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Thank you for stopping by my website. My debut novel is called The Reversible Mask and it is the first of three novels. It draws loosely on the career of a double agent, who inserted himself into the religious wars of the day and tried to moderate English and Spanish policy.

My protagonist is an English Catholic courtier, who left England in the 1560s and spied for Catholic Spain against European Protestants. His nationalism is aroused when the threat to England intensifies and because of this he becomes one of Protestant Elizabeth I’s most effective spies abroad, while on Spain’s payroll… you’ll have to get the book to find out more though!

You can get the book CLICK HERE

About

Loretta Goldberg writes historical literary fiction with battle scenes. She loves this genre because she finds in history’s frames, where events have beginnings and endings, a magical mirror in which we can see ourselves more fully. Her debut novel, The Reversible Mask: An Elizabethan Spy Novel, won the International Firebird Book Award in Historical Fiction and New Fiction in 2023. It also won a Book Excellence Finalists Award in 2019. Her second novel, Beyond the Bukubuk Tree: A World War II Novel of Love and Loss, won International Firebird Book Awards in 2023 in War Fiction.

Her characters are flawed strivers, often in love with the wrong person or at odds with social norms, or both, who get caught up in history’s iconic struggles and risk all to make a difference. Kings, queens, maids, Ottoman diplomats, spies, farmers, nurses–they all have nuance. Her world view evolved from living the highs and lows of being a professional pianist, tempered by the pragmatism of years as an insurance agent and registered representative with employee payrolls to meet, and diverse jobs she held along the way, including house painter, advertising bill collector and telemarketer.

An Australian-American, she earned a BA (Hons.) in English literature, Musicology and History at the University of Melbourne. She came to the USA on a Fulbright scholarship to study piano. Her CDs of new music are in over 700 libraries (See Discography). She premiered an unknown work by Franz Liszt on an EMI HMV (Australian Division) album, and her edition of the score for G. Schirmer is in its third edition.

Her published non-fiction consists of articles on financial planning, arts reviews and political satire.  She lives with her spouse, commuting between New York City and Chester, Connecticut, where she enjoys family, friends and colleagues. For the New York Chapter of the Historical Novel Society, she started the chapter’s published writer public reading series at the Jefferson Market Library, New York City, and is the chapter’s current chair. She is a member of The Authors Guild and National League of American PEN Women.

Blog

Three Events in Four Days! A Fun and Crazy Week. I am Grateful for the Opportunities. The ALA Conference 2025 June 28, Philadelphia. (American Library Association.)

Dear Friends and Readers, As a result of a Book Award from the NYC Big Board/Independent Press contest, I was allotted an  author signing half hour at the booth hosted by Printed Word Reviews, the contest sponsor. Franky, I was terrified. My admission number to this prestigious conference was 2156322, which shows you the scale …

Come virtually with me to Rabaul Papua New Guinea, when village Garamut players and owners will celebrate their USA award for their drumming in my Book Trailer. The International Firebird Book Awards gave Homorable Recognition for the Book Trailer while the book won Best Book Club Pick.

Dear Firends and Readers, A highlight of my research trip to Rabaul was recording a traditional message tapped out on garamuts (slit log drums) briningg villagers together to hear the warning of trouble coming. Knowing that the publisher of my novel Beyond the Bukubuk Tree had a musician on staff, I knew that they’d understand …

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