookseller.
Or you could try your hand at winning signed copies of the Time’s Lost Treasures set right here on this Rafflecopter . . .
