The fascinating palace intrigue surrounding French royalty in the 12th century was the focus of the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Dr. June Hall McCash

Host Gina Logue’s interview with June Hall McCash, the first director of the University Honors Program and a professor emerita, first aired Dec. 10 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. You can listen to their conversation above.

McCash, former chair of what is now called the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures at MTSU, is the author of “Eleanor’s Daughter: A Novel of Marie de Champagne.”

The historical novel’s focus is the elder daughter of King Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine, who ruled France in the 12th century.

McCash, the author of 14 books, won the 2011 Georgia Author of the Year Award for First Novel for “Almost to Eden” and the 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award for Best Novel for “Plum Orchard.”

She will teach a University Honors course titled “Writing Historical Fiction” in spring 2020.

“What you have to do with an historical novel is to bring life to those dry documents that we have from the past,” McCash said. “It’s very difficult, especially in the medieval period, because there are so few documents about women or written by women. There are some, but they are few and far between.” 

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.