# Angela M Sims > Author of Historical Fiction set in Italy Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages - [About Me](https://angelamsims.co.uk/about-me-2.md) - This is the section where you come to read all about my many years of story writing, my extensive experience in creative writing and the numerous qualifications, awards and accolades that I’ve received in the field of historical fiction. Well, I’m afraid that is not my biography at all. In fact, I… - [About Me](https://angelamsims.co.uk/about-me.md) - This is the section where you come to read all about my many years of story writing, my extensive experience in creative writing and the numerous qualifications, awards and accolades that I’ve received in the field of historical fiction. Well, I’m afraid that is not my biography at all. In fact, I… - [About this site](https://angelamsims.co.uk/about.md) - Angela M Sims is an independent publication launched in July 2026 by Mezz Davies. If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website as well as email newsletters about new content when it's available. Your subscription makes this site possible, and allows Angela M Sims to continue to exi… - [Order Here](https://angelamsims.co.uk/order-here-2.md) - Fancy a read? Are you a Kindle sort of person? Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims/dp/1739117301/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3VKN6ZFVPBH6J&keywords=the+rose+of+florence+book&qid=1680254619&sprefix=the+rose+of+florence%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3 Google Play https://books.google.co.uk/books/about… - [Order Here](https://angelamsims.co.uk/order-here.md) - Fancy a read? Are you an e-book sort of person? Or do you want a real book? With pages? Amazon The Rose of Florence Hiding the Flame Apple Books The Rose of Florence Hiding the Flame There is an audio book on this site too, but it has not been endorsed by me, so I can't guarantee the quality. Barne… - [Out Now](https://angelamsims.co.uk/out-now-2.md) - Cover images © Ray Lipscombe The Rose of Florence (2023) and Hiding the Flame (2025) My stories are set in Florence, Italy. If you have visited, you'll know why I fell in love with the city, her art, her architecture and her history. Stories of the Renaissance are well-documented, but where history… - [Out Now](https://angelamsims.co.uk/out-now.md) - Cover images © Ray Lipscombe The Rose of Florence (2023) and Hiding the Flame (2025) My stories are set in Florence, Italy. If you have visited, you'll know why I fell in love with the city, her art, her architecture and her history. Stories of the Renaissance are well-documented, but where history… - [Review Here](https://angelamsims.co.uk/review-here-2.md) - Reviews are so valuable to authors and future readers, and guess what? It doesn't cost you a penny! So, if you enjoyed The Rose of Florence, I'd love you to leave a review. It helps authors and other readers. You can leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Netgalley. Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk… - [Review Here](https://angelamsims.co.uk/review-here.md) - Reviews are so valuable to authors and future readers, and guess what? It doesn't cost you a penny! So, if you enjoyed The Rose of Florence, I'd love you to leave a review. It helps authors and other readers. You can leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Netgalley. Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk… - [Social Links](https://angelamsims.co.uk/social-links-2.md) - I would love to connect with readers or fellow authors (or both!). Please check out these links: Facebook: Angela M Sims - AuthorAngela M Sims - Author. 3,088 likes · 6 talking about this. Author of historical fiction. The Rose of Florence, out now Hiding The Flame, coming soon! https://amzn.eu/d/e… - [Social Links](https://angelamsims.co.uk/social-links.md) - I would love to connect with readers or fellow authors (or both!). Please check out these links: Facebook: Angela M Sims - AuthorAngela M Sims - Author. 3,088 likes · 6 talking about this. Author of historical fiction. The Rose of Florence, out now Hiding The Flame, coming soon! https://amzn.eu/d/e… ## Posts - [Another Test](https://angelamsims.co.uk/another-test.md) - This is a second test to prove the links are fixed - [I Have Returned!](https://angelamsims.co.uk/i-have-returned.md) - It's fair to say that there has been a small hiatus in my posts to you. Well, some may say you can have too much of a good thing, although whether that is my silence or my return is for you to decide! Some weeks ago, I opened my website to find that most of it had disappeared. This prompted a panic… - [The Savonarola Stone](https://angelamsims.co.uk/flash-fiction.md) - You might've met this guy before. If you've read Hiding the Flame, then you will certainly have read about him. This is Girolamo Savonarola, the fiery Dominican friar, who tried to save the souls of Florentines in the late 15th Century. He called out corruption in the government and church of the t… - [Why Florence?](https://angelamsims.co.uk/why-florence-2.md) - Last week, I had the great pleasure of launching my new book, Hiding the Flame, here in Cardiff. It was an event that meant a great deal to me, as each new book means to every author. It was also a great opportunity for me to talk about my writing, and what author doesn't enjoy doing that?! The lau… - [Christmas Cheer](https://angelamsims.co.uk/christmas-cheer-2.md) - It's nearly upon us again. How does that happen? We know Christmas always lands on December 25th, and yet still it manages to take us by surprise. Have you finished shopping? Have you sent Christmas cards? (Do you send Christmas cards?) Have you ordered your turkey? Have you put the sprouts on to b… - [Hiding the Flame](https://angelamsims.co.uk/hiding-the-flame-2.md) - Cover image © Ray Lipscombe Oh, I enjoyed writing this one! After The Rose of Florence, I did wonder if that was my lot, the "one book" that everyone supposedly has in them, but there was more to say, more to explore and more to share. Some of the characters wanted more time in the limelight, and w… - [A Matter of Taste](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-matter-of-taste.md) - My love for Florence is no secret, and whenever anyone asks me what I recommend to see or do, I'm never short of a suggestion or two. Several years ago, I put together my own short guide to Florence, which I've shared with friends. Today, I thought I'd share a section with you. This is the section… - [An Author's Special Day](https://angelamsims.co.uk/an-authors-special-day-2.md) - I don't know who said "Never judge a book by its cover", but I, for one, love a good book cover. It gives us a first glimpse of the world we're about to step into. Those wonderful designers who create our covers are very underestimated, as far as I'm concerned! How do you sum up a whole story in on… - [The Sicilian Secret](https://angelamsims.co.uk/the-sicilian-secret-2.md) - Why has Angela written a blog about Sicily? She hasn't even been there! Well, this Angela hasn't, but my fellow Cariad author, Angela Petch has. As you know, I occasionally share a blog with fellow authors, featuring books that I believe my readers would also enjoy, and today we have one of those b… - [A Little Spark](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-little-spark.md) - It's been just over a year since the publication of The Rose of Florence, and it's taken some time to organise my thoughts for Book #2. Should I do something completely different? I considered it (briefly), but unsurprisingly, I kept coming back to Renaissance Florence. It's where my heart is, and… - [Guest Post - Luisa A Jones](https://angelamsims.co.uk/guest-post-luisa-2.md) - As most of you will know, Florence was the biggest inspiration behind The Rose of Florence, and I'm always fascinated by the settings and history behind other authors' books. Today, I'm delighted to welcome Luisa A Jones to my blog, where she shares the inspiration behind her books, The Gilded Cage… - [Happy Book Birthday to The Rose of Florence](https://angelamsims.co.uk/happy-birthday-to-the-rose-of-florence-2.md) - We all have at least one book within us. Isn't that what they say? How many of us believe that to be true? I, for one, was extremely dubious. It seemed like an achievement only possible for "real authors", not normal human beings like you and me. Never one to be put off, I plodded along, focussing… - [Food for Thought](https://angelamsims.co.uk/food-for-thought.md) - It’s a great privilege to share my musings with you, and today I offer some culinary contemplations for your delectation! My debut novel, The Rose of Florence, is an historical fiction, based in Renaissance Florence and includes a mixture of romance, murder and intrigue. These may be the perfect in… - [Award-Winning, Katy Turner!](https://angelamsims.co.uk/award-winning-katy-turner-2.md) - In August, you may remember I mentioned travelling to Imperial College, London as a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award for debut novelists. It was a wonderful experience, and I met some lovely people there, not least of whom was Katy Turner, who went on to win the award. Today, I'm delighted to… - [A Cariad Collection](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-cariad-collection.md) - Finding your tribe is important in any part of life, and I have frequently mentioned that my "writing tribe" is the Cariad Chapter of the RNA. Inspiration by the bucketload, and more supportive than an underwired bra! What this tribe does particularly well is celebrate success. I couldn't have aske… - [And the winner is...](https://angelamsims.co.uk/and-the-winner-is.md) - Well, it wasn't me! The winner of the Joan Hessayon Award for new writers was a lovely lady, called Katy Turner, for her novel "Let's Just Be Friends". I couldn't possibly be disappointed, because I know what an achievement it was to have been a contender at all. The award ceremony took place in Im… - [My Ramblings On Historical Fiction](https://angelamsims.co.uk/my-ramblings-on-historical-fiction-2.md) - Those of you who follow my social media posts will know that I've been lucky enough to be announced as a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award for debut novelists with the Romantic Novelists' Association. (Yes, still pinching myself!) At the time of the announcement, I was also asked to write a sho… - [Coming Soon](https://angelamsims.co.uk/coming-soon-3.md) - It's been a while since there have been any posts from me, for which I apologise! You may know that there have been some problems getting these posts out to you by email. You signed up to my mailing list, then heard nothing from me - how rude! However, I believe all is now well, and the email funct… - [Luisa A Jones: My First Book](https://angelamsims.co.uk/luisa-a-jones-my-first-book.md) - In the true tradition of every great series, just when you think it's over...it's not! The same goes for my series entitled My First Book, featuring some great local authors (& some not so local), who have taken time out to tell us about publishing their first book, and what's coming next. This blo… - [The Pazzi Conspiracy](https://angelamsims.co.uk/the-pazzi-conspiracy-2.md) - 26th April, 1478 A day like many others in Renaissance Florence. A Sunday. A day when everyone went to Mass, to kneel, to pray, to take communion. But it was also a day when blood would be spilt on holy ground. The Medici family were the de facto rulers of Florence, through their influence in the S… - [An Historical Fiction](https://angelamsims.co.uk/an-historical-fiction.md) - I was recently asked to write a short overview of The Rose of Florence for a book club, so that they could get a flavour of the story before I go to meet them. Yes, I'm going to talk to a group of book lovers about my book - I'm still pinching myself that this is even happening! So, for those of yo… - [Jan Baynham: My First Book](https://angelamsims.co.uk/jan-baynham-my-first-book.md) - In the last of my series of blogs from authors talking about their experience of publishing their first book, I'm delighted to welcome Jan Baynham. Jan is a fellow Cariad member of the RNA and was one of the first people to give me advice and encouragement when The Rose of Florence was still a sapl… - [Emma Bennet: My First Book](https://angelamsims.co.uk/emma-bennet-my-first-book-2.md) - For the third in my series of "My First Book" interviews with fellow authors, I am welcoming another Cariad Chapter member, Emma Bennet. I am very envious of how Emma has fully embraced all avenues of social media as an author, and it's clear I have a lot to learn! Have a look at her links here: ht… - [Jane Cable: My First Book - The Cheesemaker's House](https://angelamsims.co.uk/jane-cable-my-first-book-2.md) - This week, I'm delighted to welcome Jane Cable to my blog. Jane is a fellow member of the Cariad Chapter of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and during the time I have been a member, she has helped me enormously. I have always said that authors are the most supportive group of people, and Jane… - [My First Book!](https://angelamsims.co.uk/my-new-book.md) - It's finally happened! My First Book has been released into the wild! To celebrate, I'll be hosting a series of blogs from authors, who will be telling us about their First Book. More of this, shortly. First of all, I'd like to share with you a little of my experience of launching a debut novel. Pu… - [Katherine Mezzacappa: My First Book](https://angelamsims.co.uk/katherine-mezzacappa-my-first-book-2.md) - As promised, this month, I'm sharing a series of blogs from other authors, who tell us about their experience of publishing their first book. It seems only fitting that my first guest is Katherine Mezzacappa, who was my New Writers' Scheme reviewer and was vital in shaping The Rose of Florence into… - [The Rose of Florence is about to bloom](https://angelamsims.co.uk/the-rose-of-florence-is-about-to-bloom-2.md) - Early in 2019, I started to jot down a few words, thinking that I might eventually make a reasonable short story. Well, many months of work, many sleepless nights trying to untangle plot knots and a global pandemic later, The Rose of Florence is a full-length novel, ready to go. It hardly seems bel… - [Florence in Flood](https://angelamsims.co.uk/florence-in-flood.md) - On the night of 3rd November, 1966, the people of Florence went to bed as usual. The heavy rain was nothing unusual for a November night, but this night was to be unlike any other in living memory. The Arno river, which flows through the centre of Florence, is used to high water, especially in the… - [Where I Write...](https://angelamsims.co.uk/where-i-write-2.md) - Writing is a lonely business...or so I've been told. That hasn't been my experience, so far. Authors are a social and supportive bunch, keen to boost each other when they get chance. This often includes sharing each other's blogs, and one of the topics I read about frequently is "Where I Write". It… - [And so it begins...](https://angelamsims.co.uk/and-so-it-begins-2.md) - When you first have an inkling of an idea for a book, everything seems so simple, but writing and publishing a book is a whole new world, not for the faint-hearted. I started with a setting. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to write a story set in Florence, and it was just a short step… - [Today is Dantedì](https://angelamsims.co.uk/today-is-dantedi.md) - 700 years ago, on 25th March 1321, the "Supreme Poet", Dante Alighieri died. He is widely considered to be the father of the Renaissance, and his most famous work is The Divine Comedy, which includes the well-known Inferno (not the Dan Brown story!). He was also one of the first to write in the loc… - [A Rare Treat](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-rare-treat-2.md) - If you are a bit of a meat-lover, like me, one of the highlights of visiting Florence is ordering a Bistecca alla Fiorentina – a Florentine steak. Being faced with such an enormous chunk of meat could be daunting, but like many Tuscan dishes, it’s best when shared. Its history dates back to the tim… - [In Times of War](https://angelamsims.co.uk/in-times-of-war.md) - Even though he was only 3 during the time of my story and therefore doesn't feature in it, Michelangelo was probably the first to fire my interest in the Italian Renaissance and the wonderful art that came from that time period. I remember watching Charlton Heston in "The Agony & The Ecstasy" as a… - [Local Knowledge Is Priceless](https://angelamsims.co.uk/local-knowledge-is-priceless.md) - Apologies for mentioning the C-word, but COVID has been hard on so many walks of life, including the business of a busy tour guide. However, sometimes a bit of good can come out of the challenges. Last summer, while doing some research online, I spotted a Florence tour guide who was offering some w… - [A Little Help From My Friends](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-little-help-from-my-friends.md) - Sandra is an author who writes under the name of Jill Barry. She has been so very helpful to me in my quest to write, and I'm always keen to hear stories of how others find themselves in their chosen field. It turns out Sandra had a little help from a ghost! Read her story here. WELSH WRITING WEDNE… - [A Street By Any Other Name](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-street-by-any-other-name.md) - When writing a fiction in a non-fictional place, it's sometimes difficult to get the crossover just right. How much of the story relies on "place"? Does it really matter? Isn't the story better for a bit of poetic licence, a bit of embellishment? In my experience as a reader, it probably doesn't al… - [A Welsh Zuccotto](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-welsh-zuccotto.md) - I have already introduced you to the famous Italian Renaissance dessert, zuccotto, in a previous post. After reading all the variations (and actually dreaming about them), in true Eleonora style, I made the recipe my own. - [A Florentine Dessert](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-florentine-dessert.md) - In “The Rose of Florence”, one of the most dependable characters is Eleonora, the household cook. She has skills that I can only dream of, and her reputation as a domestic cook in Florence is second to none. Of all my characters, she is probably the one that I would wish to emulate. I love to cook,… - [A Renaissance Palazzo](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-rennai.md) - My characters, Gianetta and Matteo, live with and work for the wealthy Rosini family in Palazzo Rosini on the Via Porta Rossa, near the centre of Florence. Via Porta Rossa is a real street. It still has the same name as it did in the time of the Medici. It will come as no surprise that Palazzo Rosi… ## Optional - [RSS Feed](https://angelamsims.co.uk/rss/) - [Sitemap](https://angelamsims.co.uk/sitemap.xml) - [Full content of pages and posts](https://angelamsims.co.uk/llms-full.txt)