Have you ever noticed, when reading historical fiction, that the contemporary frame story is NEVER as strong as the historical story? I did, too…after I wrote and published my own historical fiction. So here’s what I did.
Why I Ditched the Contemporary Frame Story—and Why I’m Glad I Did
When I first wrote Knitting Through Time, I loved the idea of connecting past and present. It’s the story of a modern woman whose own history of learning to knit is woven into her life as she retires and searches for new meaning and vocation in Amsterdam. It felt like the perfect way to tie generations together. And for a while, it worked.
But when I sat down to prepare the new edition, I realized something important: the historical story didn’t need the contemporary frame at all. In my novel, I give a fictional account of the history of knitting. The women of the past—Seraphina in Egypt, Hilda in Spain, Anna in Amsterdam—had voices powerful enough to stand on their own. The frame story, as lovely as it was, felt like a second strand of yarn that didn’t quite match the rest of the fabric.
Why Contemporary Frames Often Fall Short
Here’s the truth I discovered as both writer and reader: when a historical world truly comes alive, it doesn’t need modern commentary. In almost every dual-timeline novel I’ve read, the historical narrative holds the heart of the story. The contemporary frame too often feels like a buffer—a polite preface before the good part begins.
So I asked myself: if readers are rushing through the present-day chapters just to return to the past, what would happen if I simply let them stay there?
Making the Leap: The Stronger, Cleaner Second Edition
So I did it. I removed the contemporary frame entirely. The new edition of Knitting Through Time now stands fully within its historical setting, and it sings. It feels cleaner, truer, and more immersive.
It was a little terrifying—like unraveling a row of careful stitches—but what emerged is a stronger fabric. The focus is exactly where it belongs: on the women who made their way through history, one stitch at a time.
Looking Ahead:
Knitting Under the Orange Trees – Book 2 in my new Knitting Through Time Series
That same conviction is shaping my soon-to-be-released Knitting Under the Orange Trees. This story unfolds entirely in sixteenth-century Spain and Peru, weaving together faith, courage, and craft without the need for a modern frame. The story then moves to colonial Florida and even Cuba.
These women don’t need anyone from the twenty-first century to interpret them—they speak for themselves. Readers will step into their world, feel the sunlight on the tiled roofs of Sevilla, and breathe in the scent of orange blossoms in the courtyard.
I do have a prologue and an epilogue that tie all the stories in the book together, but I promise—ninety percent of the focus is on women knitting through time centuries ago.
What I’ve Learned
If you’re a writer wrestling with structure, my advice is simple: trust your story. Let the past breathe.
What I’ve learned through this process is that readers of historical fiction don’t necessarily want a bridge to the present—they want an escape. They want to step through a doorway into another century, to feel the texture of a different world beneath their feet. They long for the unfamiliar rhythms of speech, the scent of wood smoke, the quiet courage of people who lived and loved without knowing how their stories would end.
That’s the gift of historical fiction: the chance to leave behind the noise of our own time and travel somewhere completely different, guided by characters whose lives still speak to us across centuries. Sometimes the best way to connect with history is to dive straight in—and never look back.
Cynthia Coe is a novelist, knitter, and spiritual writer whose books explore the power of community, craft, and quiet faith. She’s the author of The Prayer Shawl Chronicles series and several church resources used in congregations across the country.
She is based in Knoxville, Tennessee and St. Augustine, Florida.
➡️ Explore her books on Amazon: amazon.com/author/cynthiacoe
Are You an historical fiction fan??? Try my book Knitting Through Time!
Cynthia Coe, Author of Fiction & Spiritual Resources 
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