For me, the earliest days of our American history would seem difficult to research. Fortunately, that didn't stop author Beth White from finding the resources she needed to write her novels. Today, she shares some ideas for those resources. -- Sandy
Beth: First, let me get something off my chest. Research is
messy. Research is frustrating. Research can take over your life.
But for most readers, a big part of the enjoyment of a historical
novel is learning about an alien time period—which means the author has a
responsibility to make that landscape as authentic as possible. So research we
must.
I usually start with museums, historical landmarks, and
reenactments— whose associated preservation societies can be extremely
helpful—within traveling distance. For example, while writing the first draft
of The Pelican Bride, I drove up to
French and Indian Days at Fort Toulouse in Wetumpka, Alabama, just a couple
hours drive north of Mobile. While poking around, I took videos and pictures
that were invaluable in developing my setting and characters.
One of the most productive results from that day was a
conversation with a French soldier who turned out to be a member of my church!
We exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, and Jeff has shared pictures
and videos from other reenactments he’s participated in, as well as connecting
me with other knowledgeable historians.
Period maps can be found on the internet now, but often
those images are reduced to such a small size for web purposes that they become
pixilated when enlarged. Local genealogical libraries offer more useful documents,
and state libraries have large collections of maps that they will loan or copy
for a small fee.
Many primary sources like journals, letters, and essays are
available for free in Google books and in the Kindle store, and Writers Digest offers
a wonderful series of “Everyday Life in the…” books. Of course all kinds of
legitimate sources of information are as close as your favorite search engine,
but the most reputable are related to history museums. One of my favorites for
the 1700’s is the Colonial
Williamsburg, Virginia, site. The pages for children contain lots of
pictures and rich descriptions of people’s daily lives—as well as some really
fun interactive elements. I got lost for a couple of hours one afternoon,
clicking around on the “dress a character” page.
For each of my novels, I buy one solid nonfiction history
devoted to the time period and setting. I select an accredited author who
documents primary sources and still composes a readable narrative. For Pelican Bride I chose Professor Jay
Higginbotham’s Old Mobile: Fort Louis de Louisiane 1702-1711. For Creole Princess it was Thomas E. Chávez’s Spain and the Independence of the United States. For Magnolia Duchess (next year’s release),
it was Andrew Jackson and Jean Lafitte at
the Battle of New Orleans by the inimitable Winston Groom. All three of
those books are now dog-eared, highlighted, coffee-stained, and
sticky-note-filled. As I read, I make an Excel timeline, because keeping track
of related historical events and people by date facilitates plotting and story
construction.
Do you have additional ideas for finding those historical tidbits that make less known eras come alive?
~~~~~
Torn between
loyalties to family and flag, one young woman is about to discover that her most
important allegiance is to her heart.
It is 1776 and all along the eastern seaboard, the American
struggle for independence rages. But in the British-held southern port of
Mobile, Alabama, the conflict brewing is much quieter—though no less deadly.
Lyse Lanier may be French in heritage, but she spends most
of her time in the company of the ebullient daughter of the British commander
of Mobile. When a charming young Spanish merchant docks in town, Lyse is
immediately struck by his easy wit and flair for the dramatic. But is he truly
who he makes himself out to be? Spies abound, and Spain has yet to choose a side
in the American conflict. Is Lyse simply an easy mark for Rafael Gonzalez to
exploit? Or are his overtures of love as genuine as Spanish gold?
With spectacular detail that brings the cultural gumbo of
the Colonial Gulf Coast alive, Beth White invites you to step into a world of
intrigue and espionage from a little-known slice of the American Revolutionary
War.
Beth White is the award-winning author of The Pelican Bride. A native
Mississippian, she teaches music at an inner-city high school in historic
Mobile, Alabama. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers’
Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers’ Choice Award, and the Inspirational
Reader’s Choice Award. Learn more at www.bethwhite.net.
“Duplicity, danger,
political intrigue, and adventure.”—Booklist on The Pelican Bride
“New France comes
alive thanks to intricate detail.”—Publishers Weekly review of The
Pelican Bride
“The brutal New World [is] captured with distinct detail in this
fast-paced romantic adventure.”—RT Book Reviews on The Pelican Bride
